Comparison
Armed Response vs Self-Monitoring
South African security buyers must decide how alarms and camera events are actioned: a professional armed-response/control-room service, or self-monitoring via app notifications. The difference is who responds when something happens, and at what ongoing cost.
| Armed response monitoring | Self-monitoring (app alerts) | |
|---|---|---|
| Response | Trained reaction officers dispatched | You (or contacts) must act on alerts |
| Cost | Monthly subscription/contract | Low/no monitoring fee; data only |
| Reliability of response | 24/7 control-room oversight | Depends on you seeing/acting on alerts |
| False alarms | Filtered/verified by operators (often) | All alerts come to you |
| Best for | Higher-risk sites; peace of mind | Budget-conscious, hands-on users |
| Integration | Works with most panels/cameras via comms | Needs reliable internet and attention |
The verdict
Armed response provides professional 24/7 reaction at an ongoing cost, while self-monitoring is cheaper but relies entirely on you to act. Many people combine the two.
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