How to Build the Right Smart Home Security System From Scratch
I’m a recluse, so a smart security system is perfect for me. I want to know exactly what’s going on outside at all hours, even when I’m still fast asleep. You don’t have to be a confirmed introvert to benefit from multiple cameras and connected devices around the house. If you’re often away, you might also find it helpful to keep track of packages and people who passed by while you were gone.
Smart security systems aren’t just for catching the neighbor’s cat in the act. They help keep an eye on your home when you’re away and can be automated to activate other devices as needed, such as a motion sensor that turns on a smart light and records video, or a door opening that sounds a deafening alarm. The good news is that smart security systems are completely customizable to your specific needs. Some brands offer third-party monitoring as an additional security measure, providing additional support when you’re away from home.
Setting up a smart security system is as simple as setting up a smart home. First, you need to choose a smart security ecosystem, then decide whether you want an expandable system. You can also simplify the process by installing a video intercom that syncs with a smart display in your home, especially if you’re renting and don’t have many customization options. Here’s how to get started.
Selecting an Intelligent Security Method
Smart security systems , like smart homes, range from the most complex to the simplest. You choose the ecosystem you want to live in and then build around it. But before you can choose, you need a device that will serve as an entry point. This could be a CCTV camera, a video intercom, or a smart lock. The idea is that whatever you use to enter your home is the first line of defense. Everything after that is just ancillary.
Most people start with a security camera, and the most popular option is a video intercom. A video intercom offers everything: a window onto the world, a clear indication that someone is watching outside, and the ability to instantly notify you of sound and movement at your door. It also serves as a button that people can press to notify you of their arrival. Installation can range from simple to more complex, depending on whether you integrate it with an existing doorbell. (Personally, I avoided this option because the doorbell in my old house was broken, and I never intended to fix it.) As long as you have smart displays or speakers inside your home, or a smartphone with connected accessories that emit sound notifications, you don’t need to connect it to a doorbell.
Smart locks are another way to create a smart security system, although they are more expensive and a bit more complicated to install, as there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for every front door. The installation process will depend on the type of door you have and whether you can easily replace the lock. If you rent or prefer your existing door, there are “upgraded” smart locks from brands like August that allow you to keep your original keys and hardware safe and secure. Smart locks keep access logs, tracking who has entered and exited your home. Some also feature unauthorized access alerts, access codes, and lockout if an incorrect access code is entered repeatedly. Furthermore, with most other smart locks, you don’t have to deal with physical keys.
There are smart security systems that go beyond cameras and door locks and include a base station with a siren, a centralized control panel, and motion and door/window sensors. This option is suitable if you need something particularly sophisticated, especially if you want to include a home monitoring system. While it requires more complex setup, you can effectively assemble a security system without hiring a professional. A security system can also be integrated with an existing smart home system. For example, if you have smart light bulbs, you can configure them to turn on when a motion sensor is triggered.
Key players in the intelligent security market
A smart security system can be more complex than a smart home due to the abundance of available options. But the only wrong path is one that complicates the ultimate goal—a connected home with remote monitoring.
Let’s start with the easiest entry points, through the typical smart home technology players you may already be familiar with. Google’s smart security ecosystem, Nest , includes security cameras and smart locks. It offers the benefits of professional monitoring through ADT, and you can integrate third-party cameras and sensors, such as Kasa accessories or TP-Link’s Tapo . However, non-Nest brands may not be controllable through the Google Home app, meaning you won’t have access to video clips or previews from the main app (though you can still request Google to stream to your smart display).
For dedicated iPhone users, there’s an ecosystem of Apple smart security devices compatible with HomeKit, including devices tested and approved by the company. You can choose cameras from Eufy , Logitech , Eve , and Aqara , all of which support Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video (HKSV) technology for encrypted video storage in iCloud. Professional monitoring is typically offered by several third-party HomeKit-compatible solutions, such as ADT , Vivint , or Ring .
Amazon also has its own line of products, which I call “platform-agnostic” because they’re designed to work with both Android- and iPhone-compatible smart homes. Amazon’s Alexa ecosystem includes smart speakers and smart displays that tightly integrate with various Ring and Blink security cameras, as well as other compatible devices . Ring and Blink are recognized flagship brands in the Alexa ecosystem, and they work best if you stick with one of them: Blink is the “affordable” brand, while Ring offers more premium options.
If you’re determined to choose a brand focused primarily on home security, ADT can help you set up Google hardware and other compatible components. Vivint also offers professional installation and options for expanding your smart home system beyond cameras and motion sensors. This option can be particularly expensive, as you’ll pay a third-party installation fee and a monthly or annual subscription.
A more affordable option that will likely appeal to most people is a do-it-yourself approach with professional monitoring without a contract, allowing you to pay only for what you need, when you need it. Companies like SimpliSafe and Abode make it incredibly easy to create your own network of smart security devices that work in tandem with each other. SimpliSafe offers monthly monitoring, while Abode offers temporary, on-demand professional monitoring for a day or week. SimpliSafe and Abode offer base stations, which are smart home hubs equipped with all the necessary hardware to connect automation devices, including cameras and motion sensors, and provide battery and cellular backup power, as well as a loud alarm that triggers in the event of an intrusion or other emergency. This option can be less expensive, though it can be more expensive if you need something particularly expensive.
If you build your own intelligent security system, you can combine it however you like. With the advent of Matter , a unified communications protocol, connecting ecosystems has become easier. However, Matter doesn’t yet fully support the ideal streaming bandwidth required for CCTV cameras and video intercoms, so you won’t be able to trigger automation based on this criterion.
A DIY option is available to those who don’t mind spending a weekend setting up and configuring a new system. However, if your system includes security cameras, I recommend choosing a camera brand as the primary “anchor” of your security system and building it around it. For example, if you have a Ring video intercom, consider adding Abode or SimpliSafe as an option for third-party motion sensors and similar devices, especially if you don’t use a Ring base station. A full Ring security system is easier to use, as you only need to interact with one primary app to monitor your home. However, connecting to a different provider is also possible.
Choosing the Right Intelligent Security System
The best way to determine which system is right for you is to assess your situation. If you’re already into technology, consider building a DIY system and integrating one, like Abode, with one of the three major digital assistants—Google, Apple, or Alexa—as your primary controller. This provides the best choice for mixing and matching brands, as well as the added benefit of professional on-demand monitoring when needed.
If you’re renting, consider a less permanent option. The SimpliSafe and Ring ecosystems are built on this flexibility, as it’s a core part of each brand’s DNA. They include everything you need right out of the box, such as a base station that connects to various renter-friendly accessories, motion sensors with a self-adhesive attachment, and a rental-friendly camera mount. Ring allows you to pay for professional monitoring monthly, although use of the equipment is optional, while SimpliSafe supports self-monitoring systems. Amazon’s Blink is also a viable option for temporary residences or those who don’t do DIY repairs, especially if you prefer to receive notifications via a smart display or speakers.
For first-time homebuyers, consider a hybrid approach that works out of the box but allows for future expansion. Google Nest products are especially well-suited for homes that already have everything they need, from Nest security cameras to a Nest thermostat that doubles as a smart home motion sensor. If you want to add professional monitoring in the future, you can integrate a SimpliSafe or Abode system into your existing system without disrupting it, or outsource maintenance to ADT on a monthly basis.
If you don’t have the patience for this kind of smart home maintenance or prefer to turn to a professional monitoring company to handle everything, there’s no shame in choosing ADT or Vivint. It’s more expensive, but both companies offer ample time to build relationships with security device providers. You can purchase a complete system from either brand, from motion sensors to security cameras. This option is also worth choosing if protecting your property while you’re away is crucial. Companies like ADT boast an extensive network of monitoring centers throughout the continental United States, and, again, you don’t have to handle everything yourself.
Smart home with sirens
Getting started with a smart security system can be overwhelming. But once you’ve set it up, you won’t be able to live without the constant reminders that your home is in perfect order. In fact, I use cameras to check on the status of my home and make sure everything is in order. Sometimes this peace of mind is enough to allow myself some hard-earned downtime.
Whatever option you choose for your smart home, don’t feel like you have to implement everything right away. I started my smart home security system with a doorbell camera and a connected thermostat. They weren’t even from the same ecosystem—the doorbell camera was Ring, and the thermostat was controlled by Nest—but I learned to use mobile apps to design plans for each. Now I live primarily with Google’s Nest cameras, which handle most of the video surveillance work. I installed a few budget brands, like TP-Link’s Kasa, throughout the house for extra help when I need it, and a remote-controlled smart lock that notifies me when I’ve left the front door unlocked.