As video surveillance systems become more advanced, the need for flexible, reliable, and secure storage has grown. While traditional NVR systems rely on local hard drives, HIKVISION NVRs now support cloud-based storage of alarm snapshots using the Hikvision Cloud 2.0 protocol.
In this practical guide, we’ll walk you through two main scenarios for cloud storage integration with HIKVISION NVRs:
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Setting the NVR as a Cloud Storage Server
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Using the NVR as a Cloud Storage Client
Whether you’re a system integrator or a technical user, this guide will help you effectively manage image-based cloud storage, ensuring greater data accessibility and system flexibility.
☁️ What Is the NVR Cloud Storage Function?
HIKVISION's NVR Cloud Storage feature allows alarm images (not video footage) to be uploaded and accessed via a designated NVR or cloud storage server, using Hikvision Cloud 2.0 protocol.
⚠️ Note: This feature does not support third-party cloud platforms like Google Cloud, Baidu Cloud, or Aliyun, and it only stores alarm snapshots, not video recordings.
🔧 Scenario 1: Using the NVR as a Cloud Storage Server
✅ Supported Models
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Super I NVR (V4.40.500 and above)
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I Series NVR (V4.22.005 and above)
🔄 Configuration Steps
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Access NVR Web Interface
Go to Configuration → Storage → External Storage Management. -
Enable Cloud Storage Service
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Toggle the Enable option
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Set a Password and Encryption Password (both must be over 32 characters; can be the same)
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Reboot the NVR
After restarting, you’ll see the Storage Pool Management option in the menu. -
Create Storage Pools
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You can configure multiple pools by naming them and setting capacity limits
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Provide Server Details When Adding as Storage Server (via HCP or Another NVR)
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Address: IP of this NVR
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Picture Download Port: 6120
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Signaling Gateway Port: 6011
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Access Key: The password you set earlier
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Secret Key: The encryption password
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Your NVR is now acting as a cloud storage server, ready to receive and store snapshots from other client devices.
🔗 Scenario 2: Using the NVR as a Cloud Storage Client
✅ Supported Models
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All NVRs running GUI 4.0 or EUI-based interfaces
🔄 Configuration Steps
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Go to Cloud Storage Settings
Navigate to Configuration → Storage → Storage Management → Cloud Storage -
Input Server Parameters
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Protocol Version: Cloud 2.0 (only supported version)
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Server IP: IP address of another NVR set as a storage server
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Server Port: 6011
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Password / Encryption Password: Same as set on the storage server
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Picture Storage Pool ID: According to the configured pool on the server NVR
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Test the Connection
Click the Test button to verify successful communication between the client NVR and the storage server.
🚀 Practical Benefits of Cloud Storage for HIKVISION NVRs
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Improved Data Resilience: Offloads important snapshots to cloud storage for added security
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Flexible Deployment: Ideal for systems without large on-site storage
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Centralized Management: One NVR can collect snapshots from multiple clients
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Efficient Storage Use: Since only images are stored, bandwidth and space consumption remain low
🏁 Conclusion
HIKVISION’s Cloud Storage function is a practical solution for organizations seeking off-site backup of critical alarm snapshots without relying on third-party services. By configuring your NVR either as a storage server or client, you can create a robust and scalable storage architecture using the Hikvision Cloud 2.0 protocol.
This setup is particularly useful for large campuses, industrial zones, or multi-site security operations where centralized snapshot management is key.
📌 Tip: For detailed model-specific steps and interface visuals, refer to the user manual included with your NVR.