How to choose a smart home security system

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, around 856,800 households experienced one or more household crimes in 2023-23, including break-ins, attempted break-ins, malicious property damage and motor vehicle theft. But here’s the good news. CCTV can – in the right setting – help reduce crime. So, it’s worth considering a security system for your home to help ward off would-be-criminals. 

A smart home security system is a collection of interconnected electronic hardware placed around a property to detect and alert you to motion. Smart home security systems typically include CCTV cameras, alarms, smart locks, video doorbells, sensor-activated lights, as well as gate and garage systems. 

Depending on the brand and technology, many of today’s security gadgets will allow you to monitor your home and control your security set-up remotely via an app. You can also set up notifications and alerts, customise rules and routines, and save footage for a period of time. 

When deciding what kind of smart home devices you want for your home, it can be helpful to consider the area and what security function you’re wanting for that space. Here are some suggestions on places you may want to keep an eye on:

• Front and back doors: to know who’s at your home, get alerted to package deliveries (or removals!), and respond to guests.
• Driveway: to help keep your car and garage protected and monitored.
• Perimeter of your property: to have a view of any unusual activity around your home.

And, here are some gadgets to consider based on those areas:

• Smart doorbells can let you know who’s knocking or leaving a package, even when you’re not home. 
• Smart locks allow you to use a keypad, fingerprint scanner or smartphone to get in and out of the house.
• Smart security cameras are used to capture indoor and outdoor motion to let you know who’s around. 
• Smart lighting can be programmed to activate based on motion or at a certain time (like when you’re leaving the house for work but it’s still dark outside).

While some devices allow you to plug in and go, others might need to be professionally installed. It depends on the type of technology and level of protection you’re after. For example, back-to-base alarm monitoring and alarm response patrol services generally require a wired solution, while wireless smart doorbells can be DIY mounted (and removed from a bracket to recharge when the battery dies). 

Smart home security systems run the gamut from fairly affordable or fairly pricey, depending on the product and type of installation. 

Entry-level systems may offer fewer add-on components and support fewer wireless protocols, meaning lower efficiency and less bandwidth around your home. These more basic DIY systems are usually self-monitored, meaning they'll notify you via the connected app when something triggers an alert, but won't automatically notify authorities. 

At the other end, security companies offer more robust coverage and professional installation. These systems are usually controlled by touch screen hubs installed inside your home that support multiple wireless protocols, including low-powered Zigbee and Z-Wave radios - which typically communicate with battery-powered door and window sensors, and more energy-intensive but high-bandwidth WiFi, which is necessary for video monitoring. The extra under-the-hood flexibility allows them to control a huge range of home security components, including smoke detectors, cameras, and more. These higher-end options occasionally require an ongoing subscription for 24/7 remote monitoring, which adds to the total.