Yes, by a long way. Using the services of a CCTV monitoring company costs a fraction of what it takes to employ one or more security guards. It also offers broader coverage, operates 24/7 without breaks, and reduces long-term liability and HR costs.
In today’s quickfire article, we pose the simple question: Is CCTV monitoring cheaper than employing guards?
The true cost of employing security guards
Hiring a single full-time security guard costs between £30,000 and £40,000 per year, not including:
- Recruitment and HR time
- Sickness and holiday cover
- Out-of-hours supervision
- Uniform, training, and equipment
Many commercial or logistics sites require two guards at weekends or overnight coverage, doubling or tripling your costs.
In contrast, let’s take a look at the cost of implementing CCTV monitoring, focusing on the savings it offers compared to e, employing guards.
How much does CCTV monitoring cost?
A typical site might require 6–10 cameras, each costing around £100 – £200year to monitor. That’s:
- £600 to £2,000 per year for full remote monitoring
- 24/7 coverage, including audio warnings and real-time response
- No rotas, no HR admin, no sick pay
Example comparisons: Monitoring Vs Guards
Let’s compare the two approaches to give you a clearer picture of the benefits and advantages of CCTV remote monitoring, and why it is often a more cost-effective and reliable alternative to employing security guards.
Protecting a warehouse 24/7
- Used two overnight guards from Friday to Sunday
- Annual cost: £72,000
- CCTV system: 8 cameras + monitoring = £800 – £1600 per year
- No loss of coverage
- Saving: Over £70,000 per year
Securing a remote solar farm
- Used weekend patrols to deter cable theft
- Annual cost: £58,000
- CCTV system: 12 cameras + monitoring = £1,200 – £2,400 per year
- Improved detection and response
- Annual savings: Over £55,000 per year
Protecting an industrial site
- Used one night guard for weekday cover
- Annual cost: £36,000
- CCTV system: 10 cameras + monitoring = £1000 – £2000 per year
- Improved perimeter visibility
- Annual saving: Over £35,000 per year
Additional savings & reduced costs
Here are a few more factors to consider.
- No uniform or HR costs
- Lower liability and risk (no staff to manage)
- Scalable, one operator can monitor multiple cameras/sites
- Better evidence, every incident is recorded and time-stamped
Recap: CCTV monitoring vs. guards. Which is cheaper?
CCTV monitoring provides a smarter, more efficient alternative to traditional guarding. It offers continuous protection, instant response to threats, and reliable evidence capture, all without the challenges of staffing, supervision, or downtime.
Businesses across sectors such as warehousing, solar, and industrial operations have improved site security and efficiency by switching to monitored systems.
The result is consistent, scalable protection that strengthens security while simplifying management and reducing overall risk.
FAQs
Yes. Pretty much most of the time. Remote CCTV monitoring provides continuous protection at a fraction of the cost of manned guarding. It eliminates expenses linked to staffing, holidays, and supervision, while offering round-the-clock coverage and faster response times. For most commercial sites, monitored systems deliver better value and improved security outcomes.
CCTV monitoring offers broader coverage and instant alerts, while guards are limited to what they can physically see. Operators watch multiple cameras simultaneously and can respond the moment motion is detected. This means fewer blind spots, quicker intervention, and a more consistent security presence day and night.
In many settings, yes. Monitored CCTV can detect and deter intruders, issue live warnings, and alert responders within seconds. Some high-risk or large sites still use a combined approach, but for most warehouses, industrial estates, and solar farms, remote monitoring provides sufficient protection without the overheads of guarding.
CCTV monitoring delivers constant visibility, immediate incident response, and clear audit trails through recorded evidence. It reduces false alarms, prevents theft or vandalism, and keeps sites secure 24/7. The system operates without breaks or distractions, ensuring total coverage when staff or guards aren’t present.
We are seeing this trend for sure. Companies are moving to CCTV monitoring because it offers smarter, scalable protection. One operator can oversee multiple sites, cutting costs while improving reliability. The technology detects threats early, issues live warnings, and alerts police within seconds, providing consistent protection without the staffing challenges of traditional guarding.