Automated Surveillance Data Backup with Java and SFTP

Published {$created} by Carsten Blum

We were facing a recurring problem. Our network of surveillance cameras, vital for security operations, were generating substantial data daily. Initially, we tried self-hosting an FTP server. Managing it – keeping it secure, dealing with bandwidth spikes, and ensuring uptime – became a constant drain on our IT resources. Moving large files manually was even worse, prone to errors and time-consuming. We needed a reliable, automated solution, and we wanted to integrate it into our existing Java applications.

The Challenge: Reliable, Automated Backup

The core requirement was to automatically back up surveillance footage to a secure offsite location. Simple FTP wasn't an option – the security implications are too great. We needed the robust security of SFTP. We already had significant Java code for managing camera configurations, so leveraging a storage API using SFTP in Java felt like the most logical approach. We considered a few different cloud storage options, but the ease of integration and the flexibility of using a dedicated SFTP server made ftpGrid appealing. Plus, the free tier offered a great way to test the waters before committing.

Java, SFTP, and ftpGrid Integration

The quick-storage-api-java-sftp-ftp documentation on ftpGrid’s site became our roadmap. We utilized the JSch library within our Java application to establish the SFTP connection. The documentation clearly outlined the necessary steps for authentication and file transfer, and integrating it into our existing codebase was surprisingly straightforward. We opted for SSH-ED25519 key-based authentication (as recommended in the tutorials/advanced-ssh-key-authentication-for-sftp) to enhance security and eliminate the reliance on passwords. Our Java code now automatically handles the backup process, triggering transfers at scheduled intervals and verifying successful completion. The API access allows us to monitor progress directly within our internal systems. With ftpGrid's high availability and data replication, we're confident in the reliability of our backup solution.

A Better Workflow

Now, our surveillance data is automatically backed up, freeing up our IT team to focus on more strategic initiatives. We're using the activity timeline to monitor backup success and troubleshoot any issues. The quota management allows us to effectively manage our storage usage. The transition from a self-hosted FTP server to ftpGrid has dramatically improved our security, reliability, and operational efficiency.