Entries Tagged 'Home Security Systems' ↓

With crime on the rise, it’s no wonder you are looking into installing a security system into your home or business.  Here is some basic information to get you started:

Think Like an Intruder

Look at your home or business and think of ways you would get in to your home or business. Then figure out the best way to protect and detour attention in those areas. The most common intrusion is through the front door. It’s surprising to many that burglars can easily smash their way past a deadbolt locking system.  Always remember to double lock your doors. Another way intruders have found to get into homes is called Lock-bumping. Burglars use a small tool kit to essentially bump all of the locking pins in the lock into place. An appropriate home security system will stop both of these threats before they materialize. Homes with an alarm systems are four times less likely to have a burglary.

The Right Company

It’s easy to become overwhelmed at the various choices for home or business alarm systems.  Choose a company that will install a system that will meet the needs of your home. An alarm company should work with you to determine the most important components for your system and licensed technicians should ensure that the system is installed and functions to meet your needs.

Standard System

A standard alarm system should have sensors on all the doors and windows so that if a door or window is opened, the alarm sounds.  The next level of security should offer motion sensors throughout the house that can be activated during times when you’re away.  This will catch any movement within the house and sound the alarm.

Added Benefits

Most security systems should also support fire detection and medical alert. These are valuable added benefits to have in the home. Fire detectors are able to immediately alert the fire station of a situation whether you are at home or away. Medical monitoring has been incorporated into many systems in order to provide emergency aid to senior citizens when they are in need. The latest and most technologically advanced systems allow remote activation and status monitoring via internet and cellular phones. For more information on the latest systems go to pinnacle security.

Monitoring

Just as important as the sensors and devices in the home, is the monitoring network which supports it. A quality monitoring network will be aware not just of intrusions, but system problems and attempts to disable the system without authorization. Today’s more sophisticated monitoring services are able to quickly contact you to confirm an emergency, or even monitor additional devices, like smoke alarms and medical-alarm pendants. Many of the system will offer two-way voice technology. After the alarm has been triggered the monitoring agent can communicate or hear what is going on in the home in order to get a better idea of the emergency at hand.

When buying a system, ask about what monitoring services are available. Additionally, be sure to choose a company that has a partnership with an alarm monitoring facility that will ensure your family’s protection around the clock.

Estimate

To get started, choose a company that is willing to install a system to your specifications.  The company will likely set up a consultation during which a technician will come to your home, take measurements, scope out sensor locations, windows, and doors, and will then prepare an estimate.  If you are satisfied with the price, installation can usually begin immediately.

Golden Gate Capital: On a well-funded mission to build a ‘global, fully integrated security company’
By Martha Entwistle – 10.15.2009

SAN FRANCISCO—Golden Gate Capital, a quiet, behind-the-scenes player in recent years, made news with its recent acquisition of Devcon Security, and it’s likely to be making more news soon, operating executive Christopher B. Munday told Security Systems News.

Noting that Golden Gate, an $8 billion private equity firm, still has $4.5 billion of available capital, Munday said the “plan here is to keep building out and ultimately to build a global, fully integrated security company.” Golden Gate, he said, wants to be “in control of everything, creating accounts, [providing] equipment, holding, servicing and monitoring accounts.”

Golden Gate in June of 2008 acquired Pinnacle Security, a summer-model company based in Utah. A September 2008 $150 million credit facility (with LaSalle/Bank of America) enabled Pinnacle to keep its accounts. Operations were beefed up there in October 2008, when Pinnacle bought the sales force and technical department of Icon Security, a smaller summer-model company in Utah.

Two weeks ago, Golden Gate acquired Devcon Security. Munday and Robert Farenhem (CEO and president of Devcon) have said that there are no immediate plans to combine the two companies. However, Munday, who serves as chairman and CEO of Pinnacle Security, will join the board of Devcon as chairman, with the goal of looking at the synergies between the two companies.

“We’ll get the relevant people involved from both companies … to explore areas of cooperation,” he said. “We don’t know how it will shake out,” Munday explained. “We may find nothing, some things, or a lot of things” that can be done to “improve the synergies at the back end of the businesses.”

While Pinnacle, a summer-model company, and Devcon a traditional security company, have starkly different sales methods, there are likely lessons the companies can learn from each other, he said. In addition, Pinnacle will clearly be interested in Devcon’s monitoring capabilities, Munday said.

On the acquisition front, what kinds of security companies might Golden Gate be in the market for? Munday said another alarm company, a monitoring company, or a small technology company are all possibilities.

John Gilligan, Golden Gate Capital principal added, “We tend to be very long-term, strategic-oriented investors; we seek out management teams to partner with and tend to acquire a number of businesses in the space.” For example, Golden Gate acquired 70 different software companies in nine years. “We acquire competitors to scale the company, [to acquire] new product lines, to spread into new geographies. All of those obviously are applicable to the security space.”

(Originally posted at http://www.securitysystemsnews.com/?p=article&id=ss2009104N8G9c )

Pinnacle Security Introduces A New Wellness Program For Its Employees

OREM, UTAH (May 2009) – Pinnacle Security, an Orem based home and commercial security alarm company,
recently took their mantra “Your Life. Secure.” to a very literal level with the implementation of their Employee Wellness Program.

“The program was developed with our employees in mind,” explains Christopher B. Munday, Chairman and
CEO of Pinnacle Security. “Establishing a healthy work environment starts at the core. If our employees are
happy and healthy they will feel and perform better,” adds Munday.

Pinnacle’s wellness program facilities are located under one roof with their corporate headquarters and include a full gym, weight room, sauna, showers, lockers and full-length basketball court.

Adam Christian, a Compliance Manager who has been with Pinnacle for nearly a year, has discovered the
benefits of the wellness program. “I have more energy at work,” says Adam. “With a busy lifestyle it is hard to fit working out into my schedule. Having an on-site fitness facility makes it easy for me to get a full workout and shower within my lunch hour,” Adam adds.

An additional asset to Pinnacle’s program is its renowned professional trainer, David Stroshine. Not only is
David a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning
Association, but he has also trained such professional athletes as Fahu Tahi (Minnesota Vikings) and Fui
Vakapuna (Cincinnati Bengals). “My vision for Pinnacle employees is to empower them with the knowledge and tools that will help them accomplish their health and fitness goals,” explains David. “Overall, I want to create a lifestyle at Pinnacle that promotes health and productivity,” adds David.

All Pinnacle employees and their immediate families are eligible for voluntary participation in the new wellness program. Free one-hour health and wellness workshops are also conducted each month. From nutrition to exercise to general body wellness, the workshops provide something for everyone.

In the near future a second phase of the wellness program will be implemented, which includes massage therapy and employee field trips that foster general activity and wellness.

In a time where many companies are cutting costs and employees, Pinnacle Security is flourishing, hiring more staff and providing additional benefits to help improve the overall workplace and experience of its employees.

About Pinnacle Security

Pinnacle Security is an industry leader in providing quality residential and commercial security solutions that
help individuals realize the peace-of-mind that comes from protecting the things that matter most. Pinnacle is headquartered in Orem, Utah and has sales offices throughout North America. Founded in 2001, Pinnacle is a long-standing partner of GE Security, a wholly owned subsidiary of the General Electric Company (NYSE: GE). For more information, please visit www.pinnaclesecurity.com.