What is CCTV monitoring? This advanced, cost-saving security solution provides 24/7 remote surveillance for your business.
These systems ensure real-time threat detection and rapid response to security breaches.
In this article, you will learn about CCTV monitoring, how these systems work, their benefits, and the cost savings compared to employing physical security guards.
Keen to reduce the cost of relying on security guards?
Can’t afford a guard but would like an effective 24/7 affordable security solution?
Scroll through this article to learn more, or click on a link in the table of contents to jump to the most relevant section for you.
Let’s begin.
Table of contents
What is CCTV monitoring?
CCTV monitoring is like having a dedicated team of security professionals watching over your premises or site 24/7, but at a fraction of the cost of employing physical guards.
These systems provide:
- Real-time threat detection
- Rapid response to any security breaches
Advanced cameras and sensors, when triggered, send an alert to an offsite monitoring centre.
Then, our experts assess and handle security situations immediately.
This ensures 24/7 site security protection and peace of mind, making it an efficient and cost-effective solution for safeguarding your assets and premises.
These systems are also called:
- Monitored CCTV
- Surveillance monitoring
- Security camera monitoring
- 24/7 remote CCTV monitoring.
Many businesses use CCTV as a deterrent and employ physical guards to monitor their premises and tackle threats., as and when they arise.
Some businesses can’t afford to employ physical guards and, when they can, use an app to monitor their footage internally.
For businesses employing guards, remote CCTV monitoring can offer substantial cost savings.
On the other hand, for businesses that can’t afford to employ security personnel, these systems will protect their site 24/7 at a fraction of the cost of guards.
How does remote CCTV monitoring work?
This section of our guide will explain how these systems work and offer some practical examples to help cement your understanding of these solutions.
Here’s a quick overview of how security camera monitoring works:
- Your CCTV camera system is designed and installed to meet your surveillance requirements
- Typically, advanced cameras are deployed as they offer accurate threat detection
- Cameras are fitted with sensors and other detection equipment to detect threats
- If a threat is detected and the alarm signal is sent to our offsite CCTV monitoring station
- An operative will review the footage and take the appropriate action if a threat is spotted
24/7 protection.
Fast response to threats.
Total site surveillance and protection.
The components of a surveillance camera monitoring system
As mentioned, with surveillance camera monitoring systems, devices are fitted with sensors and other detection equipment.
Here’s a bit more detail:
- Motion sensors are deployed to raise an alarm signal when triggered
- IR lighting enables the intruder to be spotted without them knowing
- Thermal cameras offer accurate human detection in low-light conditions
- AI-driven video analytics offer further visual identification
- Tannoy speakers are deployed, allowing an operative to warn off intruders
- Perimeter beams will trigger an alarm signal when their path is crossed
Comprehensive system design.
Accurate threat detection.
Two examples of these systems in action
Here are a few examples to cement your understanding of how monitored CCTV works:
Communicating with an intruder to deter vandalism
In this example, an intruder cuts through the perimeter fence as they are looking to vandalise a site.
A bullet camera monitoring the perimeter picks them up immediately.
An alert is triggered, and our monitoring station reviews the footage
Furthermore, an operative uses the Tannoy to warn the intruder they have been spotted.
As a result of this action, they leave site immediately.
Therefore, the threat is detected and dealt with successfully and immediately.
Catching a professional burglar
An ANPR camera we installed captured an intruder’s number plate several times over the past two weeks, spotting them scoping out a site.
One night, they decided to burgle the premises because they had detected a lot of expensive IT equipment stored on site.
As a result of a well designed system, a thermal camera fitted with IR lighting, detects the intuder.
We’ve spotted the intruder; however, they are unaware we’re tracking them around the site.
An operative communicates with the authorities, and they arrive on site within minutes to apprehend the intruder.
Considering this stealth approach to surveillance, burglars are caught and dealt with immediately.
What are the benefits?
So far, we have answered the question, ‘What is CCTV monitoring?’ offered insight into how these systems work, and highlighted the businesses that will benefit most from investing in monitored surveillance.
Now, let’s look at the benefits.
They are:
- Reducing the cost of employing security guards
- Advanced security at a fraction of the cost of deploying guards
- Accurate threat detection & fast response to incidents
- Detecting & dealing with threats in real time
- Deterring intruders through the use of Tannoy’s
- 24/7 site protection & surveillance
- Peace of mind for the business owner and security managers
We’re sure you’ll agree that the benefits of CCTV monitoring are considerable.
An investment in security camera monitoring is a wise choice if you want to reduce security costs, improve site security, and manage threats as they occur.
How much do CCTV monitoring systems cost?
Investing in CCTV monitoring systems can lead to significant cost savings compared to employing physical security guards.
As a result, in many cases, it eliminates the need to employ security guards.
While we can’t provide a quote without knowing how many cameras you need and other required information, here’s a breakdown of the costs associated with CCTV monitoring:
- System installation: installing your new or upgraded system
- Ongoing monitoring: a monthly or yearly fee for the service
- Maintenance: regular system checks, updates, and hardware maintenance
What are the cost savings compared to guards?
Compared to employing guards, the cost of CCTV monitoring is around 75% to 80% lower.
To summarise, physical guards demand salaries, benefits, and overtime pay, while monitored CCTV provides continuous protection without these additional expenses.
On the other hand, for smaller businesses, CCTV monitoring offers the advantage of having a professional security team at a fraction of the cost, ensuring peace of mind and effective security management.
Which businesses are most suited to CCTV monitoring?
To offer some context, businesses operating at a site with a large perimeter or with significant assets to protect achieve the most ROI from deploying these systems.
These include
- Solar farms & BESS sites
- Warehouses & logistics sites
- Industrial sites
- Schools and colleges
- Office based businesses
- Farms & equestrian centres
- Retail outlets & supermarkets
- High-end residential homes
In the next section of this article, we focus on the benefits these systems offer.
Get a quote today
Whether you are actively looking or simply would like to talk to an experienced professional, get in touch today.
You can call us on 0800 689 1835 or message us via our contact form.
Case studies
For more insights into how these systems benefit our clients, here are a couple of links to related case studies:
