This article is a guide for new Alarms. Refer to this article if you have classic Alarms. See New Alarms vs Classic Alarms if you are unsure which version of Alarms you have.
Verkada Alarms, also known in the industry as intrusion detection or simply intrusion, provides fully integrated, 24/7 professional monitoring with emergency dispatch services. You can use your existing Verkada devices without purchasing any additional hardware.
You need Org Admin and/or Site Admin permissions for your Verkada Command organization to complete these actions.
What you need
PoE-enabled switch or PoE injector (Cameras)
DHCP-enabled network
Cat5 or Cat6 cabling
Create a site
Sites are the logical way of grouping and managing devices within your Command organization. Site-level permissions make managing and viewing your devices easier. See Alarms Sites for more information on site creation and management.
Configure settings
The Alarms site settings page allows you to configure various settings, such as alarm triggers, arm/disarm schedules, alarm responses, and more. Each site's settings can be uniquely configured to suit your security needs. See Configure Alarms Site Settings for more information.
Add Alarms devices
You can add serialized alarm devices (keypad, expander, etc.) from the alarm devices page you will need to change the view. Click the three horizontal lines located in the top right
Licensing
The cellular backup module is the only hardware device that requires a license. An Alarms license is required for each location that is monitored. Verkada licensing is applied for each Command organization, and the licenses co-term to a single expiration date. Your licenses may have been automatically added if you claimed your devices via order number. Otherwise, manually add the licenses from the Admin page. See Manage Your Licenses for more information on adding and managing licenses.
Connect your Alarms devices
While Verkada Alarms devices are considered low-voltage devices that do not require a certified electrician to install, we strongly recommend you work with a system integrator or other professional for installation.
Please refer to the device setup guide for installation instructions.
Powered and network
The alarm devices are powered in various ways.
The Alarms console requires DC power via the alarm panel and connects to your network via Ethernet.
The Alarm panel is powered via AC power and connects to your network via Ethernet.
The horn speaker uses Power over Ethernet (PoE) for power and communication over the LAN. In most cases, it needs to connect directly to a standard switch. PoE injectors can be used when a PoE switch is not available.
The wireless Alarms devices are powered by CR123A lithium batteries.
For more information on power and network requirements, see the product datasheet.
Check network settings
Verkada Alarms devices are designed to be plug-and-play. However, if your environment includes a firewall with custom rules and policies, you may need to make some configuration changes to get your devices connected to the cloud. See Alarms Network Settings for more information.
Need more help? Contact Verkada Support.