In addition to your basic monitored burglar alarm system, you have other options to protect your service in the event of system failure and to enhance your level of protection.

Additional monitored burglar alarm system features

Backup systems. Most monitored burglar alarm systems offer a 24-hour backup component that kicks in should your phone lines get cut. A radio or cellular backup system will send a signal to the central monitoring station that the phone line was dropped. If you lose all electrical power, a backup battery system will keep your alarm up and running. A backup system is also essential if your company relies on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) as your primary phone system. Most alarm systems are considered unreliable and incompatible with VoIP since the technology is not mandated by the same FCC standards as POTS; VoIP customers require a backup system for the monitored signal to go through.

Two-way monitoring. A two-way monitoring system allows the central monitoring station to instantly communicate with your office. Your security keypad acts as an intercom system, so the monitoring service can verify an employee’s identity if they accidentally trip the alarm.

Open and close schedule monitoring. There are two ways to track who has opened and closed your office. The first is a supervised system that tells you who armed or disarmed the security system at the exact time it occurs. The central monitoring station can also notify someone if the system is left off. In contrast, a non-supervised system simply keeps track of when the alarm is armed and disarmed, but you need to call the central monitoring station for the status.

Other monitored burglar alarm system add-ons

Fire alarm. While a homeowner can simply add a smoke detector to their existing burglar alarm system, it’s not so simple for a business. Commercial fire alarms must adhere to strict guidelines set forth by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). (See “Monitored fire alarm pricing” for more details)

Video surveillance. To monitor what’s going on, you can supplement your monitored burglar alarm system with a wide range of surveillance equipment, from a single video camera and monitorto complex closed circuit television (CCTV) systems with several cameras, multiple operators, and digital recorders. (For more information on video surveillance and to get quotes for video surveillance, see our “Video Surveillance” section)

Access control. A burglar alarm system where employees use special cards to gain access into the office or restricted areas, allowing you to track when they enter and leave your office. The cards feature magnetic strips or other technologies for use with a system mounted outside the locked door. (For more information on access control and to get quotes for access control, see our “Access Control” section)