AI-powered deterrence uses cameras to detect activity and BZ11 speakers to play up to three escalating messages before raising an alarm.
Message 1: Configured by you. Plays ~3 seconds after the deterrence is triggered.
Messages 2 and 3: Automatically generated by AI using context from earlier messages. These play only if motion or loitering continues. If camera clarity allows, scene-specific context (e.g., “you in the red backpack”) may be included.
Deterrence triggers are configured separately from alarm triggers, allowing unique regions, lines, or loitering durations.
If deterrence is active when an alarm is triggered, it automatically escalates to an alarm.
Each camera supports one deterrence trigger type (Person Detection, Loitering, or Line Crossing).
Prerequisites
Associate each BZ11 with a nearby context camera to ensure accurate scene context.
Set up an alarm site.
Create a camera partition.
Configure an alarm response.
Configuration
In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Alarms.
Select the Alarm site that you want to configure.
On the left navigation, select Response.
Open the response containing the camera partitions where you want to add deterrence.
Click Deterrence to open the configuration page.
Under Customize Warning, edit the first message if desired.
Under Camera Triggers and Output, click + Add Camera.
In Add Cameras for Deterrence, select the cameras you want to include.
For each camera, under Areas to Trigger Deterrence, draw either Line Crossing or an Area.
Recommended configurations:Draw a Deterrence Area with Person Detected and pair it with an Alarm Area with loitering (1 minute) in the same region. This setup starts deterrence when someone enters the area and raises an alarm if they remain.
Draw a Deterrence Area with Person Detected outside and an Alarm Area with Person Detected inside.
Draw a Deterrence Line Crossing on an outer perimeter (e.g., fence) and an Alarm Line Crossing on an inner perimeter (e.g., door).
Click Save Cameras.
Deterrence will occur when the corresponding Camera Partition is Armed and the trigger condition is met
Deterrence triggers only when the corresponding camera partition is armed.
Deterrence ends after 5 minutes of inactivity, 15 minutes after the initial trigger, or when the incident is resolved.
Remove a camera from a deterrence
In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Alarms.
Select the alarm site you want to edit.
In the left navigation, select Response.
Open the response containing the camera partitions.
Click Deterrence to view the configuration page.
Select the device.
At the top, click ⋯ > Delete.
Click Confirm.
Turn off a deterrence
In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Alarms.
Select the alarm site you want to configure.
In the left navigation, select Response.
Open the response containing the camera partitions with deterrence enabled.
Click Deterrence to open the configuration page.
In the top right, toggle deterrence Off.
Need more help? Contact Verkada Support.