Sample security checkup report

Summary

The alarm currently can't call anyone, and two ways into the house aren't protected. Those are the urgent items. The cameras record reliably but wouldn't identify a visitor at night. Most of the fixes are inexpensive; the biggest cost is a new cellular communicator for the alarm panel.

Findings

Priority	Finding	Why it matters	Recommendation
Fix now	The panel reports only over a landline that was disconnected.	If the alarm goes off, no one is notified.	Add a cellular communicator and confirm signals reach the monitoring company (licensed installer).
Fix now	A previous owner's user code and an old installer code still work.	Anyone who had those codes can disarm the system.	Have the monitoring company remove unknown users; change the master code.
Fix now	Two basement windows and the garage-to-house door aren't on the system.	They're common, unwatched ways in.	Add contacts to all three (licensed installer).
Fix soon	The front camera sits under an 11-foot eave and looks steeply down the walk.	Night footage shows the tops of heads, not faces.	Move it to about 9 feet, aimed down the walk, in a vandal-resistant housing.
Fix soon	The driveway camera's wide view can't read plates at night.	Plates glare under infrared and the view is too wide.	Add a dedicated plate camera aimed where cars stop.
Fix soon	Smoke detectors are 12 years old and unmonitored; no carbon monoxide detector on the bedroom level.	Detectors are generally replaced after 10 years; carbon monoxide gives no warning.	Replace detectors; add monitored smoke and carbon monoxide detection (licensed installer).
Fix soon	Cameras share the Wi-Fi with computers, and two still use default passwords.	A compromised device could reach the cameras.	Put cameras on their own network; change passwords; turn on two-factor sign-in.
Fine as is	Back door and slider contacts.	Both reported correctly when the monitoring company ran a test.	No change.
Fine as is	Camera recorder on battery backup.	Kept recording through a 20-minute power test.	No change.
Fine as is	Entry delay is 30 seconds and the keypad isn't visible from the door glass.	30 seconds is the usual minimum, set to prevent false alarms.	No change.

Camera plan

Camera	Job	Location and height	Detail target (2025 level)
C1	Confirm who's at the front door	Porch post, about 9 ft, aimed down the walk	Validate (about 150 pixels per foot) at 10–15 ft
C2	Read license plates	Garage corner, about 8 ft, narrow lens toward where cars stop	Validate at the plate, fast shutter at night
C3	See who's at the back door	Under the back soffit, about 8 ft	Characterize to Validate
C4	Movement in the side yard	Rear corner, about 12 ft, wide lens	Discern (about 24 pixels per foot); alerts for people only

What a real report also includes

• Photos of each finding and of the alarm panel and recorder
• Results of the sensor test run with your monitoring company
• Day and night stills from each camera
• Notes written for your installer, and estimated costs for each fix