Pros and Cons of Smart Home Security

These days, smart home systems are becoming quite common in many neighborhoods. This is because such systems have become increasingly affordable and accessible over the years. Furthermore, people now use them for a variety of purposes, such as safety. This has led to smart home security systems being increasingly used. These run using central smart home hubs as control devices, and basically include a network of cameras, sensors, and other security devices. You can access these using your smartphone or any other device, depending on the app and OS capabilities. 

While these systems are quite common, they have their own set of benefits and drawbacks. If you’re looking into installing one, you should consider all the pros and cons. There are legitimate arguments on both sides of the camp, but the truth is that it simply boils down to your own decision. You just need to weigh both sides and see what wins out for you by considering the following aspects. 

Pros

There is a large list of benefits in favor of installing smart home security systems. These include:

Convenience

It is simply quite convenient to set up a smart home security system. If you already have a smart home hub like Google Home or Amazon Alexa, you just need to get a few corresponding devices and set them up around your home. Then, you can just use it with your smart devices, without any hassle involved. 

Accessibility

As you can access your security feed with your smart devices, you won’t have to worry about extra elements. You’ll have everything in your hands, and can even adjust the settings and get alerts no matter where you are. This accessibility is a major benefit and makes life much easier for you.  

Energy Savings

You can easily control your energy consumption using smart home systems. If you have one, you can control the lighting even if you’re on vacation. This way, you can time them to switch on at night and then off in the morning to give the illusion that you’re home. 

Safety

Of course, the very point of a smart home security system is your safety. These systems give you the security you need in a very comprehensive and user-friendly manner. You do not have to worry about various threats if you control the cameras, lights, and sensors in your home and receive instant alerts in case of any breaches. 

Cons:

Of course, with all these benefits, there are bound to be some drawbacks. However, none of these are exactly dealbreakers unless they’re really important for you. 

Installation

The initial installation may be overwhelming for you. Even if you have the skills to do so, installing all these devices and setting them up in your network can take a lot of time. If you don’t have the time, you’ll have to get an expensive outside contractor. 

Furthermore, some devices come with lots of wires that need to be concealed and kept out of sight to avoid making your home look untidy. You may also not be comfortable with getting holes punched in your wall for various cables and devices. 

Learning Curve

Not everyone is tech-savvy, and that is completely okay. If you’re one of these people, you may find it difficult to understand how to operate and monitor your smart home security system. The learning curve for these devices can be quite intimidating, especially if you have different types of input devices installed. 

This is particularly true for older people who may also not be comfortable with technology being so intimately integrated with their homes. 

Cost

Getting a smart home security system is not exactly a cheap process, especially if you want to opt for all the bells and whistles involved. With many of these systems operating on a subscription basis, with extra initial charges for the devices, the cost can add up quite a bit. This can be prohibitive for many people who really do need reliable safety measures in their lives. 

Internet Dependency

The thing about smart home security systems is that they are dependent on the internet. If there is a prolonged internet outage, they won’t be able to function. In addition, even if they have offline recording capabilities, you won’t be able to access the feed immediately on your smartphone. 

In conclusion, smart home security has both pros and cons, and you have to consider them all before making your final decision. This decision depends on what works best for you and your household, so make it wisely!