Property crime is the most common type of criminality in the US. There are 2.5 million burglaries annually in the US, 66% of which are home invasions, while the other 34% affect small businesses. Yet only 25% of Americans have a home security system installed in their home or small business, and 17.2% of Americans still do not lock their doors.
Until burglary is experienced firsthand, most people consider their homes and workplaces to be “safe spaces,” despite the ever-present risks. Security systems have long been used to mitigate these risks – from the first electromagnetic alarm of the 1850s, to the first video home surveillance of the 60s to its successor, the modern-day ever-evolving smart video detection system.
But the future boils down to IoT for security.
In the increasingly interconnected world, the Internet of Things (IoT) – an ecosystem of web-enabled smart devices that utilize embedded sensors and communication hardware to collect and share data – is bringing critical innovations to numerous industries. Home and business security is no exception.
As the IoT becomes increasingly sophisticated, it will prove invaluable in helping security providers give customers better protection and true peace of mind.
Traditional Systems Will Get a Boost
Technology has always been integral to the development and deployment of security systems. These solutions have revolutionized home security – window alarms, traditional sirens, automated voice prompts, and monitoring service prompts – allowing individuals everywhere feel safe and secure.
But as technology develops, so must these solutions. Most alarm systems are reactive in nature and rely on “notification and response through detection” mechanisms, which alert homeowners or security monitoring centers after a breach has occurred. However, these solutions are becoming increasingly easy for criminals to circumvent; intruders know that when the alarm is tripped, they have a long-enough window of time before law enforcement arrives.
If an alarm sounds when a door is breached, there is little the home or business owner can do but wait for First Responders to arrive. In the US, depending on the city, this can be a wait time of 30 minutes to an hour.
However, by integrating IoT, professional security systems can go beyond traditional capabilities and enable peace of mind around the clock.
A proactive approach with IoT Security
IoT security has the potential to move the industry beyond deterrence and enable an “intervention and prevention” approach. Connected IoT devices can ensure not only that security systems are always online, but that real-time data is constantly being collected and transferred for professional monitoring and cross-correlation. This means that various home security devices – cameras, door locks, motion sensors, and more – could communicate with each other as well as with security professionals, working synergistically to provide comprehensive protection.
By gathering and analyzing vast amounts of data, these networks of connected devices would have the power to identify potential security vulnerabilities based on monitored patterns and anomalies before a crime is committed – enabling homeowners and business owners to stay one step ahead of threats.
It’s not just professional security systems that can benefit from better connectivity. DIY security devices have much to gain as well from a wider range of connectivity. IoT networks such as LTE-M allow devices to withstand Wi-Fi lapses—their low power consumption enables battery operation that protects against power-outages, or incapacitated electricity to remain online in case of emergency. Plus, they allow homeowners to monitor their security systems remotely in real-time through a smartphone or tablet, just as they would via DIY systems.
IoT integrated solutions combine detection and alerting capabilities with proactive measures. Fogging security systems, for example, are embedded with motion detectors, cameras and, crucially, a fog diffuser that fills rooms with harmless yet disorientating fog. Innovations such as this are setting a new standard for remote response to intrusion that prioritizes proactive security. Other IoT security solutions range from auto-lock cabinets to pressure sensors to keycard readers, all of these have one thing in common – they are activated in real-time to prevent an intrusion, not just respond to it.
The power of connectivity
By pairing predictive analytics, remote surveillance, and connected ecosystems alongside professional insights and monitoring, IoT-based security systems are poised to become the gold standard in empowering homeowners and business owners alike to anticipate and prevent potential threats with greater confidence than ever before.
As technology continues its rapid evolution across industries, embracing IoT for proactive security measures will provide enhanced functionality and faster response times. This has the potential to ensure properties are protected from all possible issues well into the future.
Author: Stephen Burd, Vice President of Enterprise Security Solutions at Essence USA
