A Virtual Security Guard reviewing a camera event on their desktop computer

Virtual Security Guard Setup Guide

Virtual Security Guard¹ is a monthly subscription service from Rapid Response that provides live monitoring of camera motion events for the compatible, enrolled cameras at your home or business. Trained guards will monitor events when a person is detected and act accordingly on your behalf.

A subscription includes 175 events for $99/month per location. Events don’t roll over to the next month, but instead reset each month to 175 at the start of each billing cycle. To get started, follow the steps below.

Using Virtual Security Guard with Astro for Business?

Click here to learn important information about how the service works with Astro.

1. Make sure you meet the eligibility requirements

Click here to view the full details of what’s required for you to use Virtual Security Guard. Here’s the short list:

2. Here's how to purchase a Virtual Security Guard subscription

  1. Log in to your
    .
  2. Select
    Protect Plan
    in the main menu.
  • If you have more than one Location set up, select the one you’d like to enroll in Virtual Security Guard.
  • Find the Virtual Security Guard Add-On module and select
    Purchase Virtual Security Guard
    .
  • Select
    Purchase
    and follow the remaining steps.
  • If you’re missing a compatible Ring Protect subscription, you will be prompted to purchase a compatible Protect Pro subscription before completing your Virtual Security Guard purchase.

Note: While purchasing, you will be asked to opt in or out of Extra Events. If you do, Extra Events are an additional charge. You can change your preferences anytime in the Virtual Security Guard Control Center. Learn more about Extra Events here.

3. Set up Virtual Security Guard

Once you’ve finished purchasing Virtual Security Guard, you’ll be automatically prompted to set up the service. This step is required for you to use it.

During this process, you’ll be asked to:

  • Enroll in Professional Monitoring if you don't already have this set up.
  • Confirm the
    eligible cameras
    you want monitored. You must select at least one camera to activate the service.
  • Confirm your
    emergency contacts
    and alert preferences. We recommend adding yourself as the first contact, then at least one other person.

Once you’ve set up the service, you’ll get a welcome email in your inbox

4. Enable Live View and Motion Detection on enrolled cameras.

When the service is active, Live View and Motion Detection enable Rapid Response guards to (1) see in real-time what’s happening on your enrolled cameras and (2) be notified when a person is detected.

Note: Virtual Security Guard will not work without these features enabled on enrolled cameras.

To enable Live View for a specific camera:

  1. Open the Ring app and tap the
    three lines (☰)
    .
  2. Tap
    Settings
    .
  3. Tap
    Modes
    .
  4. Select the
    Mode
    you’re interested in checking or updating.
  5. Tap
    Cameras
    and select the camera.
  6. Toggle on
    Live View
    for that camera.

To turn on Motion Detection for a specific camera:

  1. Open the Ring app and tap the
    three lines (☰)
    .
  2. Tap
    Settings
    .
  3. Tap
    Modes
    .
  4. Select the
    Mode
    you’re interested in checking or updating.
  5. Tap
    Cameras
    and select the camera.
  6. Toggle on
    Motion Detection
    .

Note: Motion events are only monitored by a Rapid Response guard if a person is detected.

5. Make sure your cameras aren’t using Video End-to-End Encryption

Video End-to-End Encryption must be turned off for cameras enrolled in Virtual Security Guard. Ring already encrypts your videos by default when they’re uploaded to the cloud and stored on Ring servers.

To turn off End-to-End Encryption for an enrolled Ring camera:

  1. Open the Ring app and tap the
    three lines (☰)
    on the top left.
  2. Tap
    Control Center.
  3. Tap
    Video Encryption.
  4. Select
    Advanced Video Encryption.
  5. Select the
    Enrolled
    camera.
  6. Unenroll the camera from End-to-End Encryption.

6. Once you’ve completed setup, activate Virtual Security Guard by setting your Alarm Mode to Home or Away

When Virtual Security Guard is active (in Home or Away Mode):

  • You’ll see the
    blue banner
    that says Virtual Security Guard Active on the Ring app’s main dashboard.
  • You’ll get a
    text alert
    that you armed the service. Note: You can turn off these alerts in the Alert Preferences section of the
    .
  • You will see Virtual Security Guard on the
    arming takeover screen
    , along with a
    green check mark
    . If it shows a a red X, the service is not armed.
  • When people are detected on your enrolled cameras, you may receive
    text
    alerts
    and/or hear
    Rapid Response guards talking
    on the camera’s speaker.
  • In some situations, your emergency contacts may get an text or call from a Rapid Response guard letting them know an event needs attention.
    • Make sure to add your emergency contacts as
      on your Ring account so they can view the video in any text alerts they receive
    • Be sure that your emergency contacts have agreed to be listed as such, and that they know they may be contacted by Virtual Security Guard.

7. Keep these things in mind as you use the service

  • To use Virtual Security Guard without any interruptions, be sure to keep meeting the
    .
  • Both you and your emergency contacts can opt out of text alerts anytime. Alerts will always be sent from this number:
    . Please save this number to your phone contacts. To opt out of text alerts, reply
    STOP
    to this number. To opt back in, send
    START
    as a text message to this number.
  • If you need help with Virtual Security Guard or would like to stop using the service at any time, contact us at
    . This is a Ring Customer Support line dedicated to Virtual Security Guard

¹Virtual Security Guard is an add-on service that requires the following (each sold separately): subscription fee per enrolled location plus a compatible Ring Protect plan, Ring Alarm system, enrollment in Ring Alarm Professional Monitoring², and an eligible device. Rapid Response is the seller and provides the service and agents monitoring person detected motion events. Learn more.

²Additional charges may apply in areas that require permits or guard response service for alarm verification. Tax not included. Enrollment required.

A compatible Ring Protect subscription is required to enroll in professional monitoring. Ring Alarm professional monitoring service is available only within the U.S. (all 50 states, but not U.S. territories) and in Canada (excluding Quebec). Ring does not own its own professional monitoring center. Smoke and carbon monoxide monitoring is not available for a business or commercially zoned address.

Check Ring Protect Subscription Plans for more information.

See Ring alarm licenses at: https://ring.com/licenses.

Last updated 2 months ago