Prior to that, there were offline or stand-alone systems that would sound for the immediate location with the intent of scaring off burglars or potential intruders. However, these days it seems many common tools won’t work without the internet and there are more options available thanks to the ever-expanding technology in the home security industry. A careful shopper would be wise to ask: does a home alarm system require internet?

What Can You Expect with a Stand-Alone Alarm System?

Burglars and potential intruders are terrified by the sound of an alarm. Generally speaking, that’s all it takes to wreck their attention and seek an immediate way out of or away from a home or business. A sounding alarm quickly suggests that law enforcement has already been notified and help is on the way. It also implies that anyone within the home or business has also been alerted and is likely prepared to engage or defend. 

A stand-alone system is an effective scare tactic. Unless an intruder is already aware of the design and function of your home security alarm, it will generate a fast and compelling doubt in one’s mind. Most of the time that is all that’s needed. 

If you choose a stand-alone system, it might not hurt to provide signage that alludes to the fact that your security system is actually connected to the internet. Signs or stickers that indicate a police or security monitoring service is an effective way to imply that your stand-alone system is not actually alone. 

What is the Benefit of a Stand-alone Alarm System?

The benefit is cost. Stand-alone systems are usually preferred if there is no actual internet or if the want is to avoid paying for monitoring services or you otherwise have old technology you do not want to replace. The question then becomes why do homeowners sometimes choose against monitoring? 

Depending on your local code, false alarms can become costly. In other words, if your alarm trips by accident and the police are dispatched, you could face a fine for each accidental incident. Generally speaking, most cities and outlying areas forgive a false alarm or two. However, if the police routinely arrive and find no suspicious activity or if another cause is attributed to the source of the alarm, it could become an expensive issue. 

Also, the aforementioned ideology applies to these stand-alone systems. Whether it’s connected to the internet or not, a strong sounding alarm is a deterring factor.

Is There a More Traditional Alarm System?

While “smarter” security systems have clear advantages, traditional home security hardware is still available. These alarms rely on landline or phone connections. If you still have an actual landline this could also be a good alternative to internet-accessible alarms. 

In this instance, a monitoring service is typically employed. This comes at a cost, usually a monthly fee by way of a yearly contract. However, if there is a phone outage in your area, the monitoring service is rendered useless. This is where a cellular alternative would prove useful. Of course, if a line service is disrupted, those monitoring your system will alert on the matter and likely try to contact you directly or signal for a police response. 

Are You Ready for an Internet-abled Home Security System?

These days, the sky is almost the limit when it comes to home security systems. All of the previously mentioned options are available with a cloud-based system. However, with internet-abled hardware you get much more. 

There are a variety of perks to being connected. To start with, you will have remote access to your alarm system. This is not something that you would have access to otherwise. 

The win here is that your smart phone, tablet or other internet-abled device would alert you to any movement in and around your home while you are away or asleep. You can even adjust the sensitivity of the cameras and their motion detection so that you don’t receive any “false hits”. Also, if you just want to check the status of your house from a remote location, all you have to do is open the application on your phone or tablet and your home is there providing peace of mind in an instant. 

Another interesting perk about internet-abled security is that it doesn’t necessarily have to come with a contract or monitoring service. More and more, the technology allows for a very localized or stand-alone option. This means you save money while also having immediate access to your own security system. In this instance, all the recorded data can be stored locally on camera-operated devices, a designated local drive or the cloud. 

The obvious downside is you lose these security perks if your internet is disrupted or disabled. There are a number of new systems that include back up mechanisms and connectivity options in the case of a lost connection. It’s simply a matter of researching the hardware and understanding how it might all play out in your home and according to your needs. 

What Do You Need in a Home Security System?

Despite the advancing technologies, the options are all still there. You can choose a stand-alone security system that has no attachments to the outside world. This is old school and, as mentioned, it is just as effective as it ever was when it comes to scaring away potential intruders. 

There is also the option of a security system that is accessed by way of an existing phone line. This generally means that a contract is involved as a monitoring agency then attaches and becomes a part of your system.

The most flexible and accessible security systems are ones that are internet-abled. With the more advanced tech, you can choose a monitoring service or hold to a stand-alone system. You can also access your house 24/7 remotely from any internet-abled device. The internet features are also security redundancy to one or both of the above advantages. 

If you’re interested in a home alarm system, or business security system, don’t hesitate to contact A-1 Locksmith today. We’ll be happy to consult on which option best suits your needs.

Take security upgrades, for example. 

If your home has a security system, do you really need a safe? What about the opposite scenario? Isn’t only one of these options good enough? Let’s take a look at which security option is better for you, or if investing in both is the best decision.

Advantages of a Safe

Home safes are ideal for keeping valuable belongings secured. At the top of the list are firearms, ammunition, jewelry, cash and important documents. While a security system will alert you to suspicious activity, it won’t do much for physically protecting your most important belongings. Here are some of the other security advantages a safe provides:

• Portability: A safe can be delivered and installed in the location of your choice
• Flexibility: bolt down the safe to the floor or wall, or leave it freestanding. 
• Variety: There are a wide variety of safe sizes and features available today.
• Superiority: When it comes to protecting belongings in a fire, flood or burglary attempt, nothing provides safety and security like a safe (especially with the right safe rating). 

Advantages of a Security System

Security systems don’t physically protect belongings, but they do give you awareness and an extra layer of support in the form of a monitoring company. Using your preferred settings and features, you can set up your home security in a way that gives you superior peace of mind—both at home and on the road. Here are some of the other security advantages a security system provides:

• Visibility: you can install cameras and point them anywhere you’d like.
• Safety: A team of professionals will be ready to alert the authorities should something suspicious happen and trigger an alarm on your property.
• Affordability: Many security systems are more affordable than large or advanced home safes and there are different levels of systems for different budgets.

Benefits of Both

Of course, as a professional security company, we’ll recommend that you invest in both a safe and a security system, if your budget allows. This isn’t just bias; you’ll be able to keep your most precious and valuable items locked away in a well-rated safe while keeping the rest of your home monitored and ready to alert you (or the team monitoring your system). A consultation with a professional locksmith is all you need to determine what your situation requires, and they’ll be happy to recommend certain models, brands or systems.

If you’re in need of a new safe or security system, contact the team at A-1 Locksmith today, or visit any of our DFW-area locations. 

You’re good at what you do and we’re good at what we do. Security systems are just one of our many areas of expertise, so today, we’re here to help you research, set up and/or install yours. Read on to learn more about the basics of security systems.

Security System Components

First, you should know what all is involved in a typical security system and how each component works. A professional locksmith or security professional can give you a more detailed breakdown (or answer specific questions), but here are the general areas you need to know:

• Cameras: Obviously one of the most important components of a security system, the cameras give you views of your home or business. But did you know that you have options when it comes to aspects like placement, number of cameras and features? You can even install cameras with high definition, motion tracking and recording capabilities. Cloud vs. local storage are also important considerations for your security cameras.
• Controls: Signals, lights and motion detected by your security system components go to the control panel, where they’re interpreted and the system determines whether an alarm should be activated or not. This is also where you can set up security system monitoring and maintenance services.
• Sensors: If the sensors for one area of your security system are down, it could compromise your entire building. This is why regular inspections and maintenance are important. Security system sensors can get dirty or dusty and need to be cleaned, so make sure you know where they’re all located.
• Signals: If an intruder trips your security system alarm and the system isn’t being monitored, it won’t do you any good (other than offering a mild cosmetic deterrent to would-be burglars). Test that the signals of our system are working properly and call your monitoring company to ensure they’re receiving them. 

Installing and Monitoring Your System

Knowing about a security system and working on one are two different things, so if you don’t have much security or electrical knowledge, we recommend trusting an expert to install and/or monitor or maintain the security system of your home or business. At A-1 Locksmith Security and Safes, we sell, install and maintain security cameras, burglar alarms, card swipe systems, mobile access control systems, electronic/automatic locks, keypads, on-site security surveys and more. We even provide full security monitoring services, so we have all of your security needs covered.

If you have more security system questions, contact the team at A-1 Locksmith today.