Frequently Asked Questions

We serve communities across the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley from Hope to Vancouver. If you're outside our area, contact us anyway - we may still be able to help or can recommend a trusted partner.

CMS was established in 2013, following nearly a decade of industry experience. We were founded to offer customers something different: real choice—fair pricing, excellent service, and the freedom of flexible, month-to-month monitoring with no long-term contracts. We're a locally-owned company dedicated to serving BC families with honest, reliable security solutions.

Yes, Canadian Monitoring Services is fully government licensed and insured. Our monitoring stations meet the highest industry standards for security monitoring.

No! We offer month-to-month service with no long-term contracts required. You stay with us because you want to, not because you're locked in. Cancel anytime with 30 days notice.

For new installations, we offer flexible packages to fit all needs, including professional installation and equipment that you own. For existing system takeovers, there is a $79 activation fee to reprogram your system to work with our monitoring network.

Yes! Unlike some competitors who lease equipment, any equipment we install belongs to you. This means if you ever move or want to switch providers, the equipment is yours to keep.

For new system installations, most residential setups take 2-4 hours depending on the size of your home and the number of sensors. For existing system takeovers, we typically complete the switchover in just 1-1.5 hours.

We're compatible with approximately 95% of existing alarm systems. This includes major brands like DSC, Honeywell ADEMCO, ITI, 2GIG, Qolsys and GE. During your free consultation, we'll assess your current system and let you know exactly what's possible.

We work with industry-leading brands including DSC, Honeywell, 2GIG, Qolsys, and more. We'll recommend the best equipment for your specific needs and budget during your consultation.

When your alarm is triggered, a signal is sent to our five certified monitoring stations across Canada (including our Burnaby location). Our trained operators immediately verify the alarm and contact you. If there's a confirmed emergency, we dispatch the appropriate authorities to your location.

All our systems include battery backup that keeps your security system running during power outages. Your protection continues uninterrupted.

Our cellular monitoring option provides a secure, tamper-resistant connection to our monitoring center. It works independently of your phone line, so even if lines are cut, your system stays connected. This is also ideal for homes with VOIP phone service.

Our smart home security integration allows you to control door locks, lighting, thermostats, and your security system - all from your smartphone. You can arm/disarm your system, receive real-time notifications, manage user codes, and create automated routines.

With our smart home integration, you can access your system from anywhere using our mobile app on your smartphone or tablet. Check system status, view event history, control connected devices, and receive instant alerts when something happens at your property.

Our team provides ongoing support and service for all our customers. If you experience any issues with your equipment, simply give us a call and we'll troubleshoot over the phone or schedule a service visit. We're committed to keeping your system running smoothly.

We recommend testing your system monthly. Before testing, call our monitoring center to put your system in test mode so we don't dispatch emergency services. Then trigger your alarm and verify the signal is received. Call back to confirm and take your system out of test mode.

You can reach us by phone at 1 (866) 494-4321 or email at info@cmssecurity.ca. For non-urgent matters, you can also use the contact form on our website. Our team is here to help with any questions or concerns.