Videos have become the heartbeat of our daily existence. We live and breathe content from all platforms—from the tip of our fingers to the walls of our homes and the screens of our workplaces. Unknowingly, these digital creations that we consume have not only shaped our conversations but have also influenced countless decisions in our lives.
The accessibility of creating, producing, and publishing videos in this age has given birth to many digital content creators whose influence has reached mind-blowing numbers and milestones. Not only were they entertaining and fun to watch, but they have also set trends and inspired millions to unleash creativity and show the world what you are capable of.
We have even reached a point where the new generation is so irresistibly drawn to becoming content creators, captivated by the unparalleled freedom it offers—a blend of creativity, independence, and the potential to reach a bigger audience, making a widespread impact. With numerous platforms to create and share, people have become more expressive of their passion, thoughts, ideas, and interests—connecting with a global audience like never before.
Here's How You Can Secure Your Video Content
However, creating high-quality and engaging videos is not as easy as watching them at our convenience. With the surge of content creators, standing out has become an intense competition—not to mention pressure—to be in constant search and production of new material, keeping the audience engaged and as interested. Not only that, but there’s also another growing concern for all video creators—from online influencers to professional filmmakers and big production companies like Sony—how to protect and secure video content from unauthorized access, theft, and piracy.
And so, you might ask: How can you protect your videos from these threats? Well, here are some of the best practices to secure the production and distribution of your content:
Be wise in your choice of hosting platform.
Not all hosting platforms are created equally. As the adage puts it, not all sizes fit all. While the popular options, like YouTube and TikTok, are great for social sharing, they might not offer the level of security needed for private or corporate videos, especially when they involve brand collaborations.
When choosing a hosting platform, make sure to opt for the one that offers tight and topnotch security features, which may include features like two-factor authentication, password protection, video security login, embed codes, whitelist access, and viewer access log to make sure that only those authorized get to have access to your video.
Consider implementing strict access codes.
While the abovementioned features can already provide a certain layer of protection for your videos, these can only do so much. If your content is strictly confidential and you want to ensure that only important stakeholders and intended recipients have access, you can implement stricter controls like single sign-on (SSO), IP address restrictions, and viewer authentication. Adding a reliable VPN with free trial can further enhance security by encrypting your data and masking your IP address, keeping your video content protected from unauthorized access.
Deter screen recording and downloads.
Wondering if you can prevent screen recording, like Netflix does? Yes, you can! While you can carefully control who you share your videos with, there’s no guarantee those viewers won’t share them further—or if there would be other individuals who might illegally access their device or get a hold of that access authentication.
Here’s what you can do. To discourage unauthorized recording and downloading, you can consider using dynamic watermarking. When enabled, this feature will display the viewer’s email address, IP address, and session ID on the video. Also, as the watermark changes position frequently, it gets more and more difficult to blur or remove—making it even more difficult and trickier to record and share without the consent of the rightful owner. Most importantly, it is also easier to trace the source of any leak.
Apply geographic (IP) restrictions.
While your country might have strict data privacy laws, you are not assured that that’s the same case elsewhere. Often, unauthorized access and leaks originate from different regions, making enforcement difficult, time-consuming, and potentially futile. To save you from distress and avoid this from happening, consider applying geographic restrictions to your videos by location or network. This means that video sharing is only permitted within specific locations and networks between content and distributors—in confined areas or reserved IPs. By doing this, you get to eliminate the risks of unauthorized distribution and viewing of your content.
Make sure that you are on the same page.
But probably the most crucial aspect of protecting your video content, especially when working with a team or for a brand or company, is ensuring that everyone is aligned and in sync with your values and goals. This means that you have to involve everyone in the processing and hold them accountable at every stage of production and distribution. To do this, you can consider conducting joint training sessions, regular audits, and continuous monitoring to detect any inconsistencies and potential security breaches. While filming video production and distribution can be an incredibly fun and creative thing to do, it can also be heartbreaking when your hard work is compromised due to a lack of coordination or security measures.
Yes, there are always threats lurking around the internet, waiting for the right moment, and ready to prey on those whose talents they can’t match. But don’t let this dissuade you from honing your craft and bringing your ideas to life. You are not alone in this creative journey. In fact, there are people, like Videjow, who are more than willing to help you in all aspects of your video production and distribution—be it corporate projects or promotional videos and clips, or personal passion ventures.
Don’t hesitate to share your story. Sometimes, all you need is a tiny spark of an idea to create something extraordinary. It’s time to show the world what you got!