Technology is advancing extremely rapidly, and today we can do things that were thought to be impossible only a few years ago. While there are many areas where this is evident, one major such area is home security. A short while ago, home security was expensive, and at times unreliable, leading owners to question themselves whether it’s worth the effort and hassle.
Today, however, things are different, and you have smart home technology helping you improve your home’s security. And contrary to popular belief, it’s more than just cameras, because you have a host of options when it comes to home security.
So, how can you take advantage of technology, and what are some of the main benefits when it comes to home security systems? Let’s take a look at some popular ways of securing your home.
You can monitor, and control, who has access to your home
We did mention it goes beyond cameras, but a good CCTV system is the core of home security for many. While a few years ago surveillance on your home only meant having a couple of cameras inside and outside, today that extends to smart home devices such as smart doorbells that have a camera, for example.
Add to this a smart lock, and you can let someone in your home (or don’t) from the comfort of your chair. Even better, you don’t have to be at home. Since these are all connected devices, you can see who came knocking on your door while you were at work. Most of these smart locks also have a very useful feature – a two-way speaker. All you’ve got to do is open your phone’s app, and tell whoever is at the door to get lost if they’re an unwanted guest.
Of course, it’s still smart to set up a CCTV system, both on the inside and the outside. Today’s smart cameras will immediately send you a notification if they detect motion, and you can check the video live feed on your phone regardless of where you are. All thanks to technology.
Those smart home devices are often connected to your alarm, and thus, the authorities
A short while ago, there were two main ways of figuring out you have an intruder in your home. You either saw them yourself, or a neighbor did and called you, or the authorities, or both. However, with today’s smart home devices, things are much easier. If your CCTV sees there’s someone going around your house, it will send a notification to your home. Don’t know them, and you think they’re suspicious? You see them casing your home in preparation for a burglary? Contacting the authorities is as easy as pressing a button.
Did you lock that garage door?
When you’re coming home, you’ve got to get out of your car, open the garage, park, and then close the garage, which is simple enough. When you’re leaving, though, you open the garage door, you get in your car and you leave, oftentimes forgetting whether or not you closed, and locked the garage. Having a smart lock on your garage, and an automated door, makes this a lot easier. For one, you can open and close the door without leaving your vehicle – just use the push-button on your car, or your smartphone, depending on the model you’re using. Oh, and no longer do you have to hide a key under a rock in your garden in case you forget the garage key one day, which is a massive improvement in home security.
The other, possibly more important thing, is remembering whether you closed and locked the garage door. Most garages are connected to your house, making for an easy entry point for any potential burglars when left open. And if the door is closed, but not locked, getting in is also pretty simple. With a smart lock and automated door, you can check your smartphone and see the status of your door. Did you only remember you might’ve left it open when you got at work? Just go online and close it remotely, it’s as simple as that, and you can go on with your day.
Wrapping things up
When you take everything into consideration, home security is one of those areas where technology can help out quite a bit. It’s even better than quality systems are nowadays becoming increasingly cheaper, making them more available for homeowners who can’t afford to invest too much.
Whether you go for a simple CCTV system, or you go all out with smart locks and doorbells, motion sensor activated lights and doors, you’re making progress towards having a more secure home. It’s up to you to decide how much you’re willing to invest, but by all means, go for it – the benefits are obvious.