Securing Childcare CCTV Systems: Protecting Privacy and Preventing Hacking Leave a comment

Across Australia, more and more childcare centres are rolling out CCTV systems to improve child safety, staff accountability, and peace of mind for parents. But as CCTV adoption in the childcare sector grows, so too do concerns about hacking, privacy breaches, and misuse of sensitive footage.

Without the right safeguards, a childcare CCTV system designed to protect children could inadvertently expose them. Fortunately, there are proven ways to deploy these systems securely, responsibly, and in compliance with best practice.

Why Hacking Risks Are a Real Concern in Childcare

Childcare centres handle some of the most vulnerable members of our community. Footage from a childcare centre can show intimate moments of children at play, napping, or being cared for — making it highly sensitive.

Unfortunately, CCTV cameras are a popular target for hackers, who exploit weak passwords, cheap equipment, and unsecured internet connections. Once breached, attackers can spy on live feeds, steal recordings, and even sell or share the footage online — potentially breaching the privacy of children and families, as well as violating the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

For childcare operators, preventing these kinds of breaches is both a legal and ethical responsibility.

Best Practices for Securing Your Childcare CCTV System

Here are three key steps childcare providers can take to protect their CCTV systems from hacking and safeguard children’s privacy:

1. Use Strong, Unique Passwords

A surprising number of CCTV hacks are simply the result of weak or unchanged factory default passwords. In a childcare environment, this risk is unacceptable.

When installing your system, change all passwords immediately to something strong and unique. Avoid obvious names or dates, and use a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Consider a password manager to keep track of them. Where available, enable two-factor authentication to add another layer of protection for administrators.

2. Choose Trusted Brands with Robust Security Features

Not all cameras are suitable for a childcare environment. Many budget or no-name brands found online offer no meaningful protection against hackers, and some even ship with known vulnerabilities.

Stick with established, trusted brands — such as Hikvision, which is widely used in Australian childcare centres. Reputable brands offer:

• End-to-end encryption, so even if footage is intercepted, it cannot be viewed.

• Advanced user management tools, so only authorised staff have access to footage at the right level.

• Regular firmware updates to fix vulnerabilities as they are discovered.

Investing in quality equipment is an investment in the privacy and safety of the children in your care.

3. Disable Remote Viewing (If Possible)

While it’s tempting to enable remote viewing so directors or parents can check cameras from anywhere, this also increases the risk of exposure.

The most secure option is to keep your CCTV system entirely on a private, internal network that’s not connected to the internet. This makes it virtually impossible for outsiders to access your cameras.

If remote access is absolutely required, speak to your installer about setting it up securely, ideally via a VPN connection rather than opening your cameras to the web.

Conclusion

The rollout of CCTV in Australian childcare centres brings undeniable benefits — but also comes with new responsibilities to protect children’s privacy and data security.

By using strong, unique passwords, choosing trusted brands with encryption and robust access control, and avoiding unnecessary remote viewing, you can dramatically reduce the risk of hacking and demonstrate your commitment to safeguarding the children in your care.

If you’d like guidance on choosing and configuring a secure CCTV system that meets Australian childcare industry standards, talk to our team of experts today.