Alarm Receiving Centres can be in-house or purchased as a service. The function of the ARC is to monitor alarms and take appropriate action. The action taken can differ depending on the client, the nature of the alarm and any additional information received when the alarm is triggered. Modern alarm systems often have false alarm detection capabilities or confirmation technology involving, for example, the triggering of a PTZ camera to perform surveillance operations. These technologies enable informed decisions to be taken regarding the alarm call.
ARCs typically handle multiple types of alarms such as intruder alarms, perimeter breaches, fire alarms and lone worker protection.