Intruder alarms are designed to monitor and detect movement at locations in which they are installed. They are designed using the latest technology available to help businesses, offices and homes have suitable protection.
The alarm systems are in most cases installed by security companies that undertake to install, maintain, service and monitor them for the duration of a contract period. While the responsibility of installing and servicing a service rests with a company’s alarm technicians, monitoring is the responsibility of a company’s control center personnel.
These personnel monitor alarm systems installed at different client locations. Apart from monitoring and taking necessary action whenever they receive alarm signals, the personnel also monitor the arming and disarming of the systems. Although arming and disarming alarm systems is a normal occurrence, a control center’s personnel are obligated to ascertain that either of the actions is authorized and at specified times. In case arming or disarming occurs at odd hours, a control center’s personnel have the duty of contacting the officials responsible.
In case of a confirmed unauthorized disarming of a system, a control center is obligated to act quickly by passing on the information to the relevant security authorities. Some security companies have their own armed security personnel who are normally sent to alarm scenes by their center.
Intruder alarms are installed to provide security in different ways. They are installed at office or business premise doors and windows to offer protection against burglary incidents. They are also installed internally to offer protection to sensitive areas such as stores, executive offices and vaults. Alarm systems are also installed externally to provide security against intruders on a perimeter fence.
The establishment of a central control center by a security company is necessary because in a normal situation, a security company has many clients with alarm systems that need to be monitored continuously. Intruder alarms are designed to be armed and disarmed at specific times, information that a control center is normally supplied with, together with the contacts of those with disarming and arming codes. In the event of disarming at odd times, a control center is required to contact those with disarming codes to ascertain whether the disarming is lawful or not.
To enhance the level of security at a premise, it is common to find intruder alarms integrated with other security solutions such as video surveillance. This makes it possible for a control center’s personnel to not only receive alarm signals but also view in real time all that goes on at an alarm site.