Digital Vault: Your Data Stays in Your Home
Private, encrypted on-premises storage for your CCTV footage and personal files. No cloud subscriptions. No third-party access. Your data, your hardware, your control.
Cloud Storage Isn't Private. It's Rented.
Every cloud storage service — iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox, Ring, Arlo — works the same way. Your files and footage sit on someone else's server, in someone else's data centre, subject to someone else's terms of service.
They can change the price. They can change the terms. They can be breached. They can be subpoenaed. They can shut down. And for CCTV, they charge you monthly for the privilege — per camera, every month, forever.
For a home with six security cameras, subscription storage costs £1,000–4,600 over five years. That's money spent and nothing owned.
There's a reason businesses keep sensitive data on-premises. Your home deserves the same option
What a Digital Vault Installation Includes
CCTV Recording — Network Video Recorder (NVR)
Your Visual Sentry cameras need somewhere to store footage. The Digital Vault provides that locally:
Option 1: UDM Pro Max built-in storage — the Dream Machine Pro Max has two 3.5" drive bays with RAID 1 protection plus a 128GB SSD for AI detection recordings. For most homes, this is the simplest option: your network controller and NVR in one device.
Option 2: Dedicated UniFi NVR — for larger camera deployments or when you need more storage capacity, a standalone NVR provides additional drive bays and processing power for recording.
Typical storage: a 2TB drive stores approximately 14–21 days of continuous recording from 6 cameras at 2K resolution. We size the drives to your camera count, resolution, and desired retention during the audit.
Personal File Storage — Network Attached Storage (NAS)
Beyond CCTV, we can install a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device for your household or business files — a private alternative to cloud storage:
• Store and access documents, photos, and media from any device on your network
• Automatic backup for laptops, phones, and workstations
• Accessible remotely when you're away from home (via VPN or secure remote access)
• RAID protection ensures your data survives a drive failure
• No monthly fees — one-time hardware cost, unlimited storage
For many clients, a NAS eliminates the need for iCloud, Google Drive, or Dropbox entirely.
RAID Data Protection
We configure RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) on all storage devices. This means your data is mirrored across multiple drives — if one drive fails, your data is safe and the system continues operating. You replace the failed drive, it rebuilds automatically.
For critical data, we can configure off-site encrypted backup to a secondary location (a family member's home, a business premises, or a secure cloud endpoint) as a disaster recovery layer.
Encryption
Data at rest is encrypted on the drives. Data in transit is encrypted on the network. Combined with VLAN segmentation from the Digital Perimeter, your stored footage and files are protected at every layer
What Changes When Your Vault Is in Place
✓ CCTV footage stored locally — no cloud subscription, no third-party access
✓ Weeks of recording — 14–30+ days retained depending on your configuration
✓ Private file storage — your own NAS replaces rented cloud services
✓ Automatic backups — laptops and phones backed up to local storage
✓ Drive failure protection — RAID mirroring keeps your data safe
✓ Remote access — reach your files and footage securely from anywhere
✓ No recurring costs — one-time hardware investment, no monthly fees
How the Vault Stores and Protects Your Digital Fortress
→ Visual Sentry — cameras record directly to the Vault over the wired backbone at full speed
→ Digital Foundation — NVR/NAS connects via 2.5GbE to the switch for maximum throughput
→ Digital Perimeter — storage devices sit on a dedicated VLAN, firewalled from IoT and guest traffic
→ Always-On Lifeline — local recording continues during broadband outages; remote access resumes on failover
→ Digital Guardian — we monitor drive health and storage capacity remotely, alerting before issues arise
Common Questions About Home Network Storage
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It depends on the number of cameras, recording resolution, and how many days of footage you want to retain. As a rough guide: 6 cameras recording at 2K resolution require approximately 2TB for 14–21 days of continuous footage. We calculate exact requirements during the audit based on your camera plan
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With RAID configured, your data is mirrored across multiple drives. If one fails, the system continues operating on the remaining drive(s) and alerts you (and us, via Digital Guardian) to replace the failed unit. Once replaced, the RAID rebuilds automatically
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Yes. Via the UniFi gateway's built-in VPN or secure remote access, you can reach your NAS and NVR from anywhere. It's encrypted and doesn't require exposing your network to the internet
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With RAID protection and optional off-site backup, local storage is comparable in reliability to cloud services — and superior in privacy, speed, and cost over time. Cloud providers also experience outages; local storage keeps functioning regardless of your internet connection
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Yes. A NAS can be configured for automatic backups from macOS (Time Machine), Windows (File History or third-party), and mobile devices. Your data is backed up to local storage on your own network — faster than cloud backup and with no storage limits beyond your drive capacity
Find Out How Much Storage Your Property Needs
During the Digital Fortress Audit, we assess your camera plan, estimate footage retention requirements, and recommend the right NVR and NAS configuration for your household or business. You'll know exactly what hardware you need and what it costs — before committing to anything