Ever wondered what happens when a business’ alarm sounds out of working hours and no one is around? If it’s an unmonitored alarm system, nothing!
That’s because it’s up to the business to hear the alarm and carry out the necessary action, such as call the police. However, if staff aren’t present and the alarms are not heard by passers-by, it’s possible that the intruder could carry out their crime unnoticed. This presents a serious risk, especially considering the latest Office for National Statistics data, which showed a significant 55% increase in the robbery of business property, highlighting the escalating threat faced by commercial premises. However, if the intruder alarm is monitored, it’s a different story…
Keep reading as we explain the full benefits of intruder alarm monitoring and how an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) can provide essential protection for your client’s site, assets, and personnel.
What is intruder alarm monitoring?
Intruder alarm monitoring is when a third party security monitoring provider, constantly monitor and look over the entire intruder alarm system. They’ll be keeping watch 24/7, 365 days a year in wait for any of your intruder alarms to be triggered. As part of a comprehensive security monitoring strategy, this service is delivered by a dedicated Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) like RMS. Modern monitoring services go beyond just watching a light blink; they integrate advanced technology, including AI to reduce false alarms, ensuring every alert is treated with the correct priority. This commitment to robust security is often a requirement for NSI Gold compliance and critical for commercial insurance policies.
When an alarm is triggered, the monitoring team will confirm whether or not it is a false alarm and if not, will rapidly action the most appropriate response. This confirmation process, known as Visual Verification or Audio Verification, is crucial because it filters out activations caused by environmental factors, pets, or simple human error. By filtering these non-events, the monitoring team can be confident a genuine threat is present. This is vital as police forces across the UK operate under policies that require a confirmed intrusion before they will dispatch a unit, to avoid wasting time and resources on the vast majority of activations that are indeed false alarms. This is why professional, monitored systems are often a non-negotiable requirement for police response. This rapid, verified response could be in the form of a verbal warning via the security system to the intruder, the sending of a specialised guard team, or the police. For sites with integrated video surveillance, our dedicated team can provide in-depth CCTV monitoring services, enhancing the ability to verify and respond to security events.
Intruder alarm monitoring is a service that provides an extra layer of security, peace of mind to stakeholders and eliminates the worry of intrusion out-of-hours or when staff are not present. This is particularly relevant for businesses operating across multiple locations or in sectors like retail and showrooms, where high-value stock and out-of-hours vulnerability are major concerns.
What are its benefits of intruder alarm monitoring?
Taking out a monitoring contract for your client’s intruder alarm system provides a whole host of short-term & long-term benefits to all aspects of their business.
Improved Security
Intruder alarm monitoring provides the constant monitoring of the system, whether your client and their employees are present or not. Whether it’s the weekend, a national holiday or throughout the night, the business will have the extra layer of protection as no alarm will ever be missed. In today’s interconnected business landscape, security is more complex than ever; a monitored system acts as a central hub, capable of integrating with other essential systems like fire alarm monitoring and environmental controls, as discussed in our article on the key advantages of combining monitoring systems. This holistic approach ensures all critical risks are managed 24/7.
Immediate Response
When an intruder alarm is monitored, the monitoring team will receive an instant notification if an alarm or sensor has been triggered. They are therefore able to instantaneously and immediately action the most appropriate response, completely remotely. For instance, the operator can carry out a remote arm/disarm to reset the system if a false alarm is confirmed, or immediately deploy a security patrol.
It’s important not to underestimate the time it would take an individual to report an alarm and contact the police. A break-in is a stressful event and emotions can take over making people behave inefficiently. Also add in the time between the alarm triggering and someone realising, it could be hours before they’re notified by a passerby. A monitoring provider can do all this in a matter of minutes. This efficiency is critical; according to a report by The Security Industry Authority, the presence of an immediate, professional response significantly increases the chances of a successful intruder apprehension or asset recovery.
Stops Intruders in Their Tracks
The rapid response from the monitoring provider then leads to an improved rate of stopping an intruder in their tracks. As well as action a police response, monitoring operatives can also carry out a verbal confrontation or warning to the intruder through the security system which has been proven to deter intruders almost instantly. If they know that the police are on their way and they’ve been caught on CCTV, they won’t be hanging around for long! The integration of this verbal warning system, often via two-way audio through the CCTV or alarm panel, provides a powerful non-lethal deterrent. In many cases, this immediate human intervention is enough to cause the intruder to flee, minimising damage and preventing theft before the police or keyholders arrive. This is a primary benefit for large, isolated sites such as manufacturing or waste recycling facilities, where the delay in a physical arrival can be substantial. Our ability to provide a remote patrol or virtual presence adds significant value here.
Reduced False Alarms
When an intruder alarm system is monitored, it can also act to reduce the number of false alarms. Not only do false alarms put a strain on the emergency services but they are also frustrating and annoying for businesses. When an alarm is triggered, the monitoring team will get in contact to check if it is a false alarm or not. A simple part of the process, but integral to helping the business run more efficiently. This verification process is critical to maintaining a strong relationship with the local police, as repeat false alarms can lead to the withdrawal of police response—a significant drawback for any business. Modern ARCs leverage sophisticated technology and procedures to significantly reduce false activations, ensuring only genuine incidents result in a call to emergency services.
Reduced Business Downtime
A major benefit of a monitored intruder alarm is that they will experience reduced business downtime, especially in the instance of false alarms. If a false alarm does occur, the monitoring team can identify it and disable the alarm remotely. This means the client and their employees won’t have to wait for the emergency services and for the building to be cleared. Instead, they’ll be able to quickly get back to their tasks without sufficient interruption. Furthermore, in the event of a confirmed break-in, the ARC manages the entire response chain, from contacting keyholders and the police to coordinating with a rapid response unit, allowing your clients to focus on their core business.
This level of comprehensive incident management is a major reason why companies are increasingly moving away from relying solely on keyholder call-outs.
Cost-Effective
The cost of an intrusion is incremental. Not only can the cost of damage from forced entry and vandalism be costly, but there will also be a monetary loss from any stolen goods, such as stock, computers and tools. Setting up a monitoring contract will therefore be a small investment per month in the improved security of a site, compared to the potential loss if a break-in did occur. Beyond direct loss, businesses must also consider the hidden costs of crime, such as increased insurance premiums, loss of sensitive data, and reputational damage.
In fact, a study published in the British Journal of Criminology strongly supports that professionally monitored security systems offer a statistically significant deterrent against property crime, ultimately providing a superior return on investment when compared to unmonitored systems. For small businesses in particular, we’ve explored the complete cost-risk comparison in our guide on security systems versus self-monitoring.
Peace of Mind
Last but by no means least, providing peace of mind is a major benefit of intruder alarm monitoring for both you and your clients. You can be rest assured that someone is keeping watch on the site and that the necessary actions will take place if and when needed, without any input from you. For businesses that operate across multiple sites or those that manage remote infrastructure, such as utility sites, this reassurance is invaluable. It is a fundamental part of a comprehensive security strategy, allowing management and staff to focus on productivity, knowing that their security is managed by a trusted, professional Alarm Receiving Centre. RMS prides itself on being a reliable partner, offering services that extend to protecting your vulnerable staff through lone worker monitoring.
Want to know about intruder alarm monitoring with RMS? We encourage you to review our dedicated complete guide to intruder alarm monitoring for a deeper dive into system types and police response levels. Get in touch at 0330 002 1149 and receive a free quotation today.
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