What is the best home security solution in India01
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Before I answer th<strong>is</strong> question <strong>in</strong> an unbiased way, I th<strong>in</strong>k it’s important that we set <strong>the</strong> context or<br />
narrative more prec<strong>is</strong>ely. The question <strong>is</strong> about <strong>home</strong> <strong>security</strong> <strong>in</strong> India, where I will focus my<br />
answer based on different types of <strong>solution</strong>s available for us Indians <strong>in</strong> general.<br />
I am not plann<strong>in</strong>g to d<strong>is</strong>cuss some high-end <strong>security</strong> measures to secure places of great importance<br />
like White house or our border. So, <strong>the</strong> scope of th<strong>is</strong> d<strong>is</strong>cussion will be limited to methods which<br />
are used by common people, here <strong>in</strong> India with slight overview of what <strong>is</strong> go<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> rest of<br />
<strong>the</strong> world.<br />
I personally believe that we Indians take a lot of pa<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> keep<strong>in</strong>g our <strong>home</strong> or valuable safe. We<br />
want our house or shop’s construction quality to be rock solid, thicker walls with more and more<br />
iron and concrete buried <strong>in</strong>side <strong>is</strong> everyone’s preference! We protect glass w<strong>in</strong>dows with iron grill<br />
and wooden ma<strong>in</strong> door <strong>in</strong> our <strong>home</strong> <strong>is</strong> usually complemented with extra iron door. All <strong>in</strong> all, we<br />
go above and beyond when it comes to keep<strong>in</strong>g our <strong>home</strong> or shop safe.<br />
Security <strong>is</strong> a personal preference, and while we take our dec<strong>is</strong>ions based on what we see around,<br />
end of <strong>the</strong> day, we all are entitled to do whatever makes us feel safe.<br />
However, we Indians are also quite ignorant and unaware about some of <strong>the</strong> most effective<br />
<strong>solution</strong>s which are widely considered as <strong>the</strong> <strong>best</strong> way to keep a <strong>home</strong> or shop safe. As a result,<br />
despite be<strong>in</strong>g a <strong>security</strong> conscious society, our newspapers are overflow<strong>in</strong>g with headl<strong>in</strong>es about<br />
<strong>the</strong>ft or robbery.<br />
Let’s have a quick overview about different <strong>security</strong> <strong>solution</strong>s available <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> market, some of<br />
<strong>the</strong>m are very common but o<strong>the</strong>rs you may not have even heard about.
CCTV Camera:<br />
CCTV cameras have become <strong>the</strong> synonym of <strong>the</strong> <strong>security</strong>. Almost every shop has CCTV cameras,<br />
even you can see <strong>the</strong>m <strong>in</strong> <strong>home</strong>s as well. CCTV camera <strong>is</strong> very effective for shoplifters or anyone<br />
who <strong>is</strong> likely to do a wrong th<strong>in</strong>g if <strong>the</strong>y th<strong>in</strong>k that no one will notice! A CCTV camera provides<br />
a psychological defense. For example, a person <strong>is</strong> more likely to pee on someone’s garden wall or<br />
steal a light-bulb if he th<strong>in</strong>ks that no one <strong>is</strong> go<strong>in</strong>g to notice. A lot of people even <strong>in</strong>stall a dummy<br />
camera to create same psychological effect.<br />
Ano<strong>the</strong>r reason beh<strong>in</strong>d <strong>the</strong> huge popularity of CCTV cameras <strong>is</strong> <strong>the</strong> affordability. One can f<strong>in</strong>d a<br />
very good quality CCTV camera with a decent DVR for just about INR 15000.<br />
However, <strong>the</strong>y are less than effective on thieves due to multiple reasons<br />
1) A thief may not care if h<strong>is</strong> face will be recorded as he does not have a social reputation to keep,<br />
or he can simply wear a mask.<br />
2) By cutt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> power supply, It can be made useless; CCTV cameras usually don’t come with<br />
battery backup.<br />
3) A thief may just as well decide to take <strong>the</strong> DVR with him!<br />
So, <strong>in</strong> summary, CCTV cameras are very useful for community areas, large shops, Malls, and<br />
anywhere with a lot of people who needs to be rem<strong>in</strong>ded that <strong>the</strong>y are be<strong>in</strong>g watched.<br />
IP Camera:<br />
IP cameras are a step ahead! With <strong>in</strong>ternet router <strong>in</strong> every <strong>home</strong> and shop, IP cameras are<br />
extremely popular <strong>the</strong>se days. They are technically superior, <strong>in</strong>stallation <strong>is</strong> very easy, and <strong>the</strong>y cost<br />
quite less – you can buy one for INR 2000 from Amazon, or you can buy a really good one from<br />
google nest or r<strong>in</strong>g but it will cost about INR 10000+ and you have to call your friends abroad to<br />
ship you one as <strong>the</strong>y are not sold <strong>in</strong> India.<br />
Anyway, <strong>the</strong> <strong>best</strong> part with IP camera <strong>is</strong> that you can watch it from anywhere if <strong>the</strong> camera <strong>is</strong><br />
connected with <strong>in</strong>ternet. It usually comes with motion detection and some of <strong>the</strong> advance ones
comes with sound detection as well (DFS Services | Smart camera). Ano<strong>the</strong>r important th<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
look for <strong>in</strong> an IP camera <strong>is</strong> its storage – some comes with cloud storage and o<strong>the</strong>rs with a memory<br />
card; <strong>the</strong> one with cloud storage are much better as even if <strong>the</strong> camera <strong>is</strong> stolen, you can still get<br />
<strong>the</strong> recorded videos. However <strong>the</strong> drawback with IP camera <strong>is</strong> <strong>the</strong> dependency on <strong>in</strong>ternet and<br />
power supply which can be comprom<strong>is</strong>ed. Hav<strong>in</strong>g said that, if you are consider<strong>in</strong>g to add a low<br />
cost <strong>security</strong> feature <strong>in</strong> your <strong>home</strong> or shop, IP camera should be your first choice! In fact, I<br />
personally believe that every <strong>home</strong> should have an IP camera for sure.<br />
Smart doorbell or Video door phone:<br />
Ano<strong>the</strong>r slightly less popular <strong>security</strong> product <strong>is</strong> video door phone or smart doorbell. A video door<br />
phone enables you to see <strong>the</strong> person stand<strong>in</strong>g outside your <strong>home</strong> from <strong>the</strong> mobile or a video screen<br />
fitted <strong>in</strong>side <strong>the</strong> <strong>home</strong>. Actually, th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> more about comfort and convenience than <strong>security</strong>. There<br />
are various th<strong>in</strong>gs to notice when it comes to video door phone like night v<strong>is</strong>ion, wired or wireless<br />
<strong>solution</strong>, <strong>in</strong>ternet connectivity and battery backup.<br />
All <strong>in</strong> all, th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> a useful product, and doorbells do come with motion sensor which can detect and<br />
alert you if someone comes around your door.<br />
Alarm systems:<br />
Alarm systems are not as popular as o<strong>the</strong>r products mentioned earlier, but <strong>the</strong>y are ga<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong><br />
momentum and more and more people are choos<strong>in</strong>g alarm system to protect <strong>the</strong> shop or <strong>home</strong><br />
from thieves, fire accidents, and burglars.<br />
Alarm system <strong>is</strong> <strong>the</strong> comb<strong>in</strong>ation of different types of sensors. For example, a door or w<strong>in</strong>dow<br />
sensor <strong>is</strong> <strong>in</strong>stalled at <strong>the</strong> ma<strong>in</strong> entry po<strong>in</strong>ts which a thief <strong>is</strong> likely to use to to get <strong>in</strong>side- balcony,<br />
ma<strong>in</strong> door or a large glass w<strong>in</strong>dow. Motion sensor <strong>is</strong> typically used <strong>in</strong> common area like liv<strong>in</strong>g<br />
room or draw<strong>in</strong>g room, so if a thief manages to get <strong>in</strong>side somehow, he can still be detected if he<br />
moves around. Smoke sensors are used to provide <strong>the</strong> protection from fire accidents. There are<br />
many o<strong>the</strong>r types of sensors.<br />
These sensors are quite small, like a paperweight and <strong>the</strong>y are wirelessly connected with a ma<strong>in</strong><br />
unit called ‘control hub’ (or control panel). Control hub <strong>is</strong> <strong>the</strong> most important component of <strong>the</strong><br />
alarm system as th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> where configuration sett<strong>in</strong>gs are done! Usually, <strong>the</strong> control hub has an<br />
<strong>in</strong>built siren for emergency but sometimes additional siren <strong>is</strong> also <strong>in</strong>stalled for extra protection. A<br />
user can operate h<strong>is</strong> alarm system from mobile app or a remote key which works exactly like a car<br />
key – So when you go out of <strong>the</strong> house, you lock <strong>the</strong> door and ‘Activate’ <strong>the</strong> system and you go<br />
<strong>in</strong>side <strong>the</strong> house and open <strong>the</strong> door, you ‘Deactivate’ <strong>the</strong> system!
A good quality alarm system from V<strong>is</strong>onic, Pyronix, or Eldes can cost anywhere <strong>in</strong> between 40000<br />
– 60000 which <strong>is</strong> significantly more than CCTV camera or video door phone! However, Indian<br />
market <strong>is</strong> flooded with much cheaper alternatives which are quite poor <strong>in</strong> quality and full of false<br />
alarms!<br />
CMS Monitored Alarm <strong>solution</strong>:<br />
CMS (central monitor<strong>in</strong>g station) <strong>is</strong> also referred as Alarm receiv<strong>in</strong>g center or ARC. CMS <strong>is</strong> k<strong>in</strong>d<br />
of a big deal and <strong>is</strong> capable of process<strong>in</strong>g millions signal every second!<br />
The CMS <strong>is</strong> constantly connected with alarm system <strong>in</strong>stalled at your <strong>home</strong> and it monitors,<br />
ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>s, and looks after <strong>the</strong> alarm system ! CMS not just monitors emergency signal of <strong>in</strong>trusion,<br />
fire, and o<strong>the</strong>r critical <strong>is</strong>sues but it takes care of <strong>the</strong> health of <strong>the</strong> alarm system, So if a sensor has<br />
a low battery or if it <strong>is</strong> hav<strong>in</strong>g some communication trouble, CMS gets <strong>the</strong> signals and tra<strong>in</strong>ed<br />
operators at CMS take action to resolve it.<br />
CMS operates 24 hours a days, 365 days a year, it’s not a service which takes weekend break or<br />
Chr<strong>is</strong>tmas break. After all, a <strong>the</strong>ft can happen anytime, <strong>in</strong>-fact holidays are high season for thieves!
CMS monitored alarm systems are <strong>in</strong>d<strong>is</strong>putably considered <strong>the</strong> most effective way to protect a<br />
<strong>home</strong> or shop and are adopted by millions of <strong>home</strong> / shop owners <strong>in</strong> western countries. But <strong>in</strong><br />
India, due to high <strong>in</strong>stallation and monitor<strong>in</strong>g cost and awareness <strong>is</strong>sue <strong>in</strong> general, <strong>the</strong>se are rarely<br />
known. Typically, a proper wireless system with monitor<strong>in</strong>g capability cost <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> range of INR<br />
40000 to 60000 (I am referr<strong>in</strong>g well known brands like Eldes, V<strong>is</strong>onic, and Pyrex here and not <strong>the</strong><br />
ones sold onl<strong>in</strong>e) and <strong>the</strong>n monitor<strong>in</strong>g cost may go as high as 1500 to 3000 INR per month!<br />
Article Source - https://dfsservices.co.<strong>in</strong>/public/blog/blog/what-<strong>is</strong>-<strong>the</strong>-<strong>best</strong>-<strong>home</strong>-<strong>security</strong>-<strong>solution</strong>-<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>dia/