Choose public or private Verkada archives by their actual audience

Translate public and private archive labels into the actual authorized audience before saving sensitive footage.

Source facts

Verkada distinguishes public archives from private archives. Public archives are visible to users who can view the associated camera’s historical footage, rather than being automatically public on the internet. Private archives are visible to their creator and Org Admins. Site Admins can create both types; Site Viewers can create only public archives. Org Admins can customize archive-related role permissions, and the documentation states that those role changes apply across the organization’s Site Admins and Site Viewers.

Source: Verkada Help — Archive Recorded Video Footage.

Applicability

Applies to archive visibility within Verkada Command and the documented role model. External sharing is an additional decision and should be reviewed separately from the archive’s public/private label.

DSE recommendation

DSE recommends translating the labels into an actual audience before preserving a sensitive clip. Name the investigation owner and decide whether ordinary historical-footage viewers should see it. Have an Org Admin review any organization-wide role customization before changing it for one incident. Use approved access lists and avoid placing sensitive case details in broadly visible archive names or notes. Recheck access when a camera’s site audience or the investigation team changes.

Verification

Use authorized test accounts representing the creator, an ordinary historical viewer, and an Org Admin. Confirm the selected archive appears only where intended and inspect any separately created sharing links. Record the tested roles and audience; do not infer external exposure solely from the word public.

Official reference

Verkada Help — Archive Recorded Video Footage. Reviewed October 15, 2026.