Is the Cost of CCTV Monitoring Worth Paying?

This article breaks down the real cost of CCTV monitoring, comparing it with using guards. We also use practical examples and scenarios to help you evaluate whether the price of a CCTV monitoring service represents value for money.

TL;DR: Key takeaways

Typically in the UK, CCTV monitoring service prices deliver strong value for money compared to traditional guarding. Altogether, real-time deterrents, faster response, and lowering security costs are the key cost benefits. While there’s an upfront cost per camera, most businesses find they save tens of thousands per year when switching from physical security staff.

Understanding the cost of CCTV monitoring

Professional CCTV monitoring services for UK businesses typically involve a monthly fee per camera, covering connection to a 24/7 control centre, alert response, live voice warnings and escalation to emergency services.

Average prices in the UK

• Up to £150 per year per camera (this is a ballpark to demonstrate the value)
• Optional extras include:
  
  • Live audio challenge
• • Alarm integration
• • Enhanced reporting
• • Mobile patrol response

That means a 10-camera system might cost around £1,500 per year to monitor, which is significantly less than hiring a single on-site guard.

Remote CCTV monitoring costs (24/7 vs business hours)

Remote surveillance monitoring is flexible. Service prices change based on coverage hours and service depth.

Here’s a quick overview of the different options 

24 hour monitored CCTV

Continuous protection averages £100–£150 per camera per year, depending on site size and alert frequency.

Best suited to critical or high-value sites such as logistics hubs, construction yards, and solar farms where downtime or theft carries a direct operational cost.

Out-of-hours only (evenings/weekends)

For businesses that only need security after close of business, coverage typically costs slightly less, reflecting reduced operator hours.

This model covers evenings, weekends, and holidays, ideal for offices, light industrial units, and retail parks.

Example service prices 

• Out-of-hours monitoring (6 pm–6 am) – approx. £100/camera/year

• 24/7 monitoring + audio challenge – approx. £125/camera/year

• 24/7 monitoring + audio + alarm + mobile response – approx. £150/camera/year

Comparing the cost of CCTV monitoring to physical guarding

Let’s compare the costs of two common security setups using a fictional industrial site with standard needs:

Scenario 1: On-site security guards

• 1 guard Monday–Friday, 10-hour shift
• 2 guards on weekends, 24-hour coverage

That equates to:

• Weekday guarding: ~50 hours per week

• Weekend guarding: 2 guards x 48 hours = 96 hours

Total: 146 hours/week

At an estimated £35,000 per guard per year, that’s roughly

• £70,000+ annually for two guards

Scenario 2: CCTV monitoring

Now, let’s look at the cost of remote CCTV monitoring vs using security guards:

• 16 cameras covering all key zones (gates, perimeter, storage areas)
• 24/7 monitoring by a UK-based control room

Live audio intervention (warning intruders via loudspeaker)

• Real-time escalation to police or keyholders

At £200 per camera per year, the total cost is:

• £3,200 annually

Saving vs manned guarding:

• Over £66,000 per year

And that’s before you factor in the extended visibility, 24/7 coverage, and reduced false alarms.

Ten ways the cost of CCTV monitoring delivers value for money

Now, you’ve learned about how much 24/7 surveillance costs, take a quick scan through the main benefits and advantages of CCTV monitoring. You’ll learn how these solutions detect threats in real time, reduce false alarms and ae highly scalable. 

Please note: To provide context for each area we cover in this article, we have included illustrated examples to improve your understanding of this topic.

1. Covers more ground than a human patrol

One guard can only be in one place at a time. Cameras provide constant eyes on every critical area—and operators can watch multiple feeds simultaneously.

Example: A business park in Derby replaced roaming guards with 20 cameras and a monitoring system. They covered twice the area at a fraction of the cost.

2. Reduces false callouts

AI motion filters and operator validation mean fewer false alarms compared to lone alarms or human error.

Example: A storage yard in Hampshire cut police callouts by 60% after switching to monitored CCTV that filtered out animal movement and weather triggers.

3. Stops incidents before they escalate

Live audio warnings and real-time escalation prevent many crimes from going further.

Example: At a construction site in Reading, audio intervention stopped two trespassers in their tracks. No damage, no downtime, just a quick intervention.

4. Enhances insurance protection

Many insurers offer lower premiums or faster payouts when professionally monitored systems are in place.

Example: A manufacturing unit in Bristol saved 10% on its premium after upgrading from a DIY alarm system to monitored CCTV with reporting.

5. Eliminates sick pay, holidays and shift cover

CCTV doesn’t take breaks, get sick, or require holiday pay—unlike human guards.

Example: A warehouse in Crawley moved from a 2-person night team to a monitored system. They no longer worried about holiday cover or temp agency costs.

6. Supports multiple sites from one location

Multi-site businesses can centralise their security without hiring staff for each site.

Example: A chain of 12 car dealerships in London used one monitoring partner across all sites—consolidating their budget and reducing overhead.

7. Delivers full audit trails

Monitoring providers supply incident logs and time-stamped reports for compliance, HR, or legal use.

Example: After a stockroom dispute at a Swindon retailer, CCTV footage and operator logs were used to settle the issue fairly; no court was needed.

8. Scales with your business

Adding more cameras or coverage areas is often simple and cost-effective.

Example: A logistics firm in Slough added five cameras after expanding its storage yard. As a result, the cost of CCTV monitoring only increased by £1,000/year.

9. Provides out-of-hours peace of mind

When no one’s on-site, CCTV monitoring takes over, watching, reacting and escalating on your behalf.

Example: An office complex in Andover with no overnight staff still had live monitoring from 6pm to 7am daily. No break-ins were reported in 18 months.

10. Offers better ROI than you might expect

Over 3 years, most businesses recoup the installation cost and then some via savings on wages, callouts, insurance and downtime.

Example: A rural farm site in Wiltshire saved £90,000 over 3 years by moving to monitored CCTV instead of maintaining overnight security staff.

Cost drivers and how to reduce your bill

The main variables shaping your monitoring costs include:

• Camera count: Each device adds a connection fee and monitoring slot.

• Camera type: PTZ, thermal, or high-resolution models require more bandwidth and operator time.

• Audio speakers: Sites with live voice-down need an audio channel and additional verification.

• Connectivity: Stable broadband or 4G uplinks reduce data errors and callouts.

• False alarm filtering: Using AI analytics and correctly positioned sensors cuts event volumes.

• Service Level Agreements (SLAs): Faster response times or bespoke reporting can raise monthly fees.

Reducing false alerts and consolidating multi-site contracts with a single ARC are the fastest ways to lower total costs.

What’s included in a typical CCTV monitoring service?

A standard monitored CCTV package from a professional provider covers:

• 24/7 connection to a UK-based monitoring centre (ARC)

• Operator validation of alarms before escalation

• Live voice-down deterrent via speaker horns

• Contact with police or keyholders through verified alarm protocols

• Time-stamped incident reports and evidence packs for insurers

• Secure video storage and audit logs for compliance

These services are designed to meet industry standards, ensuring police response priority and consistent performance.

When guards still make sense (and when they don’t)

Manned guards remain valuable for:

• High-footfall public areas needing interaction or concierge duties

• Close-protection and crowd management roles

• Sites requiring manual checks or compliance paperwork

For most static environments, such as warehouses, depots, solar farms, industrial estates, monitored CCTV delivers stronger coverage, lower costs, and measurable ROI.

Combining both (for example, one guard supported by monitored CCTV) often yields the best balance of safety and efficiency.

Factors to consider when reviewing value for money

If this article has given you food for thought, here are some further considerations to help you decide if the cost of CCTV is a worthwhile investment for your site or premises. 

• Number of cameras needed: More complex sites may require more devices.
• Live voice-down: Choose a provider that offers verbal deterrence.
• Camera quality: HD or thermal cameras add cost but improve coverage.
• Response protocol: Confirm what happens when an alert is triggered.
• Installation costs: Initial setup varies based on existing infrastructure.
• Site risk profile: High-value or vulnerable sites benefit most.
• Support & reporting: Ask what kind of post-incident reports are provided.

Conclusion: Is an investment in remote CCTV monitoring worth it?

When you stack up the numbers, CCTV monitoring is one of the most cost-effective security investments a business can make. While it isn’t right for every site, the majority of medium and large organisations can save tens of thousands per year, without sacrificing security performance.

If your current guarding setup is draining budget and delivering limited results, it may be time to rethink your approach. With monitored CCTV, you don’t just watch your site, you protect it smarter.

FAQs