What Is the Total Cost of 24/7 Remote Monitoring With One Agent?
Let's start with a direct calculation. One remote monitoring agent working 24 hours every day for a full year costs:
$$6/\text{hr} \times 24 \text{ hrs/day} \times 365 \text{ days} = $52,560/\text{year}$$
This is F5's standard rate: $6/hour per agent. At volume (20+ agents), the rate drops to $4/hour:
$$4/\text{hr} \times 24 \text{ hrs/day} \times 365 \text{ days} = $35,040/\text{year}$$
But here's the key insight: one agent cannot physically be on duty alone for 24 hours every single day. Human agents need sleep, sick days, and rotation time. The operational requirement is actually three agents rotating 8-hour shifts to provide true 24/7 coverage.
Three agents × $52,560/agent = $157,680/year for genuine 24/7 coverage (standard rate) Three agents × $35,040/agent = $105,120/year at volume rate (20+ agents)
This is still dramatically cheaper than one 24/7 on-site guard, which costs $175,200+ annually. But the math changes depending on your coverage needs.
How Many Cameras Can One Remote Agent Monitor at Once?
This is where remote monitoring's scalability shines. One F5 agent can monitor 50–100 cameras simultaneously, depending on:
- Site layout and camera placement — spread across one building vs. distributed across 20 acres
- Your documented SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) — which zones require constant active surveillance vs. which are recording-only
- Alert complexity — simple motion detection vs. person-in-zone vs. multi-trigger rules
- Time of day — 24/7 coverage vs. peak-risk hours (nights, weekends)
F5's active multifamily clients run 350+ cameras combined under live monitoring across two properties. Their agent teams operate from Pune and Rajkot (India hubs), monitoring feeds via centralized dashboard, responding to alerts, and escalating per documented protocol.
Real Density Example
Property A: 100-camera multifamily housing
- One F5 agent monitors all 100 cameras
- Agent works 8-hr shifts (three agents rotate for 24/7)
- Cost: $52,560/year total (for 24/7 coverage with three agents)
- Cost per camera: $526/year
Property B: 250-camera multifamily housing
- One F5 agent monitors 125 cameras (two agents needed for full scope)
- Cost: $105,120/year (two agents × $52,560)
- Cost per camera: $420/year
The per-camera cost actually decreases as you add cameras (you don't proportionally add agents). This is the inverse of on-site guard pricing, where you add a $175k guard per site regardless of camera count above 5–10.
What Shift Structure Options Exist for 24/7 Coverage?
F5 is flexible on shift structure. You define the hours; F5 staffs and manages the rotation.
Single-Shift Coverage (8 hours)
Example: 9am–5pm monitoring only
- 1 agent × $6/hr × 8 hrs/day × 365 days = $17,520/year
- Your cameras still record 24/7 (you keep them on); F5 monitors live during business hours
- Good for: retail shops, office buildings, properties with low after-hours risk
Two-Shift Coverage (16 hours)
Example: 9am–5pm + 5pm–1am (no 1am–9am coverage)
- 2 agents × $6/hr × 8 hrs/day × 365 days = $35,040/year
- Good for: properties with peak-risk evenings but lower overnight risk
Three-Shift Coverage (24/7)
Example: 9am–5pm + 5pm–1am + 1am–9am
- 3 agents × $6/hr × 8 hrs/day × 365 days = $52,560/year per agent = $157,680/year total
- Or at volume ($4/hr): $35,040/year per agent = $105,120/year total
- Good for: multifamily housing, construction sites, self-storage, car dealerships—properties with round-the-clock security risk
Custom Shift Structure
You can also run unequal shifts. For example:
- Peak coverage: 5pm–5am (12-hour evening/overnight shift) = 2 agents
- Daytime record-only: 5am–5pm (10 hours) = 1 agent
Cost scales with agent hours, not camera count.
How Do F5 and On-Site Guard 24/7 Costs Compare?
Let's put the numbers side by side.
| Coverage Model | Annual Cost | Per-Camera Cost (50 cameras) | Hourly Rate | Turnover Risk | Scaling Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F5 Remote (8-hr single shift) | $17,520 | $350 | $6/hr per agent | None (F5 replacement guarantee) | +$17,520 per agent |
| F5 Remote (24/7, three agents) | $157,680 | $3,153 | $6/hr per agent | None (F5 replacement guarantee) | +$52,560 per agent |
| F5 Remote (24/7, volume 20+) | $105,120 | $2,102 | $4/hr per agent | None (F5 replacement guarantee) | +$35,040 per agent |
| On-site guard (one 24/7) | $175,200 | $3,504 | $20/hr (loaded cost) | ~100%/year (BLS data) | +$175,200 per guard |
| On-site guard (two 24/7) | $350,400 | $7,008 | $20/hr each | ~100%/year (BLS data) | +$175,200 per guard |
Key takeaway: Three F5 agents ($157,680) cost $17,520 less than one on-site guard ($175,200). You get three people (redundancy) for less than one on-site employee (who can't work solo 24/7). And if an F5 agent becomes unavailable, F5 replaces them at no cost; if an on-site guard quits (turnover is ~100%/year), you're scrambling to hire and onboard.
The Shift Structure Decision: What's Right for Your Property?
Your choice depends on risk profile and operational needs.
Choose Single-Shift (8-hr) If:
- Your property has lower overnight risk. Example: office building, retail shop, light industrial warehouse
- You have basic security cameras that record 24/7. You get continuous recording; F5 monitors live during business hours
- Budget is constrained. Start at $17,520/year and scale up if incidents spike
Choose Two-Shift (16-hr) If:
- You have peak-risk evenings but lower overnight activity. Example: restaurant, retail, gym, property with evening foot traffic
- You want monitoring during commute times and after business hours without the 24/7 cost
- Budget is moderate. $35,040/year for peak-risk coverage
Choose Three-Shift 24/7 If:
- Your property has round-the-clock risk. Example: multifamily housing, construction site, self-storage, car dealership, parking garage
- You need incident response anytime. A trespasser at 3am isn't going to wait until 9am; F5's agent is on duty
- Turnover risk is high. On-site guards quit frequently; F5 manages replacement
- You want redundancy. If one agent calls in sick, two others backfill coverage until a permanent replacement is assigned
What Happens When a Multifamily Property Switches to Remote Monitoring?
One of F5's active clients manages a 100-unit multifamily property with 100 security cameras (entrances, hallways, parking, perimeter). They previously ran one 24/7 on-site guard.
Previous model (on-site):
- 1 guard × $20/hr loaded cost × 8,760 hours/year = $175,200/year
- Turnover: replaced guard ~1x per year (BLS private security turnover ~100%)
- Coverage gap during callouts, training, vacation
New model (F5 remote 24/7):
- 3 agents × $6/hr × 24 hrs/day × 365 days = $157,680/year
- Coverage: true 24/7 (three agents rotating 8-hr shifts)
- Replacement: if an agent is unavailable, F5 provides backup within 7–14 days, zero cost
- No turnover gaps; built-in redundancy
Annual savings: $17,520 (10%) Plus eliminated turnover cost: ~$20,000/year (recruiting, training, onboarding new guard) Total actual savings: ~$37,520/year (21%)
The multifamily operator also retired the on-site guard post, which freed up an office/break room and reduced liability exposure (no on-site incident-at-work claims).
How Does Billing Work for Multi-Shift Coverage?
F5 bills weekly for actual agent hours used.
If you run three agents (24/7):
- Week 1: 3 agents × 24 hrs/day × 7 days = 504 hours
- Invoice: 504 hours × $6/hr = $3,024
- Month (4.3 weeks): ~$13,003
- Year: ~$157,680
If an agent is on vacation (replacement arrives 7–14 days later), you only pay for coverage actually provided. There are no "seat costs" or "minimum monthly agent counts" — just hourly billing.
This flexibility is crucial. If your property has seasonal risk (e.g., construction site that slows in winter), you can reduce agents from 3 to 2 in off-season and scale back up as needed. On-site guards require longer-term employment commitments (you can't fire a guard mid-week without severance and liability issues).
How Do Different Agency Cost Models Compare?
| Metric | F5 Remote Monitoring | Traditional Security Agency (on-site) | US Remote Monitoring Firm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billing model | Hourly per agent (weekly invoice) | Salaried employee or hourly contract | Per-feed monthly or per-camera annual |
| 24/7 cost for 50 cameras | $157,680 (3 agents @ $6/hr) | $175,200–$350,400 (1–2 on-site guards) | $146,000–$438,000 (5–15 feeds @ $250–$300/mo) |
| Turnover risk | None (F5 replaces free within 7–14 days) | ~100%/year per BLS data | Subject to vendor's hiring practices |
| Scaling cost | +$52,560 per additional agent (24/7) | +$175,200 per additional guard (24/7) | Variable per vendor |
| Flexibility (add/remove agents) | Weekly (adjust as needed) | Limited (employment law constraints) | Monthly (vendor dependent) |
| Geographic footprint | India-based PSARA-certified agents | Local to site's region | US-based (typically) |
| Response model | Live monitoring + document escalation to client SOP | Immediate on-site response | Alert review + third-party dispatch |
What Should You Budget for 24/7 Remote Monitoring?
Expect to budget $105,120–$157,680 annually depending on whether you qualify for volume pricing and how many agents your property requires. This almost always costs less than on-site guard coverage while eliminating turnover risk and providing greater flexibility to scale.
F5 serves two multifamily housing operators with 350+ cameras under live monitoring. If your property has 10+ cameras and needs 24/7 incident response, F5's remote monitoring deserves consideration.
Ready to discuss your property's 24/7 coverage needs? Schedule a consultation with Joel Deutsch, CEO of F5 Hiring Solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if we only need coverage 12 hours a day instead of 24/7?
F5 builds your shift structure to fit your budget and risk profile. Two agents (one per 8-hr shift, daytime/evening) cost $35,040/year. One agent for a single 8-hr shift costs $17,520/year. Scale matches your need.
What if our monitoring agent gets sick or quits?
F5 is a managed remote workforce company, not a traditional staffing agency. If an agent becomes unavailable, F5 provides a replacement at no cost within 7–14 days. You never experience a coverage gap. This is built into F5's model: if your agent needs to leave, F5 sources and onboards a replacement from its internal pipeline.
Can we adjust coverage seasonally (fewer agents in winter, more in summer)?
Absolutely. F5 bills weekly. You can reduce agents in slower seasons or increase them during peak-risk periods. No long-term contracts, no penalties for adding or removing agents.
How is incident response escalation handled?
Your property provides a documented SOP: (1) call local police if suspicious activity is detected, (2) save video clip, (3) upload to your shared folder, (4) email you with timestamp and summary. F5 executes your SOP. The agent has no decision-making authority over whether police are called—you own that judgment.
What if we have multiple properties with 50 cameras each?
Each property can have its own agent team. At 50 cameras each across 10 properties (500 cameras total), you'd run 10 agents for 8-hr shift coverage ($175,200/year) or 30 agents for 24/7 ($528,600/year). The volume rate ($4/hr at 20+ agents) applies company-wide, so your blended cost per agent drops as you add properties.
Is there any onboarding time before 24/7 monitoring starts?
F5 typically provisions monitoring within 7–30 days, depending on your camera system's integration complexity and how quickly you can provide access credentials and documented SOP. The F5 team will walk through camera feeds, alert rules, and incident escalation during onboarding.