Laura Stepanek Articles

Editorial Observations at ISC West 2016

Karyn Hodgson Tim A. Scally Laura Stepanek

April 14, 2016

The SDM editors attended ISC West April 5-8 in Las Vegas. Because ISC West is so big that no two people will have the same experience, the editors each shared in a blog impressions and trends they observed at the show.

Get Your Head out Of the CyberSand

Security companies that sell peace of mind likely wouldn’t recover from a cyberattack as well as a company that just sells clothing and housewares.

Laura Stepanek

April 1, 2016

Some sobering comments heard at a financial conference earlier this year related to trends in cybercrime and the difficulty that smaller security companies might face competing with security companies that are better prepared to protect customers.

Michael Barnes at the Barnes Buchanan Conference

Barnes Discusses Alarm Company Valuations at Conference

Laura Stepanek

March 10, 2016

The 21^st annual Barnes Buchanan Conference — which aligns the security alarm industry with the financial sectors interested in the recurring monthly revenue (RMR) model — imparted a positive outlook on industry performance and countless options for making money.

Our Role in the War On Crime

Laura Stepanek

March 4, 2016

Regardless of whether our industry gets credit or not, the bottom line is that the security industry’s products and services are without question helping law enforcement identify and track suspects.

State of the Market Article Series

Laura Stepanek

February 1, 2016

It will be important in 2016 to recognize potential limitations to growth, such as cybersecurity, and to use every available resource for overcoming them.

SDM 2016 Industry Forecast: Is the Security Space Too Congested?

Results of SDM’s 2016 Industry Forecast Study, coupled with an outlook from leading integrators, show how the competitive environment will shape the security industry this year.

Laura Stepanek

January 4, 2016

Fasten your seat belts: 2016 is going to be a bumpy ride.

1 on 1 With A Winner

Award-winning central station manager Randy Ambrus talks about training and technology.

Laura Stepanek

January 4, 2016

Randy Ambrus, central station manager at Cooperative Response Center (CRC), Austin, Minn., is the winner of CSAA’s 2015 Central Station Excellence Award for Manager of the Year.

From Security Industry Veterans Comes DIY Offering, DragonFly Security

Laura Stepanek

January 4, 2016

Security dealers who participated in SDM’s 2016 Forecast Study believe their stiffest competition in 2016 will come from do-it-yourself security providers.

How to Run Over the Competition in 2016

Savvy systems integrators will tell you which competitors to be watchful of and what you can do to ensure profitability in SDM’s 2016 Industry Forecast Study report.

Laura Stepanek

January 4, 2016

Aren’t you getting tired of seeing a do-it-yourself security or home control display in almost every retail store you go into?

From Security Industry Veterans Comes DIY Offering, DragonFly Security

Laura Stepanek

January 4, 2016

Security dealers who participated in SDM’s 2016 Forecast Study believe their stiffest competition in 2016 will come from do-it-yourself security providers.