In addition, online sales are now the top method by which consumers acquire systems: 39% of security system owners acquired their system online in 2025, up from 35% in 2023.

“Dealers are responding by offering an easier path to purchase: 36% of dealers sell systems online, up from 24% in 2023,” said Jennifer Kent, SVP and Principal Analyst, Parks Associates. “Dealers are also embracing new product offerings. Consumers, particularly renters, younger households, and cost-conscious homeowners, want affordable, flexible, and even portable security options.”

The research, part of a partnership with Security Sales & Integration, indicates price and reliability remain the top two factors security dealers consider when selecting a central monitoring station, while demand for advanced capabilities such as ASAP-to-PSAP integration, AI-enabled controls, and PERS services is increasing.

Other highlights include:

• 70% of dealers report commercial sales are a growing share of their business.

• There is an approximately $31/month gap between basic and fully featured service packages.

• 82% of dealers rank price among their top considerations when choosing a central monitoring station.

• 35% of dealers rank the ability to provide ASAP-to-PSAP support among the top monitoring station selection criteria.

The research also highlights leading vendors serving the security dealer ecosystem. Monitoring providers include ADT, COPS Monitoring, Rapid Response Monitoring, Affiliated Monitoring, Securitas Technology, and CMS, while control platform providers include Johnson Controls, Resideo, Bosch, Qolsys, DMP, Nice, and Control4.

Parks Associates hosted its 30th annual Connections conference in Santa Clara, California, where the firm shared its latest data and discussed its implications with leaders across the security, broadband, and smart home markets.