Best Business Security Systems Compared by Crazy Egg

From break-ins and trespassing to carbon monoxide levels, flooding, or fires. A good security system monitors your premises and summons assistance when needed. During our research into hardware requirements, pricing, and installation, we found Vivint to be the best business security system on the market. It strikes the perfect balance between affordability and professional-grade security to protect your business from the inside out.

The Best Business Security System for Most

Vivint wins the title of the best business security system for most for a few different reasons First, it offers fully customizable security solutions. Second, it offers professional installation. Third, it does so at a fraction of the cost of other big-name security providers. Considering just those three benefits, they are a solid investment, but there’s a ton more they give you.

With Vivint, you gain complete control over your entire system with dozens of high-end equipment options to choose from. Some of those equipment options include:

• Security sensors
• Safety alarms
• Indoor cameras
• Outdoor cameras
• Doorbell cameras
• Smart locks
• And more

It’s time you get all of the flexibility you need to protect your business inside and out, and Vivint can give that to you.

The 6 Best Business Security Options to Consider:

Vivint – Best business security system for most

Frontpoint – Best DIY security systems with 24/7 monitoring

Abode – Best if you run your business out of your home

Lorex – Best for high-end equipment with no ongoing monthly fees

SimpliSafe – Best for indoor security on a shoestring budget

ADT – Best for airtight professional-grade security solutions

When It Makes Sense to Invest in a Business Security System

If you have a physical location (even if it’s your home), investing in a business security system is an affordable way to give yourself peace of mind and protect what you’ve worked so hard to build.

Thanks to the professional monitoring services that come standard with most of the systems on our list, you can ensure there’s always a set of eyes on your business even when you’re not there. Some will even automatically alert the authorities and send help as soon as possible if they can’t get in touch with you.

Fast response times like these help minimize damage while keeping you and your team safe.

Small businesses, restaurants, retail storefronts, and multi-location commercial buildings should all have proper security systems in place to prevent break-ins or vandalism and protect your business against other hazards like fires, floods, carbon dioxide leaks, and more.

Even home offices should be protected with some type of security, camera, or monitoring platform. Regardless of the size or location of your business, a proactive approach is the way to go.

It’s better to have a security system in place and not need it than to have something happen and wish you invested beforehand.

#1 – Vivint — The Best Business Security System for Most

Vivint is our top pick because it’s the perfect middle ground between full DIY systems and commercial-grade security solutions. It offers high-quality options at an accessible price point, making it a cost-effective choice that comes with all the professional equipment and services you need in one package. 

Whether your space is big, small, or something in between, you can create a custom solution to secure your entire business. 

There are dozens of hardware options to choose from, and they all seamlessly work together to protect your business, products, employees, and customers. Choose any combination of sensors, cameras, and locks for a truly custom system tailored to match your needs and say goodbye to cookie-cutter security solutions.

For burglary detection and prevention, Vivint offers wireless motion detectors, entryway sensors, and glass break sensors. All come with built-in alarms to stop intruders in the act.

Is a door or window open that shouldn’t be? Your sensors will let you know. 

All of Vivint’s security cameras come with light and sound deterrents to ward off potential threats. And they immediately start recording when they detect motion, so you can come back and see what triggered the alarm from the start. 

Alternatively, you can view live footage from your phone or purchase a Smart Drive storage box that holds up to 30 days’ worth of continuous footage to go back and view historical footage as well.

The Smart Drive has built-in (and automated) event markers that make it easy to find what you need without having to spend hours sifting through footage to find significant events you’d like to look into. 

It can automatically mark human movement so you know exactly where to look.

Vivint’s indoor camera has a 155-degree pan with 80 degrees of tilt, records in full HD 1080p, and features a built-in two-way communication system so you can talk to your employees even if you’re not there. It’s an excellent feature, and a smart move so you can guide your team through emergency situations when you’re away. 

The company recently added outdoor cameras to their security system lineup, too. They have a surprisingly loud siren (at 85 dB) to deter break-ins and intelligent software that knows the difference between people, animals, and vehicles. 

You can rest easy knowing you won’t get an alert every time a bird lands on your doorstep, a squirrel shows interest in your cameras, or a car drives down the street in front of your business. 

Another awesome feature is the ability to tell your cameras where your property ends. You can set up a perimeter to avoid unwanted notifications for movements outside your property—like someone walking on the sidewalk—and hone in on areas you actually care about. This is a less expensive way to set up access control.

Vivint’s outdoor cameras have 4K HD video with a 140-degree pan. This lets you easily zoom in on license plates and faces without losing quality thanks to 3x HD zoom and 10x digital zoom. 

If you’re interested in modernizing your lock system, Vivint offers smart lock hardware and software so you don’t have to fuss with keys. It also gives you more control over your business’s security, regardless of where you are. 

With smart locks, you can easily lock or unlock your doors at a specific time, or you can unlock the back door for a delivery and lock it back up after the driver leaves—all from your phone. 

Depending on your current locks, you may have to replace them all. However, Vivint’s smart locks fit over certain types of existing locks with minor modifications for a cost-effective switch. 

Besides criminal activity and intrusions, you can add environmental safety protections like flood sensors, smoke and temperature detectors, and CO2 sensors. When set up correctly, you can even restrict airflow to contain a fire, unlock all the doors when a fire alarm goes off, or raise the temperature to keep your pipes from freezing in the winter. 

All of your equipment comes together in a centralized hub you can access online, through the mobile app, or with a panel installed inside your business. 

With the hub, you can connect smart devices like lights, thermostats, and smart locks to control them from anywhere.

It’s a powerful system that combines security, automation, and high-quality equipment into one package that delivers peace of mind to a modernized workplace.

Regardless of the hardware you choose, you can also add professional 24/7 monitoring at $19.99 per month for added peace of mind, even when you’re not there.

With pro monitoring services, there’s always someone there to respond to alerts and alarms, even if you can’t. 

Unlike other options on our list, professional installation is required with all Vivint systems. But it’s a great opportunity to make sure your system is airtight and does everything you need it to. Plus, your technician can help ensure your biggest vulnerabilities are secure. 

For something as important as your business security system, having a professional ensure installation goes smoothly can give you serious peace of mind. 

Additionally, the professional installation guarantees that all your advanced features are working correctly. With a DIY install, you may figure out the basics, but nothing more. The installation technician may even be able to tweak the system during installation to fit a particular need that you have.

The last thing you want is to have a system fail because of an error during a DIY installation, leaving your business vulnerable. You might not even know that the system isn’t working properly until something actually goes wrong.

Get a free consultation to learn more and start building the security system your business deserves today!

#2 – Frontpoint — The Best DIY Security Systems With 24/7 Monitoring

Not every business needs a complicated security system with professional installation services—you may only need a few cameras and sensors you can easily install yourself.

Thankfully, DIY doesn’t have to mean sacrificing high-end equipment and the professional services you need to keep vigilant eyes on your business when you’re not there. Frontpoint, our top DIY pick, is just about as high-end as it gets with a truly DIY security system that doesn’t require professional installation.

It’s a golden combo of professional-grade hardware and white-glove customer support without the hassle or expense of installation services.

All of Frontpoint’s security systems are simple enough to install on your own in less than an hour and, unlike other DIY solutions out there, there are dozens of quality equipment options to choose from. 

You’re not stuck with low-quality, cheap gear that never seems to work.

From alarm systems and video surveillance to hazard protection and professional monitoring, you can get everything you need to secure your business inside and out.

The brains of your Frontpoint security system are a hub and keypad combo, which hold everything together and control your entire system. Both also come with tamper and damage detection sensors that automatically alert a professional monitoring team if someone tries to destroy or tamper with them. 

When you get yours, all you have to do is connect them to your internet network and add your devices. 

They use a cellular connection with WiFi backups and feature a 24-hour battery backup. So, you’re still protected even if your power goes out. Day or night, your system is always up and running—no matter what.

Aside from your hub and keypad, you can choose from nearly a dozen different types of sensors, detectors, cameras, and smart devices to build out a security system that covers your entire space. Regardless of how many rooms, entries, and windows you have, you can rest easy knowing it’s all covered.

Frontpoint has three pre-built systems with various types of equipment you can use as a starting point, including:

• The Starter Pack – $129, or starting at $4.16 per month
• The Home Shield – $269, or starting at $8.68 per month
• The Family Lookout – $349, or starting at $11.26 per month

The Starter Pack package includes the basics, such as the hub and keypad, one door or window sensor, and one motion sensor. You also receive window decals, door stickers, and yard signs to show that your property is protected.

The other packages add additional items. The Home Shield package gives you three window or door sensors, one motion sensor, one smoke and heat sensor, and one flood sensor, in addition to the hub and keypad, stickers, and signs.

The Family Lookout package includes the hub and keypad, three door or window sensors, one motion sensor, one keychain remote, and one outdoor camera or doorbell camera, as well as the stickers and signs.

All of the pre-built systems include access to the Frontpoint app as a bonus.

Frontpoint also offers a “build your own” option, so you can create the perfect collection of items in your business security system. 

When building your own system, pick the number and type of doorbell cameras, indoor cameras, door and window sensors, motion sensors, and glass break sensors that you want to use. Each item’s price and feature set is clearly listed on the website, making it easy to put together your own comprehensive package while adhering to a budget.

Should you need extra items beyond what the pre-built systems provide, in order to fit the layout of your particular business property, the build-your-own package is the way to go. It’s eligible for monthly payments, just like the pre-built systems.

Installing your system and realizing you missed something or want to beef up security in a specific area? No problem. All you have to do is order your equipment, activate it, connect it to your hub, and install it. Add more equipment to your package at any time. It’s that easy. 

Frontpoint offers 0% financing options for all of its equipment or you can pay for everything upfront, depending on your budget. 

All Frontpoint equipment comes with a mobile app that lets you control your locks, lights, and thermostats plus any equipment you have connected to your hub. You can also view footage on your phone, see or silence notifications and alerts, and set up custom notifications. 

Other notable capabilities of the mobile app include:

• Unique user codes for your employees to disarm the system
• Sensor history records so you know when things went down
• Video and image history for connected cameras
• Custom automations and reminders

Another standout feature is Frontpoint’s machine learning algorithm—after a few weeks, it can automatically detect and alert you about the unusual activity as another layer of protection. 

Have a front door you usually unlock at 7 a.m.? The system lets you know if it’s unlocked at 5 a.m. instead, or on days you don’t typically go to the office at all. The same software can also let you know if someone left a window open overnight. 

Over time, it gets smarter and more familiar with your habits, which continuously makes it more effective at detecting unusual activity. 

Even if you’ve never installed anything or picked up a power tool before, Frontpoint’s installation process is as easy as it gets. You can install everything without any tools since most of Frontpoint’s equipment sticks to virtually any flat surface. 

Everything you order comes to your door and is preconfigured so it’s very plug-and-play, plus there’s a free setup wizard through the app that walks you through everything step-by-step. 

If you get stuck, you can contact Frontpoint’s customer support team at any time. Whether you need help with installation, have a question about the app, or need troubleshooting guidance, the company has the best customer service ratings in the industry. 

There’s no doubt you can trust them to come through when you need them. 

Not only do you get the industry’s best customer support, you also get 24/7 professional monitoring after you install your system. 

If you don’t disarm an alarm within 30 seconds, the professional monitoring team will call you and ask for a verbal passcode to disarm it for you if it’s a false alarm or not an emergency situation. If you don’t answer, don’t have the passcode, or give the wrong answer, authorities are automatically dispatched to your business. 

The monitoring team also runs hourly checks to ensure your system is working as it should. So, just because the setup is easy, doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice protection and security. 

There are two monitoring plans to choose from, including:

• Interactive – $1.48 per day (around $44.50 per month)
• Ultimate – $1.64 per day (around $50 per month)

If you have security cameras, you have to be on the Ultimate Plan since it includes motion-triggered alerts, night vision, live video streaming, and video history. It’s also the only option if you opt for smart locks as well. 

Everything is covered under a 30-day risk-free, no-questions-asked guarantee and a three-year warranty for defective equipment. 

Try it risk-free for 30 days to see if it’s right for you and your business!

#3 – Abode — The Best If You Run Your Business Out of Your Home

Abode is one of the top home security companies on the market. It offers an excellent mix of affordability, high-end equipment, and top-notch smart home software designed to protect and secure your entire home. 

It delivers the widest and most advanced range of smart home integrations, automation software, and equipment, making it our top pick for home-based businesses. 

There are two state-of-the-art pre-built home security systems to choose from. Both are 100% wireless and easy to install on your own with no tools, requiring only 30 minutes of your time. And while it’s intended to be a DIY solution, you can opt for pro installation if you need it. 

Abode’s iota kit is best for apartments and smaller spaces.

It comes with one device that captures motion and video. It’s small, non-discrete, and compact without sacrificing functionality. 

It also includes an HD camera and motion sensor with two-way audio and automatic human detection to help reduce false alarms. The device uses WiFi or ethernet connectivity with a cellular backup in case you lose power.

All iota kits also include a keyfob you can use to control the system from anywhere and entryway sensors to protect vulnerable entry points to your home. 

There are three Iota bundles to choose from, including:

• Base option – iota device and one entry-way sensor
• Bundle 1 – iota device, keypad, one motion sensor, and four entry-way sensors
• Bundle 2 – iota device, keypad, three entry-way sensors (no motion sensors)

The second pre-built security system, the Smart Security Kit, is better suited for larger apartments and homes. It’s similar to security systems from the other options on our list—you get a base hub (called a gateway) that controls your entire system with the ability to place cameras and sensors anywhere around your home. 

Since this package is best for larger spaces, it’s more flexible but it’s also more expensive. There are four bundles to choose from, including:

• Base option – one entry-way sensor and one motion sensor
• Bundle 1 – one entry-way sensor, one motion sensor, and two cameras
• Bundle 2 – a keypad, three entry-way sensors, and one motion sensor
• Bundle 3 – a keypad, four entry-way sensors, and two motion sensors

All of the Smart Security bundles come with a keyfob and the gateway that controls the system inside your home. 

Both security systems come with a built-in 93 dB siren and the ability to connect up to 160 devices to create the smart—and secure—home-based business you deserve. 

Regardless of the option you choose, you can add sensors and cameras to your pre-built kit, so it’s flexible and fully customizable to match your needs. You can also add new equipment over time if your needs change. 

Abode offers a security camera add-on that works inside or outside.

It’s weatherproof and WiFi enabled with night vision capabilities, making it suitable for use just about anywhere. You can also add six different types of entryway sensors, two different motion sensors, and numerous accessories. 

Rather than adding on to a pre-built kit, you can build your own kit from scratch. 

All you have to do is answer a few questions about your home and Abode automatically makes intelligent recommendations based on your answers.

Besides equipment, Abode’s automation software, called CUE, is one of the best we’ve seen across the home security category. It works with all of your connected smart devices from your thermostat and lights to smart locks and your security system.

Plus, getting started is super easy with an intuitive, step-by-step setup guide to connect all of your devices. It’ll also walk you through how to set up automations, which are the core of the software.

You can use Abode’s robust automation features to set up just about anything you can imagine. For example, you can trigger certain actions based on your phone’s proximity to your home. 

Want to automatically unlock the door when you’re 15 feet away and lock it when you leave? No problem. 

Another cool feature is automatic sunrise and sunset times based on your latitude and longitude—it automatically updates the time throughout the year to match conditions and you can use sunset or sunrise as triggers in your automations. For example, you can program it to turn on the porch light when someone approaches your front door between sunset and sunrise.

However, Abode’s conditional automations give you more advanced control over when specific actions happen. With them, you can set up a trigger, a response, and a condition. 

For example, you can set human detection as your trigger, snapping a photo as the response, and lingering for more than X minutes as the condition. Or you can turn on a lamp when the sun goes down, but only if someone’s home. 

Not only does the software make your home convenient, but it also helps protect you, your family, your pets, your belongings, and your home whether you’re there or not. 

Abode offers two monthly plans to choose from, including:

• Standard – $0.20 per day (around $6 per month) with no professional monitoring
• Pro – $0.66 per day (around $20 per month) with 24/7 professional monitoring

For most, we highly recommend the Pro plan. It also unlocks free shipping on all of your equipment and you can get a discount on homeowners insurance to help mitigate the added monthly cost. 

Alternatively, you can go with the Standard plan and take advantage of Abode’s on-demand monitoring services if you’re planning a vacation. 

With the on-demand option, you can choose from 3 or 7 days of 24/7 monitoring with no catches or strings attached. It’s an excellent choice if you want extra eyes on your home while you’re away. 

Try either security system risk-free for 30 days to take Abode for a test drive today!

#4 – Lorex — The Best for High-End Equipment With No Ongoing Monthly Fees

If you don’t want to pay recurring monthly fees—like you have to with Vivint and Frontpoint—Lorex offers the biggest selection of high-end security equipment out of anywhere we’ve seen. Plus, the equipment doesn’t require an ongoing monthly fee for security monitoring.

While saving money is (almost) always a no-brainer, we only recommend this option to those who know what they’re doing or have an in-house security team.

Lorex forgoes the automatic safety measures and authority dispatching that other systems come with. So, you won’t be able to rely on professional monitoring to keep a watchful eye on your business when you’re not around. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a solid choice.

It’s an excellent route if you want high-end equipment and have the capacity to monitor on your own.

Lorex offers just about every type of indoor or outdoor security camera, touch screen control panels, motion sensors, entryway sensors, pre-built kits, video storage solutions, and accessories.

There are thousands of products available. Which… is excellent from a versatility standpoint but can also feel overwhelming if you don’t know what you need. 

To mitigate this and make things easier, Lorex has a beginner’s guide that outlines the different types of systems and equipment, the features that come with each, how they work, and how to choose the best options for your business.

You can also check out the incredibly detailed product pages for individual products to learn more. They cover tons of information to help you make the best choice, including:

• In-depth product specs
• Real-life customer reviews
• Every feature and capability
• A list of compatible products
• The right Lorex app to use with it
• What equipment it comes with
• All associated user manuals

So, you can dive as deep as you want into individual products and use this information to build out a system that meets all of your security needs. 

The Lorex team really pulled out all the stops to make things as easy as possible for beginners and those who know exactly what they’re looking for as well. 

Its website is incredibly intuitive with dozens of filtering options to streamline your selection process. You can sort by the easiest equipment to install on your own, the best wireless systems, the best rated, the most technical equipment, and dozens of other options to filter out the hardware you don’t care about. 

Lorex also wants to help you save money, too. 

It has an extensive update program that offers 10% off to anyone upgrading an old and out-of-warranty security system. 

Plus, there are daily deals with select equipment up to 40% off. We recommend checking these out before making your final decisions if you’re looking for a good deal. Another handy feature is the 30-day pricing guarantee. If something goes on sale within 30 days of your purchase, you can apply to get a refund for the difference. 

There are three different Lorex mobile apps to choose from, depending on the equipment you choose. The apps let you monitor and control your system from anywhere. 

Since there’s no professional monitoring, self-monitoring capabilities are key. With the app, you can remotely watch any live stream, record camera footage right within the app and save it to your phone, receive motion detection alerts, set motion detection zones, and more. 

You can even control your cameras, including pan, tilt, and zoom settings from anywhere. 

When it’s time to install your system, you can choose from DIY or professional installation services. 

Every product you buy comes with all the hardware you need to set up and mount your equipment, but it’s not nearly as plug-and-play as Frontpoint’s equipment. You’ll probably need some power tools, a ladder, a screwdriver, and some know-how to get the job done. 

However, Lorex offers dozens of free tutorials and placement guides, plus all of the wiring, cables, and junction boxes you need. 

You can order them directly from the website in just a few clicks. 

For professional installation, Lorex partners with Geek Squad (the U.S. only) and Installer Net. The price varies depending on the complexity of your system, and you’ll get a better idea of overall costs when you set up your appointment. 

All installation fees are prepaid directly to the provider so you don’t have to worry about paying the technician when they arrive. 

However, it’s important to keep in mind that if your tech needs more equipment to finish the installation, you’re responsible for those added costs. 

After you buy your equipment, you can select your preferred partner and set up an installation appointment directly with them, rather than using Lorex as a middle man. This greatly speeds up the process and makes for a better experience. 

The main difference between the two partners is their warranties. 

Geek Squad offers a 90-day workmanship warranty and Installer Net has a lifetime installation warranty if something goes wrong… ever. 

All of Lorex’s products ship free within one business day as long as the item’s in stock to the U.S. and Canada. Plus, you get a one-year warranty and free 30-day returns if you’re unhappy for any reason. 

Try Lorex risk-free for 30 days to see if it’s right for you and your business today!

#5 – SimpliSafe — The Best for Indoor Security on a Shoestring Budget

If you have a small indoor space and aren’t too enthusiastic about Frontpoint’s high monthly fees, SimpliSafe is a solid cost-effective alternative with significantly lower monthly fees. 

It’s an excellent choice if you don’t need the highest-quality equipment and just want something that gets the job done. 

SimpliSafe’s equipment is all DIY-ready. Installation requires no tools, drilling, or know-how since everything’s ready to go right out of the box. However, you can also opt for professional installation if you don’t want to fuss with it yourself. 

Professional installation is a one-time fee starting at $99 dollars, an option for if you’re short on time or want the added peace of mind.

There are four premade security packages from SimpliSafe.

The first is a basic Business Essentials kit. That comes with a base station, a keypad, one motion sensor, a high-definition camera, and three entryway sensors.

At $191, it’s a bit more expensive than Frontpoint’s cheapest kit. But, you can get it today for just $161 if you sign up for professional monitoring at checkout, though.

Monitoring runs you a monthly rate that depends on how much of it you want SimpliSafe to handle. Pay $9.99 per month to self-monitor but get unlimited camera recording for up to five cameras.

Other plans are $14.99 for standard monitoring, where SimpliSafe offers 24/7 emergency dispatching and the company handling all alerts and notifications, and $24.99 for interactive monitoring, which blends the SimpliSafe assistance of standard monitoring with the awareness you get from the $9.99 self-monitoring plan.

With self-monitoring, you only get the added benefit of unlimited video recording capabilities with 30 days of storage space. But it’s excellent if you plan to monitor your system yourself. 

The standard plan comes with everything SimpliSafe has to offer except for video verification. 

And the interactive plan includes everything, which is why we recommend it for most businesses. It provides an added layer of security and peace of mind you can’t get with the other plans. 

Other SimpliSafe kits are tailored for larger areas or specialized needs. The Office Protection package adds another motion sensor to what you get in the Essentials kit, plus throws in a panic button. That starts as low as $245.

Or, opt for a storefront or restaurant kit if that’s what you’re trying to protect. Neither will cost you more than $350, while most of Frontpoint’s better kits run you around $400.

SimpliSafe’s low monthly fees definitely make up for the added equipment cost. And SimpliSafe looks more modern, too.

An added benefit is that it’s designed to be invisible so you don’t even notice it’s there. 

Your home base is also 100% smash-proof and works even if it’s unplugged, partially destroyed, or the power goes out. So, you can rest assured your system is always up and running—no matter what. 

So, if you have multiple entrances to secure or sensitive areas to cover, you get more bang for your buck with SimpliSafe. 

Alternatively, you can add any of SimpliSafe’s equipment, including sensors, smart locks, cameras, and hazard protection, to a pre-built kit for a fully custom security system or build your own from scratch. 

Despite being budget-friendly and offering fewer equipment options, it’s flexible enough to accommodate a wide range of indoor spaces. 

Note: SimpliSafe doesn’t offer outdoor cameras aside from a doorbell camera. So, if you’re looking to secure outdoor spaces as well, Frontpoint is your best DIY option. 

All of SimpliSafe’s equipment is cellular with a WiFi backup connection, so you don’t have to worry about losing cell service for any reason. Your devices automatically switch to WiFi when the connection’s too weak. 

Your equipment also automatically updates to the latest firmware and software so you can rest assured that your system isn’t running on outdated technology. 

Even though SimpliSafe’s our top budget pick, you get the same level of service and protection with 24/7 professional monitoring. 

If you’re on the top plan, which is cheaper than Frontpoint’s low-end option, you also get video verification that automatically sends video footage to the police. The benefit is that they have visual proof something’s going on and will respond as fast as possible. 

With SimpliSafe’s standard and interactive monitoring, the monitoring team will call you if an alarm is triggered to make sure you’re okay and aware of the situation. 

From there, they’ll check the video footage to ensure it’s not a false alarm. If it isn’t, or they can’t get in touch with you, they’ll contact the right authorities with adequate video footage for you. 

The mobile app is intuitive and easy to use. It lets you arm, disarm, and control your system from anywhere whether you’re inside your business or on the other side of the world. One of its standout features, though, is the ability to set up secret alarms. 

Secret alarms send a notification to you but don’t alert the authorities or your professional monitoring team. 

It’s a great option if you want to keep an eye on things without triggering too many false alarms. 

You also get a duress pin number you can use if someone forces you to disarm your system. It turns off all the alarms and automatically alerts the monitoring team to send help as soon as possible. 

Try SimpliSafe risk-free for 60 days to see if it’s right for your business today!

#6 – ADT — The Best for Airtight Professional-Grade Security Solutions

ADT is a name you’ve probably heard of. 

It’s been synonymous with Fort Knox-grade residential and commercial security for more than 140 years, making it our top recommendation if you need a professional-grade system.

From retail-specific systems and solutions for restaurants to unbreakable military-grade commercial systems and cybersecurity, ADT fills in the gaps for businesses who don’t find what they need with the other options on our list. 

Whether you have a small space you need to fortify or you need specialized equipment, ADT is versatile enough to deliver virtually any type of security system you need. 

Out of all of our options, it has the most monitoring centers—nine of them—making it the largest security network on our list. But with this, the company’s age, and the professional-grade nature of ADT’s systems comes with a higher price tag, long-term contracts, and an old-school mentality. 

However, none of those are deal-breakers. Just something to keep in mind. 

The whole process starts with a free risk assessment to discuss your needs and identify your most vulnerable security risks. Not only is this beneficial for you since it can help pinpoint potential threats you may not have considered, but it also helps the ADT team understand what you’re looking for while accounting for your top security concerns. 

Other companies offer something similar, but ADT by far has the most industry experience and knowledge of highly specialized security systems. 

So, you can rest assured knowing your assessment is as comprehensive as it gets. 

After your assessment, ADT puts together a custom solution with equipment recommendations that matches your risks and budget to ensure your business is protected, regardless of how much you have to spend. 

Aside from standard sensors, motion detectors, and hazard protection, there are also dozens of highly specialized equipment and security options to choose from. 

For example, ADT offers an electronic article surveillance (EAS) system for retail stores. The entire system is wifi enabled and comes with all the sensors and accessories you need to reduce theft and prevent inventory loss at your storefront. 

You can choose from a variety of different security tags, including reusable tags, disposable labels, and specialty tags for things like shoes, boxed goods, sporting goods, and eyewear. 

ADT’s EAS system also comes with tag detachers and label deactivators to use in your store. 

If you need to secure ATMs or ITMs, ADT has a specialized solution for that. It includes two-way video and remote transaction processing that’s embeddable inside your machines. Plus, you get the added benefit of professional monitoring as well. 

It’s an excellent option for protecting safes, vaults, banking equipment, drive-through systems, and more. 

You can also choose from bullet-proof glass, hold-up buttons, and access control features to ensure even the most sensitive areas are secure—no matter what. 

Need a cybersecurity solution to cover your networks, endpoints, servers, and email communications? 

ADT’s got you covered with proactive cybersecurity plans to protect you from malicious attacks and hackers. 

Want to leverage thermal imaging scanners to identify people with possible illnesses and a fever? No problem. There’s a fully customizable and noninvasive solution as well as standalone and mobile options. 

If you’re in a highly regulated and sensitive industry, ADT can help with that too. 

From casinos, hospitals, airports, and large commercial facilities, there are numerous video storage and video surveillance options available. 

Regardless of the equipment and overall plan you have, the ADT support team is dedicated to answering phone calls within 60 seconds. So, it takes less than a minute to get on the phone with a real human. 

Smaller companies can’t commit to this because they have limited resources. So, this is definitely an advantage of working with an industry giant like ADT. 

Since these security systems are highly specialized and custom fit to your business, pricing isn’t available online. 

But there are three monthly plans to choose from for small business solutions, including:

• Premise Control – includes 24/7 monitoring, intrusion detection, remote access to your system, notifications and alerts, and custom automations
• Enterprise View – includes everything in Premise Control plus live video streaming, the ability to record and save video clips, and other interactive video features
• Total Productivity – includes everything in Enterprise View plus climate, lighting, and smart appliance control

There are also three additional add-ons you can choose from, including access control, cybersecurity, and video verification services. 

For commercial-grade and industry-specific solutions, your package is 100% custom to match your business and specific needs. So, it won’t follow the same three-tiered approach ADT uses for small businesses. Instead, you’ll work closely with an expert to build out your plan. 

Either way, you get a 6-month money-back guarantee, which is the most generous risk-free period we’ve seen. 

Get in touch with one of ADT’s security specialists to get started today!

Methodology For Choosing The Best Business Security Systems

We stand behind all of our recommendations, but each one’s more suitable for different types of businesses with varying security needs. To help you make the best choice for your business, we distilled our selection criteria into a definitive methodology you can use to simplify the decision-making process. 

The Size of Your Space

Understanding the physical space you want to protect will make it much easier to determine what type of equipment you need and how many devices are required to secure your business.

Start with a rough sketch of your building. Count your entrances, rooms, windows, and entryways. Just get an idea of your space and the layout to estimate where you’d like to place equipment and which areas need to be monitored. 

Security cameras are complex and come with an infinite number of configurations. You’ll need to choose between things like WiFi, cellular, analog, and IP versions with various capabilities like tilt, pan, zoom, recording resolution, and night vision. 

Figure out if your space can accommodate wireless cameras or if you think they’ll need hard-wired connection. If you’re using a WiFi camera, you need to ensure the cameras are placed close enough to your router to receive a strong signal. 

Depending on the size of your space, you can also think about using sensors to protect your business. Examples include:

• Motion detection
• Doorway triggers
• Entryway sensors
• Window sensors
• Glass break detection
• Garage door sensors

You can use these in conjunction with video cameras or use them on their own to secure low-visibility areas your cameras don’t cover.

Understanding the specs you need for different areas of your business can help you save money while ensuring your entire space is secure. You can rest easy knowing you have equipment that adequately covers each room without being overkill.

For example, a narrow hallway doesn’t need a camera that spans 360 degrees. But you may want the ability to zoom in on things at the end of the hall. 

Your Business’s Security Risks and Vulnerabilities

Every business is different, so it’s crucial to understand your most significant vulnerabilities to ensure you get a system that functions how you need it to and covers your primary areas of concern. 

Maybe you have a cash register that handles a lot of cash throughout the day. If so, you probably want an extra camera pointed at it to keep an eye on things. 

Or perhaps you’re a large manufacturing company with thousands of people coming and going 24/7. In that case, you may want continuous video recording capabilities, so you can go back and look at historical footage if something goes wrong or someone gets hurt. 

There are dozens of extra features you can opt for, including:

Professional monitoring – this comes with a monthly fee but ensures someone always has eyes on your business, even if you’re not around. With it, tripped sensors or specific actions trigger an automatic call to police, fire, or EMS to send help right away. 

If it’s 2 a.m. and a fire breaks out at your business, you’re probably not going to hear the push notification telling you about it. But your professional monitoring team can alert the proper authorities in a matter of seconds, even if you’re asleep. We recommend it for most businesses (unless you know what you’re doing) since it adds an extra layer of protection for you and your employees. 

Access control – an intelligent lock system that restricts access to different areas of your business. You can control it from anywhere with your phone, and it’s best for large spaces with multiple rooms or buildings. With it, you can decide who has access to what and what time they can go in, plus you have a record of everyone inside at any given time. 

Alternatively, you can put locks on a timer. You can have all locks engage at 6 p.m. no matter what and disengage them at 8 a.m. the next day. 

There are several configurations to choose from, including keypads with unique codes, key fobs, badge scanning, and biometric scanning, to name a few. ADT offers this as an add-on. But if access control is a significant vulnerability for your business beyond the scope of ADT’s capabilities, we recommend planning access control in conjunction with your security system. 

Check out our top recommendations for access control systems.

Video storage – this is a crucial point that often gets overlooked. The higher your resolution and the more time you spend recording, the more space you need. Some businesses may need ongoing recording and the space to store it to look back on footage from days or even weeks in the past. 

Others may only need motion-triggered recordings that start when motion occurs and continues for a set amount of time. This requires significantly less space. 

And even others don’t need to record and only want a live feed with minimal storage. 

There are numerous storage options, like built-in memory cards, cloud storage, and DVR/NVR, or a combination of the three. Regardless of your needs, it’s important to consider storage space when making your decision. If you’re not sure, set up a call with the provider to talk it over and ensure they can deliver what you need. 

Custom sensors – aside from standard entryway, window, door, and motion sensors, you can also get specialized sensors that trigger specific actions from your security system for things like safes, cash registers, and sensitive storage rooms. 

For example, you can put a sensor inside your cash register. When it’s opened, the camera pointing at it records and stores the next 60 seconds to ensure everything goes as planned. 

If something goes wrong, you can go back to that recording to see what happened. 

For sensitive areas, like safes and rooms with sensitive hardware or information, you can set up a motion sensor to do the same thing. When someone goes in, you can immediately start recording what happens next. 

A mobile app – most providers offer a mobile app in some capacity or another. But they’re not all created equal. Some give you more remote control than others, and the right one for you depends on what you want to do when you’re away. 

Some mobile capabilities include:

• The ability to control camera settings like tilt, pan, and zoom
• See alerts and notifications in real-time 
• View live video feeds or view historical footage
• Check the status of your equipment
• Silence false alarms before authorities get dispatched
• Set up automations and time-based rules
• Control smart devices like locks, garage doors, thermostats, and lights

A home-based business owner may want to control all of their smart home features and view live doorbell cam footage from their phone, whereas a small office manager may not need the same level of control. 

Article and product surveillance – specifically designed for retail stores. You can get specialized sensors that attach to your products to prevent theft and reduce inventory loss. It includes things like tags that set off an alarm at the door or ink cartridges that explode if someone tries to take them off without the right tools. 

Other considerations – aside from deterring criminals and preventing theft, protecting your business from disasters and the elements is a crucial piece of business security. Doing so means considering smoke detectors, temperature sensors, carbon monoxide sensors, air quality monitoring, and flood detection. 

While these are the most common, there are numerous other factors to consider, like cybersecurity, panic buttons, multi-site facility management features, industry-specific risks, and battery backups for plugged-in devices. 

DIY vs. Professional Installation

When it’s time to install your new system, you have two options: DIY or professional installation. The right one for you depends on your budget, the amount of time you have, your technical skills, and your system’s complexity. 

DIY installations are usually free and consist of WiFi or cellular equipment. Many DIY kits are entirely wireless and tool-free, but a few may require a power cord. 

However, it takes longer, limits the equipment you can buy, and could end up taking weeks or even months of phone calls to customer support if you’re not comfortable with what you’re doing. There’s also the possibility of messing something up. 

However, DIY isn’t a bad approach if you just need a few sensors or cameras set up around your small office or home.

If you go this route, make sure there is adequate documentation and you have clear instructions on how to do it—this paired with timely tech support is key to a seamless, frustration-free DIY installation. 

Our advice, though? Be sure to ask yourself if it’s a valuable use of your time. As a business owner, you have a lot on your plate. Your time may be better spent doing something else and paying a pro $100 to install it for you in a few hours. 

The more complex the system is, the less fruitful and cost-effective DIY installation becomes. And depending on the provider you choose, pro installs may be your only option. 

On the other side of things, professional installation isn’t free. It usually comes with a price tag of around $100 or more, depending on how long your installation takes. 

But the benefit is that it doesn’t take up any of your time, and you get peace of mind knowing it’s done well the first time. 

Professional technicians can also quickly identify faulty equipment, which would probably take multiple calls to support spanning a few days to troubleshoot on your own. With pro installation, you don’t have to worry about that at all. 

With highly complicated systems, it’s an inevitable cost. But you don’t have to worry about limiting yourself to DIY-friendly equipment, so you open yourself up to more possibilities. 

Want a high-end camera that can zoom in on a license plate 1,000 feet away and identify faces on the fly? Go for it. 

Need 20+ professional-grade security cameras to give you eyes on even the darkest corners of your business? No problem. Simply put, there are no restrictions on what you can do with a professionally installed security system. 

Trustworthy Tech Support

In our eyes, you should feel confident in your security solution. For that to happen, you need—and deserve—a timely, knowledgeable, and trustworthy support system of helpful humans behind the scenes. 

If you can’t get help when you need it, it doesn’t make sense to put the livelihood of your employees, customers, and business into the hands of that company. 

After all, poor tech support doesn’t exactly send a “Hey, you can trust us!” vibe. 

From faulty or failing equipment to troubleshooting and legitimate emergencies, things go wrong. All the time. It’s the one thing you can count on. 

All of your fancy equipment, hardware, and software means nothing if you’re stuck on hold for hours or have to wait days for someone to call you back every time something happens. Every second your system doesn’t work as it should, your business is vulnerable. 

So, it’s crucial to choose a provider that offers timely and knowledgeable tech support that’s comfortable with the hardware you have.

For professionally installed systems, support for the little things is critical.

But “over-support” can also be a downfall of pro installation. You may have to wait for a technician to come to your business for minor issues you’d usually be able to fix with a bit of troubleshooting guidance on your own. 

It can drastically draw out the support process. It’s not a dealbreaker, just something to keep in mind when weighing your options. 

If you install your system yourself, support throughout the installation process is paramount. It’s easy to mess things up, even if the fix is as simple as turning something on or flipping a switch in your control panel. 

From small oversights to faulty equipment, there’s a lot of room for error. 

On your own, these setbacks could take hours to figure out. But if you know you can pick up the phone and get help right away, it can take a matter of minutes instead. 

One thing we’ve noticed across the board is that many companies outsource support to third parties. It’s definitely something to pay attention to because the people you talk to on the phone probably have very little knowledge of anything on the technical side. 

They may be able to help with general customer service, but you should always be able to quickly get in touch with someone who has more technical knowledge. 

If you can’t, that’s a red flag and a sign that you’ll never be able to get the help you need.

Overall, a system that isn’t working is a huge deal. Every extra minute you have to wait for help or replacement equipment puts your business at risk. The best security companies know this and do everything they can to get you back up and running as fast as possible. 

Whether that means paying a bit more on their end for priority shipping, staying on the line as long as it takes to resolve your issue, or sending out a technician in a matter of hours. 

No matter what, you should be able to trust the team behind the system. If you don’t, for whatever reason, you should look elsewhere. 

Most companies offer a money-back guarantee so you can try it out and gauge their support before making your final decisions. However, you should also look into each company’s policies as well. 

We recommend digging into the fine print, terms of service, privacy, and disclaimers pages to learn more about how the provider handles guarantees and warranties. 

You should also make sure you know whether you’re signing a long-term contract or not. 

We’ve seen far too many businesses lose money and settle for security systems they’re unhappy with because they didn’t read the fine print.

Investigate New Security Technologies Carefully

When comparing security systems, vendors are likely to tout new technologies they are offering. Certainly, new security technologies can be extremely helpful. After all, installing cameras on WiFi was a new technology at one point, and everyone offers it now.

However, you shouldn’t just agree to install new technologies without some guarantees from the security provider. Does the provider have some examples of using the technology successfully in businesses similar to yours? Or are you one of the first businesses to install it? You don’t want to be part of an experiment when your security is on the line.

Another consideration with new security technology is ensuring you can use and maintain it properly. The security company supplying the technology must be able to provide tech support and customer service personnel who fully understand how to use the new technology and hardware. You do not want to install something that your provider isn’t quite sure how to help you troubleshoot.

Some of the most popular new technologies involve using artificial intelligence and machine vision. With these technologies added to your video surveillance system, the system may be able to anticipate problems with unwanted intruders and alert you. Then, you could check the cameras yourself and determine whether the situation warrants more attention before a break-in occurs.

You may want to consider cybersecurity and website security options, too. More businesses than ever rely on their digital properties, so you will want to protect them as well.

Expanding Your Knowledge: Best Business Security Systems

Summary

Without a quality security system in place, it’s hard to have peace of mind about the physical location of your business.

Vivint is our top security system pick for most businesses because it makes it simple for anyone to get that peace of mind. The low cost removes a traditionally painful barrier that prevents many offices, storefronts, and buildings from being as secure as they should be.

However, we don’t imagine Vivint is the only good option for everyone. The others on this list have virtues to consider and could be more appropriate for your needs. So, don’t forget to follow our methodology and recommended use cases explained in this guide to find the best security solution for your business.