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There’s a lot of talk about the cloud, both in the security industry and in general. In security, that discussion is almost always about cloud-based video, which goes by many names — managed video, hosted video and remote video, to name a few.

While all revenue sources help drive EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) and the related operating margins of the segments of the business, not every dollar of revenue has an assignable market value as a buyer assesses a company in the security and fire alarm industry.

It’s hard to go about daily life now without hearing about “the cloud.” Apple, Amazon, Dropbox, computers and even your local bank now offer cloud storage. People use the cloud every day, whether they realize it or not, says John Szczygiel, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Brivo Systems LLC, Bethesda, Md.

Formally stated, Newton’s third law is: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. There are several “actions” generating change within today’s personal emergency response (PERS) offerings, all coming together in new offerings that are more responsive and capable than ever.

One in every five security dealers among SDM’s subscribers participate in an authorized dealer program. Security dealers join dealer programs for a variety of reasons. One of the most important is brand.

Nearly 225 years ago, Benjamin Franklin wrote, “In this world, nothing can be said to be certain but death and taxes.” Chances are, if Mr. Franklin were around today, he might add a third item to that list: the constant — and rapid — advancement of technology.

For security integrators and dealers many sales often don’t go beyond the front door the customer wants to secure, which can represent a lost opportunity. There are a multitude of applications for security locks (both mechanical and electronic) that go far beyond external or even internal doors.

Discussing audio communications and notification is another important chance for “dealers and integrators to have a conversation” with their clients, says Richard Conner, director of marketing, Fire-Lite Alarms, Northford, Conn.

Despite a bumpy economy, the security industry has been operating in top gear throughout 2013. An unprecedented number of buyers, lenders and new investors are courting dealers and systems integrators.

Guardian Protection Services doesn’t value short-term sales, technologies, or relationships. The company’s longevity hinges on coupling long-term commitments with responses to market changes.