The security of a business, organisation or premises should never be overlooked. When taken seriously, site security can hold numerous ongoing benefits such as a reduced rate of targeting from criminals, improved business efficiency and a long-term reduction in costs.
Many of us know what a security system is and its importance, but did you know that remote security monitoring is an additional security service that can maximise the benefits of a current security system and add an extra layer of protection to the premises and employees inside?
Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about remote security monitoring and whether it can benefit you and your business.
What is remote security monitoring?
Remote security monitoring is the monitoring of an entire security system, carried out by a third party monitoring provider, 24/7, 365 days of the year and completely remote.
The monitoring team will be monitoring the security system for several factors, with the most important being triggered or activated alarms. This could be in the form of intruder alarms, sensors and/or CCTV cameras.
The remote security monitoring team also has the responsibility of actioning a response when an alarm is triggered and informing the police or relevant authorities. This essentially puts the responsibility of managing, worrying about and dealing with a business’ security system onto the remote security monitoring provider and not on the business or installer, therefore providing total peace of mind.
Modern remote monitoring goes far beyond simple alarm verification. Today, services are highly integrated, offering sophisticated solutions like lone worker support, virtual patrols, and proactive checks on non-security related systems. For instance, in sectors like restaurants and hospitality, monitoring can extend to fridge and freezer temperatures, helping to prevent costly stock loss alongside traditional security functions. The increasing sophistication of threats, as evidenced by a 13% rise in shoplifting offences recorded by police in England and Wales, according to the Office for National Statistics, makes professional, 24/7 remote oversight an indispensable component of a comprehensive risk management strategy.
This is especially true for businesses operating across multiple or temporary sites, where maintaining constant, dedicated physical security can be both impractical and cost-prohibitive. For more in-depth information, you can read our guide on CCTV Monitoring: The Complete Guide.
How does remote monitoring work?
Wondering how remote monitoring all works, especially when done remotely? We’ve got you covered.
The remote security monitoring company you choose will have their own Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC). This is a centre that is manned by a team of highly trained operatives, every hour of every day. The ARC receives signals from any triggered alarms or cameras, which notifies the operatives that a security breach has occurred.
The monitoring operatives will then quickly work to action the most appropriate response to the situation, whether that be the police or an audio challenge. The whole process of receiving an alarm notification, to actioning an immediate response can be done in a matter of minutes.
The capability of the modern ARC is a critical differentiator. Cutting-edge technology, including the integration of AI in remote security monitoring, is now standard, allowing for smarter threat detection and significantly reducing false alarms. For example, video analytics can differentiate between a human intruder and an animal or weather-related event. This level of verification is essential not only for immediate response but also for maintaining police response, as forces adhere to strict policies on call-outs to minimise resource strain from false activations.
The physical and digital security of the ARC itself is paramount, which is why an operator with accreditations like NSI Gold demonstrates adherence to the highest operational standards. Furthermore, the role of the ARC extends to coordinating specialised responses, such as initiating fire alarm monitoring protocols or managing access control, ensuring a unified and rapid reaction to any event.
What happens if an alarm is triggered?
When an alarm is triggered, there are a few steps that quickly take place to ensure the fastest response to the security emergency.
Once the monitoring operatives have received the alarm notification, they will carry out the following steps:
1. Confirm if it is a false alarm.
The operatives know that there is a possibility that the activation could be a false alarm, especially if it is during working hours. Therefore, they will contact the site to confirm if the alarm is false or not. This not only saves the emergency services time and money, but also the business.
If the alarm notification is received out of hours, then the team will assume that it is not a false alarm and will go on and action a response.
In the contemporary security landscape, confirmation of a genuine threat is often instant, especially where CCTV monitoring is integrated. Operatives can visually verify the presence of an intruder within seconds, a process known as ‘visual verification’. This crucial step is what provides a confirmed police response under the latest security industry guidelines. The swift, accurate verification process is vital because, historically, non-verified alarms have accounted for a significant waste of police time. Businesses that rely on self-monitoring or unmonitored systems often struggle to achieve the confirmed status required for a priority police response, highlighting a key advantage of professional monitoring. You can learn more about how technology is helping to manage this issue in our post on how AI is reducing false alarms and operator fatigue in ARCs.
2. Action an immediate response.
The various options that the monitoring operatives can choose from will be set by you when setting up the contract. They can range from an audio challenge to the intruder to contacting the key account holder, as well as sending out the monitoring provider’s rapid response team to, of course, the emergency services.
Whatever your set of agreed responses, the remote security monitoring team will always choose the most appropriate option and carry them out instantaneously and much faster than an untrained individual could do alone.
For businesses with specific security needs, such as a construction site or a large manufacturing or waste recycling facility, the response can be highly customised. This might include an audible warning to deter trespassers before a break-in occurs (known as audio intervention), or activating remote arm/disarm functions for authorised personnel. A key element of professional response is the use of comprehensive, pre-agreed escalation plans, ensuring that every scenario, from a confirmed burglary to a technical fault, is managed efficiently and consistently, day or night. This structured approach is fundamental to protecting business assets and maintaining continuity.
How much does remote security monitoring cost?
Remote security monitoring contracts are usually a monthly or annual cost and can start from as little as £20 per month per site. Various factors will influence the price of each site, such as the size of the site’s security system and the number of elements it includes, such as number of CCTV cameras, alarms etc.
RMS offers a free, no-obligation quotation. Call us on 0330 002 1149 today.
What are the benefits of remote security monitoring?
There are numerous benefits of having your security system professionally monitored by a remote security monitoring company.
Beyond the core security functions, the advantages of professional remote monitoring translate directly into tangible business value. The ability to monitor critical infrastructure, such as EV charge point monitoring, fire systems, or server rooms, adds a layer of operational resilience that unmonitored security systems simply cannot match. This holistic approach to site management is detailed further in our article on key advantages of combining fire, security, and environmental monitoring systems.
Extra layer of protection
By having remote security monitoring in place, it provides increased security to the site and better building protection from the effects of a break-in.
This enhanced protection can also lead to significant financial benefits. Many UK insurers offer substantial premium reductions for premises protected by a professionally monitored security system, particularly those connected to an NSI Gold accredited Alarm Receiving Centre. This potential reduction in your annual insurance costs can often offset a significant portion of the monitoring fee, making it a sound financial decision as well as a necessary security measure. For more details on this financial advantage, check out our guide on understanding your insurance and how remote monitoring impacts premiums.
Reduced risk to employees & visitors
Intruders and criminals also oppose a risk to individuals who may get in the way of their crimes. Remote security monitoring can help prevent criminal activity from escalating and putting your employees and visitors at risk.
This is particularly important for businesses that employ lone workers or have staff working out of hours. In these situations, the ability of a trained operative to remotely observe a situation and initiate a rapid, professional response is a vital safety measure, preventing staff from having to confront a threat directly.
Immediate response to alarms
Remote monitoring operatives are trained to respond quickly and efficiently to alarm notifications and therefore can provide a much faster response than another individual could.
Reduce business downtime
Because the site and employees aren’t responsible for security system activations, there will be significantly reduced business downtime if an intruder did break-in to the premises, as the employees will not need to deal with the issue, therefore driving better business efficiencies.
Furthermore, in the event of an incident, the remote monitoring service handles all primary call handling and coordination with emergency services and keyholders, allowing management to focus on continuity. This streamlined process is essential, especially when considering that the total economic cost of business crime in the UK remains a significant burden on organisations of all sizes.
Reduce unwanted false alarms
Figures show that in the past, non-verified intruder alarm calls have accounted for a significant percentage of police call-outs. The police have continued to enforce strict call-out policies under the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Security Systems Policy to address this issue. Remote security monitoring, particularly when combined with video verification technology, makes sure only real alarm activations are acted upon, saving all parties valuable time and money. The use of advanced verification techniques, including video and audio confirmation, is key to achieving a high-priority police response, as highlighted in the latest police policies.
Remote security monitoring is therefore an additional service that will increase the overall safety and security of a site, whilst improving the day-to-day efficiencies and business operations. Employees can fully focus on their roles and not worry about potential intruders entering the premises, especially out of hours. The integration of remote monitoring services also provides crucial support for complying with health and safety risk assessments, as we discuss in our dedicated article on how monitoring services support your health and safety risk assessments.
At RMS, we provide monitoring for all types of systems, including security systems. We are proudly NSI gold accredited and provide a 5* personable service who are always happy to help with any query, big or small.
If you’re looking to switch your current monitoring provider or are looking for a new monitoring contract, get in touch with us today for a free quotation on 0330 002 1149.
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