Today, several home security providers offer professional monitoring as an available option, not a requirement, to their home security systems. For homeowners only interested in receiving notifications of alarms and alerts from their system while they’re away, getting a self-monitored system may be the right option. But, it’s important to understand that without professional monitoring, when your system does identify and alert you to an emergency event (such as a break-in or fire), you or someone else on your notify list will need to contact emergency personnel to get authorities dispatched.