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Five Outdoor Home Security Essentials

With summer cookouts and parties to prepare for, and long, light evenings to enjoy, it's the time of year to pay attention to your home's outdoor space.

After all, you won't be the only one doing so. Summer is prime time for burglars. It's the season of unlocked windows, open doors and garages, and long vacation absences.

Outdoor security is your home's first line of defense—so how does yours shape up? Does it deter intruders at first glance, or invite them to take a second look?

These outdoor security essentials—all available as part of an Alarm.com-powered security system—will safeguard your peace of mind all summer long, letting you make the most of the warm weather, worry-free.

1: Smart Security Camera

Essential for: Knowing what's happening outside

Alarm.com Outdoor Security Camera


Most smart security cameras will let you know if there's activity outside. This one can tell you whether it's an animal, person or vehicle, and whether or not they're on your property. Customize your video alerts to see everything you want to know about—without the everyday activity that doesn't matter.

As well as sending you live and recorded footage of your outdoor space, these cameras also send a clear message to visitors: I have a smart home security system. That's enough to keep most burglars away.

Find out more: What's the Best Home Security Camera?


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2: Smart Lighting

Essential for: Keeping visitors visible

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Shadowy characters rarely like to be in the spotlight—and this goes double for burglars. Automated outdoor lighting, triggered by your Alarm.com image sensors or smart security cameras, ensures that intruders have nowhere to hide after dark.

Going on vacation? It's easy to set up a smart lighting schedule so that Alarm.com turns your lights on every evening, giving passers by the impression that you're home.

3: Contact Sensors

Essential for: Security and child safety

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With Alarm.com, a little information goes a long way. Installed on a door or window, this wireless contact sensor can alert your monitoring service to a break-in, remind you to lock up for the night, or let you know that your kids are exploring the great outdoors on their own.

When school's out, contact sensors become an essential outdoor safeguard for parents, giving you a new way to keep tabs on your pool gate, yard gate, tool shed, garage freezer or other dangerous areas that you want to keep off-limits from curious kids.

Find out more: How Many Contact Sensors Should a Security System Have?

4: Doorbell Camera

Essential for: Protecting your porch

Outdoor Home Security Doorbell Camera.jpg


With plenty of package thieves and dishonest visitors out there, an Alarm.com Doorbell Camera is the best form of deterrence for your front porch. With motion-triggered video alerts, a live video feed and two-way voice, you can see and speak to visitors from anywhere, whether they ring the bell or not.

Expecting a delivery or a late arrival to your outdoor party? Just open your Alarm.com app when the doorbell rings, verify your visitor, and unlock your door with your Alarm.com-powered smart lock.

Find out more: Four Ways to Use an Alarm.com-Powered Doorbell Camera

5: Smart Garage Door Opener

Essential for: Protecting outdoor equipment and tools

Outdoor Home Security Garage.jpg


Summer brings long evening bike rides, road trips, and plenty of outdoor DIY—all of which means plenty of opportunity to leave your garage door wide open. Incorporate this Alarm.com-powered garage door controller into your security system and you'll never be caught out.

Should you leave home with the garage still open, Alarm.com knows (thanks to Geo-Services technology) and sends you a reminder. No need to pedal back home or turn the car around: just tap your phone to close the door, secure your bikes and tools and protect this commonly overlooked entrance to your home.

Find out more: Make Life Easy with Alarm.com's Geo-Services

Want these security essentials in one easy package?

Shaping up your outdoor security is easy with Alarm.com. Our service providers can quickly outfit your home with all of the above and more, with state-of-the-art home security features, professional monitoring for emergencies and a single smartphone app to control it all.

Our service provider network includes some of the biggest home security brands as well as thousands of local smart home security experts, with full professional installation and professionally supported DIY options available in your area.

Want to get started? Click here to see how to get Alarm.com.

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