Vienna, Virginia – August 9, 2011 – Summer months represent an ideal time for family getaways and vacations. This fact is not unfamiliar to criminals as, according to the FBI, July and August have the highest rates of burglaries compared to other months of the year. As a result, summer is an ideal time for homeowners to evaluate the strength and stability of their home security system and whether or not the system is fully leveraging emerging, vital security and monitoring technologies. Alarm.com is making sure home owners know that smarter, stronger security solutions are at their fingertips.
Just like building a sand castle, it is necessary to use the right tools to ensure the stability of a home. Don't let a home come crashing down with a weak and unreliable security system. Here are five tips from Alarm.com to make sure a security system is indeed keeping a home safe and secure:
1. Start with the foundation; appraise the underlying platform
Sure, the kids are ready for beach fun with their shovels and pails; however, for the most dependable security when the family is away from home, a security system that runs on wireless GSM/GPRS technology is the most valuable, essential tool. Like a backbone, wireless technology will serve as the underlying structure of a home security system, protecting homes even if the power goes out, the phone line is cut or the Internet is down. Using a security system enabled by wireless technology will makes sure that all alarms and other important events are transmitted quickly to the central monitoring station for immediate response, even if home owners are traveling or on vacation.
2. Protect the outside, and the inside
Instead of calling attention to your home with lots of brightly colored flags, make use of unobtrusive, discretely placed motion sensors for extra protection. Place sensors in places that are important such as the electrical room, children's bedrooms, the back door or the garage, and then set up customized text and email notifications to find out if activity is detected in those areas. These alerts can be sent even if the security system is disarmed.
3. Make a plan
Just like towers and a moat shield intricate beach creations from damage, protection against "crash and smash" attacks is a necessary layer of security for a home. The first thing intruders generally do when entering a home is head for the security control panel; they then try to destroy it and prevent an alarm signal from being sent. "Crash and smash" detection technology provides an even higher level of security for any property and family. Additionally, this technology facilitates the use of false alarm reduction features, preventing unnecessary dispatches from local emergency responders who often charge large fines for frequent false alarms.
4. Utilize a bridge
In the event of an alarm, a wireless two-way voice solution lets the voice-enabled radio integrated with a home alarm system immediately establish a 2-way voice session with the central station—all without the need for a traditional telephone connection. Through loud and clear voice communication with the customer premises via the security panel speaker and microphone, the operator can reliably verify and respond to an alarm.
5. Don't stop at basic features
Free security mobile apps, video monitoring and home automation aren't just frills like seashells and feathers on a sand castle. Whether home, or away from home, these security features can enhance the security at a property. Homeowners can now leverage free home security mobile apps for iPhone, Android and BlackBerry to view a complete event history of activity at a property. Set up video cameras to keep an extra eye on a home when the family is away; or, use the video cameras to check in on guests at a vacation home. Plus, manage lights, locks and thermostats with a home automation and energy management solution for additional control of the home and also energy bills.
A home is a family's castle and should be treated like one. Just as waves can quickly destroy a castle when the tide comes up, a savvy intruder can damage a home and its valuable possessions if the home lacks an intelligent and powerful security system. Maintaining a high level of security for a home and family is not just an artistic fantasy—it's a reality.
About Alarm.com
Alarm.com, founded in 2000, is the industry leading technology provider of interactive security solutions. Through advanced wireless monitoring, mobile and web-based services, and a proven hosted services platform, Alarm.com helps protect hundreds of thousands of residential and commercial customers throughout the United States and Canada. Alarm.com's products and services are offered exclusively through a network of over 2,500 licensed and authorized Security Dealers. Alarm.com's headquarters is located in Vienna, VA. For more information, visit www.alarm.com.