Doomsday didn’t happen. For all the concern many security dealers have shown in recent years — particularly about the rapidly changing residential market — all indicators seem to finally point to what was always the hope in the midst of the fear: that all the new entrants, technologies and business models would start to grow the pie for all.

The first article I wrote for SDM was in January 1980. While almost 40 years has passed since then, I recently came across the article and realized it is still as relevant today. So if you are at all considering selling your company, read on.  

Columnist Roy Pollack challenges professionals to test their knowledge in the latest 5 Minute Tech quiz.

Security installation is a consideration in home improvement, so you might want to check out this interactive bubble map offered by Fixr, which provides cost guides, comparisons and term cheat sheets for hundreds of remodeling, installation and repair projects.

Using FBI crime data, Reviews.org has released its 2019 report on the 10 cities with the most and least amount of property crime per 1,000 people.

There’s no shortage of information coming into operations centers, and too often, it’s the quality of the data and the inability to correlate it quickly from independent sources that poses the greatest challenges.

Nedap has launched a brand-new website developed with the customer in mind that will help you quickly find the solution you are looking for in English, Spanish and Dutch.

It appears that the “battle” between UTP cabled and Wi-Fi IP connectivity options has been won by wireless. Wi-Fi is now built-in to smart devices, laptops, IP cameras and other technologies used by our industry.

For quite some time I’ve been preaching that the security industry is in ‘pole position’ to be the source for delivering the smart home and connected living.

Do visitors to your website become your customers? After all, that’s why you have a website, right? You want people to find it and either use it to contact you or buy something from it.

In today’s market, competition is fierce. When big security companies have endless budgets, how do you compete?

How would you rate your ability to operate a security company in a complex environment? The fact is that business-operating complexity may be one reason the security industry is contracting.

Tenant buildings with elevators can be difficult to secure. How do you control access to individual and specific floors during the day or after hours?

Aiphone’s updated JO Series video intercom enables homeowners and small businesses to control front-door access onsite or from virtually anywhere using a cloud-based mobile app.

Princeton Identity Inc.’s new IOM Access200W iris recognition reader is an environmentally sealed and impact resistant model designed for use outdoors as part of the company’s IOM Access200 biometric identity product family.

Transition Networks’ new managed hardened PoE+ rack mountable switches (SISPM1040-3248-L and SISPM1040-3166-L) feature either 16 or 24 ports and deliver PoE power and high throughput.

The 280688 HDMI 4K 8x8 matrix selector switch features advanced EDID management for rapid integration of sources and displays. HDCP compliant and allowing up to eight HDMI sources to be distributed simultaneously to up to eight displays, it also supports resolutions up to 4K@60Hz with HDR, 48-bit deep color.

With the ability to transmit audio and video via HDMI, as well as provide complete KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) functionality via USB 2.0 ports over a single Cat5e/6 up to 230 ft. with POC, the EVEXKVM2 is a plug-and-play extender solution for any device that needs to be controlled with a keyboard and mouse.

Maxxess InSite Awareness and Response Coordination System combines “system intelligence” and “human intelligence” to detect and respond to unfolding events in real-time — all of which is queued, organized and displayed on a highly intuitive user interface.

Camden Door Controls released its new CX-ED 1079 5/8-in. latch projection and CX-ED 1079D 3/4-in. latch projection strikes.

The SK-3133-PPQ features rugged construction; it has a . . .

Honeywell’s Pro-Watch 4.5 is the latest iteration of its flagship connected security platform for enterprise and critical infrastructure markets.

Ideal for low light conditions, Matrix Professional Series audio-enabled compact IP cameras are built using superior components such as Sony STARVIS sensor to offer unmatched image quality.

The WX Infinity series of outdoor PIRs comprises two wired and two wireless models available either as the standard or anti-masking version.

Altronix’s new series of NetWay Spectrum PoE+ switches are optimized chargers that accommodate LiFePO4 batteries with longer shelf life and feature more efficient charge cycles than conventional sealed lead acid batteries.

Merit LILIN introduced three NVR products for the commercial and residential markets.

The DTK-WM4 family of wall-mount network surge protectors are four-channel devices that provide robust surge protection for any desired combination of Ethernet, PoE and PoE extender circuits, while supporting data speeds up to 10GbE.

STI’s new weather-resistant Stopper Station is ready for all kinds of weather.

The KARE XL is a 36-in. H x 14-in. W x 9-in. D key access ready enclosure that has an increased key storage capacity of 192 to 224, depending on the configuration.

Digital Monitoring Products’ (DMP) new 1128 wireless glassbreak detector is designed to detect the shattering of framed glass mounted in an outside wall.

The SR250 is the newest solution in Magos’ perimeter protection lineup.

Panduit Corp., a provider of innovative electrical and network infrastructure solutions, has acquired global AV manufacturer Atlona. 

ScanSource Inc., a global provider of technology products and solutions, today announced the retirement of Steven R. Fischer, chairman of the board, effective Feb. 1. Chief Executive Officer Mike Baur has been appointed to the additional role of chairman of the board, and Peter Browning has been appointed lead independent director. 

Control4 Corporation, a global provider of smart home solutions, today announced the acquisition of Switzerland-based NEEO, the creators of the smart home remote, to accelerate its leadership in delivering remotes, touch panels, keypads and other smart home devices.

Electric Guard Dog LLC, a theft deterrent service, announced that Commissioner Bill Bratton will join its board of directors. 

The market is changing. What are you doing to stay relevant? TEC 2019, presented by PSA, will feature over 100 education sessions, workshops and certification training from industry leading experts and partner organizations. The event will also leverage a full day of dedicated exhibit hours on Thursday, March 14, 2019 where more than 125 security and audio-visual vendors will showcase their products and services, along with networking events throughout the week that utilize the offerings of downtown Denver. 

PSA, a consortium of professional systems integrators, announced its plans to launch a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) program. 

ADT Inc., a provider of monitored security and interactive home and business automation solutions in the United States and Canada, today announced the acquisition of Advanced Cabling Systems, a technology integration company in the mid-south. 

Data Management Inc., owner of Visitor Pass Solutions, has launched with a new name and confirmed focus. 

Richmond Alarm announced the acquisition of Becker & Ellington Security Systems of Midlothian, Va. The transaction is the second Richmond Alarm has made in the past year. The merger is anticipated to result in double digit growth for Richmond Alarm as they continue to expand their central Virginia physical security services footprint and offer the latest technology to residential and commercial customers.

At the California Alarm Association meeting, held in San Francisco last December, a callout by Kirk MacDowell of MacGuard netted $9,100 in SIAC contributions. MacDowell’s idea was to put forward a personal pledge of $1,500, as a 10 percent match up to the $15,000 goal in contributions from others. While his goal from other security industry contributions wasn’t met, it was a tremendous success, according to SIAC, which thanked MacDowell for the unique idea, his contribution, and his effort in invigorating others to think about how donations can be raised.

The Georgia Electronic Life Safety & Systems Association (GELSSA), A-Com Security Co. LLP and Safecom Security Solutions Inc. alarm companies filed a notice of appeal in their federal lawsuit against the city of Sandy Springs, Georgia, challenging the constitutionality of an ordinance that imposes fines on alarm companies for false alarms caused by alarm users. 

Bold Perennial has formally changed its name to Bold Group in the wake of the recent acquisitions of SIMS Inc. and SGS. The new moniker was announced last week to attendees of the SedonaOffice Users Conference in Marco Island, Fla. 

The Security Industry Association (SIA) released its Security Market Index for January, and the results show that overall confidence in the security industry is holding level this month, as general optimism about current business conditions and steady increases in new product sales, introductions and production keep the Index at 65, the same as in Nov. 2018.

Sargent and Greenleaf (S&G), a manufacturer of mechanical and electronic locks, announced Jan. 30 that OpenGate Capital, a global private equity firm, entered into an agreement to acquire S&G from Stanley Black & Decker.  

CEDIA has announced an extensive slate of three-day boot camps for 2019. These hands-on sessions offer foundational skills training for experienced and prospective integration professionals. CEDIA will host seven boot camps — Basic Residential, Home Theater, and Advanced Networking options — at its Global Headquarters near Indianapolis between March and December.

 

Per Mar Security Services has acquired All Channel Electronics based in Madison, Wis. 

San Jose, Calif. has become the 11th U.S. city to drop the controversial alarm management practice known as “verified response.” 

Chris Heaton, VP of advocacy and public affairs at the ESA, said that there are two different kinds of bills most likely to affect the security industry in 2019: those involving school security, and those involving occupational licensing. 

Vorpal Ltd., developer of advanced, highly accurate geolocation solutions, has released a white paper in response to the growing global crisis facing airport operations and aviation security from commercial drones flying within controlled airspace. In order to guide effective and timely response efforts to such incursions, this document presents thoughtful analysis of the best technological solutions available for delivering complete drone situational awareness. Vorpal’s proven expertise in this area has resulted in operational deployment of its drone situational awareness solution, VigilAir, by discerning customers globally, and is aimed at the aviation, military, homeland security, critical infrastructures, corrections and UAS traffic management (UTM) markets.

ISS – Intelligent Security Systems, a global leader in intelligent video management systems (VMS) solutions with natively developed analytics, announced the seamless integration between the company’s SecurOS VMS software and Kantech EntraPass Access Control from Tyco security solutions. The integration of these two powerful solutions comes as a result of ISS’ advancement into Tyco’s Johnson Controls Connected Partner Program. All Kantech events can be managed from a single GUI and cameras from the ISS VMS can be easily linked to Kantech devices.

Intelligent Security Systems (ISS), a global leader in intelligent video management systems (VMS) solutions with natively developed analytics, announced the launch of a new partner portal. The new secure partner portal, ISS One, is designed to help increase ISS partners’ sales and profitability with enhanced support services. ISS One allows authorized channel partners to be part of a select group of professionals offering ISS’ SecurOS video management system (VMS) and portfolio of intelligent analytics.

Genetec Inc. announced that Mercury Security part, of HID Global, has awarded Genetec the highest level in its program, Platinum Premier. The Platinum Premier status recognizes Mercury’s select business partners that demonstrate continued market growth, strong integration with Mercury solutions, and shared interest in the open architecture approach to access control.

HID Global announced the availability of its HID Origo cloud platform that opens a new world of opportunities for partners to create more seamless and intuitive workplace experiences that are built on HID’s proven access control infrastructure. The platform combines HID’s technologies for mobile IDs (and location services in the future) with its expansive access control architecture to bring together physical security and a wide range of building applications, services and IoT use cases via a unified cloud experience.

Focus in the enterprise continues to intensify as security professionals look to implement more powerful control solutions capable of handling otherwise disparate system technologies on one unified, easily managed platform.