Questions to ask every provider
Ask each company the same questions in writing, then compare answers side by side.
People and review
- Who reviews my cameras, and are they your own staff or a third party?
- Does a person review every alert or only uncertain ones?
- Who covers reviews when an operator is away or busy with another site?
Verification and response
- How is an alert confirmed before anyone is contacted?
- Who do you call, in what order, and what happens if no one answers?
- Can you use speakers or a local response partner at my site, and what does that cost?
Cameras and coverage
- Will you use my existing cameras, and how do you test them first?
- How will I know when a camera or the connection stops sending video?
- How are rules and hours updated when my site changes?
Records and data
- What do I receive after each incident, and can I export my history?
- Who can see footage, where is it stored and for how long?
Price and contract
- Is the price per camera, per event, per hour or per site?
- What setup, equipment, storage and call out charges apply?
- Do you charge for false alarms?
- What is the term, notice period and renewal?
How to compare the answers
Compare the full monthly cost for the same camera views and the same response plan. A lower headline price can exclude setup, storage or response. Ask for a written scope before you sign so the price, duties and limits are clear.
See what remote video monitoring costs and how to check your existing cameras.