Improving home security is a sure-fire way to protect yourself, your loved ones and your assets and smart tech gives you the opportunity to boost security in time for the holidays. Whether you want a little extra peace of mind throughout the winter season or you’re heading off on an extended vacation, advanced smart home security systems will give you the added reassurance you need.

Smart Locks and Doorbells for Secure Entry

Locks, doorbells and entry intercom systems are go-to solutions for every household, but a poor installation or improper configuration can limit their effectiveness. To keep your home truly secure, locks, doorbells and intercoms should be carefully selected to meet your needs and should be professionally installed for optimal performance.

Even the most advanced smart locks and entry systems will fail if they’re not routinely used, which is why choosing the right solutions for your home is critical. After all, you and your family will want to ensure you can access the property easily at any time while deterring potential trespassers from trying to gain access.

Keyless smart locks are great for boosting security and maximising convenience, with the option to use keypad codes or digital passes to lock and unlock doors. Alternatively, consider fingerprint or biometric entry systems for secure areas of your property or for state-of-the-art ‘whole-home’ security.

With real-time alerts and monitoring and remote access and control, you can enjoy complete peace of mind around the clock, wherever you are in the world.

Automating Security with Smart Cameras

A smart camera is a fantastic way to record real-time footage of entry and exit points around your home. If there’s an unexpected knock at the door, for example, you can simply check the camera via your nearest screen to see who it is in real time before answering.

While smart cameras can be beneficial in their own right, they’re far more effective when used in conjunction with additional security measures as part of a smart home security system. When you integrate smart lighting and smart cameras, for example, you can maximise the impact of your security system and incorporate additional deterrents to help keep your property secure.

Scheduling Lights and Devices While You’re Away

If a residential property doesn’t have any interior lights on for an extended period of time, it’s pretty easy for strangers to determine that no-one’s at home. This poses a security risk as trespassers may attempt to gain access once they know the property is unoccupied. However, it’s easy to reduce this risk by utilising smart, automated lighting.

You can set custom presets or use automated settings to adjust the lighting in accordance with astronomic or climatic conditions, for example. Major brands, such as Rako, Lutron, Crestron and Control4 all have dedicated ‘holiday modes’ that are designed to simulate occupancy, so it’s easy to optimise your home security in this way.

Don’t forget – it isn’t just interior lighting that should be automated to increase home security. With automated outdoor lighting, you can illuminate the exterior of your property and gardens to boost security and enhance its exterior design.

Integrating Alarms and Sensors with Smart Home Systems

Connecting alarms, window sensors and/or motion sensors to your smart home system is a savvy way to keep your property secure. When an alarm or sensor is activated, it can be configured to configure a specific series of events, such as turning on outdoor lights, sounding an alarm or playing music at top volume.

Additionally, you can set up real-time notifications for suspicious activity and access real-time monitoring that allows you to keep an eye on your home from any location.

Holiday Travel? Monitor Your Home from Anywhere

Remote access is a critical component of modern smart home systems, as it gives homeowners extra peace of mind when they’re away from their residences. To find out how remote access and enhanced functionality can be incorporated into your home automation system, contact the Element29 team now at 0207 720 7877, email us at info@element29.co.uk or send us a message here.