Home security systems have indeed come a long way in the past few years. When compared to the traditional home security systems of the past that had limited capabilities and sometimes confusing controls, smart home security systems are more useful, more secure, and more convenient. With mobile apps and other innovative features, they are laying the foundation for smart homes. You can control the system from anywhere and monitor what’s happening inside your home.
Every year, around 2 million home burglaries take place in the U.S. This implies that every 13 seconds, a home is broken into. A report by Statista reveals that the demand for home security and connected homes is likely to grow steadily and rapidly over the next couple of years, pushing the smart home market valuation to almost $40.9 billion. Thanks to the latest technology, your home can now get better protection and advanced new features, giving you a truly connected and secure home.
The Importance of Professionally-Installed Smart Home Security Systems
DIY installation of home security systems is an emerging trend. It is cheaper and doesn’t require you to wait for a professional. However, it’s important that you know what you’re doing, and that you do it right. Although there are several benefits of DIY installation, there are some drawbacks too.
Most likely, you are not a security expert, so you probably don’t have sound knowledge about setting up a home security system correctly. Even if you seek guidance from a professional over the phone, the professional cannot see the interiors of your home, and may not be able to make recommendations that an installation professional would.
Sometimes, even if you install the home security system properly, you cannot be sure if the system is functioning properly. The smart home system may not be as clever as you think. According to Synack, a security research company, smart home cameras come with maximum-security flaws such as weak password policies and unencrypted data. Also, they are highly prone to hacking. So, it’s best to hire a professional to install your system.
When professionals install a home security system, they know exactly what they’re doing. They know where to start, where to end, and how to tackle minor issues during installation. Hiring a professional for installation is the best way to get everything done with minimum frustration and long-term expenses.
Smart Home Security Monitoring — The Missing Piece in DIY Security
So, you have a smart home security system in place, but what about smart home security monitoring?
The most critical aspect of installing a smart home system is monitoring it. Some homeowners believe in the “DIY ideology” while others prefer professional assistance. In some cases, the vendors don’t leave you with an option but to hire smart home security monitoring professionals.
If you opt for self-monitoring, you’ll be responsible for taking care of your security, whether or not you’re present at home. If you get a notification on your smart home security app, you’ll be responsible for calling the fire or police department or requesting your neighbor to check.
In the case of professional security monitoring, a team of professionals monitors your house 24×7, and call to check on you if the alarm goes off. If they’re unable to contact you for some reason, they’ll try to get in touch with a secondary contact. And, if they’re unable to contact anyone, they’ll contact the police.
On average, it takes around 18 minutes for the law enforcement personnel to respond. When it comes to monitoring burglary or smoke, you need a local monitoring provider to guard your home 24×7. ProTech Security has partnered with Rapid Response Monitoring for central station monitoring services around the clock.
The security system can send you an alert with a video. As soon as you confirm the alert, the monitoring center will dispatch emergency medical assistance or police services.
Choosing the Right Smart Home Security Devices for Your Property
Finding the right devices for your property can be a daunting task. There is no dearth of home security companies out there, and the market is growing month over month.
Things can become somewhat challenging when it comes to securing multi-tenant properties over a single-tenant home or apartment. That’s because the smart home devices installed by building owners should also meet the expectations and requirements of the tenants.
To prevent this issue, the building owner would have to focus on installing more than one technology and multiple smart home devices such as fire alarm systems, burglar alarm systems, security cameras, motion sensors, etc. Developing an impactful strategy to employ the best technology at the right time is the key.
If you already have smart outdoor lights with or without cameras installed outside your home, you may want to integrate them into your home security system. Not all smart home devices allow you to add the existing smart lights to the system. So, make sure you choose a system that allows integration.
In most of the burglary cases, thieves enter homes through the garage as it is often the most overlooked area as far as home security is concerned. So, make sure you install security devices such as cameras and access control to your garage as well.
Smart home security is not just about protecting your home from the inside, but also protecting your cars, walkways, driveways, entrances, and the items stored outdoors. But, every property is different, and the placements of the security devices may depend on different factors. Nevertheless, the least you can do is install front entry outdoor security cameras.
Other factors you need to consider while choosing the right smart home devices:
- Type of property — Home, multi-tenant building, or apartment
- Professional vs. DIY installation
- Automation and technical capabilities
- Customer experience and support services
- Smart home security system monitoring
- Cost and additional expenses
- Customer reviews and ratings
Protecting Smart Home Security Cameras and Other Smart Features
Installing smart home security cameras and smart features in your property is not enough, it’s equally important to protect them. Follow these useful tips to protect smart home security cameras and other smart features:
- Check the effectiveness of your smart home security cameras on a weekly basis to make sure they are not just filming crimes. Make sure they’re working and are not vandalized.
- Inspect the smart locks on all the doors and make sure all of them are integrated into your smart home security system.
- Check the sensors on every window and door.
- Examine all the outdoor smart lights and make sure they’re working properly. Re-adjust the lights if required and tie them into your smart home security system.
- Check all your smart devices and make sure they’re functioning properly. Since they’re connected to your home’s Wi-Fi, they can easily get hacked and provide hackers with access to everything that’s happening inside your home. Use an anonymous email while setting up the devices and connect them to a dedicated Wi-Fi network. Also, make sure all the smart devices are integrated into your smart home security system.
At ProTech Security, we have a strong history of experience, innovation, and customer service. The ProTech Security Advantage is more than 30 years of service in Northeast Ohio and a strong commitment to providing quality, cost-effective protection for homes, businesses, educational institutions, and government facilities. To see what ProTech Security can do for you, contact us today.
