IT’S SUMMER TRADESHOW SEASON, post-COVID style! First up this month is ESX, which announced in March it would stay virtual this year, and occur online June 15-17. Then, like many of you, we are planning for next month’s delayed ISC West both in-person and, for some of us, remotely. After that comes GSX in September and the hope (expectation?) that the fall and spring shows and conferences will be back to normal.

Traditionally tradeshows are a great opportunity to network, learn and, of course, see hands-on demonstrations of all the latest technology in the fast-moving security space. As the security industry — and the world — comes out of its 15-month long hibernation, it is time to see what has changed and evolved.

If this month’s cover story, State of the Market: Security, Monitoring & Smart Home, is any indication there should be plenty to see. As Aaron Whitaker, owner of Preventia Security, featured on our cover, told Managing Editor Courtney Wolfe, his company actually had a much better 2020 than 2019 — in part because of the increased interest and adoption of security and alarm products.

“The entire alarm industry saw strong demand in 2020, particularly in the second half of 2020,” says Resideo’s Alice DeBiasio in the article. “The uncertainty of COVID-19 drove families and businesses to seek safety and protection in their homes. People are investing in their homes and remodels and upgrades as they have spent increasingly more time in their homes, and in addition have begun investing in security and safety solutions due to the increasing social unrest surrounding many cities and suburbs in 2020.”

From interactive services to video analytics to artificial intelligence, end users are hungry for new technology solutions.