Benefits of Integrating COVA with myDW Services
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Affected Roles: Administrator
Related DW Software: myDW Health Monitoring Service, DW Mobile+
Last Edit: February 19, 2026
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COVA and myDW Integration
During the initial installation process of a COVA network video recorder, the Administrator will be prompted to register the unit with the myDW Health Monitoring Service. This is completely optional. If the owner chooses to decline the registration, the recorder will still be operational and provide the intended recording, viewing, and remote management functionality. However, certain services and features will be unavailable without myDW integration.
This article will provide a comparison of the functional differences between deploying a COVA recording unit with integration of the myDW Health Monitoring Service, compared to operating a COVA recorder without registering it to myDW.
NOTE: Remote management features are limited without myDW integration. Users will still be able to use a direct connection to their COVA via IP address and a web browser. Port forwarding the recorder will be necessary for viewing and recorder management from outside of the local network.
Supported/Affected Devices:
- DW COVA Series
- DW-COVA16
- DW-COVA8
- DW-COVA4
DW COVA & myDW Deployment Comparison
The DW COVA (Cloud-Optimized Video Archiving) recorder is a hybrid NVR that records camera video to its local storage, while also providing remote management and monitoring services.
COVA can operate in three (3) modes:
- Registered to myDW with an active subscription
- Registered to myDW with an expired/suspended subscription.
- Operating locally without myDW registration.
| Feature | COVA + myDW Subscription | COVA + Expired myDW Subscription | COVA Standalone |
| Local Recording | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Live Monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| View Playback | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Add / Manage Users | Yes | Yes | No |
| Role-Based Permissions | Yes | No | No |
| Recorder Group Permissions | Yes | No | No |
| Health Alerts | Yes | No | No |
| Mobile Push Notifications (System Events) | Yes | Yes | No |
| Mobile Push Notifications (Channel Events) | Yes | Yes | No |
| CVV | Yes | No | No |
| Inventory & Health Reports | Yes | No | No |
| Cloud Clip Share | Yes | No | No |
| Centralized Alert history | Yes | No | No |
COVA with myDW Standard Subscription
When registered to myDW, COVA becomes part of a centralized cloud-managed ecosystem.
Video continues to record locally on the unit’s internal HDD, while operational telemetry and health data are transmitted securely to the myDW Cloud.
The combination of myDW and COVA’s local operations supports managed services and proactive maintenance workflow.
Enabled myDW Features
Integration with myDW enables the following features:
- Centralized Health Monitoring Dashboard
- Alert Rules (System, Disk, Video)
- Camera View Verification (CVV)
- Recorder and Camera Health Reports
- Inventory Reports
- Organized Hierarchy (Channel Partner, Sub-Channel Partner, End User)
- Role-based Access Control
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
- Clip Share Cloud Storage
- No Inbound Firewall Port Requirement
- Web-based Access from Any Browser
- DW Mobile+ Integration
COVA Recorder Local Features
COVA is designed to be managed through the myDW Health Monitoring Service using a premium subscription. In this integration, the COVA recorder performs the following local operations:
- Stream and Monitor Video Locally
- Record Video Locally
- Receive Alerts from the Recorder
- Manage Local COVA User Profiles
- IdentiSee (stream analytics)
- Share Clips Securely through myDW Cloud
COVA With an Expired or Suspended myDW Subscription
When a myDW subscription expires, the COVA recorder maintains cloud connectivity. Remote live viewing and playback remains accessible, and user creation and management will continue to function. However, custom role-based user groups will be disabled.
Push Notifications to users’ DW Mobile+ applications will also remain operational.
Suspended myDW Services
Until the subscription to myDW is renewed, the following myDW features and services are suspended:
- Video Clip Share Library
- Dashboard Map and Monitoring Widgets
- Alert Configuration and Alert Visibility
- System Health, Inventory, and CVV Reports
Local recording and remote access functionality with the COVA are not affected by subscription expiration.
COVA Without myDW Registration (Standalone Mode)
The COVA hardware can be installed and operated locally without registration to a myDW account.
In this configuration, the recorder functions as a traditional standalone NVR with only its local features. System configuration and management are performed through the COVA recorder’s web-based client.
Video will continue to stream and record locally. However, cloud-based services are never enabled. This limits system management to a reactive repair approach, rather than proactive maintenance.
COVA Recorder Local Capabilities
- Local Recording
- Local Web Client Access
- Local Camera Configuration
- Local Playback
- Local Monitoring
- IdentiSee (stream analytics)
- Port Forwarding is Required for Remote Access (offsite viewing)
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