Featured Stories - Articles - Page 13

Five Key Trends in Residential Security

Cameras are no longer a luxury for today’s security and home control systems. Forward-thinking dealers also are looking at opportunities in voice control and cybersecurity.

Joan Engebretson

November 27, 2017

As technology continues to advance, security dealers are finding new opportunities in residential security. Five dealers told SDM about the tactics they use to make the most of these and other opportunities and offered their take on five key trends we see in this area.

How the Cloud is Making Access Control Simpler

Cloud-based solutions from access control providers are increasing, making life simpler for both end users and integrators.

Karyn Hodgson

November 20, 2017

Cloud offers simplicity, efficiency and economic benefits to both end users and security integrators.

How Can Low-Powered Locks Benefit You?

Electronic locks have come a long way, offering significant energy savings and increased performance over their predecessors.

Tim A. Scally

November 13, 2017

Electronic locks have come a long way, offering significant energy savings and increased performance over their predecessors. In this Q&A, SDM talks to two industry experts about low powered locks and the benefit they can offer security integrators.

Bosch Security Systems Video Analytics SDM

Technology, New Use Cases Drive Progress in Video Analytics

Performance levels of today’s video analytics solutions increase adoption and leave early disappointments in the rearview mirror.

Derek Rice

November 6, 2017

From security to public safety to crowd management and beyond, video analytics are increasingly being used to reduce risk, enable efficiencies, reduce costs, ensure compliance and provide faster access to stored video.

Smart Buildings SDM Magazine November 2017

Intel for Security Integrators About Smart Buildings

Smart commercial buildings are an emerging trend, but what is the role of the security integrator in these types of projects?

Karyn Hodgson

November 1, 2017

With a “green” design that produces more energy than it consumes, Ethernet-connected lighting, total building integration down to the towel dispensers, and a hoteling app that assigns workspaces on an as-needed basis, the Edge Building in Amsterdam is widely touted as “the smartest building in the world.”

Visitor Management SDM Magazine October 2017

Visitor Management: The ‘Last Frontier’ in Electronic Access

Visitor management systems can vary widely from a paper log to fully integrated with the access control system.

Karyn Hodgson

October 17, 2017

Visitor management used to consist of a paper logbook at the reception desk. While this is still the case for many, particularly smaller facilities, more and more end users are entering the digital age when it comes to their visitors.

NextGen Security SDM Magazine October 2017

NextGen Wins SDM 2017 Systems Integrator of the Year

What happens when old friends and their former wrestling coach decide to go into business together? If you are NextGen Security, the result is organic growth from $0 to $33 million in just four years; an “out-of-the-box” business model that treats each customer as unique and a culture that feels more like a family than just a place to work.

Karyn Hodgson

October 10, 2017

What happens when old friends and their former wrestling coach decide to go into business together? If you are NextGen Security, the result is organic growth from $0 to $33 million in just four years; an “out-of-the-box” business model that treats each customer as unique and a culture that feels more like a family than just a place to work.

Cloud Video RMR SDM Magazine October 2017

5 Ways to Increase RMR With Cloud Video Services

Less reluctance surrounding the cloud means more customers are demanding it. But as you go to the cloud, how do you ensure the RMR goes up with you?

Tim A. Scally

October 7, 2017

More customers are beginning to take advantage of cloud technologies. Meanwhile, more and more integrators are offering cloud services in one form or another. Integrators interviewed for this article reported mixed results with regard to what percentage of their customers used their cloud video services.

Security Companies Roll Up Their Sleeves, Lend Aid After Hurricane Harvey

Tim A. Scally

September 7, 2017

Certain industries seem to attract people who are naturally dedicated to serving and protecting others. In my time covering the security industry, especially a time such as this, I am pleased to say that there seems to be common thread among the people I meet at tradeshows, conferences, and in interviews: These are people devoted to helping others.

While all players have a responsibility when it comes to cybersecurity

Cyber Reality: How the Security Industry Is Adjusting to the New Normal

Gone are the days when cybersecurity was someone else’s problem. With savvy and tenacious hackers who can use almost anything connected to a network to access systems, and evolving and seemingly implacable threats, just where does the security industry stand on the cyber preparedness spectrum?

Tim A. Scally

September 2, 2017

Cybersecurity is a topic on everyone’s mind. Right now it seems there are more questions than answers, but one thing is certain: the issue is here to stay — cyberthreats are the new normal.