DIY Security vs. Professional Installation

Feeling at odds with the security of your home isn't a fresh experience for us here in the modern age, as human beings 'Safety' plays second fiddle to Shelter (under Physiological Needs within Maslow's hierarchy of needs) and can be satisfied with a whole host of solutions. When looking online, one of the first things clients often say to me is, "Why is an installation worth 'XYZ' when I can get a set of cameras on eBay for less?" and my answer is always the same;

The quality of D.I.Y Setups is fundamentally inferior to a Professional Install.

I'm not attempting a hard-sell here; the quality of these kits is often so poor that you'll be lucky if they even connect up to begin with! Sometimes, kits will advertise themselves as a full-setup and give you a few minutes of connectivity before poor-performance wiring or capacitors give out completely, and please don't get me started on Dummy Cameras that are sold as professional kit. Mid-range kit from reputable suppliers fares slightly better and the vast majority of the market will cover you in this way but with ever-rising subscription prices and added bloat-features that you never asked for in the first place, what's to be done?

Now, as someone looking for a new Security Installation I'm guessing that you'd be on the back foot with me here, because of course the person that wants you to invest into a professional system is going to discredit D.I.Y kits; however, I have good reason to warn against them. They're often falsely advertised (if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is!) and they go against the grain of what I'm trying to achieve in the security industry which is to grow a reputation on the reliability of my installations. Still unsure? Let me show you some comparisons between DIY and Professional Installations that I commonly address with my own customers:

DIY Setup	Professional Installation
Build Quality Poor build quality plastic surrounds with inferior quality cameras, often below 1080p Resolution and with no back-up recording capabilities. One errant stone or heavier object thrown at these units can knock camera or alarms off of their fixings which immediately compromises your system or introduces a weak point.	Build Quality Industry-standard kit that can 'take a beating' through years of repeated use made from premium quality components. These are often hard-wired and affixed flush to walls so are harder to knock down or otherwise interfere with. Professional systems will have built-in 'Tampers' and Tamper-Resistant mechanisms.
Insurance DIY kits tend not to be accredited or backed by your home insurance and as such do not offer you adequate coverage in the event of a claim.	Insurance A security installation that is vetted by a trained Security Engineer will often adhere to a higher-grade of security and be much simpler to have endorsed under your home insurance policy.
Vulnerability Often exist on an insecure home wireless network protocol that can be easily accessed or otherwise hacked into by a malicious third party. Most DIY kits are uncertified and do not hold themselves to ISO certification that could guarantee your security.	Vulnerability Wired to a LOCAL system that is not easily accessible via the internet. For systems that have remote access, there are enhanced decryption technologies that block attacks and give you further protection.
Backup Most cheap kits you can find do not offer local or cloud-based recording options; only being accessible when you are viewing them live through a monitor or phone. This means that you cannot access previously 'recorded' footage in the event of theft or emergencies.	Backup Professional-grade systems always account for some level of recording. Enterprise grade ones offer fail-safes and backups that remain secure and can be remotely accessed by you and only you with the right encryption. A Network Video Recorder (NVR) is a key part of this system.
Physical Installation A typical downside to DIY components are their reliance upon mains voltage (which consequently has quite a high power draw) and have fewer options for 'multiple' components on the same system. This is fine if you have one outside Floodlight but this can make installation more complex if you're running that cable through the wall, requiring a qualified electrician. Another issue may be a singular camera requiring a full plug socket or extension lead.	Physical Installation In a professional system, components usually run on low voltage (POE) or 12-24V DC. Averaging lower power consumption overall. These are run via cables to a central power hub / board and typically involve cable management through walls or channels where the installation is more seamless and less dependent on heavy mains power outlets. Security Engineers understand the necessity to make their cable management discreet which makes for a more secure install.

As you can see from the above, there are plenty of angles to consider when pitting the two types of system against each other. That said, even a DIY system can have its uses as a temporary fix or a deterrent to criminal activity when employed in the right way so, as they say, not all is lost!

Doing It Yourself: DIY Security

So, everything above has gone into one ear and straight out the other! That's okay. If you're not ready for a professional install then let's go through a list of features you should be looking out for when purchasing one and installing it by yourself:

• RESEARCH: Is the supplier trusted, accredited and do they have a history of legacy support for their products? If the answer is no to any of these then you need to double-check your source, the seller or what the security brand has on offer and look for alternatives.

  
  

• CONNECTION: Does the system connect to WiFi and what sort of protocols are in place for the protection of your data, your recordings and your access to that data? IF the system runs locally, how should it be installed; if it is cloud-based are there any backup functions and what sort of subscription model does it run, if any?

  
  

• FEATURES: Does your new system have a built-in privacy screen function (this is where you block off your own viewport to parts of your neighbour's house or windows so you're not 'Spying' on them when a camera faces away from your zones). Does the system have 'At-Home' settings and can it be checked whilst you're out at work or away from home?
  

• QUALITY: Does the system look well built? Do reviews mention it having premium build quality and have you looked past the marketing mumbo-jumbo to see a truly worthwhile product underneath? Are cameras waterproof if they're going to be installed outside, will they offer night-vision modes? Should the system backfire on you, are there easy-to-understand instructions on how to stop it, disable it or restart it?

Short of being an expert on all of the available products on the market, I'd be happy to assist anyone with their own home installation should they have concerns. You can email contact@tytonsecurity.co.uk with any questions and I'll do my best to help out if I can!

Bridging the Gap.

Although I'm always an advocate for a professional system installation I do believe there is a time and place where DIY solutions can be utilised in conjunction with professional kit or alternatives in order to provide a client with a lighter-weight solution or a budget-friendlier install.

If there's a solution that meets your needs and can be employed without compromising the overall strength of a system then I'm always happy to recommend an option that wouldn't normally be on the cards. We live in an age of technological advancement so, with the ever-changing landscape of security I'm always keen to stay ahead of what works and what is falling behind and make those recommendations where I can. My solution for uniting DIY components and professional kit often takes the form of lower-grade cameras (as these are often the costliest component and a barrier to entry) physically WIRED to a higher-grade Network board where the opportunity for external interference is considerably lowered. Additional components such as switches, motion detectors and alarms are then integrated to further counteract the assumed 'weaknesses' of those DIY components and fulfill any redundancies in the system.

Looking for more?

The author of this article is Byron, Engineer at his own security company, Tyton Security, Based in Rainham, Kent; he is available for quoting domestic and commercial installs should you be interested in a reliable security solution that works around you. Learn more here at: Tyton Security