The Latest Integrated Technologies for 2019

Security …

Need a security system but don’t know where to start? We’ve tested DIY and professionally installed security packages to help you determine which is the best smart home security system for you.

Security systems for your property

The Internet of Things has made it easier than ever to set up a property in which you can remotely control your door locks, lights, thermostats, vacuums, and other appliances, using your smartphone and an app. It’s also made it simple (and relatively affordable) to monitor your property from pretty much anywhere. Smart security systems are highly customizable and available as do-it-yourself kits or as full-blown setups that include professional installation and monitoring.

Depending on your needs you can go with a system that you monitor yourself, or pay a subscription fee to have your property surveilled 24/7 by professionals who will contact your local fire and police departments when alarms are triggered. You can even take advantage of on-demand monitoring services for when you’re away.

If you’re not ready for a dedicated security system, there are plenty of individual devices available that let you monitor your property from anywhere using your phone, tablet, or computer including indoor and outdoor security cameras, video doorbells, motion sensors, and smart locks.

RING

PROS
Easy to install. Affordable professional monitoring available. Supports multiple wireless platforms. Loud siren.
CONS
Currently lacks integration with other devices, including Ring cameras and doorbells. Does not support IFTTT or voice commands. Bulky contact sensors.
BOTTOM LINE
The Ring Alarm Security Kit is a DIY home security system that is easy to install and offers affordable professional monitoring, but inter-operability with Ring cameras and third-party devices is not yet supported.

NEST

PROS
Stylish. Easy to install. Multi-purpose sensors. Works with Nest cameras and a handful of third-party devices.
CONS
Expensive. Doesn’t support IFTTT or trigger other devices.
BOTTOM LINE
The Nest Secure Alarm Starter Pack is a stylish DIY smart home security solution that’s easy to install and configure, but is very expensive, and lacks integration you get with some other systems.

FRONTPOINT

PROS
Easy to install. Responsive sensors. Wide selection of accessories.
CONS
Pricey monitoring plans and accessories. Requires one- or three-year contract. Top-tier plan is required to view live and recorded video.
BOTTOM LINE
Frontpoint is a DIY home security system that’s easy to install and offers a wide array of compatible accessories. It works well, but is priced higher than the competition and a monitoring contract is required.

ADT

PROS
Fast and knowledgeable service reps. Many components available. Support for third-party devices. Solid mobile and web apps.
CONS
Expensive. Requires three-year contract with hefty termination penalty. Some Pulse peripherals require third-party mobile apps.
BOTTOM LINE
ADT Pulse offers just about everything you could want in a full-service home security system, including many component options, support for popular third-party smart home devices, and a solid app experience.

VIVINT

PROS
Speedy event response. Excellent video doorbell. Offers remote control of door locks, cameras, thermostats, and sensors. Responsive touch screen. No lengthy contract required.
CONS
Requires a monthly subscription for remote access. Cannot customize alarm sounds.
BOTTOM LINE
The Vivint Smart Home system offers 24/7 security monitoring and remote control of your door locks, cameras, heating system, and features the best video doorbell solution we’ve tested.

Streamlining Security and Home Automation

A smart security system connects to your Wi-Fi network so you can monitor and control your security devices using your smartphone and an app. Entry-level systems usually include some door and window sensors, a motion detector, and a hub that communicates with these devices using one or more wireless protocols such as Wi-Fi, Z-Wave, Zigbee, or a proprietary mesh network. You can add extra door, motion, and window sensors to provide coverage for your entire house and build a comprehensive system that includes door locks, garage door openers, indoor and outdoor surveillance cameras, lights, sirens, smoke/CO detectors, water sensors, and more.

A word about wireless protocols: In a perfect world, all security components would use the same wireless standard to communicate with the main hub, but factors such as power requirements, signal range, price, and size make it virtually impossible to settle on just one. For example, smaller components such as door/window sensors typically use Z-Wave or Zigbee technology because they don’t require a lot of power and can be powered by smaller batteries. They also operate in a mesh topology and can help extend the range of networked devices. However, neither protocol provides the bandwidth that you get with Wi-Fi, which is why it is usually used in security cameras to provide smooth video streaming, and in other devices that require a fat pipe. Moreover, Z-Wave and Zigbee devices are connected and controlled using a hub, while Wi-Fi devices can be connected directly to your home network and controlled with an app. Finally, Z-Wave and Zigbee devices use AES 128 encryption, and since they operate in a closed system with a dedicated hub, they offer more security than Wi-Fi devices.

Any smart security system worth its salt offers components that work together in a seamless environment and can be manipulated using customized rules. For example, you can create rules to have the lights turn on when motion is detected, have your doors unlock when a smoke alarm goes off, and have a camera begin recording when a sensor is triggered. Some systems store recorded video locally on an SD card or a solid state drive, while others offer cloud storage. Locally stored video is a good choice for do-it-yourselfers on a budget, but you have to be careful not to overwrite video you may need later. Cloud storage makes it easy to store and access recorded video, but it can cost hundreds of dollars per year depending on your subscription. Some systems offer both cloud storage and local storage, and some provide a dedicated storage drive that gives you DVR capabilities with time-lapse recording, which makes it easy to find a video event that took place at a specific point in time.