AURA Targets Gaps in U.S. Alarm Response With Tech-Enabled Guard Network
As private security services increasingly step in to fill gaps left by stretched public safety resources, new platforms are emerging to help integrators and monitoring providers meet growing demand for reliable, real-time response. One such entrant is AURA, a South Africa-based company that recently launched operations in the United States following a $146 million funding round.
SecurityInfoWatch connected with Timothy Garrett, president of AURA’s U.S. division, to learn more about the company’s platform, its go-to-market strategy and what its arrival could mean for alarm dealers, integrators and central stations.
In this executive Q&A, Garrett outlines how AURA’s tech-enabled response network is designed to support existing security infrastructure — and where it fits in a rapidly evolving services landscape.
U.S. Market Opportunity
What market dynamics or gaps led AURA to prioritize expansion into the United States at this stage of the company’s growth?
There’s a growing need in the U.S. for fast, flexible private security response, especially for lower-priority incidents like alarm verifications, property checks or nuisance calls where traditional law enforcement response is either delayed or unavailable. Our platform is designed to support public safety by handling these types of calls, freeing up law enforcement to focus on more urgent, high-priority incidents.
At the same time, we’re helping private security companies unlock more value from their existing patrol resources. After proving the model in other international markets, we saw a clear opportunity to bring this solution to the U.S.
In what types of environments — residential, commercial or otherwise — do you see the strongest demand for AURA’s on-demand emergency response model in the U.S.?
The demand spans both residential and commercial settings. Alarm monitoring centers in particular are looking for a reliable, tech-enabled way to offer mobile alarm response across their customer base, whether that’s for a homeowner or a small business.
Property managers, retailers and even school systems are also asking for more scalable, on-demand security that doesn’t require a full-time patrol. Anywhere that benefits from a quick, professional response without the need for a permanent post is a great fit.
Are there any regional pilot programs or deployments currently underway in the U.S. that you can speak to?
We’re currently focused on building our launch network in Dallas–Fort Worth, which is shaping up to be our first active market. We’re onboarding both supply partners (licensed guard companies) and demand partners (alarm monitoring centers and integrators) with the goal of going fully live in the coming weeks. Beyond DFW, we’re actively laying the groundwork for expansion into additional major metro areas across the country, based on where our national customers want us to activate next.
Platform Differentiation
What would you say are the key differentiators of the AURA platform compared to other security response or alarm verification technologies currently available in the U.S.?
A few things really set AURA apart. First, we operate a 24/7 control center that oversees every response. The platform is fully automated and can function without human intervention, but our controllers are always available to provide oversight, context and real-time support when needed. Second, we offer full transparency across all parties. The guard company, the end customer and AURA all have access to real-time updates during the response, including GPS tracking, timestamps, photos and site-specific checklist progress.
Another key differentiator is how we treat our guard network. We don’t view our responder companies as gig workers; we see them as long-term partners. We invest heavily in the success of our supply network with meaningful compensation, live support, training tools and an overall approach that’s built for mutual growth. Our success depends on the quality of the responder experience, and we structure our partnerships accordingly.
How does your real-time auto-dispatch and responder routing technology function, and what kind of transparency does it offer to end users and partners?
Our dispatch algorithm starts by alerting the closest available responder based on real-time GPS and estimated arrival time. If that responder doesn’t accept or respond within a few seconds, the system expands its radius and pings the next closest unit, repeating this process until the job is accepted.
Once a response is in motion, both customers and guard companies can follow it live. They can see when the dispatch is created, accepted and enroute, along with a live ETA and moving vehicle location. As the responder completes the customer-specific checklist on-site, each item is updated in real time with notes and photos.
Our 24/7 control center is available at any point in the process to support both parties. Once the job is completed, we immediately follow up with the guard for a verbal debrief, finalize the report and send it out to all parties, often within minutes of the incident concluding. It’s fast, transparent and built to deliver peace of mind on every call.
Partnership Opportunities for Alarm Dealers
What should independent alarm dealers and integrators know about partnering with AURA?
At the end of the day, we know that dealers and integrators are in the business of delivering peace of mind. AURA builds on the foundation they’ve already created by adding a fast, reliable and fully managed response layer to alarm events. When an alert is triggered, we turn passive notifications into real-world action by sending a vetted, professional guard directly to the site.
For dealers, this is a way to differentiate their offering, add value to every install, and meet growing customer expectations around proactive security. We also aim to make this as easy as possible; we provide tools, materials, and training to help integrators confidently pitch AURA’s service and bring it into their existing sales flow.
What kinds of services or value can they offer to their customers through your platform?
Through AURA, dealers can offer their customers access to on-demand mobile response services such as alarm verifications, property checks, perimeter sweeps, welfare checks and other customizable guard responses. These services can be triggered automatically by alarm events, manually through our dashboard, or scheduled in advance.
Monitoring centers and central station teams have full visibility into each response, including real-time updates, live tracking, photos and notes submitted by the responding officer. Once the incident is closed, customers receive a comprehensive report that confirms and documents the response — providing added assurance that their property or concern was personally addressed.
Does AURA provide co-branding, white-label, or app-integration opportunities for dealers looking to incorporate emergency response into their own service offerings?
Yes, absolutely. We offer a range of flexible options depending on how a partner wants to position the service. That includes co-branded and fully white-labeled versions of our app, which allow customers to request help directly under the dealer’s own brand. We also support API integrations for partners that want to embed our capabilities into their existing platforms or customer experiences. Our goal is to make it feel like a seamless extension of what dealers are already providing while we handle the operational heavy lifting behind the scenes.
Role of Monitoring Providers and Central Stations
How does AURA’s business model interact with wholesale central stations? Is the platform designed to complement or replace aspects of traditional monitoring?
AURA is built to complement, not replace, professional monitoring. Central stations stay in control of the alarm signal, while we handle what happens next: physical response. Through API integration, AURA can automatically receive alarm signals, determine the nearest available responder, and dispatch them without requiring manual intervention from the monitoring team.
This saves valuable time, reduces internal workload, and ensures faster, more reliable response coverage. Monitoring centers benefit from expanded service capabilities without needing to manage or coordinate guard networks themselves.
Are there specific ways in which AURA enhances alarm verification for central stations, such as reducing false dispatches or enabling faster intervention?
By integrating directly with the monitoring platform via API, AURA can take a verified signal and instantly trigger a guard dispatch, minimizing the delay between detection and response. This speeds up intervention significantly and reduces the risk of police being dispatched unnecessarily. Responders provide real-time status updates, site-specific checklists, and supporting evidence like photos or notes, helping the monitoring team confirm whether the event requires escalation. In short, AURA helps central stations act faster, reduce false positives, and deliver a higher standard of verification to their clients.
