Traditional home security follows a simple, reactive formula: sensors detect an open door, an open window, or motion. An alert is triggered and a siren sounds. Meanwhile, a signal is sent to a remote monitoring center. It is effective enough under normal conditions.
However, modern technology allows us to do better. Today’s home security landscape has completely shifted thanks to the introduction of full system automation. But what does ‘fully automated’ really mean? And what benefits does it offer?
Fully Automated vs. Non-Automated Systems
Before we get to the benefits, it’s important to define what a fully automated home security solution is. According to Vivint Home Security, a nationwide leader in both smart home and home security solutions, a fully automated system is more than just an alarm. It is an ecosystem through which both security hardware and home automation devices are centrally connected. Instead of operating as isolated pieces of equipment, they are programmed to work together.
A non-automated system is just the opposite. Every door sensor, camera, programmable light, and motion sensor operates independently. A non-automated system also includes non-electronic devices. Think deadbolt locks and heavy-duty strike plates. They can’t be integrated into an ecosystem because they are ‘dumb’ devices.
5 Benefits of Full Automation
Now that you know the difference between fully automated and non-automated systems, it is time to talk about the benefits of going with full automation. Here are the top five, and they are nothing to sneeze at:
1. Proactive Deterrence
Deterrence is one of the main benefits of electronic home security. In a non-automated system, video cameras deter only inasmuch as they passively record activity. Automation can increase the deterrence factor by integrating cameras with other devices. For example, a camera with motion-sensing capabilities can also trigger floodlights and issue an audible warning to an intruder.
2. One-Touch Routines
Securing your home when you leave for the day shouldn’t be a time-consuming chore. Likewise for locking things down when you go to bed at night. You can program a fully automated system with one-touch routines. With a tap of a button, the garage door is closed, the front door is locked, and all the lights turn off. Integrate a smart speaker and you can execute the same routine with a simple verbal command.
3. False Alarm Reduction
A fully automated home security solution can analyze data from multiple sensors to verify the legitimacy of an alert. This can greatly reduce false alarms. For example, there is no need for your video doorbell to alert you to a possible intruder when your teenagers arrive home from school. A camera equipped with facial recognition technology can pass a command off to your security hub that friendly faces are recognized.
4. Energy Savings
Automation opens the door to saving on energy consumption, too. Everything from temperature control to lighting to irrigation can be fully automated to operate at peak efficiency. You are not leaving lights on when no one is in a room. You’re not unnecessarily heating or cooling your home while you’re away.
5. Exceptional Peace of Mind
This final benefit really wraps everything up: exceptional peace of mind. Full automation allows you to program devices and routines so that you truly can forget about them, except for routine maintenance.
Full automation means never having to worry about whether you closed the garage door. It means going to bed at night and knowing that your system is keeping you safe. You get both the convenience and security your system is intended to provide without having to constantly manipulate it.