Locking the door, closing the garage, adjusting the thermostat, arming your system - most of us do these things every single day without thinking twice. But that doesn't mean they have to take any effort at all.
Smart home security automation lets you combine all of those actions into a single tap. With the CPI Security inTouch® app, that's done through a feature called scenes - one command that controls every device at once. This guide covers what scenes are, why they're worth setting up, and exactly how to do it in the inTouch® app.
What is Home Security Automation?
Home security automation means programming your smart home devices to work together automatically, rather than managing each one separately. Instead of walking through your house every night checking locks, adjusting lights, and arming your panel one step at a time, automation handles it all the moment you say so.
In the CPI Security inTouch® app, home security automation is built around scenes. A scene is a saved group of actions across multiple devices that runs with a single tap. Think of it as a shortcut for your entire home - one button that does everything at once.
Why Automate Your Home Security Routine?
The obvious answer is convenience - but the real value goes further than that.
When your routine runs through the inTouch® app, you stop relying on memory. You don't have to wonder if you locked the front door before bed or whether the garage closed when you left for work. The scene ran. It's done. That certainty is the part most people don't expect until they experience it.
Automation also means your home security works more consistently. Human routines slip - a configured scene in the inTouch® app doesn't.
Smart Home Scenes Worth Setting Up
The CPI Security inTouch® app comes with several pre-built home automation scenes on the home screen to get you started. Here are the most useful smart home scenes and what to put in each:
Goodnight - Lock the front door, close the garage, arm your security system, dim or turn off lights, and lower the thermostat. Everything you do before bed, handled in one tap from the inTouch® app.
Wake Up - Disarm your system, unlock a door if needed, adjust the thermostat, and turn on lights. Start your day without the fumbling.
Away - Arm your system, lock all entry points, close the garage, and turn off any lights or devices you don't want running while you're out.
Home - Disarm your system and set lighting and temperature to your preference the moment you walk in.
You're not limited to the defaults. The inTouch® app lets you build completely custom home automation scenes for whatever your household actually needs - a "Kids home from school" scene, a "Movie night" scene, or anything else that fits your daily life.
How to Set Up a Scene in the CPI Security inTouch® App
Setting up a scene takes about two minutes. Here's exactly how to do it:
Open the CPI Security inTouch® app and go to the home screen
Your scene now appears on the inTouch® app home screen. Tap it anytime to run every action at once.
Start with One Scene
Home automation scenes are one of the most underused features in the inTouch® app - and one of the most impactful once you try them. If you're not sure where to start, build a Goodnight scene first. It covers the actions most people forget, takes less than five minutes to set up, and immediately makes your nightly routine simpler and more secure.
For more tips on getting the most out of your CPI Security system, visit the CPI Security blog or call us at 800-948-7133.