Live video monitoring and remote guarding in Middle Tennessee and Chattanooga
Trained monitoring agents watch your cameras live, speak to trespassers through on-site speakers and call police or your team when it matters. Stop problems while they are happening, not the next morning, often for less than on-site guards.
What is remote guarding and live video monitoring?
Remote guarding, also called live video monitoring or virtual guarding, means trained agents watch your security cameras in real time during the hours you choose. When someone shows up who should not be there, the agent speaks to them live through a speaker on site, and if they do not leave, the agent contacts police and your team.
Turner Security sets up remote guarding and live video monitoring for businesses in Middle Tennessee, the Chattanooga area and across the country. Many customers use it to replace or reduce on-site security guards.
How it stops crimeLive talk-down through on-site speakers, then escalation to police and your contacts
Best forLots, yards, dealerships, construction sites, warehouses and multi-site businesses
ReplacesSome or all on-site guard shifts at many sites
Works withYour existing cameras, mobile camera trailers and AI video analytics
Licensed and accreditedTennessee Alarm Contracting Company licenses #319 and #1998, BBB Accredited since 1993 with an A+ rating
137Locations for one national chemical distributor, US and Canada
$2M+Saved by replacing security guards with live video monitoring
50Years protecting Tennessee businesses
When an alert fires
What happens when someone is on your property
Here is how a typical after-hours event plays out on a site with remote guarding and live video monitoring.
1A camera detects a person or vehicle in a protected area during monitored hours
2AI analytics send the alert and video to a live agent
3The agent checks the video and speaks to the person through the on-site speaker
4If they leave, the event is logged with video and a short report
5If they stay or the threat is real, the agent calls police and your contact list
6You get the report and clip so your team knows exactly what happened
Why Turner
A local company with national monitoring experience
Turner Security has protected businesses since 1976 from offices in Smyrna, serving Nashville and Middle Tennessee, and in Chattanooga. We set up live video monitoring for local businesses and for multi-site customers, including a national chemical distributor with 137 locations across the US and Canada that replaced security guards with live video monitoring.
There are no long-term agreements on our security or monitoring services. Our help desk resolves about 60% of service issues remotely, often before a truck is needed, and when someone does need to come out, we can often schedule service the same day you call.
In business since 1976
Offices in Smyrna and Chattanooga
No long-term monitoring agreements
Help desk resolves about 60% of service issues remotely
Works with most existing camera systems
What you get
Cameras that respond, not just record
Recorded video tells you what happened. Remote guarding is built to stop it from happening.
Live talk-down
Agents speak directly to people on your property through outdoor speakers, describing them and telling them they are being watched. Many leave right away.
Real-time monitoring
Your cameras are watched live during the hours and days you choose, such as nights, weekends and holidays.
Clear escalation steps
You decide who gets called and when. Agents follow your instructions and contact police when a threat is real.
AI analytics that filter alerts
Video analytics flag people and vehicles in the areas you care about, so agents focus on real activity instead of wind and shadows.
Event reports
You get a record of what happened, what the agent did and the video clip, ready for your team, insurance or police.
Multi-site coverage
One program across many locations, with the same procedures and reporting at every site.
Guard replacement
A lower cost way to cover the hours guards used to
On-site guards are expensive, can only watch one spot at a time, and cost the same whether anything happens or not. Remote guarding can cover many camera views at once, and agents respond when something triggers an alert.
One national chemical distributor with 137 locations across the US and Canada replaced its security guards with live video monitoring. Not every site will see the same result, but the comparison is worth running for any business paying for guard shifts.
Covers many camera views at once
Talk-down aims to stop trespassers early
Reduces or replaces guard shifts
No long-term contract required
Talk-down in real timeAgents speak to trespassers on site
How it works
How we set up remote guarding
Most sites can use the cameras they already have.
1
Site and camera review
We look at your cameras, network, lighting and problem areas, and where speakers need to go.
2
Monitoring plan
We agree on monitored hours, protected zones, call lists and what agents should do in each situation.
3
Install and connect
We add speakers, cameras or analytics where needed and connect your site to the monitoring center.
4
Test and tune
We test talk-down and escalation, then tune alerts so agents see real activity.
Planning your coverage
Five decisions that shape your monitoring plan
Live video monitoring is priced and built around how your site runs. These are the choices we walk through with you before anything is connected.
Monitored hours
Most businesses choose closed hours only, such as nights, weekends and holidays. Sites with open yards or remote equipment sometimes add coverage during the day. More hours usually means a higher monthly cost.
Protected zones
We mark the areas where any person after hours is a problem, like a fence line, equipment yard, loading dock or parking lot, and leave out areas where activity is normal, like a public sidewalk.
Camera views
Agents can only act on what they can see. We check each camera for a clear view of the zone, enough light at night and an angle that shows a person well enough to describe.
Speakers and deterrence
Talk-down works when the person on site can clearly hear the agent. We place speakers where trespassers actually stand, not just where it is easy to mount them.
Call list and response
You decide who gets called, in what order, and when police should be contacted. A short, current call list makes every event faster to resolve.
Remote guarding vs. a guard
How remote guarding compares to an on-site security guard
An on-site guard can only be in one place at a time and has to walk a route. Remote guarding uses the cameras you already have to watch many areas of a property at once during the hours you choose. Many businesses use it to replace guards or to cover the hours a guard is not there.
Coverage
Remote guarding watches multiple camera views across the property. A guard covers one area at a time on foot or in a vehicle.
Response
The agent speaks through on-site speakers as soon as someone is seen, then escalates to police and your team if they stay. A guard responds once they reach the spot.
Records
Every event is tied to recorded video you can pull later for police or insurance. A guard's report depends on what they saw and wrote down.
Remote guarding is a monthly service with no guard wages or overtime. Read our full comparison of remote guarding and security guards for the trade-offs.
Learn more →
Where it works best
Sites in Middle Tennessee and Chattanooga that use live video monitoring
Companies with locations in several states that want one monitoring standard across every site.
Learn more →
Common questions
Questions we hear a lot
How much does live video monitoring cost compared to a security guard?
Cost depends on the number of cameras, monitored hours and how many sites you have. For many businesses it costs less than staffing a guard for the same hours, and it can cover many camera views at once. We will compare it to your current guard costs during the assessment.
What is live talk-down?
Live talk-down means a monitoring agent speaks to a person on your property through an outdoor speaker in real time. Hearing a live voice describe them often makes trespassers leave before they do any damage.
What happens when the monitoring agent sees something?
The agent reviews the video, speaks through the on-site speaker and follows your escalation steps. If the person does not leave or the threat is real, the agent contacts police and your contact list, and you get a report with the video.
Can you monitor my existing cameras?
Usually, yes. Most modern camera systems can be connected to live monitoring, sometimes with a small upgrade or AI video analytics added. We confirm compatibility during the site review.
Is remote guarding better than an on-site guard?
For many sites, yes. A remote agent can cover many camera views at once, never leaves a post, and can contact police as soon as a threat is confirmed. Some sites still need a person on site for tasks like checking in visitors, and we will tell you honestly if yours is one of them.
Do you offer live video monitoring for multiple locations?
Yes. We support businesses with many sites, including a national customer with 137 locations across the US and Canada, with the same procedures and reporting everywhere.
Is there live video monitoring near me in Nashville or Chattanooga?
Yes. Turner Security sets up live video monitoring for businesses across Nashville and Middle Tennessee from our Smyrna office, and across the Chattanooga area from our Chattanooga office. We also monitor sites for multi-location customers in other states.
What is the difference between video alarm monitoring and live video monitoring?
With video alarm monitoring, an alarm or sensor trips first and the monitoring center then looks at video to confirm it. With live video monitoring, agents watch your cameras during the hours you choose and can speak to someone before a door is forced or an alarm goes off. Our guide on live video monitoring vs. alarm monitoring explains when each fits.
Do you need speakers for live talk-down?
Yes. Talk-down only works when the person on site can clearly hear the agent, so we check your existing cameras and add outdoor speakers where trespassers actually stand, not just where they are easy to mount.
What does remote guarding cost?
Cost depends on the number of cameras and zones, the hours covered and whether speakers or new cameras are needed. We walk the site for free and give you a written monthly price, with no long-term agreement.
Prompt, friendly and there whenever you need them. Provide great protection.
Simon M.Google review, 5 stars
★★★★★★★★★★
Stayed on phone with me until I was sure everything was fine!
James C.Google review, 5 stars
★★★★★★★★★★
We switched to Turner Security five years ago after enduring a decade of horrendous service elsewhere, and the difference has been remarkable. They've been consistently responsive to the occasional service request, and their monitoring has been first-rate. The level of reliability and professionalism they provide is exactly what we were hoping for.
