In the context of video surveillance within a CTPAT program, what is the minimum recommended duration to keep footage?

• A. 7 days
• B. 60 days
• C. 90 days
• D. At least 14 days

Answer: (D)

Video surveillance retention is about keeping enough footage to review security events and support investigations without overburdening storage. The minimum recommended duration is at least 14 days. This window gives security teams a reasonable period to detect, reconstruct, and respond to incidents that may unfold over several days, such as tampering, theft, or unauthorized access, and aligns with typical incident response and audit cycles. Storing for only a shorter time, like a week, risks losing crucial context for investigations, while keeping footage much longer increases costs and complexity unless there is a higher risk or specific requirements. In practice, facilities often start with a 14-day baseline and extend retention for high-risk areas or during investigations, ensuring footage is properly indexed, time-stamped, and securely stored with controlled access and clear retention policies.