Alarm monitoring

So how exactly does alarm monitoring work?

Professional alarm monitoring is a service where a trained security team responds to triggered events on your behalf — around the clock, every day of the year.

When your alarm is activated, a signal is sent instantly to our Monitoring Centre. From there, our team can identify exactly which sensor was triggered — whether that's a front door, window, or motion sensor — and assess the appropriate response. For greater accuracy, video surveillance can be integrated into your system, allowing the team to visually confirm whether a genuine threat is present. This not only improves response times but can also reduce unnecessary patrol callouts, saving you money in the long run.

What is self-monitoring?

A self-monitored system works by sending an alert directly to your mobile phone when your alarm is triggered. With modern smart technology, remote access to video surveillance via the internet is also possible — giving you a live view of your property from anywhere.

However, self-monitoring does come with limitations. It relies on a stable internet connection, strong mobile coverage, and your ability to respond quickly at any hour of the day. For most people, that's not always realistic. That's why we recommend combining self-monitoring with professional back-to-base monitoring — giving you the convenience of instant mobile alerts alongside the reliability of a trained security team ready to act when you can't.

What happens if my alarm isn't monitored?

An unmonitored alarm is also referred to as a local alarm. If you're home, the intruder alarm siren will sound to let you know there is a problem. The noise of the siren may even be enough to frighten off some less determined intruders. More experienced thieves will simply ignore it and continue the burglary without a care. If you are away, there is little value in an unmonitored alarm if there is no plan to respond to an event that causes the alarm to be triggered.

What steps are taken when an incident happens?

If an incident happens, the alarm system notifies the professional alarm monitoring service. The control panel lets the monitoring service know exactly which sensor has been triggered. If video surveillance is available, the service can observe if an intruder is currently inside the premises. The alarm monitoring service provider can then follow the agreed plan as discussed to determine the necessary actions. Knowing an intruder is inside the building will make a difference to the police if reporting the incident is a part of the plan. For more info see our FAQ's

Can my existing alarm system work with back-to-base monitoring?

Most alarm systems are built with the option to provide a monitoring service. In most cases, we can monitor your existing alarm system. We can also provide an assessment of the system and make recommendations of possible improvements.

Should I monitor my alarm system over the internet?

As many customers would have experienced, dropouts and unstable internet connections are quite common. An effective alarm monitoring service requires not only a reliable communication system, but a backup system in case of failure. For more info see our FAQ's