diff --git a/homeassistant/components/ness_alarm/__init__.py b/homeassistant/components/ness_alarm/__init__.py
index c7175a0c3c7..7d8cd2c3c44 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/ness_alarm/__init__.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/ness_alarm/__init__.py
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
 """Support for Ness D8X/D16X devices."""
-from collections import namedtuple
+import datetime
 import logging
+from collections import namedtuple
 
 import voluptuous as vol
 
 from homeassistant.components.binary_sensor import DEVICE_CLASSES
-from homeassistant.const import ATTR_CODE, ATTR_STATE, EVENT_HOMEASSISTANT_STOP
+from homeassistant.const import (ATTR_CODE, ATTR_STATE,
+                                 EVENT_HOMEASSISTANT_STOP,
+                                 CONF_SCAN_INTERVAL)
 from homeassistant.helpers import config_validation as cv
 from homeassistant.helpers.discovery import async_load_platform
 from homeassistant.helpers.dispatcher import async_dispatcher_send
@@ -25,6 +28,7 @@ CONF_ZONE_TYPE = 'type'
 CONF_ZONE_ID = 'id'
 ATTR_OUTPUT_ID = 'output_id'
 DEFAULT_ZONES = []
+DEFAULT_SCAN_INTERVAL = datetime.timedelta(minutes=1)
 
 SIGNAL_ZONE_CHANGED = 'ness_alarm.zone_changed'
 SIGNAL_ARMING_STATE_CHANGED = 'ness_alarm.arming_state_changed'
@@ -42,6 +46,8 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = vol.Schema({
     DOMAIN: vol.Schema({
         vol.Required(CONF_DEVICE_HOST): cv.string,
         vol.Required(CONF_DEVICE_PORT): cv.port,
+        vol.Optional(CONF_SCAN_INTERVAL, default=DEFAULT_SCAN_INTERVAL):
+            vol.All(cv.time_period, cv.positive_timedelta),
         vol.Optional(CONF_ZONES, default=DEFAULT_ZONES):
             vol.All(cv.ensure_list, [ZONE_SCHEMA]),
     }),
@@ -67,8 +73,10 @@ async def async_setup(hass, config):
     zones = conf[CONF_ZONES]
     host = conf[CONF_DEVICE_HOST]
     port = conf[CONF_DEVICE_PORT]
+    scan_interval = conf[CONF_SCAN_INTERVAL]
 
-    client = Client(host=host, port=port, loop=hass.loop)
+    client = Client(host=host, port=port, loop=hass.loop,
+                    update_interval=scan_interval.total_seconds())
     hass.data[DATA_NESS] = client
 
     async def _close(event):