Freelance video editing is on the rise as the demand for video editors increases. This has been occasioned by an increase in the amount of video content being uploaded online and used in areas like SEO and digital marketing. If you are a freelance video editor, protecting your media and project assets is crucial because they are your livelihood. Technology has come far and matured enough that numerous solutions and options for helping with this. This article will explore the ones that are most valuable and that you should be using.
Revise Your Data Storage Strategy
One of the worst things you can do when working with client files and data is store it on a single hard drive. While solid-state drives provide excellent stability and do not fail as often as their spinning counterparts, you should never rely on one set to keep your projects and assets safe.
Start by getting a second solid-state drive that you can use for backup. If you can, consider getting a network-attached storage solution. Because you will only use these drives for backup, they should wear more slowly than the ones in your computer or editing rig and provide excellent backup options.
The second solution is using a RAID system. A Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) system creates mirrored copies of all your data across multiple hard or solid-state drives. By doing this, these systems make it easy to get your data back if one or more of your drives fail.
There are different types of RAID solutions, with some providing better redundancy, some better speed, and some more storage capacity. Pick one that best aligns with your workflow and aims.
Lastly, and perhaps more importantly, get a cloud storage solution. A separate hard drive is great, but it is often in your computer’s vicinity. This means you can lose both in case of a disaster like a hurricane. Cloud hosting offers remote backup solutions that ensure you do not lose your data no matter what happens to your primary device.
When picking one, go with one with a distributed storage solution. This means there are servers in different regions to ensure much better redundancy. Also, consider ones with version control so you can roll back your projects if you ever need it.
Cloud hosting solutions like this will cost you extra, but the cost is worth it when you consider the alternative is losing your data and projects and those of your clients.
Protect Your Editing Server
It is now common for freelance video editors who work with many clients and on numerous projects to leverage the power of cloud computing. Solutions provided by companies like Gcore allow developers to not only edit their videos online seamlessly like they were on their computers, but to also render, color correct, and work on them in other ways with the power of powerful servers located all over the world.
While cloud solutions like these are great for freelance developers who can leverage them, you should protect your server if you use it for these purposes. Limiting access is great, but you should also be protecting it from botnets that drain resources and other types of vulnerabilities that can lead to the loss of your project.
Solutions like a web application and API protection (WAAP) work well depending on how you use the server, especially if you also use it to host your freelance website. However, you should also implement other measures like using CDNs to protect against DDOS attacks.
Remember that malicious actors do not care whether you use the server to host a website or edit your videos; they know what you store on it is valuable and they want it. Work with a reputable cloud hosting provider to ensure your server as well as your assets and project files remain safe.
Implement Better Project Management Practices
Project management helps you know where each file is so that it becomes much harder to delete them by mistake. Using obscure names means you will not know which file belongs to which project or client, making it easier to delete or lose these files.
Develop a clear and consistent file naming convention for your convenience. You will benefit from this when working on larger projects or with multiple clients.
You should also document your projects. Doing so includes adding notes to your edits, the effects you use, and client communication. This is crucial when you need to revisit the project in the future if there are any disputes with clients.
Have Better Security Measures in Place
You might not need to worry too much about security if you edit and store all your assets and client projects on a server. However, this does not mean that you do not have to protect your computer. Start by installing antiviral and anti-malware software. While the defense solution that comes with Windows is typically adequate for normal use, you want something more robust because you need the extra protection when working with client files.
Installing this software is not enough because you need to update it regularly. Malicious actors are always revising their threats to defeat these pieces of software, so you should update them to stay ahead of them. You should also scan your computer regularly for threats.
Another helpful security measure is encrypting your computer. At the very least, encrypt your project files, but also consider encrypting your whole drive. These measures make your files unusual if someone steals your computer. While encryption is a good-to-have feature, you must implement it if you work with sensitive client information and material.
A Word About Client Communication
Ownership of materials, assets, and files can be a contentious issue for freelance video editors and their clients. You might not know which files belong to whom and when the ownership changes.
This means it is easy to lose these files if you send them to a client without letting them know they do not own them and cannot keep them without paying you or before the contract ends.
Freelance video editing is a lucrative career option for people with the right skills. To ensure you do a good job, you should take ownership of and always protect your assets and client files. There are several ways to do this, including protecting them from malicious actors, disaster, anyone who can access your computer, and clients who might want to take advantage of you.
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