How Video Encoding Keeps Your Content Safe

Content creators dedicate hundreds of hours to their projects. Therefore, it's natural to want to protect that investment. That's why content creators regularly spend thousands of dollars on storage and backups. However, even these methods of protecting your content leave you vulnerable. By using a cloud-based video encoding and distribution system, you can protect your projects and simplify publishing at the same time. Here's how.

What Is Encoding?

Encoding literally means “to turn into code”. When you film a video, you may have RAW footage in its highest quality format. However, this format takes up a massive amount of space on your hard drive and it would be near impossible for anyone to stream it given today's bandwidth capabilities. So, you need to encode your videos into a smaller format. Compression makes the file smaller and easier to stream for your viewers.

You upload these compressed, encoded versions to OTT platforms like YouTube or an OTT TV app on a service like Roku or Apple TV. This act in itself provides some degree of security since even if someone steals your content, they're only getting an encoded version and not the original RAW footage. Nevertheless, your data security can be enhanced further by using a cloud-based content distribution network.

Why Cloud Encoding Is Better

If you encode all of your videos on your own computers, you're adding a considerable amount of overhead to your workflow. For starters, you need to encode for various platforms, which may have unique requirements. In addition, your PCs are practically unusable during encoding tasks since they consume a lot of resources. Instead, you can upload your original file to the cloud and have cloud computers process the file for you.

This frees up storage on your local computers since the original version will be saved in the cloud and encoded versions will go directly to the OTT platform of your choosing instead of keeping several versions on your hard drive. But it also has additional security benefits. Because cloud-based networks use distributed computing, they're highly resistant to hacks and other cyberattacks. An intruder doesn't know exactly where files are as they can be distributed across many data centers.

Encryption and DRM for Added Security

All of the files you upload and keep in the cloud are also locked down with advanced encryption. This means that only you and your authorized users can see and modify your content. Modern encryption methods are impossible to crack; they would require centuries of immense computing power running 24/7 to even stand a chance.

You can also add DRM to your content. DRM will prevent others from downloading your streaming content. If anyone tries to publish it to a platform like YouTube, their algorithms can detect the DRM the video without you having to file a request.

Choose the Most Secure Cloud CDN

Lightcast's media cloud includes encryption and options for cloud storage, processing, and DRM. Request a callback from Lightcast or send us an email to learn how we can keep your content safe while making it more accessible than ever.