Azure Media Services Migration Support


CircleHD Announces Migration Program for Customers Affected by Azure Media Services Retirement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

San Mateo, CA. July 05th 2023

CircleHD Inc., a leading provider of enterprise video content management and learning solutions, is pleased to announce its migration program for customers who have been affected by the retirement of Azure Media Services (AMS). 

Microsoft recently announced that Azure Media Services will be retired and will no longer be available after June 30, 2024. This retirement news has prompted organizations across various industries to seek alternative solutions for their video content management and distribution needs. Understanding the urgency and importance of this transition, CircleHD has come forward with a comprehensive migration program to ensure a seamless transition from AMS to CircleHD.

Azure Media Services Retirement

CircleHD offers a robust and scalable video content management platform designed specifically for enterprises. With CircleHD, organizations can securely store, manage, and distribute their video content with ease. The platform offers a wide range of features including video streaming, on-demand content, interactive quizzes, comprehensive analytics, and integration with popular collaboration tools.

As part of the migration program, CircleHD will provide dedicated support to customers affected by the retirement of Azure Media Services. The program includes a thorough assessment of existing video content and requirements, a seamless migration process, training and onboarding sessions, and ongoing support to help customers make a smooth transition to the CircleHD platform.

“We understand the challenges and concerns that organizations face when transitioning from one platform to another. Our migration program has been specially designed to alleviate these concerns and ensure a seamless transition,” said Santosh Sahoo, Co-founder at CircleHD. 

“With CircleHD, customers can not only continue managing their video content effectively but also enhance their video distribution capabilities and improve employee training and collaboration.”

To learn more about CircleHD’s migration program for customers affected by the retirement of Azure Media Services, please visit https://www.circlehd.com/enterprise-video-management

About CircleHD

CircleHD is a leading provider of enterprise video content management and distribution solutions. The platform enables organizations to securely store, manage, and distribute video content for training, collaboration, and corporate communications. With CircleHD, companies can efficiently create, share, and track video content to improve employee engagement and knowledge retention.


Why is H.265 not the future? The past, present and future of internet video compression


H.264 aka AVC (Advanced Video Coding) and H.265 aka HEVC ( High Efficiency Video Coding) are both video compression standards, which are used to reduce the bandwidth and storage space requirement for streaming and video storage. 

Video compression achieves this by taking advantage of redundancies and perceptual limitations in video data. For example, if parts of an image don’t change from one frame to the next, a video codec can just encode the differences rather than encoding each frame in full. 

Similarly, if there are details that the human eye can’t easily perceive, the codec can encode those details with lower fidelity to save data. Through techniques like these, video codecs can achieve substantial reductions in data usage while still delivering good visual quality.

The Past

There were many proprietary codecs before H.264, from RealVideo, Intel, Microsoft and MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group). MPEG2 compression was popular during storage in the DVD age. MPEG 4 became widely used as internet streaming and usage of p2p video sharing became more popular. Remember Divx?

The H.264/AVC project was started by the ITU-T Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG) in conjunction with the MPEG. The goal was to create a standard that provided good video quality at substantially lower bit rates than previous standards (such as MPEG-2), without increasing the complexity of design so much that it would be impractical or excessively expensive to implement.

The development of H.265/HEVC was a collaboration between the ITU-T and the MPEG. The goal was to create a new standard that could provide significantly improved compression efficiency over earlier standards, particularly for higher resolution video content such as 1080p and 4K.

Present

The initial version of the H.264 was released in May 2003 by the Joint Video Team (JVT), VCEG and MPEG. It provides good video quality and efficient compression, which has made it a popular choice for a wide range of applications, from streaming video on the web to HD broadcasts on cable and satellite TV. 

The first version of H.265 was completed in April 2013. This was known as HEVC Version 1 and covered video resolutions up to 8K UHD offers more efficient compression than H.264. 

One of its main advantages of H.264 today is its broad compatibility; almost all modern devices and browsers support H.264. H.265 can deliver similar video quality at about half the bitrate, or significantly better quality at the same bitrate compared to H.264. 

This makes it a great choice for 4K video and other high-resolution formats. However, it also requires more processing power to encode and decode, which means it is not widely supported by older devices due to computing and power trade offs. 

Adoption

Over the years, H.264 has been widely adopted in a range of applications. It is used in Blu-ray Discs, internet video streaming platforms (like YouTube and Netflix), web software such as the Adobe Flash Player and Microsoft Silverlight, broadcast and satellite television services, and in video conferencing solutions.

H.265/HEVC has been adopted in various applications where its increased coding efficiency can provide substantial benefits. These include 4K UHD video services, video streaming platforms like Netflix, digital storage media like Ultra HD Blu-Ray, and video conferencing tools. However, its adoption has been somewhat hampered by patent licensing issues, with different entities owning parts of the patent pool.

Browser Support

AVC (H.264)HEVC (H.265)

Source https://caniuse.com/hevc

Licensing

MPEG LA’s AVC Patent Portfolio License does not charge royalties for AVC video that is sold to end-users for a fee as digital content that is downloaded (either permanently or temporarily), streamed, or otherwise delivered. For Internet broadcast of AVC video that is free to end-users (e.g., YouTube, streaming websites), the license is also royalty-free. 

HEVC incurs patent licensing fees, which can be a concern for some use cases. Firefox still does not support it for this reason. Apple however has been pushing for HEVC all the way in both Mac and mobile devices such as iPhone and iPads.

Testing

Using Handbrake we re-encoded a 20 second long video sample file originally encoded with MJPEG. 

Most professional cameras use MJEPG to compress each frame to save space while retaining high fidelity video for further processing. The result is pretty conclusive.

Input file:
Stream 0
Codec: H264 – MPEG-4 AVC (part 10) (avc1)
Video resolution: 1920×1080
Frame rate: 24
Color space: ITU-R BT.709 Range

FilenameSizeCodecSpace SavingsTime
autumn-sunset.mjpeg.mov253MMJPEG
autumn-sunset.mpeg4.m4v53MMPEG-468%11s
autumn-sunset.h254.m4v31MH.26488%8s
autumn-sunset.h265.m4v30MH.26589%16s

Can you notice any difference in visual picture quality? Although there is not much motion between frames in this video.

Analysis

The Future

Work has been ongoing on further video coding standards, like H.266/Versatile Video Coding (VVC), which was finalized in 2020 and aims to again substantially improve coding efficiency.

Meet AV1

As an alternative AV1 “AOMedia Video 1”, it is being developed by the Alliance for Open Media (AOMedia), a consortium of Google, Microsoft, Mozilla, Netflix, Amazon, Intel, and Cisco. It is an open, royalty-free video coding format designed for video transmissions over the Internet. 

The main objective of AV1 is to be efficient and flexible for use over a wide range of applications on the internet, including both low and high bit rates, low and high latency, as well as still and moving images. It is especially well-suited for streaming video content over the internet due to its efficient compression algorithms, which can deliver high-quality video with lower data usage.

Compared to its contemporary, H.265/HEVC, AV1 aims to provide similar if not better levels of compression efficiency, but without the associated patent licensing costs that come with H.265. This has been a major selling point for the adoption of AV1.

However Apple Devices do not support AV1 codec despite Apple being a member of the alliance. This is a major barrier for adoption of AV1. Microsoft, the contender, follows Apple’s suit with their Google Chrome forked browser called Edge.

H.265/HEVC is offering advantages over H.264 in terms of compression efficiency, especially for high-resolution content. If compatibility and reach are most important, H.264 may be the better choice. If maximizing video quality while minimizing bandwidth usage is the goal, and the target devices and platforms support it, then H.265 may be preferable. It’s also worth noting that there are other codecs like VP9 and AV1 to consider, each with its own advantages and trade-offs.

At CircleHD Enterprise Video Platform, we encode all videos with H.264 for wider compatibility across devices and browsers. We do support H.265 for specific use cases and optimizations but not solely depend on it yet. We are hopeful as standards evolve AV1 or AV2 might become one open standard free from royalties to move the industry forward.

CircleHD has been a pioneer in transforming corporate communications using a powerful video content management system and deploying user friendly Company TV. You can also check out this related article which gives information on calculating video file size accurately. If you’d like to learn more about how CircleHD’s Enterprise Video Learning platform can help improve your company’s productivity,  we’d love to chat


Screen Recording on Apple Macbook


Screen recording has become increasingly popular due to its wide range of applications and benefits. Here are some key reasons why individuals and professionals choose to record their screens:

Tutorials and Training: Screen recording is an effective way to create instructional videos and tutorials. Whether you want to teach someone how to use a software program, demonstrate a process, or provide step-by-step instructions, recording your screen allows you to visually guide viewers, making it easier for them to understand and follow along.

Content Creation: Screen recording is valuable for content creators, such as YouTubers and online educators. It enables them to produce engaging videos by showcasing software reviews, gameplay, design processes, presentations, and more. Screen recording helps capture on-screen actions, making it easier to convey information or share knowledge with their audience.

Apple Mac computers include Macbook Pro, MacBook Air and MacMini come with powerful built-in tools that make screen recording a seamless experience. In this article, we will walk you through the process of screen recording on an Apple Mac M1 using the built-in tools.

Meet QuickTime, the media player for Apple Mac.

Quick time also serves as a versatile screen recording tool. With its user-friendly interface and built-in functionality, QuickTime allows you to capture your screen effortlessly. In this guide, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of screen recording on an Apple Mac using QuickTime.

Step 1: Launching QuickTime Player

To begin, locate and open the QuickTime Player application on your Mac. You can find it in the “Applications” folder or use the Spotlight search (press Command + Space and type “QuickTime Player”).

Step 2: Accessing the Screen Recording Feature

Once QuickTime Player is open, click on “File” in the menu bar at the top of the screen. From the drop-down menu, select “New Screen Recording.” You can also use the keyboard shortcut Command + Control + N.

Step 3: Configuring Recording Settings

A small screen recording window will appear on your screen. Before you start recording, you can configure some settings. Click on the small arrow next to the red record button to access options like choosing a microphone for audio recording, showing mouse clicks, and selecting a portion of the screen to record. Adjust these settings according to your preferences.

Step 4: Initiating the Screen Recording

Once you have configured the recording settings, you can start the screen recording. Click on the red record button in the screen recording window to begin. You may also choose to record the entire screen or drag the cursor to select a specific area to record.

Step 5: Capturing Your Screen

After clicking the record button, QuickTime Player will start capturing your screen activities. You can navigate to the application, window, or screen you want to record. The recording will capture everything within the selected area or the entire screen, depending on your choice.

Step 6: Controlling and Stopping the Recording

While recording, a small recording control bar will appear at the top of the screen. You can use this control bar to pause, resume, or stop the recording. To stop the recording, click on the square stop button in the control bar. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Command + Control + Esc to stop the recording.

Step 7: Saving and Exporting the Recording

Once you stop the recording, QuickTime Player will automatically open the recorded video in a new window. To save the recording, go to “File” in the menu bar and choose “Save.” You can then select the destination folder and provide a name for the recording. Additionally, QuickTime Player offers options to trim, edit, or export the recorded video in different formats if desired.

Screen recording on an Apple Mac using QuickTime Player is a simple and efficient process. By following the step-by-step instructions outlined in this guide, you can easily capture and save your screen activities for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, recording presentations, or documenting software processes. QuickTime’s intuitive interface and built-in functionality make it a valuable tool for screen recording on your Apple Mac.

Alternatives to Quicktime for Screen Recording

While QuickTime Player provides basic screen recording capabilities on a Mac, there are several alternative third-party applications that offer more advanced features and customization options. Here are some popular screen recording alternatives for Mac:

OBS Studio: 

OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software) is a free and open-source screen recording and streaming software. It offers extensive customization options, multiple audio and video sources, scene transitions, and real-time editing capabilities. OBS Studio is widely used by gamers, content creators, and professionals.

ScreenFlow: 

ScreenFlow is a comprehensive screen recording and video editing software designed specifically for Mac. It offers a user-friendly interface, advanced editing features, including annotations, transitions, and effects, and the ability to record both the screen and webcam simultaneously. ScreenFlow is popular among educators, presenters, and video creators.

Camtasia: 

Camtasia is a well-known screen recording and video editing tool available for both Mac and Windows. It provides a range of features such as screen recording, video editing, annotations, transitions, and effects. Camtasia offers a straightforward interface and is often used by professionals for creating high-quality tutorials and presentations.

Snagit: 

Snagit is a versatile screen capture and recording software for Mac. It allows you to capture screenshots, record videos, add annotations, and easily share your captures. Snagit is known for its simplicity and is suitable for quick screen recording tasks or capturing specific elements on the screen.

Capto: 

Capto is a screen recording and video editing tool designed specifically for Mac. It offers a range of features, including screen recording, video and image annotation, and basic editing capabilities. Capto is popular among Mac users who require a lightweight and intuitive screen recording solution.

Movavi Screen Recorder: 

Movavi Screen Recorder is a feature-rich screen recording software for Mac. It provides options to capture screen activity, record audio, capture webcam footage, and edit recordings with built-in editing tools. Movavi Screen Recorder is known for its user-friendly interface and wide range of recording and editing features.

When choosing a screen recording tool for your Mac, consider your specific needs, such as desired features, ease of use, editing capabilities, and budget. These alternatives offer a variety of options to cater to different requirements and workflows, allowing you to find the ideal screen recording solution for your Mac.

CircleHD has been a pioneer in transforming corporate communications using a powerful video content management system and deploying user friendly Company TV. If you’d like to learn more about how CircleHD’s Enterprise Video Learning platform can help improve your productivity,  we’d love to chat


Screen Recording on Windows with Native Recording Tools and alternatives. A Step-by-Step Guide.


Screen recording is an essential feature for many individuals and professionals alike, allowing them to capture and share their activities on a computer screen. Fortunately, Microsoft Windows operating systems offer built-in tools that make screen recording a breeze. In this article, we will walk you through the process of screen recording on Windows.

Windows (XBOX) 10 Game Bar: the built-in windows screen recording tool.

Windows 10 and Windows 11 come with a feature called the Game Bar aka XBOX Game Bar, which includes a screen recording tool. To access it, simply press the “Windows key” and “G” key simultaneously on your keyboard. A small Game Bar overlay will appear on your screen.

Step 1: Configuring Recording Settings

In the Game Bar overlay, you’ll see a variety of options. Before you start recording, it’s important to configure your recording settings. Click on the “Settings” icon (a gear-shaped icon) to access the Game Bar settings. Here, you can specify the audio source for recording (system audio, microphone, or both) and toggle features such as recording timer, microphone audio, and more. Adjust these settings according to your preferences.

Step 2: Initiating Screen Recording

Once you have configured your settings, you’re ready to start recording. Return to the Game Bar overlay and click on the “Capture” button (a circular icon with a dot inside). Alternatively, you can press the “Windows key,” “Alt” key, and “R” key simultaneously on your keyboard to start recording instantly.

Step 3: Capturing Your Screen

After initiating the recording, the Game Bar overlay will disappear, indicating that the screen recording has begun. You can now navigate to the application, window, or screen that you want to capture. It’s worth noting that the Game Bar only captures full-screen or windowed applications, and it does not record the desktop or File Explorer.

Step 4: Controlling and Stopping the Recording

While recording, you can control the recording process through the Game Bar overlay. You’ll see a small toolbar at the top of your screen with options to pause, resume, and stop the recording. You can also access these controls by pressing the “Windows key,” “Alt” key, and “R” key simultaneously on your keyboard. If you prefer using your mouse, move your cursor to the top-center of the screen to display the toolbar.

Step 5: Reviewing and Saving the Recording

Once you’ve finished recording, click on the “Stop” button in the Game Bar overlay or press the “Windows key,” “Alt” key, and “R” key simultaneously on your keyboard. Windows will then save the recording to your designated “Videos” folder, specifically in the “Captures” subfolder. You can access this folder by navigating to “This PC” or “File Explorer” and selecting “Videos” from the sidebar.

Alternatives to Gamebar for screen recording on Windows

Screen recording on Windows using the game bar is a straightforward process. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can effortlessly capture and share your screen activities for various purposes, whether it’s creating tutorials, recording gameplay, or demonstrating software functionality. While the native screen recording tools in Windows offer a convenient way to capture your screen, there are also several alternative third-party applications available that provide additional features and customization options. Here are some popular alternatives to consider:

OBS Studio: 

OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software) is a free and open-source screen recording and streaming software. It offers advanced features such as customizable overlays, scene transitions, and audio mixing. OBS Studio is highly flexible and widely used by gamers, content creators, and professionals.

Camtasia: 

Camtasia is a comprehensive screen recording and video editing software. It provides an intuitive user interface, powerful editing tools, and features like annotations, effects, and transitions. Camtasia is popular among professionals who require advanced editing capabilities and polished final videos.

Bandicam: 

Bandicam is a lightweight screen recording software that offers high-quality video capture. It supports real-time drawing and mouse effects, and it allows you to record specific areas of the screen or the entire screen. Bandicam is known for its minimal impact on system performance.

Snagit: 

Snagit is a screen capture and recording tool with a focus on simplicity and ease of use. It allows you to capture screenshots, record videos, and add annotations and effects. Snagit is particularly useful for quickly capturing and sharing visual content.

ShareX: 

ShareX is an open-source screen capture and recording tool with extensive customization options. It supports multiple capture modes, including full screen, window, region, and scrolling capture. ShareX also offers various annotation and sharing features.

XSplit Gamecaster: 

XSplit Gamecaster is a screen recording and streaming tool designed specifically for gamers. It provides features like in-game overlays, live chat integration, and easy streaming to popular platforms like Twitch and YouTube. XSplit Gamecaster offers a user-friendly interface and real-time video editing capabilities.

Give these tools a try and compare the features and functionalities of these alternative tools to find the one that best suits your specific needs and preferences. Whether you require advanced editing options, streaming capabilities, or simplicity, these alternatives can enhance your screen recording experience beyond the native Windows tools.

CircleHD has been a pioneer in transforming corporate communications using a powerful video content management system and deploying user friendly Company TV. If you’d like to learn more about how CircleHD’s Enterprise Video Learning platform can help improve your productivity,  we’d love to chat


Sales Enablement Guide: How to measure Sales training effectiveness using these core 7 KPIs


A complex task it is, to measure accurately the effectiveness of sales training programs as it involves multiple dimensions. Especially, when it comes to Sales Training, it’s the overall combination of metrics that gives a comprehensive view of the training’s impact. 

Here are a few proven ways that you can measure it:

  1. Sales Performance Metrics: The most direct way to measure effectiveness is to compare sales performance metrics before and after the training. This could include metrics like the number of sales, revenue, average deal size, conversion rates, and the sales cycle length. If there’s an improvement in any or all of these metrics after the training, it’s a clear sign that you are on the right track.
  2. Observation: Managers and supervisors can directly observe sales representatives during their sales interactions and assess whether they’re applying the techniques and skills taught during training.
  3. Assessments and Tests: Use assessments / quizzes within the training to gauge knowledge acquisition to ensure knowledge transfer through training.
  4. Feedback Surveys: Soliciting feedback from the sales team can give you a clear picture of how well the training was received, what was useful, and what areas need improvement.
  5. Employee Retention Rates: High-quality training can lead to increased job satisfaction, which in turn can reduce turnover rates. If you see a decrease in turnover following the implementation of a training program, it might be a sign that your training is effective.
  6. Individual Goal Achievement: Set individual goals related to the training for each sales rep. Monitor their progress towards these goals post-training to evaluate the effectiveness.
  7. Customer Satisfaction Scores: After your sales team has undergone training, monitor any changes in customer satisfaction. Improved interactive skills and techniques applied should lead to happier customers.

Sales Performance Metrics:

Sales Performance Metrics are quantifiable indicators that help a company assess how effective their sales team is at achieving sales targets and contributing to the overall success of the business. By tracking these metrics, companies can identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas of improvement within their sales teams.

Here are some commonly tracked Sales Performance Metrics and how to measure them:

Sales Revenue: 

This is the total income from sales prior to any deductions for costs or expenses. It’s calculated by multiplying the price at which goods or services are sold by the number of units sold.

Average Deal Size: 

This is the average value of each sale. It’s calculated by dividing the total sales revenue by the number of deals closed.

Conversion Rate: 

This is the percentage of leads that are converted into actual sales. It’s calculated by dividing the number of conversions by the total number of leads, then multiplying by 100 to get a percentage.

Sales Cycle Length: 

This is the average amount of time it takes to close a deal, from the initial contact with a potential customer to the final sale. This can be calculated by tracking each sales process’s start and end dates and determining the average duration.

Lead Response Time: 

This is the average amount of time it takes for your sales team to respond to a new lead. Quicker response times can lead to higher conversion rates.

Quota Attainment:

This metric shows what percentage of your sales team reached their sales goals within a given period. It’s calculated by dividing the number of sales reps that reached their quota by the total number of sales reps.

Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC): 

This is the total cost of acquiring a new customer, including all marketing and sales expenses. It’s calculated by dividing the total costs associated with acquisition by the number of new customers acquired during a certain time period.

Customer Lifetime Value (CLV): 

This is a prediction of the net profit associated with the entire future relationship with a customer. It’s calculated based on the average purchase value, average purchase frequency, and average customer lifespan.

By regularly monitoring these sales performance metrics, a company can make informed decisions about their sales strategies, make necessary adjustments, and set realistic goals.

Observation

Observation is a practical, hands-on method of assessing sales training effectiveness. This method requires managers or supervisors to observe sales representatives in real-world situations, such as during sales calls, meetings, or client interactions.

Here are a few ways managers and supervisors can directly observe sales representatives:

Ride-alongs: 

This traditional method involves the manager accompanying the sales representative on a client call or visit. The manager can observe firsthand how the representative interacts with customers, presents the product or service, handles objections / situations, and closes the sale.

Shadowing: 

Similar to a ride-along, shadowing allows a manager to observe a sales representative during their day-to-day activities. This could be in a physical setting, or in a virtual setting by listening in on sales calls or video meetings.

Live Sales Meetings: 

Managers can attend sales meetings, either in person or virtually. This allows them to observe how sales reps present and sell the product, as well as their interaction with clients.

Role-playing Exercises: 

Role-playing scenarios during training sessions can provide valuable insights into a representative’s understanding and application of sales strategies and techniques.

Review Recorded Calls/Meetings: 

If your company records sales calls or video meetings (with all the required permissions), managers can review these to assess sales rep performance.

Performance Metrics Analysis: 

By observing the sales metrics of individual representatives – such as deal closure rates, sales cycle length, and customer feedback – managers can gain insights into the rep’s effectiveness in sales situations.

During these observations, managers should focus on how well the sales representative applies the skills and knowledge gained during training, their ability to handle different sales scenarios, their understanding of the product or service, and their interaction with the customer. This observational feedback should then be communicated constructively to the representative, highlighting areas of strength and areas for improvement.

Assessments and tests

Assessments and tests are important tools in the sales training process to measure the effectiveness of the training and the knowledge and skills acquired by the sales team. Here’s how they can be implemented:

Knowledge Quizzes: 

After each training session or module, you can create quizzes that cover the main points of the topic. This can help reinforce learning and provide immediate feedback on how well the material was understood.

Role-play Scenarios: 

Role-playing can be an effective way to assess a salesperson’s ability to apply what they’ve learned. This could involve situations like handling objections, delivering a sales pitch, or navigating a difficult customer interaction.

Sales Simulations: 

You can use simulations to create a controlled environment where sales reps can practice and demonstrate their skills. For instance, a simulated sales call or meeting can be used to assess how well a rep can apply different sales strategies and techniques.

It’s essential to provide constructive feedback after each assessment. The goal of these assessments and tests is not just to measure knowledge and skills, but also to guide the sales reps towards continuous improvement.

Sales Performance Tasks: 

Assign tasks that reflect real-world sales challenges and measure how effectively each salesperson can complete them. This might involve creating a sales strategy for a mock product or prospect, or developing a proposal for a potential deal.

360-Degree Feedback: 

This involves gathering feedback from a variety of sources, such as peers, managers, subordinates, and even customers. This can provide a more holistic view of a salesperson’s skills and areas for improvement.

Post-Training Surveys: 

Surveys can be used to gather self-assessment data from sales reps about their confidence in applying the skills and knowledge gained from the training. This can also help identify areas where further training may be needed.

Measuring Individual goals

Setting individual goals related to training for each sales rep is a great way to measure and track training impact and their progress over time. 

Identify Key Skills and Knowledge Areas: 

Based on the content of the training program, identify the key skills and knowledge areas that each sales rep should master. These could include things like product knowledge, communication skills, negotiation techniques, or customer relationship management.

Set Specific, Measurable Goals: 

For each key skill or knowledge area, set specific, measurable goals. These should be tailored to each sales rep’s current performance level and potential for improvement. For instance, a goal could be “Increase conversion rate from 20% to 25% over the next quarter” or “Decrease average sales cycle length from 30 days to 25 days”.

Create a Progress Tracking System: 

Develop a system for tracking progress towards these goals. This could be a spreadsheet or a feature within your CRM or sales software. Regularly update this system with performance data for each sales rep.

Regular Weekly or BiWeekly Check-Ins: 

Schedule regular check-ins with each sales rep to discuss their progress towards their goals. This is a good opportunity to provide feedback, address any challenges, and adjust goals if necessary.

Recognize Achievement: 

When a sales rep achieves their goal, make sure to recognize and celebrate their achievement. This can boost motivation and morale.

Review and Refine: 

At the end of the training period, review the progress towards each goal and use this information to refine your training program. If certain goals were not met, it may indicate that additional training or support is needed in those areas.

The purpose of setting these individual goals is not only to measure the effectiveness of the training, but also to encourage continuous learning and improvement among your sales reps.

Tracking Customer Satisfaction Scores

Customer satisfaction scores (CSAT) are a popular metric for understanding how satisfied customers are with your product, service, or a specific interaction. These can provide valuable feedback on how well your sales team is performing post-training.

Here are some ways to measure customer satisfaction scores:

Surveys:

After an interaction with a sales representative (e.g., a purchase, customer support call, or an inquiry), send a follow-up survey to the customer. This could be a simple one-question survey asking, “How satisfied were you with your experience?” with a scale from 1 (very dissatisfied) to 5 (very satisfied).

Net Promoter Score (NPS): 

This is another common metric that asks customers to rate on a scale of 0-10 how likely they are to recommend your company or product to others. Customers giving a score of 9-10 are considered promoters, 7-8 are passives, and 0-6 are detractors. The NPS is calculated by subtracting the percentage of detractors from the percentage of promoters.

Customer Effort Score (CES): 

This measures how much effort a customer has to put in to interact with your company or product. For instance, after a customer interaction, you could ask, “How much effort did you personally have to put forth to handle your request?” on a scale from 1 (very low effort) to 5 (very high effort). Lower scores are better in this case.

Feedback Forms: 

These can be placed on your website or sent via email, allowing customers to provide feedback about their experience.

Social Media Monitoring: 

Monitor your social media channels for unsolicited feedback or comments from customers. This can provide insights into their overall satisfaction.

After implementing the sales training, you would monitor these metrics to see if there are improvements in customer satisfaction, which can indicate that the training was successful. It’s important to note that while these scores provide valuable insights, they are just one piece of the puzzle. They should be used in conjunction with other sales performance metrics to give a complete picture of your sales training effectiveness.

Here’s how to measure employee retention rates:

Employee retention rates are a key metric to measure the stability of your sales team and can also indicate the effectiveness of your training programs. A high employee turnover can be costly, while a high retention rate often indicates job satisfaction and effective training programs.

Calculate the Retention Rate: 

The basic formula to calculate the employee retention rate is:

(Number of individual sales reps who remained employed for the entire period / Number of sales reps at the start of the period) * 100

For example, if you started the year with 50 sales reps and 45 of them are still with you at the end of the year, your annual retention rate would be (45/50)*100 = 90%.

Track Over Time: 

Employee retention should be tracked over time to identify any trends. For example, you might track it annually, quarterly, or monthly, depending on your needs. If you notice a decrease in your retention rate over time, this might indicate a problem that needs to be addressed.

Segment by Team or Role: 

You might also consider segmenting your retention rate by team or role. For example, you might calculate separate retention rates for your inside sales team, your field sales team, and your sales management team.

Compare Before and After Training: 

If you want to measure the impact of a specific training program on employee retention, you could compare the retention rate for a period before the training to the retention rate for a period after the training. If the retention rate increased after the training, this could indicate that the training had a positive impact.

Remember, while a high employee retention rate is generally a good sign, it’s also important to consider other factors, such as employee performance and productivity. A high retention rate is not beneficial if it’s due to retaining low-performing employees. Therefore, it’s best to use the retention rate in conjunction with other sales performance metrics to get a more complete picture of your team’s performance.

If you’d like to learn more about how CircleHD’s Enterprise Video Learning platform can help improve your Sales Training,  we’d love to chat


Secure Live Streaming and Enterprise Webinars for Employee and Internal Use


In today’s fast-paced, digital world, staying connected and informed is essential for the success of any organization. Enterprise live streaming and webinars offer a powerful, interactive way for businesses to engage with their employees, streamline communication, and enhance collaboration. 

By leveraging Live streaming and Enterprise Webinar for internal use, companies can harness the benefits of modern technology to foster a more connected and productive workforce. In this article, we will explore the use cases and benefits.

Use Cases:

Training and Onboarding

One of the most common use cases for enterprise live streaming and webinars is for training and onboarding new employees. These platforms offer a convenient, cost-effective, and efficient way to deliver training content to employees, regardless of their physical location. Live streaming enables trainers to conduct real-time sessions, while webinars provide an opportunity for employees to revisit the content at a later date, ensuring everyone has access to the same information.

Company Announcements and Updates

Keeping employees up to date on company news and developments is crucial for maintaining a strong corporate culture. Live streaming and webinars offer a platform for executives and managers to deliver important announcements, share updates, and discuss changes in the company’s strategy, all while engaging with employees through Q&A sessions and interactive polls.

Virtual Town Hall Meetings

Town hall meetings are a valuable way for employees to voice their concerns, ask questions, and discuss ideas with company leadership. By hosting virtual town hall meetings through live streaming and webinars, companies can ensure that all employees have an opportunity to participate and engage with the leadership team, regardless of their location.

Collaboration and Team Building

Live streaming and webinars can also be used to promote collaboration and team building among remote or distributed teams. By hosting virtual workshops, brainstorming sessions, or project updates, employees can work together and build rapport, even when they’re not physically in the same location.

Benefits:

Cost Savings

One of the most significant benefits of using live streaming and webinars for internal communication is the cost savings. With no need to cover travel, accommodation, or venue expenses, companies can allocate resources to other areas of their business.

Increased Employee Engagement

Live streaming and webinars promote a culture of open communication, giving employees the opportunity to actively engage with company leadership and their peers. This increased engagement can lead to higher job satisfaction, improved morale, and better overall retention rates.

Time Efficiency

By delivering content through live streaming and webinars, companies can ensure that employees receive the necessary information in a timely manner. This can help streamline workflows and reduce time spent on redundant meetings and presentations.

Scalability and Flexibility

Enterprise live streaming and webinars offer a scalable and flexible solution for organizations of all sizes. As a company grows, it can easily expand its streaming capabilities to accommodate more viewers and cover additional topics, ensuring that all employees remain informed and engaged.

Security

In an era where data breaches and cybersecurity threats are on the rise, ensuring secure enterprise live streaming is crucial for protecting sensitive company information and maintaining the privacy of employee communications. In this article, we will explore the best practices and key considerations for implementing a secure live streaming solution, exclusively for employees within your organization.

Also keep in mind that security comes in layers. Implement one or more of the following techniques discussed below to secure your internal broadcast from prying eyes.  

Choose a Secure Live Streaming Platform

When selecting an enterprise live streaming platform, prioritize security features and ensure that the provider has a solid reputation for protecting user data. Look for platforms that offer end-to-end encryption, password protection, and single sign-on (SSO) integration with your company’s existing identity management system.

Use a VPN or Private Network

To ensure the privacy of your live streaming sessions, use a virtual private network (VPN) or a private network to encrypt your internet connection. This will help prevent unauthorized access and protect sensitive data transmitted during the live stream.

Implement Access Control

Restrict access to your live streaming events by implementing access control measures. This can include using unique access codes, requiring user authentication, or integrating with your organization’s SSO system. Access control measures help ensure that only authorized employees can view the live stream.

Utilize Password Protection

Password-protecting your live streaming events adds an additional layer of security. Require employees to enter a secure, unique password before gaining access to the live stream. Update passwords regularly to minimize the risk of unauthorized access.

Monitor and Moderate the Live Stream

Assign moderators to monitor the live stream, ensuring that only appropriate content is shared and that employees adhere to your organization’s guidelines for conduct. Moderators can also help manage interactive features, such as Q&A sessions and chat rooms, to prevent the sharing of sensitive information.

Implement Secure Storage for Recorded Sessions

If you plan to record live streaming sessions for later viewing, ensure that the recorded content is securely stored. Use encrypted storage solutions and restrict access to the recordings using the same access control measures implemented for live events.

Train Employees on Security Best Practices

Educate your employees about the importance of maintaining security during live streaming events. Provide them with guidelines on secure login practices, password management, and how to report suspicious activity or potential security threats.

Regularly Review and Update Security Measures

Continuously evaluate your live streaming security measures and update them as needed to stay ahead of emerging threats. Conduct regular security audits and stay informed about the latest developments in cybersecurity to ensure your organization is protected.

As organizations continue to adapt to the evolving landscape of remote and distributed work, enterprise live streaming and webinars offer a reliable solution for maintaining strong internal communication and fostering employee engagement. By leveraging these tools, companies can enhance collaboration, increase efficiency, and ultimately drive success in today’s competitive business environment.

Secure enterprise live streaming is essential for maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of employee communications. By implementing strong security measures and best practices, organizations can reap the benefits of live streaming while safeguarding sensitive data and protecting employee privacy. With the right combination of technology and security protocols, companies can confidently leverage live streaming as a powerful tool for communication and collaboration within their workforce.

If you’d like to learn more about how CircleHD’s Enterprise Video Management and Learning platform can help you engage with your employees better,  we’d love to chat


Understanding HLS: HTTP Live Streaming and Its Encryption Features for Enterprise use


Introduction

HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) is a popular adaptive bitrate streaming protocol developed by Apple Inc. It is widely used to deliver high-quality media content over the internet in real-time, enabling seamless streaming of live events and video-on-demand (VOD) services. This article will provide an overview of how HLS works and explore the security features available to protect your content, including encryption methods and DRM (Digital Rights Management). 

It is important to note that HLS is one of the most widely adopted streaming protocols globally, but stands out from the other similar technologies such as RTMP, RTSP and MPEG-DASH because of its simplicity and stronger adoption on mobile platforms, specifically iOS and Apple devices. Its popularity can be attributed to several factors, including:

  1. Device compatibility: HLS is natively supported on a wide range of devices, including iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows platforms. This broad support increases its adoption by streaming service providers, as it ensures a seamless experience for viewers across various devices.
  2. Adaptive bitrate streaming: HLS’s ability to adapt to different network conditions and device capabilities makes it a preferred choice for delivering high-quality content over the internet. This feature ensures smooth and uninterrupted streaming experiences for viewers.
  3. Content protection: HLS’s built-in encryption features enable content creators and service providers to secure their media and prevent unauthorized access. This is crucial for premium and copyrighted content.
  4. Scalability: HLS is designed to work well with content delivery networks (CDNs), enabling efficient and scalable delivery of media to a large number of viewers worldwide.

Support of HLS in Web browsers

Support of HLS in web browsers is generally good. Most major browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, support HLS natively. This means that you can play HLS streams in these browsers without having to install any additional plugins or extensions.

There are a few exceptions to this rule. For example, Internet Explorer does not support HLS natively. However, there are a number of third-party plugins that can be used to add HLS support to Internet Explorer.

Overall, the state of native support of HLS in web browsers is good. If you want to play HLS streams in your web browser, you should be able to do so without any problems.

Here is a table of native HLS support in major web browsers:

BrowserVersionSupport
Chrome4 and upYes
Firefox2 and upYes
Safari3.2 and upYes
Edge12 and upYes
Internet ExplorerNo (requires third-party plugin)

HLS Workflow: How it Works

  1. Media segmentation: The source media file is broken down into smaller chunks, usually ranging from 2 to 10 seconds each. These segments are typically encoded in the H.264 video codec and AAC audio codec for compatibility with a wide range of devices.
  2. Creating multiple bitrate versions: To accommodate varying network conditions and device capabilities, the media is encoded at different bitrates. This allows the client to choose the best quality stream based on its current bandwidth and performance.
  3. Generating playlists: For each bitrate version, a Media Playlist (M3U8 file) is created. This file contains the URIs of the media segments and additional metadata, such as segment duration and sequence numbers. A Master Playlist is also generated, which lists all the available Media Playlists and their respective bandwidths, resolutions, and codecs.
  4. Content delivery: The media segments and playlists are hosted on a web server or content delivery network (CDN), allowing clients to access and download the content using standard HTTP requests.
  5. Adaptive streaming: The client starts by requesting the Master Playlist to determine the best Media Playlist based on its current network conditions and device capabilities. The client then downloads and plays the media segments sequentially. During playback, the client continuously monitors its performance and adjusts the selected bitrate accordingly, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted streaming experience.

HLS Encryption for Content Security

To protect copyrighted content and prevent unauthorized access, HLS provides an encryption feature that secures the media segments using the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). The encryption process follows these steps:

  1. Key generation: A unique encryption key (a 128-bit or 256-bit AES key) is generated for each piece of content. This key will be used to encrypt and decrypt the media segments.
  2. Media encryption: Each media segment is encrypted using the AES encryption algorithm and the generated key. The encrypted segments are then saved on the web server or CDN.
  3. Key distribution: The encryption key must be securely distributed to authorized clients. This can be done using various methods, such as:
    a. Storing the key on a separate server and securing it with authentication and access control mechanisms. b. Transmitting the key over a secure channel, such as HTTPS or a secure token-based system.
  4. Updating playlists: The Media Playlists are updated to include a reference to the key, which is required for decryption. This reference is typically a URI pointing to the key’s location on the key server.
  5. Client-side decryption: Authorized clients fetch the encryption key and use it to decrypt the downloaded media segments during playback.

How to create HLS Content? (Technical details)

Hosting HLS content involves preparing the media files and setting up a web server or content delivery network (CDN) to serve those files to viewers. Here’s a step-by-step guide to host your HLS content:

  1. Prepare your HLS content:

Use a video processing tool like FFmpeg to convert your video into HLS format. This involves segmenting the video into small chunks (.ts files) and creating playlists (.m3u8 files) that reference those chunks. You can create single or multi-bitrate streams depending on your requirements.

In this example we use ffmpeg ( a powerful, open-source multimedia processing tool )that can be used to create HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) content. The following is a basic command-line reference for using FFmpeg to generate an HLS stream. Please note that you may need to modify the commands to suit your specific requirements and input formats.

  1. Single bitrate HLS stream:

To create a single bitrate HLS stream, use the following command:

bash

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -codec:v libx264 -codec:a aac -map 0 -f hls -hls_time 4 -hls_list_size 0 -hls_segment_filename “output_%03d.ts” output.m3u8

In this command:

-i input.mp4: Specifies the input file (replace input.mp4 with your source video file)

-codec:v libx264 -codec:a aac: Sets the video codec to H.264 and the audio codec to AAC

-map 0: Includes all streams from the input file

-f hls: Specifies the output format as HLS

-hls_time 4: Sets the duration of each HLS segment to 4 seconds (you can adjust this value as needed)

-hls_list_size 0: Generates an unlimited HLS playlist (set to a specific number for a limited playlist)

-hls_segment_filename “output_%03d.ts”: Sets the naming format for the HLS segments (replace output with your desired prefix)

output.m3u8: Specifies the output playlist file (replace output.m3u8 with your desired playlist name)

  1. Multi-bitrate HLS stream:

Multi-bitrate HLS stream

bash

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -map 0 -codec:v libx264 -codec:a aac -s:v:0 1280×720 -b:v:0 3000k -s:v:1 854×480 -b:v:1 1500k -s:v:2 640×360 -b:v:2 800k -f hls -hls_time 4 -hls_list_size 0 -hls_segment_filename “output_%v/output_%03d.ts” -var_stream_map “v:0,a:0 v:1,a:0 v:2,a:0” output.m3u8

In this command:

-s:v:0 1280×720 -b:v:0 3000k: Sets the resolution and bitrate for the first video stream (720p)

-s:v:1 854×480 -b:v:1 1500k: Sets the resolution and bitrate for the second video stream (480p)

-s:v:2 640×360 -b:v:2 800k: Sets the resolution and bitrate for the third video stream (360p)

-hls_segment_filename “output_%v/output_%03d.ts”: Sets the naming format for the HLS segments per bitrate version (replace output with your desired prefix)

-var_stream_map “v:0,a:0 v:1,a:0 v:2,a:0”: Maps the video and audio streams for each bitrate version (update this according to the number of bitrate versions you create)

These commands will generate the necessary HLS segments and playlists. Once generated, you can host them on a web server or content delivery network (CDN) for streaming.

Remember that FFmpeg provides a vast array of options for customizing your HLS stream. You can refer to the official FFmpeg documentation for more

  1. Choose a hosting solution:

There are two main options for hosting HLS content:

a. Web server: You can host HLS content on a web server like Nginx or Apache. This option is suitable for small-scale streaming with limited viewers or for testing purposes. For larger audiences, consider using a CDN.

b. Content Delivery Network (CDN): A CDN is a network of servers distributed across multiple geographical locations, which caches and delivers your content to viewers efficiently. CDNs are recommended for hosting HLS content, as they provide faster load times, lower latency, and better performance, especially for large-scale streaming.

  1. Test your HLS stream:

Once your HLS content is hosted, test the stream by accessing the playlist URL in an HLS-capable player. This can be a web-based player like hls.js or video.js, or standalone players like VLC and Safari. Verify that the stream plays smoothly and adapts to different network conditions.

By following these steps, you can host your HLS content and ensure a smooth streaming experience for your viewers.

Conclusion

HLS is a widely adopted streaming protocol that ensures a smooth and high-quality streaming experience for viewers. By utilizing adaptive bitrate streaming and offering encryption features, HLS provides a flexible and secure solution for delivering live and on-demand content over the internet. As a content creator or service provider, understanding the inner workings of HLS and its security features will help you make informed decisions on how to protect and distribute your valuable media content.

CircleHD Enterprise Video Platfrom supports HLS transcoding and takes care of video security including access control management and analytics out of the box. so your team can focus on the growing use case of video adoption. To request a demo, please contact us here.



4k Video Support is Here

There’s been a lot of buzz surrounding 4k video, also known as aka 2060p, ever since ultra-high-definition televisions burst onto the market. Over the years this technology has become more sophisticated with more mobile phones and tablets now offering support for 4k content than ever before.

Today, we’re excited to announce the roll-out of support for 4k video at CircleHD: Employees will now be able to natively upload crisp, clear screencasts and stream videos made with premium high-resolution cameras.

4k videos are larger, have 3840 x 2160 or 4096 x 2160 resolution, contain 8 million pixels and can be cumbersome on your resources. In fact, typical file size can range from 1Gb ~ 50Gb. That’s why we have accounted for all these variables and bumped up our single file upload limit to 10GB.

When it comes to bandwidth, we recommend at least 25Mbps. However, if your working with limited bandwidth and/or low powered GPU-like mobile devices, CircleHD will automatically transcode with a lower bit rate, creating a frictionless user experience.

We are proud to be the first enterprise video platform to allow the uploading and sharing of 4k content. How can you benefit from 4k? Here are just a few of the ways:

  • Your training videos will look visually richer
  • All-hands meetings can become more lifelike
  • Conduct screencasts without losing pixels
  • Easily read on-screen code during developer training sessions

With CircleHD, enterprised are able to mix videos, slide decks and podcast content together to create cohesive playlists used for training and knowledge sharing. With 4k, you’ll be able to deliver the best-looking content possible, every single time.

Do you want to learn more? We’d love to connect with you and show you how your organization can benefit from 4k video. Get in touch with us.


What Every CIO Needs to Know About Video Security

About a month ago, a leaked video of an all-hands meeting at Google revealed that the tech giant was struggling to deal with controversial topics that have been plaguing its internal company culture. Of course, this is not the first time an organization’s sensitive information has been made public–it almost feels like we hear about a new instance every single day. From business secrets to company culture, and beyond, the non-verbal cues able to be seen in video often go beyond what is spoken. 

As a CIO, you’re likely responsible for the overall information technology at your business. Whether you’re looking to protect company relations and trade secrets, or just looking to make the information at your meetings more secure (or something else!), content made available should always only be accessible by the intended audience. This is why enterprise-level video security protocols and encryption need to be a part of every piece of tech that touches your company. 

And, when it comes to video content, here’s a guide to what you need to know to improve the privacy of internal content so you can better protect videos from prying eyes.

How (and Why) Videos Are Created


We all know what a video is, but do you know the key components of these complex files? All videos contain a series of pictures (or frames), glued together to create motion (Fun fact: that’s why they were originally referred to as “motion pictures”). Audio track(s) are then synced with these continuous optical tracks to give them life. Depending on how the audio is packaged, and its containers, these tracks may stay bundled in one single file or made available as a separate file.

Almost 5 billion videos are watched on YouTube every single day. Further, though, video is arguably the most engaging medium for everything from learning a new skill, to sales training and overall business communication and beyond. Giving your employees the chance to make their own video content is also a great opportunity for your business. Not only is it convenient, saving time and money for your organization, but it also gives you a library of materials to use as needed. 

Once upon a time, you couldn’t create videos without fancy equipment and a sophisticated setup. But those days are long gone. Thanks to the advancements in mobile technologies and modern browsers, capturing screens and webcams has never been easier. Now, videos are being used everywhere in business, from marketing to training, onboarding to sales enablement–the list goes on. 

This widespread adoption is why making content available to the right audience remains an important job. While some videos are appropriate for the general public, oftentimes, you’ll need to secure them internally or for prospects.

Protecting Internal Videos


Any CIO knows that a combination of technologies is ideal when it comes to protecting trade secrets and content. Any of the single options listed below can be ineffective for video security when deployed alone. For best results, it’s recommended you implement more than one mechanism to secure content as dictated by its business classification.

Firewall

This mechanism is widely deployed in enterprises with any kind of content security. Firewalls restrict content availability within a boundary: It may be a physical device such as a network or a logical perimeter as we see with IP restriction. While it’s effective, it prevents employees from accessing content on the go. Since an increasing amount of employees are working remotely these days, firewalls can create barriers when accessing important videos like all-hands meetings unless deployed in conjunction with secure remote access technologies such as VPN.

Cloud technologies/software as a service (SaaS) is typically accessible from everywhere. This creates opportunities for remote employees to get connected and consume company resources in the same manner as in-house employees while bringing them together virtually.

Authentication

Limiting access to employees or partners via authentication should be the first defense mechanism implemented, as authentication plays an important factor in restricting content only to those you trust. Username/password combinations may be an easy way to start, but that becomes another password management overhead for personnel and makes the overall user experience less than desirable.

Almost all enterprises use some sort of a directory management service which stores users in a database:

  • Single sign-on provides a bridge between user experience and security while helping you achieve compliance.
  • Cloud applications need an extra bit of security, so a single factor authentication may not be enough and in this case, implementing a second-factor authentication such as smart card or TOPT devices is a good idea.

Cloud Identity management services like Okta, OneLogin or Ping improve the user experience while providing the security for cloud applications enterprises need.

Authorization

Authorization refers to limiting access to a defined user set like a department or a group but it does not work without authentication. Cloud video platforms like CircleHD enable you to restrict your videos to specific audiences with very little effort. You can even utilize segments your company already uses, such as cost center or department.

Encryption

Encryption has been utilized since 600 BC when the ancient Spartans used it to send messages during a battle, but it’s more modern form has been in use since World War I. The technology works by altering bits of content with a secret key. Then letting someone access that original content again with a complimenting key. 

There are four types of commonly used algorithms:

  • Symmetric encryption – algorithms use the same key to encrypt and decrypt the content. Its usage is considered less secure when used alone over the internet since the sender and receiver share the same key. Symmetric encryption is faster and often used to encrypt large blocks of data such as video.

  • Asymmetric encryption – This uses a public key to encrypt and a private key to decrypt the video. It can also be used to verify the authenticity of a video if a MITM attack is a risk. This algorithm is slower and requires a higher computation power, making it an unsuitable option for video security, as videos are often played on low-powered devices such as mobile phones and tablets.

  • Encryption at rest – Essentially, this can be described as converting your sensitive data into another form, which generally happens through an algorithm that cannot be understood by a user who doesn’t have the encryption key to decode it It’s particularly useful in rendering data useless to hackers, should your information be compromised.

    This is the recommended approach if you’re on a public data center or public-facing object store like AWS S3. We do that CircleHD. All your content is encrypted by KMS (key management service) where the content can only be decrypted by a key that is periodically rotated to reduce the surface of an attack vector.

  • Encryption on transit – This describes how data is transmitted. TLS (or SSL) is a secure transport channel. When used, it reduces the man in the middle (MITM) attack. The content is encrypted using a negotiated symmetric key algorithm.

AES ( Advanced Encryption Standard) is a symmetric encryption algorithm widely used for video encryption for the above-mentioned reasons. This algorithm supports various lengths of key bits, such as 128, 256, 512 or a higher multitude of 128. The downside of AES is that, once the video encryption key is shared, the keyholder can continue to decrypt the video as long as it is available. 

Intranet videos are often played on web browsers, but HTML5 player is not capable of playing an encrypted video by itself. That means you can’t just encrypt an mp4 video file and have the browser stream to play it.

Thankfully, most modern browsers (89%) support Media Source Extension (MSE). Therefore, it allows javascript to download encrypted videos, decrypt them and feed them to the media player programmatically. This process is complicated, and implementation was left up to various video vendors, however, they like to support it.

Over the years, the advancement of internet video streaming has led to 2 popular protocols for standardization: HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) by Apple & DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP) by MPEG. If your users are on the Apple ecosystem, you are out of luck and have to stick with HLS.

Why do we need HLS or DASH but not just encrypt the mp4 file?


The old mp4 file format (or container) wasn’t designed to support encryption. Your HTML5 player needs the meta-data, which is often at the end of the file. To play an encrypted video, such as a regular mp4, your browser has to download a large file before playing it. This gives your end-users a large buffering period, high CPU usage, and bad user experience. 

Solution: 

Chunking – A file splitting mechanism that allows your large video file to split into smaller blocks and encrypt each block individually. Your device or browser can then download only the necessary parts to start playing. And then download other parts as needed. Another advantage is that each block can be encrypted with a different encryption key. 

Sticking with a standard protocol such as HLS or DASH has the following benefits:

  • Portability across browsers and devices
  • Standardization of encoders and encoding algorithms
  • Adaptive bitrate streaming 
  • Standardization of encryption algorithms
  • Support for content delivery networks

While encryption of video improves the security of the content, it’s not bulletproof. Once the key is stolen, attackers can decrypt the video.

DRM – Digital Rights Management


DRM is a stronger encryption protection mechanism. It can work on an existing protocol such as HLS or DASH. It’s widely used by Hollywood and streaming services, such as Netflix and Amazon, for compliance requirements. This method, however, depends on cryptographic module support from hardware and operating system vendors. 

Most DRM solutions are fragmented and available today are proprietary and may require licensing and royalty payment. Google’s Widevine DRM is a popular solution currently made popular due to out of the box support in Chrome and Firefox browsers. Other technologies include: 

  • PlayReady from Microsoft
  • FairPlay by Apple
  • ClearKey by MPEG

(Note: CircleHD has plans to support DRM in Q2 2020 for our enterprise plans and enterprises that require higher grade video security. Please contact our sales team if you are looking for a DRM solution for your enterprise video.)

At CircleHD, we believe the ease of access to videos should be every employee’s right. It’s worth noting that over-guarding content can create a barrier to consumption across your organization. Be sure to strike a balance between your enterprise video security needs and user experience to encourage adoption across your teams. 

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We’d love to speak further with you about how to effectively implement a secure content management platform at your company. Please contact us to learn more about how CircleHD can meet your video security needs while encouraging employee engagement and collaboration at your enterprise. 


How to Accurately Calculate Video File Size (Plus: Bonus Glossary)

Video file size can be a tricky thing. How large is the one you just recorded? This complex storage format holds a lot of information and there are many reasons why you may want to check the size of it. In order to get the most accurate calculation, we need to start by dispelling a common myth:

Video file size depends on the bitrate but not the video resolution. 

Bitrate is the most important factor in determining a video file size. Technically-speaking, you can have a 4K video with a lower bitrate than a 720p video. However, in this instance, the 4k video quality would appear poor but take less space on the disk when compared to a 720p video. And if your video contains audio? That track has its own bitrate as well.

File Size = Bitrate x duration x compression ratio

Here is a reference chart taken from sample videos found on Youtube/internet

ResolutionBitrate1 minuteRecording Duration per GB
4K (UHD)20 Mbps84MB12 minutes
1080p (FHD)5 Mbps20MB50 minutes
720p (HD)1 Mbps5MB3.5 hours
480p (SD)500 Kbps2MB8 Hours

The above table is for heuristic estimation and reference only. There are a lot of other factors influence the actual video file size such as compression ratio, variable bitrate, color depth.

Bitrate = Frame size x Frames Rate

Although the original intent to write about video file size, read along if you would like to learn more about videos, overall. This guide purposefully hides complex details to simplify the understanding of most common terms and their usage. If you have any questions or suggestions, please reach out to our team.

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A Glossary of Terms

Frame: Any static picture you see on your screen while playing or pausing a video is called a frame. They are consecutively presented in such a manner as things appear moving on the screen. That’s why video is also called moving pictures.

A frame behaves just like a photo, and all the attributes such as color depth and dimension. A 1080p or full HD video will have frames of size 1080×1920 pixels with each pixel storing RGB (Red, Green, Blue) 8-bit color data and maybe some more. The frames are presented usually at a constant rate called frame rate.

Frame Rate: The number of frames (frame rate) presented on screen per second is represented as with FPS or frames per second. A typical video can have 15 to 120 frames per second. 24 is used in movies and 30 FPS on common on TV.

The frame rate should not be used interchangeably with shutter speed. Shutter speed is an in-camera setting used to determine the amount of motion blur in film production.

More FPS means smoother playback but a bigger file.

The approximate size of each uncompressed frame is 5MB. At 30 frames per second, a raw HD video will need 5MBx30 = 150MB storage space per second. We are going to need around 540GB per hour for the raw footage. that’s a lot of disk space even today. Many of our storage drives can’t even write to a disk that fast. However, you usually won’t need that much space, thanks to compression and lossy encoding (quality compromise to save disk space) techniques.

Compression reduces the space required to store similar frames that have fewer moving parts. Such as a landscape scene with little or no motion between frames. Since motion in scenes can drastically change in most videos, some encoders allow encoding at a variable bit rate by consuming more than average when needed and less when the scene is mostly static.

Encoding: Encoding is the process of digitization of analog video streams. Just like getting an electric wire feed from the camera and storing the content in a .mov file. The process may happen in hardware or software. Many digital cameras encode video natively, without needing to have any additional software post-processing and requiring less storage space.

The conversion between different file formats is called transcoding. These terms have different meanings but are used interchangeably since digital cameras have greatly eliminated the need for encoding these days.

Codec: Codec is the program that is responsible for the encoding and compression of the video and audio tracks. A lossless raw encoder may not compress the data hence need a lot of storage space to store every bit of the video feed. A lossy codec such as H.264 could store the same video on a fraction of filesize. Different codecs are used to achieve a balance between quality and storage space.

H.264 aka AVC (Advanced Video Coding) by the MPEG group is internets current popular codec. This codec is widely supported by most mobile devices, web browsers, and operating system vendors thankfully requiring many different formats for playback like the old days.

Mp3 by MPEG group and AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) by Apple are the most popular audio codec on the internet. Since the mp3 patents have expired AAC is being recommended. 

A newer video codec H.265 aka High-Efficiency Video Coding or HEVC is now available as the successor of the H.264 codec. H.256 provides better compression and faster decompression. This codec is being promoted for use by video pioneers such as Netflix and Youtube to improve the streaming video quality and experience, especially on slower connections.

Containers: Often called file formats such as MP4, MOV, AVI, WMV, MKV, and WebM. There are a lot of different container formats. MP4 is very popular on the web and WebM is an open container format being actively promoted by Google for royalty-free internet use. 

The container is a file format that describes how the tracks (video/audio/subtitles) stored inside the file. The file format is just a matter of choice often used along with well-known codecs that work together. Some containers allow streaming video playback while others require the file to be downloaded entirely before playback. Since these container formats support different feature sets and require some agreement and royalty payment by the manufacturer, vendors tend to prefer one format over another.

If you like to learn more here is a detailed comparison on Wikipedia.

MP4: MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14) is a well-known internet container/file format that is supported by a wide range of devices such as mobile phones and digital cameras. This container allows storage of multiple video, audio, subtitles, and other metadata, where containers such as mp3 container only allowed audio tracks and a limited set of metadata inside it. A variant of this format supports progressive streaming, this is the most preferred format for internet video playback. 

Above are the main factors used for determining the file size.

HDR: High dynamic range. Modern TVs and cameras are able to capture greater details of images and video in senses that contain brighter and dark objects. In traditional SDR (Standard dynamic range) images were either bright or dark depending on the contrast application. HDR format can, however, capture more information per pixel (32 bits) and let the display decide the actual contract at the time of presentation. This method requires double the amount of storage file size and some advanced compression technique that can impact the final file size when applied.

Audio: Some containers allow multiple audio tracks embedded in the video files. Hence the size of the video depends on no of tracks and bitrate of the audio as well. 192Kbps bitrate is considered good quality audio for stereo sound.

Encryption: Video security mechanisms such as DRM (Digital Rights Management) that use encryption to protect playback of the content on authorized devices. For example, Netflix only allows you to play their video only if you have an active membership. This is often done to implement licensing and prevent piracy. This protection usually increases the file size due to metadata inclusion.

Video streaming: Video streaming is a process of watching a video over a network without having to download the entire video file. This technique often begins by buffering  (downloading some metadata and the portion of video currently being watched) parts of the video and provides seeking and skipping parts that are not being watched. Streaming provides smoother watching experience and requires less network bandwidth and disk storage.
There are many methods available on the web to implement streaming.