Monitored intruder alarms are not new, but the technology behind them has improved vastly in recent years. Now there are several options and types of monitoring available for intruder alarms. Which type is best for you?

Intruder alarm monitoring is divided into those which simply provide a smart phone notification, and those which notify an alarm receiving centre (ARC). An alarm monitored with an ARC can notify either a keyholder or the police, depending on the monitoring selected. All of this communication used to happen via phone lines. Now radio, Wi-Fi and mobile type signals are all employed as methods of monitoring intruder alarms.

Which Monitoring Type Is Best For You?

When deciding which type of monitored intruder alarm is best for you, consider these questions;

Is the monitored intruder alarm for your home, or business?

Are you looking for a home security system, or an intruder alarm for your business? For home security, many people opt for app control smart alarm systems. These allow you to set and unset your system remotely, and toggle to control which areas of the system are set. App monitored alarms alert you if the alarm goes off – you can expect a message on screen and a ” You have an activation” announcement to your phone. You can also get notifications when the alarm is switched on or off. Many people find this invaluable. It lets you know if your dog walker has been, your teenager has arrived home from school or your elderly relative is up and about.

You can view, control and monitor both your home and business alarm in the app. However you may prefer a keyholder response to your business intruder alarm. This gives you peace of mind that your business is protected when you’re away. And with dedicated keyholders or a keyholding company, you won’t be disturbed by an overnight activation.

What does your insurer require?

Sometimes, the decision to have a monitored intruder alarm is out of your hands. A monitored system is very often the requirement of an insurer. It’s most common for homes and businesses with high value or high risk items. For example, you might be caring for a relative at home with lots of medical equipment. Or you might have a home office with equipment your insurer deems in need of a police response.

Many businesses are required to install a monitored intruder alarm with a police response. This provides a high level of protection for your business. The system is monitored by an ARC twenty four hours a day. In the event of a confirmed intruder or panic signals, police are dispatched to your property.

Is your property high risk?

Some properties are considered high risk due to their status – eg listed buildings. For others it is their location. If you live in an isolated area, where an alarm which only rings bells would only draw the attention of surrounding wildlife, a monitored intruder alarm is a crucial call for help; alerting people who can help. Your insurer might consider your property to be high risk. Or it might be that you feel more at risk and need the additional peace of mind that a monitored security system brings.

Who would you like to be contacted – and how?

If your intruder alarm were to activate, who would you like to know about it? If “anyone in the vacinity” is enough, this is achieved by an audible “bells only” alarm system. With a smart system, anybody with the app could be alerted simultaneously. For alarms with a keyholder response, the ARC contacts a keyholder to respond to the activation. For the ultimate response, a monitored intruder alarm provides a police response to a confirmed intruder or panic signals.

Which monitored intruder alarms installer?

Monitored intruder alarms require maintenance to reduce the risk of false alarms. Indeed only approved security companies can provide maintenance and monitoring for police monitored intruder alarms. Keybury are NSI Gold approved for the design, installation and maintenance of intruder alarms. We’re insurance approved and police compliant. Our skilled team have been installing and maintaining monitored intruder alarms for over forty years. We’ll go through the options and help design a system with monitoring to suit your requirements.

You can be assured that an NSI approved company is competent to assess your needs, help review the risks on the premises, and then design and install your security alarm system to the standards required by the Police and your insurer.

National Security Inspectorate

Are you considering a monitored intruder alarm for your property? Contact us to schedule a free site survey on sales@keybury.co.uk or 01535 661197.