Alarm.com Video Analytics: Setup, Rules & Best Practices

Alarm.com Video Analytics continuously scans your property and identifies people, vehicles, and animals. By creating advanced detection rules, users can enhance perimeter security and receive real-time alerts for meaningful activity.

Overview of Video Analytics

Video Analytics can:

• Send notifications when people or vehicles enter your driveway, porch, or business entrance.
• Alert you to loitering activity within defined zones.
• Notify you about after-hours motion detection around your business.
• Identify when pets or children enter restricted areas.
• Provide enhanced notifications with thumbnail images.

Requirements

• A service package that supports Video Analytics.
• A compatible Alarm.com video camera.

Camera Setup & Placement

Position

Mount cameras 8–16 feet above the ground. Recreate and recalibrate rules after repositioning.

Angle

Angle cameras downward 30–60° and keep the horizon level. Avoid sideways tilts over 10°.

Distance

Targets should be within 25 feet of the camera (15 feet at night). Ensure the full target is visible.

Recommended Locations

• Driveways or parking lots
• Front porches or package drop-off zones
• Yards and entryways
• Indoor hallways and points of entry

Not Recommended

• Busy roads or areas with constant motion
• Pointing cameras out of windows (due to reflections)

Lighting Considerations

• Avoid placing cameras where floodlights or headlights shine directly into the lens.
• Reduce reflections from walls, overhangs, or eaves that may interfere with IR lighting.

Create a Video Analytics Rule

Customer Website

1. Log into the Customer Website.
2. Click Video → Recording Rules.
3. Click Add New Rule.
4. Select Video Analytics.

Customer App

1. Log into the Customer App.
2. Tap Video → Recording Rules.
3. Tap Add → Video Analytics.

Rule Types

Tripwire

Use when monitoring entrances/exits (e.g., vehicles pulling into a driveway).

Ground Zone

Use when monitoring lingering activity (e.g., a package left on a porch).

Configuring a Rule

• Name the rule.
• Draw tripwires or zones where targets’ feet or wheels will cross.
• Set object detection size and duration inside the zone.
• Schedule rules for specific times, vacations, or exceptions (e.g., armed/disarmed status).
• Select recipients for notifications (push with thumbnail recommended).

Advanced Features

Light Automation

Integrate rules with smart lights to trigger illumination when motion is detected (requires enabled lights in service package).

Perimeter Guard™

• Enable LED flashes and/or audio alerts when unwanted visitors are detected.
• Set alert duration, volume, and cooldown between alerts.

Package Alerts (ADC-VDB770)

Be notified immediately when a package is delivered, reminded if it’s not picked up, or alerted if it goes missing.

Best Practices

• Keep lenses clear of debris, spiderwebs, or reflections.
• Avoid drawing rules over moving objects like trees or bushes.
• Use 2–3 rules per camera for targeted monitoring.
• Adjust object detection size or recalibrate as needed after observing performance.

Viewing Clips

Customer Website

1. Log into the Customer Website.
2. Click Video → Saved Video Clips.
3. Filter by people, vehicles, animals, or “Other.”

Customer App

1. Log into the Customer App.
2. Tap Saved.
3. Filter by object type, then apply and view clips.

Need More Help?

Check our Video Surveillance solutions, or visit our Support Center. For personal assistance, Contact True Protection.

FAQs

How many Video Analytics rules can I create per camera?

Up to three rules per camera.

Do I need to recalibrate after moving my camera?

Yes. Recreate and recalibrate rules after repositioning for best accuracy.

What objects can Video Analytics identify?

People, vehicles, animals, and “Other” when classification is uncertain.