Skip to main content

Guaranteed Commercial Security Solutions | 1.866.766.4876 | Contact Us Client Login

Why Verified Audio is More Secure Than CCTV in Building

Joe Wilson
by Joe Wilson
January 02, 2025

Retail Security_ The Ultimate Guide to Keeping Your Store Secure - blog banner (2)

When it comes to protecting your property, security isn’t just a precaution - it’s a necessity.

The days of relying on outdated and not-fit-for-purpose security solutions like CCTV systems should be over. Why? Because they simply don’t cut it anymore. 

Imagine this… A break-in occurs at your property. Your CCTV system records everything - great, right? Not really. By the time anyone reviews the footage, the crime is already committed, and the criminals are long gone. All you’re left with is a blurry video that may or may not help identify the culprits.

This is exactly why Sonitrol’s verified audio intrusion systems are revolutionizing security and making CCTV in buildings look like a relic of the past.

If you’re serious about protecting your property, it’s time to move beyond reactive systems like CCTV and invest in proactive, real-time security with verified audio. In this blog, we’re going to break down exactly what verified audio intrusion is and why it’s better than CCTV in your building.

Before we get into that, let’s first look at why CCTV doesn’t protect your property.

Why CCTV Falls Short in Building Security

1. CCTV Only Records Crime, it Doesn’t Prevent it

CCTV systems are passive by nature. They sit there, recording footage in the hope that someone will review it after a crime occurs. While this might help with insurance claims, it does nothing to stop the criminals in the act. By the time you realize there’s been an incident, the damage is already done - your assets stolen, your operations disrupted, and your profits impacted.

2. Blind Spots and Limited Coverage

CCTV cameras are limited by their line of sight. They can only see what’s directly in front of them, leaving plenty of blind spots where criminals can operate undetected. Forget wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling protection - CCTV simply doesn’t deliver that.

3. Zero Police Response

False alarms are the bane of traditional security systems. Because CCTV lacks verification, police do not even respond to CCTV alarms. Since there’s no reliable way to confirm a threat, police don’t bother with CCTV alarms. In fact, many police forces across North America even have policies and regulations that mean they don’t respond to unverified alarms - see this recent move from the Seattle Police Department, for example.

Myths about alarms and security companies

When is CCTV Valuable?

While CCTV isn’t going to secure your business from crime, it does have some use cases, including:

  1. The operational management of staff and conforming to WCB requirements. CCTV allows your management to supervise operations from their desks by watching activity.

  2. Recording undamaged and complete shipments as they are placed on transport trucks.

  3. Recording damaged or incomplete shipments being received from trucks. 

If CCTV is still important to your business for any of these reasons, then it’s critical to go with a solutions that actually works. Upgrading your CCTV to monitored Sonavision will ensure that, when your system is armed, our team will monitor your cameras.

Outside of the above reasons, it’s clear that audio intrusion is the superior choice in protecting your building from criminal activity.

What is Verified Audio Intrusion Technology?

Verified audio intrusion is designed to catch criminals in the act - not just record their actions after the damage is done.

Unlike other alarm systems and CCTV solutions that rely on visual recordings, Sonitrol’s audio intrusion is sound-based, providing unparalleled accuracy and coverage.

Here’s how it works:

  • Sound-Based Detection: When an alarm is triggered, Sonitrol’s advanced audio sensors detect abnormal sounds anywhere in your building. Unlike CCTV cameras that only monitor specific areas, audio sensors offer 100% wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling coverage. There are no blind spots, so criminals have nowhere to hide.

  • Real-Time Verification: Once a disturbance is detected, live audio is streamed to Sonitrol’s monitoring professionals. These experts can listen in and determine whether a break-in is truly happening or if it’s just a false alarm.

  • Immediate Police Dispatch: If a break-in is confirmed, our team quickly notifies law enforcement, providing real-time details that help officers respond fast.

  • No Hassle for False Alarms: If the alarm is deemed a non-threat, we reset the system without bothering you or the police.

This ability to verify alarms in real-time is why Sonitrol has the highest apprehension rate and the lowest false alarm rate in the security industry. Police prioritize Sonitrol alerts because they know they’re dealing with a verified threat - not a wild goose chase.

Why Verified Audio Intrusion is Superior to CCTV in Your Building

1. Real-Time Threat Detection

Verified audio intrusion systems, like those offered by Sonitrol, don’t wait for a crime to finish - they stop it as it’s happening. By detecting abnormal sounds within your property, these systems instantly alert trained operators who can verify the threat and dispatch authorities immediately.

2. Comprehensive Coverage

Unlike CCTV, verified audio provides full-building protection. Whether it’s a whisper in the farthest corner of your premises or the sound of glass breaking in a storage room, verified audio doesn’t miss a thing. This means no blind spots, no loopholes, and no chance for criminals to outsmart your security.

3. Police Actually Respond

Here’s where it gets impressive: Sonitrol’s verified audio systems have an industry-leading false alarm rate of just 3%. Compare that to the 98% false alarm rate of other alarm systems, and it’s no wonder law enforcement prioritizes Sonitrol alerts. This translates to average police response times of just 3.5 minutes - enough to catch criminals in the act and protect your assets.

4. Deterrence Through Proven Technology

Criminals know what they can get away with, and they’re not intimidated by standard CCTV setups. But Sonitrol’s verified audio solutions are a different story. With over 187,000 criminal apprehensions across North America, our track record is a deterrent in itself.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

When it comes to security, the choice is clear. Verified audio systems outperform CCTV at every level:

  • 98% of CCTV alarms are false, wasting time and resources.
  • Sonitrol’s verified systems boast a 3% false alarm rate - meaning real threats get real attention.
  • Police arrive within an average of 3.5 minutes for Sonitrol alerts, compared to 45 minutes or more for traditional systems.

If you’re still relying on CCTV in your building, you’re playing a dangerous game.

Sonitrol doesn’t just offer security; we redefine it. Our verified audio intrusion systems set the gold standard for proactive protection, combining advanced technology with unmatched expertise.

When you choose Sonitrol, you’re not just investing in a product - you’re investing in peace of mind. Here’s what you get:

  • Expert Monitoring: Trained operators analyze real-time audio to confirm threats.

  • Guaranteed Results: We stand behind our systems with the industry’s best service commitment.

  • Proven Success: Over 187,000 criminals apprehended, and counting.

Don’t settle for outdated, unreliable security. Protect your business with the only solution that guarantees real-time threat detection, police response, and complete coverage. Contact Sonitrol today for your free security plan.

Free Security Plan

Tags:

CCTV
Joe Wilson
Post by Joe Wilson
January 02, 2025
We provide our customers with the best commercial security solutions and quality service backed by our unique Guarantee and Commitment to Service. It's something unverified conventional alarm companies simply cannot guarantee!
sonitrol-guide
Learn what the competition isn't telling you about commercial security systems

Become a more informed security system buyer, as this guide explains in detail why conventional alarms are ineffective, and could make your business vulnerable to theft and robbery.

book-light (2) book-light (2)

Free eBook: Learn What The Competition Isn't Telling You About Commercial Security Systems

There are lots of problems with conventional, commercial security alarm systems that you need to know about.

Become a more informed security system buyer, as this guide explains in detail why conventional alarms are ineffective and could make your business vulnerable to theft and robbery.

Read the Free Guide