Configure AI-Powered Deterrence
Use AI-powered Deterrence to deter unwanted activity before an alarm is raised
AI-powered deterrence uses cameras to detect activity and 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.
We use a variety of realistic voices during deterrence to make it feel like a real monitoring agent is watching and speaking.
Deterrence triggers are configured separately from alarm triggers, giving you maximum control.
If deterrence is active when an alarm is triggered, it automatically escalates to an alarm.
Each camera supports one Deterrence Area trigger (Person Detection or Loitering).
Prerequisites
Set up an Alarm site
Set up at least one camera at your Alarm site
Set up at least one speaker at your Alarm site
Set up a camera partition
Set up a 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.
Select the response containing the camera partitions where you want to add deterrence.
Click Deterrence to open the configuration page.
Under Camera Triggers, click Edit Triggers to add a purple Deterrence Area to one or more cameras (Alarm Areas are blue).
Supported Cameras (Deterrence): All second-generation or newer cameras (models ending in "2" or higher) and the CF81-E.
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 Loitering (15 seconds) outside and an Alarm Area with Person Detected inside. This setup allows your employees to enter without triggering the deterrence.
Under Output Devices, select one or more speakers to play Deterrence messages.
Supported Speakers: BZ11 horn speaker, all Verkada Intercom models.
Under Customize Warning, edit the first message if desired.
In the top right, turn the toggle On.
If the toggle can’t be turned On, you are missing one of the following:
At least one camera with a Deterrence Area
At least one speaker is assigned to the Alarm site
A non-empty first message
Deterrence occurs when the corresponding camera partition is armed, and the trigger condition is met.
The partition must be armed for deterrence to trigger.
Deterrence ends when one of the following occurs:
5 minutes of inactivity
15 minutes after the initial trigger
When the incident is canceled in Command
When it escalates to an alarm.
Edit or remove a Deterrence Area
In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Alarms.
Select the Alarm site you want to edit.
In the left navigation, select Response.
Select the response containing the camera partitions where you want to edit or remove a Deterrence Area.
Click Deterrence to view the configuration page.
Under Camera Triggers, click Edit Triggers to manage Deterrence Areas.
You can also hover over a camera and click the pen icon to edit or remove its Deterrence Area.
Disable a deterrence
In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Alarms.
Select the Alarm site you want to configure.
In the left navigation, select Response.
Select the response containing the camera partitions with deterrence enabled.
Click Deterrence to open the configuration page.
In the top right, turn the toggle Off.
The toggle will automatically turn Off unless there is:
At least one camera with a Deterrence Area
At least one speaker is assigned to the Alarm site
A non-empty first message
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