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Making your home smarter with automated security features is not just about convenience. It’s also a way of adding peace of mind to your dwelling. Leveraging the latest technological advancement for security can seem intricate, especially if you’re just starting. But it’s not as strenuous as you’d imagine. To help you, here are some simple security automation ideas to apply to your spanking new smart home.
1. Automated Security Cameras:
Automated security cameras offer the primary line of defense in any smart home security system. They provide direct surveillance of your property, with some capable of sending live feeds to your smartphone. Moreover, they can be scheduled to record during specific times, eliminating unnecessary recording and saving storage space.
Top cameras exceed the standard visual monitoring with facial recognition, object tracking, and night vision features. They can distinguish between a pet and a human, reducing the number of false alarms. Such smart cameras include Google Nest Cam IQ, Arlo Pro 3, and Ring Spotlight Cam, each providing unique functionalities.
2. Smart Locks:
Harmonize your safety efforts in style with smart locks. They’ll enable you to control access to your house without the need for physical keys. You’ll be able to lock/unlock your doors remotely through a mobile application. Additionally, some smart locks offer entry logs, showing who entered or exited the house and what time.
Notable smart locks include August Smart Lock Pro, Yale Assure Lock SL, and Schlage Encode Smart Wi-Fi Deadbolt, each offering robust security with diverse features including voice command compatibility.
3. Automated Lighting:
Automation of lighting isn’t just an energy-saving strategy. It can be an integral part of a smart home security system. Sensors can be used to trigger lights in key areas of your home, fooling potential burglars into thinking there’s someone at home.
Moreover, smart bulbs can provide color-changing features, which might throw off an intruder’s perception of what’s happening inside the home. Consider lightings like Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance, Ring Pathlight, and LIFX A19, offering both automatic lighting and color changing features.
4. Smart Alarms:
Sophisticated alarm systems now come with silent alarm features, which can be triggered to alert a security service without unnerving a burglar. Apart from intrusion detection, they’re also able to detect gas leaks, fires, temperature changes, and sudden loud noises.
Highly rated smart alarms like Honeywell Lyric, Abode Iota All-In-One Security Kit, and Nest Protect can integrate with the rest of your smart home system, offering complete automatization and control directly from your phone.
5. Smart Doorbells:
With the advent of Ring, many homeowners have found solace in having visual and auditory communication with individuals who approach their front door. Features like two-way talk, high-definition video recording, and facial recognition have made smart doorbells non-negotiable in modern-day smart homes. A few top-quality options include Ring Video Doorbell 3, Google Nest Hello, and Arlo Video Doorbell.
6. Geofencing:
Geofencing allows the creation of virtual boundaries that activate certain functions when your smartphone enters or exits them. You can automate tasks such as turning off your security system when you get home, or turning on your lights when you leave work.
Geofencing functionality is available in standalone apps like IFTTT (If This Then That), but many smart home devices like Nest Learning Thermostat and Philips Hue bulbs also include built-in geofencing.
7. Smart Garage Door Openers:
As minor as it may seem, a garage door can provide easy access to an intruder. Fortunately, smart garage door openers like Chamberlain B970, Genie SilentMax Connect, and Nexx Garage NXG-200 can automatically close the door after a period of inactivity and alert you if someone tries to gain unauthorized access.
8. Voice Control Integration:
Voice assistants like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri can integrate with smart home devices, providing additional layers of convenience. For instance, you can control your smart alarms, lights, or locks without moving an inch.
These simple home security automation ideas provide not only convenience but also an increased sense of safety. Remember, the key to maximizing the benefits of a smart home is integrating different devices for a seamless experience. The more integrated your system, the more “smart” your home becomes. Happy automating your smart home security system!
