CCTV Systems

Campus shopping options, ranging from apparel and convenience stores to eateries and college bookstores, share many of the same needs as any retail operation. These include fraud protection, efficient operation and providing a high-quality experience to customers . Like most retailers, campus stores need to solve four key challenges: Optimizing the customer journey Reducing inventory and revenue shrinkage Enhancing  access control  and security; and Increasing store efficiency and productivity. Biometric solutions help deliver these capabilities through innovations in  fingerprint or facial recognition technologies. These solutions are poised to play a growing role in raising the quality of daily college life. They will also improve retail efficiency and profitability by streamlining processes, curtailing employee theft, and virtually eliminating credit card and identity fraud at the point of sale (PoS). Biometrics Foster Better College Experiences for Students ...

The integration of video surveillance and access control systems with smart home automation is transforming residential and commercial security. From smart locks and discreet surveillance cameras to advanced biometric systems and intelligent video analytics, these solutions offer unparalleled convenience and peace of mind. Whether it’s enhancing rental property management or creating whole-home automation, surveillance and access control technologies are at the forefront of smarter, more secure living. Keep reading to learn more about what this means for homeowners and integrators. Smart Home Integrators & Customers Enjoy Returns on Video Surveillance and Access Control Investment Just like other home technologies, today’s security devices are getting smarter every day. The real value in sophisticated video surveillance and access control solutions is tying them into a whole-house automation system, however. That’s when integrators can select and program smart locks and st...

LAS VEGAS – ONVIF, the global standardization initiative for IP-based physical security products, is returning to ISC West 2025 to “highlight the critical themes of interoperability and the integrity of security video, two important issues facing the security and surveillance industry,” according to the organization announcement. In an educational session titled “Can Security Video Survive Generative AI?”, ONVIF chairman Leo Levit will discuss the threats facing security video and how standards in this area can preserve trust in surveillance footage. The session will be held at 3:30 p.m. PDT on Wednesday, April 2 in Venetian 203. “At ISC West, we’re highlighting the growing importance of video authenticity in a world where generative AI tools make it alarmingly easy to alter surveillance footage,” says Levit in the ONVIF announcement. “ONVIF is working to move the industry toward a solution that ensures that each frame of video can be verified as untampered and preserves surveillan...

AUSTIN, Texas—March 27, 2025— Eagle Eye Networks , a global developer of cloud video surveillance, has launched Eagle Eye Automations, a flexible and extensible rules engine for automating tasks that helps businesses to proactively and economically improve security, safety and business operations. “Today’s security systems are complex, increasingly incorporating video surveillance, AI, analytics, sensors, and other third-party devices and technologies. Eagle Eye Automations enable disparate components to work together effectively,” says Dean Drako, CEO, Eagle Eye Networks. “Automations simplify operations for the business owner, reduce the need for manual intervention and extra staff, ensure timely responses, and strengthen overall security management.” The company explains that Eagle Eye Automations works by connecting multiple systems within the Eagle Eye Cloud VMS (video management system), defining rules for various events–such as when a person or vehicle is detected, or a cert...

ATLANTA — The Electronic Security Association (ESA) will host “Competing for a Cause,” a fundraiser for the Foundation to Advanced Security Talent (FAST), on June 16 from 8 to 9:30 p.m. at Good Game Restaurant and Bar, powered by Topgolf Swing Suite, as a special feature in its ESX 2025 lineup.  FAST, a non-profit organization, was created by ESA  and the  Security Industry Association  (SIA) to “promote careers in the physical security technology industry,” according to the association announcement. “By working through FAST and fostering strong partnerships with educational institutions, offering comprehensive training programs and supporting career development, supporters can create a robust talent pipeline that meets the demands of the security industry,” the announcement says. More About the FAST Fundraiser at ESX 2025 The Competing for a Cause fundraiser to support workforce development will bring together fun and philanthropy. Participants can compete in interacti...

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — We close out our weeklong celebration of the SSI Industry Hall of Fame Class of 2025 with National Systems Contractors Association (NSCA) CEO emeritus Chuck Wilson, who also launched the Partner Alliance for Safe Schools (PASS), an initiative focused on improving K-12 school safety. Wilson joins Christine Lanning ,  Tracy Larson , Pierre Racz and Donna Soloway as this year’s honorees. The five inductees will be celebrated at ISC West in Las Vegas next week. The Chuck Wilson Hall of Fame File Married for 43 years to Pam They enjoy visiting their 30-year-old son, Austin, who lives in Pasadena, Calif. His career began in 1976 as a summer intern pulling cable and installing security, life safety and AV systems at Communications Engineering Company (CEC) in Iowa Spent 20-plus years at CEC, a leading technology solutions provider, doing every job in the company Served several terms on the NSCA board of directors, starting in 1990 Joined NSCA as the fir...

In my previous two columns, we covered the good and bad points of using artificial intelligence (AI) in security systems integration. Now, it’s time to explore the ugly side of AI. There’s little doubt that, for a highly integrated access control and VMS system, AI may well play a positive role in reducing operator workloads. The key learning point is that things can get ugly — and fast! How AI Can Get Ugly If you have not done your homework on relevant AI tools provided by security solutions suppliers. Understanding the benefits and limitations of an AI tool and how it is used before taking on an AI-featured project is crucial to achieving success (and avoiding failure). If you don’t know your current talent resource strengths and weaknesses to allow for planning, training or hiring decisions to utilize new technologies. You may have technician talent that has been overlooked or underutilized. Ask the right questions to discover native talent that needs to be developed. Clin...

CARLSBAD, Calif.— Nice , a global developer of home and business management solutions, has announced it will showcase its latest lineup of smart security solutions from Nice, 2GIG, and HySecurity at ISC West 2025. The annual security industry trade event takes place from March 31 to April 4 in Las Vegas, and ISC West 2025 attendees visiting the Nice booth will see everything from advanced 2GIG sensors and sleek new panels to powerful gate operators, Nice boasts that through its new products it is redefining what’s possible in residential and commercial security.   “ISC West is where the future of security comes to life, and Nice is proud to lead that future,” says Jeff Shaw, chief product officer at Nice North America. “From next-gen sensors to intuitive gate automation, we’re giving professionals powerful tools to solve real-world challenges with efficiency, flexibility, and style.”    2GIG 345S Sensor Line Highlights Nice North America Show Activities At ISC West...

ATLANTA — Longtime alarm industry advisor and consultant Michael Barnes will be presenting “The U.S. Electronic Security and Life Safety Market – What You Need to Know” as the closing luncheon speaker during ESX 2025 (Electronic Security Expo) at the Cobb County Galleria Convention Center June 19 at 11:45 a.m. In his presentation, Barnes will review U.S. revenue growth, market share breakdowns, operating key performance indicators and more. Here’s what you need to know to benchmark your business and make smart decisions for 2025. What are the upcoming threats and potential market value and capital trends? This session is “your road map to leveraging data and market intelligence for smarter decisions and sustainable growth in 2025 and beyond,” according to the ESA announcement. More About Barnes at ESX 2025 Closing Luncheon “The session will equip attendees with what they need to know to benchmark their business and make more informed decisions,” says Barnes in the ESA announceme...

AMITYVILLE, N.Y. — We continue our weeklong rollout of the five 2025  SSI Industry Hall of Fame inductees with Donna Soloway, board of directors member for NAPCO Security Technologies. Soloway joins Christine Lanning , Tracy Larson and Pierre Racz as this year’s honorees, with one more inductee to be unveiled tomorrow. The five inductees will be celebrated at ISC West in Las Vegas next week. The Donna Soloway Hall of Fame File Loving wife and partner of Dick Soloway, chairman and CEO of Napco (and 2004 SSI Industry Hall of Fame inductee ), making for the SSI Industry Hall of Fame’s first “power couple,” along with Andrew and Christine Lanning Grew up on Long Island, N.Y.; lives in Manhattan Educated in Europe; fluent in numerous languages Enthusiast and collector of modern art Active in numerous charities Board of directors, NAPCO Security Technologies, Inc., since 2001 Past president of the board of directors of the Auxiliary of NYU Medical Center Former member o...

HOUSTON – Global security and public safety edge computing camera manufacturer i-PRO Americas Inc. today announced the appointment of Michelle Chapin as director of federal , where she will “lead strategic growth initiatives, market expansion and drive impactful outcomes within federal sectors.” In this role, Chapin “will spearhead partnerships with integrators, resellers and key stakeholders to support federal agency missions by providing enablement, services and cutting-edge public safety and security offerings that empower partners effectively,” according to the i-PRO announcement. With more than 25 years of expertise in the federal and public sector, Chapin brings a wealth of experience in government contracting, channel strategy, and business growth. Prior to joining i-PRO, she spent 20 years at Panasonic, where she served as senior director, contracts & bids and government channel, overseeing all aspects of bid strategy, contract management and program capture for federal...

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C.—Platinum Tools, a manufacturer of preparation, installation, hand termination and testing tools for wire and cable, will showcase its ezEX-RJ45 shielded and unshielded connectors during ISC West 2025. The East Coast-based company points out the annual security industry trade vent is held annually in Las Vegas, and this year’s show takes place on April 2-4 at the Venetian Expo and Convention Center where show attendees can find the company in booth #3036. “Our shielded ezEX-RJ45 connectors are designed for larger cables and conductors,” explains Sean Rothermel, product manager, Platinum Tools. “They feature a unique integrated Hi-Lo stagger load bar and allows ‘big’ conductors to pass through the front end of the connector, making it easy to verify the wiring sequence before terminating. These connectors are typically used with either CAT6 CAT6A and are terminated with EXO Crimp Frame and EXO-EX Die (100061C).” Platinum Tools points out other features and specif...

PITTSBURGH – Guardian Protection has acquired 8,300 commercial accounts from Monitronics International, Inc., known residentially as Brinks Home , according to a joint announcement. The acquisition also includes an additional 4,300 residential alarm accounts, the announcement says. This marks Guardian’s fourth acquisition since 2021 and is the largest in terms of commercial accounts acquired. “We are deeply committed to the growth and expansion of our customer base in the large commercial, multi-site chain, and small business sectors,” says Guardian president Bryan Cipoletti in the joint announcement. “We have a long, stable history of successfully providing security solutions to these types of customers. “Our experience, people expertise and infrastructure are well-positioned to accommodate growth and become a more dominant player in the commercial marketplace,” he says. Why Guardian Protection Acquired Monitronics The acquired Monitronics accounts are located principally in th...

MONTREAL – We continue our weeklong rollout of the five 2025 SSI Industry Hall of Fame inductees with Pierre Racz, president, CEO and co-founder of Genetec. Racz joins Christine Lanning and Tracy Larson as this year’s honorees, with two more inductees to be unveiled later this week. The five inductees will be celebrated at ISC West in Las Vegas next week. The Pierre Racz Hall of Fame File Founded Genetec in 1997 Holder of 28 granted patents and contributor to more than 100 patent filings in cryptography, network security and access control Champion of privacy-by-design principles and ethical technology practices Passionate mentor and supporter of young engineering talent, leading one of Canada’s largest internship programs Why Racz is in the SSI Hall of Fame Founded Genetec with a vision to transform physical security technology Under his leadership at Genetec, pioneered the shift from analog to IP-based security solutions and introduced a unified security platform, se...

One of the services that K&K provides is valuing your alarm accounts. You can begin that process by going to the K&K website and navigating to “What’s My Alarm Company Worth?” There are options as low as $80 and as high as $950 or more, depending on why you need the valuation and how comprehensive it needs to be. My curiosity was aroused when I saw an email from an online trade magazine that highlighted an alarm account value tool — basically, an online calculator for purposes of generating a valuation. So, I gave it a try. Not Much Detail Needed I expected a long list of questions that would have to be answered to get to a valuation. As it turned out, however, the calculator didn’t need all that much detail to come up with a valuation. All I had to input into the tool was 1) total customer count; 2) average recurring monthly revenue; 3) average years into the contract; 4) average credit score; and 5) percentage of customers in five-year contract. So, I put in 900 account...

TOKYO— i-PRO Co., Ltd. (formerly Panasonic Security), a global manufacturer of edge computing cameras for security and public safety, has announced the launch of its new U-series. The company states this product release marks the first time edge AI (artificial intelligence) has been introduced to all its security camera lines. The new camera lineup will be showcased at ISC-West 2025 in booth #10037, for the first time. “As a leader in edge computing within the security industry, i-PRO was the first to integrate AI across our entire S-series line, setting a new standard. Now, the i-PRO U-series line-up introduces essential edge computing technology to our entry-level models, transforming them into proactive devices that align with market trends,” says Gerard Figols, chief product officer at i-PRO . “By bringing the advantages of AI to fundamental security installations, we’re offering smarter technology for end-users who don’t require forensic search and advanced business insigh...

We continue our week of 2025 SSI Hall of Fame inductee announcements with Tracy Larson, co-founder and president of WeSuite. Here’s her story in her own words. The full SSI Hall of Fame Class of 2025 will be celebrated at ISC West in Las Vegas next week. The Tracy Larson Hall of Fame File Born in Kingston, N.Y., second of four children Father a talented mechanical engineer and wonderful outdoorsman; mother a teacher and homemaker Earned bachelor of science in interior design and facility management at Cornell University NYC Marathon 1997; several half-marathons with sister Amy; many 5Ks for charities; most recently, The Army Ten-Miler (just for fun!) WeSuite, co-founder and president, 2008 WeSuite, a Valsoft Company, managing director/president, 2024 Why She’s on the List Security industry veteran for 30-plus years SIA Security Project Management Certification Program – course development, instructor since inception SIA Sandy Jones Volunteer of the Year, 2021 3x WIS...

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Fire, life safety and security industry-focused buy-and-build platform RapidFire Safety & Security has acquired Belton, Texas-based Progressive Protection Security Systems, Inc. This acquisition “expands RapidFire’s security and fire offerings and serves as a foundation for expanding service offerings throughout Texas,” according to the joint announcement. This is RapidFire’s fourth acquisition in Texas. Progressive Protection Security Systems, founded in 1997 by Eddie Notgrass, offers installation, maintenance and monitoring of commercial security, fire, access control, automation and low-voltage solutions in central Texas, the announcement says. Notgrass started Progressive in the garage of his home, “blending his passion for customer service with a lifelong commitment to protecting others,” according to the announcement. Why RapidFire Acquired Progressive Protection Security Progressive “has grown to earn the trust of thousands of businesses and expanded t...

MISSOULA, Mont.— The Cleerline Technology Group, a manufacturer of fiber optic connectivity solutions for commercial and residential technology applications, has introduced the SSF Double Jacket Micro Distribution Fiber Optic Cable (DJMD). The company states that its latest product has been engineered to bridge a critical gap between traditional micro distribution cables and larger, more rugged solutions. “Security systems installers must have a high-durability, small form factor fiber optic cable solution that works seamlessly across numerous applications,” explains Rick Sant, managing partner at Cleerline Technology Group . “These innovations in cable design serve the needs of security professionals and have been the hallmark of the Cleerline brand since day one.” SSF Double Jacket Micro Distribution Fiber Optic Cable Bolsters Network Connectivity Cleerline points out that its newest 2 to 12 fiber optic cable integrates a dual-layer jacket that combines the compactness of a micr...

In the world of commercial integration, speakers and screens often get the spotlight. A giant video wall can turn an ordinary conference room into a space that defines an organization’s brand and wows visitors. Crystal-clear sound sets the stage for an immersive experience in a museum or flagship retail location. But, behind the scenes, addressable fire alarms work to keep a building’s occupants safe and ensure compliance with local building and fire codes. Brian Creech, senior technical sales specialist with ADI , admits that, unlike many other elements of security, AV and building operations, the technology hasn’t advanced very quickly. However, it has evolved over the years, particularly in its capabilities and how it integrates with other building systems. “When an addressable fire alarm system is doing its part, nobody pays attention to it,” he says. Even so, integrators should pay attention to this revenue stream, as it is typically part of every new building project. When ...