Who Is Really Responsible For Your Smart Home Security In BC?
Who Is Actually Responsible For Your Security? Choosing The Right Smart Home Company In BC
When you are building or renovating a luxury home, it is natural to think of security hardware as just another part of the smart home package. A keypad at the gate, cameras on the perimeter, an alarm on the doors, and a polished app that shows everything in one place.
But in British Columbia, those pieces are not just “gadgets.” They are regulated security systems that protect your family, your property, and often your liability as a homeowner. That is why choosing the right smart home company, especially for alarm, access control, networking, and cameras, is one of the most important decisions you will make.
At Graytek, we spend a lot of time helping clients in Vancouver, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Whistler, and across Metro Vancouver understand this difference so they can make informed choices.
Who is actually responsible for your security?
On almost every project, there are multiple companies touching “security-looking” devices. A gate fabricator might mount the intercom, an electrician might pull some low-voltage cable, and a smart home dealer might connect cameras into the app.
The problem is that, in British Columbia, alarm systems, electronic access control, and most video surveillance are regulated security services. Work on these systems must be done by, or under the direction of, a properly licensed security or alarm company. That includes:
- Alarm systems and monitoring
- Gate and door access control systems
- Security and surveillance cameras
- Intercoms that control entry to the property
So when you see a social media post showing a new intercom, gate keypad, camera system, or “DIY” smart alarm at a custom home, the key question is not “does it look good?” but “who is legally responsible for that security work?”
If the company is not a licensed alarm company in BC, they should not be selling, designing, installing, or maintaining those systems, even if they are excellent at general smart home integration. Someone needs to own the security scope in a formal, accountable way.
Why a smart home installer alone is not enough
There are many very competent smart home installers in our region. They can program your automation system, create elegant scenes, and tie your entertainment, lighting, and shading together beautifully.
However, that skill set is not the same as being qualified and licensed to design, install, program, and support life-safety and security systems.
It is one thing to integrate a security system into a smart home so that you can see camera views on a touch screen or arm the alarm from your phone. It is something very different to:
- Design the alarm system so it truly protects the home
- Configure access control schedules, credentials, and audit trails
- Engineer the camera coverage, storage, and privacy correctly
- Design and secure the home network that everything rides on
- Maintain those systems over time so they remain reliable and compliant
If your smart home dealer is only doing the “pretty” integration work while someone else (or no one) takes responsibility for the underlying security and network design, you may have a serious gap in both protection and accountability.
SEE ALSO: Explore integrated smart security solutions
What British Columbia expects from security work
In British Columbia, regulated security work is taken seriously for good reason. Alarm systems, access control, and surveillance are treated as extensions of public safety, not simply convenience features in a home.
This is why security providers must carry the appropriate company licences, and why technicians performing the work are individually licensed and background-checked. The intent is simple. When there is a break-in, a false alarm, or a question from an insurance company or local authority, there is a clear security provider of record.
For you, that means your project should always have:
- A named, licensed alarm or security company responsible for the design
- Licensed technicians performing or directly supervising the work
- A documented alarm, access control, camera, and network design
- Clear accountability for monitoring and incident response
If this is not clear on your project, it is worth slowing down and asking questions before the rough-in is finished.
Questions to ask before you sign any contract
Whether you are a homeowner, builder, architect, or designer, you should feel comfortable asking very direct questions about security work on your project:
- Are you a licensed alarm or security company in British Columbia?
- What is your company licence number?
- Which parts of my project are considered regulated security work?
- Are the technicians who will be on site individually licensed and background-checked for security work?
- Who documents the alarm, access control, camera, and network design so it can be supported and serviced long term?
If a prospective integrator cannot answer these questions clearly, or if they downplay the need for proper licensing, that is a red flag.
You can also lookup any company easily with the following link: Verify a security business licence
How Graytek takes responsibility for your security scope
Graytek did not start as a security-only company that later added smart home features. We are one of Western Canada’s most experienced smart home integrators, with more than two decades of work on some of the region’s most complex and architecturally significant homes.
We have been a high-level Crestron dealer since 2005, and our projects have earned industry recognition, including CEDIA awards for Best Integrated Home. That history matters because it means we understand how to design and deliver entire smart home ecosystems where lighting, shades, audio, video, climate, security, and networking all work together cleanly and reliably.
We apply that same design discipline, documentation, and long-term thinking to the security and networking side of the home. Your alarm, access control, cameras, and network are treated as core systems, not optional extras.
SEE ALSO: Smart home automation for the whole property
Formal licences and regulated security work
Graytek has always treated security as a specialised discipline, not a side feature of the smart home. For projects across Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, and the Sea-to-Sky Corridor, we bring both our integration expertise and our formal security credentials to the table.
Graytek holds:
 |
|
 |
|
These licences mean we are authorised to design, install, and support alarm systems, access control, and camera systems as part of your smart home, and to stand behind that work long term.
Our security solutions are planned as part of the overall home technology design, with documented drawings, structured wiring, and network foundations to support alarm, cameras, and secure remote access.
SEE ALSO: Alarm systems designed for custom homes
Networks: your first line of defence
Today, every part of your security system depends on the strength of your network. Your cameras, access control devices, intercoms, remote monitoring, and even your alarm reporting ride on your wired and wireless infrastructure.
At Graytek, networking is treated as a core system foundation, not an afterthought. We design and install structured wiring, professional-grade network hardware, and secure configurations that support both high-performance AV and mission-critical security traffic.
Leadership in this area starts at the top. Our founder has invested heavily in advanced technical education and certifications across AV, security, and IT networking. He personally holds many of the same credentials we expect our team to pursue for themselves:
- TCBC FSR‑C‑R‑Low Energy
- STBC Security Systems Technician TQ
- CEDIA Residential Networking Specialist (RNS)
- Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)
- Crestron Programming Level 1 Certified
- 2N Advanced Certified
That example sets the tone for our culture of continuous learning, professional certification, and technical excellence.
Across Graytek, technicians and designers are encouraged and supported to follow that path, building real expertise in network design, security best practices, and system integration. The result is a team that treats every rack, switch, access point, and firewall as a critical piece of your security posture, not just another box on the wall. Reliability, security, and best practices are not slogans for us, they are daily habits that are modelled from ownership and embedded in how we design, build, and support your systems for years to come.
SEE ALSO: How we secure home networks
Training, licensing, and the Graytek Training Academy
Licences are the starting point, not the finish line. Security and networking technology evolve constantly, and regulations, industry standards, and best practices evolve with them.
That is why we created the Graytek Training Academy (GTA), our internal training platform for technicians, designers, and support staff. GTA combines structured curriculum, hands-on labs, and ongoing recertification so that our team’s knowledge keeps pace with the systems we install and support.
Behind the scenes, Graytek invests heavily in:
- Individual training plans for every technician and designer
- Formal coursework and study materials for industry and government certifications
- Mentoring and peer reviews on real projects
- Time and funding for additional licences and professional development
In practice, this means the person configuring your alarm panel, programming your access control schedules, or tuning your network is not figuring it out as they go. They are following Graytek standards that have been trained, tested, and refined across hundreds of projects.
SEE ALSO: Review our documented project process
Product choice: why Graytek uses 2N for access and intercom
Access control and intercom systems sit right on the line between physical security and network security. They control who can enter your property, and they live directly on your home network. That is why product choice matters so much.
Graytek has standardised on 2N for most of our access control and intercom solutions. 2N is a European manufacturer that treats both physical and network security as first-class priorities, with well-designed devices and a platform built for professional deployments.
We choose 2N because:
- Their products are engineered as true network access control systems, not repurposed doorbells
- Security, privacy, and long-term firmware support are central to their design philosophy
- They integrate cleanly into our secure network architectures and automation systems
- Their approach aligns with our focus on client well-being and long-term reliability
Equally important, we deliberately stay away from cheaper, higher-risk camera and intercom products, including brands that have faced scrutiny or have been restricted or banned from operating in Canada. Price alone is never a good reason to put your family’s security or your network’s integrity at risk.
2N is a strong example of how the right product, combined with a qualified and experienced integration company, delivers a truly secure smart home. Product choice and installer qualifications must work together. One without the other is not enough.
SEE ALSO: See how entry systems fit into your security
Why proper licensing, training, and product choice matter to you
Choosing a properly licensed and trained smart home company that also selects proven security and networking products gives you:
- Real protection, not just the appearance of security
- Confidence that your alarm, access control, cameras, and network meet provincial expectations
- A single accountable partner if something goes wrong
- Better long-term support, documentation, and serviceability
- A security system that is thoughtfully integrated with lighting, shades, audio, and networking, without compromising safety
It also reduces risk for builders, architects, and designers. When a licensed alarm company with deep smart home and networking experience is responsible for the security scope, everyone on the project team knows who owns that part of the risk and decision-making.
Your smart home deserves that level of care and expertise. You should demand it from any dealer you consider.
How to move forward with your next project
If you are planning a custom home or major renovation in Vancouver, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Whistler, or surrounding communities, now is the ideal time to clarify who will be responsible for security and networking on your project.
Before you sign a contract, ask:
- Who is the licensed alarm company on this project?
- How are alarm, access control, cameras, and the network being documented?
- Which products are being used for access control and cameras, and why were they chosen?
- How will these systems be supported 3, 5, or 10 years from now?
At Graytek, we can lead the full security and networking scope, from early design and builder coordination, through installation, commissioning, and long-term support. We specialise in design-first, fully documented smart homes that treat security and networking as priorities, not afterthoughts.
To start a conversation about security for your smart home, you can reach Graytek at:
- https://graytek.ca/contact
- By phone at 604.529.1034
- By email at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
When you subscribe to the blog, we will send you an e-mail when there are new updates on the site so you wouldn't miss them.
