1 inches high with a matte white finish, the hub makes an unobtrusive addition to any side table, while the Detects are discreet and responsive for up to 15 ft. The Guard also comes with a Google Assistant built in, so you can use voice commands to arm the system but not disarm, play music, or even request a temperature change, if you have a Nest thermostat. During our tests, we strongly considered home automation options, which allow you to remotely control features of your home, such as lights and door locks. But we wanted to figure out what these differences meant on a day to day basis: Which features were necessary for improved peace of mind?Which would be easiest to integrate into our daily routines?Needless to say, the market is increasingly shifting toward DIY home security, as people look for options that work seamlessly with their existing smart homes. Technology may not be at the point where an alarm will sound if your security camera detects an unfamiliar face or burglar — but it’s certainly not very far. On the other hand, the more we automate and become intertwined with the Cloud, the more vulnerable our personal data becomes to hacking. The demand for greater smart home automation also paves the way for voice assistant compatibility, which is helpful but also opens another window of opportunity for hacking or data leaks. However, big names — like the ones in this lineup — either tend to move quickly in the event of a data breach and/or constantly update security features to make sure your information isn’t leaked into the wrong hands. Still, it doesn’t hurt to be mindful and keep tabs on your network’s security, enable two factor authentication, and constantly update your system’s software. A home security system should be easy to navigate, and the system’s design should make sense in your home. Most of our testers had positive things to say about living with their home security systems.