Security guard costs climb fast when you're paying by the hour. Typical wages range from $15–$50 per hour, but the real cost rises much higher once benefits, training, insurance, and turnover are added.

A single 12-hour guard post can cost $65,000 to $219,000 per year. Running that same post 24/7 increases the range to $131,000 to $438,000 annuallyand that’s for just one position.

SCW Remote Guarding offers a predictable alternative:

• $85/month per camera for 12-hour coverage
• $135/month per camera for 24/7 coverage
• $35 one-time setup per camera

Many organizations reduce guard spend by up to 70% and expand their coverage at the same time. Most do not remove guards, they use remote guarding to extend visibility and reduce workload.

What Remote Guarding Does

• Uses AI to detect people and vehicles, then alerts live agents
• Operators review the scene instantly in real time
• Delivers active voice-down deterrence (“You in the blue jacket… police are on the way!”)
• Monitors multiple cameras or sites at once
• Controls PTZ cameras to get better views
• Follows your custom response plan alerting police, your team, or on-site guards
• Prevents crime instead of simply recording it

What Remote Guarding Isn’t

• Not a replacement for front desk roles or escort duties
• Not a DIY CCTV system with no human oversight
• Not a low-engagement alarm verification service
• Not meant to replace guard staff, it strengthens them

SCW Remote Guarding focuses on perimeter protection, after-hours coverage, and catching activity guards often miss during patrols.

Where On-Site Guards Excel

• Physical response to incidents
• Visitor support and front-desk interaction
• Mobile patrols and lock/unlock routines
• Escorting personnel or assets
• Fire watch and compliance-driven duties
• Crowd control and event security

Where Remote Guarding Excels

• Constant monitoring without breaks
• Watching dozens of angles simultaneously
• Proactive, real-time talk-downs
• Early detection of perimeter breaches
• Ideal protection for large outdoor assets
• Predictable pricing tied to camera count, not staffing

Combined Approach: Guards manage the site. SCW operators watch the site. Together, you get full coverage.

True Cost of On-Site Guards

• $15–$50+ hourly wages
• Overtime and holiday pay
• Benefits adding ~30% to payroll
• Hiring, uniforms, and ongoing training
• Workers’ comp risk and injury exposure
• Turnover, missed shifts, and schedule gaps
• Liability from confrontations or use-of-force incidents

Insert your guard cost table here to show annual costs per shift.

Cost Structure of SCW Remote Guarding

• $85–$135/month per camera
• $35 one-time setup
• U.S.-based monitoring team
• AI-assisted detection for rapid response
• No benefits, overtime, or insurance required
• No turnover or schedule gaps
• Performance doesn’t degrade over time

• After-hours monitoring or holiday coverage
• Outdoor assets such as vehicles and equipment
• Large lots, perimeters, and open spaces
• Multi-site operations needing centralized visibility
• Locations with recurring trespassing or theft attempts
• Businesses needing stronger security under budget constraints

Remote guarding stops suspicious activity early - ideal where constant visibility matters more than physical proximity.

• High-traffic lobbies and visitor-facing roles
• Concierge or customer assistance
• Cash escorts or secure item transport
• Fire watch and compliance-driven requirements
• Physical badging or complex post procedures
• Events or environments requiring human presence

SCW’s approach: Remote guarding reduces the number of required posts, not the importance of your team. Guards become more strategic and effective.

• Remote guarding sees and verifies threats in real time
• Guards respond with clear context instead of guesswork
• Cameras cover large perimeters while guards handle physical duties
• Less fatigue, fewer blind spots, more consistency
• Lower cost with expanded protection hours
• Ideal for warehouses, dealerships, distribution centers, and campuses

SCW partners with security teams not against them. We help guard forces work safer, smarter, and more efficiently.