Often, organisations that need to redact video footage turn to creative video editing tools to blur faces and personal information frame by frame. While technically they can get the job done, these tools require manual editing for every frame. This process is time-consuming and error-prone.
For organisations that face a one-off, short DSAR request, this can be an acceptable tradeoff. But for companies that receive multiple DSARs or need to process videos longer than a couple of minutes, manual redaction is not sustainable.
With the general public becoming more aware of their right to request DSARs, we see an increase in requests across all of the industries we serve.
That puts additional pressure on teams researching DSAR video redaction solutions.
Ideally, they can find a tool that:
Can be deployed quickly, without a long onboarding process
Is easy to use for any team member
Complies with industry-specific data protection requirements
Can handle all relevant video redaction scenarios
Has predictable pricing
Our solution, Identity Cloak, checks the box on all of those requirements.
It is used by organisations handling various types of DSARs, from straightforward CCTV clips to complex redaction projects including multiple locations and footage sources.
Below, we'll go over the leading tools on the market, starting Identity Cloak.
#Identity Cloak by Facit
#1. Fast installation and deployment
Download, install, and redact your first video in under 15 minutes
Identity Cloak is downloaded directly to your PC and activated via a licence key.
There is no server infrastructure to configure, no cloud environment to set up, and no integration project to manage before you can start processing footage.
The only step you may need to have Identity Cloak work behind your firewall is a quick firewall settings update.
Standard and Pro plan subscribers also receive a dedicated onboarding session with Facit's support team to ensure the first redaction project goes smoothly.
It's so intuitive that all of our staff can use it more or less straight away. The change over from the old system to the new system was very, very quick.
#2. Easy to use for any team member
Any team member can process DSARs, no video editing skills needed
In many organisations, DSAR video redaction becomes a bottleneck because only one person knows how to operate the redaction tool. When that person is unavailable, the entire process stalls.
Identity Cloak can be used by any team member, regardless of their technical background.
The workflow follows four clear steps — import footage, run autotracking, adjust and finalise, review and export — with minimal clicks at each stage.
The AI does the heavy lifting: it automatically detects and blurs every person and vehicle in the footage, so the operator simply needs to unblur the subject of interest.
Across more than 15,000 videos processed by Facit's customers, the average processing time is under 12 minutes.
For shorter clips, it is significantly faster.
I was able to redact an 8 minute clip from start to finish in about 10 minutes which usually could take up to 30 or longer depending on the footage itself.
I don’t want to have to spend two hours on a GDPR request. I want to get it done quickly. Identity Cloak is easy to use, reliable, and ticks all the right boxes.
All plans include access to online help pages, email and chat support, and a library of video tutorials.
#3. GDPR-compliant, on-premise video processing
Videos never leave your secure network, redacted output is fully irreversible, and there’s a clear audit trail
Identity Cloak is installed on your own hardware, within your secure network.
No video data is ever transferred to Facit's servers. The only data exchanged between your device and Facit is a licence key, a device name, and anonymised usage data — nothing more.
For organisations in healthcare, education, or other sectors with strict data residency requirements, Identity Cloak can be deployed in fully air-gapped environments.
This makes it appropriate for NHS trusts, local authorities, and any organisation operating under industry-specific data protection obligations.
When a redacted video is exported, the original file remains completely unchanged on your system, preserving the chain of custody in case it is needed for legal proceedings or ICO investigations. The exported redacted file is irreversible, meaning the blurred data cannot be recovered by the recipient.
The application sits within our own network, which ensures that the Trust’s video never leaves our own secure environment, rather than having to place our video in the Cloud, which was an issue here at the Trust.
#4. Flexible redaction settings covering a variety of video redaction scenarios
You can change blur settings, control frame speed, redact audio tracks and process even low-quality footage, including from legacy systems
A common issue in DSAR video redaction is discovering that the tool works well for one type of footage but cannot handle another.
A DSAR may involve footage from a fixed CCTV camera, a staff bodycam, a dashcam, a mobile phone recording, or a legacy proprietary player format, sometimes all within the same request.
Identity Cloak can handle the full range of footage types and redaction scenarios:
CCTV, bodycam, dashcam, and mobile recordings
MP4 and AVI files are imported directly.
A built-in screen recorder converts footage from any proprietary CCTV player format without separate conversion software.Crowded spaces and fast-moving footage
AI autotracking follows individuals across every frame, even in environments with multiple people moving simultaneously.Low-quality and low-light footage
Facit’s AI is trained to perform accurately even for low-quality footage, recordings from fish-eye cameras, and low-visibility videos.Automated redaction for faces, full bodies, and licence plates
All three blur modes support automated detection, tracking and blurring throughout the video.Blurring for name tags, ID cards, signage, and screens
A one-click manual redaction tool allows operators to draw a custom shape over any area of the frame and lock it in place for the duration of the clip.Audio redaction
Spoken personal data (names, addresses, account details) can be muted, which is particularly important for bodycam footage.Full screen blur for sensitive environments
Inverse blur mode anonymises the entire background except for the subject of interest, providing the highest level of privacy protection.Milestone XProtect integration
For organisations already using Milestone as their VMS, Identity Cloak plug-ins allow redaction directly within XProtect, covering body-worn, PTZ, 360°, and fixed dome camera streams.
The multi-mode options give us flexibility and enable us to ensure that we provide the correct video output for each specific request we receive.
The video redaction software is a very stable system that provides you with a number of useful tools and works in different environments.
#5. Predictable per-video pricing
Fixed annual pricing based on number of videos — no per-minute charges or limits on video duration and file size
Tools that charge by the minute of footage create unpredictable costs, particularly as DSAR volumes rise. A complex DSAR can involve hours of footage, and a per-minute pricing model makes the cost of a single request difficult to control.
Identity Cloak's pricing is structured around the number of exported videos, not video duration. Every plan includes unlimited video length, which means there are no additional charges when a DSAR involves a long video clip.
Identity Cloak plans are available at three tiers — Starter (10 videos/year), Standard (35 videos/year), and Pro (125 videos/year), with additional videos available on any plan. Unused videos roll over, giving compliance teams flexibility to manage fluctuating request volumes without overspending.
An Enterprise plan is also available for organisations that need a fully fixed annual price with unlimited videos and unlimited users, providing complete budget certainty.
Facit also offers discounts for organisations in the health and education sectors.
The investment in Identity Cloak is value for money, there are many ways in which the software has paid for itself, from risk and reputation management to cost-effective compliance with GDPR, as failure to comply with GDPR carries hefty fines.
If you'd like to try out Identity Cloak on your CCTV footage, start your free 7-day trial — no credit card required, and your first video can be redacted in under 15 minutes.
#Other DSAR video redaction software options
#Secure Redact by Pimloc
Secure Redact is a cloud-based multimedia redaction platform that handles video, audio, images, and documents within a single DSAR workflow.
It is widely used across government and law enforcement entities, and offers strong batch processing capabilities for high-volume DSAR workloads.
Because it is cloud-based, it may not be suitable for organisations with strict data residency requirements or policies against uploading footage to third-party servers.
You can redact up to 10 minutes per month for free, with Pro plan offering up to 30 minutes per month.
Get a full breakdown of Secure Redact alternatives here.
#CaseGuard Studio
CaseGuard is a desktop redaction platform that supports video, audio, images, and documents, with a strong emphasis on manual control. It is well suited to legal and investigative teams that need to review footage before disclosure.
CaseGuard offers fully offline processing, which addresses data security concerns, though its interface is more technically demanding than Identity Cloak and may require training for non-specialist users.
Read more about CaseGuard and alternative video redaction solutions in this article.
#Meet every DSAR deadline with confidence
Evaluating DSAR video redaction software comes down to one question: can your team process footage accurately, compliantly, and within the ICO's 30-day window — without outsourcing sensitive data or overwhelming your compliance staff?
Identity Cloak was built to solve that problem. It combines AI-powered automatic redaction, comprehensive PII coverage, on-premise data security, and a non-technical interface into a single tool that any compliance or security team can operate from day one.
Start your free Identity Cloak trial
See Identity Cloak handle a real piece of CCTV footage. Start redacting your first video in under 15 minutes — no credit card required.
