Security has become a defining concern for multifamily property owners. With tenant expectations increasing and crime shifting toward soft targets like parking garages and mailrooms, property managers are under pressure to prevent issues before they happen. The old model of cameras on a wall and a night guard at the front desk no longer holds up. Today’s properties need smarter, faster, and more integrated systems that do more than record incidents, they need to actively deter and resolve them. In this article, we’ll break down the best types of security systems used in multifamily settings and how they work in real-world scenarios.
What Makes a Security System “Best” for Multifamily?
Multifamily buildings are complex environments. The best security system is one that matches the scale and operational needs of the property. A small, 10-unit garden-style complex has different challenges than a 200-unit high-rise downtown. So, what makes one system better than another?
Key Factors
- Coverage: A good system must protect all critical areas, entry points, parking garages, stairwells, elevators, and mailrooms.
- Real-Time Capability: Systems should detect and respond to issues as they happen.
- Integration: The more tools that work together, cameras, access control, alerts, the less friction for staff.
- Scalability: As properties expand, the system needs to scale without starting from scratch.
- Cost-Efficiency: Ongoing costs should reflect value, not just initial spend.
Choosing a system isn’t about features on paper. It’s about how well those features address your actual day-to-day risks.
Surveillance Systems: Your Eyes When No One’s Watching
Surveillance is the backbone of any property security setup. But in 2025, cameras alone aren’t enough. The shift is toward systems that do more with the footage they collect.
Modern surveillance setups fall into three primary categories: traditional closed-circuit systems, cloud-based platforms, and AI-enhanced live monitoring. Traditional systems still have a place, but they lack the responsiveness of newer options. Cloud storage offers more flexibility, while live monitoring through a Security Operations Center (SOC) gives you a human-in-the-loop to act on threats in real time.
More properties are turning to AI-based tools for motion detection, license plate recognition, and perimeter alerts. These technologies identify threats before they escalate, reducing false positives and improving incident response time. Surveillance no longer stops at evidence collection, it’s now an active tool for prevention.
Access Control: Keeping the Wrong People Out
Controlling who enters and exits your property is a frontline defense. In multifamily properties, that goes beyond locking the front door.
Types of Access Control Systems
- Keypad and Fob Systems: Basic and commonly used, but easily shared or lost.
- Mobile Credentials: Use smartphones for access. More secure and trackable.
- Biometric Scanners: High-end systems for sensitive areas.
Each has benefits and drawbacks, but mobile credentials are becoming the preferred option. They eliminate the issue of lost fobs and allow for temporary access permissions, making them ideal for deliveries, cleaners, or guests.
The best access control systems also generate logs. These logs are crucial for audits and liability protection. Integrated systems can alert security staff or property managers if someone attempts to force a door or tailgate behind another resident. With the rise in package theft and unauthorized entry, access control is no longer optional.
Alarm + Audio Deterrents: From Passive to Proactive
Alarm systems are nothing new, but their purpose is evolving. Instead of simply blaring a siren, the new standard is combining sensors with audio deterrents and verified alerts.
Audio deterrents are especially useful in shared spaces like garages or entry vestibules. These systems use pre-recorded or live voice warnings to address intruders. For example, if someone is loitering near a locked bike room, the system can trigger a voice prompt saying, “This area is under surveillance. Please move along.”
This approach helps deter behavior before damage or theft occurs. When paired with AI-triggered sensors, it allows the system to respond with precision, not just noise. It’s the difference between passive reaction and proactive defense.
Remote Monitoring & Incident Response: The Human Factor
No matter how smart a system is, there are still decisions that require human judgment. That’s where remote monitoring enters the equation.
Monitoring via a Security Operations Center (SOC) allows trained professionals to review incidents in real time. Unlike self-monitored systems that send alerts to property managers’ phones at all hours, SOCs operate 24/7 with staff trained to verify, escalate, or dismiss threats.
For multifamily properties, this means fewer false alarms and faster response when real threats emerge. SOC agents can contact law enforcement, deter activity via audio warnings, or coordinate with on-site teams. This added layer of verification also improves police response time, since verified incidents are prioritized.
Remote monitoring isn’t just about catching people after the fact, it’s about ensuring the right people are notified when it matters most.
Integration + Automation: One Platform, Not Five Apps
Multifamily teams often juggle multiple apps and dashboards. When surveillance, access control, and alarm systems run separately, things fall through the cracks.
An integrated system unifies these pieces into one platform. This means if a door is forced open, the system pulls the video feed, logs the entry, and sends a real-time alert, all automatically. That level of automation cuts down staff workload and ensures nothing is missed.
Automated systems also help manage routine issues. Geofencing and license plate recognition can trigger gate access for known residents. If a vehicle returns a loaner car, staff can be notified to prep the guest’s personal vehicle before they even walk in. These small efficiencies add up fast, especially in properties with high foot traffic.
AI-powered systems reduce reliance on manual review and repetitive tasks. Instead, they deliver insights and actions that matter.
Choosing What’s Right for Your Property
No single system fits every multifamily property. What works for a suburban complex won’t always match the needs of a high-rise in the city. But the goal remains the same: reduce risk, keep tenants safe, and streamline operations.
For most properties, the starting point is a combination of surveillance and access control. From there, audio deterrents, SOC monitoring, and full automation provide added layers that transform basic security into a complete risk management strategy.
A property that stays ahead of threats isn’t just reacting to problems. It’s preventing them from happening in the first place.
Looking to Upgrade? Here’s Where to Start
If you’re managing a multifamily property and looking to implement a more proactive, integrated security approach, EyeQ Monitoring designs custom surveillance systems that combine AI automation with 24/7 human verification. Our platform supports access control, video monitoring, audio deterrents, and real-time incident response, all in one dashboard.
To learn how EyeQ can tailor a solution to your property, get in touch for a free site evaluation and consultation.
