When it comes to smart security systems, people will tend to focus their attention on more visible elements such as security cameras, motion detection or even fire, flood and CO sensors. For sure, these are important parts of an intelligent security system – yet they are far from the only means of keeping your home and your belongings safe from harm.

As smart home experts, we’ve installed and monitored a number of smart alarm systems over the years. Drawing from our experience, we’ve compiled a set of smart security features that you should look to make sure your home security system has before you have it installed.   

1. Make sure your smart security system is graded

It’s been a must-have for traditional home security systems for years now, but the smart home has been slow on the uptake when it comes to ensuring that intelligent security solutions meet European Intruder alarm standards. As a rule, most properties should have at least Grade 2 alarm system, with larger homes possibly requiring Grade 3 protection.  

As well as making your home better equipped to deal with unwanted intruders, having a graded alarm system might be vital when it comes to insurance cover. This is because many policies require a graded system in order to provide coverage (although this depends on the nature of the risk you want to insure for).

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2. Complete perimeter protection

Along with motion sensors, door and window sensors are incredibly useful when it comes to protecting your entire home from break-ins. Certain devices can not only detect when they are open/closed, but can also trigger an alert when tampered with, so they cannot be deactivated without the homeowners’ knowledge.

Another benefit of this type of sensor is the ability to quickly check if you’ve closed your doors and windows before you leave the house, so you’ll never accidentally leave the house open again.

3. Security that starts at the front door  A video entry system is often an afterthought to a smart home, but it both keeps you safer and makes it much more convenient to engage with all kinds of visitors. Some video entry systems come with motion recognition, so all visitors are recorded, regardless of whether they ring the bell. Additionally, two-way video allows you to greet visitors from a touchscreen (or even your phone) and let them in without having to come to the door – perfect for if you’re hosting in the garden or working upstairs in a home office.
 

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4. Integrated with the smart home

Having a conventional security system that is separate from a smart home system can lead to technology overload, with separate control interfaces needed to manage the various systems within the property. Meanwhile, an intelligent alarm system that can integrate with the rest of the technology in the home makes it a whole lot simpler for residents to see what’s going on in the home while cutting down on the number of dashboards that occupants need to master. 

5. Holiday mode enabled An added benefit of integrating a security system with smart home technology is the ability to combine it with other systems to simulate occupancy when you’re away on holiday. By setting your lighting to follow an automated programme that mimics your usual habits, you can avoid having your home targeted by thieves on the lookout for unoccupied properties to burgle.
 

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smart security phone control

6. Control it from your phone

While traditional home security systems can keep your home safe, they aren’t always convenient to manage, particularly when you’re in a rush. A smart security system can usually be managed from your phone, making setting the alarm or checking up on your home incredibly easy.

A further – and possibly more useful – benefit is that by tying in your home’s security system into an app, you can know as soon as there is an issue. With real-time alerts, you're informed as soon as a flood or fire is detected even if you’re not at home, allowing you to react accordingly and ensure that damage is kept to a minimum.

7. Robust WiFi and networking While your home network might not be the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to protecting your home, cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important. With malicious hacks, bots and other digital threats on the rise and more technology than ever in our homes, having a secure network that ensures you and your devices are safe goes a long way towards ensuring that having a smart home won’t become a security risk.
 

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8. Emergency assistance  All the devices in the world won’t give you peace of mind when something goes wrong, but 24/7 emergency assistance can reassure you should things go wrong. From proactive system monitoring to having Police and Fire service response integrated with your security system, a specialist smart security firm can ensure that you always have the support you need.
 

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