# Helix Alerts
Helix is Verkada’s customizable video search and integration engine that brings third-party data from on-premises or cloud-based systems into Command. This data indexes footage with user-defined attributes, making searching and identifying specific events easier.
With Helix alerts, users can receive proactive notifications in Command for integrated events, either for all new Helix events or only those that meet defined thresholds.
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## Configuration
### Create Alert > Events
{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**On the Command homepage, left navigation, click Alerts.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**At the top, click New Alert.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**On Select Event, choose Camera > Helix.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**On Cameras:**
a. Choose to receive alerts from **Sites** or **Individual Cameras**.\
b. Click **Done** to continue.
{% hint style="warning" %}
Helix alerts are tied to specific Helix event types. We recommend selecting all cameras to ensure no important events are missed.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**On Helix Event Type:**
a. Select a Helix Event Type.
{% hint style="info" %}
The event types listed are the ones [you configured](https://apidocs.verkada.com/reference/getting-started).
{% endhint %}
b. Click **Done** to continue.
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**On Thresholds:**
a. Enable the **All Events** toggle to receive alerts whenever a new Helix Event is generated.\
b. For more granular control, define up to two thresholds joined by **AND** or **OR** logic. An alert will be triggered whenever a Helix event meets the specified threshold conditions.
c. Click **Done** to continue.
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Click Done and continue with the alert** [**recipients**](#h_7b9581b6e8)**.**
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}
### Create Alert > Recipients
{% hint style="warning" %}
To prevent excessive notifications, users are limited to 500 SMS messages per day, per user.
{% endhint %}
{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**On Recipients, add users individually or assign the alert to a group.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Select the dropdown menu next to a user or group to choose their notification method(s). Recipients can be notified via push, SMS, or email notifications.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**(Optional) By default, you will be an alert recipient. Select the dropdown menu and click Delete to remove yourself.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Click Done and continue with the alert** [**notification schedule**](#h_317d483072)**.**
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}
{% hint style="warning" %}
Any recipient added to this alert will see it appear under the **Shared Alerts** section of their **Alerts** page.
{% endhint %}
### Create Alert > Notification Schedule
{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**On Notification Schedule, specify the days and times for the alerts to send notifications. Alerts generate 24/7 by default.**
{% hint style="warning" %}
Helix email and SMS alerts use a 1-minute cooldown per device. Any events triggered during this window are suppressed and labeled as **Cooldown** in Command.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Click Done and continue with the alert** [**device actions**](#h_a426fdc345) **or** [**finish the alert**](#h_207adbdaf2)**.**
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}
### Create Alert > Device Action
{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**On Device Action, select the horn speaker(s) you want to play your message.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Select your notification preference (Text to Speech or Audio File).**
a. For **Text to Speech,** enter a message up to 200 characters.\
b. For **Audio File,** drag and drop the file or click **choose a file** to upload your audio clip.
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Click Done and continue with** [**finish the alert**](#h_207adbdaf2)**.**
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}
### Finish the alert
{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**In the bottom right of the configuration window, click Next.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Enter a descriptive name for the alert.**
{% endstep %}
{% step %}
**Click Done to complete the setup.**
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}
