In recent years, some consumers have opted for self-monitored home security systems. But nearly 32% of all households have a professionally monitored security system.
There's a good reason for that: when modern DIY home security systems leverage the additional benefits of professional monitoring, families are safer, have an enhanced sense of control, and can better benefit from emerging smart-home technologies. In this article, we explain why that’s the case—and explore how two plans from Frontpoint make the most of what monitoring has to offer.
More than 400 people die each year from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, a gas that often incapacitates an individual before they can call for help. Another 50,000 end up in the emergency room. And each winter, news outlets across North America grimly chronicle story after story of near-fatalities caused by indoor propane heaters, gas leaks, and backed-up chimneys.
When such a gas leak—or the thick smoke of a fire—leaves homeowners unconscious, a resident calling 911 isn’t an option. Professionally monitored home security systems with CO sensors and smoke and heat sensors, however, can save lives by ensuring that somebody comes to the rescue.
Monitored security systems can even be programmed with duress codes used when a violent intruder forces you to disarm the system. And they’re useful even in less life-threatening circumstances. For consumers who don’t want to worry about their home during a vacation—or for those who don’t have the flexibility to act as their own remote security guard during the workday—monitoring provides next-level peace of mind in a range of scenarios.
Some home security systems don’t have any monitoring at all. Instead, consumers watch over their own homes using cameras with built-in motion sensors. While some households get a lot of mileage out of these systems, which use mobile alerts to draw users’ attention to potential problems, monitored systems can protect property and lives in a way that camera-only systems can’t.
To get a better grasp on what monitoring means, let’s look at what happens when a burglar tries to break into a house with a professionally monitored security system:
Frontpoint users have the benefit of professional, around-the-clock monitoring from one of the industry’s leading companies: Rapid Response Monitoring. They’ve served thousands of alarm dealers since their founding in 1992, both from their headquarters in Syracuse, New York and their newer center in Corona, California. Among other reasons, Rapid Response is Frontpoint’s monitoring partner of choice because:
Designed to provide “unfailing power,” Rapid Response’s centers have multiple backup generators (each with roughly enough power to supply an electric train) in case of a power outage. Redundant computer and communication systems work to minimize errors. And their hundreds of dispatchers protect homeowners in North America and beyond—as this recent story from Syracuse’s WSYR shows:
Some burglars cut phone lines and telephone wires to disable old-school security systems—an approach that the newer generation of wireless systems prevents. But others use less elegant tactics, taking advantage of delays built into most security systems (often 30 to 60 seconds) to break in and destroy the control panel before a signal is sent to the monitoring station.
Frontpoint uses cellular monitoring with Wi-Fi backup to prevent this from happening. It’s called “crash and smash protection”—and it’s part of what sets Frontpoint’s professionally monitored DIY home security systems apart.
Here’s how crash and smash proof monitoring works:
Crash-and-smash protection and round-the-clock dispatch are important—but today’s systems have far more to offer. When it comes to DIY home security with professional monitoring, Frontpoint offers different takes: the Interactive Plan and the Ultimate Plan. Both allow users to make the most of wireless sensors and cellular monitoring—and both allow them to arm, disarm, and control their systems through the Frontpoint App.
The Interactive Plan connects intrusion and environmental sensors to professional monitoring and mobile applications
In a nutshell, the Interactive Plan is tailored to users looking to reap the main benefits of professional monitoring and wireless technology. It’s a powerful program that makes the most of well-placed intrusion, motion, and environmental sensors with rapid emergency response. The Interactive Plan includes:
The Ultimate Plan improves on the Interactive Plan with video and smart-home features designed to secure doors from anywhere, confuse prowlers, help in police investigations, and make the most of powerful home security cameras. In addition to everything included in the Interactive Plan, the Ultimate Plan includes:
Pairing DIY home security with professional monitoring can yield powerful results. But for consumers, the choice is one of emphasis. Those looking for the simplest form of protection against intrusion or environmental threats may be well-served by the Interactive Plan. But for people who love smart-home tech—or those looking to take advantage of a few well-placed cameras—the Ultimate Plan delivers the goods.
Frontpoint’s plans protect against break-ins, medical emergencies, and other threats—and they’re both compatible with a range of intrusion sensors, environmental sensors, and accessories. Add as many or as few as you need!
Frontpoint keeps homes safe whether families are there or not. To shop DIY home security systems, check out our products page. If you have questions or would like to discuss a quote, contact us at 855-866-4409.
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