Ring and Nest, owned by Amazon and Google respectively, have made big waves in the surveillance industry. Both are relatively cheap, lightweight security units that integrate easily with smartphones. They allow you to capture video footage of your front doors, and contain a variety of other features, like unlocking locks with your phone or controlling your thermostat when you’re not in the office.
But though Ring and Nest have many attractive features, are they right for your business?
A Look at Ring and Nest
Ring and Nest are both marketed as “smart home systems.” They have quickly been adopted by suburban homeowners as a cheap way to secure their homes. Many people use Ring and Nest to survey their front doors and yards, citing the easy installation and low cost as attractive features.
While there is a monthly fee for monitoring, as with most at-home security systems, the features are too good for homeowners to ignore. In addition to providing security, Ring and Nest can also integrate with other WIFI-enabled appliances. Nest, in particular, is also known for allowing you to remotely control your thermostats, and Ring can control your home’s lighting.
Ring and Nest for Business
It’s important to note that Ring and Nest are marketed and sold as home solutions. That hasn’t stopped curious business-owners from wondering if these two devices might be beneficial for their business. Here’s a look at some of the pros and cons about using Ring and Nest for your business.
Pros
Cheap entry-level security. If you haven’t invested in a security system yet, Ring or Nest allows you to dip your toes in the water. The doorbell cameras permit you to keep an eye on your business’s front door.
Low cost. Ring’s most expensive camera, the floodlight camera, costs only $249.99, a fraction of what many other cameras cost. There are other cameras ranging in price from $50, too. Nest’s cameras are a bit more expensive, with the doorbell camera coming in at around $229.00. Still, if you’ve looked into other security options, you know that these prices are low.
Cons
Lacks security features. A typical business security system has many different features to help secure the premises. These can include key-card scanning, automatic locks, and a wide range of cameras. Conversely, Ring and Nest do little to secure your premises.
Privacy concerns. With Amazon and Google backing these companies, it’s probably little surprise that there have been privacy concerns. Amazon’s Ring has come under fire for working alongside law enforcement to retain captured video. A month earlier, Google Nest faced great scrutiny when a hacker turned up the thermostat and played vulgar music. While this sounds like a relatively minor infraction, the effects could be devastating for your business.
The Bottom Line
When it comes to protecting your business, you’re better off paying for high-quality security systems that help protect your premises. As it is, both Ring and Nest suffer a lack of regulation, face privacy concerns, and have demonstrated that they are vulnerable to hackers.
Need help securing your business? Contact Vodigy today! We help small and medium-sized businesses make the right decisions about tech.
