If you've been wondering whether a home security system could reduce your home insurance premiums - the answer is yes! Most home insurance providers take your home security system into account when they prepare a home insurance quote. There are some postcodes in the UK where you'll be unable to get an insurance quote without a home security system in place! So, if you're considering getting house insurance, we'd highly recommend installing a home security system first.

How do security systems impact insurance?

When insurers are assessing your house to determine whether they'll provide cover or not they take lots of different factors into account, including:

• The area you live in
• The value of your belongings
• The security measures you have in place 

Insurers use this information to decide how much of a risk you are. If your property is very secure and in a good, low-crime area, you're at a lower risk of being burgled - so insurance companies are happy to provide cover for your home and its contents. 

How much could you save?

the type of home insurance discount you get for your security system depends on how elaborate it is. A single intruder alarm may only bring your insurance premiums down by around 5 percent. A bespoke home security system that features intruder alarms, CCTV cameras, door access control systems and more could reduce your home insurance premiums by up to 20 percent! 

Installing a home security system

Creating the best security system for your home is not always straightforward. In fact, if you want to get the most out of your home security system, we'd recommend creating something bespoke rather than installing one off the shelf. When you work with the team here at IDS, we will survey your home and provide helpful advice so that you know how to make your home as secure as possible. 

CCTV Cameras

Installing CCTV cameras around your home is a great way to keep an eye on all of the vulnerable spots and access points around your home. We use state-of-the-art technology that allows you to monitor your home whenever and wherever you are. Better yet, if a burglary does take place while you're away, you'll have footage recorded that you can use to find the perpetrators. Since CCTV cameras are a deterrent for burglars, insurers will often reward you with lower insurance premiums if you have them installed on your premises.

CCTV Cameras >

Read More: Is it Worth Having CCTV at Home?

Intruder Alarms

Another excellent way to protect your property and bring your insurance premiums down is to install an intruder alarm. These are designed to alert you if someone tries to break in. Long gone are the days where intruder alarms were only effective if someone close by responds to them. Now, intruder alarms can be monitored remotely and around the clock, providing a far higher level of protection compared to older models. This protection against burglaries is sure to bring your insurance premiums down.

Intruder Alarms >  

Read More: Types of Intruder Alarms - Which One is Right for You?

These are just a few of the things we can incorporate into your home security system to help you reduce your home insurance premiums. If you'd like to speak to one of our technicians to arrange a FREE home survey.

COVID-19 restrictions are finally lifting which is great news for businesses across the UK! As shoppers return to the high streets, and employees return to the office, it's likely that that you'll need to take a few additional precautions to help keep everyone safe and secure. After all, coronavirus hasn't magically disappeared, so if you want your business to re-open successfully, we advise you put a few of these systems in place.

1. Crowd control

We all know that coronavirus spreads when people come into close contact with each other. If you own a business where large crowds of people tend to gather, eg. a restaurant or a shop, you may want to put a few measures in place to control the number of people in your business premises at any given time. 

Here at IDS Security, we offer a density control system that allows you to monitor the number of people in your business premises at any one time. To use our people counting system, you simply need to install our density control cameras at the entrances of your premises. All the data is sent to a user-friendly screen that you can monitor throughout the day to make sure large crowds aren't forming. 

Density Control Systems >

2. Fire alarms

Lots of business premises have been empty for a year (or two), so it's important that you check your fire alarms working before you re-open. Working in an environment without a working fire safety system in place can be disastrous, not to mention dangerous. The last thing you want is an accidental fire forcing you to close your doors or move premises, after only a few weeks of 'normal' work. 

A lot of the business owners we speak to have also had to make significant changes to the layout of their premises, this includes:

• Spacing out desks
• Re-arranging walkways
• Creating one-way systems
• Closing off communal areas

With these changes in place, business owners are advised to re-think their fire escape protocol. You need to make sure that everyone can exit the building safely and congregate in a suitable area. If you do make changes to your fire escape plan, it's important that you make sure everyone in the business is up-to-date and aware of any changes made.

If the fire alarm systems in your premises need updating, the IDS Security team are happy to help! We've created bespoke fire alarm systems for businesses across the UK and South Wales, so we can help you re-open safely.

Fire Alarm System >

 3. Intruder alarms & CCTV

Crime rates fell by over 30% during the first few months of the COVID-19 lockdown. Why? Because everyone was stuck inside and businesses & pubs were closed! With fewer people on the streets, it was much easier for police to detect, prevent and respond to crimes. Now that everything is opening back up, we (sadly) predict that there will be a spike in crimes across the UK. There are a few reasons for this....

Firstly, business owners are preoccupied with re-opening and putting COVID-19 safety precautions in place, which means their business security is being neglected. Secondly, a lot of people are going out and 'making up for lost time' by getting drunk and partying, which means there's likely to be a spike in fights and drunk & disorderly behaviour. And thirdly, a lot of people lost their jobs during the pandemic. A generally poorer population tends to lead to an increase in crimes. 

So, what can you do about it? One of the best ways to protect your business is to install intruder alarms and CCTV cameras, both of which we can supply and install for you. Taking the time to improve your business security before you re-open is vital, especially as we enter the post-COVID-19 period. 

Intruder Alarms >         CCTV Cameras >

Read More: Has the UK Crime Rate Gone Up or Down During Lockdown?

These are just a few of the precautions you can take when re-opening your business after COVID-19. With a little help from the IDS team, you can make sure your employees, visitors and premises are perfectly safe! Be sure to get in touch with us for a FREE business security survey. 

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Living in fear that your house will be burgled can cause a lot of underlying stress. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to make your home less attractive to burglars that will hopefully provide some piece of mind when you're out of the house. 

1. Secure your spare key
2. Check windows
3. Landscaping
4. Improve home security

Here at IDS Security, we specialise in putting home & business owners' minds at ease by improving the security of their premises. Today we're going to walk you through some easy steps you can take to make your home less appealing to burglars, let's dive right in!

Secure your spare key

How many times have you left a spare key under the doormat, or a plant pot, or in the shed? The chances are, you've probably risked this more than once, but guess what? Burglars know that we put our keys in these places! The chances are, if someone wants to break into your house, these are the first places they'll look before they try to gain access. Why would they go to the trouble of breaking glass & creating a lot of noise, when a spare key will make it possible for them to walk straight in through the front door?

Make you home less attractive to burglars by keeping your spare key in a secure place. If a neighbour or relative needs the key to gain access to your home, try to give it to them in person ahead of time, rather than leaving it in a vulnerable position that's top of a burglar's checklist!

Check windows are closed

One thing that's very attractive to burglars is open windows. Much like a spare key, an open window can provide easy access to a house without the use of force. If you want to make your home less attractive to intruders, ensure that all windows are closed and locked before you leave the property. Ground floor windows are particularly vulnerable, but burglars will target second or third storey windows if they offer easy access too!

Landscaping

A wild, overgrown garden can make your home more attractive to trespassers because it provides ample cover & places for them to hide. Bushes, long grass and leafy trees are surprisingly good places to hide if you're trying to find an access point to break into someone's home. You can help make your home less attractive to burglars by keeping your garden & outdoor area tidy. 

Freshly cut grass & trimmed, neat hedges will provide much less cover than an unruly garden! Remember, the last thing burglars want is to be caught in the act, so anything you can do to make your house a more difficult target will pay off in the long run.

Improve home security

With burglars becoming more sophisticated and capable of finding inventive ways to break in, it's vital that you use home security systems to provide protection for your home. Home security systems do two things. Firstly, they act as a deterrent, making your home less attractive to burglars who can see that you've got a security system in place. Secondly, they provide you with the confidence and knowledge that your home will be protected in the event that a burglary attempt actually occurs.

CCTV cameras, intruder alarms and door entry systems can all be used to make your protect your home from burglars. CCTV cameras, in particular, are easily seen from outside your home & let criminals know that they're being watched. Having a CCTV camera system in place is one of the most effective ways to deter burglars, so if you've not got one already - we'd highly recommend it!

Home Security Systems >

If you want to protect your home with a bespoke home security system, we can help. Contact us today to discuss your concerns and we can help you start your journey towards a well-protected home today!

Read More: What Do Burglars Look For? Tips to Protect Your Belongings

It's normal for employees to have a set of keys to the office, but it can be a bit of a dilemma choosing the right people. Some people would argue that all employees are trusted members of staff, and should therefore be allowed a set of keys. However, you should never take keyholder responsibilities lightly. When you hand over a set of keys to your business, you really are putting your assets in the hands of someone else. Ideally, you want to choose people who are sensible, trustworthy and who actually need a set of keys.

What are the responsibilities of a keyholder?

A keyholder is someone who's been trusted for opening and closing the business on a regular basis. These people need to be capable of setting/disabling your alarm systems & keeping your business and its contents safe! In shops and restaurants where physical cash is handled, key holders might need to make sure that the cash is deposited safely and out of view from prying eyes. Being a keyholder tends to come with more responsibilities than simply opening and cosing up at the end of the day, so choosing the most appropriate people for the job is paramount! Most business owner tend to allocate keyholder responsibilities to the more senior members of staff because they know they're capable of managing the reposibilities of being a keyholder.

What happens if there's an emergency?

Keyholders are often required to respond if the intruder or fire alarm goes off ouside of business hours. It's vital that keyholders understand the procedure they need to follow if they're faced with this situation. For that reason, you might want to choose keyholders that are based locally, or that have access to their own vehicle. Someone who lives 30 miles away and commutes to work on public transport, they might not be the most reliable keyholder in an emergency.

When a keyholder attends an emergency call out, they should be capable of assessing the situation and reponding appropriately. If it looks like a break-in has occured, they should phone the emergency services immediately. Likewise if they can see obvious signs of a fire. If they attend and realise that it's a false alarm, they should be able to reset the alarms, lock up the premises and notify you or the relevant person in charge.

Key traits of a good keyholder:

• Trustworthy & reliable
• Confident under pressure
• Local to the business
• Well-organised
• Strong leadership skills

Outsourcing keyholder responsibilities

In some circumstances, it may be a better option for a business owner to outsource their keyholder duties. For example, if all of your staff live far away, or if staff turnover is high, it might not be possible to choose people to take on keyholder responsibilities. In this case, you can hire a third-party company to help with keyholder responisbilities & out of hours emergencies.

One great option is to invest in a monitored alarm system & a maintenance contract. This means that someone at a trustworthy security company will keep an eye on your alarms around the clock. If an alarm is triggered they will make sure that the appropriate emergency services are contacted right away, meaning the responsibility for the business is taken out of your employees hands. Without proper training, in-experienced staff members might put themselves in harms way in the event of an emergency, so it might put your mind at ease to know that a reliable & professional company are monitoring your premises.

• Burglar Alarm Monitoring from IDS
• Fire Alarm Monitoring from IDS

Our advice when allocating staff keyholder responsibilities is, choose carefully and don't be afraid to outsource to professionals if you're concerned about the safety and welfare of your business. Give us a call if you're interested in upgrading your business security systems, we're happy to help!

Business Security Systems >

When you're relying on a home security system to keep your property and posessions safe, you need to know it's reliable. If a problem occurs with your home security system while you're out of town, your belongings could be left vulnerable to burglars or fires. For that reason, it's vital that you understand the common problems with home security systems & how to avoid them. 

False Alarms

False alarms are one of the most common problems people encounter with their home security systems. I'm sure you've all heard of the story of the boy who cried wolf? Well, if your home security system is triggered when there's no threat multiple times, then eventually people might stop responding. Some security companies might even fine you if false alarms are triggered on a regular basis.

How to prevent false alarms

One of the easiest ways to prevent false alarms is to make sure that everyone in your household knows how to operate the alarm system. That way, if a false alarm is triggered, they should be able to disable it before it becomes an issue. In addition, you should choose an appropriate security system for your home. There's no point installing a motion sensor alarm to protect the house if you've got a dog running around while you're out! We can advise you on the best home security system for your property if you're unsure, get in touch.

Blind Spots

Another common issue with home security systems is blind spots. These are areas of the home that aren't protected by your chosen security system, usually because the system has been installed incorrectly or because the chosen equipment is not suitable. For example, if you install motion sensors with a limited range, you might find that the primeter of your house is protected but the central areas are not. The same issue can arise with CCTV cameras, if an assessment of the property isn't done prior to installation, it's likely you'll end up with blond spots that are vulnerable to attackers. 

How to prevent blind spots

Before installing your home security system, make sure you've considered all vulnerable areas thoroughly. Doors and windows are obvious entry points, but are there others that you've not considered, for example, balconies, garages or conservatories? Make a proper plan and do your research to find the most appropriate equipment to cover the areas you need. You might find you get the best protection by combining security systems like CCTV cameras and motion sensors. We offer bespoke home security systems, so we can make sure that your home is provided with the highest level of security by creating a home security system based on your home's layout. Request a quote.

Power Supply

When the power supply to your home security system fails, your house is no longer protected - which is a huge problem. Any system that's not plugged directly into the mains is usually operated by batteries, this includes some fire alarms & most wireless systems. Systems that are plugged into the mains will also fail if your home experiences a power shortage while you're away. Knowing how to keep your systems running in all scenarios is paramount if you want your home to remain protected!

How to prevent power supply problems

When it comes to battery operated systems, you really need to test and service your alarms on a regular basis. Changing batteries and fuses periodically will help ensure that your systems are running as they should be at all times. For home security systems that are connected to your mains supply, we would recommend investing in a backup power supply to ensure that your home is protected in the event of a power outage. 

If you're experiencing any of these problems with your home security system, we can help. Here at IDS Security, we have years of experience designing, installing and monitoring bespoke home security systems. We'll help you avoid common problems & keep your home protected around the clock.

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Read More: What to Look for in a Home Security System