Alarm.com

Alarm.com is a United States technology company that provides cloud-based services for connected security, remote property control, home automation, video surveillance, and alarm monitoring. The company is headquartered in Tysons, Virginia, and its solutions are primarily delivered through professional security dealers, monitoring companies, and other service providers rather than through a conventional direct-to-consumer retail model. This channel-oriented structure allows Alarm.com to supply the underlying cloud platform, software applications, device integrations, and operating tools while local or regional providers install systems, sell subscriptions, and support end customers. The business originated in 2000 as a research-and-development initiative and spinoff associated with MicroStrategy, now known as Strategy. Its early technology focused on sending alarm notifications by email, text message, and voicemail when a monitored system was triggered. In 2003, Alarm.com introduced a web-based monitoring product, helping move security management beyond traditional central-station and telephone-based interactions. The company later expanded from event notification into interactive security, remote video, automation, energy management, access control, and connected-property operations. Alarm.com’s platform links sensors, alarm panels, cameras, locks, thermostats, lighting controls, garage and gate devices, and other compatible equipment. Residential users can use web and mobile applications to monitor properties, receive alerts, view video, automate devices, and manage security settings. Commercial customers can apply related capabilities to business premises, including video surveillance, access management, operational monitoring, and cloud-managed security systems. Features vary according to the equipment, subscription, service provider, and property configuration. The company has broadened its capabilities through partnerships and acquisitions. Its connected-home platform has been integrated with consumer ecosystems and devices associated with Amazon Alexa, Amazon Echo, Apple TV, Google Home, and related interfaces. Acquisitions have added commercial cloud-managed video through OpenEye, indoor gunshot detection through Shooter Detection Systems, emergency-service connectivity through Noonlight, and alarm-system communication hardware through EBS. These moves have extended Alarm.com from a remote-monitoring product into a broader connected-property operating platform. Alarm.com became a public company in 2015 and trades on Nasdaq under the symbol ALRM. Its customers and users are supported by a network of professional service providers, while the company earns its position through recurring platform and software-related relationships, device connectivity, and technology supplied to the security industry. The brand’s core positioning is therefore an integrated, cloud-connected operating layer for homes and businesses, combining security, automation, video, access, and emergency-response functions in one service ecosystem.

Alarm.com was established in 2000 as a project associated with MicroStrategy’s research and development activities. The initiative was connected to MicroStrategy founder Michael J. Saylor’s interest in monetizing the Alarm.com domain and developing internet-enabled alarm services. Jean-Paul Martin and Alison J. Slavin are identified as the company’s founders. The original concept was to connect alarm systems to internet-based notification channels so that consumers and businesses could receive alerts through email, text messages, or voicemail when an alarm event occurred. In 2003, Alarm.com launched its first web-based monitoring product. This represented an early shift from conventional alarm monitoring toward software-mediated access, allowing users and service providers to interact with security information through the web. The company subsequently developed a business model centered on professional security dealers and monitoring providers. These partners typically handle installation, customer acquisition, monitoring relationships, and field service, while Alarm.com supplies cloud infrastructure, applications, connected-device support, and platform capabilities. The company expanded its offering during the late 2000s. Shortly before its 2009 ownership change, it had introduced remote video monitoring that could send alerts to mobile phones. In February 2009, a management buyout led by ABS Capital Partners and Egis Capital acquired the company. At that time, Alarm.com reportedly served approximately 150,000 customers and its products were sold through about 800 North American dealers. The transaction marked a transition from its origins within MicroStrategy to an independently financed growth company. Alarm.com continued extending its platform beyond intrusion alerts. In 2011, it added remote heating and cooling control to its emPower home-automation platform. In 2012, Technology Crossover Ventures invested in the company, providing additional capital for expansion. The company’s product scope developed into interactive security, video, home automation, energy management, access control, connected locks, and other Internet of Things applications for homes and commercial properties. In June 2015, Alarm.com completed an initial public offering and began trading on Nasdaq under the ticker ALRM. The public offering gave the company access to public capital markets, while ABS Capital Partners and Technology Crossover Ventures remained important shareholders at the time of the offering. In 2016, Alarm.com connected its cloud-based platform with Amazon Echo and related voice-command capabilities, as well as Apple TV functions compatible with Apple’s connected-home environment. These integrations reflected the company’s effort to make security and automation part of wider consumer technology ecosystems. The company used acquisitions to strengthen its commercial and safety offerings. In October 2019, it acquired OpenEye, a provider of commercial cloud-managed video surveillance products. In 2020, it acquired Shooter Detection Systems, which developed indoor gunshot-detection technology. In 2022, Alarm.com announced smart arming, a feature intended to automate alarm arming and disarming based on user activity. Later that year, it acquired Noonlight, a St. Louis-based provider of mobile applications that connect people with emergency services. In 2023, it acquired EBS, a Warsaw-based manufacturer of smart alarm-system communicators. Alarm.com remains an active public technology company headquartered in Tysons, Virginia. Its current business is organized around a connected-property platform that can support millions of residential and commercial properties and is delivered through a large network of service providers. The company’s historical development shows a progression from internet alarm notification to a broader cloud operating layer for security, video, automation, access, energy, and emergency response.

1. 2023EBS acquisition

   The company acquired EBS, a Poland-based manufacturer of smart alarm-system communicators.

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2. 2022Smart arming announced

   Alarm.com announced automatic arming and disarming based on user activity.

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3. 2022Noonlight acquisition

   Alarm.com acquired Noonlight to add mobile emergency-service connection capabilities.

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4. 2020Shooter Detection Systems acquisition

   The company acquired Shooter Detection Systems and added indoor gunshot-detection technology.

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5. 2019OpenEye acquisition

   Alarm.com acquired OpenEye to expand its commercial cloud-managed video-surveillance capabilities.

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6. 2016Connected-home ecosystem integrations

   The platform was integrated with Amazon Echo-related voice control and Apple TV-compatible connected-home functions.

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7. 2015Initial public offering

   Alarm.com completed its IPO and began trading on Nasdaq under the ticker ALRM.

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8. 2012Technology Crossover Ventures investment

   Technology Crossover Ventures invested in Alarm.com to support continued growth.

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9. 2011Remote heating and cooling control added

   Remote property heating and cooling controls were added to the emPower home-automation platform.

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10. 2009Management buyout

    A management buyout led by ABS Capital Partners and Egis Capital separated Alarm.com from its previous ownership context.

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11. 2003First web-based monitoring product

    Alarm.com launched a web-based monitoring product for accessing security information remotely.

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12. 2000Company founded as a MicroStrategy-related venture

    Alarm.com was founded by Jean-Paul Martin and Alison J. Slavin within the broader context of MicroStrategy’s research and development activities.

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A professionally delivered, cloud-based operating platform that integrates security, video, automation, access, energy, and emergency-response capabilities for residential and commercial properties.

• Interactive SecurityResidential and commercial security

  Alarm.com’s core security platform connects alarm panels, sensors, detectors, and other property devices to cloud services. Users and professional monitoring providers can review system status, receive event notifications, manage arming modes, and create automated responses. The offering is normally installed and supported through authorized security dealers, with available capabilities depending on the service plan and connected hardware.

• VideoVideo surveillance

  The video portfolio connects security cameras and related devices to cloud-based applications for remote viewing, recording, event review, and video-related alerts. It serves both residential and commercial properties. The acquisition of OpenEye strengthened Alarm.com’s commercial cloud-managed video capabilities, while the broader platform links video events with alarms, automation, and other property conditions.

• Home Automation and emPowerHome automation

  Alarm.com’s automation capabilities allow connected properties to coordinate locks, lights, thermostats, garage doors, and other devices with security events and user-defined schedules. The emPower platform was expanded to include remote heating and cooling control in 2011. Integrations with voice and connected-home ecosystems have helped place security automation alongside broader household controls.

• Energy ManagementEnergy and property management

  Energy-management functions use connected thermostats and other controllable devices to support property automation and management of energy-related settings. The capability extends Alarm.com beyond alarm monitoring by linking comfort, occupancy, schedules, and security conditions within the same cloud platform.

• Access ControlAccess management

  Access-control capabilities support connected locks, entry permissions, and property access events. For commercial users, access functions can be combined with video, alarms, and operational workflows. For residential users, compatible locks and entry devices can be managed through the broader Alarm.com application and automation environment.

• Smart ArmingSecurity automation2022

  Smart arming is an automated security feature announced in 2022. It is designed to adjust alarm arming and disarming in response to detected user activity and property behavior, reducing the need for manual mode changes while retaining the broader monitoring and notification functions of the platform.

• Emergency ResponseEmergency services connectivity

  Alarm.com’s emergency-response capabilities include mobile and connected-property functions for linking people or security events with emergency services. The acquisition of Noonlight expanded this area by adding technology for mobile connections to emergency assistance.

• Smart Alarm CommunicatorsAlarm communications hardware

  Through EBS, Alarm.com added smart communicator hardware used to connect alarm systems with communication networks and cloud services. These devices help bridge installed security equipment and the digital platform used by monitoring providers and property occupants.

• 2023Acquire EBSM&A

  Alarm.com required additional hardware and communications capabilities to support installed alarm systems and international platform deployment.

  What changed. Alarm.com acquired EBS, a Poland-based manufacturer of smart communicators for alarm systems.

  Aftermath. EBS expanded the company’s portfolio of alarm-system communication hardware.

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• 2022Introduce smart armingProduct launch

  Manual arming and disarming can be inconvenient in connected residential security environments.

  What changed. Alarm.com announced a smart arming feature intended to automate alarm state changes based on user activity.

  Aftermath. The feature reinforced the company’s emphasis on behavior-aware property automation.

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• 2022Acquire NoonlightM&A

  Alarm.com was broadening its connected-property platform to include more direct links between users, security events, and emergency assistance.

  What changed. The company acquired Noonlight, a provider of mobile applications connecting people with emergency services.

  Aftermath. The transaction strengthened Alarm.com’s emergency-response and personal-safety capabilities.

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• 2020Acquire Shooter Detection SystemsM&A

  The company was expanding from conventional security monitoring into additional safety and threat-detection applications.

  What changed. Alarm.com acquired Shooter Detection Systems for an undisclosed amount.

  Aftermath. The acquisition added indoor gunshot-detection technology to the company’s security portfolio.

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• 2019Acquire OpenEyeM&A

  Alarm.com sought to deepen its commercial video-surveillance and cloud-managed security capabilities.

  What changed. The company acquired OpenEye, a provider of commercial cloud-managed video surveillance products.

  Aftermath. OpenEye’s technology broadened Alarm.com’s commercial video offering.

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• 2015Become publicly listedStrategy

  Alarm.com had expanded its cloud platform and professional security-provider network and sought access to public capital markets.

  What changed. The company completed an initial public offering and listed on Nasdaq under the symbol ALRM.

  Aftermath. Alarm.com continued operating as a public company while its earlier institutional investors remained significant shareholders at the time of the offering.

  IPO offering price. $14 per share (June 2015)

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• 2009Proceed with a management buyoutM&A

  Alarm.com had developed a dealer-based security technology business and had approximately 150,000 customers around the time of the transaction.

  What changed. A management buyout led by ABS Capital Partners and Egis Capital acquired the company for a reported $27.7 million.

  Aftermath. The transaction moved Alarm.com out of its earlier MicroStrategy-related ownership context and supported its subsequent independent expansion.

  Transaction value. $27.7 million (February 2009)

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• 2023Alarm.com acquires EBS

  Alarm.com acquired Poland-based EBS, a manufacturer of smart communicators used with alarm systems.

  M&A
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• 2022Alarm.com introduces smart arming

  The company announced a feature designed to arm or disarm alarms automatically according to detected user activity and property behavior.

  Product launch
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• 2022Alarm.com acquires Noonlight

  The acquisition brought Noonlight’s mobile emergency-service connection capabilities into Alarm.com’s broader safety platform.

  M&A
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• 2020Alarm.com acquires Shooter Detection Systems

  Alarm.com acquired an indoor gunshot-detection technology company, broadening its commercial safety and security capabilities.

  M&A
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• 2019Alarm.com acquires OpenEye

  The acquisition added OpenEye’s commercial cloud-managed video-surveillance capabilities to Alarm.com’s portfolio.

  M&A
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• 2016Alarm.com integrates with Amazon and Apple connected-home ecosystems

  The company announced integrations involving Amazon Echo voice devices and Apple TV-compatible connected-home functions.

  Product launch
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• 2015Alarm.com completes its initial public offering

  Alarm.com began trading publicly on Nasdaq under the symbol ALRM.

  Other
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• 2011Alarm.com adds remote heating and cooling control

  The company added remote control of property heating and cooling to its emPower home-automation platform.

  Product launch
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• 2003Alarm.com launches its first web-based monitoring product

  The company introduced a web-based monitoring service, expanding access to security status and alarm information beyond traditional monitoring channels.

  Product launch
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1. Alarm.com
2. Alarm.com corporate website