Home and Business Security Done Right!
Choosing a security system is a serious decision that’s more complicated today because cable TV providers, telephone companies and other late-comers to the industry are selling products that often fall short of the highest security standards. At American Alarm we want consumers to know the facts and make good choices to protect their families, homes and businesses. We hope the information presented here will help.
Security systems and companies that provide them should meet strict standards because lives, literally, are on the line. Laws and regulations have evolved to protect consumers from substandard security practices or technology, but not all companies follow the rules. Before you choose a security provider, you need to ask some key questions. Do they use licensed technicians? Have all of their employees passed a criminal background check? Who will monitor your system?
Whether it’s fire, carbon monoxide, burglary or a flooding basement, seconds count in an emergency. If no one’s home when the alarm sounds, who will react? That’s why best-in-class monitoring is vital for your security.
Most security companies outsource monitoring to third-party call centers of varying quality. American Alarm will not outsource your security. We operate a state-of-the-art central monitoring station 24-7, 365 days a year because we want to make sure this essential service is done to the highest standards. We react in 20 seconds or less (on average) to alarms. We know the response time because we measure it and are vigilant to maintain it.
The three-decker was close to campus on a tree-lined street. It looked like the perfect place for their eldest daughter’s first off-campus apartment. But the substandard fire protection system with old smoke detectors, some of which were ripped from the ceiling and piled in a box, was shocking. When the building across the street burned, the threat of fire came too close to home.
With security and life-safety systems, it’s critical to choose proven products and experienced providers. Unfortunately, some companies jumping into the security industry are offering products that do not perform well. A writer at the Boston Globe found this out first-hand.
The three-decker was close to campus on a tree-lined street. It looked like the perfect place for their eldest daughter’s first off-campus apartment. But the substandard fire protection system with old smoke detectors, some of which were ripped from the ceiling and piled in a box, was shocking. When the building across the street burned, the threat of fire came too close to home.
ABC News reports how hackers can defeat many wireless home security systems
A recent news report on ABC’s Good Morning America sent a shockwave through the residential security industry, with many homeowners waking up to the reality that their wireless home security systems are not so secure.
In the ABC report, a tech-savvy hacker using a laptop and some basic electronic equipment disarmed wireless security systems from four leading manufacturers. Furthermore, the hacker eavesdropped on the wireless systems and recorded patterns of activity, like when residents left the house and returned, to pinpoint the best times to break in.
