Have you ever attempted to run a Google search for home security equipment only to find that most of your results pointed to product pages? And if so, have you ever noticed that most of the results include the word ‘best’? One of the more unfortunate aspects of the internet is that it is now largely dominated by sales and marketing content. As such, the word ‘best’ is terribly overused.
There are so many ways to compare home security systems. You can compare equipment features, prices, brand reputations, installation methods, and on and on. The truth of the matter is that there is no such thing as a ‘best’ system because consumer standards are not static. They are not even arbitrary.
Here is my take: the best home security system is the one that offers exactly what I want. And if I cannot get exactly what I want, the closest comparable system becomes the best by default. Coming to this understanding made it a lot easier for me to shop for home security equipment.
Here’s a snapshot of a system that offers exactly what I want:
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1. No Contracts
The number one priority for me is no contracts. Home security technology and services are evolving at a pretty fast clip. I do not want to be locked into a single service provider or ecosystem by a years-long contract I can’t get out of without paying a hefty penalty. For me, no contract home security is non-negotiable.
Non-contract services are not the norm in home security. But some companies are embracing the no-contract concept. Vivint Home Security is one of them. It’s HomeProtect platform offers all the security and convenience customers have come to expect from Vivint with no binding contracts.
If I chose the Vivint route, I would still have to be concerned about some measure of vendor lock-in regarding hardware. I do not suppose Vivint supports every brand under the sun. But they do support some of the most well-known brands, like Google Home and Amazon Alexa.
2. Local Hosting
Another key priority for me is local hosting. In other words, I want my home security platform installed on a laptop or desktop sitting in my office. I am not opposed to cloud-based home security in principle, but I want my system to continue working even if internet access goes out. Why?
I recently experienced an internet outage that lasted over four hours. Apparently, a fiber-optic cable responsible for carrying internet service into my neighborhood was inadvertently cut. The provider had to scramble a repair crew to get out to the site and patch things up.
Quite frankly, four hours is too long to be without the internet at home. Yet even though my streaming device and smart speakers didn’t work, all of my home security and automation devices kept plugging along. They are all connected to a separate local network and managed by an open-source home automation platform installed on an old laptop.
Local hosting allows me to take advantage of the internet when I need to. When I do not need it, my system operates just fine without it.
3. Simple and Functional Devices
My optimal home security system is equipped with devices that are both simple and functional. I want cameras that ‘just work’ out of the box without me spending hours trying to configure them. I want motion sensors that actually detect motion without excessive false triggers. I want devices with integrations that I do not have to extensively modify to maximize performance.
I mention all of this because home security device manufacturers are starting to pick up a bad habit software developers have suffered from for years: building unnecessary bloat into their devices and apps.
Some consumers want security cameras capable of distinguishing between people using facial recognition. To each his own. That is not something I am interested in. Facial recognition is contrary to my sense of privacy and security. I don’t want cameras capable of spying on people and identifying them against their will.
I have also noted that more sophisticated features tend to require more complex management. I am happy with a camera that I plug in, link to my system, and then forget about. I’m happy to not have to spend hours going through dozens of controls requiring fine-tuning just to get the kind of performance I expect.
4. Equipment I Can Afford
Going back to the idea of running a Google search for security equipment, any such search reveals a lot of devices with price tags well beyond my reach. As with just about anything else, it is possible to spend a small fortune on an entry-level home security kit. That is not for me.
From my perspective, home security should be affordable if it is to be accessible to the mass market. I don’t see a need to create a tiered system whereby the wealthy get everything, the poor get nothing, and the middle class are left to pick and choose from a set of devices that may or may not provide adequate functionality.
I also refused to go into debt to build and maintain a home security system. I only buy new devices when I have the money to do so. As a result, I have built my system over several years. Each device I have added has been well within my financial means. That is important to me.
5. Equipment I Will Actually Use
Last on my list of characteristics that define the best home security system is equipment I will actually use. Every device in my system has a practical purpose. Every device is used on a regular basis. On the other hand, I know people who have invested in devices they rarely utilize.
The term ‘best’ is relative. When it comes to home security, the best system for me is the one that does exactly what I want it to do. Anything more is superfluous; anything less is not worth my time and effort.
