The Changing Marketplace

The Changing Marketplace

How monitored smart home security provides peace of mind for homeowners

As the Internet of Things (IoT) has continued to evolve, so, too, have the options for pairing smart home integration with both professionally monitored and self-monitored home security solutions. As an industry, we have come a long way from the push-button keypads hardwired to units in closets that had dial-up connections to a central station. Advances in technology, including LTE and 5G networks, Bluetooth and Z-Wave, have allowed home security providers to make our systems a seamless part of everyday life for millions of Americans who own or rent a home.

We have moved beyond providing professional monitoring for deterrence and intrusion only—life safety monitoring is now possible because of products such as connected smoke and CO detectors, flood sensors, temperature sensors and more. Coupled with other home automation products (smart locks, smart lightbulbs, smart thermostats, etc.), a smart security system can streamline the home experience for customers and provide them with security, and peace of mind, for life. While self-monitored systems are popular with entry-level consumers of smart security, a professionally monitored system still offers the most value for money, as customers know that a central station is there in any emergency, 24/7/365—whether they are home or away.

The smart home market is booming, with newcomers to the industry offering budget-friendly options that are tempting more Americans to try adding automation or video cameras to their homes. In fact, research shows that 30 percent of U.S. broadband households now own at least one smart home device. Security is understandably a concern as customers add devices to their home Wi-Fi networks—it’s important to encourage customers to check their network security, install firmware and antivirus protection updates regularly, and keep technology current to avoid threats. While some manufacturers offer devices that can integrate with other smart home products, many of them run on separate proprietary apps, which can make the customer experience a frustrating one. Imagine having to open separate apps to disarm your alarm, open your garage, and unlock the back door—it is not the simple, streamlined life that smart home commercials promise or that customers are telling us they want.

This is where security providers have an advantage over smart home only companies— by being able to integrate many common smart products into a home’s security system, providing a way for one app to control everything from locks and lights to the alarm itself, at the push of a button. And, because of professional monitoring, the customer is in complete control with 24/7 (emergency) coverage should it be needed. This is particularly useful if a connected smoke detector or CO alarm should trip while a homeowner is away—with monitored security, their app will notify them, and their provider will automatically dispatch emergency personnel—potentially saving property and lives.

Another advantage to professionally monitored security is the discount offered by many homeowner’s insurance policies for having a system in place. Self-monitored systems often do not qualify, and most police departments will not dispatch units to a self-monitored home when the owner is not present.

Video is another area where a security provider’s app integration makes a world of difference. Customers who choose to add indoor or outdoor video cameras can now see those feeds in real-time and even reply to video doorbells from within their home security app—whether they are on the couch or away from home. Video analytics and customized notifications allow customers to truly choose the experience that works best for their lifestyle.

It is not just self-monitored systems that are tempting to customers, we know from data shared by Parks Associates that self-installed systems are on the rise—last year 55 percent of new security systems were DIY installations . About one-third of those customers chose this route due to COVID-19 concerns, which means that as the world starts to emerge from the pandemic norms, professional installation will continue to grow. .DIY systems do offer self-service but we continue to see the interest of customers who want a professionally installed and monitored system where a trained technician ensures that everything is connected and set up properly. Customers know that their system is communicating properly to the central station, and all of their smart devices have been properly integrated into their system correctly. The technician will also show them how to use the system in the way that works best for their lifestyle and how to make changes as their needs change.

For Brinks Home, it is an exciting time to be part of the smart security industry, as more and more customers are looking for the peace of mind that a smart home + security system offers.

Featured

  • New Report Reveals Top Trends Transforming Access Controller Technology

    Mercury Security, a provider in access control hardware and open platform solutions, has published its Trends in Access Controllers Report, based on a survey of over 450 security professionals across North America and Europe. The findings highlight the controller’s vital role in a physical access control system (PACS), where the device not only enforces access policies but also connects with readers to verify user credentials—ranging from ID badges to biometrics and mobile identities. With 72% of respondents identifying the controller as a critical or important factor in PACS design, the report underscores how the choice of controller platform has become a strategic decision for today’s security leaders. Read Now

  • Overwhelming Majority of CISOs Anticipate Surge in Cyber Attacks Over the Next Three Years

    An overwhelming 98% of chief information security officers (CISOs) expect a surge in cyber attacks over the next three years as organizations face an increasingly complex and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital threat landscape. This is according to new research conducted among 300 CISOs, chief information officers (CIOs), and senior IT professionals by CSC1, the leading provider of enterprise-class domain and domain name system (DNS) security. Read Now

  • ASIS International Introduces New ANSI-Approved Investigations Standard

    • Guard Services
  • Cloud Security Alliance Brings AI-Assisted Auditing to Cloud Computing

    The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, today introduced an innovative addition to its suite of Security, Trust, Assurance and Risk (STAR) Registry assessments with the launch of Valid-AI-ted, an AI-powered, automated validation system. The new tool provides an automated quality check of assurance information of STAR Level 1 self-assessments using state-of-the-art LLM technology. Read Now

  • Report: Nearly 1 in 5 Healthcare Leaders Say Cyberattacks Have Impacted Patient Care

    Omega Systems, a provider of managed IT and security services, today released new research that reveals the growing impact of cybersecurity challenges on leading healthcare organizations and patient safety. According to the 2025 Healthcare IT Landscape Report, 19% of healthcare leaders say a cyberattack has already disrupted patient care, and more than half (52%) believe a fatal cyber-related incident is inevitable within the next five years. Read Now

New Products

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”