What Are the Benefits of 24/7 Professional Monitoring?

Having a reliable home security system in place should be a top priority. A home security system is a small investment that can have a big impact on protecting your home and the people inside of it. The availability of affordable and customizable smart home security options makes it easy to reap all the benefits of home security without getting tied up in hidden fees and contracts. Plus, most home security systems allow you to monitor your home via your smartphone from anywhere. 

Another benefit? Professional monitoring. Professionally monitoring is arguably the most important feature of a whole-home security system because it gives you 24/7 access to a team of monitoring experts who will jump into action when your home security alarms or something looks awry. 

Let’s learn more.

What Is Professional Home Security Monitoring?

Professional home security monitoring refers to a service provided by security companies to oversee and safeguard your smart home security system. In the context of smart home security systems, it involves a team of trained professionals who monitor your home's security around the clock. 

• 24/7 surveillance: Professional monitoring services operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They keep an eye on your smart home security devices, such as surveillance cameras, motion detectors, door/window sensors, and more.

• Immediate response: When an alarm is triggered or unusual activity is detected—whether high levels of smoke or an indication of broken window glass—the monitoring center is alerted so the appropriate authorities can respond quickly.

• Verification: The monitoring team verifies the alert to determine whether it's a genuine threat or a false alarm. They may attempt to contact you to confirm the situation.

• Emergency services: If a real emergency is confirmed or if they can't reach you, the monitoring center will dispatch the appropriate emergency services to your home. This can include police, firefighters, or medical professionals.

• Integration with smart devices: With smart home security systems, professional monitoring can be seamlessly integrated with other smart devices in your home. 

Self-Monitoring vs. Professionally-Monitoring

In a self-monitored home security system, you monitor and respond to alerts independently. When your security system detects suspicious activity or a breach, it sends notifications directly to your smartphone or other devices, and you are responsible for taking action or calling the appropriate authorities for help. 

While this approach may offer cost savings compared to professional monitoring services, it necessitates your active involvement in assessing alerts and making decisions regarding the appropriate actions to take. Response times can vary, as you must evaluate the situation and determine whether to contact authorities or handle the situation on your own. Self-monitoring provides a greater degree of control and flexibility but requires a more hands-on approach to your security system.

Professionally-monitored systems, on the other hand, employ a dedicated team that will monitor your sensors, detectors, alarms, and cameras 24/7 and contact the appropriate authorities when danger is detected. This ensures expertise and swift emergency response no matter where you are or what you’re doing. 

7 Benefits of 24/7 Monitoring You Should Know

24/7 home security monitoring seems like a no-brainer. Though it comes with an additional monthly cost, the price is well worth it to ensure that your home is being monitored as vigilantly as possible. Need more convincing? Other benefits of 24/7 monitoring include:

1. Round-the-Clock Vigilance: With 24/7 monitoring, your home is under constant surveillance. Trained professionals are always ready to respond to security alerts, even when you're sleeping or away from home.

2. Immediate Threat Detection: Professionals can swiftly identify potential threats, such as break-ins, fires, or carbon monoxide leaks, and take appropriate action.

3. Emergency Response Time: A monitored system ensures that emergency services — like the police or fire department — are notified promptly when needed.

4. Insurance Benefits: Many insurance providers offer discounts for homes with professionally monitored security systems, reducing insurance premiums.

5. Remote Access and Control: Even with professional monitoring, you’ll still have remote access to your security system via smartphone apps, allowing you to monitor and control your home security no matter where you are. If professional monitoring sees something as a threat that you recognize, you can call off the authorities if you’re available to do so. 

6. Deterrent Effect: The mere presence of a professionally monitored system — with a sign on your lawn or sticker on your window, for example — acts as a deterrent to potential intruders, decreasing the likelihood of a break-in.

7. Peace of Mind: Perhaps the most valuable benefit is the peace of mind knowing that your home and loved ones are protected 24/7 in the event you can’t access a notification on your device quickly enough. 

Do I Need Professional Home Security Monitoring?

Home security owners are inherently protectors. They want the latest and greatest technology to protect their property and their loved ones. If you’ve taken the time to research and invest in a home security system, adding on professional monitoring is a must.

Not only does professional monitoring enhance your security, but it’s also affordable, contract-free and gives you the mental freedom to carry on throughout your day without having to worry about monitoring your system yourself. 

Don’t wait — learn more about SimpliSafe’s professional monitoring today!