The Short Answer
Share proxies, not originals. Put them in a review platform that gives each person their own access, set passcodes and expiry dates on every link, turn off downloads unless someone needs them, add a visible watermark with the viewer's name or email, and keep a record of who got access and when it ended. The aim is simple: the right people see the right clips for the time they need, and you can tell what happened if something leaks.
If your work touches studio or streamer content, the buyer will have its own security rules. Start with what they require, and see our TPN hub for how those programs are structured.
Decide What Needs Protecting
Not all footage carries the same risk.
| Footage | Typical care |
|---|---|
| Rushes of an unreleased studio title | High. Follow the buyer's security rules, named users only |
| Independent film dailies | Medium. Private links, passcodes, watermark |
| Social or brand content | Lower. Private links and expiry |
| Public events or behind the scenes | Low, but check release and location agreements |
Write one line per project that says which row it falls in. It drives every setting below.
What to Share
- Proxies for review, never camera originals. Originals stay on controlled storage.
- The smallest set. Share the selects or the day's best takes if that is what the reviewer needs.
- Burned-in timecode and clip names so notes point to a specific frame.
- A version with no audio from sensitive scenes if the content demands it.
- Stills and clips for the press only after approval, and not from the dailies platform.
Permissions That Work
- Named accounts for the team. Each editor, producer and director gets their own login, not a shared one.
- Roles. Viewer, commenter, editor and admin. Most people should be viewers or commenters.
- Folders by purpose. Dailies, selects, cuts and deliverables should be separate, so access can be removed in one step.
- Link-based sharing for outside people only when a login is not practical, and with a passcode.
- Expiry on everything. Choose a date for each link. Short is better.
- Disable downloads unless there is a reason. If the reviewer needs a file, send a watermarked one.
- Remove access on wrap or when a person leaves. Do it the same day and write it down.
For freelancers, see TPN and freelancers or remote editors and the remote review and approval workflow.
Platform Controls to Look For
Frame.io is one common review platform, and its documentation is a good example of what to ask any vendor. Adobe's product description lists passphrase-protected shares, share link expiration and an option to disable asset download, along with content security settings. Frame.io's help center says forensic watermarking is an Enterprise-level feature and that it is applied to the Frame proxy files, not to the originals. The help article also says it can be combined with Watermark ID for extra protection, and an older version of the article says DRM controls can limit usage, for example by disabling screen recording on the viewing device. Features and plan tiers change, so check the current documentation and your plan before you promise a client anything. Our setup guide for remote editing with Frame.io has more on configuration.
Whatever platform you use, check that it offers:
- Passcodes and link expiry
- Download controls
- Visible watermarking per viewer
- Activity logs, showing who watched what
- Two-factor authentication on accounts
- A way to remove a person quickly
Watermarking Basics
- Visible watermarks show a name, email or ID over the picture. They discourage sharing and help trace a leak.
- Forensic watermarks are invisible marks that can identify the source copy. They usually come with higher plan tiers or a specialist vendor.
- A watermark does not stop someone filming a screen. It makes the origin easier to trace. For more, read watermarking for secure screeners and review links.
Dailies Workflow Example
- Offload and verify the cards, as in the camera card offload checklist.
- Make proxies with timecode and clip names burned in, using the agreed color conversion.
- Upload proxies to the review platform folder for that day.
- Send access to named people only, with an expiry date.
- Collect comments in the platform, not in email threads or messaging apps.
- At the end of the day, review who watched, and remove access that is no longer needed.
- At wrap, archive the review project and close all links.
Common Mistakes
- A shared login passed around the team
- Share links with no passcode or expiry
- Uploading originals "just to be safe"
- Notes sent by text, with timecodes typed from memory
- Forgetting to remove a freelancer after their last day
- Believing a watermark is the same as security
- Using a consumer file-sharing link for sensitive footage
When to Think About TPN
If a studio or streamer client asks for TPN status or a vendor security review, your remote review setup is part of the picture. We help you prepare, but TPN issues the Shield, and independent assessors do the assessments. Read the questions to ask about vendor content security, and visit our TPN hub.
Want a person to help?
Our production consulting team sets up remote review and dailies workflows with the right permissions, watermarking and logs for the footage you handle. See our remote collaboration consulting, or tell us how you review today and a real person on our team will reply.
Set up remote dailies with controlled access
Classify the footage
Decide the risk level and read any security rules from the studio or client.
Make review proxies
Export proxies with burned-in timecode and clip names, never share originals.
Create named accounts and roles
Give each person their own login and the lowest role that works.
Set link controls
Add passcodes and expiry dates, and disable downloads unless needed.
Add watermarking
Turn on visible viewer watermarks, and forensic watermarking if your plan or vendor supports it.
Review activity and close access
Check the logs daily, remove access the same day someone finishes, and archive the review project at wrap.
Questions people ask
Should I share camera originals or proxies for remote review?
Share proxies. Originals should stay on controlled storage, and reviewers rarely need them. Proxies with burned-in timecode and a visible watermark are easier to manage and safer to share.
How do I stop dailies from leaking?
You cannot eliminate the risk, but you can reduce it: named accounts, passcodes, expiry dates, disabled downloads, visible watermarks with the viewer identified, activity logs and quick removal of access when people leave.
What is the difference between visible and forensic watermarking?
A visible watermark is a name or ID on screen that deters sharing. A forensic watermark is invisible and designed to identify the source of a copy. Forensic marking is often limited to higher plan tiers or specialist vendors.
Do I need TPN to share dailies remotely?
Not by default. Whether you need a TPN Shield or other security evidence is the studio or client decision, so ask what they require before you set up the workflow.
Written by the team at Clouds Agency, a Los Angeles creative and production consulting agency.