O
nboard video storage is evolving as school bus camera systems become more sophisticated, file sizes grow and districts weigh the benefits and costs of cloud storage versus local or hybrid
storage models. School districts and vendors seek to manage the shift
from traditional hard drives and local downloads to cloud-based storage, remote access and more connected camera systems. David Wigle, Gatekeeper system and support manag- er, noted remote methods of accessing and managing video includes cellular live view, in-yard Wi-Fi and cloud-connected video management tools. Cellular live view enables districts to access video while the vehicle is still on route for faster visibility into incidents, he added. Districts are more motivated than ever to optimize oper-
ations as they are pushed to do more with less, said Taylor Moore, ARMOR product and engagement manager with REI, adding the value of moving from manual processes to near-instant access to information is quickly evident. Cloud-connected video systems reduce the burden of managing on-premises servers and manually retrieving vehicle footage, noted Lori Jetha, vice president of market- ing for Safe Fleet/Seon, adding authorized users can access footage remotely through web-based platforms using Wi-Fi or cellular connectivity, providing faster access to evidence, improved reliability, automatic software updates, and reduced dependence on IT resources. “Even with the highest levels of security measures in place for cloud-based storage, it’s of utmost impor- tance to consider the necessity of onboard storage,” said AngelTrax President and CEO Richie Howard, noting a heightened need to protect student’s images and infor- mation. “Cloud-hosted video is convenient and crucial for faster response times in crisis but having the onboard hard drive with higher storage capacity and an SD card backup helps ensure the video is captured even during a cell service outage.” Districts can be more selective about what they send to
the cloud, accounting for expenses and inconsistent cov- erage, noted Rob Scott, 247Security senior vice president. “Onboard storage serves as the primary repository,
while cloud connectivity enables remote health mon- itoring, live viewing, GPS tracking, and on-demand video retrieval. For large scale video transfer, Wi-Fi is preferred,” said Scott, adding many districts are adapting hybrid solutions. Karoon Monfared, BusPatrol’s CEO, shared that most
districts still want continuous recording on the vehicle giving them a local rolling buffer and some protection during limited connectivity but also want the ability to remotely retrieve important footage without sending
30 School Transportation News • SEPTEMBER 2026
someone out to physically pull a drive. Today’s technology enables authorized staff to quickly
review flagged or requested video from a desktop for a process that is faster, more easily manageable and secure compared to past approaches. Districts need solutions to protect sensitive student data
while enabling secure footage access, Monfared added. 247’s Scott noted that while some districts are paying
more, they’re also receiving significantly more capabili- ty, including higher-resolution cameras (1080p and 4K), more cameras per vehicle, stop-arm systems, exterior 360-degree cameras, driver-facing safety cameras, lon- ger retention requirements, and higher frame rates for evidentiary purposes. Other budget items include cellular connectivity, cloud
software licenses, fleet management platforms, on-site service plans, remote real-time diagnostics, and extend- ed support. While higher-resolution cameras add more camera
views, retain video longer and include AI-powered features increasing storage and processing demands, cloud-based systems provide remote access, cybersecu- rity protections, disaster recovery, and system availability that would be difficult and expensive for many districts to build and maintain themselves, said Jetha. BusPatrol’s student safety programs—including an
interior camera, mobile connectivity, data usage, and cloud storage—are funded through a violator-funded model, enabling teams to focus on retention strategies that best support needs regarding access, compliance and speed in locating relevant footage, said Monfared. Clint Bryer, Safety Vision vice president of student transportation sales, noted the movement from H.264 to H.265 video compression standards is reducing file sizes by up to 50 percent. Moving to a cloud subscription allows districts to shift the need for that resource to the vendor to manage the entire application, Bryer added. REI’s Moore said cellular data and cloud storage are
more affordable and accessible than ever, enabling dis- tricts to more quickly and efficiently retrieve and share information. “They’re able to respond to parents, communities and staff sooner, send footage to law enforcement sooner or address incidents in near real time,” she said, adding each district should evaluate its retention requirements versus cost, and involve safety/security and IT depart- ments in the planning process to help share technology upgrade costs. While budget constraints cause some districts to delay
adoption or continue relying on traditional retrieval methods, Jetha noted tiered cloud storage, event-based
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