What Is a Monitored Alarm System?

A monitored alarm system is one that does not just make a noise when it goes off, but sends the alarm to a manned monitoring centre that can act on it, calling a keyholder or requesting a police response. Where a standard alarm relies on a neighbour to notice the siren, a monitored one means someone is always watching for the signal, day or night, whether you are home or on the other side of the world. It is the difference between an alarm that shouts and an alarm that actually brings a response.

Monitoring is not right for every property, and it does carry an ongoing cost, so it is worth understanding what it adds before you pay for it. At Bespoke AVS we fit both monitored and standalone systems across Kent, the South East and London, and we give people a straight view on whether monitoring earns its keep for their situation. This guide explains how a monitored system works, what the monitoring centre actually does, the types of monitoring, and how to decide if you need it.

How a monitored alarm works

The parts are the same as any alarm, with one addition. When a sensor triggers, as well as sounding the siren the panel sends a signal over a secure path to a monitoring centre that is staffed around the clock. The centre checks whether it is a genuine alarm or a fault, and if it is real it follows the plan agreed with you, which usually means calling a nominated keyholder or, on a confirmed alarm, requesting a police response. If you are new to how the parts fit together, it helps to understand what an intruder alarm system is first.

The types of monitoring

There are two things people mean by monitoring, and they are not the same. Self-monitoring is where the alarm sends an alert to your own phone, which is useful but still relies on you to see it and act. Professional monitoring is where a manned centre receives the signal instead, and it comes in two forms, keyholder response, where the centre calls people you have nominated to attend, and police response, where a confirmed alarm can bring the police via a registered URN. The right level depends on the property and what you are protecting.

Is a monitored system worth it

This is the real question, because monitoring adds an annual cost, and it is not always necessary. It earns its place on a property that is regularly empty, one left for long spells, or a business that sits unattended overnight, where there is nobody around to hear a siren. In our experience, monitoring works better than a bells-only alarm for a property that sits empty because a siren nobody hears and nobody reports achieves very little, whereas a monitored system turns the same trigger into a call to a keyholder or the police. It is one of the first things to weigh up when you think about what to look for in an alarm system.

Choosing a monitored system

If monitoring is right for you, the things that matter are a reputable monitoring centre, a secure signalling path so the connection itself cannot simply be cut, and a system built to the recognised grades, which you can read about via British Standards. We are Kent County Council Trading Standards Checked, and we will tell you honestly whether monitoring is worth it for your property rather than adding it as a default. We fit alarm systems to a survey rather than a fixed package. You can read more about the team on our about us page or find us on Facebook.

Bringing it together

A monitored alarm system is one where a manned centre receives the alarm and acts on it, turning a noise into a response even when nobody is there to hear it. It is the right choice for a property that is regularly empty or holds something worth protecting, and less essential for an occupied home where a neighbour would raise the alarm. Decide on the property, not the sales pitch, and monitoring is either well worth the annual cost or money you do not need to spend.

If you are weighing up whether to monitor your alarm, we are glad to give you an honest view. You can get in touch with Bespoke AVS for advice or a free estimate across Kent, the South East and London.