Scout Alarm DIY security system now 'Works with Nest'

Scout, the do-it-yourself home alarm system that has standalone connectivity, is now working with Nest. In a blog post, Scout says their system now works with Nest "to enable seamless access and control of your Nest device(s) within your Scout account." Your Scout Alarm will now work with Nest's Smoke + Carbon Monoxide detector, as well as Nest Learning Thermostat. Though the reasoning for grouping your thermostat and home security system together might not be immediately clear, Scout has outlined several ways it can be handy.

In allowing Nest to peek into your settings, Scout hopes to bring some contextual smarts to your home. By automating your Nest's settings to coincide with Scout's settings, you may end up saving a bit of cash. For instance, your Nest thermostat might automatically go dormant when you set your Scout Alarm to 'Away'.

This is all done within the Scout app, too. You won't have to migrate between apps to make this work for you; all you need to do is follow the in-app guidelines for linking your Nest devices.

Perhaps the most immediate benefit is Scout notifying you when a Nest Smoke + Carbon Monoxide detector picks up a signal. Again, you'll see those alerts in your Scout app, which will also feed you pop-up notifications.

What's not immediately clear is whether or not Scout allows Nest to piggyback onto its features. Scout's monitoring plans enable 3G connectivity as a backup for when your WiFi goes down. Having backup connectivity to compliment a battery backup would be nice for Nest owners.

Source: Scout