SSMS records your cameras centrally and plays the video back along a timeline. A timeline is a bar that shows time from start to end. You move along it to reach the moment you need. This guide shows how to find recorded video quickly, and how to note what you find.
Before you start
- Make sure you are allowed to review footage for this request. Follow your site's rules.
- Have the request details ready: who asked, and why.
- Have paper or the incident form ready for notes.
Know four things before you search
| What you need | Example | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Site | Jeddah branch | Narrows the cameras to one place |
| Camera or area | Main entrance | Tells you which camera to open first |
| Date | Tuesday 14 October | Takes you to the right day |
| Time window | Between 2 pm and 3 pm | Keeps the search short |
The smaller the time window, the faster the search. If nobody knows the time, read Reviewing footage when you don't know the exact time.
Find the moment, step by step
Your Skyline engineer shows you how playback works on your console at handover. The steps are always the same:
- Choose the camera that covers the area.
- Choose the date you need.
- Move along the timeline to the start of your time window.
- Play the video and watch.
- Pause when you see something important.
- Replay the moment a few times. Make sure you saw it right.
- Note the camera name and the exact time shown on the video.
Check the neighbouring cameras
One camera rarely tells the whole story. A person who appears at the entrance also passes other cameras. Check the cameras on either side of yours, and along the route people take.
- Where did the person come from?
- Where did they go next?
- Did anyone else take part?
Note each camera and time in the same way. Together, your notes show the full route.
Write down exactly what you find
Good notes help investigators. They also protect you. Use this simple format:
| Camera | Time shown on video | What you saw |
|---|---|---|
| JED-Entrance-01 | 14:07:32 | Man in a blue jacket enters, carrying a black bag |
| JED-Corridor-02 | 14:08:05 | Same man walks towards the store room |
Write what you see, not what you think happened. "Man takes box" is a fact. "Thief steals box" is a guess.
Check that the clock is right
The time on the video only helps if the clock is right. Compare the time on live video with a trusted clock, such as the network time on your phone. A difference of a few seconds is normal. If the difference is minutes or more, note it and tell IT.
Write both times in your notes. For example: "video time 14:07, real time about 14:10". Then nobody is confused later.
When there is no recording
Sometimes the timeline shows no video for the time you need. Common reasons are:
- The camera was offline at that time, for example after a power cut.
- The disk was full, or it had a fault.
- The footage is older than your retention period. Retention is how many days of video your system keeps. Video older than that is no longer there.
Tell IT quickly in every case. Also act fast when you find important footage near the end of your retention period. It will not stay on the system for long. See Storage and retention: how long video is kept.
Never film the screen with a phone
Filming the screen gives a poor copy. It also makes an uncontrolled copy of sensitive video. It may break your company rules and local law. If someone needs a copy, follow Handing over CCTV footage safely.
Where to go next
- Reviewing footage when you don't know the exact time
- Handing over CCTV footage safely: copies, originals and evidence
- Incident response: preserving footage and chain of custody
Quick checklist
- I know the site, camera, date and time window before I start.
- I chose the camera and the date, then moved along the timeline to the window.
- I replayed the key moment to be sure.
- I checked the neighbouring cameras.
- I wrote down the camera names, exact times and facts.
- I compared the video clock with a trusted clock.
- I told IT straight away about any missing video.
- I did not film the screen with a phone.
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