Benjamin Franklin is reported to have said, “Out of adversity comes opportunity.” The security industry, like many businesses in the U.S. and the world, has certainly seen some adversity this year. In the video monitoring part of the security industry, however, a situation that started as chaos quickly shifted to unique opportunities to help both existing and new customers.

Harris County, Texas is the latest Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) to implement Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP) technology that automates communication from alarm monitoring central stations to PSAPs and 911 centers, resulting in faster, more accurate emergency response for users of monitored alarms.

Evaluating the state of any market is a tricky thing during a pandemic — things are changing daily; new technologies are being explored; the future is unknown; and it’s difficult to look back at the past clearly.

The new course builds upon TMA’s popular Operator Online Level 1 training program by offering six advanced modules that support the skills and standards of professionalism needed to be an effective contributor in the monitoring center. 

The Monitoring Association (TMA) announced that its annual meeting will be held Oct. 24-28, 2020, in Marco Island, Fla. 

UL now seeks feedback from industry stakeholders that rely on UL certifications as part of their own risk management programs to review the updated guideline revisions, which are intended to better define virtual workplace security measures.

DICE Corporation is offering four months of free PBX call forwarding for the alarm and security industries as part of the company’s support efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

COPS Monitoring donated laptops to the Veterans Memorial Home in Vineland, N.J., giving its residents the ability to connect with loved ones during the quarantines imposed by COVID-19.

Approximately 88 percent (about 4,300) of ADT employees are now working safely at home. Normally, a move of this magnitude would take months; ADT did it in three weeks.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released a notice explicitly mentioning the security industry.