Sizing UniFi Protect Storage and Retention Without Guesswork

Quick summary

Retention is a business decision, not a guess. We capture risk requirements, calculate storage using real scene data, and document the configuration so compliance teams, homeowners, and insurers know exactly what footage exists.

This workflow walks you through stakeholder interviews, recorder selection, bitrate math, camera tuning, and documentation so audits are straightforward months or years down the line.

• UniFi Protect installation services

Scene bitrate sampling (how to measure)

Pick representative cameras (busy entry, driveway at night, quiet interior). Record average and peak bitrates over 10–15 minutes at different times with motion on/off. This captures real behavior instead of guessing.

Multiply bitrate × hours × days per camera group. Add 20–30% headroom for firmware changes and seasonal variation. Document every assumption next to the spreadsheet.

UNVR sizing examples

Redundancy and power

• UPS for UNVR and PoE switches sized for 15–30 minutes
• RAID strategy with spare on‑site; label bays and drives
• Config backups and export SOP stored with the rack

Export SOP (so you can retrieve evidence fast)

Create a one‑pager: who can export, how to filter by time/camera/event, naming convention, and where files live. Practice the export on a known test clip so anyone can do it under pressure.

FAQs

Clarify retention requirements first

List regulatory mandates, insurance expectations, and practical needs such as slip-and-fall investigations, delivery disputes, or access-control audits. Prioritize cameras where extended retention matters and note which can age off sooner.

Interview stakeholders—owners, safety officers, property managers—so everyone agrees on retention goals before money is spent on storage.

• Security policy checklist

Choose the right recorder platform

Smaller homes often succeed with an UNVR running four drives in RAID 5. Larger estates, campuses, or multi-tenant buildings may require multiple recorders partitioned by site or camera role. Whichever path you choose, plan for redundant power, clean rack airflow, and service access.

Ubiquiti UniFi Network Video Recorder (UNVR)

• Four 3.5" drive bays with RAID 1/5/10 support
• Runs UniFi Protect for 50+ camera deployments
• Dual 10G SFP+ uplinks and 1G RJ45 for flexible backhaul

$364.99

View on Amazon

Calculate retention with real numbers

Record bit rates from representative scenes at different times of day. Note whether cameras record on motion, smart detection, or continuously, and build a spreadsheet that multiplies bitrate × hours × days for each camera group.

Round up storage requirements by at least 20 percent to account for firmware changes, additional cameras, or temporary recording spikes. Document every assumption in the calculation so future reviews are transparent.

• Download the retention worksheet

Tune camera quality per location

Adjust frame rates and resolutions based on use case. Loading docks may need 30 fps for fast-moving forklifts, while storage rooms can live at 15 fps. Keep full resolution for identification views such as entry vestibules or reception desks.

Note these decisions in your documentation so auditors know why certain cameras retain longer or record at different qualities.

Document and audit regularly

Store a snapshot of the UniFi Protect settings, drive health reports, and retention calculations with your security SOP. Schedule quarterly reviews to confirm footage still meets policy.

• Book a storage and retention audit