Re: Is CSID of the alarm panel stored in company's customer computer r

[Nomen Nescio <nobody@xxxxxxxxx>]

Brent said:

>I find it kind of odd security experts have differing opinions about a
>standard CSID.

Look, the CSID is really pretty simple.  First of all, not everyone you
talk to on the phone has access to the remote programming software.  If
they don't, they obviously will not have access to the CSID.

Second, the term "CSID" generally applies to Ademco panels.  You have a
Concord Express, which I know nothing about.  Different manufacturers have
different security policies, so there is no one universal "right answer"
that applies to all systems.

If you had an Ademco system, the CSID cannot be read out of the panel by
remote programming software, or at the keypad.  It's possible to zero it
out, but not to read the value.  This, for example, keeps other alarm
companies from remotely accessing another company's systems.  In addition,
an ordinary operator is not able to view the CSID.  Since the CSID is often
shared by many of an alarm company's systems, this information is
sensitive, and operators do not need to know it.  The software handles this
without operator intervention.  Operators can be assigned a higher
authority level that will allow them to view the CSID, but that is a
security risk, so only certain people should have access to this
information.

Your question was whether another alarm company could download the log for
your system and tell you what happened.  Again, this depends on your
system.  Generally speaking, you will need to contact your installing or
monitoring company and have them upload the event log.  Someone should be
able to do this for you, and send you a printout of the event history.  If
the person you've been talking to can't do this, you should escalate the
matter to someone higher up in the food chain.

- badenov