2012 February

State of the Market: Alarm Systems 2012

This year the alarm industry is increasingly unshackled from landlines and high costs, buoyed by end user demand for remote/interactive services, and up against more competition.

Heather Klotz-Young

February 22, 2012

Every new year always starts off with speculation. The interpretation of several noticeable changes impacting the alarm industry in 2012 depends on whether one subscribes to the philosophy of “glass half empty” or “glass half full.” What do you think as you read through the following list?

Code Compliance: A Big Deal

In the matter of a magnetic lock installation, code compliance can be a big deal if designers and installers aren’t sufficiently educated about requirements and common misinterpretations. Why all the fuss? Life safety, of course.

Karyn Hodgson

February 22, 2012

In an industry where technology is king and the latest and greatest in access control can do amazingly sophisticated things, it is somewhat ironic that one of the most complicated and controversial pieces of equipment to install is a lock — a magnetic lock, to be specific. The issues surrounding this relatively simple piece of hardware can get so messy that some dealers and integrators elect to stay away from installing it at all.

Revenue Detail on Resi Projects

Technologies may be converging, but when it comes to the revenue models of security dealers and electronic systems contractors, the differences are vast.

Laura Stepanek

February 22, 2012

A confluence of both opportunities (energy management, mobile technologies) and challenges (depressed home construction, reduced consumer spending) keeps pushing installation companies into market segments in which they’ve never gone before. One result is that more security dealers are seeking sales of residential systems that go beyond traditional security, especially those targeted for the existing home market.

Heightened Access Control

Utilities take ‘rugged environments’ to another level. Manufacturers and integrators discuss access control in this critical infrastructure.

Karyn Hodgson

February 22, 2012

The utility environment is challenging in many ways. Brent Franklin, president, Unlimited Technology Inc., Chester Springs, Pa., sums it up appropriately when he says, “Utilities are often located in the middle of some of the worst environments and applications you can possibly imagine. They are in the middle of a transformer field or on the side of a rocky hill. They absolutely have a lot more inherent risk than a normal office building.”

IP for Sale

There have been some ‘stunning’ improvements made to IP cameras recently, according to security professionals. This makes them ideal for a wide range of new applications, translating to more sales opportunities for your company.

Derek Rice

February 22, 2012

End users’ desire for high-definition and megapixel technologies has driven the vast majority of advancements in the video surveillance industry — yet because the security industry has been adopting IP cameras more slowly than expected, end users may not necessarily be aware of the newest advancements.

Smoke & CO Detector Standards Updated

Here’s a look at recent changes to the NFPA standards for smoke and CO detectors.

Joan Engebretson

February 22, 2012

Security dealers that install smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors for the residential market soon will have to meet some new requirements as a result of changes made to the latest National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. The standards involved are the 2010 version of NFPA 72, the National Fire Alarm & Signaling Code, and the 2012 version of NFPA 720, the Standard for the Installation of Carbon Monoxide Detection & Warning Equipment.

Time for an Upgrade

Mark McCourt

February 22, 2012

Security Cloud Computing (SCC) has arrived and is changing the very fabric of how security is sold, delivered, used and — as a result — valued by customers. It is or will dramatically impact the historic notions of RMR by expanding the sources and changing its structure.

Numerous Issues, 1 Case

Lessing E. Gold

February 23, 2012

In a recent case before the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, the court clarified multiple issues frequently faced by alarm companies in court.

Showcases: February 2012

February 29, 2012

Get quality video solutions for a price that satisfies you and your customers! Choose indoor or outdoor cameras, DVRs and more for your small- to mid-sized applications. The Advantage Line is a suite of products and tools that give you an edge on the competition, no matter what the challenge.

Wash-and-Go Businesses Turn to Mobile Surveillance

February 24, 2012

River Valley, LLC owns four businesses in western Pennsylvania: Cranberry 10 Minute Oil Change, Cranberry Car Wash, Cranberry Pet Wash, and Erie 10 Minute Oil Change. Most are open 24 hours a day and often unmanned, particularly during the night hours.

Dave Engebretson

February 24, 2012

As technology marches on, one of the “new normal” rules of the game is that while a product/device/software set might be cool today, pretty soon it is either obsolete or has died.

Do You Know Your Detectors?

Roy Pollack

February 24, 2012

Test your knowledge on detector standards and new technologies with this month's quiz.

Digital Shuffle: February 2012

Sabrina Gasulla

February 27, 2012

An integrator kicks off the New Year with a new social media page; plus new and updated apps.

Technology Solutions & Skills: February 2012

February 27, 2012

New in-camera chip paves the way for vastly improved analytics; With embedded wireless sensors, new tech tells security systems if doors & windows are unlocked; MobileView™ receives QATT designation under DHS SAFETY Act, and more.

Index Shows Confidence Was Down in Q3

Mark Visbal

February 24, 2012

The showdown over U.S. debt and the continuing crisis surrounding the euro caused instability in a number of sectors, and that instability was reflected in the third quarter 2011 Security Industry Business Confidence Index, which is a report conducted by the Security Industry Association among its members who provide security products and services to the reseller channel of dealers and integrators.

Educate, Consult & Protect

Dan Dunkel

February 23, 2012

This January I had appointments with leading firms to discuss cyber strategy. These included the largest IT company in the world, a multibillion-dollar intelligence security consultancy, and a global physical security firm completing a billion-dollar acquisition. All understand cybersecurity is a leading issue in the boardroom and represents a recurring revenue goldmine if they incorporate cyber consulting and information protection solutions into their deliverables.

Insider News & Business: February 2012

February 27, 2012

A round-up of industry events (the 2011 CAA Convention and the First Alert Professional Convention), a look at ASG’s growth in 2011, and more.

What Can We Do With All of This Connectivity?

Laura Stepanek

February 23, 2012

Check out SDM’s fourth virtual trade show, iSecurity, for starters. Admittedly, I’m not the most high-tech, gadget-oriented person. As an example, I’m just now doing the research in anticipation of buying my first smartphone (any advice?). When I watch TV, I still need to adjust the “rabbit-ear” antenna positioned next to my HD flat screen. (My family is among the 10 percent of U.S. households that never appreciated the value of subscribing to some form of pay TV such as cable or satellite.) And for those of you who ask — yes, you can get “free TV” on an HD television.