What Causes False Alarms in Security Systems?

Advances in security system technology offer a double-edged sword: Yes, advanced security systems are more sensitive to genuine threats. But their sophistication can also lead to more false alarms, especially if the security technology is improperly configured.

Ninety to 99% of security system alarms are false alarms, which strain local police and private security teams. In some locations, local law enforcement even invoke fees after a set number of false alarms is reached. Some business owners who repeatedly trigger false alarms must even prove their systems are properly maintained.

False alarms distract from real threats too. Like the "boy who cried wolf,” too many false alarms from a business can fatigue emergency responders, resulting in slower reaction times to real crimes and potential threats to property loss.

The Business Impact of False Alarms

The business impact of false alarms can mean:

• Loss of customer trust: When alarms go off unnecessarily, businesses lose confidence in their security providers.
• Financial penalties and service restrictions: Some cities impose fines or restrict emergency response for providers with excessive false alarms.
• Eroded trust from emergency response teams: The more resources police and private security firms waste on false alarms, the less favorable they’ll see the security company and its customers. 

To avoid downside risks of false alarms, security operators can take preventative measures to monitor and manage their security devices, whether their security systems use cameras, NVRs/VMS, access control systems, sensors, smart locks, or any other connected product. 

Remote monitoring and management (RMM) for connected products (as with Canopy) makes it possible to manage security systems at scale, enabling technical support teams and security system operators to proactively and efficiently address the issues that lead to false alarms.

3 Tech Issues Behind False Alarms

Operators can prevent false alarms in security systems with RMM by first understanding the most common issues that lead to triggering the alarms. Below are some of the top culprits, and how RMM can help.

1. Faulty Sensors

Sensors are the backbone of any security system. But when they’re misconfigured, poorly installed, or malfunctioning, they can mistake normal environmental changes — e.g., temperature shifts or light fluctuations — for intrusions. Aging (or damaged) hardware can also send false signals, leading to unnecessary police dispatches.

Imagine an office with motion sensors that trigger an alarm whenever movement is detected after business hours. The company installs new LED lighting that subtly flickers as it adjusts brightness. The sensor, tuned too sensitively, perceives this flicker as movement, repeatedly setting off alarms.

With real-time monitoring, security providers can identify and address faulty sensors before they cause problems. Instead of waiting for a customer to report an issue — or worse, for law enforcement to respond to a false alarm — remote troubleshooting tools allow technicians to diagnose and resolve sensor problems instantly. This means fewer unnecessary dispatches and a more reliable security system overall. 

Additionally, using data analytics captured over time, operators can better distinguish between normal fluctuations and actual security threats, ensuring alarms only go off when they’re truly needed.

What types of sensors are used in commercial security systems? 

Commercial security systems use motion detectors, glass break sensors, door/window contacts, vibration sensors, and environmental sensors (e.g., temperature, humidity, and smoke detectors) to monitor various threats.

2. Outdated Software & Firmware

Security systems have a critical dependency upon the software and firmware running on their component devices in order to process alarm triggers accurately. 

So when these components — e.g. cameras, access control panels, NVR/VMS, locks, etc. — become outdated, the system may misbehave. Misbehavior here can look like misinterpreted signals, failure to integrate with newer devices, or expose a vulnerable port or vector to cyber attacks. Many businesses neglect updates to component devices because any updates are done manually, making them time-consuming, error-prone, and unavoidably complex.

Consider this scenario: a hotel chain hasn’t updated its access control system in years because applying patches would require manually rebooting hundreds of devices. One day, an unpatched software glitch causes all room key readers to briefly register every entry attempt as an unauthorized access, setting off alarms across the property. Guests become frustrated, security teams get overwhelmed, and the hotel's reputation takes a hit.

Using RMM to automate remote updates, security operators and technical support teams can ensure systems are “hardened” with the most reliable software and firmware — eliminating manual intervention in the process. Instead of relying on businesses to track and apply updates themselves, operators can use centralized controls to deploy updates across thousands of devices instantly. 

On top of that, preventative maintenance features keep track of update schedules and ensure that patches are applied with minimal disruption, allowing businesses to stay protected without downtime.

What are the top security system providers? 

Some of the leading security system providers include ADT, Honeywell, Bosch Security, Axis Communications, and Johnson Controls.

3. Inadequate Maintenance

Security systems are only as reliable as their upkeep, and inadequate maintenance is a leading cause of false alarms. Poorly calibrated systems can misinterpret unusual movement, like an employee working late, as an intrusion. Weak or failing batteries in wireless sensors may cause intermittent functionality, leading to inconsistent performance and, ultimately, unnecessary alerts.

Take for example a grocery store chain that uses security cameras with built-in motion detection. Over time, network fluctuations cause intermittent connectivity issues, making the cameras lose sync with the central security system. When the connection is reestablished, the system misinterprets the delay as an unauthorized access attempt. In some cases, store managers, frustrated by the frequent false alerts, disable notifications, unaware that a real security breach might go unnoticed.

Using RMM, security operators can continuously monitor network stability and detect these connectivity disruptions before they cause unnecessary alarms. Automated diagnostics allow them to respond to low battery warnings, connectivity issues, and calibration errors without on-site visits — and without leaving customers vulnerable to real threats.

→ Case Study: How ButterflyMX uses Canopy RMM to streamline technical support for more than 10,000 multifamily and commercial properties across the country.

From False Alarms to Real Security: How Canopy Can Help

Reducing false alarms in security systems has the potential to bring broad benefits to businesses, law enforcement, and security operators alike. Operators have the opportunity to be leaders in this effort and cultivate trust across stakeholder groups.

With Canopy’s RMM solution, security providers can take a proactive approach to reducing false alarms, ensuring that real threats are met with the urgency they require. It’s time to stop reacting to security failures and start preventing them before they happen. 

Learn more about how Canopy supports security system operators here.

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