Be Better off Having Someone to Watch Your Back

As crimes become more common and frequent these days, some people think that they're not as safe as they were in the past. Detroit, for instance, unfortunately remains as one of the most crime-ridden cities in the country. Many homeowners are taking matters into their own hands by installing better security devices in their homes, especially those that come from alarm monitoring companies.

These devices are often touted as being better than traditional ones for a variety of reasons. Their primary advantage is that they can notify both the police and the homeowner of any intrusion or attack in the property no matter where they are. The response is very fast, thanks to the advanced transmission protocols used by monitoring companies. At the same time, the devices themselves are also tamper-proof, which means that they'll sound the alarm if someone tries to remove or disable them.

However, these machines have other practical uses that further add to their appeal. Monitored alarms can also be used to warn the homeowner about fire or if a baby is left unattended. Some high-security facilities like laboratories and research centers use monitored CCTV cameras to help in personnel authentication, preventing unauthorized access to people who manage to bypass security checkpoints.

Alarmed and Ready: On Monitored Security Systems

Alarms are great ways to deter criminals from committing trespassing and theft, and nothing makes a crook think really hard like a warning label that says “Protected by security cameras and alarms.” By making loud, blaring drones, alarms can call attention to themselves to call people from the vicinity to help deal with the situation. However, sound alone simply isn’t enough; they should be equipped as warning devices that reach out to authorities.

This is where a home security monitoring service comes into the picture. A monitoring service basically watches over the alarm system of a home remotely. The moment it is tripped, the monitoring service gets notified and sends a warning to both the owner of the property and the police. Time is of the essence, and the faster an alarm can reach out to officers, the quicker the situation can be resolved.

To enjoy the coverage of a monitoring service, customers will have to pay a monthly fee to a company that specializes in it. Some might complain about the additional expenses, but it's a small price to pay to ensure a property's safety. After all, it's certainly better to pay for protection than to lose cash from theft.

Keeping Close Tabs on the Security of Your Vacation Home

Vacation homes provide you with a place that you can claim as your very own slice of paradise. When they are located in idyllic locales, they can even work better than resorts in helping you relax and just wind down. There's one catch with these homes though in that they are not always secure since you have to leave them unattended for long periods of time. It's a problem that can be addressed by signing up for what's known as the cellular alarm monitoring feature that security companies provide.

Since you can't spend 365 days in your vacation home and it could be expensive to hire a steward, the next best thing is to have something in place that can tell you right away if your property is at risk. Alarm monitoring services can alert you to anything unforeseen as well as potential criminal events around your property.

The best part of this security feature is that you don't need any special equipment or software to get updates. Once you sign up for this feature, the company itself will notify you through your cellphone. Make sure to apply only with reliable security groups, because there may be thieves out there who may want to use this idea to get information on your home and potentially infiltrate it.

Safety Measures for Your Business

Running a successful business doesn't only involve applying lessons you've learned from business school and employing effective practices, such as making sure that there is a thorough screening process for new hires and forming partnerships with reputable companies. Other things that you need to have in place are safety and security measures. This is especially true if you've invested in expensive and highly-advanced office equipment and furnishings (like 3D printers) that can easily lure thieves in.

For this reason, it's critical that you install deadbolt locks at all the entry points in your office. You can further secure your office premises by adding padlocks, but see to it that they are made of hardened steel. Authorize only a small number of people with padlock keys and discourage frequent duplication. It's also wise to invest in adequate lighting for these areas.

Equipping your headquarters with a security should also be a top priority. However, keep in mind that this will not be enough to stop persistent criminals. You need to have an alarm monitoring service to alert local authorities so they can respond in a timely manner to crimes. Make sure that whatever you buy comes from a trusted brand and source, because you can never be too sure when it comes to securing your property.

How an Alarm Monitoring Company Helps

If you saw the recent horror flick, “The Purge,” you may have been impressed with the highly advanced security system featured in it. It may have even convinced you to adopt a more effective security system for your home, complete with security cameras from every possible entry point. As you may have noticed, the system featured in the movie is designed to make the occupants in the house feel safe; however, what if no one was at home?

Suppose you have the same system installed in your home, and during a night out with your family, a group of robbers make their move inside your home. Since they know that you have already equipped your home with a security system, they come prepared and find a way to prevent an alarm from going off loudly. Thus, even though your neighbors are having a peaceful night at home, they won't notice anything unusual and won't have any reason to call the police. You'll eventually come home to a quiet house—with totally nothing in it.

Fortunately, you can avoid this scenario by hiring an alarm monitoring company. With an alarm monitoring company, you are assured that your alarms will be monitored and that the proper people will be notified to respond to the problem. Thus, even if your home's intruders come prepared and manage to stop the alarm's siren, a signal would still be sent to the security company's headquarters and a response team will be summoned. 

The Benefits of Home Security Monitoring

Many people believe that a burglar or a fire alarm without a monitoring system is sufficient to provide protection for their home. One of the reasons they shy away from getting the services of a home monitoring service is the cost involved. However, a home security monitoring system provides significant benefits that can easily justify its cost.

For one, a security monitoring service gives your home 24/7 protection, even when everyone is out. If the alarm is triggered, the monitoring center takes the appropriate action by informing you and the proper authorities, such as the police or fire department. When an unmonitored burglar or fire alarm goes off, there is a huge chance no one may be able to hear it; or if someone does, may not know its implications and what to do.

A home security monitoring system can also be beneficial in cases of fire or medical emergencies. Fires can break out undetected if there is no one home, or if the residents are asleep. When an alarm is triggered by smoke or fire, the monitoring service will call on the fire department to respond to the alarm. In cases of a medical emergency, home security monitoring centers can be alerted through a mere push of a button, allowing them to call on emergency services to provide assistance to the subscriber. 

A Cellphone is All You Need to Protect Yourself

Alarm monitoring services provide household members and business owners alike with reliable security systems that guarantee a speedy response from the police or the fire department in case of any emergency in their properties. However, these systems may not work well if, say, the local telephone lines are down. As a response, some alarm monitoring companies turn to cellular technology so they can continue providing their clients with top-notch security.

Cellular alarm monitoring is primarily catered to people who have yet to sign up with a phone company, although it is also used as a backup channel of sorts for those who wanted standard alarm monitoring services. The biggest advantage of cellular alarm monitoring is that it can't be easily disabled by criminals using conventional means (i.e. cutting telephone wires). Cellular alarm monitoring is also flexible and can easily be routed for use in existing security devices.

Perhaps the only noticeable downside is that this technology demands home and business owners to upgrade their devices. Second-generation (2G) cellphones are generally considered to be too primitive even when it comes to cellular monitoring, since 3G and 4G devices are regarded as standards. This also means that some cellular modules may not be supported by the alarm monitoring company, further necessitating the need to upgrade.

Eye in the Sky: On Using an Alarm Monitoring Service

Alarms are a great way to deter robbers and trespassers, and can even detect the onset of dangerous fires before they grow too large. However, alarms are only effective if their warnings can reach the property owners; homeowners and proprietors can't always be within earshot of their buildings. Enter the alarm monitoring service, which can help inform owners of any tripped alarms.

A monitoring service essentially acts as a bridge between the alarm and the property owner. They double the efficacy of alarms by contacting owners, regardless of their distance. Once an alarm triggers, it sends a signal to the monitoring service, which, in turn, either sends a message or calls the owner over a cellular network. This service is great for those owners who are always out of town or nowhere near their properties.

Signing up for a monitoring service is easy, and it can be done while you’re having the alarm system installed in your property. Customers can settle for a monthly fee with a monitoring service, which then rigs each alarm in the property to send a distress signal to their communications center. Note that customers will have to pay monthly dues for the service to continue monitoring the alarms.