The Best Business Security Solutions of 2024

1. ADT - Personalized Security for Small and Large Businesses

SecurityScore:

9.8 /10

855-908-4461

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How We Review

Product Specs

Equipment Costs	Packages starting at $599
Monitoring Options	Professional
Monthly Monitoring Costs	Starting at $25 per month
Contract Lengths	36 months and up
Installation Options	Professional
Smart Platform Integration	Alexa and Google Home

855-908-4461

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Type of Security Solution

ADT used to offer all its business security solutions under one roof, ADT Commercial, but it has been divided into two separate operations. ADT’s business security for small businesses remains under ADT, but its commercial offering is now called Everon and is under the management of the Chicago-based company GTCR.1

Everon offers a broader range of products and services. For example, it offers physical security and cybersecurity solutions. It also offers live video monitoring, security guard response, managed access control, and so much more. If your organization consists of multiple branches, we strongly suggest going straight to Everon to find out which options are available.

As for the ADT managed business security solution, it’s best suited for small and medium-sized businesses. It doesn’t offer as many features as Everon, but compared to SimpliSafe (#2 on this list), ADT’s protection is far more advanced. We saw additional features we didn’t see from SimpliSafe, like continuous video recording and automated access control.

Cost

It’s no secret that ADT is not the most affordable home security system, but you’ll find that ADT’s pricing is fair enough for a small business. In fact, we found ADT’s pricing for small businesses to be just a tad higher than their home security prices. That’s not always the case for companies that offer home and business security solutions.

So how much exactly does an ADT business security cost? Well, it all depends on your final equipment, but when we inquired about a basic business solution, ADT quoted us $500 to $700 for the equipment and about $60 per month for monitoring. That’s a competitive price, considering that a similar package from Vivint can cost upwards of $800.

How to Set Up

One of ADT’s major selling points is its adaptability. You won’t have to go with a packaged solution that may or may not fit your business exactly. Instead, you can customize your security solution.

ADT started us off with a consultation with a Security Specialist named Sharon. Well, we’re security experts ourselves, so we listened intently to Sharon’s presentation. Judging from her recommendations, we can tell that ADT’s Security Specialists are well-trained and well-informed. She scouted our office and later that day, she sent us a quote with the list of equipment we might need.

We liked that ADT let us take the driver’s seat. While Sharon tried to convince us that we needed all the equipment she recommended, she stepped aside when we insisted we didn’t want access control. After that, we signed an agreement and finalized the paperwork.

Professional installation came after as the final step. A team of technicians brought our new ADT equipment and installed it in our office. The service wasn’t free; it was part of the fee we paid upfront. But, we liked their professionalism and the convenience of getting to sit back while they outfitted our office with sensors and cameras.

>> Learn More: The Best Professionally Installed Security Systems

ADT Equipment

Much like its home security systems, ADT’s business security systems are built on security and safety sensors: entry sensors (aka door sensors), motion sensors, glass-break sensors, smoke alarms, and more.

We also received security cameras, but we were surprised that they gave us ADT-branded cameras instead of Google Nest Cams typically offered as ADT home security cameras. Nest Cams are more high-tech since they offer facial recognition and person detection, but Sharon told us that ADT-branded cameras are more suitable for business because they can record 24/7 via an on-site DVR. Nest Cams, on the other hand, only record to the cloud when their sensors are triggered.

She wasn’t wrong; continuous video recording is crucial for businesses. Businesses need security cameras that can provide footage of any incident, not just break-ins. For example, if a customer claims they got the wrong order, received poor service, etc., you want to be able to check your recordings to verify. Typical home security cameras like Nest Cams are not built for that. So overall, we were happy with the ADT equipment we received.

ADT Monitoring Options

Professional monitoring comes standard with ADT, both for residential and business accounts. It’s actually one of ADT’s strongest points. Its network of monitoring facilities leaves little room for error. It has 12 monitoring facilities around the United States, and each building is equipped with backup generators, servers, and communication lines to make sure they can run 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Some of those facilities cater to enterprise-level clients exclusively.

There were also a couple of advanced video monitoring features we didn’t add to our system that might come handy for you:

• Video escort: With a quick phone call, high-level employees and executives will be monitored via a live video link to ensure their safety as they enter or leave your business.
• Video guard tours: Virtual security guards perform a remote tour of your facility to look for suspicious activity and conditions at set intervals, based on your instructions.

ADT has been in business for well over 100 years — longer than any other security company in the market.2  It uses its experience and knowledge to provide businesses and homes the security they deserve.

2. SimpliSafe - Affordable Business Security Solution

SecurityScore:

9.2 /10

800-544-5942

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How We Review

Product Specs

Equipment Costs	Packages starting at $280
Monitoring Options	Professional and DIY
Monthly Monitoring Costs	$19.99 per month
Contract Lengths	Month-to-month
Installation Options	DIY or professional
Smart Platform Integration	Alexa and Google Home

800-544-5942

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Type of Security Solution

SimpliSafe is one of the loudest names in the home security space, but it’s also offering business security systems. It even has business-themed equipment packages like “The Business Essentials” and “The Storefront System.” But the truth is, the equipment SimpliSafe offers to businesses is the same equipment it offers to homes.

That bodes well for some, price-wise. SimpliSafe is one of the most affordable home security systems. But we don’t think SimpliSafe is a good fit for large businesses or companies trying to secure a sprawling industrial complex. It lacks features like continuous video recording and access control. The security sensors don’t go beyond motion, entry, and glass detection.

With what we saw from SimpliSafe, we believe it’s best for small-to-medium businesses, like a store or restaurant. On the bright side, a base station can handle up to 100 sensors. That gives you some scalability.

>> Related: The Best DIY Security Systems (SimpliSafe at No. 1)

Cost

Because it doesn’t offer as many features and options as ADT, SimpliSafe is much more affordable. We were able to buy a SimpliSafe home security system starting at $250 (hub and keypad, one motion sensor, one entry sensor). For businesses, the most basic package is slightly more expensive at $280, but it includes more pieces of equipment. The Business Essentials package comes with a hub and keypad, three entry sensors, and one motion sensor. It’s similar to and costs the same as the Beacon package for homes.

Professional monitoring is also optional with SimpliSafe. You can use it as a no-monthly-fee security system, but we highly recommend professional monitoring because it’s affordable and includes much-needed features such as video verification (which speeds up police response)3, cloud video storage, and Live Guard. We’ll discuss all these later on, but you can get those features starting from $31.99 per month. A cheaper option with just monitoring and cellular backup is available for $21.99.

Expert Take

From Gene Petrino, Retired SWAT Commander and Law Enforcement

“Many businesses can’t afford a security system. These are usually new small businesses that do not understand the need for them. In one case, I was investigating a business burglary where there was no system. The business owner told me he couldn’t afford to purchase the system that he wanted because it would cost him $1,000. Unfortunately, the loss from the burglary was over $10,000 and he realized how valuable the system would have been.”

How to Set Up

As a DIY system, you can buy SimpliSafe equipment online and install it yourself. You won’t have to go through a lengthy consultation or sit through a demonstration by a sales representative. You’re in the driver’s seat. But as Uncle Ben said, “With great power comes great responsibility.” You’ll be responsible for choosing your security equipment, so do a lot of research beforehand.

The same is true when it comes to monitoring. Professional monitoring is not required. You can monitor your business all on your own with the help of SimpliSafe sensors and cameras.

In our experience, SimpliSafe is easy to install. It took less than 30 minutes from unboxing to system test the last time we installed one, and that included the installation of SimpliSafe security cameras.

>> Further Reading: How to Install Security Cameras

SimpliSafe Equipment

SimpliSafe has everything a small business needs for basic protection. It has motion sensors, door and window sensors, and glass-break sensors for detecting intrusion, security cameras for video monitoring, and emergency buttons as a way to get help quickly. It can also monitor for fire and other safety emergencies. If you’re looking for a shortcut, SimpliSafe has ready-made packages for businesses.

The Smart Alarm indoor camera is particularly useful to businesses. When paired with the Core monitoring plan ($31.99), SimpliSafe’s monitoring agents can access the camera and use its two-way audio to deter burglars whenever a sensor or alert is triggered. The Pro and Pro Plus plans ($49.99 and $79.99, respectively) extend that feature to the SimpliSafe outdoor cameras.

The downside of SimpliSafe is that it’s not as customizable as ADT. The DIY aspect gives you certain freedoms to choose your own equipment and style of monitoring, but it’s primarily a home security system. You can customize it for a small shop, restaurant, or warehouse, but it will be hard to manage, for example, if your business requires employees to come in at different hours.

SimpliSafe Monitoring

For monitoring, SimpliSafe offers six options. Yes, six! It’s overwhelming, but they’re pretty easy to understand once you know what features you want.

The Core plan comes with a lot of premium features, such as Live Guard. It also offers video verification for all other SimpliSafe cameras, such as the SimpliCam indoor camera we tested or the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera Pro. It’s currently the best-value option, in our opinion.

The Pro and Pro Plus plans are also great if you want perimeter protection because of the Active Guard Outdoor Protection feature. The Pro plan offers great value to businesses that close down at night, in particular, because it’s affordable (same price as Frontpoint’s top-tier plan) but activates the Active Guard feature at your business’ most vulnerable time – at night.

3. Vivint - High-End Security for Small and Large Businesses

SecurityScore:

9.4 /10

844-922-0575

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How We Review

Product Specs

Equipment costs	Starting at $449
Monitoring options	Professional
Monthly monitoring costs	$40 per month
Contract lengths	Starting at 42 months
Installation options	Professional
Smart platform integration	Alexa and Google Home

844-922-0575

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Type of Security Solution

Vivint is the middle ground between ADT and SimpliSafe. It’s kind of like ADT because it requires professional installation and monitoring. But like SimpliSafe, it offers the same types of equipment to businesses and homes.

We believe Vivint is much better suited for large businesses than SimpliSafe, though. We’ve tested Vivint in our home and saw that it has the potential for commercial security. For example, its line of indoor and outdoor cameras provide advanced security through A.I. The Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro alone can be a powerful tool for keeping criminals at bay. It can detect lurkers and it has an automatic warning system that uses sounds and light to drive away potential threats.

Vivint offers continuous video recording (CVR), too, but not like Lorex cameras (our #5 pick). Captured videos are stored on-device, meaning in the camera’s built-in memory. There’s enough storage for up to 10 days of video for each camera. However, because of the setup, an intruder could tamper with evidence by destroying or stealing the camera. You’ll see later why we prefer Lorex’s DVR recording, but for now, let’s focus on VIvint.

>> Learn More: Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro Review

Cost

Given the quality of Vivint’s products, however, expect to pay a higher fee for a Vivint security system. The Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro mentioned above, for example, costs nearly $400 per unit. The typical price of an outdoor camera is somewhere in the $120 to $200 range. That’s how much difference there can be between Vivint and the industry’s typical pricing. Expect to pay around $800 to $1,000 for a Vivint system, but, again, it all depends on what equipment you ultimately decide on.

Vivint is an excellent option if you’re looking for a high-end business security solution. Its cameras use artificial intelligence to improve alerts, so even if you don’t experience a break-in, Vivint can detect potential lurkers casing your business at night. That level of smart security is what Vivint customers pay for.

How to Set Up

Vivint means business. The company’s security solutions start with a professional assessment from a security expert and culminate with professional installation — all white-glove service from start to finish.

When we had a Vivint system installed at home, a licensed technician did the job. He was well dressed and arrived on time, and he clearly knew the Vivint system inside and out. He gave us useful pointers, such as where to best place sensors and cameras, and he hung around after the installation to explain how the system worked. That’s all part of Vivint’s premium service.

>> More Information: Where to Place Security Cameras

Vivint Equipment

Vivint business security systems consist of three types of equipment: security sensors, security cameras, and Car Guard.

Vivint’s cameras are top of the line. The options are the Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro and Indoor Camera Pro, which share many features. They use artificial intelligence to improve detection, and have clear 1080p HD video powered by a 4K image sensor, HDR, and clear two-way audio. They also each come with a microSD card slot for local storage, a rarity in security system cameras these days. They can also, of course, record to the cloud. They are some of the most expensive indoor and outdoor cameras you can buy, but their A.I. features could prove valuable when placed at your storefront.

As for Car Guard, it’s a monitoring device that plugs into any modern vehicle’s OBD2 port. Consider getting Car Guard if your business uses transport vehicles, since it’s equipped with a GPS tracker, vehicle diagnostics, and disturbance detectors (e.g. dings while parked). It has a 4G/LTE connection, which it uses to generate alerts and inform users about the status of their vehicles.

>> Related: What to Do If Your Car Is Broken Into

Vivint Monitoring

Vivint requires a professional monitoring plan to go along with its equipment, similar to ADT. And, much like ADT, Vivint doesn’t openly advertise its pricing for business security monitoring. For your reference, home security monitoring plans when we tested Vivint ranged from $40 to $50 per month. The more expensive plans included 30-day cloud video recording for up to four cameras, but recording for additional cameras cost extra. That’s one thing to keep in mind with Vivint: The more pieces of equipment you have, the more you’ll pay each month.

As for the service itself, we were quite satisfied with Vivint’s home security monitoring and we don’t see any reason it wouldn’t be the same for businesses. It has fast response times (less than 30 seconds in our testing), the apps were nearly flawless, and we received premium customer support when we needed it.

>> Related: Vivint FAQs

4. Frontpoint - DIY Security for Small Businesses

SecurityScore:

8.9 /10

844-933-2405

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How We Review

Product Specs

Equipment Costs	Starting at $99
Monitoring Options	Professional only
Monthly Monitoring Costs	Starting at $49.99
Contract Lengths	1-36 months
Installation Options	DIY
Smart Platform Integration	Alexa and Google Home

844-933-2405

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Type of Security Solution

Frontpoint is a favorite for protecting homes and small businesses with trustworthy security systems. The company has a reputation for friendly service, straightforward pricing, and dependable equipment. It can support business security, safety monitoring, and building automation with Z-Wave hubs and professional monitoring. Each Frontpoint system uses cellular communication and can have Wi-Fi backup.

The system itself may remind you of ADT’s offerings, but one key difference is that Frontpoint is a DIY system. That’s why we nominate it for small businesses, but it’s not necessarily ideal if you’re monitoring a sprawling property. With DIY labor, you can guard a small business with Frontpoint in an hour or less.

>> Learn More: ADT vs. Frontpoint

Cost

You’d be hard pressed to find a more affordable business security solution than Frontpoint. There’s SimpliSafe, of course, but with more equipment options, Frontpoint is more on the level of ADT and Vivint, but with more competitive pricing.

We’ve tested Frontpoint only as a home security system, but since the business security system offers the same types of equipment, the pricing may not be too far off. Frontpoint pricing for home security systems starts at $129 for a basic kit and can range up to $419 if you include security cameras and smart home equipment. That’s way cheaper than the quotes we got from ADT and Vivint.

How to Set Up

Unlike Frontpoint’s home security systems, you can’t just buy a business security system. It takes a similar approach to ADT, wherein you have to speak to an expert to get a quote. The difference is that you’ll be doing the installation yourself, but Frontpoint provides helpful guides in the form of videos and articles.

Frontpoint’s customer service is among the best in the industry. When we tested the system, we called in and got through to its support line at 8 p.m. Not a lot of alarm companies offer support past normal business hours, so props to Frontpoint for that.

As for the actual installation process, it was super simple. The system was 100 percent wireless, so all we had to do was set up and connect all the components. It took less than an hour to set up everything.

Frontpoint Equipment

Frontpoint’s equipment is pretty standard. It has security sensors such as door and motion sensors, safety sensors such as smoke alarms, security cameras, and even automation devices such as smart locks and thermostats if you ever need them for your business.

We’d like to highlight Frontpoint’s resilience to unforeseen circumstances, which is necessary for 24/7 protection. For starters, the system uses Wi-Fi to send alerts. In case Wi-Fi is unavailable — if an employee accidentally turns it off at closing time, for example — Frontpoint can switch over to cellular networks. The cellular chip is built in and there’s no additional charge for it. Frontpoint is actually one of the top cellular security systems.

Frontpoint’s main hub also features a 24-hour battery backup so it can work during power outages, plus it has crash-and-smash protection that can thwart burglars who try to deactivate the system forcibly. We only see the latter feature in a handful of top home security options, such as SimpliSafe.

Frontpoint Monitoring

Professional monitoring costs $49.99 per month. Since there’s only one plan, you get all the features Frontpoint has to offer, depending on your choice of equipment. One of the features that works great for businesses is crash-and-smash protection. Police will be dispatched even if criminals destroy the security equipment! The $49.99-per-month Frontpoint plan also includes video monitoring and smartphone remote control, in addition to compatibility with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.

In a nutshell, Frontpoint features some of the best small-business security systems you can self-install and get expertly monitored. Everyday customer service is friendly and readily available. Emergency monitoring is high quality with cellular and Wi-Fi signaling both available, and with two monitoring centers for redundancy.

5. Lorex - Robust Security Camera Systems for Businesses of Any Size

SecurityScore:

9.6 /10

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How We Review

Product Specs

Resolution	Up to 4K HD
Field of View	Up to 180°
Power	Wired, battery, PoE
Connectivity	Wi-Fi, ethernet
Video Storage	Cloud, Local
Smart Platform Compatibility	Alexa and Google Home

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Type of Security Solution

Lorex is the oddball of the group because it doesn’t offer security sensors like the others. Instead it offers security cameras — hundreds of them. Lorex has a wide range of indoor and outdoor cameras that offer a variety of features, from 4K video quality to long-range night vision. We even saw business-grade security cameras that can see up to 250 feet in total darkness under the Nocturnal lineup.

Because Lorex offers only security cameras, we recommend it as a supporting system for your primary business security. Lorex doesn’t offer professional monitoring, so it would still be best for your business to have a monitored security system installed. The advantage of adding Lorex, though, is that you get a wider selection of security cameras than most business security solutions provide.

>> Check This Out: Do Security Cameras Deter Crime?

Cost

Another advantage of Lorex is the cost. There are no mandatory monthly fees, because Lorex cameras record locally and save videos to a digital or network video recorder (DVR or NVR). A video recorder is a network-attached computer with terabytes of storage space that can store rolling footage for days or even weeks. That’s certainly something we’d want from business security cameras.

As for the cost of Lorex cameras, it depends on the package. Bundles with less-powerful cameras, which come with four cameras and a DVR, can cost as little as $200 to $300. Larger bundles and more advanced cameras cost more, sometimes up to $2,000 for an eight-camera system. The good news is there’s plenty to choose from, so you can set a budget first and go from there.

How to Install

Unfortunately, Lorex cameras are designed for DIY installation. We say “unfortunately” because it’s not the easiest thing to do, especially with Lorex cameras, which are mostly wired. First you’ll have to connect the DVR to your local internet network, and then connect the cameras to the DVR — usually via a coaxial or Ethernet cable. That may not be something you want to do by yourself.

If you want easier installation, look for Wi-Fi models that can connect to the DVR wirelessly or power-over-Ethernet models that use a single cable for both data transfer and power. Lorex offers some of the best PoE cameras on the market.

In our experience, although wiring Lorex cameras can be tedious, it’s not super technical. We literally just plugged one end of the cable into the DVR and the other end into the camera. Depending on your store’s physical layout, you may be able to work even with wired Lorex cameras.

Lorex Equipment

For businesses, we recommend a digital IP setup with an internet-connected NVR and a mix of indoor and outdoor cameras. We tested a Lorex system like that.

Our setup of four 1080p digital IP cameras sent footage to the NVR. With 1 TB of storage space, we were able to save about five days of continuous video. We recommend setting aside time every few days to review recordings before they’re written over.

We also recommend attaching a computer monitor to the NVR, so you can monitor the cameras live or even hire security personnel to monitor it. Just make sure to read up on the legality of security camera monitoring in your state. At the very least, monitoring high-traffic public areas such as parking lots and store entrances should be fine.

Lorex Monitoring

The reason we recommend adding your own live monitoring for Lorex is that Lorex doesn’t offer any monitoring options. It’s a completely DIY brand, so you have to be hands-on in monitoring your cameras. That’s one downside of Lorex compared to monitored business security solutions that offer security cameras and video verification. We discussed a few options that offer such features earlier, including SimpliSafe and ADT.

Expert Take

From Gene Petrino, Retired SWAT Commander and Law Enforcement

“A reliable security system has many benefits for a business. Not only does it provide protection from break-ins, but it can also reduce already high insurance premiums, reduce employee theft, and protect the company from false claims by customers (e.g., slip-and-fall allegations). There was one case where I responded to an injury at a business. The person stated that he fell in the store because the floor was wet. Luckily, the security camera captured the incident of the person pouring water on the floor and faking the fall.”