Laura Stepanek Articles

Editor's Angle

On the Cusp of the Future

A new decade of security

January 6, 2020

Welcome to 2020. This year has special significance for me, as my oldest son will graduate high school and prepare to go off to college in the fall.

Messages from 14th ACCC: Openness & Partnerships

Laura Stepanek

November 5, 2019

The venue for the 14^th annual Axis Connect & Converge Conference (ACCC) was symbolic of the theme conveyed by host Axis Communications throughout the two full days of the meeting.

Editor’s Angle

Strive to Be Easier

Laura Stepanek

November 4, 2019

Plenty has been written over the past several decades about whether technology makes our lives easier.

Interlogix to Shut Down in U.S. & Canada; Dealers Express Disappointment

Laura Stepanek

Courtney Wolfe

September 26, 2019

Interlogix, a provider of commercial and residential security, announced it will close its businesses in the U.S. and Canada after a “thorough portfolio review” of its security business.

Preferred Brands Among the Top Systems Integrators

Which suppliers do the largest systems integrators support? This Top Systems Integrators brand-usage report lists the manufacturers and distributors that earn their business.

Laura Stepanek

September 23, 2019

Security systems integrators handle a diverse set of projects with demanding requirements. Their suppliers play a major role in helping them meet those requirements and exceed their clients’ expectations.

Editor’s Angle

How to Get Smart About Business Intelligence

Laura Stepanek

September 2, 2019

If you don’t think business intelligence should be part of your plan because your customers aren’t yet asking about it, you’d better rethink that so you can get on top of the trend.

The Power of Confidence

Laura Stepanek

August 5, 2019

When my daughter was in sixth grade, the dad of one of her classmates asked what we had done as parents to give our daughter so much confidence.

SDM 2019 Top Systems Integrators Report: Security Projects Coming From All Market Sectors

Security integrators ranked on the 2019 Top Systems Integrators Report collectively grew at least 14 percent last year. Demand is abundant and stemming from every market sector.

Laura Stepanek

July 9, 2019

Security integrators describe the 2018 market for integrated security systems as “strong,” “hot” and “accelerated” — all apt terms, given that the nation’s largest integrators grew their systems integration revenue by at least 14 percent last year.

Editor’s Angle

Critical Issues Come to the Surface

Laura Stepanek

July 1, 2019

This is a special edition of SDM, as it features the 2019 Top Systems Integrators Report, a ranking of the largest security integrators by systems integration revenue.

TMA Reveals Monitoring Center Excellence Award Winners at ESX

Laura Stepanek

June 4, 2019

Guardian Protection was declared the Monitoring Center of the Year in the 14th annual TMA Excellence Awards, sponsored by SDM. The award was announced last night at the ESX opening celebration, held at the Indiana State Museum in the charming city of Indianapolis.