smart home security

The ABC of smart home security and its benefits

In Hollywood, a group of teenagers breaks into several high-celebrities' houses and commit thefts of money and belongings which amounts to 3 million dollars.

Yes, this is the plot of the Bling Ring movie, and maybe you’ve seen it, maybe it’s the first time you hear about it. However, the story is not fiction. It is based on real-life burglaries operated by young adults all over California.

What’s the point of talking about a crime film based on true facts here? Well, if high-celebrities' houses are not safe, and even teenagers could get in, steal stuff and get away with it for quite some time (months!!), imagine how easy it is for an experienced burglar to break into your house and leave you with nothing but your pants on.

This is why you should swap from your current security system - which most probably is the lock of your door (a bit outdated, isn’t it?) – to a smart home security system. Technology has grown exponentially in recent years and new safety devices are more widely accessible and affordable to build more modern home security systems.

However, the world of home security might be very confusing, and this is why we have for you an entire guide to smart home safety. Here:

• The truth about home security systems: the what and the why of smart safety devices
• The different types of home security systems
• 50 shades of security systems: all the various components

Let’s start with the basics: what is home security and what are “smart devices”?

Home security definition points at 2 things:

1. The security hardware placed on a property (exists already when you buy the property and you should always ask about it when you are acquiring a house or apartment)
2. The individual and independent measures you take, from locking your door to installing cameras, alarms, or motion detectors.

Smart devices, therefore, fall in the second category of “home security” measures.

They are systems that usually include different components: cameras, sensors, and other devices that can alert you if there is a potential threat in your home.

The coolest thing about smart home security systems, which also makes them different than traditional ones, is that you can control them remotely, with your smartphone for example. This means that if, for example, you are on holiday, and your smart device sends your phone a notification about a suspect movement in your house, you can take action, look at the camera to identify suspect elements, and ask a relative to go and check what is going on. You can also choose some home security systems that call the police directly.

There are several reasons why your home security is important. Your home is your sanctuary, a place in which you feel safe and sound: it is your responsibility to pay it back protecting it at your best.

Also, burglaries are a true menace: the FBI and Bureau of Justice statistics say that there were 522,426 burglary incidents reported in 2020. Apparently, a burglary happens every 30 seconds in the US, mainly during the daylight, and 28% of them happen when a member of the family is at home.

If you have experienced a burglary recently: beware! Usually, second break-ins happen right after the first one.

Last but not least, it goes without saying that houses without a security system have a 300% more chance to be burglarized. 300%. Think about it, it is a lot.

Now that we have overwhelmed you with numbers, let’s get to something more practical: what are the best systems for American home security and what are their advantages and perks?

With smart home security systems, you can be spoilt for choice. The home safety features can be various, so we grouped them and analyzed the pros and cons. Here’s everything about how home security systems work.

Monitored home security systems

These security monitoring systems for home send their stimuli to a central monitoring station, which is staffed 24/7. They will take care of contacting you happens and even the emergency services if something suspicious happens.

Pros:

• They come with full equipment: cameras, windows, door sensors, smart locks, etc.
• They have their own battery, so they work even when there is a blackout.
• If you are out of reach professionals, trained for emergencies of such, will be able to protect your house, call the authorities or even prevent the crime.

They are basically the most advanced type of security system you can think of.

Cons:

• They are the most expensive type of security system (even though we all think that peace of mind is priceless!)
• They can trigger false alarms, and if you are not available to answer the phone, the team will automatically call the authorities (which will charge you for false alarms).

Self-monitoring security systems

Here is all up to you: the system will send you an alarm if it senses any threat, but you will be the one in charge of calling the police or going home to understand what is going on.

Pros:

• The affordable alternative! Without the monitoring, this type of system is much less expensive than the monitored one
• You get to choose what to do with the alarms: ignore them (okay, but who would?), go and have a look, call directly the authorities
• They are flexible: you can choose where to put the various devices, remove them or add new ones.

Cons:

• There is no team backing you up. You are alone and you are responsible for how quickly you act and what you decide to do. Moreover, authorities do not respond as quickly as professional monitoring teams when the security system is self-monitored.
• False alarms are still a perk.

Unmonitored systems

These systems won’t send you any message or alarm for an intrusion. They are provided with motion sensors that instead will play an alarm when they are triggered.

Pros:

• They are the most affordable option on the market.
• They are very easy to use and operate

Cons:

• None you nor any authority are called when the alarm rings: if the burglars are not scared by the loud noise, they won’t stop if no one does not hear the alarm and calls someone
• Authorities are even more difficult to reach when your house is protected by these systems

Wireless systems

These systems use wireless technology sending data and notifications for possible dangers to other devices.

Pros:

• Since they are portable, they can be very useful if you move often
• You can change their installation place because they are very flexible
• Since it is wireless, there are no wires to cut and burglars will have quite a hard time deactivating the security system

Cons:

• If they interfere with other devices nearby, they can trigger false alarms
• They can be hacked quite easily depending also on how sophisticated they are, so a burglar won’t need to be Anonymous to block them

Hardwired systems

The wired security systems for home use wired connections to communicate and send alarms to other devices.

Pros:

• They are less susceptible to interference
• They are much more reliable

Cons:

• If a burglar cut the right wires, your system can go down easily
• Installation takes a long and it involves drilling holes and putting wires behind walls

Smart home suites

A big salad of everything. Smart home suites are usually a mixture of different devices and systems together, to get the best out of every different system. In this case, the home security system design mainly depends on you: what you want to add, where to put it, and how to make it work.

What are all the essential home security items? Here are all the devices your smart home system needs to have.

Door and windows sensors

These door and window security devices are designed to detect when you close or open a window or a door, spotting unexpected or suspicious activities. Usually, they also activate if a glass is broken.

Motion sensors

They detect movements within a certain range and alert you for unusual ones.

Cameras

They record footage and they can be placed all around the home. Some of them only show footage in real-time. All home security systems should come with cameras. Home security camera installation can be carried out directly by you because it is very simple, but the use of these devices should always be coupled with other items so it is better to have the entire system planned out by an expert.

Smart locks

These are smart door locks that allow you to unlock or lock your main door and sometimes also other doors inside your house remotely via your smartphone. Smart home locks systems are not always included in smart home automation and security systems.

Alarms

They do what they have always done: they ring. If one of the other devices, like a window sensor, is triggered, several security home systems are designed to make the alarm ring immediately to scare the intruder away.

Smart lights

Just like smart locks, they can be controlled remotely, and they can also be programmed to turn off or on at a certain time. For example, you can pretend you are home by turning them on while you are actually in Tenerife sunbathing. This will discourage any stranger who wants to give a sneak peek inside.

Panic buttons

They are also called home alarm control panels, and they are monitors on the wall. In case of extreme danger, you can push them to get help immediately. They can also be a good resource for medical emergencies. Smart detectors

These security devices can work for fire, water, or carbon monoxide detection.

Choosing the right system for your house and understanding where to put the devices, or which ones to buy can be very challenging. This is why you should always look up to professionals to figure out – for example - how many window sensors you need or to know what is the best outdoor security camera for your home. If you want to start protecting your home today, contact us. We will put you in touch with the best smart home security companies near you for an affordable home security system.

Start today to feel safer tomorrow.

Last update: 03 Jul 2024