Emergency communication systems (ECS) and mass notification systems (MNS) are traditional, hardware and software-based solutions designed to provide early warning of fire, life safety and other events, such as active shooters...
Every jail, prison and correctional facility depends on technology to keep personnel, visitors and prisoners safe. The contractors and integrators that install or maintain those systems operate in a highly specialized niche....
For years, the physical security industry was hyperfocused on the tipping point of IP cameras and when network devices would surpass their analog counterparts in numbers. Now that the tipping point has come, users have...
For over 60% of Americans, feeling their homes are safe and secure is the most important advantage of integrating smart technology¹. When addressing this need with your customers, it is probably easy for them to see the value...
It’s an expectation today to be able to connect anytime, anywhere—and that’s where wireless comes in. Wireless technology enables electrical contractors embracing security to leverage traditional hardwired infrastructures and...
It’s a great time to be in the physical security industry. That doesn’t mean there won’t be challenges to the traditional way of thinking in designing, installing and maintaining solutions. Success will follow for those who...
The next time you head to the airport, there is a good chance you will verify your identity with the latest biometrics. Major airlines have been rolling out new programs and test beds, and they have been increasingly adopting...
Numerous influencing factors are causing widespread transformation in the physical security industry. Trends include the internet of things, cloud computing, machine learning and artificial intelligence, data privacy and the...
For years, the physical security industry’s progress seemed stalled. Products advanced with the latest capabilities but rarely communicated with each other, and proprietary technology was the name of the game. Now, more...
A new specification for advanced video streaming released by ONVIF will continue the organization’s goals of promoting advanced interoperability between IP-based physical security solutions. ONVIF, a global and open industry...
How long can your customer expect their installed security to be effective? What is the average life of surveillance, access control or intrusion detection? How can you prepare your customers for the future so they have the...
Someday, all personal identification may be stored on chips implanted in our bodies. Until then, smartphones as mobile credentials are steadily becoming the access-control technology of choice for physical security. It’s easy...
Last week, the board of directors of the International Code Council announced the establishment of a new ad hoc committee to comprehensively explore and assess building safety and security. "Building safety is an issue of...
We can’t make sense out of the horrible events we see on the news. However, with outdoor and perimeter detection that offers additional safeguards with new integrated technologies, security industry professionals can work to...
After disbelief, outrage and grief following the shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., and Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas, the nation began to pick up the pieces. One of the discussions...
Video surveillance is the workhorse of physical security. It is often the starting point of any specification and can be integrated with access control, intrusion detection and other connected technologies. It also serves...
You may be great with security and surveillance, but what about protecting the networks your customers’ video or other sensitive data and information is riding on? Are you selecting the correct products, cyber-hardened from...
Earlier this year, the U.S. government issued a report pointing the finger directly at the Russian government for attacks on the energy infrastructure. It’s the first time the United States has publicly blamed Russia’s...
Given the current state of affairs, many vertical markets in the physical security industry are growing. Some, however, are more active than others, and there are some interesting trends to watch as electrical contractors...
The do-it-yourself (DIY) security and smart tech market is here to stay, and there is a lot of discussion on how this trend will affect traditional low-voltage security contractors. Companies such as Google, Amazon (which...
