Universal control and monitoring of security systems and security components

A system comprising:

• a local system including at least one microprocessor, at least one network communication component, the local system in communication with a remote server via the network communication component, at least one input component to receive input from multiple external sources provided by multiple different manufacturers, local software stored on a local storage device, the local software including a state engine which when executed causes the local system to perform operations including:
• identifying the external sources;
• receiving configuration information from a server,
• configuring external sources, as needed, based on the configuration information received from the server,
• evaluating the input received from the external sources,
• providing output to the external sources based on the state engine and the input received from the external sources,
• sending local system status and external source information to the server based in part on evaluating the input received from external sources and the state machine.