COPS Monitoring

What COPS Monitoring does

COPS Monitoring (originally Central Office Processing Services) is a U.S.-based, privately held wholesale provider of professional alarm monitoring services, founded in 1978 and headquartered in Williamstown, New Jersey. The company operates exclusively as a 100% wholesale monitoring partner—meaning it never sells, installs, or owns end-customer accounts—serving thousands of independent alarm dealers ranging from small local operators to national brands with over 100,000 accounts each. Its geographic footprint spans the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean through three geo-diversified, UL-listed, hot-redundant, load-sharing monitoring stations located in Williamstown (NJ), Boca Raton (FL), and Lewisville (TX), processing millions of monitored accounts with a stated 20.4-second average priority alarm response time.

The company's core technical asset is "Generations," a proprietary, in-house-developed, UL-listed monitoring platform that the company claims is the only proprietary UL-listed monitoring platform in the professional monitoring industry. Generations is complemented by MPower (a dealer access and account management platform, including the MPower 2.0 version launched in 2022), MYALARM.CHAT (a white-label text-based alarm communication tool), ALARMWATCH (video monitoring across 200+ camera/DVR brands), ASAP (Automated Secure Alarm Protocol, active in 150+ U.S. cities), TeleMax (dealer answering service), eNotify (electronic notifications), Direct Subscriber Billing, Private Label Subscriber Access, and a full-featured API for proprietary and IoT integrations. COPS holds SOC 2 Type 1 and Type 2 certifications, HIPAA compliance, UL, FM, IQ, and TMA Five Diamond designations, and contracts RiskSense for periodic cybersecurity assessments.

Commercially, COPS generates recurring monthly revenue (RMR) on a subscription basis through monthly monitoring fees, with no account minimums or upfront costs for dealers. Revenue is supplemented by value-added dealer services (MPower, billing, private label access, eNotify, certificates of monitoring, equipment/service discounts through the SS&Si Dealer Network) and funding programs (via Alarm Funding Solutions and similar partners) that provide dealer capital without long-term equity sacrifice. Aggressive transfer incentives of up to $150,000 per dealer are offered. The company is a subsidiary of Lydia Security Monitoring, Inc., a holding company that has utilized a $75 million Citizens-led credit facility (exercised in part for the 2016 United Central Control acquisition), with the Riklis family and Ira D. Riklis (Chairman & CEO) holding significant leadership influence. COPS expanded its dealer base through the 2021 acquisition of Security Partners' wholesale monitoring business.

Name

COPS Monitoring

Legal name

COPS Monitoring

Website

https://copsmonitoring.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

COPS Monitoring is a 100% wholesale provider of UL-listed professional alarm monitoring services to thousands of independent alarm dealers, operating three geo-diversified hot-redundant monitoring stations across the U.S. via its proprietary Generations platform and MPower dealer management suite.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Monitoring Services

NAICS

Security Systems Services (56162), Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621)

SIC

Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial & Industrial Alarm Monitoring (BPAKAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fire Alarm Monitoring & Dispatch (BPAKAFAC), Residential Alarm Monitoring (Burglar/Intrusion) (BPAKAFAA), Environmental & Technical Alarm Monitoring (Temperature, Water Leak, Gas, Power) (BPAKAFAG), Guard Tour / Lone Worker / Duress & Panic Alarm Monitoring (BPAKAFAF)

Keywords

• Wholesale alarm monitoring
• UL-listed monitoring services
• Professional central station
• PERS monitoring services
• Dealer monitoring platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Williamstown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Professional Monitoring: COPS generates recurring monthly revenue (RMR) by providing UL-listed wholesale professional monitoring services exclusively to independent alarm dealers. Revenue is generated through monthly monitoring fees across millions of monitored accounts including security, fire, PERS, MPERS, video verification, environmental, and custom monitoring services.
2. Dealer Services: Additional revenue streams from value-added dealer services including MPower dealer management software, subscriber billing services, private label subscriber access, eNotify notifications, certificate of monitoring services, and equipment/service discounts through the SS&Si Dealer Network.
3. Funding Programs: COPS offers innovative funding programs and transfer incentives for dealers, partnering with carefully selected funding providers to meet dealer capital needs without requiring long-term equity sacrifice through contract sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

COPS Monitoring provides 100% wholesale, UL-listed professional alarm monitoring services exclusively to independent alarm dealers, operating three hot-redundant, load-sharing monitoring stations in NJ, FL, and TX that process security, fire, PERS, MPERS, video verification, environmental, and custom monitoring signals on its proprietary Generations platform. The offering is bundled with dealer enablement tools (MPower, MYALARM.CHAT, TeleMax, billing, ASAP dispatch, funding programs, and CRM integrations) that help dealers grow RMR without competing for end customers.

Product overview

COPS Monitoring is a wholesale professional alarm monitoring services company offering a comprehensive portfolio centered around its proprietary Generations monitoring platform. The core offering includes security, fire, PERS, MPERS, video, environmental, and custom monitoring services delivered through 3 hot-redundant, load-sharing UL-listed monitoring stations. The MPower dealer access platform serves as the primary interface for account management, complemented by specialized add-on modules including MYALARM.CHAT (text-based alarm communication), ALARMWATCH Video Services (200+ camera integrations), ASAP dispatch protocol, TeleMax messaging, Private Label Subscriber Access, Direct Billing, eNotify notifications, and ECO reporting. The company recently partnered with RelyOn to offer AI-powered mobile personal safety. MPower 2.0 represents the next-generation dealer platform, while the full-featured API enables integration for proprietary solutions and IOT devices. CRM integrations with Alarm.com, Cornerstone, Onestop Portal, RMR Cloud, SecurityTrax, Tier32, and WorkHorse extend dealer workflow capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MPower: Dealer access platform and account management software built in-house for professional monitoring, providing clear visibility into accounts, activity, and operations.
• Generations
• ALARMWATCH Video Services
• ASAP
• MYALARM.CHAT
• TeleMax
• MPower 2.0
• OmniView

Products and services

• Security Alarm Monitoring Professional wholesale security alarm monitoring services handling intrusion alarms with fast response times for residential and commercial end customers of independent alarm dealers.
• Fire Alarm Monitoring FM-approved wholesale fire alarm monitoring with redundant UL-listed stations, active NFPA membership, and tools/reports designed with input from fire alarm dealers.
• PERS & Two-Way Voice Monitoring Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS) monitoring with specially trained VoiceCom operators and two-way hands-free alarm verification across more than 40 communication boards, offered to alarm dealers for senior and vulnerable-population subscribers.
• MPERS (Mobile Personal Emergency Response) Monitoring Wholesale monitoring of mobile personal emergency response (MPERS) devices, extending safety services to customers outside the home through app-based mobile gear for seniors, lone workers, students, realtors, delivery personnel, and others.
• ALARMWATCH Video Monitoring Services Wholesale video monitoring service supporting 200+ cameras, DVRs, and equipment from major brands, helping alarm dealers boost RMR, reduce false alarms, and prioritize emergency response through professionally monitored video integration.
• ASAP (Automated Secure Alarm Protocol) Dispatch Automated dispatch protocol that transmits alarm information directly to 911 dispatchers in participating jurisdictions without a phone call, reducing response times and improving accuracy; available to COPS dealers as part of the monitoring service.
• Environmental & Industrial Monitoring Wholesale monitoring of environmental variables, industrial processes, elevator emergency phones, call boxes, and other critical systems for commercial and industrial subscribers of alarm dealers.
• Custom Monitoring Solutions Tailored wholesale monitoring packages for proprietary solutions, IOT devices, and specialized monitoring requirements outside COPS' standard offerings.
• Full-Featured Monitoring API Full-featured API enabling larger companies to control data flow and user experience from sign-up and onboarding through event signaling, ongoing account maintenance, and user apps, supporting integrations with proprietary solutions, IOT devices, and mobile gear.
• MPower Dealer Management Software In-house dealer access and account management software providing data entry, account maintenance, billing information, alarm history, and real-time signal testing accessible from smartphone, tablet, and computer for independent alarm dealers.
• MPower 2.0 Next-generation dealer access platform with enhanced functionality and improved user interface, succeeding MPower Classic as the primary dealer-facing management tool for COPS Monitoring accounts.
• MYALARM.CHAT Text-Based Alarm Communication Text-based alarm notification and communication tool that enables faster, more reliable alarm notification and customer communication, reducing false alarms and compatible with all accounts monitored at COPS; dealers can brand their own version.
• TeleMax Dealer Messaging Service Dealer messaging and answering service ensuring sales and service calls are handled personally at a fraction of traditional answering service costs, so dealers never miss a sales or service call.
• Private Label Subscriber Access Privately labeled customer access platform branded to the dealer's company, available in PC, tablet, and smartphone versions for unlimited accounts at a flat monthly rate.
• Direct Subscriber Billing Account receivable management service handling invoicing, payment, and collections under the dealer's company branding, allowing dealers to focus on growing their business.
• eNotify Electronic Notifications Automatic electronic notification system sending custom text and/or email messages upon receipt of defined signals or conditions; can enhance or replace dispatcher response.
• ECO Reporting Electronic consolidated reporting providing online access to detailed invoices in PDF and spreadsheet formats for the current and previous 11 months, replacing paper documentation.
• SS&Si Dealer Network Equipment and service discount program providing COPS dealers with purchasing power typically available only to larger national competitors, along with website design, social media support, brochures, and marketing services.
• RelyOn AI-Powered Mobile Safety Monitoring AI-powered mobile personal safety platform offered through COPS Monitoring that enables alarm dealers to add mobile safety as an add-on or standalone service, generating recurring monthly revenue with no hardware, installation, or inventory requirements.
• Certificates of Monitoring Official certificates of monitoring provided by COPS to support dealers in securing insurance discounts and validating professional monitoring for their subscriber accounts.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20.4 seconds average priority alarm response time (Rolling 12 Months) across 3+ million priority alarm signals
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability2 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• RelyOnflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 March 2026Strategic partnership to bring AI-powered mobile personal safety to the U.S. security company channel. COPS became the first wholesale monitoring center to offer RelyOn's platform nationwide. The platform requires no hardware, installation, or inventory, enabling security companies to add mobile safety as an add-on or standalone service to generate recurring monthly revenue. Joint webinar showcases examples of security companies generating over $54,000 in new annual recurring revenue without truck rolls.
• SecureNet TechnologiescoreTechnology or Integration · 15 July 2021Partnership delivering a unified Smart Home and Video Solution bundled with professional monitoring. Gives security dealers ability to meet explosive demand for integrated smart home and video services combined with COPS professional monitoring.
• Security PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2021COPS acquired wholesale monitoring assets from Security Partners in June 2021, expanding COPS monitoring capacity and dealer base.
• RiskSensecoreTechnology or IntegrationCybersecurity firm contracted to perform periodic risk and threat assessments and thorough tests for network resiliency and penetration defense to ensure COPS systems are protected.
• Alarm.comcoreTechnology or IntegrationCRM integration partnership through MPower. Alarm.com is a leading platform for interactive security, monitoring, and automation services integrated with COPS monitoring.
• SS&Si Dealer NetworkcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive membership for COPS dealers providing access to equipment discounts through millions of dollars of collaborative purchasing power, website design, social media support, brochures, and marketing services to help compete with larger national competitors.
• Compliancy GroupcoreTechnology or IntegrationHIPAA compliance implementation partnership using The Guard compliance management tool to ensure continued adherence to HIPAA Privacy Rule, Security Rule, Breach Notification Rule, Omnibus Rule, and HITECH.
• KirkpatrickPricecoreTechnology or IntegrationSOC 2 audit and attestation services provider, conducting thorough examinations and documentation of COPS systems focusing on security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.
• Alarm.comcoreTechnology or IntegrationCRM integration through MPower, along with MPower integrations with SecurityTrax, Cornerstone, Onestop Portal, RMR Cloud, Tier32, and WorkHorse for comprehensive dealer account management.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Rapid Response Monitoring: Rapid Response Monitoring is one of the largest wholesale professional alarm monitoring companies in North America, offering security, fire, PERS, and video monitoring from multiple UL-listed central stations. It is the closest direct peer to COPS Monitoring in business model, customer base (independent dealers), and operational footprint.
• AvantGuard Monitoring Centers: AvantGuard is a wholesale alarm monitoring operator (formerly AKM/AvantGuard) with multiple UL-listed central stations serving independent dealers with security, fire, PERS, and medical alert monitoring. It competes head-to-head with COPS for dealer accounts on price, station redundancy, and platform capabilities.
• Affiliated Monitoring: Affiliated Monitoring is a wholesale-only central station serving independent alarm dealers with UL-listed security, fire, and PERS monitoring. Its 100% wholesale positioning and dealer-first go-to-market make it a close functional analog to COPS.
• National Monitoring Center (NMC): NMC operates wholesale alarm monitoring services from multiple UL-listed central stations serving independent alarm dealers across the US. It competes directly with COPS on response time, redundancy, and dealer service capabilities.
• Security Central: Security Central is a wholesale alarm monitoring provider serving independent dealers with UL-listed security, fire, and medical monitoring services. It is comparable to COPS in its dealer-only model and central-station operations.

Broad incumbents

• ADT Inc. ADT is the largest residential and commercial security provider in the US, operating its own UL-listed monitoring centers and a national dealer/installer network. While it owns end-customer accounts rather than serving as a wholesale-only provider, its commercial monitoring division competes for the same end accounts COPS's dealers ultimately serve.
• Brinks Home Security: Brinks Home (formerly Monitronics) is a large US residential and commercial security provider with its own central station monitoring operations. It is a broader incumbent competing with COPS-deployed dealers for end-customer accounts and ARPU.

Emerging players

• Dice Corporation: Dice Corporation provides software platforms (e.g., alarm monitoring software, mobile technician apps) used by many wholesale central stations including some that compete with COPS. It is comparable as a technology stack provider rather than a direct monitoring competitor, relevant because COPS's Generations platform competes against Dice-powered offerings.
• CHeKT (IPtelx): CHeKT provides video alarm verification and AI-driven monitoring solutions integrated with central stations for dealer-installed systems. It is comparable to COPS's ALARMWATCH and video monitoring capabilities as a focused video-verification player.

Others

• Alarm.com: Alarm.com is a leading SaaS platform for interactive security, video, and automation integrated with COPS via MPower. While not a wholesale monitoring competitor, its Connected Partners/Monitoring Partners and Brinks Home ownership create partial overlap as both technology enabler and competitive ecosystem participant.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/copsmonitoring
• YouTubeyoutube.com/COPSMonitoring
• Facebookfacebook.com/COPS-Monitoring-1186408651503704
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/copsmonitoring

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about COPS Monitoring