Professional working at desk with multiple computer monitors displaying blue screens

Requirements for Virtual Security Guard

With Virtual Security Guard,1 trained guards will monitor events when a person is detected on an enrolled device and act accordingly on your behalf.

A Virtual Security Guard subscription includes 175 Events for $99 a month per location. Events don’t roll over to the next month but instead reset each month at the start of each billing cycle. After you’ve used all your current billing cycle’s included events, Virtual Security Guard will stop monitoring for the remainder of your billing cycle, unless you have opted in to Extra Events.

Virtual Security Guard requirements:

  • At least one compatible Ring camera.
  • Virtual Security Guard is available only within the US (all 50 states but not US territories).
  • Ring Alarm sensors are not monitored by Virtual Security Guard.

Learn more about Ring subscriptions.

Scroll down to learn more about each requirement.

  • Wired Doorbell (2nd Gen)
  • Wired Doorbell Plus (formerly Video Doorbell Pro)
  • Wired Doorbell Pro (formerly Video Doorbell Pro 2)
  • Wired Doorbell Pro (3rd Gen)
  • Wired Doorbell Plus (2nd Gen)
  • Wired Doorbell Elite (2nd Gen)
  • Video Doorbell Elite
  • Video Doorbell Wired
  • Video Doorbell
  • Video Doorbell (2nd Gen)
  • Video Doorbell 2
  • Video Doorbell 3
  • Video Doorbell 3 Plus
  • Video Doorbell 4
  • Battery Doorbell
  • Battery Doorbell Plus
  • Battery Doorbell Plus (2nd Gen)
  • Battery Doorbell Pro
  • Peephole Cam
  • Floodlight Cam
  • Floodlight Cam (2nd Gen)
  • Floodlight Cam Wired Pro
  • Floodlight Cam Pro (2nd Gen)
  • Floodlight Cam Pro Plug-In
  • Floodlight Cam Wired Plus
  • Floodlight Cam Plus Plug-in
  • Spotlight Cam Wired
  • Spotlight Cam Mount
  • Spotlight Cam Battery
  • Spotlight Cam Solar
  • Spotlight Cam (2nd Gen)
  • Spotlight Cam Pro (2nd Gen)
  • Spotlight Cam Pro Battery
  • Spotlight Cam Plus Wired
  • Spotlight Cam Plus Plug-in
  • Spotlight Cam Plus Solar
  • Spotlight Cam Plus Battery
  • Indoor Cam
  • Indoor Cam (2nd Gen)
  • Indoor Cam Plus
  • Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam (Note: Guards do not have access to control your camera's movement or view)
  • Outdoor Cam Battery
  • Outdoor Cam Plug-in
  • Outdoor Cam Solar
  • Outdoor Cam Plus
  • Outdoor Cam Pro
  • Stick Up Cam Solar (2nd Gen)
  • Stick Up Cam Elite (with PoE Adapter)
  • Stick Up Cam Pro Battery
  • Stick Up Cam Pro Plug-in
  • Stick Up Cam Pro Solar

Ineligible devices

  • Any Ring cameras not mentioned in the compatible security cameras list above.
  • .
    When devices are linked in a Ring security system, the entire group begins functioning if any of them are activated. At this time, this is not supported by Virtual Security Guard.

24/7 Professional Monitoring

If your location has a Ring Alarm, 24/7 Professional Monitoring2 is included in the Virtual Security Guard1 subscription. However, to use Virtual Security Guard, you must first enroll in 24/7 Professional Monitoring.2

  • With Professional Monitoring, guards can initiate monitoring when certain Ring Alarm sensors are triggered.
  • With Virtual Security Guard monitoring, guards will only monitor camera motion events when the service is active and a person is detected by Ring's person detection feature on an enrolled device. They can see what's happening on your cameras and take action if needed.
  • If your Ring Alarm goes off when Virtual Security Guard is active, the Alarm monitoring agent will follow the response settings you've customized in your Monitoring Settings. Ring treats this as an Alarm event, and it won’t count against your monthly event limit.

Additional eligibility requirements

After you’ve completed setup, make sure you meet the requirements below.

  1. at your monitored location.
  2. Video end-to-end encryption turned off for enrolled devices.
  3. Text message alerts from Virtual Security Guard. You can easily opt in from the Virtual Security Guard settings in the Ring app.
  4. Motion detection turned on for your enrolled devices.
  5. Live View is turned on for your enrolled devices.
  6. set to Regularly or Frequently.
  7. Virtual Security Guard number (+1-424-300-8338) added to your phone contacts, so you don’t miss any text alerts or event-related calls.

Optimizing camera placement

Placing your camera in optimal areas is important for Virtual Security Guard.

  1. Your cameras should be
    so that guards can see your Live View when motion is detected.
  2. Depending on ambient noise and surroundings, the audio range your device can record may vary. This can also affect the effectiveness of Two-Way Talk.
  3. Keep your cameras pointed at your own property and away from other people’s private spaces, or
  4. Place cameras in areas where you need extra coverage, such as entry or access points.
  5. Motion detection and visual monitoring work best when cameras are placed so that visitors pass through their view horizontally, not vertically.

Need more help with Virtual Security Guard?

Contact us at 1-866-894-8282 and we’ll be happy to assist. This Customer Support line is dedicated to Virtual Security Guard customers.

Last updated 8 months ago