Home security is a complex subject to understand. However, there are basic concepts that can be used to assess and evaluate home security needs. Home security encompasses both the physical security hardware installed in a home and people’s personal safety practices. Physical security hardware includes deadbolts, window locks, and other locking devices; doors; fences; and exterior lighting. People’s security practices include avoiding dangerous situations, learning self-defense techniques, following instructions from a designated person in the household, and wearing the proper personal safety equipment.
The most advanced technology used for monitoring and protecting homes comes in the form of smart home security systems. A smart home alarm system is a combination of hardware and software that monitors your home and keeps an eye on your family members. The goal of a smart security system is to alert you and your family to potential danger without unnecessarily exposing you to it. Most modern smart home alarms use either voice or video communication with a monitoring unit, which is located in a separate location and linked to a company’s computer network.
The primary components of a monitored system are a control panel and a pair of wireless sensors. The control panel is usually located in a closet or a spare room and controls all the components of the alarm system. The wireless sensors are placed throughout the house in locations designated by the homeowner. If an alarm is triggered, the monitor takes over immediately from the control panel.
The best way to understand how the various components work is to understand the basic premise of alarm monitoring. When an alarm is triggered, the sensors are sent to a central monitoring station. There, they relay the information that triggered the alarm to the central control board. The central control board receives the signal and uses a variety of protocols to send a message to the appropriate personnel. The employee receiving the message then contacts the local police and the fire department. This saves precious time because the employees who respond immediately will be able to control the situation before the police or fire department can arrive.
A third type of monitoring center is a remote control panel. This is used to control the operations of the entire security system by a remote user. The remote user, usually the person living in the dwelling, must be equipped with a laptop or other technology capable of viewing the monitoring center and changing the configurations. Often, many people prefer to set the system so that there is a single, centralized control panel that is used by all authorized personnel.
These three types of monitoring are highly preferred by many home and business owners. Each has its advantages, although some people feel that a wireless security system has the edge on being enabled by the individual for added functionality. Either way, make sure to do your research and choose the monitoring method that is best suited to you and your family. You never know when an alarm will trigger without having any warning, so make sure that it is detected immediately by the appropriate monitoring agency and everyone in the building will be safe.