Important Questions to Ask about Home Security Systems

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Are you thinking of hiring a security company to monitor and secure your home? Are you aware of the services and packages they offer? Any effective system would notify the monitoring company in the case of a break-in, or if someone tampers with a door or window. Some systems immediately alert homeowners in the case of fires or gas leaks, giving them sufficient time to vacate the building.

If you are looking for a security system for your home, there are several factors to think about. Research providers in your area and see what they offer. The following are pertinent questions you should ask.

  • How does the system work and what protection is offered?
  • Does the security system warn against dangers such as storms, floods, fire or hazardous gases?
  • Does the system function efficiently if there is a power outage?
  • What devices are available in your basic home package?
  • Can the system be customized to suit my needs?
  • How much do these systems cost?
  • Would the installation affect the aesthetics of my home?
  • Does the system cater to the elderly in the case of a medical emergency?

If you are taking care of an elderly person, find out if the company provides medical alert devices. Some popular ones come in the form of a single button to press. There are also devices with a sensor. An elderly person wears the device and it triggers an alarm if they fall.

Once you are comfortable with the answers to these questions, you will be well on your way to securing your home. Acquire a home security system that will be monitored 24/7 and will keep you and your family feeling safe and secure. At Locksley, we have a range of security systems from which to choose. For further information, contact us today.

Need Peace of Mind and Security?

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Protecting your home and preventing robberies is a decision every homemaker wants to make. Some may have a difficult choice in deciding whether to use a Self-monitored Security System or a Company-monitored Security System. Both types of systems may contain sensors on doors and windows, silent or non-silent alarms, security cameras, and motion detectors. However, there are factors that you must be aware of when choosing the right system for your home.

Self-monitored Security System

A basic home system may contain a silent alarm that will notify the homeowner on their phone. A major disadvantage is that some of these self-monitored systems require Wi-Fi. And if there is an outage, they will not be functional. If you miss a notification on your phone, the response time will be delayed. Another point to note is that the homeowner is responsible for contacting the police if the alarm is triggered. Also, you must be careful when reporting, since false alarms are considered a waste of police time. As a homeowner, you may not always have a friend or neighbor who can check the premises when the alarm is sounded.

Company-monitored Security System

A company-monitored system has the alarm (normally a silent one) linked to and controlled by a company. The company monitors your home and notifies the police of a robbery or any other trespassers on your premises. In most cases, you will be contacted first to ensure that it was not a false alarm. Most phone lines are used for these systems, so the owners will get a notification, even during a power outage. Monitoring is done 24/7, so even though the homeowners have to remember to set the alarm, they do not have to do the monitoring themselves.

Feel free to go on vacation and rest assured that your home is properly monitored. Contact us for more information.

Should Business Owners Install a Security System?

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Should you have a security system installed for your business? It is a well-known fact that most people don’t give attention to the subject of security because they believe it is the job of the police to secure their lives and properties. Most businesses don’t see the need to implement security measures within and around their premises but this perception needs to change. Below are the top five reasons why your business needs to install security systems.

1. Protect your business from robbery or theft

The foremost reason why your business needs security systems is to keep the burglars at bay. Knowing that their faces will be captured on video will discourage them from stealing your goods or equipment.

2. Increase employees’ overall productivity

This will prevent them from slacking or sleeping while on duty. They know that video recordings can be played back to show what happened when the boss is not around.

3. Prevent employee theft

Due to the trust and confidence that the employer gives his employees, employee theft is a challenge many business owners face. Hidden cameras will enable you to catch the real culprit especially if he or she is one of your employees.

4. Attract customers to your establishment

Having a security system makes your customers feel at ease knowing that you are monitoring the activities in your establishment.

5. Great way to gather evidence

The cameras in your security system enable you to document the activities and actual events in your establishment. The recordings will help the police gather the evidence they need to catch culprits in the unfortunate event of an armed robbery.

Security is a personal duty, and should not be reserved for the government security agencies alone. Increasing your security awareness will pay in the long run. At Locksley, we can install a reliable security system that is right for your property. Contact us now for pricing.

What Is a Card Access System? How Does It Work?

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The goal of a keycard access system is to permit and restrict access to certain areas of your business. There are different terms used to refer to keycards. Some people call them proximity cards, swipe cards or magnetic cards. It doesn’t matter what you choose to call them, they all follow the same principle, using an electronic chipping system to access an electrically powered door.

What is a Card Access System?

A card access system is a two-step validation system that provides a high level of security and access control. The design of the cards follows the same pattern; they look like your regular plastic card. However, they operate differently to achieve their purpose of securing an area. For the system to be effective, the card should be able to:

• Restrict the access of unauthorized persons to a certain area at certain times of the day.
• Take records of all valid and invalid use of the card.
• Controls the use of elevators and other systems that the card is paired with. For example, computers and security systems.

With a keycard, you don’t need to make use of traditional metal keys to access an area. That could be a benefit if you don’t like the weight of metal keys in your pocket.

How Card Access Systems Work

Card systems need a card reader to work. The reader is installed on the door and you need the card to gain access. Depending on the type of reader system, you may have to swipe against or insert the card into the reader to gain access.

The credentials of the user is embedded in the card chip and is examined by the card reader each time it is used. Once the reader accesses the information on the card and recognizes it, it sends a signal to the locking mechanism to grant access to the card. The entire process takes only a second.

Card access systems are best used when you’re looking to provide access to multiple doors. With a keycard access system, you don’t have to carry metal keys in your pocket. You can easily slide a keycard inside your wallet, and you won’t feel any added weight.

Card systems are commonly used in public buildings in Toronto where anyone can make it past the front door. Examples of such buildings include hotels, hospitals, libraries, and museums among many others. Contact us now for more information.

Why Does Your Business Need a Security System?

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Surveillance systems are a necessity for any modern business in Toronto. As a business owner, it’s your responsibility to ensure that you employ the right security systems to safeguard your premises. You may be considering if it’s worth it, spending on a new security system for your business. The truth is it’s up to you to decide if you’ll be installing one or not, we’re only here to help you make a decision. Here are some of the reasons why your business needs a security system.

1. Prevents Employee Theft

Installing a new security system in your place of business in Toronto will prevent any form of theft. You don’t have to worry about your employees stealing from you. Since they’re being monitored, chances are they’ll think seriously before carting away with the company’s equipment.

2. Increases Employee Productivity

A new security system may be all you need to improve the productivity of your employees. With cameras installed at strategic locations around the office, you can bet your employees would not want to get caught doing something else on the company’s time. It reduces scenarios such as employees using the company’s Wi-Fi to watch Netflix or browse their social media accounts.

3. Improves your Corporate Image

You can improve your corporate ratings by installing a new security system. It can be the easiest way to assure your customers that you’re a step ahead in guaranteeing their safety when on your premises. You can also position yourself as a business that is interested in keeping up with the current best office practice.

4. Prevents Unauthorized Entry

How do you protect your business after office hours? You may consider hiring a night guard, but their duty is to watch the perimeter. Who watches the night guards? You can prevent unauthorized entry to your office complex in Toronto both from the outside and inside with a security system.

5. Takes Note

Most security systems in Toronto are fitted with recording devices that document every single aspect of the business day-to-day. You can playback the recordings in case of an investigation, and you can trust your security system to provide you with the evidence you need to assist the police in carrying out their duties. So it’s safe to say that security systems also improve the security of life and property in the environment of your business.

Remember that you don’t need to spend much on a surveillance system to secure your business, and you can easily find one in the Toronto area. Contact us now for more information about our security camera systems in Toronto.