Across the U.S., many modern homes have been installed with smart technology. The definition of what makes a residence \u201csmart\u201d varies, but real estate giant Coldwell Banker and the technology publication CNET teamed up in an attempt to standardize its meaning<\/a>:<\/p>\n \u201cA home that is equipped with network-connected products (i.e., \u201csmart products,\u201d connected via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or similar protocols) for controlling, automating and optimizing functions such as temperature, lighting, security, safety or entertainment, either remotely by a phone, tablet, computer or a separate system within the home itself.\u201d<\/p>\n And crucially, it needs a security component:<\/p>\n \u201cThe home must have a smart security feature<\/strong> or a smart temperature feature in addition to a reliable internet connection.\u201d<\/p>\n The need for this aspect of the technology makes sense, given current crime statistics; according to the FBI<\/a>, there were over 8.2 million property crimes in the United States in 2014. And more than 20 percent, or more than 1.6 million, of those were burglaries.<\/p>\n Thus, while a remotely-controlled thermostats and appliances are fantastic and convenient, robust, internet-enabled security measures are the centerpiece of a truly smart home. Let\u2019s review some essential modern features:<\/p>\n CCTV\/Remote Video:<\/strong> CCTV systems that are accessible from a range of mobile platforms allow you see inside and outside your home in real-time, from anywhere. There are a wide variety of options depending on the square footage of your property and the security level you desire. CCTV can help prevent crimes such as break-ins and burglaries as well as provide video evidence after the fact to help authorities identify, locate, and apprehend potential suspects.<\/p>\n Alarm Security Systems:<\/strong> Not only do alarm systems help deter crimes, but they lessen the intensity of them when they occur. According to the Electronic Security Association, break-ins of homes with a security system cost owners (and their insurance companies) 39 percent less<\/a> than those without one, an average difference of over $2,000.<\/p>\n These savings are passed on the the consumer. According to CoverHound Inc. and the Insurance Information Institute, individuals can save between 15 and 20 percent<\/a> on home insurance premiums by installing a comprehensive alarm and security system.<\/p>\n Premise Automation:<\/strong> Premise automation allows people to manage their home in many different ways, including by controlling the thermostat, turning fans on and off, and locking and unlocking doors remotely. Some homeowners use premise automation to turn their lights and air conditioning off to save energy while at work or on vacation, and it can be employed to let in neighbors to supervise a home when residents are away.<\/p>\n Since 30 percent of burglars<\/a> enter properties from unlocked doors and windows, the ability to check on the status of the house remotely and then quickly secure it a moment\u2019s notice can be a vital security measure.<\/p>\n Wireless and Internet Based Monitoring:<\/strong> CCTV and premise automation systems allow owners to monitor their home from anywhere in the word. And wireless and internet-based monitoring can better protect a home than a wired system: According to a study<\/a> conducted by the University of North Carolina Charlotte, approximately one in five burglars cut alarm wires during a break-in. Individuals with wireless monitoring can see such activities from any distance and take steps to notify the proper authorities, and the systems themselves are potentially less vulnerable to physical break-in measures.<\/p>\n Protect Your Business and Supervise Employees:<\/strong> CCTV, premise automation, and wireless monitoring can also be used to protect smart businesses from internal and external threats. In addition to preventing break-ins, vandalism, and burglaries, these systems can also be used to monitor employees and keep track of inventory.<\/p>\n Forbes<\/em> reports<\/a> that US retailers lose up to 60 billion dollars a year to employee theft. An effective security system gives business owners and managers to the ability to keep an eye on inventory at all times, and of course identify and track down criminals and stolen goods after the fact.<\/p>\n According to the Electronic Security Association and the FBI<\/a>, one burglary occurs in the United States every 15 seconds. And while automation technology has made managing homes and businesses incredibly convenient, these systems need to be based around a powerful security component that merges remote access and monitoring capabilities with wireless technology.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re interested in learning more about modern security features for your smart home or business, or you are interested in installing a security system as a component of your life safety system, contact the professionals at LifeSafety Management at (800) 330-1158, or reach us through our online contact form<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Your home isn\u2019t \u2018smart\u2019 unless it\u2019s secure Across the U.S., many modern homes have been installed with smart technology. The definition of what makes a residence \u201csmart\u201d varies, but real estate giant Coldwell Banker and the technology publication CNET teamed up in an attempt to standardize its meaning: \u201cA home that is equipped with network-connected […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifesafetymanagement.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/152"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifesafetymanagement.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifesafetymanagement.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifesafetymanagement.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifesafetymanagement.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=152"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lifesafetymanagement.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/152\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifesafetymanagement.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=152"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifesafetymanagement.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=152"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifesafetymanagement.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=152"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Is your home or business smart?<\/h3>\n