4 Trends in Home Security You’ll Want to Investigate

Trends, those cheeky ‘factors with the potential to make a significant impact’ are coming thick and fast on the home security market. Whether you’re a follower of trends and into technology or not, there’s no denying that some of what’s new on the scene is set to have not just a significant but a dynamic and exciting impact on how you choose to secure your home.

#1: Smart Security

Smart technology, devices within a home which are digitally connected and (mostly) remotely controlled are already a growth market and hot on the tails of this trend home security is getting smarter.

Smart Security technology is already big in the United States and, with an almost identical level of domestic burglaries per 100,000 inhabitants, the UK is also switching to the trend for smarter security, with current revenue in the Smart Home market around £2m overall.

Source: Statista

At the moment, the UK spending on Smart Home security products currently amounts to £159.17 per person (Statista) but this, in line with the annual market growth rate, looks set to double by 2022.

Smart security products include:

• Connected cameras (including with special features such as face recognition).
• Locks.
• Motion sensors.
• Lighting systems.
• Cloud-based services which support automation.
• Hazard prevention devices, such as smoke, water and gas sensors.
• Speaker systems with security properties, like Kevin from Swiss innovators Mitipi.
• Artificial intelligence with security features, such as Kuri the robot nanny from Mayfield robotics.

The key feature of this type of Smart technology for security is remote technology. Activation and monitoring can all be carried out away from the premises, using customised apps and internet systems. The latest remote systems can also allow checks to see if anyone is actually at home, before setting alarms and sensors, as well as remote alerts to designated persons, in the event of sensors being activated.

#2: Surveillance

Surveillance systems, those CCTV and software systems on private property – domestic, residential and commercial – are fast overtaking public CCTV for premises security and even personal protection purposes. The personal home surveillance market is growing and where there’s growth there’s innovation and exciting developments as tech companies strive to offer the next best thing.

The latest surveillance trends include:

• Integrated systems – one system with many facets fully integrated to offer a high level of convenience and user-friendliness are currently driving the market. No one wants to be stuck with checking and maintaining separate systems, especially when the footprint of the property is vast and systems may be needed across different areas, such as access control, video surveillance, boundary security, intruder sensors and sensor lighting. Innovation in internet technology

 

• Infrared / thermal cameras – thermal cameras are hot! As the technology, lighting features and resolution capabilities of image capture incorporated into thermal cameras has improved, the overall cost of production has fallen. So now investing in thermal camera systems which enhance low-light and night-time security is now a highly affordable option for homeowners.

 

• Artificial Intelligence surveillance – the ‘novelty’ factor of bots is so last year: the growing trend is now for task and convenience based robot support. As highlighted in a previous article on innovative home security products, the trend for robots which capture and communicate images is not just growing in interest, but also innovation.

 

• Drone detection and protection – drones are innovative products with implications for security all around. Firstly, and used positively, smaller versions of these remote controlled aircraft, often known as ‘pocket drones’ can offer protection as a surveillance device:
  • Able to fly up to 20 feet, pocket drones can be remotely deployed to check for intruders, respond to alarm triggers, monitor access points and perimeters.
  • Features include data capture and recording of footage which is automatically uploaded to dedicated cloud servers, so even if the drone is brought down by an intruder, the data is still available for identification and prosecution purposes.
  

However, used negatively by others, drones can also be a threat to security, so there is a developing trend in security technology for drone detection which takes aerial threat into consideration.

IFSEC Global recently reported on innovations from a prison in Guernsey, the Channel Islands, which have become a forerunner in deploying Sky Fence, one of the latest types of security technology. This drone detection system aims to minimise security breaches of drones coming into the perimeter of the prison to drop contraband and has many implications for all types of sites requiring privacy and protection – including homes.

#3: Cloud Computing

What trends #1 and #2 particularly have in common is their reliance on computing connectivity and data storage and retrieval. Reliance and integration with this across many of the emerging devices for home security, as well as general concerns about hackers and in-house data security of home hardware systems means that cloud computing is itself a trend.
Cloud systems offer a safer data storage alternative to on-premises server recording and storage and reduce the chances of devices being rendered inoperable through software issues, whilst offering all the benefits of user-friendly services and remote access and monitoring without additional cost.

#4 Cybersecurity

As trends #1 and #3 demonstrate, having connected devices with an ever-growing body of data, including financial and personal data can also mean greater risk when it comes to breaches of this kind of information technology. After all, if service providers can develop systems for us to conveniently log into our banks and our door locks with our phones, tablets and online systems, then perhaps hackers can too?

As such cybersecurity itself is a growing trend, with innovations looking to minimise downtime for customers (at least) and maximise security standards, in order to be proactive in seeking best practice in cybersecurity.

SafeSite Security Solutions offer a range of innovative home security surveillance products, many of which offer the benefits of ‘remote’, online and sensor technology. Get in touch if you’d like to find out more.