Resources

• Advanced surveillance systems, installed and continually operated
• A Utah-based dispatch center, generator-backed and operational at all times
• A licensed, bonded, and drug-tested staff of security experts
• Expert equipment technicians, factory trained and licensed
• Advanced access control systems outfitted for remote operation
• Company-warehoused backup inventory for efficient part replacements
• Armed and unarmed guards and patrol service upon request

Over the past few decades, more and more local governments have come to require alarm permits, primarily in an effort to better allocate emergency response resources to genuine emergencies. While it’s perfectly legal to install your own alarm in most cases, activating and operating that alarm may be a different story, depending on your location. For cities or counties which do require alarm permits, information about this may often be found on websites for local police and fire departments. For your convenience, we’ve compiled a list of our most commonly serviced cities with alarm permit policies on record:

• Boise, Idaho
• Idaho Falls, Idaho
• Ogden, Utah
• Park City, Utah
• Salt Lake City, Utah
• Sandy, Utah
• St. George, Utah
• West Valley, Utah

For more information about Alarm Permits, see our section on City Permits.

At PEAK Alarm, we believe that security is a matter of personalization. As such, our company policy is to ensure that your security system is uniquely suited to your needs. We’ll send one of our trusted security experts to evaluate your location and determine the most effective setup for your unique situation. Allow us to prioritize your safety by bringing our expertise to you. We have onsite demo equipment at the ready, and we can even arrange for same-day appointments.

Call us at 800-444-7231 to make an appointment today.

Testing your system’s communication to the Central Monitoring Station:

1. Call 800-444-7231 and ask to have your alarm system put in “TEST” mode — this mode is critical to avoid unnecessary emergency dispatch.
2. Set your alarm as you normally would. Open and close the door you would normally come in and out of. Wait until the delay time has expired and the alarm is set.
3. Open a door or window that is connected to your alarm system. Once the siren begins to ring, wait at least 45 seconds before disarming your system.
4. Call 800-444-7231 back to confirm the signal has been received. Finally, request your system be taken out of “TEST” mode.

This manual test ensures your alarm system is properly communicating with the Central Monitoring Station. We also recommend you test all of your devices to ensure they are properly linked to your alarm panel.

Testing the operation of all door/window sensors and motion detectors:

1. Verify that the system is in “READY” mode and NOT ARMED. The system must be disarmed to avoid accidental emergency dispatch.
2. Open each protected door or window one at a time.
3. Check that the keypad displays the door or window you are testing is open. You may have to press the “STATUS” or “READY” button, depending on your type of system.
4. Close the respective door or window. The keypad should revert to “READY” mode.
5. Repeat this procedure for each sensor in your security system.

Still have questions? Call us any time at 800-444-7231.

Over the past few decades, more and more local governments have come to require alarm permits, primarily in an effort to better allocate emergency response resources to genuine emergencies. While it’s perfectly legal to install your own alarm in most cases, activating and operating that alarm may be a different story, depending on your location. Any level of remote monitoring or emergency response system may require a home alarm permit, and even something as minor as an unsanctioned alarm may incur fines without the right permit.

Home alarm permits were introduced as a means of disincentivizing false alarms in order to better allocate emergency response resources like police and fire departments. They’ve become more commonplace over the years, especially in largely populated areas like major cities. The specifications of these permits vary by location. While some cities may only require a single alarm permit to cover a range of security features, others may require distinct permits for different functions, such as fire and police alarms.

Standards for these permits can vary greatly. Depending on the laws of the local government, an alarm permit may require yearly renewal, while some are simply granted on a one-time basis. A city government may waive the need for a permit under particular circumstances, such as the owner being over a certain age or an unmonitored security system. It should be noted, however, that unmonitored alarms may still draw police attention and incur fines for false alarms. It may simply be easier to obtain a permit.

Another important thing to note is that a home alarm permit is not equivalent to an alarm license. Permits are generally only required for personal, in-home security systems. An alarm license, on the other hand, is something that may be required of professional alarm installers in order to activate and operate alarms.

Because alarm permits are typically issued on a city and county level rather than state or federal, applications are most commonly taken by departments of local government such as the department of finance, department of public safety, or sheriff’s department. For information about your local laws regarding alarm permits, try visiting the website of your local police or fire department. For your convenience, we’ve compiled a list of our most commonly serviced cities with alarm permit policies on record:

• Boise, Idaho
• Idaho Falls, Idaho
• Ogden, Utah
• Park City, Utah
• Salt Lake City, Utah
• Sandy, Utah
• St. George, Utah
• West Valley, Utah

For an easier shortcut to local permit requirements, contact your trusted security professionals. To speak to one of PEAK Alarm’s security specialists about your local requirements regarding home alarm permits, Call 800-444-7231 today!

Every ten seconds, a personal residence somewhere is infiltrated by a burglar. Luckily, there are ways to predict when and where a burglar may strike so that preemptive measures can be taken. To avoid allowing your home to become what police call a “target of opportunity,” follow these proven techniques for making your home the last place a burglar would want to be.

The best preventative measures for protecting your home while you’re away:

• Make it look like you’re still home. Burglars tend to look for empty homes to hit. To make it look like yours is inhabited, consider keeping the curtains or blinds open, leaving a radio on, or turning on certain lights before you leave. One of the best ways to do this is by investing in a security system with access control and lighting features that can be manipulated remotely from your phone.

• Make the outside of your home look busy. There are a few ways to accomplish this. Consider asking a neighbor to use your outdoor trash can while you’re away, or leaving a car (whether it be yours, a friend’s, or a neighbor’s) parked in your driveway. If you expect to be gone for a while, consider having lawn care done while you’re away. You may also want to light the outside of your house with motion-activated light fixtures by the entrances.

• Secure alternative entrances like patio doors and garages. For patio doors, a steel rod in the channel will do the trick. A pin-type lock or a key lock would be even better. Two or three well-placed screws in the overhead track can significantly reduce the risk of the door being lifted from the track. Likewise, keep your garage door closed and locked. A padlock in the door track is an excellent way to do this. If your garage door is electric, consider disconnecting it as well.

• Put up warning signs around your home’s perimeter. Whether these denote a home security system or a (supposedly) vicious guard dog, signs like this make for a reliable deterrent to potential intruders. 

• Consult a knowledgeable locksmith. Different kinds of doors and windows may require different kinds of locks, and deadbolts are recommended wherever applicable. A good locksmith can provide valuable insight into keeping your doors and windows secure.

• Request patrol from your local police. When you know you’ll be gone for an extended period of time, ask the police to check on your home periodically. Likewise, if you see unfamiliar or suspicious activity around your neighbor’s home, call the police. Keeping your neighborhood safe is in everybody’s best interest.

• Be careful with your keys. Consider leaving your keys with a trusted friend or neighbor. If you really need to hide a key outside your home, consider a combination lockbox or an extra secure hiding place. Don’t leave a key under a doormat, under a flower pot, or on a window ledge. Burglars tend to look there first.

• Install peepholes in your home’s entrances. The type with a magnifying glass lens lets you see who’s outside before you (or your loved ones) open the door. Consider installing a heavy-duty door chain as well.

• Take preparatory measures with your valuables. Things like jewelry or important documents may be easily stored in a safe deposit box away from your home for the extent of your trip. For valuable items which must stay behind, like a TV, desktop computer, or stereo system, consider marking them with an engraving pen, available at most police stations. Marking your valuables with your driver’s license number (complete with state abbreviations) can help the police to trace and return them to you in the event they are stolen.

• And finally, look into an effective home security system. We recommend you start right here with PEAK Alarm.

Most businesses are vulnerable to a host of common crimes, including burglary, robbery, arson, equipment theft, and data theft. Fortunately, with the right resources, there are steps your company can take to ensure the risk of these circumstances is as low as possible.

The most effective methods for protecting your business from crime:

• Keep yourself and your staff alert. Businesses should always be alert and vigilant. While it’s important to keep an eye out around the clock, the most crucial times for staff to be conscious of their surroundings are during the opening and closing hours. Employers should pay extra attention during these times as well, both to employees and to customers. The added commotion leaves an increased risk of someone taking advantage of distracted workers.

• Outfit your facilities with proper lighting. Sufficient lighting should be installed around every door and across the parking lot for the safety of both the business and its employees. Make sure that your business is clearly visible from the street so that any police officers or security guards can observe it clearly. Bear in mind that burglars tend to target locations with decreased visibility from the street.

• Employ the assistance of a security company. It pays to have a good security service looking after your business. Getting a reliable alarm system installed on your company’s premises is more affordable than you may think. Considering the dangers it can protect you from, your security system might just pay for itself the very first time the alarm goes off.

• Protect and limit access to your sensitive data. The information that you get from your customers, as well as the information you have for your business, should be treated with the utmost care. Don’t wait for a breach in security to secure all of your information. A mistake like that can mean spending a lot of time and money to make up for it. It’s best to always take precautions to avoid leaking sensitive data. 

• Always use firewalls. The purpose of a firewall is to contain communication within a specified network and to disallow communication with any networks unrelated to the business. Firewalls should be activated for all computers in your business. This is one of the most effective ways to increase your company’s security by preventing any unauthorized access from outside your network.

• Have emergency plans in place. Make sure that your company has documents with detailed steps to follow in case of an emergency. It’s best to always be prepared for eventualities such as fire, theft, or floods. Consider having your staff perform drills to practice the steps of your emergency plans. Not only will this allow some extra peace of mind to everybody involved, but it may be necessary to fulfill the requirements of certain fire prevention or insurance agencies. 

• Conduct company-wide audits. Regular audits should be conducted to account for all of the information and data that your employees store on their computers or computer profiles. Apart from checking digital companies, be sure to also perform audits on hard copies kept in drawers throughout the office as well. Make it a rule that all paper documents containing client or business information should be shredded on a regular basis as soon as it’s no longer needed. Not only will this protect your customers’ information, but it will also protect the company from liability as well.

Get started today with PEAK Alarm business security.