What is 2nd party monitoring AKA Contract Monitoring?

• A. Alarm installation companies monitor the systems they install by maintaining their own central station
• B. A third-party monitoring service with no ties to the installer
• C. Customer self-monitoring using personal devices
• D. Monitoring by law enforcement agencies only

Answer: (A)

Second party monitoring, or contract monitoring, means the alarm installation company handles the monitoring themselves through their own central station under contract with the customer. This setup keeps the monitoring in-house to the installer, ensuring the company that installed the system is also responsible for watching it and responding to signals.

This is the best description because it directly ties the monitoring service to the installer under a contractual arrangement, rather than outsourcing to an independent third party, having the customer self-monitor, or involving law enforcement only. The other scenarios describe third-party monitoring, self-monitoring by the customer, or non-monitoring involvement, which are not what contract monitoring refers to.