Surveillance vs. Apartment Security Guard for Multifamily Properties

	Deep Sentinel Live Surveillance	Onsite Security Guards
Service Cost	Average: $300 – $500 per month $100/month for the first camera $50/month for each additional camera	Average: $6,000 – $8,000 per month $25-$50/hour per guard Benefits, supplies, and more
Coverage	Every inch of your property as needed, including indoor administrative areas	Depends on the number of guards Coverage may be limited to certain physical areas
Response speed	10 seconds to intervention 30 seconds to police contact	Varies based on guard reaction time
Management	Hands-off Does not require user input	Requires time to recruit, hire, train, and manage employees
Liability	Satisfies legal requirements Provides evidence for claims	Satisfies legal requirements but adds new liabilities (use of force, workplace safety)
Accuracy	AI with human verification means no downtime or false alarms	Human guards make human errors
Appearance	Visually reassuring Clean, subtle look	May create an unfriendly environment for tenants

How do onsite apartment security guards compare to AI-powered video surveillance?Title

Let’s dig a little further into each of these categories. How do onsite guards stack up with Deep Sentinel’s live guard surveillance solution?

Service Cost

An undeniable fact: hiring security guardsA is expensive.

One highly trained security guard could cost upwards of $100 per hour. And it’s not just salary or wages. Also consider the costs of recruitment, training, benefits, uniforms, and supplies. Or you can outsource to a third-party service, which is even costlier. But your property needs constant protection, so you cannot simply reduce hours or staffing to cut costs, either.

Deep Sentinel uses motion-activated cameras, AI, and a scalable team to make security guards more affordable for property owners. Your investment is determined by the number and types of cameras protecting your property – a reasonable, predictable line item in your monthly budget.

Coverage

Security guards can’t be everywhere at once. And the larger your property, the easier it is for threats to slip by unnoticed. To protect all of your property, you do have the option to hire more guards, which increases your costs.

So what can be everywhere at once? Cameras. When you work with Deep Sentinel, our security expert will help you determine exactly how many cameras you need and where to place them in order to secure your property completely.

Response speed

How fast can onsite guards stop a crime? It depends.

There are several factors in play, like how long it takes them to notice an intruder. Then they need to determine whether they can stop the perpetrator themselves or need to call in backup. It might be a matter of seconds, or it could be much longer.

Deep Sentinel boasts the fastest response time out of any security system. From the moment an intruder steps onto your property, it takes the Deep Sentinel guards less than 10 seconds to intervene and less than 30 seconds to contact your local police. And, because the guards visually confirm the crime and provide real-time details, police prioritize the call over non-specific alarm calls.

Management

If you employ your own guards, you (or someone on your team) must spend time recruiting, training, and managing them. That’s a big undertaking, especially for a function that isn’t central to your business operations. You could hire a third-party service to oversee this, but once again, you’ll pay a premium to be hands-off.

At Deep Sentinel, our goal is that security is never a burden on your time. Of course, you will have access to your own camera feeds and the ability to respond to people yourself, but there’s no expectation on your part. The guard team is trained to intervene on your behalf — so you can rest assured it’s taken care of. And because the system’s AI filters out harmless activity, you will never have to deal with annoying junk notifications.

Liability

Liability control is crucial for multi-tenant property owners. Onsite guards might satisfy your reasonable care requirements, but they can also introduce new sources of liability.

For instance, what happens if your guard must physically subdue someone? Even if the action is justified, any use of force could injure the guard and the accused party, resulting in a worker’s compensation claim or even potential litigation.

Live video surveillance offers protection that’s more than enough to satisfy tenants, insurance companies, and legal requirements. At the same time, you avoid the potential pitfalls of a guard resorting to force. Comprehensive security coverage protects you from claims and lawsuits. And, if there is an issue, you also get video evidence to substantiate an insurance claim or aid a police investigation.

Accuracy

Security guards can do good work, but the security they provide isn’t infallible. They’re real people, subject to exhaustion, illness, distraction, and general human error. Even with the best intentions and training, guards can overlook the suspicious behavior that leads to crime.

Deep Sentinel’s AI identifies potential threats in seconds, 24/7. The technology never takes a day off, falls asleep at the desk, or makes costly mistakes. Plus, you don’t have to worry about a constant stream of false alarms. The unique combination of smart technology and human intelligence makes Deep Sentinel the most accurate security option on the market.

Appearance

Something to consider: Would tenants and visitors be put off by a patrolling security guard? There’s a delicate balance between making tenants feel safe and making them feel like they’re being patrolled.

Especially in a luxury building, cameras provide gentle visual reassurance that the building is safe and protected. Deep Sentinel offers several camera designs that can blend into the background and complement your property’s aesthetic.

What is the ROI of your apartment security?Title

When selecting multifamily security solutionsA, getting a valuable return for your investment is an important consideration. But what is your money actually getting? It might not be what you think.

With onsite guards, you’re paying for time. A guard’s work is measured in hours and shifts, not effectiveness. You essentially pay for their presence — and that doesn’t always result in the level of protection your tenants need.

With Deep Sentinel, you’re paying for protection. The LiveSentinel guard team is optimized for efficiency, with work performance measured in interventions, not attendance. Deep Sentinel’s cost-effective solution ensures that you get exactly what you pay for: real protection during the moments when you need a guard’s help.

Who are the Deep Sentinel surveillance guards?Title

At Deep Sentinel, we do surveillance differently. Our cameras are manned by live security professionals, day in and day out, 24/7. You get the same human touch that onsite guards provide, plus a whole lot more — at a fraction of the cost.

Deep Sentinel understands that only professional guards can provide professional protection. That’s why our LiveSentinel guard team comprises industry specialists with extensive experience and training. Our surveillance guardsA come from backgrounds in physical security, law enforcement, military, customer service, and more to provide unmatched protection.

Before they begin their duties, the guards undergo more than 40 hours of specialized training in areas like de-escalation techniques and dispatch communication. Then they receive ongoing training and evaluation, so the entire team stays well-versed in current best practices.

Deep Sentinel: A better solution than onsite guardsTitle

Secure your multi-family residential property with the smartest apartment security system on the market. Call 833.983.6006 for more information about Deep Sentinel and to get your free security consultation.