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Securing Your Business with Access Control During the Age of COVID-19

September 17th, 2020
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The security landscape is changing because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the government forces many businesses to shut down, more and more people are left wondering how to secure their companies and watch over their business from afar.

Even businesses still open need to find ways to adapt their security solutions to meet their unique needs. Post Alarm Systems has served businesses in Southern California since 1956, and they are here today to help address these problems with the latest innovative smart access control solutions. Here are some of the things access control can do for you and your business.

Unlock and Lock Your Business No Matter Where You Are

Smart access control lets you unlock for deliveries or employees even when you’re not on the property. Simply check who is at the door using the security app on your phone. Then unlock the door. You can re-lock it when they leave.

Always Know What’s Going on with Access Tracking and Alerts

Access control integrates with your intelligent security system allowing you to set alerts for any access control activity. With customized alerts, you’ll know when the last employee leaves for the day. You can see if anyone is on the premises or trying to gain access if your organization is closed due to COVID-19.

Using your security app, you can view reports and alerts that show you who unlocked a particular door, and you can track user codes easily. The system can also send you video alerts on critical access events like when someone tries to access an area off-limits such as storerooms or data centers.

Manage Your Access Control from Home

You can revoke and give access to your employees without having to go into the office. It’s easy to schedule access to all your properties from the dashboard on the web. Also, you can set up a new lock code or keycard for a new employee or revoke access for an employee leaving the company.

It’s also possible to assign employees varying levels of access with customized days and times for each one. To manage your access control efficiently, create different access profiles for specific employee roles. Then you assign new employees to these profiles depending on their role.

These are just a few ways that access control can help you manage your business from afar. Post Alarm Systems has dedicated solutions that still allow them to provide you with the excellent customer service that they’ve had for decades while following all the guidelines on social distancing. If you have concerns due to COVID-19, we can help you virtually, whether that’s via video or conference calling.

Our company is family-owned, and that’s why our customers are like family to us. We’re here to address any needs or concerns you have. For more information on access control or other security products, contact us today.

About Post Alarm – Your Local Home Security Company in Southern California

To learn more about home security technology, come to see us at Post Alarm Systems this summer. Our highly qualified and experienced home security experts can answer all your questions. Call us today at 1-800-654-7678.

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The Monitored Security System Difference

September 17th, 2020
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You’re a smart, skillful homeowner. Maybe you think that’s all you need to take care of an emergency entirely on your own. But the reality is, everyone needs help – especially if the emergency is a break-in or a fire. When one of these events happens, your number one job is to get yourself and your loved ones out of the house safely. Dialing 911 on top of that is simply too much for one person. If you have a monitored home security system, there’s good news: Your system will call for help, so you don’t have to.

Following Your Instincts, Knowing Your Priorities

If you receive a smartphone alert notifying you of a fire in your house, you will instinctively make rescuing those inside your top priority. At the same time, someone needs to call the fire department – and that’s where your monitored security system comes in.
By the time you get everyone in the house to safety, your system has already sent a signal to the monitoring center, where a trained dispatcher has contacted your fire department. They’re already on their way to save your home, and you were able to follow your instincts to help your loved ones.

A New Feature for Smarter Security

Monitored home security doesn’t end there. Now, there’s a new Smart Signal feature that lets you send an emergency signal to the monitoring center yourself from your smartphone. If the emergency is a home invasion and your system is unarmed, you can contact the monitoring center yourself straight from your cell phone so the criminal will be unaware. This is the smarter home security today’s families need.
For questions about these and other features of monitored security systems, contact Post Alarm Systems. We look forward to assisting you.

About Post Alarm Systems

To learn more about Southern California security technology, come see us at Post Alarm Systems. Our highly qualified and experienced home security experts can answer all your questions. Call us today at 1-800-654-7678.
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Home Alone: Keeping an Eye on the Kids While You’re at Work

September 17th, 2020
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The kids are out of school because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but you’re still working an essential job. It looks like summer vacation came early this year, so how do you watch the kids while you’re at work? Smart home security has your back with alerts that help you check on the kids no matter where you are.

Alerts for Open Doors

A smart home security system can keep an eye on your house until you get home from work, and one helpful feature is the open door and window alert. Place contact sensors on doors and windows, and the security system sends you an alert when a door or window is open too long.

This alert allows you to text the kids and tell them to close the door. Or, you can have alerts sent to the whole family so whoever is home can close it when they receive the alert. Not only will your house be secure, but you can save on utility bills as well.

Smart User Code Alerts

The kids may go out with another family member or out to the park with a babysitter while you’re at work. You want to know they made it home safely, right? With a smart home security system, you can give each of the kids a user code that works with smart locks you install on your doors.

The code lets them in the house, and you can set the system to send you an alert whenever one of the children uses their code. You’ll have peace of mind knowing they made it home safely.

Smart Video Clips Let You See That They Made It Home Safely

Install smart security cameras around your house, and you can actually see that the kids made it home and who they’re with. You can set the security system to send you video clips every time a defined action triggers them.

For instance, you can set your video doorbell to take a smart clip whenever one of the kids’ user codes is used to get into the house. Setting a specific trigger lets you receive the alerts you want without getting overwhelmed with video clips that aren’t relevant to the kids’ safety.

You can also see who is with them and if they have unapproved guests. In the age of social distancing, it’s important to keep your home safe, and unapproved guests could unknowingly bring COVID-19 into your house.

If you’re interested in smart home security solutions but worried about COVID-19, we’re with you the whole way at Post Alarm Systems. You can purchase our intelligent home security products, and we will ship them directly to your front door. The equipment is safe and sanitized, so there’s no need to worry about you or your family’s safety.

Our security equipment is easy to set up and install. We’re here to help you every step of the way with video or conference calling in accordance with social distancing guidelines. Post Alarm Systems is family-owned and operated, and our customers are family to us. We will continue to give you great customer service and provided the latest in security technology.

About Post Alarm – Your Local Home Security Company in Southern California

To learn more about home security technology, come to see us at Post Alarm Systems this summer. Our highly qualified and experienced home security experts can answer all your questions. Call us today at 1-800-654-7678.

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Ideas for a Summer Home Security Tune-Up

September 17th, 2020
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The summer season is a great time to take on those home improvement projects you’ve been putting off since the beginning of the year. But if you’ve been spending more time at home this spring due to current events, you may have finished all the items on your list early. Here’s a new idea: Give your home security an annual tune-up. This is a simple project you can complete in a single weekend, and it’s well worth the time. Here’s what it involves.

Creating a household emergency plan.

If a there was a fire, break-in or major earthquake, would everyone in your family know what to do? By creating a household emergency plan, you can make sure they will. An emergency plan should include the:
  • Place the family will meet during the emergency.
  • Indoor and outdoor routes to get there safety.
  • Role and responsibility for each family member.
  • Ways to navigate any smoke, fire or hazards while escaping the home.
After creating the emergency plan, do a fewer practice runs to make sure everyone understands. This is an activity where both parents and children can learn together.

Enhancing your yard for home security.

The ideal weather makes right now the perfect time for landscaping. Fortunately, some of those outdoor chores can double as home security tune-up tasks.
Some to-do items include:
  • Adding a doorbell camera to capture all visitors, welcome and unwelcome.
  • Making sure your windows are impenetrable from the outside.
  • Examining your bushes and hedges to be sure intruders can’t hide behind them.
These are things you can do during your regular weekend landscaping routine, and they are every bit as rewarding as yard maintenance.

Assessing your home security technology.

As home security systems age, their technology becomes obsolete. If it’s been more than five years since your system was installed, it’s time to bring it up to date. In 2020, an efficient home security system should include:
  • 24/7 alarm monitoring service from a dedicated, local central station.
  • Easy integration with other technologies, such as cameras and virtual assistant devices.
  • On-demand control from your smartphone, made possible by an easy-to-use mobile app.
This assessment should help you determine what needs to be updated or added onto your system. If you have questions about what’s possible, please feel free to give us a call.
These are some fast, effective ways to tune-up your home security this summer. To learn more about any of the technologies here, contact Post Alarm Systems. We will be glad to assist you.

About Post Alarm Systems

To learn more about Southern California security technology, come see us at Post Alarm Systems. Our highly qualified and experienced home security experts can answer all your questions. Call us today at 1-800-654-7678.
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Safety Technology for Aging Loved Ones

September 17th, 2020
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Our parents and grandparents looked after our safety in our early years – and when they reach their golden years, it becomes our time to return the favor. Fortunately, there’s technology that makes it easier for us to continue watching over their safety when life gets busy. It’s the Wellness suite, a system that features products and services available to you right here at Post Alarm Systems.
During this time of widespread health concerns, Wellness can be the solution for adult children and grandchildren who are unable to be in the same home as their aging loved ones. Using Wellness to watch over the safety of Mom, Dad, Grandma or Grandpa can be the next best thing to staying home with them. The technology allows you to:
  • Check in on them any time of day via the Wellcam
  • Communicate with them via two-way audio
  • Receive alerts when there’s unusual activity
  • See and speak to them easily on the mobile app
  • Give up to 10 family members access to the account
  • Connect to bed sensors, chair sensors and medication boxes
  • View a daily highlight reel of their activity
And like a traditional medical alert system, Wellness includes a callout button for your loved one to reach help when it’s needed. But unlike those traditional systems, Wellness does not require your loved one to wear a pendant. That means more independence they can feel good about.
To discuss Wellness and other home security technology to help you watch over aging loved ones, call Post Alarm Systems today. We look forward to hearing from you.

About Post Alarm Systems

To learn more about Southern California security technology, come see us at Post Alarm Systems. Our highly qualified and experienced home security experts can answer all your questions. Call us today at 1-800-654-7678.
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3 Ways to Keep Your Neighborhood Safer

September 17th, 2020
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For most homeowners, concerns about criminal activity don’t stop at the front door; they extend throughout the entire neighborhood. Maybe that’s why, according to a new home security poll, 55% of us watch each other’s homes when we travel. With that in mind, here are three ways to make your neighborhood a safer place for everyone.

1. Connect with your neighbors.

Getting to know your neighbors is a lost art, but your mutual safety goals can help bring you together. By connecting with those who live around you, you can build trusting relationships and work together to keep everyone safe.
Of course, it can be hard to connect with your neighbors in person. Consider using simple digital tools, like neighborhood Facebook groups and mobile apps. These platforms are great for sharing information and discussing any suspicious neighborhood activity.

2. Use electronic home security.

Electronic home security systems are major obstructions to burglars and thieves. Many of them check front yards for alarm signs and cameras – and if they can tell a system is installed, most will decide it’s not worth the risk. Now, imagine if everyone on your street had a home security system. Chances are, those would-be criminals would avoid your entire block. It’s another way neighbors can work together to keep everyone safe.

3. Add smart security cameras.

Many criminals operate by returning to the same neighborhoods over and over. If you and your neighbors have smart security cameras, you can be the key to capturing these repeat offenders in the act. Smart security cameras send video alerts to your phone; these are clips you can download and share via text, email or social media. Not only can you share them with your neighbors; you can also share them with your local law enforcement.
Following these steps can make a real difference in the place you and your neighbors call home. To learn more about keeping your neighborhood safe with electronic security technology, call Post Alarm Systems. We will be happy to answer your questions.

About Post Alarm Systems

To learn more about Southern California security technology, come see us at Post Alarm Systems. Our highly qualified and experienced home security experts can answer all your questions. Call us today at 1-800-654-7678.
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How Smart Locks & Smart Security Go Hand in Hand

August 25th, 2020
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You may have noticed that many of your home security devices are focused on protecting the area around the front door, starting with the doorbell camera and continuing with the first indoor motion sensors that detect whether there has been a break-in. But what about the door itself? That’s where smart locks come in.

What is a smart lock?

  • A timed auto-lock feature, should you forget to lock up when you leave or arrive home
  • Location-based locking reminders to your smartphone when you need them
  • One-touch remote locking, enabling you to lock doors from anywhere with your phone
  • Unexpected activity notifications, to notify you about unusual door locking events

There’s also integration into the Scenes feature on your home security app; more on that in a moment.

Can it connect to your other smart devices?

Yes! Your smart locks can link to the other smart devices in your home, and all can be controlled on your home security app. This enables you to perform all kinds of helpful home security actions, including unlocking the door for visitors after confirming who they are via video alert. This is great whether the visitor is a friend dropping by while you’re outside at the grill, or a delivery person dropping off a package while you’re at work.

Another thing you can do because of this device connection is use the Scenes feature on your app to lock the door, arm the security system and turn on the lights, all at the same time. If you have a smart thermostat, it can also be incorporated into those commands.

Can other people use my smart lock?

They can, if your smart lock has a numerical keypad. While you have your family’s main numerical access code, you can assign temporary ones to friends and family who may be staying over. These codes are also ideal for babysitters, housesitters, dog walkers and other workers you employ. The codes can be activated and deactivated at your discretion. This is your home security, and you’re in control of it.

These are some important ways smart locks go hand-in-hand with home security. To learn more about smart locks, call Post Alarm. We will be glad to answer your questions.

About Post Alarm

To learn more about Southern California security technology, come see us at Post Alarm. Our highly qualified and experienced home security experts can answer all your questions. Call us today at 1-800-654-7678.

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Artificial Intelligence that Works for Your Home

August 11th, 2020
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Not so long ago, people had very different ideas about what “the future” meant. Now, we realize that the future is less about flying cars and more about automation and intelligence. It started with the home computer, continued with smartphones, and has advanced to a place where we now use artificial intelligence (AI) to make life easier. It’s nothing to be afraid of; when it works for your home and family, AI is your ally.

What AI Accomplishes at Home

The AI that’s used to make home life easier is what powers our smart home systems. These systems provide advanced home security services, but the advantages don’t end there. In addition to managing your home security system, you can use the AI in your smart home system to perform these functions and more:
  • Lock and unlock your smart lock equipped doors.
  • Raise or lower your automated window shades.
  • Control your connected smart lights inside the home.
  • Adjust the thermostat to save energy and make the home comfortable.

Artificial Intelligence with a Human Touch

AI isn’t entirely artificial; when you control it with your device, you add a human touch and customize it to your home and family. With the Scenes feature, all your connected smart home devices communicate with each other to perform these tasks in the order you choose. You can create custom scenes that align with the way your household runs; that means lights come on, doors lock and temperatures adjust at the time you need them to.
A smart home system is more than an elevated home security system. It’s also artificial intelligence that works for your home. Contact call Post Alarm to learn more. We’ll be happy to answer your questions.

About Post Alarm

To learn more about Southern California security technology, come see us at Post Alarm. Our highly qualified and experienced home security experts can answer all your questions. Call us today at 1-800-654-7678.
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In These Times, the Doorbell Camera is Powerful

August 8th, 2020
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If your doorway is seeing more visitors these days, that can be a sign that life is slowly getting back to normal. However, that also means it’s time to be aware of the home security gaps that can appear when people are at your front door often.
To narrow those gaps, you need technology that can watch over your doorway 24/7 and put your mind at ease. We have that technology here: the doorbell camera, that simple but important innovation that can give your doorway the extra monitoring it needs. Here are some things you can do with your doorbell camera.

Answer the door from wherever you are.

 Did you know that burglars often ring a home’s doorbell before deciding whether to proceed with a crime? That’s what makes your video doorbell a great tool for crime deterrence. Whether you’re at work, at a friend’s house or on vacation, your doorbell camera will show you who is there and what they’re doing. If you need to communicate with them, you can; the two-way voice technology makes it easy. If you don’t want them to know you aren’t home, you don’t have to tell them.

Protect your valuable deliveries.

By connecting to your other smart home security devices, your doorbell camera can help you get your packages inside and keep them safe from porch pirates. Here’s an example: If you have opted to have smart locks installed, you’ll be able to unlock the door with your phone and ask a delivery person to leave your package inside.
Because of the video technology, you’ll be able to verify who they are and watch them in action – and as they walk away, you’ll be able to lock the doors again using your phone. This is the kind of home security you need for today’s challenges.

Use it as a home security camera.

Your video doorbell camera is a functioning doorbell with an audible chime, just like a traditional doorbell. But unlike a traditional doorbell, it’s also a full smart home security camera that can capture and send you footage of suspicious activity. You’ll be able to use those video clips as evidence you can share with neighbors, social media contacts or law enforcement. That way, others can see what the suspicious characters at your door looked like.
A doorbell camera is a powerful tool for home security. If you don’t have one yet, call Post Alarm Systems to learn more. We’ll be glad to speak with you.

About Post Alarm Systems

To learn more about Southern California security technology, come see us at Post Alarm Systems. Our highly qualified and experienced home security experts can answer all your questions. Call us today at 1-800-654-7678.
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Save on Energy with a Smart Home System

August 3rd, 2020
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Does it seem like your household energy bills get higher in the summer? In 2020, many people will see theirs being even higher due to staying home more this year. To combat this, some serious cost cutting measures are in order. But if kids have been home doing distance learning or parents have been there working remotely, it can be hard to use less energy. Fortunately, one way you may be able to cut costs is with your home’s cooling system. How is this doable in the hot Southern California summer? It’s possible if you have a smart home system, equipped with an energy-saving smart thermostat.
With its ENERGY STAR ® certified smart technology, a smart thermostat can help you save money every month, including the hot summer months. Here’s what you can expect it to do.

Automatically stop cooling when the house is empty.

One of the many ways we tend to use too much energy in the summer is by leaving the AC on when the house is empty. It might seem like a good idea at the time, until the bill arrives the following month. But with a smart thermostat, those days are over. Because it’s equipped with Geo-Services technology, your smart thermostat stops running the AC automatically when you leave the house. No more overcooling the house when nobody’s home, which keeps your energy bill down.

Tell you when open windows and doors are costing you money.

When a window or door is cracked open, the cold, conditioned air leaks out of the house – and figuratively, money leaks from your wallet along with it. But with a smart thermostat that’s connected to your security system and controlled by your smartphone, you’ll know immediately when a door or window is left open. Not only will you receive a notification, but the air conditioning will also automatically pause until the problem door or window is closed. This is smart technology that helps you save money all year long, especially in the summer.

Make your lighting more intelligent and connected.

Energy efficient lightbulbs are a great innovation, but their benefits only go so far. By changing out some of your existing household lighting for smart lights, you’ll be able to connect your lights to your security system and control them with your mobile phone.
From the palm of your hand, you’ll have the ability to turn lights on or off any time you want to. If you like, take things one step further and program them to come on at specific times of day. This cuts down on excessive lighting, which cuts down your energy bill.
With a smart thermostat, your days of paying too much for household energy can be over. Learn more about this technology by contacting Post Alarm Systems. We will be glad to answer your questions.

About Post Alarm Systems

To learn more about Southern California security technology, come see us at Post Alarm Systems. Our highly qualified and experienced home security experts can answer all your questions. Call us today at 1-800-654-7678.