Alcom Security Monitoring & Services Inc. 416-798-7721

When you bundle your security service with your internet, you may get a better price, but what do you lose?

Pretty much, your name is replaced by a number, and you get the same level of service that you would get from a big telecom company, the recorded message, the chance to enter your phone number into a system, with the hope of deflecting some calls into their call centre.

This may work for others, as we can sometimes deal with being treated like a number for some savings.

But what else do you lose? You do lose some security. The reason you want a security system is to be secure.

The effectiveness of your internet-based system is based on the availability of your internet service. If ever your internet service goes out, so does your security system. This can happen by the when the internet does out, or when the internet is cut off in an attempt to access your home or property.

What about Alcom alarms? We have radio alarms that work when your internet, phone or even electricity is down.  So, when you need it the most, Alcom alarms work

When you’re out visiting family for Thanksgiving, we want you to ensure that have a great and safe Thanksgiving.

If you’re going out, please don’t make it obvious. Ensure your house is well-lit, and that it appears that someone is home.  You can do this by installing motion-sensor lights, as well as timers giving the impression that someone is home.  Also, if you have light timers, it’s saves energy as opposed to having lights on all weekend.

Also, keep in mind that mail is delivered on Friday, and newspapers and flyers are delivered throughout the weekend, so ask a neighbor to pick these up for you.

At Alcom, we wanted to wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving. Enjoy the time with friends and family.

When building owners decide to take shortcuts in service, look for the cheapest option or assume that fires happen somewhere else, the effects can be deadly.

At Alcom, we believe in being accountable to you and those under your protection. We are saving people’s lives by giving you the best of our protection. As well, you, in trusting us with this responsibility, we need to ensure that people are protected.

When requested to come, we bring decades of experience, showing you everything that is required to keep you safe.

If you want an assessment, please call Ernesto at (416) 798 7721.

With the shorter days in fall come the longer nights, and more time to look at your home as an opportunity.

Before it gets too cold, we would like to suggest some tips for getting your house safe, from both thieves and Mother Nature.

Keep in mind that fire happens most often in winter, so replace your batteries frequently. Also, replace your alarm ever 10 years.

Trim bushes outside your home, so that your home is visible, and there are no hiding spots.

Insulate your pipes, as they can freeze over the winter.

Clean your downspouts and eavesdrops, so that you can avoid winter flooding.

Finally, to deter thieves, consider using light timers, giving the impression of an active home, even when you are out.

Welcome to back to school time! If your children or grandchildren arrive after school, you can know if they are safe by checking out our new app.

Details on keeping your kids secure can be found here. http://www.alcomsecurity.ca/industry-news/2016/8/14/preparing-for-back-to-school

The great thing about the app is that you can see the events log. Knowing when your Alcom alarm is activated can promote accountability with your family, as you know when people come and go.

You can be confident that the doors are shut, the alarm on, and your child is safe. If only you can ensure that they are doing their homework!

As you know, the Ontario Fire Code requires that an establishment such as an apartment building creates and follows a Fire Safety Plan, which has to be acceptable to fire officials.

There are so many rules effecting you, in terms of access, level of protection, how and where alarms should be placed, it’s a good idea to speak with us at Alcom, so we can understand your protection requirements.

The costs of not having protection, in terms of human life, are too much to do this by yourself. Getting protected ensures that you not only can save life, but also fines and judgments against you and your company.

If you want to know more about protecting your property, please call Ernesto at (416) 798 7721.

Keep Your Bundles for Internet, not Security

So how does an Alcom alarm system differ from the others?

While bundled security systems are cheaper, you get what you pay for. You get personal service, from a company close to you. When the phone is answered, you are answered by a human being, not someone paid by the phone call. Your call is answered by someone who cares about your situation and the security of your home.

If you ever wanted to speak about your situation, or just have a question, call Ernesto at (416) 798 7721.

Remember: Alcom doesn’t have quotas, or number of calls we have to answer in a day. All we worry about is making you happy, protected and safe.

We were made aware of someone trying to impersonate and trade off of Alcom’s good name.

Wikipedia tells us that phishing is the attempt to obtain sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details (and, indirectly, money), often for malicious reasons, by disguising as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication.

While this can happen via email, it can also happen with phone calls as well. The bottom line is do not provide any personal information to someone you do not trust or have not heard from before.

If you wish to make a complaint about phishing attempts, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre can provide support.

As we approach the time where kids are home for summer, we wanted to let you know about our app. Our smartphone app can monitor your home security status, even when you’re not there.

Here’s what the app can do:

• Monitoring of the alarm panels' status 
• Real-time push, text or email notifications
• Events log available up to one year back in time
• Remote Arming/Disarming of the alarm system
• Secured remote access with personalized user codes

If you didn’t want to use an app, there’s SMS text messaging, as well as the ability to view the status of your home security on a webpage.

If you’re interested in these options, please speak with Ernesto can customize a system for you, please give him a call at (416) 798 7721.

This is an Alcom sticker. 

It tells the world a few things. 

It tells neighbors that you care enough to choose a family-run company to protect your family and property. 

It tells neighbors that, while you may bundle up during the winter, you don’t bundle your security system with your cable. 

It tells burglars that the owner of this system wants to protect their property.

That the alarm protecting the house is tamperproof

That the company monitoring the alarm monitors it 24 hours a day.

It tells criminals to move on…..

Can’t wait to get outside? Or at least open the windows and let the air in?

We totally feel the same. 

But when you open your windows, you give burglars the opportunity to enter your home.  Let’s do a quick check of your home, ensuring that everything is safe, so you can enjoy yourself.

First of all, the most important thing you can do is get an Alcom radio-based security system. This system allows you to check the status of your home anytime. 

An Alcom sticker tells burglars that you’re serious about buying tamperproof and radio-based alarms.

In addition, there are some things to keep in mind when keeping your property safe.

When the time springs forward, check the batteries in your smoke detector.

For your outdoor lights, add motion-sensitive options to them.  This will deter burglars from entering.

If you have greenery that overgrew a bit too much, and they cover access points in your home, take a few minutes and trim the greenery so burglars do not have a place to hide.

Make a nightly habit to check that all doors are locked and all windows are closed.  This is something that we can often ignore in winter, when you know windows are open.  This is a habit that we need to get used to in the spring. 

At Alcom, we love Honeywell, as well as other manufacturers as well. 

With Honeywell’s Tuxedo Touch, you get a 7", high-resolution graphic touchscreen and controller. It integrates security with voice commands, video viewing and recording, and a host of other features.

Consumers can now utilize groundbreaking voice control in everyday living. By speaking commands such as “leaving the house” or “returning home”, users can perform a range of tasks, such as arming their systems, and more.

You can also view cameras, control their security system, lights, locks and thermostats, and receive email and video alerts remotely.

This is a superior system, but there are other systems that can fit into your lifestyle.  If you’re interested, please speak with Ernesto at (416) 798 7721.

Alcom’s at the front of the latest technology to connect you with your home, even when you’re away from home.

You can use an app on your phone to view the status of your home, arm or disarm your system as well.  (Great for to confirm when the kids really come home). If you didn’t want to use an app, there’s SMS text messaging, as well as viewing the status of your home security on a webpage.

If you’re interested in these options, please speak with Ernesto can customize a system for you, please give him a call at (416) 798 7721.

A while back, we discussed our new system that where you can view the status of your home, all on our new app.

Here’s what the app can do:

• Monitoring of the alarm panels'  status
• Real-time push, text or email notifications
• Events log available up to one year back in time
• Remote Arming/Disarming of the alarm system
• Secured remote access with personalized user codes

No phone line? Worried about cut phone lines? No problem!

You may have heard ads frightening customers into thinking that phone lines can get cut, leaving alarms at risk.  As our tech guru Danny says, the best systems have failsafe technologies, so if something fails, you’re backed up.

We’re adjusting with the times too, when some talk about line cutting, we know that some customers don’t even have a landline.  For our customers, we have the ability to wirelessly connect to our systems, or access it via SMS (text) messaging (a special type of messaging).  GSM cellular also backs up some of our systems.

Worried about power loss? Some of our systems have a backup battery to help in case of a power outage. 

This is where Alcom’s personal service comes in.  Tell Ernesto what you need and he’ll come up with a system for you. Please give him a call at (416) 798 7721.

At Alcom, we provide fire alarm and fire sprinkler system for many commercial and non-profit organizations.

Parts of our knowledge is in knowing the Ontario fire code, but ask anyone doing a renovation the difference between doing it to code and doing it right.

For industrial and commercial buildings, where hundreds of people can occupy the building, there’s many reasons why you want the best fire and fire sprinkler alarm system.

Protecting your Investment

You spent years of effort on your business, and a fire can wipe it out at any time for any reason, so why not protect it with the best fire protection possible?  You didn’t put minimal effort to build your business, so why put minimal efforts to protect your business.

Protecting People

Fire alarms are how the fire department is called to the source of your fire. If your alarm is not performing as expected, the employees, customers and visitors to your premises will not be as protected.

Save on Insurance

Failing to meet your insurance requirements by not having fire and sprinkler monitoring could lead to claims not being paid in the event of a fire.

Meet Fire Protection Codes

Meeting municipal fire protection codes can be confusing, that’s why you would want to rely on our experts to navigate these waters. While you need protection to protect your investment, people and customers, you also don’t need the expense and costs (of time and hassle) to deal with fire infractions. The specialists here at Alcom have the ability to translate complicated fire codes into peace of mind for you.

Which all leads back to protecting your investment. Few companies that suffer from a severe fire where human life is damaged return.

If you want to reinforce your fire and sprinkler alarm protection, Ernesto can customize a system for you, please give him a call at (416) 798 7721.