Home Protection in 2014: Is Your Home Security System Out of Date?

SafeWise
by SafeWise
Home security systems have evolved dramatically over the past decade. No longer do they simply sound an alarm if a door is opened. Security systems now incorporate some of the most sophisticated technologies available. This not only helps protect against intruders, but also offers more control over your home, regardless of where you are.
Then and Now


Even with a wide variety of security systems on the market today, new ones are popping up all the time. The concept of a system that protects homes from intruders, however, has been around for a long time. ADT, one of the largest names in the security industry, is also one of the oldest, tracing its roots back to the late 1800s (for a complete ADT timeline see http://yourlocalsecurity.com/resources/adt-timeline).
Interactive timeline of the history of ADT
Since their founding 120 years ago, ADT monitoring has established a reputation for reliability, as well as a loyal customer following of over six million customers. ADT monitoring can attribute their reputation to not only reliability, but staying abreast of industry trends. Even in their earliest days, ADT monitoring was consistently updating their technology, creating telegraph-based alert systems among neighborhoods, which eventually expanded to include alerts sent to police and fire stations.


Today, customers want to stay one step ahead of intruders and need the peace of mind that comes from knowing they have advanced, worry-free security services to help them do this.


Evolutions in Home Security


Home protection is often achieved through automated, wireless systems that can be controlled remotely. Security systems now boast a range of additional features like video monitoring, 2-Way Voice touch keypads, and control over appliances from mobile devices.


Currently, the latest and greatest in home security is the smart home. This is a general term used to describe homes that connect virtually all of the home’s devices and systems—including appliances, security systems, heating, and lighting—together via a home network (often referred to as “the Internet of things”) that can be controlled through a phone or computer. Following setup protocol, like requiring passwords for home systems and Wi-Fi and safeguarding routers, will help eliminate potential hackers from breaking into an all-digital system.


To help prevent a home burglary today, home security systems include a number of advanced features.


• Home Automation: What if you get to work and realize you forgot to activate your system’s alarm? With home automation features commonly seen in smart homes, you can simply log on to your a mobile app that is connected to your system and activate your security. If you want to check in on what’s going on at home, and your system has video monitoring, many providers let you view the feed through the app or on a computer as well.


• Motion Sensors: Home security systems typically feature motion sensors that sense a rise in body temperature when someone moves in the sensor’s vicinity, which activate the alarm when armed. Protection 1 goes a step further with their motion sensors to include image motion sensing as a standard home security feature. This motion sensor detects movement, then captures an image of it and sends it to you via email or text. This helps cut down on false alarms.


• Aesthetics: Companies understand aesthetics are important when it comes to technology. Appliances have become smaller, wires are hidden or eliminated altogether, and even security systems have adopted a more streamlined look. Dropcam, for example, provides video monitoring via a tiny camera that can be hidden almost anywhere, and SmartThings turns your home into a smart home with one small, central hub controlled via your phone.


• Monitoring: The majority of home security companies today provide professional monitoring and include it in your monthly bill. Having professional monitoring means the security provider is helping you keep an eye on your home and can dispatch emergency services if needed so you know you have help keeping your home protected, even when you aren’t there.


• Pet Monitoring: In addition to home security for you and your family, the safety of your pets is also important, particularly when you’re not at home. Hillary Johnston of SafeWise explains why pet safety risks increase when you're away. “When you’re not home for short periods of time there is a risk something catastrophic could happen to your beloved pets. Your pet could get trapped in your home if it were to catch fire, get into hazardous material that may harm its health, or even become tangled in cords or wires around the home,” Johnson says. “Having constant monitoring while you’re out, in the form of home security, enables you to keep your peace of mind and get down to work.”
Protect your pets while you're away
Home security systems today are not only becoming increasingly advanced, but affordable as well. Ten years ago, it was not uncommon for installation of a security system alone to cost over $3,000, plus the monthly monitoring fee. Today, installation is a fraction of the cost. Vivint, for example, charges a $99 installation fee for security equipment and a monitoring fee of about $54 a month. Other companies, like Protection 1, also offer promotions that waive installation fees altogether.


High-tech features and affordable pricing have made home security systems a $20 billion industry that’s experienced explosive growth, with industry leaders like ADT, Vivint, and Protection 1 blazing the trail. Companies like AT&T and Comcast have taken notice and are following suit, delving into the home security industry with their own smart home systems that also implement wireless phone and cable. You can compare all of these systems easily right here: http://www.safewise.com/top-security-systems.


The right security system can help provide unsurpassed peace of mind, and today’s systems help make protecting your home easier and more convenient than ever.
Vivint offers complete home automation
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