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In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, companies can deploy advanced CCTV solutions representing incredible value for money.

If you haven’t heard of CCTV monitoring before, this article will introduce you to the opportunity to reduce the cost of relying on guards and improve threat detection.

We work with many businesses with vast sites to secure significant assets and operations to protect.

In these instances, CCTV monitoring is a cost-effective solution.

Table of contents

What is CCTV monitoring?

At this stage of the article, if you are asking yourself, ‘What is CCTV monitoring?’

Here’s a quick introduction.

  • CCTV monitoring provides 24/7 remote surveillance for businesses of all sizes
  • Typically, these systems include AI analytics and sensors for real-time threat detection
  • In most cases, this reduces the need for on-site security, therefore, cutting costs

Now let’s see how they work.

How does it work?

CCTV monitoring works in the following way:

Advanced cameras, like thermal, bullets, and PTZ devices, are deployed and fitted with sensors

  • If a sensor is triggered, an alarm signal is sent to an offsite monitoring station
  • A professional reviews your footage to gauge the situation
  • When a threat is confirmed, the authorities are contacted to handle the situation

Furthermore, tannoys and public address systems can be integrated within the system to allow your offsite team to warn off and communicate with an intruder.

To summarise:

  • Your site is protected 24/7
  • Incidents are spotted and dealt with in real-time
  • Assets and people are protected

Now, let’s move on to the cost savings these systems offer.

How much does CCTV monitoring cost?

Compared to the cost of employing security guards 24/7, CCTV monitoring is often 80% cheaper.

The cost of a CCTV monitoring system is split into three parts:

  • The initial installation
  • Ongoing monitoring
  • Maintenance

The salary of a security guard is around £35,000 per year.

As mentioned above, depending on the volume of cameras we are monitoring, your yearly monitoring fee could be 20% of the salary of a security guard.

Advanced 24/7 protection.

Reduce costs.

No risk to site security.

Ok, so there’s the introduction. Keen to learn more?

Read on….

Physical Security Guards

Do you need CCTV monitoring to protect your business?

Here are a few working examples to get us started – consider these threats and how they would impact your operations:

  • Break-ins and theft can result in significant financial loss and operational disruptions
  • Vandalism damages property and negatively affects your business image
  • Arson poses a serious risk to safety and can cause extensive property damage
  • Sabotage can disrupt business activities and erode customer trust

CCTV monitoring can deter these threats, ensuring 24/7 protection and peace of mind for you and your business.

Now, let’s consider why switching to a security camera monitoring system would be wise.

The cost of onsite security is no longer cost-effective

As mentioned earlier in this guide, security guards command a salary of around £35,000 per year.

Whilst security is vital to any business looking to protect its site and assets, threats are often infrequent.

That said, when they occur, the impact of crime can be significant.

The cost of deploying onsite cards is around 300% more than that of a 24/7 monitored security system. As a result, remote CCTV monitoring eliminates the need to employ security guards.

Think about it.

Why pay all that money when a more cost-effective option is available?


There has been an increase in crime locally

Criminals often target industrial and business parks in a concerted and organised fashion.

If you notice increased crime in your local area, you would be wise to ramp up security.

As discussed in the section above, deploying guards can be expensive.

You could add sensors and remote 24/7 monitoring to your current CCTV setup for a fraction of the cost.

Explore our CCTV finance and leasing options if installing security cameras strains your cash reserves. These flexible plans can help you implement a new system without depleting your financial resources.

The impact of theft, arson, and vandalism would be catastrophic to business operations

If you operate a business that would be massively impacted by theft, arson, or vandalism, CCTV monitoring will help negate this threat.

With CCTV monitoring, you can deal with threats in real-time. An alert will be sent to your offsite security team if a sensor is triggered.

They will swiftly review the situation and respond immediately by contacting the relevant authorities, ensuring that any potential threat is promptly addressed.

Too many false alarms

A false alarm is precisely what you think it is.

If you monitor your security and are constantly dealing with false alarms, you may well ignore the one that is a real threat.

How disastrous would that be?

A falling branch, leaf, or animal can activate a sensor, triggering an alert in your CCTV system.

If you respond to an alert, viewing the footage may drive you to your site – even if you can’t see anything on your camera feed.

How frustrating would that be if it turned out to be a false alarm?

Is it a good use of your time and energy?

With CCTV monitoring, your offsite security team will handle all of it. If an alert is triggered, they will review the footage and can make an appropriate decision.

Do you need CCTV monitoring to protect your business?

After reading this article, you should clearly understand remote camera monitoring, the cost savings benefits, and the reasons to switch from relying on guards.

Keen to explore this option?

Call us now on 0800 689 1835 to talk to an expert.

Article FAQs

Looking to learn a little more?

Here are a handful of questions you may have after reading this article.

What features should I look for in a CCTV monitoring system for my business?

Look for AI analytics for real-time threat detection and thermal imaging for night vision.

Ensure cameras are weather-resistant for durability and have integration capabilities with alarms and access control systems.

These features ensure comprehensive and reliable security coverage for various business environments​​​​​​.

How do I calculate the cost savings of switching from security guards to CCTV monitoring?


Compare the annual salary of security guards (around £35,000) with the significantly lower costs of CCTV monitoring services, typically 20% of that amount.

Also, consider factoring in savings from reduced insurance premiums and reduced property damage due to proactive threat detection​​​​.

What are the best practices for integrating CCTV monitoring with alarms and access control systems?


Ensure all systems are compatible and can communicate effectively.
Use an integrated platform that supports real-time alerts and remote management.

Regularly update and maintain each component to ensure seamless operation and enhanced security coverage​​​​.

How does CCTV monitoring handle false alarms and what technologies are used to minimise them?


AI-driven analytics differentiate between real threats and benign activities, reducing false alarms.

Advanced sensors and regular system calibrations further minimise false alarms, ensuring only genuine threats trigger alerts​​​​.