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Locking Down Your Safety With a Smart Lock

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The most obvious way to protect your home is to keep your doors locked, but with a smart lock , you can take advantage of many additional features as well. These devices are particularly important, especially when considering that 34% of burglars enter homes using the front door. A smart lock goes beyond being the average gatekeeper of your front door. The examples listed below are just a few ways that you can get the most out of this home security device. Keyless Entry The need for your standard house key is a thing of the past when you have a smart lock. You’ll never have to worry about forgetting your keys again! A smart lock allows you to enter your home with either a set code or by deactivating the lock in your Guardian Protection app . For example, if your children come home from school before you return from work, you won’t have to worry about them keeping track of or losing their keys. This feature is also useful for when you’re briefly leaving for a run or to walk the d...

CEDIA elects Level Up Automation CEO Jennifer Mallett along with Stephen Goodhue and James Ratcliffe to its Board of Directors

  CEDIA  is the leading global trade association for smart home technology, serving more than 4000 members, 30000 professionals from 77 countries. CEDIA   announces three newly elected directors who will join the CEDIA board of directors for the 2023-2025 term: Stephan Goodhue, Jennifer Mallett and James Ratcliffe. “Stephan, Jen, and James bring an abundance of home technology experience and much-needed, fresh perspectives to the board,” said David Weinstein, chair of the CEDIA board of directors. “Their resumes are impressive, and their strategic visions for the association’s future made them stand out among a large pool of qualified nominees. I look forward to working with them to best serve the needs of our members and to advance the industry.” James Ratcliffe is the managing director of Homeplay, based in Sunbury-on-Thames in the U.K. James began his career in home technology and developed a passion for music, sound and electronics when he joined a hi-fi store at ...

Did You Know? The Truth About Water Damage

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Did you know that 98% of basements in the U.S. will experience some type of water damage? It’s a disaster no one wants to happen but can be any homeowner’s reality in an instant. Water damage caused by home flooding or water leaks can be an expensive setback for homeowners. Though severe damage is preventable, it is a common occurrence that still plagues thousands of people across the country each year. Of course, there are measures that you can take to minimize and even help prevent the effects, but it is still important to note some hard truths about house flooding. It’s Common With so many areas in your home that tap into your water system or are vulnerable to rainwater leakages, it’s no wonder why an estimated 14,000 people suffer water damage daily . Though this problem can be easily prevented by affordable means, many people are unprepared to spot the signs of a leak that can quickly turn disastrous. Unfortunately, most homeowners don’t notice the problem until it’s too ...

The Even-More Watchful Eye: The Modern Security Camera

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By Kevin Santelli VP, Commercial and National Accounts Business at Guardian Protection This article originally appeared in Facilitator: December/January 2023 Why Cameras Continue To Be One Of The Most Exciting Advancements in Security Security cameras are better and more affordable than ever before. One of the most important security advancements for facilities managers in nearly every industry is the improvement, accessibility, and affordability of cameras. Fine and fast casual restaurants, retail food outlets, manufacturing plants, and multi-location dining establishments continue to experience the remarkable impact of having a second and third set of “eyes” on the job 24 hours a day.  If you already have cameras onsite, you may be able to further leverage what you have at little cost. If you haven’t yet had the benefit of leveraging these hardworking security devices, then it’s worth getting a 101 intro.  And safe to say that the next three minutes of your time ...

Keep an Eye Outside With Guardian’s Outdoor Security Camera

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Outdoor cameras are one of the most common and beloved smart home security devices. But are you getting the most out of your Guardian outdoor camera? There are so many unique and useful features that you might not even be aware of all that your camera is capable of. If you’re looking for new ways to utilize your outdoor camera, read below to discover more features! Intruder Detection Capturing, recording, and storing footage is not the only thing our outdoor cameras are capable of. These cameras are smart enough to detect and recognize whether a person, animal, or vehicle has passed your home through video analytics. This feature allows you to set notifications for when any of these are detected in your camera’s view. If you’re hoping to catch someone or something specific sneaking through your backyard, for instance, you can adjust your settings to notify you when your camera senses the intruder. Tripwires While your outdoor camera is one of the best devices for providing you ...

How to Use Voice Control To Get the Most from Your Devices

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Voice control options like Siri and Alexa have made navigating life easier; so why not let them make your house even smarter? Siri and Alexa can be paired with your Guardian Protection app and devices to make remote, voice-activated control a breeze! From turning on your lights to disarming your security system, Siri and Alexa can be excellent tools to get things done without lifting a finger. If you would like to pair your Guardian devices with these voice-activation tools, read below on how to introduce Guardian to Siri or Alexa! Hey, Siri! Pairing your Apple device with your Guardian app is simple. To connect your Guardian Protection devices with Siri, follow the steps below: Log into the Guardian app.  Tap the menu icon.  Tap App Settings.  Tap Siri Shortcuts.  Tap the shortcut you would like to create.  Add a custom phrase for Siri. Finally, tap Add to Siri.  Check out this video to see how to navigate your Guardian app: Alexa, P...

New Home Security Features for the New Year

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This year, we’re ringing in new home security features that can improve how your home is protected. If you’re interested in keeping up with the latest in home security, read our recap of what to look forward to! New and Improved Security Devices From outdoor smart plugs to wireless doorbell cameras, we’ve added more smart devices that will easily integrate with your system. Plus, a few of your favorites have received major updates! IQ4 Security Panel Security panels are the bread and butter of home security. Every year, the number of tasks you can efficiently complete from your panel increases, making this device perhaps the most versatile in the home security industry. The IQ4 Security panel is a step above the rest and continues the evolution of the home security panels you know and rely on. This new panel will come with several useful and unique features that build off of our previous IQ2 Panel. The new IQ4 Panel is: Supported by Z-Wave. This helps with the automation of...

Level Up Automation's 2023 Under $200 Gift Guide

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Did you have a hard time deciding what to get as presents during the holiday season this year? We here at Level Up Automation want to help with that! We know how difficult it can be to decide what to get that special someone. That's why we crafted the 2023 Gifting Guide . This will include some great last minute gift ideas under $200 that will satisfy for any occasion.   CYNC by GE Smart Light Strips Make someone's room light up the whole year round with Cync by GE's Smart Light Strips! Price: $59.99 Need some more light strips? Add-on light strip extensions for $20.99 !   CYNC by GE  LED Color Bulbs Add more color in someone's life with the Cync by GE's Direct Connect Smart Bulbs. Price: $23.99   Roku Ultra LT Give the gift of streaming with the Roku Ultra LT. Viewers can stream their favorite programs on any streaming platform they use. Price: $69.99   SONOS Roam Got an avid music fan in your life? The SONOS Roam speaker is sure to excite...

Is Business Security Worth It?

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The necessity of business security cannot be stressed enough. You’ve worked hard to start and run your business. It’s important to you. So protect it with a smart business security system. With a mixture of the right devices and professional monitoring backed by experts, you can add a layer of protection that could be the barrier standing between you and a potential disaster. Business security helps protect you, your property, the goods you sell, and your employees. It isn’t worth the risk of leaving your business unguarded. Why Do I Need Business Security? Protecting your business protects what is important to you. By opening a business, you’ve made an investment and taken a risk. However, one bad day could seriously affect all of the time and energy you have put into it. In 2021, there were  586,564 incidents of burglary reported in the U.S. By adding business security to the mix, you are actively putting up obstacles between your business and any damage that...

Guardian Protection Announces New Member of Management Team  

PITTSBURGH – December 13 — Guardian Protection, a leading provider of smart home and business security, welcomes Anthony Sirabella as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), reporting to Guardian President Bryan Cipoletti. Sirabella spent eight years at The Kraft Heinz Company, in roles of increasing responsibility, most recently as Assistant Controller North America. He was the CFO at Heartisan Foods prior to assuming his current role at Guardian.  Sirabella began his career at Deloitte after completing his education at the University of Dayton where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Finance and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). He is also a Certified Public Accountant.  About Guardian Protection    Guardian Protection is a premier provider of smart security and automation solutions for commercial, institutional, multi-site, and residential customers. Hundreds of thousands of customers trust Guardian’s award-winning monitoring services and...

Energy Beyond The Smart Thermostat Webinar

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Hey there Automation Nation! Recently, our Level Up CEO Jen Mallett sat down with Nicole Kittridge for a webinar to talk about the basics of Smart Energy, and what Smart Energy means in a Smart Home. Check out the webinar here! from Level Up Automation - Home Automation Nation https://levelupyourhome.com/blogs/level-up-smart-stuff/energy-beyond-the-smart-thermostat-webinar via IFTTT

As Retail Theft Rates Rise, Is Your Business Protected?

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As inflation continues to hike up prices, it’s important for retail owners to take their business security seriously. Higher prices mean that there is a higher theft rate. Is your business protected against this increase? In May 2022, the average price of goods and services rose by 8.6%, according to Business Insider . In response to the rising costs, 50% of U.S. retailers have reported an increase in theft in their stores. As the holidays grow nearer, people taking advantage of retail businesses will only increase. Though this rise in stealing is certainly intimidating for business owners, there are many ways to combat these statistics and protect your business from would-be thieves. Why Business Security? Between the holidays and inflation, there are many reasons why theft is rising. In major cities, for instance, robberies and thefts have increased by 20% in the past two years . As a business owner, this is likely to cause some trepidation. Not only do you need to be on gua...