Remote Video Monitoring Services
Your cameras. Our eyes. 24/7.
Average Cost Reduction vs. Guard
Continuous Camera Coverage
Patrol Dispatch Response Time
Human-Verified Every Alert
What is Remote Video Monitoring?
Remote video monitoring is a security service in which trained agents in a 24/7 Security Operations Center watch your site's cameras in real time. AI-assisted analytics flag activity, a human agent verifies each alert, and a mobile patrol unit is dispatched only when a real threat is confirmed — giving you continuous coverage and physical response without the cost of a full-time on-site guard.
Static Guards Are Expensive and Limited.
A single on-site security guard costs far more than most businesses realize — and still leaves significant gaps. Citadel's hybrid approach to remote video monitoring changes the math entirely.
Traditional Approach
Static Guard
The Citadel Approach
Hybrid Monitoring
✓ Unlimited camera coverage. Every camera on your property is actively monitored — entrances, lots, perimeters, and interiors — simultaneously, all the time.
✓ AI-assisted, human-verified. Intelligent detection flags events, and trained SOC agents verify each alert before action — eliminating false alarms and catching real threats.
✓ Dramatically lower cost. Monitoring scales across multiple sites and cameras without linear cost increases. One contract replaces multiple guard positions.
✓ On-demand patrol response. When an incident is verified, a mobile patrol unit is dispatched immediately — physical presence when it matters, not permanent overhead.
✓ Consistent, documented performance. Every alert, response, and incident is logged — providing a full audit trail your guard service can't match.
Estimated Annual Cost (1 Guard, 1 Shift per Day):
$110-156K
Before overtime, turnover, or multi-shift coverage.
Estimated Annual Cost (Typical site):
$18-36K
Scales with cameras and patrol response volume.
Deterrence Before Incidents Occur
Visible camera infrastructure paired with active monitoring deters criminal activity before it starts. Monitored cameras are far more effective deterrents than unstaffed equipment, and a Citadel monitoring sign at your entrance sends a clear message.
Faster, Smarter Response
When a real event occurs, our SOC agents have eyes on your property before a patrol unit arrives. Officers are dispatched with a full briefing — suspect description, location, and real-time updates — improving outcomes over a blind 911 call.
Multi-Site Coverage Under One Contract
Whether you have 2 properties or 20, Citadel's monitoring handles them all under a single, scalable agreement. Adding a location means adding cameras to a running system — not recruiting another guard team.
Documentation That Protects You
Every monitored event is logged, timestamped, and stored. When incidents become insurance claims, police reports, or legal matters, Citadel's documentation gives you a complete, defensible record.
No Turnover, No Training Gaps
The guard industry sees very high annual turnover. Every new guard is unfamiliar with your property, tenants, and protocols. Citadel's monitoring team is consistent, trained, and accountable to a documented standard every shift.
Liability Reduction
Active monitoring reduces exposure — catching incidents early, creating documented evidence for claims, and presenting a security posture insurers recognize. Many clients see meaningful reductions in property insurance premiums.
The Hybrid Security Model
Monitoring + Patrol.
The Complete Solution.
Citadel's hybrid model pairs continuous video intelligence with an on-call patrol force — the best of both worlds at a fraction of the cost of either approach alone.
1
Camera Detection — AI-powered analytics detect motion, intrusion, perimeter breach, or loitering, flagging the event for immediate SOC review.
2
Human Verification — A trained SOC agent reviews the live feed, confirms the threat is real, and assesses severity, eliminating false alarms before any action.
3
Audio Warning (if applicable) — On equipped sites, the SOC agent can broadcast a live verbal warning through on-site speakers, often enough to deter and de-escalate on the spot.
4
Patrol Dispatch — If the situation escalates, a Citadel patrol unit is dispatched immediately, arriving with full situational awareness from the SOC.
5
Incident Report Delivered — Complete, timestamped documentation with camera evidence is delivered to your designated contacts after every event.
Hybrid Security
PAY FOR RESPONSE.
NOT FOR PRESENCE.
The fundamental flaw of static guard coverage is that you pay for physical presence whether or not anything is happening. A guard standing at an empty entrance at 3:00 AM costs exactly the same as one responding to a real incident.
Citadel's model inverts this. Our monitoring infrastructure provides continuous, scalable coverage — and patrol response is deployed only when a verified threat demands it. You get all the protection and accountability of physical security, activated exactly when it's needed.
For multi-site operators, the math is transformative: equivalent or superior coverage for a fraction of a traditional guard budget — with better documentation, faster response, and no staffing headaches.
THE NUMBERS
Budget Impact
Real numbers for a real comparison. Figures are representative estimates — your Citadel advisor will build a site-specific analysis.
10-PROPERTY PORTFOLIO — ANNUAL SECURITY SPEND
Traditional Guard Coverage (10 sites)
$1.1–1.5M
One guard per site, one shift per day. Does not include after-hours or overnight coverage.
Citadel Hybrid Monitoring (10 sites)
$180–360K
One guard per site, one shift per day. Does not include after-hours or overnight coverage.
Estimated Annual Savings
$750-1.1M
While increasing coverage from 8 hrs/day to 24/7, plus documented incident response.
Estimates based on industry-average guard costs and Citadel standard monitoring rates. Request a custom site analysis → →
Remote Video Monitoring: Questions, Answered.
What is remote video monitoring?
Remote video monitoring is a security service in which trained agents in a 24/7 Security Operations Center watch your site's cameras in real time. AI-assisted analytics flag activity, a human agent verifies each alert, and a mobile patrol unit is dispatched only when a real threat is confirmed.
How is remote video monitoring different from hiring a security guard?
A static guard can watch only one area at a time and carries the full cost of wages, benefits, and turnover. Remote video monitoring watches every camera on your property at once and dispatches patrol response only when needed, so you pay for response rather than for standing presence.
Does Citadel's monitoring use AI or real people?
Both. AI-powered video analytics detect motion, intrusion, and loitering, then a trained Citadel SOC agent verifies every alert before any action is taken, combining the speed of automation with human judgment to eliminate false alarms.
How much does remote video monitoring cost?
Cost depends on the number of cameras, the number of sites, and the level of patrol response. Monitoring typically costs a fraction of full-time guard coverage because one contract scales across many cameras and locations. Citadel provides a site-specific quote after a free assessment.
What happens when the system detects a threat?
Camera analytics flag the event, a SOC agent verifies it on live video, an audio warning can be broadcast on equipped sites, a mobile patrol unit is dispatched if needed, and a timestamped incident report is delivered afterward.
Can Citadel monitor multiple sites and my existing cameras?
Yes. Citadel's monitoring infrastructure covers multiple properties under a single, scalable agreement and can often integrate with existing camera systems, so adding a location means adding cameras rather than another guard team.
Related Services
Security Operations Center
The 24/7 live-staffed command center that verifies every alert and coordinates response.
Mobile Patrol
On-demand marked patrol units dispatched the moment a threat is verified.
Integrated Security
How Citadel combines monitoring, patrol, and on-site officers into one program.
MORE COVERAGE.
LOWER COST. PROVEN ROI.
Get a custom site assessment and cost comparison from a Citadel security advisor.