Security is a broad concept that encompasses many distinct aspects of reality. However, I will cover home security in this article and how it works.
What Is A Home Security System?
A home security system is a collection of physical and electronic components that work together to keep a home safe.
A typical home security system will include the following items:
Smart security cameras connect to Wi-Fi, allowing us to remotely Livestream our system images and receive notifications when our cameras detect movement, persons, or parcels. In addition, many cameras have infrared or color night vision, cloud or local storage, and two-way audio, allowing us to communicate with whoever is on camera. Some cameras also integrate with smart platforms such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
Motion sensors should be installed in a main entryway or hallway on the ground level of a property to detect motion and tell us when our system is armed. In addition, because specific motion sensors are pet-sensitive, they don’t go off every time our dog walks by.
Base station: Base stations connect all connected devices to our mobile app, allowing us to get the previously mentioned notifications. Consider it similar to Grand Central Station, the passageway through which trains pass.
Entry sensor: Is also know as contact sensors, entry sensors are composed of two parts: one attached to the window or door and the other attached to the frame. These sensors use magnets to determine whether one of these entrances is open or closed. If the sensor detects an available entrance point, it notifies us. We recommend installing entry sensors on ground-floor windows or doors. The vast majority are battery-powered, and many include adhesive backings for simple installation.
Glass break sensor: To avoid setting off the entrance sensors, attackers sometimes breakthrough windows instead of opening them the traditional way. From a different perspective, a glass break sensor detects the sound of glass breaking and warns us through smartphone notification.
Siren: Sirens can be found in home security systems on their own or as part of the other devices such as the base station (which we’ll discuss further below). Sires frequently sound at the same time as other alarms and are designed to scare away intruders or notify our neighbors.
Keypad: To arm or disable a security system, we often enter a code into a keypad that is fixed to the wall or placed on a flat surface.
Key fob: We have keys for our cars, so why not for our security system? Key fobs enable us to deactivate or arm our security system without using a keypad. They’re ideal for when we’re upstairs and don’t want to leave the bed!
Panic button: supposing something goes wrong, a panic button is a quick and straightforward way to notify emergency services, such as the police, hospital, or fire department. Panic buttons, like key fobs, aren’t installed someplace specific, but we always have one on hand in case of an emergency. Everyone should have at least one on their bedside table.
Yard signs and window stickers: Many security systems provide yard signs or window stickers that allow us to show that we have a security system. Burglars will often turn around if they observe a security system. Thus, these signals are proper to have..
Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors: We recommend that each home have a smoke and carbon monoxide detector. We get notified if the air in our home becomes unhealthy to breathe using this easy technique.
Security system components vary significantly from system to system, with some systems containing only sensors and others having all of these components and more.
Home Security System Types
There are several types of home security systems:
Do-it-yourself (DIY): With DIY home security systems, the user assembles the system and, most likely, monitors it via a mobile app. However, professionals can monitor some DIY systems, so the categories aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive.
• Professional: There are two types of professional home security systems. One possibility is that it refers to professional installation, which means that a specialist installs the equipment. It can refer to a system with professional monitoring, which means that a team of people reacts to call center notifications. Some professional monitored systems can also be self-monitored or DIY setup, so these classifications are not binary.
• Smart: Smart security systems are web-enabled, allowing users to access live video through a mobile app., receive notifications when alarms go off, and remotely control the system.
• Wireless: In contrast, a wireless security system has no wires and instead connects to the app via a combination of batteries, Wi-Fi, and cellular backup, the monitoring center. Wireless security systems are less complex to install than wired systems, but the battery must be replaced or recharged
• Local only: Unlike smart systems, local alarm systems are not connected to the internet. As a result, there is no remote control, monitoring, or alerting. Instead, if an alarm sounds, you’ll only know if you’re close enough to hear it. On the other hand, local alarm systems can still be appropriately monitored by cellular or landline backup.
Professional Monitoring
Many physical systems also include additional services like expert monitoring 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or cell phone, landline, or battery backup, which keeps the system operational during a power outage.
Alarm systems are rarely directly linked to emergency dispatch centers. Instead, an alert is sent to the monitoring center of the alarm firm, which evaluates if emergency services should be summoned. When the monitoring center receives an alarm, they usually call the number(s) on file. If the call is answered, the center employee requests a “safe word” or password to ensure the caller is not under duress. If the call goes unanswered or no safe word is supplied,
Smart home security systems, for example, connect all components to a smartphone app, allowing the user to control them remotely.
Smart home ecosystems have grown in popularity, they have begun to connect with voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, allowing users to control their systems solely through their voice. Burglars cannot disarm our system since we have configured it to only respond to our voices.
How Do Security Systems Work?
Most home security systems connect all of their components to a base station. They then connect to a smartphone application, remotely monitoring and controlling everything. Most systems link to our phones via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or cellular. Other systems opt for a landline or battery backup in a power outage.
When we leave the house, we activate our security system. When we get home, we disarm it by entering our password into a keypad, speaking a command, pressing a key fob, or using an app. When we deactivate our system, none of the sensors activate, and our camera stops recording automatically.
In contrast, whether or not our security system is armed, our smoke and carbon monoxide sensors stay activated. Of course, when our system is activated, the sensors activate, and the cameras begin recording.
We use a smartphone app to Livestream footage from our security camera, receive notifications from our sensors, communicate via two-way audio, and do other functions.
Smart home security, as opposed to a local alarm system, allows us to view what’s going on at home from wherever we are. Local alarms only sound a siren at our residence, which is inconvenient.
How Does Alarm Monitoring Work?
So, what if someone triggers our armed alarm system? Our sensors immediately communicate with our base station, which delivers a message to our mobile application. We receive an email notification, an SMS notification, or a notification within the app, depending on the system, the app, and the phone’s settings.
We then can Livestream footage of what’s going on or use our camera’s two-way audio to communicate with whatsoever is in front of the camera. If we observe an intruder, we notify the appropriate security personnel.
Of course, we’re all busy and can’t always pay attention to our security alerts, which is why many organizations include 24/7 professional monitoring with their systems.
If one of our alarms goes off and we cannot handle it, the monitoring center’s professional monitoring staff is contacted. Then, they reach emergency services for us after validating the emergency.
We propose acquiring 24/7 expert monitoring since we recognize that no one can be present to deal with their home’s security 24 hours a day, seven days a week. On the other hand, self-monitoring is a reasonable choice if we wish to avoid monthly or yearly expenses.
Many systems nowadays also allow for do-it-yourself installation. Self-monitoring and DIY installation systems drastically reduce our costs. We sometimes only have to pay for the equipment with these types of solutions.
We strongly advise anyone who decides to self-monitor to purchase a siren that will sound along with the alarms, either built-in the base station or a separate device. The siren should be at least 85 decibels loud, which is about the same as a diesel truck. Remember that the louder it is, the more likely it is that the neighbors will hear it, which is excellent in an emergency.
The Benefits and Drawbacks of a Home Security System
Now that we understand what a home security system is and how it works let’s look at the primary benefits and drawbacks of acquiring a home security system.
Of course, the primary goal of a home security system is to alert you if an authorized person is in your home who shouldn’t be there, but let me explain further.
Advantages of a Home Security System
Contacting the police quickly: Expert monitoring ensures that the police or other emergency services are reached when we are not home.
The mere presence of a device can dissuade burglars: Even having a sign and window stickers indicating that we have a security system will entice burglars to leave!
Simple safety warnings: A home security system can assist us if we frequently have troubles, such as accidentally leaving the front door open or forgetting whether or not we closed that back window.
Through smartphone applications, entry sensors can remotely display whether or not our home is secure. Notifications also notify us when a person or movement is spotted, allowing us to check-in and ensure that everything is fine at home while we are gone.
The Drawbacks of a Home Security System
Equipment cost: Home security systems are costly, Of course, there is a wide range here since the essential methods merely involve sensors, but some systems have 15 or more components.
Monthly payments: We usually have to pay monthly fees if we add 24/7 expert monitoring or cellular backup to our system.
Alarms that aren’t true: We occasionally receive false alarms, which have resulted in police intervention. These are inconvenient and a waste of everyone’s time.
You may forget to turn it on: This is more of a personal issue, but some people say they fail to arm their security systems when they leave the house, rendering the entire system useless. We don’t have this problem, but we can see how it may make such a system seem meaningless.
