CCTV footage that was damaged (or intentionally damaged) was one of the issues discussed in the case of Inspector General Ferdy Sambo.Here's how to keep CCTV footage from being lost.Before discussing how to keep CCTV footage from being damaged or lost, it's a good idea to first get to know the types of CCTV (or to be precise, surveillance cameras) that are often used, so as not to be misguided.In general, surveillance cameras are divided into two types, namely closed circuit television or CCTV and IP cameras.The most basic difference between the two is the recording format.CCTV records video in analog form, while IP cameras record in digital form.CCTV requires a device called a digital video recorder (DVR) to convert analog signals into digital signals, compress the data, and save it to a hard disk.This DVR can also be connected to a monitor or TV to display recorded video.While IP cameras record in digital form, so that it can be stored directly into various types of memory cards, such as SD cards.It can also be directly saved to a hard drive installed on the network, or saved to a device called a network video recorder (NVR).The videos can also be watched directly through various devices, for example from mobile phones, tablets, or laptops.Oh yes, because CCTV uses an analog format, the cable used is also an analog cable, in this case coaxial cable.While IP cameras use a LAN cable, or most IP cameras can also be connected directly using WiFi.In quality, the resolution of CCTV is usually lower than most IP cameras on the market.That is only 720 x 575, while entry-level IP cameras usually record in 1080p resolution.The effect?Obviously, the resulting video will be sharper and can be digitally zoomed in if needed.So, how do you keep CCTV footage from being lost or damaged?Here are the tips as compiled from various sources, Saturday (13/8/2022).Basically, both SD cards and hard drives can store data for a very long time, unless using fake products, such as SD cards with unclear brands or even fake products.So it should be, as long as using the original product, the recorded data can be preserved for a long time.Unless it was intentionally damaged.To be more secure, data that has been recorded to an SD card or hard drive is better backed up to cloud storage, such as One Drive or Google Drive.Or usually each manufacturer also provides backup services to the cloud, for example Hikvision and its subsidiary, Ezviz.That way, if the SD card or hard drive is damaged, the video recordings can still be accessed from the cloud.DVR or NVR in a place with good air circulation, or even better if stored in an air-conditioned room to keep the temperature cool.If you have to store it in a non-air-conditioned room, make sure the ventilation holes in the device are not covered with dust.One of the causes of damage to electronic devices is unstable electricity or often suddenly turns off.For this reason, it would be better if the DVR and NVR devices were installed with a stabilizer to maintain the mains voltage and an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) as a backup in case of a power failure.You can check the website of the CCTV system manufacturer to make sure the firmware on the DVR is up to date.Oftentimes, this firmware update fixes the weaknesses in the previous firmware, or there can also be additional features.