On Friday, August 16, American Defense Systems (Dallas, Texas) acquired Direct Protect Security and Surveillance out of Costa Mesa, Calif. Direct Protect has provided smart home solutions to residents and businesses in over 13 states for close to 10 years.  

The Z-Wave Alliance, a global membership organization dedicated to advancing the Z-Wave wireless smart home protocol, announced the addition of home security provider Ring as a principal member. 

IKEA Home smart was initiated as a project in 2012 with the ambition to enrich life at home by incorporating digital elements and technologies into products and solutions. Several launches within the smart home has followed since then and now IKEA has taken the strategic decision to invest even more in the home smart area by establishing IKEA Home smart as its own business unit within IKEA of Sweden.

Smart home capabilities are the sizzle that can help sell the security system steak. And smart locks are among the most sizzling smart home options. Here are six key developments in this area — and seven more that could be coming over the horizon.

According to a study on the Connected Security Home Market done by Persistence Market Research, the global connected home security market was valued at $300 million in 2014, and is expected to surpass $400 million by the end of 2019. 

SecureNet Technologies, an international provider of security-centric IoT solutions, announced a partnership with GHS Interactive Security LLC., (No. 30 on the SDM 100) a provider of interactive home and business security systems across the United States. 

To meet increasing integrator demand, Nortek Security & Control (NSC), a global provider of wireless security, home automation, access control and health and wellness technology, today announced the opening of the ELAN Training Center at its Carlsbad, Calif. headquarters. The company also operates a facility in Dallas, Texas. 

This year's CEDIA Expo kicks off in a little over a month and with more than 125 classes, so CEDIA took a moment to highlight five education topics that will take center stage at this year’s Expo. The 2019 CEDIA Expo will run Sept. 10-14 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.

Today’s intercom solutions are not the same as in the past. With technological advances including IP, PoE, networking and mobile, these technologies are truly part of a fully integrated security solution and should be presented, sold and installed accordingly.

Is the smart home market maturing and stabilizing, showing a clear path forward for security dealers wanting to capitalize on the new desires of homeowners to interact with many areas of their home life, including security? Not exactly. But there are definitely signs that it has moved to another level of adoption and interest, making the time ripe for action on the part of those who want to adjust their business model to capture opportunities and revenue in this fast-growing space.