RTSP is a streaming protocol allowing Verkada cameras to integrate live video into third party applications or media players. We support RTSP 1.0 and RFC 2326. Verkada camera RTSP streams can only be accessed over the local network from private addresses as defined in RFC 1918. The video is streamed directly from the camera to the client, without passing through the Verkada Cloud.

We offer two qualities of RTSP streams: standard-quality and high-quality. The resolution and bitrate of the RTSP streams are the same as in Verkada Command (see defaults here). Up to two concurrent RTSP streams can be set for a single camera.

In order to prevent unauthorized access to the camera feed, RTSP streams are secured with a username and password configured when RTSP is enabled. The password must be at least 8 characters long and contain an uppercase character, a lowercase character and a number. We recommend using special characters to further strengthen the integrity of the password. Note that a valid password is required to enable RTSP streams and users are prompted to enter a valid password the first time they toggle the feature on.

For your convenience, the RTSP URLs are displayed in Verkada Command, allowing the user to copy and paste them with one click. You will have to replace the [PASSWORD] text in the URL with the password that you set-up for the camera, before using it in the RTSP client.

Securing RTSP

RTSP 1.0 is widely supported by vendors for interoperability but because it is an unencrypted protocol, proper network configuration is needed to secure the data. We recommend that you take the following steps to secure your camera network before enabling RTSP:

1. Create a custom username and password for RTSP that is not reused in any other system. Generate a random long password for this purpose.

2. Segregate your cameras onto a separate network, VLAN, or VPN that is not accessible from the Internet or other untrusted systems.

3. If you use a 3rd-party cloud video integration, set up a VPN between the 3rd-party system and your camera network as the RTSP authentication and connection is not encrypted when streaming video.

4. Configure your external/edge firewall to drop RTSP traffic (port 8554).

5. Add only the minimum necessary RTSP client IP addresses in Verkada Command.

6. If you have traffic shaping/limiting capabilities, consider configuring the bandwidth allowed for RTSP.

Note: Audio is not available on all modes. Check the camera datasheet for more information.