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Remote monitoring compared with guards, cameras and alarms
Cameras on their own only record. Here is how live monitoring compares with the options most owners use today, including where a guard is still the right call.
Swipe sideways to see all five options.
| SightGuard live monitoring | On-site guard | Cameras that only record | Alarm system only | Checking the app yourself | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Someone watching right now | Yes | Yes | No | No | Only when you look |
| Tells a customer from a thief | Yes | Yes | No | No | If you’re looking |
| Calls you when something happens | Yes | Depends on the guard | No | Sensor alerts only | No |
| Sees every camera at once | Yes | Only where they stand | No one is looking | No | Hard on a phone |
| Physically on site | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Works with cameras you already have | Yes | Not needed | Yes | Separate system | Yes |
| Typical monthly cost | $199 to $299 per location | About $9,125 (nights) to $18,250 (24/7) at $25/hour | Hardware only | Varies by provider | Your time and sleep |
Guards
When a guard still makes sense
A guard can stand at the door, deter by being there and step in physically. An emergency department, a crowded event or a site with frequent confrontations may need that. Remote monitoring cannot stop a person with its hands.
What it can do is watch every camera at once, all night, for a fraction of a wage. Many owners use both: a guard for the busiest hours and live monitoring for the rest, or monitoring at every site and a guard only where it is really needed.
Alarms on their own create noise
Why a person checking the cameras before anyone calls the police matters.
of police responses to alarms are to false activations, according to a 2020 peer-reviewed study.
Source: Blackstonemedian hourly wage for U.S. security guards in May 2025. Company bill rates are higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statisticstypical quoted hourly bill rates for unarmed guards in 2025 and 2026 price guides.
Source: guard company price guides, listed belowSources (5)
- Blackstone, Hakim and Meehan, “Burglary reduction and improved police performance through private alarm response,” International Review of Law and Economics 63 (2020). doi.org/10.1016/j.irle.2020.105930
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Security Guards (median pay, May 2025). bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/security-guards.htm
- Fast Guards, security guard cost per hour (2026 price guide). fast-guards.org/blog/how-much-do-security-guards-cost-per-hour/
- Citywide Security, security guard service costs. citywidesecuritycompany.com/understanding-security-guard-services-c…
- Scaife Protection, security guard costs in Los Angeles (2026). scaifeprotection.com/faq/security-guard-costs
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