Physical security systems run on state-of-the-art hardware and software infrastructure. Increasingly the industry is turning to cloud application solutions, and identity databases are being hosted on virtualized servers.

One of the priorities of the Security Industry Association (SIA) is to increase our collaboration with other security associations. SIA and groups such as the Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA) and the Electronic Security Association (ESA) share so much common ground and have so many of the same members that it is counterproductive for us not to pool our resources and work collaboratively.

The trend toward IP-based video surveillance is, by now, firmly established, according to the second quarter 2012 edition of the Security Industry Quarterly Research Report, published by the Security industry Association (SIA). The question is no longer whether IP-based equipment sales will overtake analog equipment sales, but when.

It may not have been a full double-dip, but confidence in the security industry appears to be pulling out of its second significant downturn of the past few years.

U.S. Representatives Jim Matheson (D-UT) and Charlie Bass (R-NH) recently reintroduced legislation to increase the use of life-saving residential carbon monoxide (CO) alarms. The Residential Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act is similar to legislation that was approved by the House of Representatives in the last session of Congress, but the Senate never brought the bill to a vote. The Senate version of the bill was introduced by Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).

The Security Industry Association’s (SIA) New Product Showcase (NPS) is the premier awards-based marketing program in the security industry. It has been in existence since 1979. Each year at ISC West, the NPS program recognizes outstanding contributions to the protection of life and property in residential, commercial and institutional settings. Judging panels composed of industry experts select winners in various categories. The most coveted awards are the Judges’ Choice Award and the Best New Product Award.

The Security Industry Association’s (SIA) New Product Showcase (NPS) is the premier awards-based marketing program in the security industry. It has been in existence since 1979. Each year at ISC West, the NPS program recognizes outstanding contributions to the protection of life and property in residential, commercial and institutional settings. Judging panels composed of industry experts select winners in various categories. The most coveted awards are the Judges’ Choice Award and the Best New Product Award.

The SIA Security Industry Research Update for the fourth quarter of 2011 reveals that video surveillance continues to exhibit growth opportunities. Both the average number of installations and gross profit margin ascended as a result of increases in IP camera installations, megapixel cameras and video analytics.

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.