Remote Guarding? Don’t Get Played.

“We’ve got a guy” isn’t security. It’s a liability.

Remote guarding has exploded in popularity — and with it, a flood of “experts” offering bargain-basement monitoring, or maybe bargain monitoring from their basement – Literally, but you may not know it.

Not all Remote Security Operations Centers are created equal. When you hand over your site to an RSOC, you’re not just buying cameras and screens. You’re trusting people, processes, and infrastructure to protect your assets in real time — and to meet strict security, privacy, and compliance standards.

Whether it’s a dealership, critical infrastructure, commercial property, or a high-net-worth estate, your RSOC is the nerve center of your protection strategy. Choosing wrong can expose your organization legally, financially, and operationally.

1. Certifications and Compliance: Proof, Not Promises

• UL 827B for managed video services

• UL 2900-2-3 for cybersecurity of security and life-safety systems

• ISO 27001 or SOC 2 Type II

• MTSA/TWIC compliance where required

• Documented SOPs, escalation plans, and retention policies

🚩 Red flag: No documentation. Vague claims.

2. Technical Architecture: Built for Failure

• Geographically redundant monitoring

• Backup power, communications, and failover

• Documented uptime guarantees and SLAs

• Encrypted, secure communications

🚩 Red flag: Single site. No backups. No resilience.

3. Operator Competence: People Still Make the Call

• Background checks and licensing

• AVS-01 aligned training and drills

• 24/7 supervision and escalation protocols

• NDA and restricted access to feeds

🚩 Red flag: High turnover. No clear structure.

4. Transparency and Reporting: Trust the Data

• Real-time alerts with video verification

• Post-incident reports and escalation logs

• SLA metrics and regular performance reviews

• Client access to dashboards

🚩 Red flag: Generic summaries. No visibility.

5. Cybersecurity: Guard the Guards

• End-to-end encryption

• MFA, RBAC, and full access logs

• Independent pen testing and audits

• Cyber incident response plans

🚩 Red flag: Consumer-grade systems. No policy.

6. Reputation and Third-Party Validation

• Client references and case studies

• Partnerships with insurers or regulators

• Clean licensing and legal history

🚩 Red flag: No references. Evasive answers.

7. Onboarding, Integration, and Support

• Clear onboarding plan

• Seamless system integration (CCTV, access control, drones, etc.)

• Dedicated account management

• Ongoing upgrades and improvements

🚩 Red flag: “Set it and forget it.”

Credibility Is Measurable

A real RSOC will prove its capabilities through certification, resilience, performance, and transparency.Choosing the right RSOC isn’t just procurement. It’s risk management.

✅ Ask the hard questions.

✅ Demand documentation.

✅ Verify performance.Your security depends on it.