Deborah L. O'Mara

COVID-19 has had a massive influence on physical security and the services systems integrators deliver, and the pandemic continues to serve as a prime a catalyst for new applications. More than a year and a half into the...

The “empowered edge,” a phrase coined to indicate the shift of computer processing from servers to devices, is bringing new possibilities in gathering data for heightened, proactive security awareness. Technology is...

Serious security flaws continue to crop up in connected video doorbells, but privacy and cyber issues are in actuality a widespread occurrence in the ongoing emergence of devices in the internet of things (loT). As billions...

There has been no shortage of cyber breaches, if you’re keeping track. Recent targets include CNA Financial Corp., a municipal water treatment site in Florida, the Molson Coors Beverage Co. and a host of high-profile...

Selling physical security is not about hawking hardware and trying to convince the client that one product is better than the other. Customers are looking for ways to leverage technology to solve their challenges and a single...

The digital transformation was on full display at CES 2021, held Jan. 11–14 in Las Vegas. It turns out the pandemic, now more than a year old, has become a proving ground for innovation, accelerating digital platforms and...

Power over ethernet (PoE) could be your new best friend, especially if you’re expanding a security contracting business with the internet of things (loT), smart cities or industry 4.0 automation products and systems. As...

In providing or installing an emergency communication system (ECS) or mass notification system (MNS), the goal is to prepare for any emergency, fire or life safety situation—while following the mandates of the authority...

Wireless devices haven’t traditionally been top-of-mind in most electrical contractors’ security offerings. With signal strength and penetration an issue in buildings and other hardscapes, ECs often choose hardwired devices...

In 2021, facial recognition looks to continue to hit its share of snares as clear consensus on the technology and its rightful applicability seems just out of reach. The physical security industry is digging in, focusing on...

Atypical? That’s one way to describe 2020. There’s still uncertainty as we begin the new year, but the physical security industry is experiencing a dramatic, positive shift that looks destined to continue under any...

Physical security has become increasingly focused on health, well-being and providing a positive user experience for employees and visitors. The increased emphasis on safety rolls in processes that ensure workers stay...