August, 2023 - SmartAlert Limited

How to choose the best smart security system for your home

So you finally decided to hop on this smart security everyone is talking about. But you don’t know where to begin or how to choose the right devices for your home. Well, you’re in luck. Hang on tight while we guide you through it.

There are many different smart security systems and devices out there, and it’s important to find the right one for your home and budget. Every home is different and has different security needs. Your security system needs to be designed to fit the layout of your home.

Here are important things you need to consider to help you pick the best home security system for your needs.

The size of your home

When choosing the ideal smart security system for your home, you have to consider the size of your home. Larger homes have more areas to monitor than smaller homes. You may need to get extra equipment if you live in a big house, like entry sensors and outdoor cameras to protect vulnerable spots.

What you want to monitor

Decide what you want your system to monitor. Do you want a security system that just keeps your home safe from burglars and break-ins, or do you want one that will also help keep your family safe from other dangers, like fires, floods, carbon monoxide, and so on?

Knowing what you want to monitor can also help you decide which type of equipment you need for your system. For example, a doorbell camera with a 90-degree field of view will only allow you to monitor the area directly in front of your front door. If you want to see everything on either side of your doorway, you’ll need a video doorbell camera with a field of view of 180 degrees.

Device selection

A home security system is made up of several different pieces of security equipment that work together to keep your home safe. Here are some security devices that make a a quality smart security system.

A control panel communicates with all the parts of your security system and allows you to activate and control them from a central location.
Sensors in vulnerable parts of your home like your doorways, or near windows tell you when somebody is trying to enter. Some sensors even have the ability to differentiate between human movement and animal movement to prevent false alarms.
Security cameras can be placed both inside and outside your home to capture activity while it’s in progress. Some home security cameras have night vision so you can see what’s going on in the dark. Doorbell cameras allow you to view visitors at your front door and even communicate with them using a two-way communication feature.
Motion detectors sense when people are moving around inside or around your house, depending where the sensors are set up.
Glass break sensors can tell you when glass is shattered in your home. For example, the window sensor will alert you with a high-pitched alarm whenever a window is broken.
Home alarm systems can alert you to dangerous situations and often ward off potential criminals.
Smoke detectors warn you whenever there is harmful smoke in your home.
Carbon monoxide detectors determine if there’s carbon monoxide in your environment and will warn you if they sense any.
Flood sensors and leak sensors tell you when there’s water in your home.
Lighting such as floodlights can shine brightly when someone gets close to your home. Sometimes, this is enough to deter intruders.

Customization

A quality home security system should be customized for your specific security needs. An installation expert can help you decide things like which devices you need and the best location for your motion sensors.

Whether you want to combine a doorbell camera and outdoor cameras with motion sensors and 24/7 monitoring, or you’re just interested in smart door locks and a doorbell camera, all products work together to create a fully integrated system.

Professional / self monitoring

You might choose a home security system that you monitor yourself. This means that the system will send a notification directly to you whenever suspicious activity is detected. Then, it’s up to you to take necessary action. On the other hand, you can opt for professional security monitoring. This means that the system will automatically notify the police or fire department whenever a threat is detected. Monthly monitoring can be a useful tool for your security system, but it also comes with a monitoring fee.

App Integration

A great home security system needs a mobile app that lets you connect with and control your system from anywhere. Not only should the app be reliable but it should also work well with all of the security and automation tools in your home.

EyeSyte’s intuitive app makes managing all of your EyeSyte smart security devices simple — no matter where you are. It gives you the power to control all of your security and smart home devices, like security cameras, smart locks, and smart lights.

Do you have a smart home security system yet? Or you’re not sure which smart security devices to get. We can help you get started. Check out our smart security devices here. Alternatively, you can speak to us via email or call +234 706 993 7577 now! We’ll sure be glad to help!

Tips to improve Workplace Security

Ensuring the security of employees, the building and assets of the company has become increasingly important given the huge losses that can result from the lack of a sound workplace security policy. Together with physical harm to employees or loss of life, theft, vandalism, violence, cyber threats and data breaches can also result in financial losses to the organization. To check against these, standard workplace security measures must be put in place.

What is Workplace Security?

Workplace security involves the safety of employees, visitors, and the physical workplace environment. To ensure this, a workplace safety plan must be put in place. This plan will outline the organization’s security policy and measures taken to maintain a healthy and safe work environment.

The rise of remote work and other hybrid work models creates new security risks, particularly when sensitive data is involved. This means security policies and measures should be regularly reviewed and updated to cater for these new workplace environments.

Importance of Workplace Security

Workplace security is essential for the smooth running of day-to-day activities in an organization and for long-term growth. It is a critical concern for both employers and employees. Effective workplace security measures are essential to:

Protect your employees: Workplace security measures are put in place to protect employees from harm, whether it’s from physical violence, theft, or cyber threats.

Maintain a safe work environment: A secure workplace is not only important for employees, but also helps to build trust and confidence of all stakeholders.

Increase employee morale & productivity: By ensuring the safety of your employees, you’re creating a positive work environment that is free from fear and stress. When employees feel safe, they are able to focus on their work and be more productive.

Protect your company against financial losses: Improving physical security can prevent the financial impact of security breaches.

Workplace Security Tips

1. Physical security measures

Physical security measures are the steps a company can take to protect against unauthorized entry into the workplace, in order to keep employees and assets safe and secure.

Physical security measures that can be implemented in the workplace include:

Access control systems: Examples are keycard access, biometric identification, or intercom systems to control who is allowed to enter the building.
Surveillance cameras: Cameras can help deter theft and violence, and can provide valuable evidence in the case of an incident.
Locks and security doors: High-security locks and reinforced doors help prevent unauthorized access to sensitive areas of the workplace.
Alarms and security systems: Alarm systems, fire suppression systems, and other security systems provide an added layer of protection.
Lighting: Adequate lighting can help deter crime and make it easier to identify any potential threats.
Fences, gates and window bars. These make deters intruders and burglars, and makes it difficult for them to break in.
Secure storage: Providing a safe storage place for valuable items, such as computers and sensitive documents, can help prevent theft.
Controlled parking. Designated employee parking areas and security gates can help prevent theft of vehicles and other assets.

2. Employee education and training

It’s critical to educate and train your employees on workplace security procedures. This helps create a safer and more secure workplace, and empowers employees to take an active role in protecting themselves and the company.

Here are some examples of trainings that can be implemented:

Safety and security awareness training: Educate employees on common safety and security risks, and how to identify and report potential threats.
Emergency response training: Teach employees what to do in the event of an emergency, such as a fire, active shooter situation, or a natural disaster.
Data security training: Inform employees about the importance of protecting sensitive information, and how to properly handle, store, and dispose of confidential data.
Cybersecurity training: Educate your staff on how to protect the company’s digital assets and sensitive information from cyber threats, such as hacking and phishing.
Workplace violence prevention training: Educate your staff how to identify and report potential incidents of workplace violence, and how to respond in the event of an attack.
Environmental health and safety training: Tell your employees how to identify and mitigate workplace hazards, such as toxic substances and electrical hazards.
First aid and CPR training: Teach your staff how to provide first aid and CPR in the event of an emergency, such as a heart attack or injury.

3. Background checks on employees

Background checks on employees help you find out if they have any past history such as criminal history, education, employment history, etc. that may pose security threats to your organization. If you do decide to conduct these checks, make sure to do so in a careful manner. If done carefully and effectively, background checks can help to identify potential security risks.

Benefits of High Security Door Locks

Whether at home or the office, door security is very important, as doors are usually the first line of security. As a result, high security locks (HSEC) are essential for your door security. High security locks were created as a solution to the weaknesses of standard locks. They provide greater security to protect valuable items and information. High security locks use certain features to protect against break-ins and theft.

Metal Composition

A good high security lock is made from strong heavy metals. Plastic components should not be used in the manufacturing of high security locks. You will know if a high security lock is made of majority metal by its weight; metal is always heavier than plastic, so the heavier the better.

Bolt Strength

A high security lock should be able to withstand a lot of force. Therefore, they use hardened steel bolts that can stand against a burglar ramming, kicking, or using a sledgehammer to break in. Without a sturdy steel bolt, these types of strikes would bend or snap the bolt leaving your property vulnerable to intrusion.

Lock Cylinder Complexity

The more difficult the lock cylinder is, the harder it’s going to be for a burglar to pick the lock. The internal mechanics of a lock cylinder must be challenging enough to deter a criminal from lock bumping or making an impression of the lock.

Drill Protection

High security locks are designed to resist attacks from drilling, making them impossible to remove. Some locks use a hardened metal case, special metal pins, or disks placed in the path where the drill must penetrate. There are even metal shields that protect against the lock itself.

Why should you get a high security lock for your home or business?

They are impossible to pick

The major benefit of high security locks is that they are nearly impossible to pick. That’s because they utilize two levels of biaxial key cutting, which produce angled cuts inside the lock that are very difficult to force open by picking the lock. In addition, the locking mechanism corresponds with a specific pin. Only a locksmith with special tools can get high security locks open. Of course, a pick-resistant lock is no use if a determined intruder can simply drill the lock out of its housing. That’s why all the most secure door locks come with drill resistant housings, which prevent the locks from being removed from the doors. Not only does this feature reduce theft, but it also means you won’t face the expense of replacing damaged locks with new ones to re-secure the property after an attempted break-in.

Restricted Keyway

Many business owners have dealt with keys going missing or being copied without their authorization. With high security locks, the added feature of a restricted keyway system stops unauthorized duplication.

A restricted keyway is designed to prevent keys from being copied by former employees. Many restricted keyway systems are patented. Only one locksmith is authorized to make duplicate keys upon written consent from the business owner. This helps establish key control within a business or organization.

The key blanks are not available on the open market. The need to replace locks decreases with this system because only one locksmith can copy a key.

Rekey with Ease

How many times have you had to replace a lock because an employee has lost a key or because a key has been stolen? With innovative user-rekeyable key cores, removing locks from their hardware in order to rekey can be a thing of the past. User-rekeyable locks can be securely reset when a key is lost or stolen without needing to be removed from your door hardware. Which means that anyone who tries to use the lost or stolen key after you’re able to quickly address a security breach will be denied access. Meanwhile, the other authorized key holders can receive updated keys so your employees continue to enjoy uninterrupted access to your facilities.

All types of keys in a HESC system can be reset, including master keys, grand master keys, and even great grand master key systems. This ensures that security is guaranteed on every level of your organization and addressing security breaches is no longer a time consuming or insecure hassle for your key managers.

Track Serialized Keys With Cloud-Based Key Tracking Software

One of the most important features of your key control is your ability to track serialized keys. A cloud-based key tracking software solution allows administrators to keep track of all keys that have been issued, orders that have been placed, and the effectiveness of your key control from a single easy-to-use dashboard. Using this software, admins can identify key holders, track the location of keys, and quickly check which doors each key provides access to. Serialized keys also eliminate key duplication, which can be a major security risk in some organizations.

There are many benefits to implementing strong, secure key control for your organization, including low maintenance costs, greater convenience, and enhanced security.

5 Benefits of a Smart Home Security System

So you’ve been hearing ‘smart home security system’ and ‘smart security’ a lot these days and you’re wondering why all the fuss. Or perhaps you’re just about to finally give a smart home security system a try, and you think, “hang on a minute! What are the benefits? And is it really worth it?” Leveraging technology and smart devices, smart home security systems have many benefits that offer you better security, more peace of mind and convenience.

Convenience

Convenience is one of the superpowers of smart home security systems. Thanks to the ability to integrate with your mobile phone and other smart handheld devices, set up, customization, and monitoring through your smart home security system is a whole lot more convenient. So you no longer have to be restricted to monitoring your security cameras via a designated computer which it is connected to. With smart home security systems, you get real-time alerts on your phone or other smart devices on-the-go or wherever you are.

Easy to use & User-friendly controls

One of the greatest appeals of smart home security systems is the ease of use compared to their predecessor security systems. Smart security systems are built with the ease of use for everyone in mind. With user-friendly interfaces, interactive controls and guides, smart home security systems can be operated and managed by anyone.

Energy Savings & Management

Everyone is always looking out for ways to save on their energy bills, and smart home security systems can help you significantly cut down on your energy consumption. A smart home system helps you control your devices and appliances. You can set the duration of time you want them to work for, and automatically turn off to save on energy costs. For instance, you can set your light to turn on only when someone enters a room, and automatically switch off when you exit the room.

Remote Access & Monitoring

With smart home security systems you don’t have to be physically present at your home where the smart cameras or other security devices are connected to be able to control and monitor them. Smart security devices use Wi-Fi connectivity to enable you access, monitor and control your security devices from wherever you are.

2-Way Communication

Unlike regular security systems, smart security systems have the capability of a 2-way communication system. This means that if for instance, someone is at your door, you can see and talk to them through your smart doorbell.

Overall, smart home security systems improve your home security. You are better able to monitor and control your security devices, and take proactive actions when there’s a security or safety incident.

Do you have a smart home security system yet? We can help you get started at highly affordable rates. Check out our smart security devices here. Alternatively, you can speak to us via email or call +234 706 993 7577 now! We’ll sure be glad to help!