A security system is provided in multiple geographic regions having a master server with a master database storing information for access control in each of the regions, and each region has an access control system having a regional server with a regional database storing information for access control in the region, one or more cameras for capturing video data, and one more digital video recorders for storing video data from the cameras. In each region, the regional server receives events from one of the access control system, or other systems which may be present in the region, such as intrusion detection systems, fire systems, or information systems. When received event data is linked in the regional database to a camera in the region, the regional server generates a record to store event video information in the regional database having data representative of the event, the camera linked to the event, the digital video recorder storing video data from the linked camera, and date and time information related to a period of time over which the event occurred. At the regional level, one or more regional video archive servers are provided in each region for archiving video data from the region's digital video recorders. At the master level, a master video archive server is coupled to the master server for archiving video data from the regional video archive servers. If a regional video archive server is not present in a region, video data may be archived from the region's digital video recorders to the master video archive server via the master server. If the video data archived at the regional or master level is associated with event video information stored in a regional database, such event video information is updated to include data representative of the video archive server containing the video data related to the events and the file names under which such video data related to the events are stored on that video archive server.