Internet Security Systems

Internet security systems refer to alarm systems that use internet (IP) service as the communication path for monitoring service. This is a common practice for Honeywell and Resideo Systems that connect with the AlarmNet Servers for accessing the Total Connect 2.0 platform. AlarmNet allows systems that only use IP (internet protocol) connectivity as the communication path. However, systems that use Alarm.com will usually require a cellular connection. Remember, your system will need an IP communicator (WIFI or ethernet) to send out signals across an IP network.

The main reason why a person would want to use an internet security system instead of a cellular security system is due to cost. A cellular monitoring plan will usually be more expensive than a monitoring plan that is IP-only. This is because the alarm monitoring company must pay fees to the cellular service provider. The cost of the monitoring service for the end user is increased to compensate for these added costs. By going IP-only, you can save money on your alarm monitoring expenses.

But this does not mean that IP-only is recommended. In fact, Alarm Grid recommends obtaining cellular alarm monitoring service whenever possible. Cellular service is much more reliable and consistent than IP connectivity. An internet connection will sometimes go down or become unavailable, often for seemingly no reason at all. And unless you have your router set up with a backup battery, a power outage will also take your system offline. But these are not really concerns with cellular service. A cellular connection will almost never go down or become unavailable, and it is unaffected by power outages.

If you do decide to with an IP-only monitoring setup, make sure that you have reliable internet service. If the internet goes out, your system will be offline, and your home will be unprotected. You might want to perform some network tests to determine if your service is indeed reliable. Remember, you can always start out with an internet-only system and add a cellular communicator later on. You will need to upgrade to a higher monitoring plan to do this. But nearly all modern Honeywell and Resideo Systems can have cellular communicators added later on.

With an internet security system, the panel will use IP connectivity to access an interactive monitoring platform. This is necessary for alarm monitoring service. In the case of Honeywell and Resideo Systems, the panel will access the AlarmNet360 Servers. The panel will send out an IP signal to the AlarmNet360 Servers whenever an alarm event occurs. The signal will then be forwarded to the end user and/or to a central station depending on the user's alarm monitoring plan. We recommend choosing an alarm monitoring plan that includes access to Total Connect 2.0. This is an interactive platform that allows an end user to control their system remotely using the Total Connect 2.0 Mobile App on their Android or iOS devices.