According to a new report from Parks Associates, 55% of U.S. broadband households recently polled reported feeling “safe enough” with only a self-monitored home security system, which is just slightly less than the 60% who said they felt the same with only a professionally monitored system.
"While more consumers feel 'safe enough' only with a home security system, security-focused smart home devices deliver this same baseline feeling of security for a majority of households," Brad Russell, Research Director, Connected Home, Parks Associates, said in a statement announcing the findings of the new research. "A significant portion of households associate these products with a sense of security, which increases as more devices are added to the bundle. This creates a serious challenge to the traditional home security industry as cost is a major barrier that weighs down the overall appeal of their solutions."
Additionally, consumers identify security systems as providing the strongest sense of "safe enough" security, but these systems are the least appealing when price is considered. Smart home security devices are a key alternative for cost-conscious consumers when purchasing equipment to secure their home, with a bundle including an all-in-one camera and an outdoor light fixture with a camera as the most appealing.
"As more players from the (consumer electronics) industry enter the DIY security space, they bring an expertise in product design that improves ease-of-use and attractiveness in smart home products," Russell said. "This emphasis on user experience puts pressure on legacy security manufacturers and service providers to deliver solutions and systems that meet or exceed this higher bar, while still keeping costs low."
Click here to learn more about Parks Associates’ DIY Home Security Tracker. For more information or to download a full copy of the research firm’s new report, “Safe Enough: Consumer Attitudes toward Alternative Security Solutions,” click here.
