The Best Business Security Systems to Protect Your Small Business

Find the right commercial security system to keep your small business safe.
Best overall
SimpliSafe
SimpliSafe
Starting from
$9.99
/mo
  • pro
    Affordable monitoring
  • pro
    Contract-free service
  • con
    Fewer equipment options
Best features
Vivint
Vivint
Starting from
$29.99
/mo
  • pro
    Advanced home automation
  • pro
    Mobile system access
  • con
    Long contract lengths
Best reputation
Frontpoint
Frontpoint
Contact for a free quote
  • pro
    Excellent reputation
  • pro
    Crash and Smash Protection
  • con
    Lack of transparent pricing

Data effective 5/19/23. At publishing time, pricing and features are current but are subject to change.

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So you’ve decided to protect your small business with a security system. Good choice! But also, maybe a confusing choice? After all, lots of companies claim they have the best security solutions to protect your valuable assets. But at the end of the day, how do you know who can actually make sure no one steals shiz from your biz?

That’s why we’ve rounded up the best security systems out there for small-business owners—with SimpliSafe as our top pick due to its customization, budget options, and the ability to build and manage your system on your own or get professional help. Not to mention taking the system with you if you move.

We’ll tell you what systems work best for different businesses and tell you what you need to know to make the right choice for your business.

Ready to secure your business? Then let’s get started.

Compare the best small-business security systems

Brand
Monthly starting price
Activation fee
Installation type
Monitoring service
Contract length
Smoke detector
Carbon monoxide detection
Cellular monitoring
Landline monitoring
Pro video monitoring
Equipment warranty
Protect Your Business
$9.99/mo.N/ADIYDIY and ProN/A
Icon Check  DarkYes
Icon Close  DarkNo
Icon Check  DarkYes
Icon Check  DarkYes
Icon Check  DarkYes
Limited lifetime
$29.99/mo.N/AProPro42 or 60 mos.
Icon Check  DarkYes
Icon Check  DarkYes
Icon Check  DarkYes
Icon Close  DarkNo
Icon Check  DarkYes
Lifetime with premium service
Contact for a quoteN/ADIYProN/A
Icon Check  DarkYes
Icon Check  DarkYes
Icon Check  DarkYes
Icon Close  DarkNo
Icon Check  DarkYes
Limited lifetime

Data effective 5/19/23. At publishing time, pricing and features are current but are subject to change.

How we're reviewing
Info

All the companies on this list have the essentials—modern monitoring equipment, professional 24/7 business alarm systems, and a good track record of keeping people safe. With that in mind, we’ll be focusing on what really sets each brand apart so you can see why you’d choose one brand over another.

SimpliSafe: Best overall for small businesses

SimpliSafe
SimpliSafe
5 out of 5 stars
5.0
Starts at
$9.99/mo.
With low plan costs and the option to turn pro monitoring off and on, SimpliSafe offers reasonable security at an accessible price.

Data effective 5/19/23. At publishing time, pricing and features are current but are subject to change.

  • Installation type: DIY and professional
  • Monitoring type: Professional and self-monitored
  • Contract length: N/A
  • Cancellation cost: N/A

If you want to protect your business on a budget, then take a look at SimpliSafe. As you’ll see, its monitoring plans are super affordable—its best plan is cheaper than the starting prices of Frontpoint and Vivint.

And if you need another way to lower your security costs, SimpliSafe lets you turn professional monitoring, or Fast Protect™ monitoring, on and off as you need it. So if, say, you only want to have your business monitored when you’re away for an expo, you can do that with SimpliSafe. You can even buy small-batch monitoring, which isn't common. You can buy 30 days of pro monitoring and use it as you like, a weekend here, a few days there.

Now, you know how sometimes you get what you pay for? You’ll mostly see that in SimpliSafe’s equipment offerings. It has proprietary equipment, and some users say it’s lower quality than other alarm brands. At the very least, SimpliSafe has fewer equipment options, and it doesn’t really integrate with outside equipment. On the plus side though, you can take the system with you if you move.

But if you just want to secure your small business for a good price with the option of higher level service, then SimpliSafe’s low costs make it a great option.

Plan
Monitoring cost
Mobile access
Video recording
Timeline access
Get started
Self Monitoring with Camera Recordings

$9.99/mo.

Icon Yes  Dark
Icon Yes  DarkUp to 5 cameras
Icon Yes  Dark
Standard Monitoring$19.99/mo
Icon Yes  Dark
Icon No  Dark
Icon No  Dark

Fast Protect™ Monitoring

$29.99/mo.

Icon Yes  Dark
Icon Yes  DarkUp to 10 cameras
Icon Yes  Dark

Data effective 6/2/23. At publishing time, pricing is current but is subject to change.

Vivint: Best features for home-based businesses

Vivint
Vivint
5 out of 5 stars
5.0
Starts at
$29.99
/mo
Vivint’s many home automation features make it a great security system for a business you run out of your home—or elsewhere.

Data effective 5/19/23. At publishing time, pricing and features are current but are subject to change.

  • Installation type: Professional
  • Monitoring type: Professional
  • Contract length: 42–60 months
  • Cancellation cost: 100% of remaining contract

We recommend Vivint for its solid combination of equipment quality, pricing, and reputation (3.9/5 stars on Trustpilot).1 Vivint specifically works best for small businesses that are home-based thanks to its many home automation features that complement its high-quality security system.

Some of those features make your home (and business) more secure, like smart locks for your doors, a remote garage door controller, and a doorbell camera. Other features mostly add convenience, like a smart thermostat or integrations with smart light bulbs and other smart home devices. So if you want to use a mobile app to close your garage door from that midtown business lunch or you just want to adjust all the lights from your office chair, Vivint has you covered.

One downside? Vivint has longer contracts than most other companies. You can avoid its contracts entirely by paying for your equipment up front, but of course that only works if your business can afford a large expense.

If you want to use all of Vivint’s smart home features, you’ll need to get its top-tier plan. (The mid-tier plan also supports some smart home features, but not all.)

Put simply, Vivint offers robust business security along with impressive home automation features. So if you want to make the most of securing your home-based business, Vivint has just what you need.

Frontpoint: Best reputation

Frontpoint
Frontpoint
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5
Contact for a free quote
Frontpoint offers a valuable blend of equipment quality and reputation.

Data effective 5/19/23. At publishing time, pricing and features are current but are subject to change.

  • Installation type: DIY
  • Monitoring type: Professional
  • Contract length: N/A
  • Cancellation cost: N/A

If you want a security system with a solid reputation—that's where Frontpoint really excels. Customers have given Frontpoint a 4.2 (out of 5) on Trustpilot.2 That score is way higher than what other security companies have. Customers love Frontpoint. So if you want a commercial, small-business security system that won’t add to your stress, Frontpoint is the way to go.

Plus, Frontpoint offers Crash and Smash Protection with its Interactive and Ultimate plans. Not sure what that is? (No worries—neither did we.) Crash and Smash Protection automatically alerts law enforcement if someone—say, a grumpy burglar—destroys your system’s control panel. That means no one can trick your system by destroying it, giving your business extra security.

So while Frontpoint doesn’t have the lowest prices or the fanciest equipment (SimpliSafe takes that honor), we think it offers a ton of value to most businesses.

Customer support
Bullhorn

Frontpoint doesn’t have 24/7 customer service (not to be confused with 24/7 monitoring, which—of course—it has), but unless you’re setting up your alarm at 2 a.m., that shouldn’t be much of a problem.

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Honorable mentions

The security systems above are our favorites, but we found two more companies you might be interested in if you have some specialized needs.

Honorable mention business security systems

Starting price
Installation type
Monitoring service
Contract length
Smoke detector
Carbon monoxide detection
Cellular monitoring
Landline monitoring
Pro video monitoring
Equipment warranty
Find a Plan
Free (self-monitoring)DIYDIY and ProN/A
Icon Check  DarkYes
Icon Check  DarkSome devices
Icon Check  DarkYes
Icon Close  DarkNo
Icon Check  DarkYes
1 yr.
$30.99/mo.DIYPro12–36 mos.
Icon Check  DarkYes
Icon Check  DarkYes
Icon Check  DarkYes
Icon Close  DarkNo
Icon Check  DarkYes
3 yrs.

Data effective 5/19/23. At publishing time, pricing and features are current but are subject to change.

Looking for an alarm system? Find the right one for your business by answering a few questions below.

Abode: Best for self-monitoring

Abode
Abode
Starts at
Free (self-monitoring)

Abode offers a free self-monitoring plan.

Data effective 5/19/23. At publishing time, pricing and features are current but are subject to change.

We don’t really recommend self-monitoring for your business, but if that’s the way you’re determined to go, Abode is a good choice. It offers a free self-monitoring plan. And if you ever need someone to look out for you, you can always switch over to its contract-free pro monitoring plan.

Abode plans

Plan
Monitoring cost
Pro monitoring
Contract length
Get started
Planless

N/A

Icon Close  Dark

No

N/A

Standard

$6.99/mo.

Icon Close  Dark

No

N/A

Pro

$22.99/mo.

Icon Check  Dark

Yes

N/A

Data effective 5/19/23. At publishing time, pricing and features are current but are subject to change.

Link Interactive: Best for niche customization

link Interactive
Link Interactive
Starts at
$30.99
/mo

If you want to customize your system for your unique needs, Link might be the company to go with.

Data effective 5/19/23. At publishing time, pricing and features are current but are subject to change.

Link Interactive has some specialized equipment that other security companies don’t, like a grill sensor (to let you know if it’s hot when it shouldn’t be), gun locks (complete with sensors), and an outdoor sensor (for use on gates and sheds). So if you want to customize your system for your unique needs, Link might be the company to go with.

Link Interactive plans

Plan
Monitoring cost
Get started

Standard

$30.99/mo.

Gold

$39.99/mo.

Elite

$47.99/mo.

Data effective 5/19/23. At publishing time, pricing and features are current but are subject to change.

Business security 101

Before you choose a security system for your small business, make sure you understand the essentials of business security.

For starters, most security companies don’t offer business-specific burglar alarm systems—they just offer home security systems and equipment to businesses. So if you already protect your home with a security system you love, you can probably get a similar system for your business (assuming it meets all your business needs, of course).

As you weigh your security options, make sure you’re not neglecting the security basics. Why bother getting that fancy business alarm system if you consistently leave the front door unlocked and have such dim lighting that a camera can’t record a clear image anyway? Invest in good door locks and window locks, and make sure important areas like entrances and the cash register are well-lit.

One final thing to consider: your acceptable losses. Will you end up spending more on security than you’d lose in a burglary? In other words, would you rather lose $500 of merchandise in a break-in than pay $800 a year for an advanced security system? Sure, the peace of mind alone might be worth the cost of a security system—but that’s a call you need to make.

Pin
Advanced business security

Security systems are not a guarantee. So if you really can’t stand a potential loss, make sure you double up on your security measures. For physical goods, that might mean investing in security guards. For data, that probably means encryption and other security measures.

The takeaway

Securing your business is serious, well, business. But honestly, you have more options now than ever before. Whether you just want a cheap way to secure your office or you want an advanced system that gives you remote control over your system via app across various devices, there’s a system to meet your needs.

And with our list of recommended business security solutions, you can find the security solutions that fit your business’s unique needs.

So while we know your business is probably always on your mind, hopefully that extra security will help you sleep a little better at night.

Want to keep your business secure in the virtual realm too? Check out our resources on database security and network security.

Related content

Commercial security system FAQ

Should I install my own system or get it professionally installed?

Whether you should install your system yourself or get a pro to do it depends on your personal preferences and your business situation. DIY installation is usually cheaper, while pro installation saves you time.

Consider how you spend your time: Would it disrupt your business if you took the time to install your equipment personally? Or do you have enough downtime that you can take an hour or two to do that work yourself without it causing an issue?

Likewise, ask yourself if you’d feel more secure knowing that a professional had installed your business security system. If you would, go with the pro.

To be clear, we think that just about anyone can install their own system; it mostly comes down to peeling the backs off stickers and then sticking equipment where you want it. And if you run into any problems, companies like Frontpoint will walk you through the process over the phone if you need help.

Thinking about moving?
Location
One other thing to consider: DIY installation means that moving your system is super easy. So if you think your business is likely to change locations, that’s something to keep in mind.
Should I use DIY monitoring or professional monitoring?

We have a stronger opinion about this question: we recommend professional monitoring—not DIY monitoring—for pretty much all businesses.

That’s because pro monitoring offers more security than DIY monitoring can. DIY monitoring depends entirely on you, the business owner, to work. When your alarm gets triggered, you get an alert, at which point you can call the authorities.

So what happens if something triggers your alarm but you’re in a meeting with a vendor and you don’t get the alert? Or what if you’ve finally gone on a much-needed vacation and your spotty cell service means you don’t get alerted until the next day? If your system equipment includes an audible alarm, the noise might scare off would-be intruders—if you’re lucky. But the police won’t come until you personally call them.

While pro monitoring costs more, it’s more secure. When something triggers your alarm, your monitoring company will get the alert and then notify the authorities for you. Seems like a safer bet to us.

Money
The DIY discount

If you really want to save money, you can go with a company like SimpliSafe that lets you use professional monitoring on an as-needed basis. But mostly, we suggest you opt for professional monitoring all the time.

What equipment do I need for my business security system?

Good question. There’s some basic equipment that most businesses will want:

  • Control panel
  • Door and window sensors
  • Glass break sensors
  • Motion detectors
  • Video cameras

Of course, you don’t necessarily need every one of those things (though it wouldn’t hurt).

At minimum, you should get contact sensors for all your doors and windows. Glass break sensors on your windows are a good upgrade for extra security. Likewise, you’ll probably want motion sensors in valuable areas (by a cash register, say, or in a server room). And video cameras provide additional security, particularly if you want to monitor a cash register or other sensitive area.

How much does a business security system cost?

It depends on the system—but if you look at the one's we've reviewed here, it can range between around $10-$20 per month.

What is the best security system for my business?

That will depend on the needs of your business and your own preferences. If you're looking for a basic system that's affordable, we'd recommend SimpliSafe. If you're looking for a system with the best reputation, we'd recommend Frontpoint. If you want home automation features galore, Vivint covers that base.

Disclaimer

At Business.org, our research is meant to offer general product and service recommendations. We don't guarantee that our suggestions will work best for each individual or business, so consider your unique needs when choosing products and services.

Sources
1. Trustpilot, "Vivint." Accessed May 19, 2023. 
2. Trustpilot, “Frontpoint.” Accessed May 19, 2023.

Chloe Goodshore
Written by
Chloe Goodshore
Chloe covers business financing and loans for Business.org. She has worked with many small businesses over the past 10 years, from video game stores to law firms. Those years watching frustrated business owners try to sift through their many options gave her a passion for breaking down complex business topics. She wants to help business owners spend less time agonizing over their businesses so they can spend more time running them.
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