Home Security Systems - The Comprehensive Guide
Learn about how security systems work, how they protect your home, what they should include and how to choose the right system for you!
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Welcome to the ultimate guide to home security systems in 2025 from Verisure.
If you’re wondering how to protect your home with some kind of alarm system, but the amount of acronyms, jargon and options out there are confusing – you’ve come to the right place.
Use the contents section to go straight to the information you need, or just keep scrolling to learn more!
Contents:
- What is a home security system?
- Types of Home Security System
- Common Components in a Home Security System
- Installing Home Security Systems: DIY vs Professional Install
- Wired or Wireless – What’s the difference?
- Does a Home Security System include CCTV?
- What is Alarm Monitoring?
- Costs: Installation, Components, Services and Maintenance
- Choosing The Right Option for Your Home
- Are Home Security Systems Just for Burglaries?
- Summary
What is a Home Security System?
A home security system is a set of equipment and services that is designed to help protect your property from intruders.
Historically, bell-only alarms were most popular. They detected when someone entered the property when you weren’t there and activated a loud siren.
It’s 2025 though – and things have really progressed in home security.
The old days of a beige panel on the wall with rubbed off keypad numbers is long gone!
Modern home security systems include a range of sensors and components that provide a much higher level of protection.
Control panels can now provide lots of functions, from choosing how your system operates, to communicating with your property remotely, to activating SOS functions in monitored systems that support it.
In our ever-connected world, security systems are increasingly utilising Wi-Fi and cloud technology to provide real-time information to the homeowner and allow evidence of any intrusions at the property to be immediately backed up and available for the homeowner to view.
What should a home alarm include?
Most people would now consider many of these items as critical in a home security system:
- Door Sensors
- Window Sensors
- Motion Detectors/PIR Cameras
- Security/CCTV Cameras
- App integration/control
- Remote controls
- Smoke barriers
- Smart smoke alarms
Home security today can go way beyond just setting off a loud siren. They can let you see what’s happening at home from anywhere in the world. They can alert you to smoke in your property. They can even alert professionals in alarm receiving centres that something is wrong.
Do home alarm systems prevent burglaries?
It’s been proven in multiple studies around the world that a visible alarm is a deterrent for would-be intruders.
When an alarm is going off – burglars will often be scared off, or at least feel more rushed – leading to you losing less of your property should the worst happen.
Just to highlight some of the international studies that have proved how effective home security systems are at reducing residential burglaries:
84% of burglars in a UK Home Office study suggested that the “Presence of alarms outside property” would be a deterrent to attempting a burglary
Research, Development and Statistics Directorate“Alarms and CCTV made important contributions to detecting burglaries, in terms of on-scene capture and arrests due to using eye-witness descriptions and filmed recordings for identifying offenders.”
Security Journal“A comprehensive study of five years of statistics by researchers at the Rutgers University School of Criminal Justice (SCJ) in Newark found that residential burglar alarm systems decrease crime.”
Rutgers UniversityTypes of Home Security System
Your home is your castle, and it’s only natural to want to protect your property and the people inside it!
But it can be intimidating when searching for security systems and seeing the range of products, packages, systems and services on offer.
Let’s break down in simple terms what the most common type of security systems are:
Bell-Only AlarmAn alarm that activates a siren when it's set off.
- Dialler Alarm
An alarm that activates a siren and dials a phone number when it’s set off.
- DIY Smart Alarm
An alarm with cameras that sends a notification to your mobile phone when it’s activated.
- Monitored Alarm
An alarm with multiple sensors and cameras that activates a siren, sends a notification to your home phone and immediately alerts security professionals who can take action for you if you’re unavailable.
How do these types of alarm differ?
The table below shows you some key factors that differentiate these different types of home security systems:
| Bell Only | Dialler | DIY Smart Alarm | Monitored Smart Alarm | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audio-Only Deterrent | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Remote / App Controls | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Upfront Costs | High | High | Low | Medium |
| Installation Type | Professional | Professional | DIY | Professional |
| Ongoing Costs | Low | Medium | Medium | High |
| Monitoring Responsibility | You | You | You | Professionals |
| Able to Intervene | No | No | No | Yes |
The fundamental differences here are about whether the alarm does anything beyond making a noise. We know that people are already developing “alarm fatigue” – and modern security involves more than just a siren.
Multiple sensors, security cameras and monitoring services provide additional layers of protection that mean if the siren being activated doesn’t get rid of the intruders, there are other options available.
Verisure offer fully monitored alarm system – providing you with whole-home protection.
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Common Components in a Home Security System
A modern home security system can include lots of component parts.
Let’s talk through some of the most common ones:
- Deterrent Signs
An obvious sign, sticker, plaque etc. placed on the exterior of your property that immediately alerts any would-be intruders to the fact you have an alarm. The first line of defence against burglary.
- Sirens
Traditionally housed in a box outside your property, this is an extremely loud siren or bell that is used as an alert when the alarm is set off. In 2025, many sirens actually sit in your property, with the central control panel or keypad.
- Shock Sensors
Small sensors placed on your doors and windows that detect when they are opened – or in more advanced sensors – if they’re being tampered with. Acts as an early warning system that someone may be trying to gain access to your home.
- Motion Sensors
Often also called PIR (Passive Infrared) sensors – these small sensors are used to detect motion within the property and are usually placed in common areas of your home.
- Control Panel
Every home alarm system will have some kind of control panel that lets you access the functions of the alarm, most importantly activating or deactivating the alarm.
- Security Cameras
Video cameras that capture video footage to be used as part of the alarm system. The most important role a camera plays is to see whether or not an alarm activation is genuine. Most modern security cameras allow live view from a mobile phone, and can be triggered by movement detected in the cameras FOV (Field of View).
- Smoke Detectors
Verisure are one of the few companies to also offer monitored smoke detectors that can alert the Alarm Receiving Centre when smoke is detected in the property.
A good home alarm system will have a number of different sensors working together to protect your property.
With our 35 years of experience we’ve seen first hand how having multiple layers of protection in your home security system improves its effectiveness.
Do I need all these components to secure my property?
Different parts of the system play different roles, Verisure split these into deterrence, detection, verification and intervention, but other companies may call them something else.
You can see below how different sensors are important to providing real protection at different stages:
| Stage | Component | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Deter | Deterrent Sign Visible Outdoor Cameras | Stop burglars even attempting to break in. |
| Detect | Shock Sensors Motion Sensors/Cameras | Detect when someone is in the property when they shouldn't be. |
| Verify | Security Cameras Indoor Cameras | When someone has been detected inside – cameras make sure it’s not a false alarm. |
| Intervene | Siren Smoke Barrier SOS Functions | Once the alarm trigger is confirmed as an emergency, these attempt to force the intruder to flee. |
You can see how if you’re missing some of the parts of the alarm, it becomes much less effective.
Without shock sensors, you might not know somebody is in the house. Without security cameras you have no way of knowing who is in the house if the alarm goes off. Without a deterrent sign, you’re not getting the full benefit of your alarm system!
For more information on these alarm components – please visit our Alarm Systems page.
Installing Home Security Systems: DIY vs Professional
Now you know the type of security system you’d like to use to protect your home, you may have another decision to make.
Should you have your security system professionally installed, or can you do it yourself?
DIY installations can be quick, but they don’t always give reliable performance for your security system. Modern systems do make it relatively simple to perform a DIY installation – but most of us aren’t security experts!
For example – do you know how the field of view of a motion sensor affects the coverage it can provide?
Have you thought about how lighting changes will impact your security cameras view?
Have you identified which windows are easiest to access by a potential intruder?
This is where professional installation excels – as a professional installer will evaluate your property and make sure you’re maximising the protection you get from the various sensors in your alarm system.
Professional installation will ensure that the system is installed correctly, covers at-risk areas of your property and is fully working.
| Factor | Professional Install | DIY Install |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Fast | Medium |
| Complexity | Lower | Higher |
| Price | Higher | Lower |
| Guarantee | Yes | No |
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Wired or Wireless – What’s the difference?
Wired security systems are hard-wired into the mains requiring fully-qualified electrical work on your property.
Wireless systems, like Verisure, use a combination of standard plug sockets and long-life batteries to provide extensive protection for your home without having to have electrical work done.
Some wireless systems could potentially be jammed, the equivalent of cutting the cord on a wired system.
However, Verisure's system has a 4G backup and a reserve battery to ensure your alarm system will still be able to protect your property, even when the power is out or your internet connection drops.
Is a wired alarm system more secure?
There is not much difference in the level of security provided by a wired vs wireless alarm in 2025.
Wired alarms generally have some kind of backup battery system, as do wireless alarms.
Wired alarms usually communicate through a telephone line, which can't be jammed in the way that Wi-Fi signals can be.
Verisure's wireless alarm includes backup power and backup internet connection, so even if the power is out and your broadband is down - our security experts are still able to monitor and respond to your alarm going off.
Do wireless systems cost more?
As a general rule, wireless systems will be slightly lower cost. Wired systems have a significant installation cost due to the complex physical and electrical work that’s required to get them up and running.
Does a Home Security System include Security Cameras?
Not always – but most modern systems include some form of camera.
Without this visual confirmation it’s very difficult to confirm if an alarm trigger is a false alarm.
Most security cameras in 2025 have HD video, work at night and have a relatively wide field of view (FOV) so that they can monitor a larger area with a single camera.
Video Doorbells
Cover the front door of your property. Usually has smartphone alerts when someone is at your door and two-way audio functionality so you can speak to the person at the door remotely.
More Video Doorbell Details
Outdoor Cameras
Cover the exterior of your property. Usually weather-resistant, can often still produce usable images in pitch black, can also come with spotlights that turn on when movement is detected, alerting potential intruders to the fact the property is protected before they even try to break in.
More Outdoor Camera Details
Indoor Cameras
Cover the interior of your property. Usually placed around the main entrances to the property, or in vulnerable common areas to give real-time video of what’s happening inside your home in the case of an alarm activation.
More Indoor Camera DetailsA combination of these different cameras will help you protect your entire home. There’s no point having an alarm that can only see part of your property.
These cameras also come with all the usual convenience benefits that we’re used to. Live view from an app on your phone, answer the doorbell while you’re on the move to tell the postman where to leave that package, or just checking in on whether your dog is still asleep while you’re at work!
There are both wired and wireless versions of these cameras available, with wireless versions having greatly improved battery life in recent years.
Burglars can find novel ways into your property, so protecting as many areas as possible is a good idea, and cameras are a really cost-effective way of covering large areas of your property.
Why wouldn’t I just get CCTV?
CCTV has been a long-standing security measure that has helped many homes and businesses over the years.
However – they usually operate on analogue video, requiring hard-wiring to a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) to actually store the footage.
That means you have to keep an eye on how much storage space you’re using at all times, plus maintain the extra equipment yourself.
Plus – if that one DVR goes wrong, or in a worst case scenario, is stolen by an intruder, there’s no extra copy of the footage for you to review.
New wireless, Wi-Fi or IP cameras like those offered by Verisure, are recording in digital formats that can be backed up to the cloud almost immediately. They’re accessible from anywhere and provide incredibly high quality images at a lower cost.
The benefits of these new range of wireless security cameras mean the industry is moving towards a wireless-first model, unless there are special requirements at a particular home or business that require full on-site control.
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What is Alarm Monitoring?
Alarm monitoring services offer an always-on service where professionals are available to react to your alarm being triggered.
You will pay a small monthly fee to have part or all of your security system connected to a third-party.
If someone is determined to burgle your home, and they’ve ignored the obvious deterrents, cameras and sirens – it’s the worst case scenario.
With a bell-only alarm, you’re relying on a siren to scare them off. With a dialler alarm, you’ll get a phone call – but what do if you miss the call? DIY alarms might sound a siren, and you might get some notifications – but are you watching your phone 24 hours a day when you’re not at home?
With a fully monitored alarm – that anxiety of missing the call is removed.
Professionals will also receive an alert to say that your alarm has been triggered. Then, and only then, they will be able to access the sensors in your alarm to determine what’s happening.
If there’s definitely someone in your home that shouldn’t be – they can alert the authorities on your behalf.
Verisure operate an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) in the UK, where trained staff can verify what’s happening when your alarm is activated and take action on your behalf.
Not only do we have a sub-40 second average response time – but we also offer the unique ZeroVision smoke barrier which our trained staff can activate to expel an intruder from your house in seconds.
What about police response?
Some monitored alarms do come with a direct police response. This is a service that registers your property with the police, and will immediately send the police an alert when activated.
The most important thing to note about the police response systems are that you have to be absolutely vigilant about false alarms. You must react immediately to the alarm being triggered to confirm whether the alarm has been triggered accidentally, or by your son coming home, or by the cat…
As per the NPCC Police Requirements for Security Systems:
“Following three false calls in a rolling 12 month period LEVEL 3 will apply and police response will be withdrawn…”
False alarms can waste valuable police resources in the UK.
With the Verisure monitoring service – we verify intrusions or emergencies before contacting the police, or sending a private security guard to your property. Simply put – we handle false alarms before contacting the police.
Costs: Installation, Components, Services and Maintenance
But how much should a home security system actually cost?
After reading this guide you should have a much better understanding of how alarms can be vastly different from home to home or person to person.
Let’s compare the relative costs of different types of alarm system, broken down by the cost category:
| Bell Only | Dialler | DIY Smart Alarm | Monitored Alarm | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment | High | High | Low | Medium |
| Installation | High | High | Low | Medium |
| Cloud Storage | None | None | Medium | None |
| Monitoring | None | None | None | Medium |
| Maintenance | Low | Low | High | Low |
What are the ongoing maintenance costs for a home alarm?
In order to ensure your home is always protected, you’ll need to maintain your system to keep it running smoothly.
Some common maintenance tasks are:
- Replacing batteries in sensors.
- Cleaning sensors whenever possible.
- Checking that shock sensors are still responding correctly.
- Checking that camera positions haven’t changed.
With a DIY alarm – you’ll be responsible for these yourself, and replacement batteries get expensive! Especially if you have cameras in high traffic areas that are triggered very often.
With Verisure any maintenance or repairs are included in the monthly fee. A professional will visit your property to service the alarm at least once every 12 months – replacing any batteries that are nearing the end of their lifespan, ensuring camera placements are still correct and performing any required software updates.
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Choosing The Right Option for Your Home
Now that you know a lot more about the security systems available and how they are used to protect you and your property, you’re probably wondering how to choose between them!
Well there’s a simple scale between cost and protection – the more complete your system is, the more likely it is to detect intrusions, and the more protected you’ll be.
While DIY options provide a cheap way to provide some protection, they don’t give you the complete peace of mind you’re looking for.
Monitored alarms are a better option for those of us that can’t be there to monitor the notifications on our phone 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – which is most of us!
The size of your property will have an impact, of course, but in order to get real protection – Verisure recommend a fully monitored system to the majority of households in the UK.
Are Home Security Systems Just for Burglaries?
Not at all!
Verisure, and some other systems, provide functionality for other types of home emergencies too.
Here are just a few examples of how these systems protect and assist you:
- SOS Response: At the push of a button, you’ll be connected with someone in our monitoring centre who can take emergency action on your behalf. This could be a security concern, medical emergency or fire risk.
- Fire Response: Verisure’s system can include smart smoke detectors that are linked to our receiving centre. This means our trained staff are alerted to smoke being detected in your property, and can verify the risk using the range of sensors in the system, calling the fire brigade if necessary.
- Remote Convenience: Day to day, your security system provides you with extra information about what’s happening at home. You can see through an app on your phone when someone gets back for lunch. Make sure that the dogs have been out for their walk. Be notified when the kids get back from school safely. It can really take the worry out of some of the day to day stresses we all experience!
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Summary
So there you are – a full run down of home security systems in 2025.
We hope the information in this post has been useful in helping you navigate the world of home security.
Times really have changed from the early bell-alarm systems.
Verisure’s fully monitored system represents some of the best technology available in home security, while our UK ARC is a fully professional monitoring service that reacts even when you can’t!
So before you install that DIY system that seems cheap on the surface – remember just how invested you’ll have to be in monitoring those alerts!
We have professional staff on hand to help answer any other queries you might have about securing your home.
Glossary
| CCTV | Closed Circuit Television |
|---|---|
| ARC | Alarm Receiving Centre |
| DVR | Digital Video Recorder |
| PIR | Passive Infrared |
Encrypted Secure Cloud Storage
All alarm images are encrypted and stored in secure cloud storage.
