What is the difference between a regular alarm system and an Internet security system?
A regular alarm system, while doing the job it is supposed to by monitoring your house, can only monitor your house. It uses either your in-home phone line or local cell towers to alert a monitoring company of any alarms or break-ins.
With an Internet security system you can do almost anything these days, from controlling lights, sprinklers, and be alerted of any issues without going to a keypad or even being in your house. Some Internet alarm systems will even talk to you so you know when there is change in the status of the alarm system.
You can, if you wanted to, arm or disarm your house or set up a schedule while your away to turn on and off lights in your house. When your kids get home, an email is sent to you so you know they are home. Another option is to have a panning camera on the outside of your property with motion detection that allows your system to automatically move the focus of the camera to the point where motion or intrusion is detected. With today's' technology you can do just about anything over a private data network, even control the system from a smartphone. Do you have that app?