Digital Rights Management is a set of technologies that control how video content is accessed, copied, and distributed.
DRM (Digital Rights Management) is a technology framework that encrypts video content and controls who can play it, on which devices, and under what conditions. It is the digital equivalent of a lock on a filing cabinet — the content exists on the viewer's device, but it can only be opened with the right key, which the DRM system controls. Common DRM systems include Widevine (Google), FairPlay (Apple), and PlayReady (Microsoft).
DRM works through a three-part system: encryption, licensing, and enforcement. When a video is prepared for DRM-protected delivery, it is encrypted using a content key. The encrypted video can be distributed freely — it is useless without the decryption key.
When a viewer clicks play, the player contacts a license server to request a decryption key. The license server checks whether the viewer is authorized (based on authentication, geographic rules, or payment status) and, if approved, issues a time-limited license. The player's DRM module (built into the browser or operating system) uses this license to decrypt and play the video in a secure pipeline that prevents screen capture or stream ripping.
Full DRM requires support from the entire chain: the encoding pipeline, CDN, player, and the viewer's browser or device. This makes implementation complex and expensive. For many use cases, simpler access controls like signed URLs, password protection, or domain-restricted embeds provide sufficient protection without the overhead of full DRM.
DRM matters most for premium content where piracy has a direct financial impact — paid courses, subscription video services, premium training content, and licensed media. For these use cases, DRM is a requirement from content owners and licensing agreements.
However, DRM is often over-prescribed. Most business video (product demos, internal training, marketing content) does not need DRM. Simpler access controls are faster to implement, cheaper to run, and do not degrade the viewer experience with compatibility issues.
host.video provides privacy and access control through signed URLs, domain-restricted embeds, and password protection — covering the needs of most business video use cases without the complexity of full DRM.