How To Manage Your Self-Storage Facility Remotely

Modern facility management requires more than just basic protective measures. In today’s fast-paced world, facility operators are seeking smarter, more scalable ways to manage their businesses, particularly when operating remotely. Whether you own one site or manage multiple self-storage facilities, embracing remote operations can improve tenant satisfaction, automate your facility, and boost your bottom line.

Gone are the days of being tied to the front desk or relying on outdated systems. By integrating smart technology, such as instant digital access or in-unit monitoring, you and your tenants can have a real-time connection to your facility from anywhere. That’s why more facilities are adopting technologies such as StorageDefender to gain better visibility and remotely monitor their entire portfolio. In this blog, we’ll explore how owners and operators are leveraging StorageDefender’s smart technology to achieve this.

Smart Storage Units for Peace of Mind That Profits

StorageDefender Smart Storage Units offer tenants 24/7 peace of mind. With instant text alerts for any detected motion, tenants can stay connected and reassured about their belongings from anywhere. Smart Storage Units also come equipped with an audible beeper deterrent for added protection overnight.

Tenants appreciate the convenience of this service; in fact, nationally, we’re seeing 6 out of every 10 tenants opt-in. They value the simple, direct connection to their belongings without the hassle of a new app or login.

As Nancy, a self-storage tenant from Spokane, Washington, puts it, “I appreciate the text alerts I receive. Better than having to install yet another app or create an account and log in.”

For facility owners and operators, implementing StorageDefender Smart Storage Units is a powerful way to attract tenants, elevate the customer experience, and differentiate from local competition. Smart Units also unlock a valuable recurring revenue stream, earning an additional $12 to $20 per unit. Right Move Storage, an operator with 62 locations across 5 states, has seen impressive results in our recent case study. With 9 out of 10 tenants adopting Smart Storage Units, they are generating over $200 in lifetime revenue per unit.

These gains are pivotal, as Darren Kelley, President of Right Move Storage, explains: “Ancillary services like Smart Storage Units have been pivotal for us in maintaining stable profits. We have a property 87% penetrated with Smart Units in just under two years, generating over $5,000 in incremental revenue monthly.”

Beyond revenue, the StorageDefender dashboard provides owners and operators with a complete view of all unit activity, including unauthorized accesses, visit frequency, and temperature and humidity levels. By having real-time insight into what’s happening at your facility, you can manage your properties more efficiently from anywhere.

Smarter Zones, Safer Storage

StorageDefender Smart Zones are the key to effortless remote management. Advanced sensors are deployed throughout your facility’s common areas to monitor motion, temperature, humidity, water leaks, and access points. When you pair Smart Zones with our Smart Units, you gain full visibility of your entire property, ensuring seamless, remote management.

The StorageDefender dashboard provides a new level of insight into your facility, empowering you to reduce utility costs, enhance overall health, and prevent damage before it happens. With prioritized instant notifications, you can stay informed and in control, no matter where you are. Furthermore, our dashboard provides specific timestamps on all motion activity, so you can track who is coming and going, even after hours.

“StorageDefender Smart Zones helps us keep eyes on the property in addition to our cameras. After hours, we can get specific timestamps on when movement occurs. That helps us provide a better level of service to our tenants even if we’re not physically there,” says Paul Broaddus, President of My Garage Self Storage.

A Single View of Your Entire Facility with +VisualVerify

Boost your facility’s protection and visibility with +VisualVerify™. This technology centralizes cloud-recorded footage from all your camera systems into one easy-to-navigate dashboard. This not only improves situational awareness but also streamlines incident reviews, saving you time and manual effort.

With our single sign-on dashboard, you can remotely access footage from any device. Instead of logging into multiple systems or being stuck behind a desk reviewing hours of footage, you can instantly view recordings from any camera, anytime, anywhere. Timestamps show you exactly when and where an incident occurred, allowing you to verify and respond immediately without being on-site. This centralized approach gives you peace of mind and more effective management of your facilities from a distance.

“The future right now is +VisualVerify,” says Darren Kelley, President of Right Move Storage. “Just having that technology in the properties, along with StorageDefender, is just very exciting. I cannot wait to put this into my portfolio!”

Looking Ahead

The future of self-storage isn’t about being on-site; it’s about being connected. By adopting smart technology like StorageDefender’s suite of solutions, you can transform your operations from a manual, hands-on process to an automated, scalable system. This shift doesn’t just improve efficiency; it also boosts tenant satisfaction and creates new revenue streams, giving you a powerful competitive edge.

Request a demo with the StorageDefender team to level up your remote operations today.

How To Manage Your Self-Storage Facility Remotely

January 5, 2026

Self storage facility operators are moving beyond basic security toward comprehensive remote operations. This blog explores how smart technology storage solutions, like StorageDefender’s Smart Storage Units and Smart Zones, are transforming self storage remote management.