
When the first cardless solution was introduced to the market over a decade ago, the best approach was defined by the client security implementation, with vendors looking to provide a solution as secure as that previously offered by smartcard solutions. Ultimately, the continual threat of piracy that vendors faced when deploying pure software security on a one-way network led to a shift towards a more hybrid security solution or even to a full end-to-end hardware approach, such as NAGRA On-Chip Security (NOCS).
The Security Demands of OTT
Today, while security remains a fundamental part of cardless deployments, the wider content distribution footprint enabled by OTT is not without its challenges. This is because the distribution surface area requires a broader range of technologies, all working together to provide the necessary level of defense. For example, device tampering, content redistribution, or password sharing are examples that are hard to solve using a standard' security approach. That's why, as an industry, we need to embrace the world beyond conventional security boundaries.
A range of security options are available for operators looking to introduce a set-top box as part of their transition to OTT. Starting from a pure device point of view, this includes client security for content protection alongside other mechanisms such as secure boot, or a trusted environment to provide further application isolation when executing sensitive operations. Then, based on the use cases required by operators, additional security technologies can be implemented to secure streaming services. These can include forensic watermarking to deter and track unauthorized distribution, secure communications with the streaming server, token based security to protect against illegal access to CDN content, or anti-credential sharing measures.
Creating a Service Security Strategy
But what is the right approach? The answer lies in the definition of the service's security strategy. While client security has a clear role in secure playback, so does choosing a more modular and flexible set of security solutions that can be deployed and enabled at a time relevant to the operator's business. This provides a winning approach with which to tackle today's challenges of securing both the content and the service while also enabling the use cases required by today's consumers.
At NAGRA, we continue to offer unparalleled security solutions for both Live TV and OTT, but we're also particularly excited about the latest upgrades to our Active Streaming Protection framework that provides multiple industry-proven technologies - from secure playback and application protection to device protection and fraud prevention - all working together to address content and service piracy threats.
Driving complex digital transformation requires several key elements working together in perfect synchronization. Defining a tailored security strategy is as important as time to market or total cost of ownership and is critical for driving greater value while protecting valuable content investments. Consequently, one of the first questions we always ask our customers is how are you protecting your content and is it fit-for-purpose against your business ambition?
The right strategy can deliver significant benefits. NAGRA analysis of customer networks found that petabytes of data at significant cost were being used by pirate services. This meant operators were being hit twice - lost revenues from subscribers churning to pirate services (accelerated during a cost-of-living crisis) and additional costs from pirates directly accessing security-compromised content on the operator's CDN. NAGRA analysis also reveals that 20% of traffic across an average operator CDN is being used by pirate services. With macro-economic pressures creating further market turbulence, NAGRA is helping the industry address this much debated issue through the creation of holistic service security strategies.
Get In Touch To Learn More
NAGRA is proud to be working with several operators worldwide to make their digital transformation projects a reality. We understand the complexities of set-top box design, content, service, and cyber security, and we'd love to continue the conversation. For a no-obligation chat with one of our solution experts, just get in touch. Equally, if you're embarking on or are mid-transition from broadcast to streaming, check out our latest The New Economics of pay-TV eBook, where we explore how digital transformation has changed the media and entertainment industry, and how NAGRA can help you drive the transformation of your pay-TV business.
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
02/05/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
01/04/2026
January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION
Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...
12/02/2026
Chyron unveils PRIME 5.3, the latest software release of the company's powerful engine for live production graphics. PRIME 5.3 delivers the first official i...
12/02/2026
The vendor's VP of Product Management explains how quality assurance, monito...
12/02/2026
LTN announces the appointment of three experienced executives to lead its new Technology organization: Michal Miskin-Amir as EVP and Head of Technology, Jonatha...
12/02/2026
Riedel Communications has officially opened a new office in Kuala Lumpur, Malays...
12/02/2026
Grass Valley has won a competitive NATO-wide tender to provide the new camera system for NATO's main broadcast studio at its Brussels headquarters. The proj...
12/02/2026
Canon U.S.A announces that the vast majority of broadcast lenses utilized on the NBC live broadcast for the Big Game between New England and Seattle on Sunday w...
12/02/2026
The National Basketball Association (NBA) and NBC Sports announce the entertainm...
12/02/2026
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announces that beIN MEDIA GROUP ( beIN ), the leading global sports, entertainment and media organisation, has secured...
12/02/2026
The Big 12 Conference and ASB GlassFloor introduces a full LED video sports floor that will debut at the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's and Women's Baske...
12/02/2026
ESPN announces Year of the Super Bowl, a sweeping 12-month, multi-platform cel...
12/02/2026
Continuing its commitment to serving the faith-based broadcast and live event community, mobile production company TNDV, a division of Live Media Group, will hi...
12/02/2026
The production team of the long-running German investigative series Achtung Abz...
12/02/2026
Vizrt announces the launch of four Campus Stadium Production Bundles, designed t...
12/02/2026
At NAB Show, LiveU will showcase its broadest IP-video EcoSystem to date, design...
12/02/2026
Welcome to the Sports Video Group's new interview series, Follow the Money, ...
12/02/2026
400 Gbps of bandwidth, layered redundancy, and mobile-first connectivity powered...
12/02/2026
Valentine's Day often comes with a soundtrack. In fact, Spotify data shows that more people used Blend, our shared playlist feature, on February 14, 2025, t...
12/02/2026
Some days you want your music to reflect a specific feeling, memory, or vibe that goes beyond a single artist or genre. You want to do more than listen. You wan...
12/02/2026
Our Medicine S2: Frontline Medicine Through A Blak Lens
12 February, 2026
Media releases
A Bigger, Bolder Second Series showcasing First Nations Frontline ...
12/02/2026
L3Harris' VAMPIRE system fires Thales Belgian-made 70 MM rocket from an FZ60...
12/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/02/2026
The production team of the long-running German investigative series Achtung Abzocke recently upgraded its cameras for the show's 12th season. The objectiv...
12/02/2026
Leading provider of video streaming solutions, Bitmovin, has appointed Ian Baglow as Co-CEO alongside existing CEO and Co-Founder Stefan Lederer. Under this str...
12/02/2026
Vizrt, a leading viewer engagement platform and a trusted expert in live production technologies, today announces the launch of four Campus Stadium Production B...
12/02/2026
Strategic agreement to deliver S3 cloud storage in Switzerland with full data sovereignty and local control including at the level of individual cantons plu...
12/02/2026
Mad About Video is a leading specialist in video for live events and installations throughout Malta. In operation since 2011, it has evolved from a company focu...
12/02/2026
JAGGAER, a global leader in digital procurement and supplier collaboration solutions, today announced the successful delivery of a procurement digitalization pr...
12/02/2026
At NAB Show, LiveU will showcase its broadest IP-video EcoSystem to date, designed to help broadcasters and content creators embrace digital first operations, d...
12/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/02/2026
The six-part crime drama, created by Claire Oakley and produced by Little Door P...
12/02/2026
Wuppertal February 12, 2026
Riedel Opens Kuala Lumpur Office to Strengthen Glo...
12/02/2026
Back to All News
Netflix unveils the trailer for That Night
Entertainment
12 February 2026
GlobalSpain
Link copied to clipboard
WATCH THE TRAILER
DOWNLOA...
12/02/2026
The Digital Product Passport: A New Era of Transparency and Sustainability
Arvato Systems supports companies in getting started with the digital product passp...
12/02/2026
At leading institutions across the globe, the NVIDIA DGX Spark desktop supercomputer is bringing data center class AI to lab benches, faculty offices and studen...
12/02/2026
A diagnostic insight in healthcare. A character's dialogue in an interactive...
12/02/2026
The GeForce NOW sixth-anniversary festivities roll on this February, continuing a monthlong celebration of NVIDIA's cloud gaming service.
This week brings ...
12/02/2026
TIME100 Health list features Scripps Research Professor Darrell Irvine Irvine is recognized for his work in empowering the immune system to fight disease, which...
11/02/2026
FYI: Phone Support Maintenance One thing we pride ourselves on here at Utah Scientific is our 24-hour support included with our signature 10-year hardware warra...
11/02/2026
Leading provider of video streaming solutions, Bitmovin, has appointed Ian Baglow as Co-CEO alongside existing CEO and Co-Founder Stefan Lederer. Under this str...