Do I Need an Alarm System If I Already Have Security Cameras?

One of the most common questions we hear at Certified Security Systems is: “If I’m getting security cameras, do I really need an alarm system too?”

Recently, a family in Boca Raton, Florida called us with exactly that question. They had young daughters and were originally planning to install just two cameras around their home. Their thinking was understandable. If the cameras could show them what was happening, why would they need anything else?

But after talking with them about what they actually wanted their security system to accomplish, we explained something that every homeowner should understand: security cameras are not a replacement for an alarm system.

In fact, when cameras and an alarm system are designed to work together, they can provide a much more complete layer of protection for your home and family.

Why Security Cameras and an Alarm System Work Better Together

Consider about what happens if someone approaches your home while your family is sleeping. A camera may capture the activity and send a notification to your phone. But someone still has to see that notification, open the app, figure out what is happening, and decide what to do next.

An alarm system approaches the situation differently. Sensors throughout the home can detect an intrusion, while life-safety devices can provide protection for emergencies such as fire or carbon monoxide. With professional monitoring, the alarm signal can also be sent to a monitoring center for appropriate response according to the service and emergency involved.

Why This Boca Raton Family Chose an Alarm System and Security Cameras

When this Boca Raton family first called Certified Security Systems, they weren’t looking for a complicated security system. They had a simple plan: install two cameras and use them to keep an eye on the house.

And honestly, we could have done exactly that.

But there was one important detail that changed the conversation. They had young daughters.

Our job is not simply to install whatever equipment a customer asks for and send them on their way. Our job is to understand what a customer is actually trying to protect and then explain the options honestly.

Those questions made the difference.

A camera can provide valuable video evidence and allow a homeowner to see what is happening. But a camera by itself does not create the same perimeter and life-safety protection as a properly designed alarm system.

Once we explained the difference, the family decided that they did not want to simply see an emergency. They wanted their home to have a system designed to detect it and provide another layer of protection.

Security Cameras Give You Eyes, But an Alarm System Protects the Perimeter

This is one of the most important differences homeowners should understand before deciding what type of security equipment to install.

Security cameras are excellent for visibility. They can help you see the front door, driveway, backyard, pool area, side gates, or other important areas around your property.

But cameras should not be viewed as the only layer of protection.

A properly designed alarm system can use sensors around the home to create a protective perimeter. If a protected door or window is opened, the alarm system can recognize the event immediately.

That is why we recommended combining the two technologies for this family instead of treating the cameras as a substitute for an alarm system.

An Alarm System Protects Against More Than Burglary

When people hear the words “alarm system,” they often think about someone breaking into the house. That is certainly an important part of home security, but a modern alarm system can do much more than detect an intrusion.

For the Boca Raton family we were helping, life safety was a major reason we recommended monitored alarm protection.

Security cameras can provide valuable video, but they are not a replacement for dedicated life-safety devices. A camera may eventually show smoke or flames, but a properly installed smoke detector is specifically designed to detect a fire condition and trigger the alarm system.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), working smoke alarms provide an important early warning in a home fire, and smoke alarms should be installed in every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the home.

Depending on how an alarm system is designed, it can incorporate protection such as:

• Door and window sensors for perimeter protection
• Motion detectors for interior intrusion detection
• Glass-break detection for vulnerable areas
• Smoke and fire detection
• Carbon monoxide detection
• Other life-safety devices depending on the needs of the home

That is a very different level of protection than simply having two cameras mounted around the exterior of a home.

What Does Monitored Alarm Protection Actually Add?

Another question homeowners often ask is, “Why do I need monitoring if my cameras already send alerts to my phone?”

The answer comes down to what happens when you are not available to respond.

Your phone is an excellent tool, but it is still just one part of the security equation. You might be sleeping, working, driving, traveling, dealing with a dead phone battery, or simply unable to respond to an alert.

With professional alarm monitoring, an alarm signal can be transmitted to a monitoring center. Depending on the type of alarm and the monitoring service, the appropriate response procedures can then be followed.

We Wanted This Family to Have Full Perimeter Protection

At Certified Security Systems, we could have simply installed the two cameras the family originally requested.

Instead, we believed they deserved to understand the complete picture before making that decision.

Once they understood the difference between cameras, alarm protection, life-safety devices, and professional monitoring, they decided to move forward with a more complete security solution.

And that is where we decided to go a step further.

We Wanted This Family to Have the Right Alarm System and Security Cameras

Once the family decided to move forward with the complete security solution, we wanted to make sure cost did not become the reason they settled for less protection.

At Certified Security Systems, we believe there is a difference between selling someone equipment and actually helping them protect their home.

For this particular family, we made a decision that went beyond the normal installation.

CSS Man also made sure the family received the lowest monthly alarm monitoring rate possible.

And because we were already installing the system, we included an additional camera at no charge.

We are not saying that every customer should expect free equipment or waived installation fees. Every security system is different, and pricing depends on the equipment, installation, monitoring service, and requirements of the property.

What we are saying is that we would rather help a customer build the right security system than simply sell them the smallest system they initially asked for.

Watch the Security Camera Installation in 94-Degree South Florida Heat

We also recorded part of the actual installation so you can see the work for yourself.

These were hard-wired Google Nest cameras, professionally installed at the Boca Raton home.

And because this is South Florida, the installation came with a little extra challenge: 94-degree heat.

There is something about installing cameras on a hot Florida afternoon that makes air conditioning look like one of the greatest inventions in human history.

So, Do You Need an Alarm System and Security Cameras?

If you came to this article because you are asking whether you really need an alarm system when you are already getting security cameras, hopefully the Boca Raton family’s experience makes the difference easier to understand.

You do not have to choose between cameras and an alarm system.

In many homes, the best approach is to use both because they solve different security problems.

Security Cameras Are Great. They Just Shouldn’t Be Your Only Layer of Protection.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting security cameras. In fact, we install a lot of them.

Cameras can be incredibly useful for watching entrances, driveways, yards, pool areas, gates, and other important areas around your property. They can provide video evidence and help homeowners understand what is happening when an alert occurs.

The mistake is assuming that cameras alone provide the same protection as a complete alarm system.

They don’t.

Choosing the Right Alarm System and Security Cameras for Your Home

Every home is different. The right security system depends on the size and layout of the property, entrances and windows, areas that need video coverage, the family’s needs, and the level of monitoring desired.

That is why we do not believe in simply putting the same package in every house.

A professional security company should look at the property, listen to what the homeowner is concerned about, and then explain the options.

Sometimes that may mean a few cameras.

Sometimes it means a complete alarm system with cameras, perimeter protection, life-safety devices, and professional monitoring.

And sometimes it is somewhere in between.

Alarm System and Security Cameras in Palm Beach County

Certified Security Systems provides professionally designed and installed alarm systems and security cameras for homes and businesses throughout Palm Beach County and surrounding South Florida communities.

We serve customers in areas including Boca Raton, Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Jupiter, Loxahatchee, and surrounding communities.

Frequently Asked Questions About Alarm Systems and Security Cameras

If you are still deciding whether your home needs an alarm system, security cameras, or both, these are some of the questions we hear most often from homeowners in Boca Raton and throughout Palm Beach County.

The Bottom Line: Alarm System or Security Cameras?

Remember the Boca Raton family from the beginning of this article?

They originally called us because they wanted two cameras.

By the time we finished talking with them, they understood that what they really wanted was not simply the ability to look at their house from their phone.

They wanted to know that their home had a security system designed around their family, their property, and their safety.

That is why our recommendation was not simply, “Here are your two cameras.”

It was, “Let’s make sure you understand what your home actually needs.”

And that is the approach we take with every security system we design.

Certified Security Systems
Professional Alarm Systems & Security Cameras for South Florida Homes and Businesses