Monitored alarms provide an added layer of protection that self-monitored alarms cannot. They allow the monitoring centre to send guards to your home in the event of an alarm being triggered. But did you know that there’s more?
Monitored alarms can and should be customised to get you the response you need in an event of a break-in (while you’re at home or away on holidays), fire, medical emergency and more. This article will give you an idea of the possibilities. We encourage you to take 5 minutes to make your service work harder for you, so you can continue to have peace of mind.
In the event that a break-in occurs when you’re at home in bed, or on the other side of the house, what can be done to customise your emergency response? The goal here is to deter the trespasser before or soon after they’ve gained access to your property and ensure you receive help from emergency services if needed.
This can be achieved in a number of ways.
You may opt to allow the monitoring centre permission to send guards to assist as soon as a sensor by the front door is triggered, or once 2 sensors are triggered. This customisation assumes that if more than one sensor is triggered without the alarm being disarmed, it is more likely a trespasser and not a family member or pet that has triggered it.
Alternatively, or in addition, you can opt to have the monitoring centre call you to coincide when your alarm begins to siren. The combination of the loud sirens and the phone ringing act as a stronger deterrent than either alone. You can then verbally confirm if the siren is a false alarm or in fact genuine, and send guards immediately.
For added peace of mind, your alarm system can be customised to include a duress code. This code will disarm the system and send a signal to the monitoring centre that a security breach has occurred at your home without alerting the intruder. This is useful during a hold-up when you could potentially be forced to disarm your system by a trespasser and aren’t able to use your phone to call for help.
Building on the previous point is the customisation option of having a safe and unsafe voice duress password. If you are held up by an intruder, you can confirm a false alarm in front of the intruder, which the monitoring centre will then ask for a password. There is both a safe and unsafe password set-up with this service, and if the unsafe password is used assistance will be sent to the property immediately, without alerting the intruder.
In the event that a break-in occurs when you’re away, what can be done to customise your emergency response? Whether it’s a weekend away in the countryside or two weeks away sunning in Mykonos, rather than having the monitoring centre call and cause you stress while you’re away, you can temporarily update your nominated contact list. This allows the monitoring centre to call a family member or friend who lives nearby to confirm if a security breach has occurred or if it’s just a false alarm.
It’s important to keep your contact list up to date even if you aren’t travelling, as this ensures that the monitoring centre can quickly reach someone, even if you are unavailable in the event of a security breach.
For families with young children, it can be difficult to teach them how to pick up the phone, dial 000, press the correct key and then communicate with an operator. What’s easier, is teaching them how to use a medical pendant to call for help by pressing a single button. All it takes is slipping over a toy for you or your partner to fall to the floor, hit your head and be unable to call for help. After the button is pressed, an alert is sent to the monitoring centre. If they are unable to contact you after two attempts, an ambulance is sent to your address to assist. There is also the option to customise this response, bypassing the monitoring centre and sending a call for help directly to the ambulance.
For mature adults or those with chronic illnesses, the likelihood of a medical emergency occurring is more significant. Medical pendants can guarantee immediate help if, for example, your heart problem plays up and you are unable to physically get to your phone. For those living alone, they can even be programmed to detect a potentially life-threatening fall, and again send a direct call for help to the ambulance.
Did you know that in addition to monitoring for intruders, you can also monitor for potential house fires with smoke and heat alarms that are connected to the monitoring centre? This means that if there is a fire, the monitoring centre will be alerted and can take action the same way they would if there was an intruder. This can provide added peace of mind at night while you sleep and may be unaware of a potential fire, or when you are away from your home for work or on holidays.
What’s more, is that it doesn’t cost you anything extra to have your smoke alarms professionally monitored on top of what you are already paying for alarm monitoring. You only need to pay the upfront investment to install and connect the smoke alarm to the monitoring centre.
For families with children, it can be something as small as knowing when your children have arrived home safely from school or netball practice that delivers true peace of mind. This can be achieved by customising your monitoring solution to send you SMS alerts whenever someone in your family’s arms or disarms the home alarm. Better yet, your solution can be customised to the level of having a unique code for each family member, so you know exactly who it is that disarmed the system and when.
By taking advantage of the customisation options available to you as an alarm monitoring customer of Signal Security, you can tailor your security to meet the specific needs of you and your family. If you’re looking for a complimentary security assessment to determine which options are right for you, feel free to get in touch with a peace of mind acquisition specialist using Signal Security’s contact us page or by calling us on 1300 73 83 93 Monday to Friday between 9 am-5 pm.
Congratulations, you’re a parent, or soon will be. The only issue is that your home isn’t yet baby proofed! Although baby proofing may appear to be a daunting task, a few easy steps can make your house considerably safer.
We all know that babies learn by exploring; they have no concept of sharp edges, hot surfaces, poisonous substances or potentially harmful situations. They’re unaware, yet curious about what’s going on around them. They also spend more time in the family home than anywhere else, so it’s important we make it a safe, harm-free environment to the best of our ability.
Accidents such as falls, drowning and furniture tipping over remain the greatest cause of death for children aged one to four (Centres for Disease and Prevention, 2015). It may seem like a tedious and boring task but baby proofing is certainly not something that should be taken lightly.
Baby proofing becomes toddler proofing, which becomes childproofing, and so on. Essentially, the need to improve the safety of your home will be determined by your child’s development and age.
We recommend starting the process as soon as you can, ideally before your due date, so that you can devote all of your attention to your baby once they arrive. It’s likely going to be the case that you may not have the time to juggle a newborn and childproof your home at the same time.
You’ll need to run a second baby proofing check once the baby starts crawling (at about 6 to 10 months) to ensure the house is safe for a moving infant. From there, child proofing will be a work in progress, and only you can decide what needs to be done based on your child’s developmental stage.
Electrical outlets are at the perfect height for toddlers who can now crawl and sit up. We recommend purchasing covers for outlets that are not in regular use. Outlets that are being used, on the other hand, are dangerous because children may pull or tug cords far enough to make contact with the metal prongs. In this instance, Use a child-resistant outlet cover or place furniture in front of the outlets so there is no access point for your child.
For added peace of mind, parents can consider fitting their home with a professionally monitored alarm system that includes remote panic buttons. In the unlikely event of an electrocution, these devices can mean the difference between life or death as an ambulance is only the press of a button away.
A lock is by far the most common method for child proofing drawers. In recent years, magnetic locks have gained popularity as a safe solution to keep drawers locked in the kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom. To use, place a latch with a powerful magnet inside the drawer to prevent it from being opened. However, this does not mean that you must lock every single drawer; only those that are within reach of your toddler and those that contain potentially harmful objects should be secured. Some parents choose to keep one kitchen cupboard open and fill it with child-safe cooking items.
Items such as loose change, paper clips, batteries or nuts & bolts are common household choking hazards for infants. To mitigate the risk of choking in the family home it’s important to vacuum regularly to suck up any loose debris that may have found its way to the floor. Another handy tip is to check your doorstops; many have removable caps that pose a choking hazard.
As mentioned previously, a professionally monitored alarm system that includes remote and/or fixed panic buttons can help save precious time in the event of an emergency such as choking – ultimately saving your child’s life.
Heavy furniture that can fall or be climbed on should be attached to the wall using safety straps. This includes bookshelves and chests of drawers, as well as any other furniture that can fall or be climbed on. Free-standing televisions should be fastened with safety straps or wall-mounted if possible.
You can protect your child from serious injury by purchasing corner or edge protectors made of thick foam that helps to absorb impact. DIY alternatives include tennis balls on table corners, pool noodle door stoppers and foam pipe insulation on sharp edges.
A baby gate or fence is the best baby proofing solution for preventing your child from climbing the stairs. A baby gate helps keep your toddler from getting too close to the stairwell and will keep them out of harm’s way. However, a variety of factors should be considered when choosing a gate, such as how frequently the stairs are used throughout the day and whether heavy objects are frequently carried up the stairs.
Install smoke detectors in each room of your home. Carbon monoxide detectors should also be installed in each bedroom. Check the detectors weekly to ensure they are working, and replace the batteries at least once a year. You should also store a fire extinguisher and a fire blanket in the kitchen, and keep matches and lighters out of reach.
For added peace of mind, parents can consider fitting their home with a professionally monitored alarm system that directly connects to your fire and carbon monoxide detectors. This allows for your system to send an emergency signal to our alarm monitoring centre if a fire or gas leak is detected, ensuring the fire brigade is notified in the shortest time possible, potentially saving your families lives.
When purchasing a crib, check for the ‘Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association’ label, which guarantees that the device was created with federal safety standards in mind.
All hardware, including nuts, bolts, screws, plastic pieces, and so on, should be included with the crib (do not substitute hardware store goods for genuine parts).
Make sure all rugs are secured with non-slip pads (or underlays) and that they are always swept and clean so that babies and young toddlers do not find (and eat) anything embedded in them.
Even when a fly screen is attached, children can fall out of a window that is opened more than 10cm. Make certain that no chairs, boxes, mattresses, or other items that a child could climb onto are placed beneath a window, and consider installing window locks.
Another common hazard many new parents face as their infant begins to walk and learn to open doors, is the potential for them to run out of the front door unnoticed if it is accidentally left unlocked. For added peace of mind, parents can consider fitting their home with a professionally monitored alarm system that includes door and window switches that chime if a door or window is opened. This acts as ‘back-up’ in case parents forget to lock the front door.
Many common household products and objects can be poisonous if ingested. Certain houseplants, medicines, cosmetics and shampoos should all be kept out of reach from children and away from ledges. Wherever possible, keep alcohol locked in a cabinet that is inaccessible to little hands.
By baby proofing common household dangers, you can achieve peace of mind for those times when you are not able to watch your child’s every move.
The vast benefits of incorporating professional alarm monitoring as part of the child-proofing process should now be evident. Smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, panic buttons and door & window switches are just a few of the additional products Signal can include as part of your home safety solution. It’s more important than ever parents have quick access to help when it comes to life or death situations that involve their young ones.
For additional information on securing your home and looking for a security assessment, feel free to get in touch with a home safety specialist using our contact us page or by calling us on 1300 73 83 93 Monday to Friday between 9 am – 5 pm.
You can always add security equipment, change the appearance of your home, or even the physical structure at a later date. The location, however, is fixed. Make sure you’re looking in low-crime areas where you will feel comfortable and confident to walk about freely. Additionally, buying in a good neighbourhood will significantly increase your investment if you want to sell at a later date.
Take a stroll around the neighbourhood, visit the property at various times of the day and strike up a conversation with your potential neighbours. Lastly, begin a discussion with your real estate agent, as they will be able to give you the best insight into the property and provide you with alternatives if you decide it’s not right for you.
The placement of a home, as well as how well it is lit, can influence whether it is a desirable target for burglars. Keep in mind that a dark property may entice burglars because it reduces their chances of being discovered by neighbours or passers-by. Homes with high hedges and plants may be desirable targets as well, as they provide natural hiding spots.
Burglars will be deterred if your home is inundated with light and in a position where it can be seen by passersby and neighbours. Thus, you should consider installing floodlights that are triggered by movement sensors wherever possible. These are essential at entry points such as front and back doors, as well as garages.
If you’re buying an already built property, make sure you do a security inspection. This will give you a sense of how secure the house is and what needs to be improved. Whether you do this yourself or hire a professional, you’ll know where the standard of security lies and whether the changes you need to make are worth the investment. Signal security offers obligation-free home security audits, which are free of charge to all new homeowners.
While removing high hedges and ensuring your home is adequately lit will act to deter potential burglars, it is also important to consider integrating outdoor design features that will alert you of suspicious activity. A great example of this is including crushed pebbles/gravel along the side of your home. This makes it near impossible for an intruder to sneak through your yard without making a sound and alerting you or the family pet.
Similarly, planting low, thorny bushes beneath your windows will make it harder for a trespasser’s rustling to go unnoticed. Not to mention the fact these also act as natural deterrents for burglars due to the potential for inflicting pain if they are climbed.
If you’re relocating into a new development, you might find your property has vacant blocks on either side of it. It’s important to be vigilant earlier on as you’re not able to rely on neighbours or passersby. Consider a security system early in the building process prior to valuables being installed. Signal Security offers a range of customised home security systems to meet the individualised needs of your new build. Use the following links to find out more about how a professionally monitored alarm system or CCTV camera system could benefit you.
Buying a new house is expensive, it takes time and costs money, but you should never sacrifice safety just to save a few dollars.
When deciding between a quality security solution and an inferior one that is less expensive, we want to assist you in making the best decision for you and your family. That’s why Signal Security’s home safety solutions come with interest-free weekly and monthly payment options.
You can get the following with Signal Security from just $59 per week:
Remember that purchasing your first home is a significant and often lengthy commitment, it is not a race, and it is well worth your time to find a property that you adore.
We can assure you that having a professional assess your new home and offer a customised solution will give you peace of mind and allow you to enjoy this exciting time as a new homeowner.
If you are in the process of buying a new home and would like a free, no-obligation on-site security risk assessment, please contact our team on 1300 73 83 93 or send an enquiry using our contact page.
Asset depreciation can be a complicated area to grasp. But for small businesses—it’s essential.
With Melbourne back in full swing, small businesses — including retailers, pharmacies, restaurants, bars and cafes — are seeing an increasing number of customers returning to their physical location and a rise in pathway foot traffic in and outside of trading hours. Especially for those located on a retail strip and in the CBD.
While many things have changed since COVID-19, what hasn’t changed is how a business is susceptible to break-ins, theft and vandalism.
For business owners who had previously considered investing or upgrading their CCTV and security solution, now’s the best time to do so; approaching the end of the financial year (EOFY) and with the Government Instant Asset Write-off.
One important part to understand about CCTV and on-premise security equipment depreciation is that it can lead to tax deductions. Any business owner who uses on-premise security as part of their commercial operation is entitled to claim back the cost as a deduction at tax time. This is a critical tenet if managing cash flow is a priority for your business.
You can potentially take advantage of the Instant Asset Write-off to upgrade your business’ security by immediately writing off depreciable assets that cost less than $150,000. Depreciable assets include security hardware and equipment as well as security installations for camera systems, alarm systems, and electronic access control systems.
If you are a small business, you will need to apply the simplified depreciation rules in order to claim the instant asset write-off (please refer to the following ATO (Australian Taxation Office) page for more details)
To write off the asset within this financial year, the security IT hardware and installation needs to occur before 30 June 2022.
Signal Security is Melbourne’s leading provider of high-quality, on-premise security for businesses. With Signal Security on your side, you can have a highly effective and affordable tool against break-ins, theft and vandalism.
No matter how big or small, our commercial security advisers will listen to your requirements then custom-build a solution to meet your security needs. We can recommend the most cost-effective ways to upgrade any existing security equipment you may have whilst utilising as much of your existing infrastructure as possible, in turn, allowing you to receive the absolute best return from your investment.
Between April and June 2022, we’re offering free comprehensive evaluations. Fill out the form below to request a callback.
It’s easy to see why home security has advanced drastically in the last decade. Our house is often where we feel the safest, where we keep our most prized possessions and often where the people closest to us live. Home security is about providing peace of mind by protecting this safe haven and everything it represents. Historically, what this looks like is protecting one’s home from burglary and ensuring action can be taken if it was to occur.
But, with so many advancements in the world and in technology, we ask if this still remains true for businesses today. Is peace of mind the same for every customer or do companies’ products and solutions need to be adjusted to satisfy ever-changing consumer needs?
Many security companies shared one vision in how they addressed the issue of on-premise security 10-15 years ago. This was a one-size-fits-all approach, with a focus on items and pre-designed packages that didn’t take into account customers’ individual fears and concerns.
It was about installing the most highly developed alarm system, one that would repel burglars while alerting authorities. While this strategy was effective in deterring criminals and lowering crime rates, it overlooked an extremely critical aspect of what it means to feel and be safe.
At the time, the emphasis was on the items and the pricing. The consumer was often left to determine what they believe they may require to protect themselves and their property. There was minimal, if any, examination of the property’s size, shape, and fit by a security specialist. This is important because what works for one family home with four bedrooms and two bathrooms may not work for another with the same amount of rooms.
Why? Because the houses are noticeably different, one has floor to ceiling windows throughout, while the other backs up to a busy road with an easily accessible backyard. The point is that without the assistance of a security specialist, customers nearly always overlook susceptible areas.
To evolve with the world, we needed to shift away from this ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach and towards a customised solution that provides true peace of mind to every customer on a level that goes beyond installing an alarm system. The first step was to recognise that no two solutions will ever be the same because each customer has unique concerns. Not to mention the physical distinctions between the two properties. It became imperative to understand that different customers have different issues, necessitating a customised solution to address these concerns and provide peace of mind.
For example
Families with young teenagers:
Problem: Parents are frequently concerned about their children’s whereabouts and whether or not they have returned home safely from school, a friend’s house or anywhere else.
Solution: configure your alarm system to allow each family member to disarm it with their own unique code, notifying you exactly when this happens via an SMS
Mature adults:
Problem: The implications of an accident or a fall are often a source of anxiety. What would they do if they were injured and couldn’t call for help because they couldn’t access their phone?
Solution: Medical pendants that can inform emergency services, such as an ambulance, if the person wearing them falls abruptly.
These and other advanced solutions were neglected 5-10 years ago because organisations were unaware of the possibility, did not understand the value, or lacked the technology that we now have. Despite the security industry’s evolution, there are still companies that have not kept up, continuing to utilise generic and outdated tactics despite the resources at our disposal.
Technology is always changing, which is why we’re consistently developing new solutions to help keep more people safe both inside and outside their homes.
Signal Security’s philosophy around home safety has always been helping our customers achieve true peace of mind, no matter what that means for them. We first seek to understand, then we advise, and finally, we provide a tailored solution on how we can help keep you, your family and your home safe, sound and secure.
We rarely leave an on-site assessment having merely suggested an alarm system with motion detectors as the safety solution. We take a holistic approach and ensure the solution considers each and every fear or anxiety our customers might have.
While many products and services such as alarm monitoring, CCTV camera systems and home intercom have stayed the same over the past decade, the way security companies deliver these has not. Companies who fail first to understand what peace of mind means to their customers are quickly falling behind, while companies prioritising people over products are prospering.
If you or someone you know could benefit from a professional home security assessment, feel free to get in touch with a home safety specialist using our contact us page or by calling us on 1300 73 83 93 Monday to Friday between 9 am-5 pm.
For many of us, the thought of travelling overseas or interstate given the current climate seems too stressful. While we are not far from feeling comfortable enough to get on a plane and make these trips a reality once again, the large majority of us Melburniuns will probably be staying local this Christmas period.
But not to worry, there are more than enough things to see and do and experiences to be had all within reach of our local city.
Here are Signal Security’s top 5 must do’s this Christmas period for those staying local.
1. Get yourself a REAL Christmas tree!
That’s right, it’s no longer an experience reserved solely for the Northern Hemisphere. Many Victorians have already jumped on the bandwagon of purchasing their very own living, photosynthesising tree!
If you’re interested in ditching the plastic for something more authentic, there are plenty of options all across Melbourne with our top 3 Christmas tree providers being:
2. Celebrate at the Carols by Candlelight at Sidney Myer Music Bowl
This evening out is perfect for families with young children. Pack your picnic blanket and snacks and set up for an unforgettable night. What’s better is that all proceeds of the event go towards supporting children with vision impairment.
3. Save yourself the stress and book your Christmas lunch at one of the many amazing Christmas lunches offered across the City.
4. Go and see the Christmas lights!
An oldie, but a goodie. Hunting down the best Christmas lights that Melbourne has to offer can be quite a task, so we’ve found some of our favourite displays for you to go and see for yourself.
CBD:
Suburbs:
5. Visit a local Lavender farm in full bloom
While there are numerous beautiful parks and beaches to visit around Melbourne, a botanical marvel many have yet to visit is a Lavender farm. With a number of farms less than a one-hour drive from the CBD, why not make the trip and get some incredible photos while you’re at it?
Our top picks are:
So go on, get out there and explore local this holiday season!
Have you ever wondered if there was an easier way to manage them?
Commonly, businesses (big and small) provide each staff member with a unique code that they use to arm/disarm their alarm system.
Despite the commonality of this approach, it leaves stores and businesses susceptible to a number of security breaches.
Imagine this… you’ve provided a staff member with a code at the start of their employment. They leave under disgruntled circumstances and you can’t remember or didn’t record what code they used to arm/disarm your alarm system. This leaves your business vulnerable to the unlikely but very real possibility of unauthorised access.
Not ideal…
Another approach businesses take is by providing everyone with the same code.
It’s not hard to understand why this can be an issue. Not knowing who is arming or disarming your system at different hours throughout the day can lead to difficult conversations and possible mistrust within your organisation in the case of any intrusion.
The code might even be irresponsibly shared to associates which could result in further security breaches.
Either of these methods sound familiar?
Each method has its own pros and cons, but what if there was a unique solution that remedies the issues above?
We’ve got the answer for you.
It’s called Pocketsecure.
Pocketsecure is a phone app (available on both iOS and Android) that pairs with our back to base monitoring service, allowing users to arm and disarm their businesses through their mobile phones.
Given that it’s 2021 and almost everyone has a mobile phone, it’s a clear solution.
But how is it better than ‘old-school’ methods?
Remote Arming
Well for starters, it enables you to remotely arm and disarm your alarm system through your mobile phone from wherever you are (as long as you have internet connection on your phone of course!).
Can’t remember if you armed the store after leaving for the night? Check your phone.
If it’s not, simply arm your business from the train, bus, the couch or wherever else you are during your busy schedule.
Easier Staff Management
As mentioned earlier, traditional methods of managing alarm systems and their individual codes can cause a number of problems and introduce a number of vulnerabilities to a business.
Keeping track of staff member user codes is often an arduous and manual task that is very prone to human error and mismanagement.
The introduction of Pocketsecure allows you to view users who have access to the system and when they are arming/disarming the system.
This makes it easy to manage staff in high-turnover retail environments where access needs to be given or revoked at the click of a finger – provides managers with a clear list of who has access and who doesn’t.
Multi-Site Capabilities
Have multiple business sites? Multiple stores? Perhaps multiple warehouses?
All with their individual alarm systems?
Well from the one app, and the one account, you’ll be able to easily manage all your sites efficiently and effectively.
Our team will be able to help integrate all your systems to avoid confusion when it comes to arming and disarming multiple sites with different systems. This saves you from having to remember a number of different codes or arming methods.
More Secure
The ultimate goal of a security system is to keep yourself, your employees and your business safe and secure.
With an integrated arming app such as Pocketsecure, you will only be making your system more secure.
How?
Referring back to our initial point, codes can often get mismanaged or irresponsibly shared, resulting in system and business vulnerabilities.
By allocating each person an account, you’ll have complete visibility over your whole business, who uses the alarm, and/or when.
Have a disgruntled ex-employee? Simply delete their Pocketsecure access without having to worry about what codes they might have access to or may perhaps know.
Security shouldn’t be at the forefront of your mind, nor should it be a hassle.
As a business owner or manager, there’s no doubt that you have more important things to attend to.
In today’s age, alarm codes can almost be considered outdated because of the vulnerabilities they can introduce into a business environment.
That’s why as a security company, our goal has been to make things as easy as possible for you.
Pocketsecure is one of the features that we provide with all our back to base monitoring plans, and is beneficial for not only operational but security reasons too.
If you’d like to learn more about this, visit here OR give our monitoring specialists a call on 1300 73 83 93
Asset depreciation can be a complicated area to grasp. But for small businesses—it’s essential.
With Melbourne back in full swing, small businesses — including retailers, pharmacies, restaurants, bars and cafes — are seeing an increasing number of customers returning to their physical location and a rise in pathway foot traffic in and outside of trading hours. Especially for those located on a retail strip and in the CBD.
While many things have changed since COVID-19, what hasn’t changed is how a business is susceptible to break-ins, theft and vandalism.
For business owners who had previously considered investing or upgrading their CCTV and security solution, now’s the best time to do so; approaching the end of the financial year (EOFY) and with the Government Instant Asset Write-off
One important part to understand about CCTV and on-premise security equipment depreciation is that it can lead to tax deductions. Any business owner who uses on-premise security as part of their commercial operation is entitled to claim back the cost as a deduction at tax time. This is a critical tenet if managing cash flow is a priority for your business.
You can potentially take advantage of the Instant Asset Write-off to upgrade your business’ security by immediately writing off depreciable assets that cost less than $150,000. Depreciable assets include security hardware and equipment as well as security installations for camera systems, alarm systems, and electronic access control systems.
If you are a small business, you will need to apply the simplified depreciation rules in order to claim the instant asset write-off (please refer to the following ATO (Australian Taxation Office) page for more details)
To write off the asset within this financial year, the security IT hardware and installation needs to occur before 30 June 2021.
Signal Security is Melbourne’s leading provider of high-quality, on-premise security for businesses. With Signal Security on your side, you can have a highly effective and affordable tool against break-ins, theft and vandalism.
No matter how big or small, our commercial security advisers will listen to your requirements then custom-build a solution to meet your security needs. We can recommend the most cost-effective ways to upgrade any existing security equipment you may have whilst utilising as much of your existing infrastructure as possible, in turn, allowing you to receive the absolute best return from your investment.
Between April and June 2021, we’re offering free comprehensive evaluations. Click the button below to request a callback.
While lots of things have changed in the past 14 months — with Covid-19, tragic bushfires, Gamestop stocks, job redundancies, job employment declines — there’s one thing that definitely hasn’t.
Everyone’s basic needs.
Physiological needs such as water, food, warmth, rest.
And of course…
The need to be safe and secure.
Source: Simple Psychology
Working within the security industry and in particular, one of Australia’s highest-rated security providers, we’ve been keeping a keen eye on security trends and new solutions that can help Australian homeowners, business owners and residents.
Alarm systems that can be armed and disarmed from a mobile phone.
Security integrations that can allow companies to manage all their sites from a single computer.
Consumer cameras that allow you to zoom in and capture very specific details such as number plates and facial details.
Being able to view and save the footage to our phones.
It’s incredible!
And these advances have been necessary over the years to help avoid incidents or even help to gather evidence to put these cases to a resolution.
We’re all living in a time where companies are providing the tools so that we can meet our safety needs in life. Although the need for security and safety is shared, how people achieve this can be subjective. Some people feel great with electronic security in place. Some without.
But what’s important is that these tools are here, effective, and ready for us all to use when we need them most. It’s these things that help us to shift our attention on what we deem most important in life – whether it’s your family, your job, or that round-Australia trip you’ve always wanted to pencil into your diary.
While the above is all good and great, it is almost common-knowledge that they aim to protect you, your family, your business, or your home WHILE you’re at home.
As a society, we are becoming more and more transient, spending less time at any one location including our homes and more time out and about – Working, exercising, catching up with friends… Living!
When we turn to the statistics, we realise that we’ve made big strides in protecting homes, businesses and assets… but what we’re failing to protect, our most precious possession, is… OURSELVES!
A recent survey conducted by women’s safety tech company, Safely, reveals the shocking reality that 2 in 3 women feel unsafe outside of their homes and 2 in 3 are victims of bullying or sexual harassment.
Source: Safely.io
Crazy right?
Looking at these stats, the chances of your mother, sister, wife, or friend, fitting into one of these categories is unfortunately quite high.
Perhaps you’ve even felt this way?
We’re big believers in providing peace of mind and are proud to see others in Australia developing solutions to help keep more people safe — both inside and outside of homes.
Safely is one of these companies that we recommend to check out.
“
Without going into too much detail, they have developed a personal safety app for women within our communities to help them ‘feel safe and live without fear’.
Aiming to go live in March 2021, we would highly suggest you to check out Safely’s website to learn more and be the first to know when they go live.
Our priorities have probably changed.
What we want to do probably has.
Where we can go DEFINITELY has.
But what hasn’t changed are our core needs – security in particular.
The year ahead will present challenges to you, your family, the state, and the country, but one thing we can’t stress enough is to ensure that you’re keeping an eye on loved ones and making sure that they’re feeling safe in whatever they set out to do.
Technology is evolving and with new apps like Safely, the year of 2021 is looking better for the safety and security of both individuals and families.
Stay healthy. Stay safe.
If you want assistance or need to speak to someone about your security needs, feel free to reach out to our friendly Customer Experience Team on 1300 73 83 93 and we’ll be happy to help!
Security alarm systems have been the most effective way of protecting homes against
intruders by way of a deterrent.
However… criminals today have become much more cunning and sophisticated leaving both occupants and their valuables at serious risk.
So simply triggering a siren onsite is no longer a satisfactory solution.
This is where alarm monitoring comes into effect.
Now the question is… should you choose a self-monitoring option or a professional monitoring service?
The connection of a security alarm system to a professional monitoring service can transform any alarm from a noise maker into a potential life saver.
How you ask?
By giving the system the ability to instantly communicate with an emergency response team 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Emergency responses
Immediate responses can include dispatching the Police, Ambulance, Fire Brigade and/or local security guards to ensure homeowners get help when they need it most.
Similar to a home insurance policy, the benefits of the service often aren’t seen until they’re required… but when they are, a monitoring service is most definitely worth the investment.
Remote arming
With a professional monitoring service, you get access to a phone application which provides you with a number of different perks:
Insurance discounts
While professional back-to-base monitoring involves a monthly investment, the burden may be a lot less than what you may think!
With most home insurance providers, you will be able to get a discount if you have a professionally monitored alarm system, so you may be paying next to nothing for a more secure home or business!
Identification of system faults or difficulties
Keeping your alarm free of faults is much easier when you have someone else looking at your system 24/7. With a monitoring service, a security provider will be able to identify any abnormalities whenever they arise and will be able to contact you to discuss what the next steps are.
There’s nothing worse than your system faulting at the time you need it most!
Another alternative is to monitor your alarm system using a self-monitoring service. Often requiring an additional part for the system to function, it allows you to view alarm signals from your phone. Rather than leaving it to a security company to manage your system for you, it relies on you to take immediate action as there are no emergency support actions that can be acted upon.
Phone application
Like a back-to-base monitoring service, self-monitoring is solely dependent on the phone app, and unlike the former, relies on a constant internet connection.
Because of this, it is unfortunately much more susceptible to down time and security breaches due to events such as power outages.
The most common functions amongst most systems include being a remote arming/disarming functionality and being able to receive alarm events as push notifications (similar to a professional monitoring option).
Your safety, your family’s safety, and the protection of your home is nothing to take lightly. It goes without saying that we have a favourite when it comes to achieving the lot.
Professional monitoring is by far the most appropriate solution when it comes to monitoring your alarm system and keeping you safe, sound and secure.
The benefits speak for themselves and self-monitoring doesn’t quite provide the same peace-of-mind that a fully serviced and professionally monitored system can do for you.
If you’re after a simple app that allows you to arm/disarm your system self-monitoring could be the way to go, but if your end goal is to secure your home and the people you most care about, back-to-base has you covered.
Our monitoring plans can be implemented for less than a coffee a day! Speak to our security specialists today on 1300 73 83 93 to get your professional recommendations.
