1. A method of storing persistent data for a security system having a local control panel in communication with a remote server, said local control panel having local data storage and said remote server having storage remote from said local data storage, comprising the steps of: periodically saving logical portions of existing persistent data at the remote server, periodically saving said logical portions of existing persistent data at said local data storage, said periodically saving at said local data storage being performed less frequently than said periodically saving at said remote server, and said logical portions of current persistent data each including a distinguishing data element; saving said distinguishing data element in the local data storage of each logical portion of existing persistent data saved only at the remote server; and reconstructing the persistent data on the local control panel after rebooting the local control panel, wherein during said reconstructing step only said logical portions of existing persistent data having distinguishing data elements subsequent to said distinguishing data element saved at said local data storage are written from said remote storage and saved at said local data storage.