It wasn’t that long ago when home security and home automation were considered separate and distinct. Those days are long gone, however. Today, there is virtually no distinction between the two. Thanks to companies like Vivint, home security and automation have been merged into one big, dynamic family. If you do not know why that matters, consider how smart technology has improved home security.

Home Automation: 2 Defining Characteristics

When looked at separately, home security and home automation both have their unique aspects. Combine those aspects, and you get a much better system. It all rests on two defining characteristics of home automation:

1. Scheduling

Scheduling is self-explanatory. It allows you to leverage your home automation platform to schedule everything from lighting to temperature control. Just choose a time of day and what you want to accomplish. Each device in your system can be programmed accordingly.

You can schedule the lighting in your home to turn on at six o’clock in the morning. You can schedule your thermostat to modify the temperature for half an hour before you get home from work. Really, the possibilities are only limited by the devices in your system.

2. Rules

Rules are important because they give you granular control. Where scheduling is the foundation of automation, rules let you tie together multiple devices and as many conditions as you care to chain together. For example, I have a routine in my system that checks the calendar day and time. On specific days and at specific times, the system sends me predetermined email reminders.

I also have rules set up for my video cameras. If a camera detects motion, three things happen:

• The camera records for a minimum of five seconds. It will go longer if necessary.
• Video data is automatically saved to my internal server.
• Notifications are sent both to my smartphone and my email inbox.

Just from this one example, you can see how smart home automation has improved my security posture. My cameras are no longer passive devices that merely record data. They now actively inform me that motion has been detected.

System Integration Is the Key

The power of combining home automation with traditional electronic home security lies in integration. In fact, integration is the key. On their own, home security devices perform vital functions, but they all work as standalone devices unless they are specifically tied together. That is exactly what home automation does.

Here are some great examples to illustrate the point:

• Remote Access – With home automation in play, I have remote access to all my security devices, no matter where I am in the world. All I need is my smartphone and an internet connection. That means I am never out of the loop.

• Remote Response – Remote access also equates to remote response. Let’s say I am alerted to someone approaching the front door. Because I have a video camera with onboard audio, I can communicate with that person in real time. If that person is deemed a threat, I can immediately contact the authorities.

• Geolocation Triggers – My favorite part of home automation integration is geolocation capabilities. I can tie my smartphone to my home automation system for certain triggers. For example, I can have the lights turn on as I pull into the driveway. I never have to return to a dark house.

The more I learn about integrating home automation with security, the more exciting this whole thing becomes. Count me among those who believe strongly in combining the two technologies. I am glad the days of treating them as separate entities are over.