If there is one thing that can be said about security, it is that the industry seems be in a perpetual state of change with events that impact all corners of the market occurring on a near daily basis. While 2017 didn’t see a merger the proportions of Johnson Controls-Tyco or ADT-Protection 1, there was still plenty of M&A and other business maneuvers that stand to shape the industry moving forward. From an end-user perspective, the string of mass shootings, bombings, vehicle-ramming attacks, and other terrorist incidents that occurred throughout the year means there will be more lessons learned that will have be studied and applied moving into 2018 and beyond.
As we get ready to ring in the New Year, here is a look back at the most read stories of 2017:
1. Honeywell spins-off ADI and its home security businesses: In a move that came as a surprise to many industry insiders, Honeywell in October announced that it would be spinning off ADI and its home security businesses into a standalone, publicly-traded company. Analysts say the move is a good one for all involved as it will put both the new company and the rest of Honeywell in a better position to compete moving forward. However, the new Homes and Global Distribution business will also have to forge a new path in the industry without having the well-respected brand that is Honeywell there to back it up. SecurityInfoWatch.com (SIW) took an in-depth look at the move and impact on the industry here.
2. Johnson Controls announces phasing out of Tyco Security Products brand: Tyco has long-been one the most iconic brands in security but following its merger with Johnson Controls last year, the company announced in May that the Tyco Security Products brand would be phased out. In a letter sent to its customers, David Grinstead, vice president and general manager of security products for Johnson Controls’ Building Technologies & Solutions division, wrote that the Tyco name itself would be retained as a security technology brand within the company’s product portfolio but that Tyco Security Products as a business unit would take on the Johnson Controls brand.
3. Securitas accomplishes one-stop shopping: One of the biggest industry trends to take hold in recent years is the desire of security service providers to become one-stop shopping locations for their end-user clients. Many of the mergers and acquisitions that have taken place over the past several years have been conducted with this goal in mind, including the Securitas purchase of Diebold’s North American electronic security business in late 2015. This profile of Securitas Electronic Security and the opening of its new headquarters facility examines how the company has positioned itself to succeed in this new industry business model.
4. FTC files lawsuit against D-Link: The proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices has not only opened up a wealth of new opportunities for connected security equipment across a number of vertical markets but it has increased the risk that hackers could leverage them as a part of a botnet army (as was the case in the Mirai attacks in 2016) or as entry points into a larger corporate network. And while lawmakers have failed to pass substantive cybersecurity legislation, regulatory agencies have decided to take matters into their own hands as was seen with the lawsuit the Federal Trade Commission filed against D-Link earlier this year alleging that the company used inadequate cyber safeguards on its wireless routers and IP cameras (a judge has since dismissed three of the agencies six complaints against the company). SIW took a look at the potential wider industry implications of this case in this article from January.
5. Fighting the workplace violence pandemic: Statistics show that healthcare workers face greater threats of violence on the job than most other industries. However, two incidents that occurred earlier this year in June – a shooting at a New York City hospital that left one person dead and six others injured as well as the brutal stabbing of a nurse in Massachusetts – shined an intense spotlight on the dangers that hospital staff face while on duty. To understand the scope of the problem, the driving factors behind it and what can be done to mitigate it, SIW spoke with three prominent healthcare security professionals to get their insights in this article.
6. Axis continues to diversify its product portfolio: With the commoditization of video hardware driving down product margins across the industry and the Internet of Things redefining the security technology landscape, surveillance manufacturers are being forced to innovate and employ new strategies to remain competitive in this ever-evolving market. One company that continues to diversify its product portfolio beyond video surveillance is Axis Communications. On the heels of releasing IP-based speakers in 2016, Axis Communications earlier this year unveiled a new perimeter radar solution for the market. This article written at ISC West 2017 explores how the company is leveraging the IoT to its advantage.
7. Baker vs. ADT resolved: The potential for litigation is certainly not a new threat for the alarm industry, however; a recently settled class action lawsuit against ADT held particular significance for those who work in the space as the plaintiffs in the case alleged that the company’s wireless home security equipment could be hacked by third parties. In his June Legal Watch column, Security Dealer & Integrator (SD&I) magazine contributor Eric Pritchard examined the ramifications of the settlement.
8. SD&I 2017 Fast50: Now in its seventh year, the SD&I Fast50 has brought well-deserved recognition to the fastest growing dealers and systems integrators in North America. In addition to the annual rankings, SD&I Editor-in-Chief Paul Rothman spoke with several of this year’s honorees to discuss the trends impacting their businesses and to learn about the strategies they have used to accelerate growth.
9. Implantable RFID chips and their applications in access control: One of the most interesting or perhaps concerning stories of this year, depending on your perspective, was that of a Wisconsin-based company offering implantable RFID chips to its employee as a way to make cashless payments as well as for physical and logical access within their office building. With the emphasis that has been placed on mobile and wearable devices in recent years, SIW spoke with several industry experts to get their take on whether or not implantable technologies would soon make an impact on the larger access control market.
10. The evolution of smart home technology and its industry impact: Everyone realizes the enormous impact that smart home technology has had and continues to have on the residential security industry. But with the introduction of new products and capabilities has also come new competitors (cable and telcos) and paradigms (do-it-yourself solutions, hybrid/on-demand monitoring). In the August cover story of SD&I magazine, Editor-in-Chief Paul Rothman took an in-depth look at the evolution of smart home solutions and how they have proven to be ‘the ultimate disruptor” for the market as a whole.
About the Author:
Joel Griffin is the Editor-in-Chief of SecurityInfoWatch.com and a veteran security journalist. You can reach him at [email protected].
