Alta Protect setup walkthrough

Last modified: Wednesday April 23, 2025.

This guide shows you the key steps to set up your Protect system. Installers and partners should customize this process to fulfill the specific requirements of each system.

Design and preparation

1. System design:
   1. Read the Alta Protect design guide before installation. It contains information critical to the success of your system.
2. Local government licensing:
   1. Check with the local authorities in your site's locale and obtain any certifications, licenses, and permits required to operate an alarm system. See Local authority licensing and dispatches.
3. Access to the required software:
   1. Obtain the necessary licenses and credentials to access Alta Protect and Alta Video. Set up requires configuration in both platforms. Speak to your Alta Sales representative for more information.
   2. If you use Alta Arming Station Pro devices, you must have a unified Alta Video deployment and Alta Access integration to manage user credentials. See Manage Arming Station Pro users.

Pre-installation configuration

In the Protect software:

1. Define your sites:
   1. It is crucial you set the correct geographic location. See Create Sites.
   2. Optional: Create labels to help organize your sites and devices and configure permissions and rules. See Create labels for sites, groups, and devices.
2. Create any required device profiles:
   1. You can use device profiles to control functionality and permissions. See Create Configuration profiles for your devices.
3. Where possible, add devices:
   1. Adding cameras to Alta Video
   2. Using existing Alta Video integrations
   3. Add an Arming Station Pro to Alta Protect

Installation

1. Power:
   1. Install the required power supplies and cabling.
   2. Where possible, use battery backups with alert capabilities.
2. Network:
   1. Install and configure the required network infrastructure.
   2. Where possible, use hardware with alert capabilities and cellular backup.
3. Install devices:
   1. Refer to the relevant installation guides.
   2. See Camera setup.

Configuration

In the Protect software:

1. Configure devices:
   1. For cameras, add masks, image optimizations, and offline rules. See Camera setup.
   2. Set up any third-party integrations. See Developing Alta Video integrations.
2. Add users:
   1. Add at least one user in the same locale of each site so they can be assigned as an emergency contact. See Add an emergency contact to a zone.
   2. Create roles with the required Protect permissions and assign them to your users.
      1. Set device permissions for end users to arm and disarm zones.
         1. Use labels to limit users to specific zones. See Control user access to alarm zones.
      2. Set the system permissions for administrators and emergency contacts to review and verify alarms.
      3. Create the necessary user groups and add your users.
      4. See Assign Protect device permissions to users.
3. Configure connectivity rules:
   1. Create Alta Video rules to notify emergency contacts about connectivity issues.
   2. See Create rules for System issues and Create rules for camera issues.
4. Set up third-party device rules:
   1. Where possible, set up alerts from third-party devices such as power supplies and network devices.
   2. You can use webhooks to send alerts from Alta Protect. See Create webhooks to send Alta Video notifications.
5. Define alarm zones:
   1. Define the triggers for each camera, sensor, or other detection device.
   2. Choose the types of detections that each trigger responds to.
   3. Set the required methods to arm and disarm your zones.
   4. Set entry delays so users can enter and disarm zones.
   5. If users can arm a zone from the inside, set exit delays so they have time to leave.
   6. See Alarm zones and Create a new zone.
6. Configure alarm actions:
   1. Define the actions taken when an alarm is triggered in each zone.
   2. Enable automated video verification and remote dispatch (if available). See Alta Protect monitoring service.
   3. Use the emergency contacts or suitable operators as the recipients of alerts.
   4. See Triggered alarm actions.
7. Set a maintenance schedule: 
   1. Protect and Alta cameras go offline while installing software updates.
   2. Choose times when the system is not armed.
   3. See Preferred maintenance period.

User training

1. Provide users with PIN codes, key cards, or mobile apps for arming stations or other access devices.
2. Put arming and disarming instructions on-site and make sure users know their location.
3. Give users access to any other essential information or documentation.