The cover story in this issue, “State of the Market: Video Surveillance,” is the first of five in-depth feature articles in SDM’s exclusive State of the Market series that examines the current performance and future viability of the video surveillance, intrusion alarm and monitoring, access control, fire protection, and connected home markets. These articles, which will be published throughout 2016, are a valuable read, as they are chock-full of not only testimony from industry professionals about the challenges and opportunities they see in each market, but also exclusive data conducted by SDM’s research arm about selected vertical segments and technologies poised for growth.

As security integrator Michael Thomas of Integrated Security and Communications, featured on this month’s cover, describes, “We have already hit some targeted goals and are responding to early customer requests for solutions. This is also a bit abnormal as compared to, say, the last five years. Although we have had double-digit growth in each year, it’s normally a slower start as companies are closing the previous year and establishing budgets for the following year.

“I believe this may be a key indicator that companies are actively seeking to fund security for their facilities and that the budgets are being approved by senior management in response to what’s happening in the world around us as they seek a safer and more secure work environment for their employees.”

Nearly nine in 10 of SDM’s subscribers seem to agree with Thomas, as evidenced by our 2016 Industry Forecast Study, the results of which are part of the State of the Market report. We asked integrators, “Considering the economic health of your business, how would you rate the potential for sales in 2016 in the video surveillance market?” Thirty percent rated the state of the market as good, and another 59 percent rated it either very good or excellent. By most standards, those are extraordinary ratings, giving the industry a positive indicator for 2016.

On the other hand, few security integrators can conduct their business this year without noticing the potential impediments to growth: declining prices and equipment commoditization, stiffer competition (which could have both good and bad effects), and cybersecurity concerns among clients — the latter of which will continue to rear its ugly head. In “The Cybersecurity Effect” on page 49, the author writes that one of the main reasons adoption of cloud-based video services has not grown as much as anticipated is end users’ concerns about data security. Confidence in the ability to secure networks and data seems to wane with every high-profile data breach.

“Data security is a real concern for the American people in general. You don’t have to be in security to be aware of the number of attacks in both the public and private sectors,” says Hikvision’s Sam Belbina. “This issue will never die; it’s going to be with us forever. The dilemma is to figure out how to address it.”

Integrator Advance Technology is using education to help address it. “We’ve been learning from the leadership of Bill Bozeman at PSA [Security Network] with regard to the changes integrators need to make to their business to improve their cybersecurity posture,” says Advance Technology’s Rob Simopoulos.

It will be important in 2016 to recognize the potential limitations to growth, such as cybersecurity, and to use every available resource for overcoming them. Read on to see how others are tackling the challenges and exploiting the trends in video surveillance in “State of the Market: Video Surveillance,” beginning on page 48.

New Canadian edition from SDM & SECURITY Magazines

It’s an exciting time to be in the Canadian security market as ample growth in professional security is forecast in the coming years. From SDM and SECURITY Magazines comes a new supplement covering this market, to be published four times in 2016. With the introduction of this new edition, we are acknowledging the unique needs of security professionals in Canada and giving you a publication that speaks directly to you.

You may also read the content from the Canadian editions online at www.SDMmag.com/topics/SDM-Security-Canada.

If you enjoy the articles in the inaugural issue, or if there is something missing you’d like to see in the future, please let us know. Your feedback is critical to the success of this publication. Contact me at stepanekl@bnpmedia.com; phone 847-405-4027.