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ADT’s high-quality security cameras, affordable professional monitoring rates, and ease of us is why it's at the top of our list.
Updated March 25, 2025
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Protect your business from burglars and thieves with ADT, the industry’s most trusted name. Get outfitted with indoor cameras, intrusion protection, and 24/7 monitoring — all at low monthly rates. ADT gives business owners total peace of mind.
Vivint delivers high-tech security solutions for businesses large and small. The equipment is sleek and streamlined for a modern look. With Vivint’s advanced security systems, it’s never been easier to safeguard your inventory and your customers.
SimpliSafe’s simple yet efficient approach to security now includes live video monitoring during emergencies. That makes SimpliSafe the top option for businesses that need advanced video security.
Are the best security systems for home suitable for offices? To find out, we tested dozens of security systems in our 1,000-square-foot office to see how they perform. Our testing found that ADT’s equipment and professional monitoring are suitable for a business environment – they’re not only suitable, but they’re the best solutions we found for businesses looking for a professionally monitored security system.
That said, ADT is not the best choice for every type of business. That’s why we’re also recommending Vivint, SimpliSafe, Cove, and Frontpoint. They each offer something unique, like strong automation capabilities and impressive video monitoring features. We’ll break down each one to help you choose the best security system for your business.
We find the best way to make trustworthy and unbiased recommendations is by testing home security systems ourselves. We buy the equipment with our own money, install the systems in our houses, and test them for weeks or months. This approach means we can get a feel for what it’s like to live with the security system and learn about the apps, features, and response times. We then use these experiences to rank and recommend the best security systems.
We consider multiple variables when testing home security systems, but we find ways to make like-for-like comparisons. For example, we test all equipment in the same building – our own 1,000-square-foot office space. Using a real office helps us simulate real-life scenarios and make accurate recommendations.
We also purchase the same devices for every test system and place them in identical locations. That way, we can compare the individual performance of the devices.
Now, to select and rank the best business security systems, we used our knowledge and experience in the industry to establish the factors that should be top-priority. We came up with these:
Using these criteria, here is how we scored our top five picks:
Rating the Best Business Security Systems
We’re not like other websites that cover everything from photo frames to air fresheners. Our team of experts is trained to review safety and security equipment, and we focus on nothing else. We know what it takes to thoroughly assess security systems so our readers get in-depth and honest recommendations. The team members who wrote this review were:
Our team has over 75 years of combined experience, making us the most accomplished home security team online. Since SafeHome.org began in 2016, our work has been featured in multiple major outlets, including The New York Times and The Washington Post. As a team, we have achieved:
All of our recommendations are based on first-hand product experience and a deep understanding of the home security industry. Now, let’s take a closer look at our top picks.
ADT has been in business for over 150 years protecting homes, small businesses, and enterprises. Its network spans over 200 locations in the U.S. and Canada in addition to the 12 monitoring facilities available 24/7. Some centers are even dedicated to businesses and offer additional services like cybersecurity protection.
Unlike the ADT home security system we reviewed, we had to schedule a consultation with an ADT rep to get our office security system. When they learned that we’re security experts ourselves, they discussed their equipment options and showed how scalable ADT business systems can be. They even have automation options like access control and intercom systems, but they didn’t try to upsell us. We told them what we needed and they gave us a quote based on that.
We were happy to use Google Nest Cams to protect our office instead of ADT’s older security cameras.
We got a small system with a couple of motion sensors, two indoor cameras, a glass break sensor, an entryway sensor for our office front door, and a smoke alarm. The indoor cameras stood out because they were from Google Nest, and we know that they are some of the best indoor security cameras in the market. They even have facial recognition; you can learn more in our Nest Cam review.
You’ll need to call for a personalized quote, which includes a price for an ADT monitoring plan. We went with the top-tier subscription option to get 24/7 monitoring, and with a small additional fee, our Nest Cams recorded continuously. They kept a 10-day rolling video history, which we think is necessary for most businesses. And then with professional monitoring, we always got phone call notifications within 30 to 45 seconds after a sensor had been triggered and Alarm Messenger (text alerts) within five to 15 seconds.
>> Read More: Best Home Security Companies With Fast Response Times in 2025
ADT owes that efficiency to its 12 monitoring centers. They have more monitoring facilities than any other system we’ve tested. Some of those facilities are dedicated for businesses, especially enterprise-level companies. They deal with more than just physical security; ADT also offers managed cybersecurity solutions.
Pro Tip: Ask the consultant if the system comes with cellular backup. Most ADT systems do. Cellular backup ensures connectivity to the monitoring center in case the internet is down, which is why ADT is one of the best cellular security systems.
ADT offers Nest outdoor cameras as well. It has a battery-powered outdoor camera and a wired-in floodlight camera, particularly for businesses with a parking lot.
We installed the Nest Cam with Floodlight over our carpark so it is always well-lit.
All ADT security cameras are from Google Nest. That’s good for businesses because Nest Cams are customizable. You can set detection zones, customize the types of notifications you receive, and even teach your cameras to recognize faces. Our office Nest Cams alert us only when a stranger comes in and pretty much ignores us while we’re working. We only set it to monitor all types of activities at night, when no one is supposed to be around.
The downside of these Nest Cams is their lack of local recording. We have a pretty strong internet connection, but if your place of business doesn’t, you might want to supplement ADT with better business security cameras.
Expert Tip: You may want to have your legal team or a legal professional review the security camera laws where your business is located before installing security cameras. Doing so could help you avoid legal trouble down the line.
| Equipment Cost | Packages starting at $349 |
|---|---|
| Monitoring Options | Professional or DIY |
| Monitoring Cost | Starting at $24.99 per month |
| Contract Length | Monthly |
| Installation Options | Professional or DIY |
| Smart Platform Integration | Alexa and Google Home |
Vivint is one of our top automation home security systems, and that goes for business too. It’s more technologically advanced than options like SimpliSafe and Cove. For example, there are features like Car Guard vehicle monitoring systems, which is useful for businesses with fleets of vehicles. We also like Vivint’s flexibility. It has equipment for different business types that work with Vivint’s state-of-the-art automations.
Our Vivint business security system was customized to our business type and professionally installed. We decided to get the same pieces of equipment as we did when we tested ADT and noticed immediately that the Vivint system has the technological edge, even with just the hub. Vivint’s touch screen control panel allowed two-way talk with the Vivint response center, displayed live footage from our cameras, and synchronized our automation devices.
Our Vivint control panel showing security camera recordings.
Our office has a lot of smart devices. We have a smart thermostat to keep ourselves comfortable throughout the day, our smart light bulbs respond to ambient light, and we have smart speakers all over. We could integrate these devices and manage them with Vivint thanks to its Z-Wave compatibility.
>> Learn More: Vivint Automation Capability and Integrations
Vivint doesn’t have ADT’s 12 response centers. It has two – one in Utah and another in Minnesota. This still gives Vivint an edge over companies like SimpliSafe, Cove, and Frontpoint that outsource the service.
The response times are also impressive. We always receive a text alert in under 10 seconds and then a follow-up call alert 30 to 60 seconds later. Vivint even spoke with one of our employees through the touch screen panel after they accidentally triggered the alarm. Luckily, they knew the secret passcode to cancel it.Otherwise, the police would have been called.
Pro Tip: Make sure all essential personnel know the passcode to cancel alarms. Your business could face false alarm fees and even legal charges if the police are repeatedly called to your business for false alarms.
Vivint’s cameras don’t have the same facial recognition feature of Nest Cams. But they can deter intruders. Active Deterrence uses alarm tones and LED lights around the camera lens to scare off potential lurkers and trespassers.
The Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro can blare sirens and shine red lights to deter intruders.
You can read more about Active Deterrence in our Vivint home security system. Since we only bought the indoor camera for the office, we used the feature after hours. We also adjusted the settings to activate Active Deterrence when the camera detects a person for over a minute. Fortunately, we never had any break-in incidents.
Pro Tip: We find that automated response from security equipment – whether it’s alarm tones or lights – is effective in deterring crime.
| Monitoring Options | Professional only |
|---|---|
| Installation | Professional |
| Smart Platform Integration | Alexa and Google Home |
| Equipment Cost | From $599.99 |
| Monthly Monitoring Cost | From $30 |
| Contract Length | 48 to 60 months |
At first glance, SimpliSafe looks like a simple security system. But the latest SimpliSafe equipment we tested in the office had the most advanced video monitoring feature. It’s even better than ADT’s facial recognition and Vivint’s Active Deterrence, because SimpliSafe’s response center accesses the indoor and outdoor cameras to talk down intruders.
Unlike ADT and Vivint, we didn’t have to call in to buy our SimpliSafe system; we did everything online, and it was quick and easy. They even have pre-made packages for businesses specifically, although we prefer to build our own system.
Here’s our tester unboxing the SimpliSafe equipment and getting it ready to install around the office.
What jumped out immediately was SimpliSafe’s limited equipment range compared to ADT and Vivint. SimpliSafe doesn’t offer a touch screen keypad, nor does it have smart automation devices like the other two brands do. But in our opinion, SimpliSafe has enough options if you want to focus on security alone. It even offers a dedicated panic alarm button, which is great to keep behind the counter if you’re running a store.
Pro Tip: For businesses, it’s better to build your own SimpliSafe package, with only the exact pieces of equipment that you need. SimpliSafe has an Office Protection package, for example, but we found that it includes too many entryway sensors for our office. Plus, you can add more devices in the future if you move into a bigger space.
SimpliSafe is the only business security system we recommend that you can self-monitor. That’s great if you want to be hands-on and you have personnel that can monitor the system 24/7. But if you don’t, we highly recommend professional monitoring. Prices start at $21.99 per month for basic monitoring, and $31.99 per month for more advanced features like Intruder Intervention and cellular backup. Cloud video storage for up to 10 cameras is also included in the latter, which is another reason why we picked it.
The alarm response was consistent with our SimpliSafe home security review. After all, they are exactly the same systems. Alarm texts are included in the Core ($31.99 per month) plan, and arrived about 10 to 20 seconds after triggered alarms. Phone calls followed shortly – about 30 to 60 seconds. That’s on par with the industry average and our expectations.
Our favorite SimpliSafe feature is Intruder Intervention and Active Guard Outdoor Protection. And in our opinion, a lot of businesses can benefit from them, especially if the building is empty after-hours.
This is the wireless indoor camera that works with Intruder Intervention.
Basically, a SimpliSafe monitoring agent accesses the wireless indoor camera after an alarm is triggered. The first goal is to verify the alarm, as video verified alarms are usually responded to faster by the police. However, if the agent sees a potential intruder, they use the camera’s two-way talk to dissuade them. That’s even better than Vivint’s automated Active Deterrence feature. We tested Intruder Intervention both at home and in the office, and it worked seamlessly everytime.
FYI: Active Guard Outdoor Protection is a similar feature but uses the Outdoor Cameras. SimpliSafe agents can use sirens and strobe lights to deter intruders. You’ll need the Pro or Pro Plus monitoring plan, starting at $49.99 per month, to access this feature.
| Monitoring Options | Professional and DIY |
|---|---|
| Installation | Professional and DIY |
| Smart Platform Integration | Alexa and Google Home |
| Equipment Cost | Packages starting at $249.96 |
| Monthly Monitoring Cost | From $21.99 |
| Contract Length | Monthly |
Even though Cove is our budget pick, it offers reliable and efficient professional monitoring thanks to Cove’s partnership with RapidSOS. We’ll share more about that below when we discuss Cove’s professional monitoring service, which starts at the low price of $19.99 per month.
We think Cove is best for small business because the equipment and monitoring features are not to the same standard as ADT and Vivint. But just like SimpliSafe, it’s a solid option if you want to focus on just security. It has security sensors and cameras, plus it also offers environmental sensors like smoke and gas leak detectors.
Cove’s equipment has expanded, including the addition of eufy security cameras.
We bought our Cove system online and designed it ourselves, like we did with SimpliSafe. It may have been easier if there were pre-made packages, but Cove requires every user to really consider their unique security needs by offering only custom security systems. And don’t worry about the cost. Cove is always running deals that cut the price of individual components; not entire packages.
Pro Tip: If you see a limited-time deal on Cove’s website, there’s no need to rush. In the several times we bought a Cove security system, there were always deals and discounts, sometimes up to 65-percent.
Limited equipment aside, we believe Cove is a strong option if you’re looking for a professionally monitored security system. Cove partners with RapidSOS, a platform that links security systems directly to emergency responders to relay useful information.
We didn’t have any incidents that required police response in the office, but when we reviewed Cove at home, the police showed up during a break-in simulation. The officer knew which sensor was triggered (front door), which prompted him to knock on the front door first. He said that if it were a back door sensor that was triggered, he might have gone around the back of the house to catch the potential burglar.
FYI: Cove’s response was fast! We received both alarm texts and app notifications within 15 seconds of the alarm.
Cove’s cameras from a brand called eufy. Unfortunately, they’re not as well-integrated with Cove as the Nest Cams are with ADT. We had to use the eufy app for the cameras and the Cove app for the rest of our system. It’s not ideal when you get an alert and need to check the camera feed before confirming it. If you’re too slow, the police might show up at your business.
Our Cove indoor camera doesn’t take up a lot of space in our small office.
| Monitoring Options | Professional or DIY |
|---|---|
| Installation | Professional or DIY |
| Smart Platform Integration | Alexa and Google Home |
| Equipment Cost | From $300 for hub and keypad |
| Monthly Monitoring Cost | From $19.99 |
| Contract Length | Monthly |
Aside from being one of the best security systems overall, Frontpoint is also known as a top pick for customer service. They have been in business for over a decade and currently have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. But aside from that, Frontpoint offers a wide range of equipment, which we don’t often see from DIY options.
Like SimpliSafe and Cove, Frontpoint is a DIY system. But we think Frontpoint is a better option when you need to scale your equipment. It’s actually one of the best security systems for large homes because of that, and we believe it’s also good for medium and large businesses.
One issue we have with Frontpoint is the bulk and size of its entryway sensors.
We bought our Frontpoint system online, starting with the very affordable Essential package ($386.93) that comes with a hub, analog keypad, and two entry sensors. Then after that, we added indoor and outdoor cameras and automation products like light modules, smart locks, and smart plugs.
If your business doesn’t have Wi-Fi, Frontpoint and most of the components will work as it’s fully cellular. The only exceptions are security cameras and automation devices that offer remote control.
Frontpoint’s reliance on cellular connectivity might be why it took 45 to 60 seconds to alert us via a phone call – since cellular signals don’t travel as fast as internet connections. But on the plus side, cellular signals don’t have as frequent downtimes as internet connections.
Pro Tip: If your place of business has Wi-Fi, we still highly recommend connecting Frontpoint to the internet. Doing so enables you to monitor the system remotely and allows the cameras to stream live videos to your phone or computer.
We were surprised to find out that Frontpoint’s outdoor camera also offers a deterrent feature similar to Vivint. Frontpoint calls it Perimeter Guard, and it works surprisingly well. We tested it at home when we did our Frontpoint review, but we think it could work great for businesses with parking lots as well as stores that close down at night.
Here’s the Frontpoint outdoor camera with the Perimeter Guard feature.
Another great thing about Frontpoint’s cameras is that they can record 24/7. They don’t need an internet connection either, unlike ADT’s Nest Cams that record continuously to the cloud. Instead, the Frontpoint cameras use a microSD card for local recording.
Pro Tip: If continuous recording interests you, check out our Lorex review. Instead of an on-board memory card, it uses a separate recording box to store footage. The advantage of this is that in case someone vandalizes your cameras, your video evidence is safe inside your device.
| Equipment Cost | Packages starting at $386.93 |
|---|---|
| Monitoring Options | Professional |
| Monitoring Cost | Starting at $14.99 per month |
| Contract Lengths | Monthly or 36 months |
| Installation Options | DIY |
| Smart Platform Integrations | Google Home, Alexa, and Siri |
Security cameras like these Google Nest Cams are essential for businesses.
If you have a business, installing a top-quality security system is not optional. There are a number of reasons a security system is necessary; otherwise, you could risk losing everything.
A security system will help protect your business and your employees from crime. If you have a break-in, you can lose thousands of dollars in assets, which takes time and money to recover and/or recoup.
Unfortunately, there are people out there who make a living at suing businesses for money. A well-placed security camera will serve as undeniable proof of the staged “accident.” The same goes for employee/customer accusations of harassment, discrimination, etc.
The best way to make sure your customers and/or employees aren’t stealing your inventory is by installing security cameras. A surveillance camera will help you monitor and control what comes in and what goes out of your place of business and whether it's being paid for…or not.
Pro Tip: If you’re running a store, it’s wise to have a dedicated security camera pointed at your cash register.
From Anthony Travaglia, Retired Police Officer, Home Security Expert
There is a broad spectrum of costs associated with a business security system. Some providers offer package deals and others let you choose the equipment relevant to your specific needs.
When choosing a security system for your business, consider how you will install the equipment. Do you want an industry-leading professionally installed system? Or would you rather do it yourself? DIY systems are usually wireless and fairly easy to install. A hardwired security system will almost always require professional installation due to the complexity of the electrical factors and wiring of the components.
Expert Advice: We recommend professional installation if you’re having advanced security equipment installed, such as security cameras and access control systems. That will ensure that the devices are installed and are working properly.
All Vivint security systems are installed by a trained technician.
Unfortunately, most business security system providers don't disclose the associated costs upfront which means you have to request a quote before you know if any given system will fit your budget. However, the overall costs will depend on how large of a coverage area you have. A top-quality DIY business security system is generally less than $500. A professional installation ranges somewhere between $100 for small offices all the way up to $2,000 or more for larger business spaces.
You can also expect an annual cost for your security equipment to run you about $300-$500. And the monitoring costs are somewhere between $50-$300+ per month.
Is all that worth it? Well, here’s what a burglary might cost you, according to data from the FBI:
And that’s only burglary. Businesses also lose a lot of money to vandalism, trespassing, and petty theft. Considering that, our stance as experts is that having a security system is not only worth it; it’s the logical thing to do.
From Anthony Travaglia, Retired Police Officer, Home Security Expert
Every business needs some kind of security system. We think ADT is the best solution for most businesses. You can customize the system to suit your surroundings and enjoy peace of mind knowing your office is protected by an award-winning monitoring service.
Vivint, SimpliSafe, Cove, and Frontpoint are excellent alternatives if you’re looking for something more advanced or affordable Our advice is to take your time reviewing the equipment range, monitoring plans, and security features of these picks to find the one that suits your business.
We recommend every business security system include security cameras, entry sensors, and motion detectors. You should also be able to remotely monitor your system and access devices from an app.
Research shows the presence of security cameras and alarm systems can deter thieves and intruders. Some cameras from Vivint and SimpliSafe can even deter strangers when detected.
Not all security systems stay online during power outages. We recommend choosing a security system with cellular backup and a base station with a 24-hour battery.
Not all security cameras can record 24/7. Most record video events when motion is detected. This can be a better alternative since it won’t affect your bandwidth when footage is uploaded to the cloud. Consider Lorex cameras, which offer hardware solutions for continuous recording.
Businesses may be able to claim the cost of a security system in the year it is purchased and installed. But you should consult your accountant to see if you’re eligible.
From Anthony Travaglia, Retired Police Officer, Home Security Expert
CDE. (2022). Expanded Property Crime Data
https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov/LATEST/webapp/#/pages/explorer/crime/property-crime
