Exploring Perimeter Protection for Enhanced Security

Let us start by asking you a question, would you rather your alarm system go off BEFORE the burglar gained entry to your home or once they’re already inside, rummaging through your things?

Seems like a ridiculous question doesn’t it?

But believe it or not, pretty much ALL alarm systems are designed with internal motion sensors that are triggered once movement is detected in that zone as their main line of defence. This means the intruder is already inside your property when the alarm goes off.

Not ideal!

And this is exactly why we do things differently at Midland Alarm Services.

Our alarm systems are designed with ‘perimeter protection’ in mind. Which means we focus on securing your vulnerable entry points where burglars would likely try to gain entry to your home to ensure your alarm sounds while they’re still OUTSIDE, keeping you, your family and your possessions safe.

In this blog we’re going to dive into the world of perimeter protection, a crucial aspect of modern home security. We’ll cover what perimeter protection entails, its importance in safeguarding your property, and how advanced technologies like shock sensors and remote monitoring can bolster your security setup. Let’s dive in…

Understanding Perimeter Protection

As we said, perimeter protection is all about catching intruders before they even get a chance to enter your home. At Midland Alarm Services, we use products from the masters of perimeter protection - HKC, to keep our customer’s properties secure from the outside in. 

The main two products in this set up are shock sensors and door contacts. 

Here’s how they work…

Shock sensors—these attach to your most vulnerable entry points (the places a burglar is most likely going to try to gain entry) such as windows, patio doors and side doors).  They are designed to sense a build up of vibration or direct impact. Say, for example, if someone tries to break a window or pick a lock, these sensors will sense the disturbance and immediately raise the alarm. 

Door contacts are just as crucial and are placed usually on the front door. These work on a magnetic system and are triggered the moment someone opens the door and breaks the magnetic contact. This trigger starts a countdown for you to unset your alarm system and when this isn’t done the alarm will sound fully.

Together, these devices form a tight security net around your home. By installing shock sensors and door contacts, this ensures that if anyone tries to sneak in, you’ll be the first to know about it. It’s all about giving you peace of mind and keeping potential intruders outside where they belong.

Real-World Use Cases of Perimeter Protection

Perimeter protection is highly adaptable and can be tailored to suit different home setups, whether you're living in a rural, suburban, or urban environment. Below are a few examples of how perimeter protection can be implemented based on the type of property:

• Detached Homes in Rural Areas: Rural properties are often more isolated, making them prime targets for intrusions. For detached homes, shock sensors can be installed on all external entry points—windows, doors, and garages. Early detection is particularly critical in rural areas, where it might take longer for authorities or neighbours to respond. By securing all vulnerable entry points with shock sensors, homeowners can be alerted as soon as any attempt to breach the perimeter occurs, providing a crucial time advantage.

• Semi-Detached Houses: In semi-detached homes, burglars often target side and rear entry points, which are less visible to neighbours or passers-by. Shock sensors can be installed on side windows, patio doors, and back doors to ensure early detection in these more vulnerable areas. This type of setup can be calibrated to avoid triggering false alarms from everyday activity near the shared wall, ensuring reliable alerts in the event of a real threat.

• Urban Properties: In dense urban areas, opportunistic burglars may attempt quick break-ins, targeting homes with visible weaknesses, such as ground-floor windows or easy-to-access rear doors. Shock sensors placed on these key entry points will trigger the alarm the moment a forced entry attempt is made, alerting the homeowner to act before the intruder gains entry. Urban homes also benefit from the visual deterrent of a visible bell box, signalling that the property is protected and reducing the likelihood of an attempted break-in in the first place.

  
  

With these real-world use cases in mind, it's easy to see how perimeter protection can be adapted to suit the specific vulnerabilities of different types of homes, ensuring comprehensive security no matter where you live.

How Perimeter Protection Complements Other Security Measures

Perimeter protection is an excellent first line of defence, but it works best when combined with other home security measures, like CCTV systems or PIR (Passive Infrared) sensors. Here’s how these systems compare and complement one another:

• Perimeter Protection vs. CCTV: CCTV systems are an effective visual deterrent and can record crucial footage in the event of a security breach. However, cameras on their own don’t always provide real-time alerts unless paired with specific monitoring systems. In contrast, perimeter protection is designed to alert you immediately if an intrusion attempt is detected, allowing you to act before the situation escalates. When combined, perimeter protection provides the immediate detection, and CCTV captures valuable visual evidence, offering a robust security solution.

• Perimeter Protection vs. PIR Sensors: PIR sensors detect motion inside the home or in designated zones, meaning they usually trigger once someone is already inside your property. By contrast, perimeter protection acts as a preventative measure—stopping intruders before they can enter the home. Together, these two systems form a layered approach to home security. If an intruder manages to bypass the perimeter protection, the PIR sensors offer a secondary line of defence, further increasing the likelihood of early detection.

  
  

By integrating perimeter protection, CCTV, and PIR sensors, you create a comprehensive home security network that covers both the outside and the inside of your property, ensuring there are multiple barriers in place to detect and stop intrusions.

Remote Monitoring: Keeping an Eye on the Perimeter from Anywhere

Now, let's talk about remote monitoring – a game-changer in the world of home security. Remote monitoring is all about having full control of your home security from anywhere. It allows instant notifications to your device so you’re always in the know when it comes to any suspicious activity around your home. 

We choose to pair our perimeter protection products with our SecureComm mobile app for our customers so they have the most comprehensive home protection possible.

If one of your perimeter sensors is triggered, you want to know about it instantly so that you can act fast! One feature that’s extremely handy is being able to see sequential verification of all activity to your alarm system. This means you can see which zone/ sensor has been triggered at what time and in what order. Plus, other features such as image verification technology provides visual confirmation of disturbances, giving you peace of mind and actionable insights.

Key Benefits of Perimeter Protection

The core advantage of perimeter protection lies in its ability to prevent break-ins before they happen. But the benefits go beyond early detection:

• Faster Police Response: The real-time alerts provided by systems like the SecureComm app, which integrates with HKC alarm systems, mean you’ll know the moment your perimeter is breached. This instant notification allows you to verify the threat and contact the police much sooner than you would with a traditional alarm system. The faster response time significantly improves the chances of apprehending the intruder before they cause significant damage or theft.

• Preventing Intrusions: Traditional alarm systems only trigger once an intruder is already inside your home, which can sometimes be too late to prevent damage or theft. With perimeter protection, the system is triggered as soon as a break-in attempt is made, often scaring off the intruder before they can enter the property. This proactive approach significantly reduces the risk of a successful break-in.

• Customisation: One of the biggest advantages of perimeter protection is its flexibility. Whether you need to secure a large detached property or a smaller semi-detached home, the system can be fully customised to cover the most vulnerable entry points. Homeowners can choose which areas to prioritise, ensuring that the system is perfectly tailored to their needs.

• Peace of Mind: Knowing that your home is protected from the outside, not just the inside, offers an extra layer of security and peace of mind. Whether you’re home or away, you can rest easy knowing your perimeter is being monitored 24/7, with immediate alerts sent directly to your smartphone should any suspicious activity occur.

FAQs About Perimeter Protection

Let's address some common questions you may have about perimeter protection:

How does perimeter protection differ from traditional alarm systems?

• Perimeter protection focuses on securing the outer boundaries of your property, whereas traditional alarm systems primarily safeguard the interior.

Can perimeter protection systems be customised to suit different property layouts?

• Yes, we understand all homes have different requirements and our perimeter protection systems can be tailored to accommodate all property configurations, ensuring optimal coverage and security.

Are perimeter protection systems wireless?

• Yes, all of these products are entirely wireless so no drilling and no mess! 

What are the costs associated with installing and maintaining perimeter protection systems?

• The cost of perimeter protection systems varies depending on factors such as the size of your property and the level of security desired. If you’d like a free, no obligation quote from our security consultant Mick with a ‘no hard-sell’ approach then please get in touch! 

Pros of perimeter protection alarm systems:

• Early Detection: Perimeter protection systems offer early detection of intruders before they can breach the interior of the property, allowing for swift response and potential prevention of a break-in.
  

• Deterrence: Paired with a visible and illuminated bell box, your security system will act as a deterrent to potential intruders, reducing the likelihood of attempted break-ins.
  

• Comprehensive Coverage: Perimeter protection systems provide coverage for the entire boundary of the property, including doors and windows, ensuring a comprehensive security solution.
  

• Customisation: Perimeter protection systems can be tailored to meet the specific needs and layout of each property, allowing for flexible installation and customisation based on individual security requirements.
  

• Remote Monitoring: Paired with our SecureComm app, our perimeter protection system offers remote monitoring capabilities, allowing homeowners to monitor their property in real-time from anywhere.

In conclusion, perimeter protection is a powerful, proactive security solution that works by detecting intrusions before they even happen. By installing shock sensors on key entry points, homeowners can protect their property from the outside in, reducing the risk of break-ins and improving response times. When combined with other security measures, such as CCTV and PIR sensors, perimeter protection provides comprehensive, layered defence against intrusions.

If you’re interested in enhancing your home’s security with perimeter protection, contact Midland Alarm Services today for a free consultation. Our team of experts can design a customised security solution tailored to your home’s specific needs.