Monitoring security work requires much more than simply watching CCTV screens or waiting for an alarm to activate. Good monitoring officers need excellent observation skills, concentration, communication, judgement and attention to detail. You need to be comfortable working with technology, including CCTV, alarm systems, electronic access control, duress alarms, radios, computers, GPS systems and electronic reporting platforms. Just as importantly, you need to recognise when something is not right and make sensible decisions about what happens next.

A monitoring officer may need to assess an alarm, follow established procedures, communicate with a client, dispatch a mobile patrol, direct security officers on the ground or contact police, fire or ambulance services. Accurate documentation is also extremely important because electronic logs, incident reports, CCTV footage and recorded communications may later become evidence in an investigation or legal proceeding. Monitoring work can involve long periods where very little happens followed by an incident requiring an immediate and accurate response, so remaining alert and calm under pressure is essential.

The CPP20218 Certificate II in Security Operations develops many of these foundation skills, including communication, risk assessment, incident response, access control, teamwork and reporting. Like most areas of security, technology can provide you with information, but ultimately it still takes a well-trained security officer with good judgement and common sense to decide what to do with it.