Whether you already have a home security system or are considering purchasing one, an important consideration is how it will be monitored. Home security monitoring can be done by you or a team of dedicated professionals. What you choose depends on how much you're willing to spend and what level of protection you want.
When it comes to home security monitoring, your basic choice is between the do-it-yourself route and hiring a company to monitor your system for you. If you choose to do it yourself, you'll need camera security monitoring software. If you want help, you can hire one of the many security system monitoring companies such as ADT Security, Honeywell, Brinks or Keepsafer.
There are many companies whose job it is to monitor your system and respond to perceived threats, whether you're personally available or not. But what exactly do these companies do?
What normally happens when an alarm is triggered is that the security company attempts to contact you personally. This way, they can filter out false alarms. If an alarm is perceived as a threat, the security company will contact the police, who will hopefully dispatch someone in a timely fashion.
Security system monitoring services bring several important benefits. Firstly, with companies that are approved by Underwriters Laboratories, there may be significant discounts on your home insurance. Secondly, these companies may offer more than just burglary protection; they may also monitor smoke and carbon dioxide, allowing them to contact the fire department in case of emergency. Thirdly, without a security company monitoring your system, your alarms are only good once. If you're away, there will be nobody to reset your alarm after a break-in. And finally, most company-monitored systems come with panic buttons which you can hit in case you require help from the police, fire department or ambulance service.
Of course, there are drawbacks to home security monitoring. These companies may lure you in with low advertised rates, but the final contract comes with a whopping pricetag. Many companies also deal only with their products, so they may not be willing to monitor systems purchased elsewhere. And although they will provide you with detailed instructions on how to use the system, you may find yourself forgetting its complexities or failing to set things properly. It is also important to point out that these services do not act themselves as police; a slow response time is not necessarily their responsibility.
Your home security system itself will not stop a burglar in action. It must be monitored, either by you or a professional service. A detected threat requires a response. Make sure that response is an effective one.
Home Security Monitoring Software
A variety of home security monitoring software programs at a variety of prices (some are even freely downloadable) can help you keep tabs on what's going on in and around your home. You may be able to use them with your existing video cameras or even turn your webcam(s) into surveillance devices.
With your surveillance system hooked up to your computer, these programs can do a variety of things. They may have motion detection capability and time lapse recording options. They may also allow you to plug in remotely to a video feed so you can see exactly what is happening. The program will alert you to certain activities, either by phone or email. If you're at work late and someone appears on your doorstep, you may get a message and then be able to watch the action.
Of course, it is then up to you to deal with the potential threat. What if you're swimming at your favorite beach and don't know that a security alert is coming in? For that, you may wish to consider a home security monitoring company.