Trends in Home Security

Home sweet home. For many of us, our homes are our sanctuary in today’s hectic world. We raise our children in our homes. We gather in our homes with our families after a busy day at work.  We relax in our homes on the weekends. When we are at home we want to feel safe, and when we are away, we want to know that our homes are secure.  The desire to feel safe in one’s home has created a booming home security market.  Home security is evolving with technology leading the way. Outlined below are the trends we can expect to see in 2019.

Wireless Home Security

Gone are the days of drilling holes and running wires throughout your walls to install a home security system. The newest trend in home security is 24/7 wireless monitoring systems. Wireless systems are just that, wireless.  Instead of being connected to your landline, wireless systems have a main control panel that plugs into an electrical outlet or is battery-powered. (If you purchase a system which plugs into an outlet, be sure that it has a back-up battery, and check your battery regularly.) Sensors and video surveillance cameras are placed around the home which communicate with the main control panel that has a cellular device built into it. If a sensor detects motion or smoke, an alarm may sound and a notification is sent to the homeowner via phone or internet. 

With today’s modern technology, wireless home security systems are easy to install, easily upgraded, and portable. And because they are battery powered, you can rest assured that if the power goes out or an intruder cuts your phone lines, you will still be connected to your security system. Companies such as SimpliSafe and Vivint offer wireless home security systems.

Personal Technology

Technology is changing at a rapid pace and so are our personal technology devices such as smartphones and tablets. These devices are used to call and text family and friends, take pictures, play games, process data, and so much more. Now they are being used to monitor and protect your home as well. One way of doing this is through applications or “apps”. You can install these apps on your device and use them to:

• lock and unlock doors
• turn lights on and off
• arm and disarm your alarm system
• view video of your home while you are away
• speak to and view a visitor remotely through your doorbell camera
• verify if your garage door is open or closed
• receive notifications and alerts if your alarm system has been activated
• receive severe weather alerts

Alarm.com is an industry leader in creating home security apps for smartphones and tablets.

Smart Home Technology

American homes are getting smarter. These days, new homes are coming equipped with smart home packages. “Smart homes” are defined as homes that have smartphones, appliances, security systems, light fixtures, thermostats, entertainment systems, computers, speakers, and other devices that communicate with each other regardless of whether a person is at home. These smart devices can be controlled by voice command, smartphone, or through the internet and can be operated from any location inside or outside the home. Three examples of smart home technology include touchscreen panels, doorbell cameras, and smart door locks.

Imagine the ease of monitoring your home inside and out through an installed touch screen panel. This panel allows you to monitor your home for fires, home invasions, carbon monoxide levels, energy usage, and water usage. You can also use it to turn on and off lights and appliances or adjust the thermostat. This technology is being used in the new masterplanned community of Sterling Ranch in Colorado, for example.

Another example of smart home technology is doorbell cameras. These devices look and act just like a doorbell but come equipped with motion sensors, a camera, a microphone, and a speaker. The doorbell camera allows you to see who is at the front door without having to answer it or peek through a window. This device records all activity on your front doorstep and allows you to view live video on your phone or tablet.

Doorbell cameras are perfect for monitoring package deliveries, viewing visitors discreetly, answering the doorbell if you are not at home, and observing everything happening right outside your front door.  

Smart door locks are also trending in home security.  A smart door lock is an electronic lock that replaces your traditional lock.  It is battery operated and connects via bluetooth or Wi-Fi to your smartphone. Smart door locks allow the homeowner to:

• unlock the door without a key
• automatically lock the door behind you
• monitor who is entering and exiting the home
• remotely unlock the door for visitors

These locks come in many different designs and have various methods to lock and unlock your door. Some come with a keypad where you type in a code, while others use a key fob or your fingerprint. Other designs allow you to unlock your door by placing your smartphone close to the lock, controlling the lock through an app on your phone, or even speaking a command to lock or unlock your door. The benefits of a smart door lock are numerous. They offer convenience at a reasonable price, they are easy to install, and they provide another layer of home security.

Cloud-based Security

What is the “cloud” and why is it important to home security? When referring to data storage, the cloud is just another word for the internet.  It does not mean that your data is somewhere floating above you in the sky.  The term “cloud” refers to a network of servers that stores your data through an internet connection instead of on your computer’s hard drive. We use the cloud to store data, photo collections, email, games, and videos.  Now it can be used for home security as well.  

As previously mentioned, wireless home security systems use cameras and sensors that send data to a cellular device in the main control panel.  These cameras detect and record the slightest movement. These movements are recorded 24/7 which creates a large amount of data. The benefit of cloud-based security systems is that this data is stored in the cloud relatively inexpensively versus having to purchase an expensive storage server that you keep in your home. Blink, an Amazon company, is an example of one which offers cloud-based wireless security.