Remote patrol is a service carried out remotely that eliminates the need for any on-site security patrol team.
It has a number of benefits that have an effect on the client’s productivity and efficiency. But what exactly is remote patrol? Who provides it and what are the benefits of remote patrol to a business? Keep reading to find out all you need to know and whether the service would be beneficial to you.
What is remote patrol?
Remote patrol is a service provided by a third party monitoring provider. The monitoring operatives will access a site’s CCTV system and through the carefully positioned cameras, will be able to view the entire site remotely. The team will therefore be able to conduct security patrols via the camera network as per the client’s instructions and requirements such as lighting, employee safety, doors, gates and barriers, as well as health and safety checks.
These patrols can be carried out as many times as the client requires and can replace the role of a physical warden patrol or as added support to a current security on-site team.
This modern approach, often called ‘Virtual Guarding’, has rapidly grown in popularity, especially across high-value sectors like manufacturing and waste recycling where large, complex sites make physical patrols challenging. Unlike traditional guards who must adhere to fixed routes and may face fatigue, a remote operator can instantaneously check multiple critical areas, making the patrol far more comprehensive. The implementation of AI in remote security monitoring further enhances this service, allowing for sophisticated analysis of video feeds to filter out environmental anomalies and focus on genuine threats, significantly improving detection accuracy.
Who provides remote patrol services?
There are various monitoring providers who will provide remote patrol services, however it is important to choose a provider who is NSI approved and has the full capabilities to carry out the required patrol measures and checks. The monitoring provider will have a team of highly skilled monitoring operatives who will manage the remote patrols. They will be trained to high level to carry out tasks such as making announcements, routine security checks, inspectections, recording details and when needed, escalating any issues to the keyholder or emergency services.
For businesses relying on these systems for their primary security, it’s vital to partner with an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) that adheres to the highest standards. NSI Gold approval, for example, is a benchmark of quality and reliability, ensuring the ARC’s operational procedures, training, and technology meet stringent requirements. This not only guarantees a professional service but is often a prerequisite for your commercial insurance policy, directly impacting the level of cover and premiums. To understand the wider context of this standard, you can read our guide on what NSI Gold means for your business.
What are the benefits of remote patrol to a business?
Improve overall site security
Remote patrols add an extra layer of security for sites, therefore providing an enormous benefit to the business. By using the remote patrol service to identify suspicious behaviour, unwanted visitors and any incidents, a site will be significantly safer than without the service and dedicated monitoring team.
The need for robust security is underlined by the rising trend in commercial crime. Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that police recorded a 50% increase in robbery of business property in the year ending March 2025, while shoplifting offences hit their highest figure since 2003. This escalating risk profile makes proactive, remote surveillance more critical than ever, shifting the security focus from merely recording an incident to preventing it entirely. Remote patrols, in conjunction with professional security monitoring services, are an essential component of a modern security strategy.
Cost-Effectiveness
One of the most immediate and significant advantages of virtual patrols over traditional manned guarding is the substantial cost saving. Physical security guards incur costs for wages, benefits, uniforms, and constant turnover, which can be considerable. Remote monitoring, by contrast, can cost up to 60% less than on-site guard services while providing superior, round-the-clock coverage. This economy of scale is achieved because a single, highly-trained remote operator can effectively monitor multiple sites simultaneously, ensuring comprehensive coverage without the escalating labour costs. These savings are especially attractive to sites like restaurants and retail premises which operate on tight margins.
Flexible & scalable
A major benefit of a remote patrol service is that it is often flexible and can be easily scaled depending on the size of the site. The monitoring operative will work with the client to carry out the necessary security tasks whenever needed, whether that be several times per hour or once per day. As long as the CCTV system expands and covers more of a site, so can the remote patrols.
This scalability is key for businesses undergoing expansion or seasonal fluctuation. Adding another CCTV monitoring point or an entire new section to the patrol route is a straightforward adjustment to the service protocol, unlike the lengthy process of hiring and training new physical staff. Furthermore, remote patrols are not limited to security; they can be scaled to include checks for air conditioning monitoring, fridge/freezer temperatures, or unattended spills, offering true operational flexibility.
Rapid-response for emergencies
Monitoring operatives are trained to an extremely high level and are able to respond quickly and appropriately to emergency situations, at a rate much faster and efficient than a day-to-day site employee. They will identify an issue, determine and then contact the correct response in a matter of minutes, which will again increase the overall safety and security of a site.
The swift, professional response is also crucial in managing potential false alarms. Statistics show that UK Fire and Rescue Services attended over 250,000 false fire alarms in England in the last year, with apparatus faults being a major cause. A trained ARC operative performing fire alarm monitoring can visually confirm an alarm’s legitimacy via CCTV before escalating it to the fire service, ensuring that valuable emergency resources are not wasted and avoiding costly business disruption. This verification process is a primary example of how remote monitoring services support efficiency in facility management.
Cover all vulnerable areas
A physical security warden or patrol can’t be in all places at once and especially will not be able to cover all vulnerable areas at the same time. The benefit of a remote patrol to a business is that they can not only cover all vulnerable areas, but they can also identify vulnerable areas whilst carrying out their patrols.
Reduces risk of human error
Remote patrols can have the benefit of reducing the risk of human error and key security issues being missed, due to having the ability to have eyes on all key areas through the CCTV cameras. Where a physical security warden may miss something crucial, due to not being in the right place at the right time, a monitoring operative can view the entire site and be sure not to miss any activity or checks.
Zero contact patrols
With remote patrols, you can significantly reduce the amount of contact between employees and help keep the individuals on-site safe.
Benefits Beyond Security
In addition to these operational benefits, implementing professional remote monitoring can have a positive financial impact that extends beyond just security.
Insurers view professionally monitored sites as a significantly lower risk. Businesses with monitored alarm and CCTV systems are often eligible for reduced insurance premiums—sometimes by up to 20%—because the monitoring acts as both a deterrent and a guaranteed rapid-response mechanism. This demonstrates a proactive approach to risk management, which underwriting teams are keen to reward.
By choosing a comprehensive provider like RMS, you are investing in a system that not only deters intruders and manages incidents but also streamlines your compliance and lowers your operational costs in the long run. Whether you’re securing a student accommodation block or a large commercial facility, the blend of technology and human expertise ensures optimal protection.
Get in touch
At RMS, we are NSI approved and our remote patrol services can give your clients the support they need when it comes to security patrols. Whether it’s hourly or daily remote patrols, interior or external, day or night, you can have confidence that your site is being monitored by a dedicated team of experts in the field.
Get in touch for a FREE quote today. Call us on 0330 002 1149.
To learn more about how our approach to remote security and non-security monitoring can be tailored for your specific business needs, we encourage you to explore who we are and the advanced solutions we offer.
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