The problem of the vulnerability of an alarm system when its communication with an alarm central is lost or nonexistent is solved by maintaining a monitoring channel with the alarm system. A server establishes and maintains the communication channel with the alarm system via an interface module connected to the alarm system, and if the alarm system is unable to communicate with an alarm central receiver, or if the first communication channel is closed, then the server connects to one or both of the alarm central receiver and a user's phone, so as to communicate a message thereto indicative of a breach or failure of the alarm system. The alarm system is connected to the alarm central through the monitoring server which then acts as a gateway.