Blog Archives
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Going green with electronic contracts
By Rob Phillips - Thursday May 16, 2013Every spring and summer, customers want ways to reduce energy bills—which, by the way, is a great opportunity for security companies to pitch home automation services such as remote light and thermostat control that sync with a homeowner’s wireless alarm system. Companies can also go green too by using electronic contracts as part of their sales completion process. Monitronics International, for instance, has successfully piloted and launched its "eContract" application for authorized dealers to complete electronic versions of contracts in their customers’ homes via iPad or Android tablet. Hard-copy paperwork isn’t needed; once a customer has confirmed the information and acknowledged his or her understanding of it, the... -
Time to take a stand against state-sponsored cyber attacks
By Joel Griffin - Friday May 10, 2013
Earlier this week, the Pentagon issued a report accusing the Chinese government and military of conducting cyber attacks against the U.S. in an effort to gather intelligence on diplomatic, economic and defense programs. This follows a report released earlier this year by cybersecurity firm Mandiant , which also accused the Chinese military of carrying out cyber attacks against more than 140 companies, the majority of them American. Neither of these reports, however, came as shock to those who have worked in or followed the information security industry for any length of time as China has frequently been accused, either directly or indirectly, of perpetrating such attacks for years. According to retired Navy Rear Adm. James Barnett, who... -
City of big shoulders to host ASIS 2013
By Deborah L. O'Mara - Thursday May 2, 2013
The vibrant and super-trendy city of Chicago plays host to ASIS in September and I had a sneak peek at the fun and flavor expected at the upcoming conference during a recent media tour of the soon-to-be “ASIS kind of town.” Expecting some 20,000 visitors to the event, which is slated for Sept. 24 to 27 at McCormick Place, the ASIS 59 th annual seminar and exhibits will operate under the moniker: "Strategic, Smart, Secure." Chicago, as one of the largest cities in North America, is well-poised to entertain and enlighten visitors. Exhibits and educational sessions will be held at the North and South buildings of McCormick Place—a campus onto itself that attracts more than three million visitors annually. The South, North and West... -
Knowing crime trends before the door
By Rob Phillips - Tuesday April 30, 2013Americans will never forget the surreal footage of heavily armed police officers combing Boston’s quiet neighborhoods last month in search of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects. Although it was a terrorist crisis of international significance – hardly a typical break-in – those chilling images reminded us that a homeowner’s confidence can be shaken at any time. Security companies are there to offer peace of mind. When going to market, sales representatives try to find areas that need it most. Websites and mobile apps such as crimemapping.com and crimereports.com work with law enforcement agencies to provide geo-based details of incidents in a specific neighborhood. Sales reps can surf up-to-date maps for various crimes... -
The Bird is the Word
By Paul Rothman - Wednesday April 24, 2013
When analyzing an emergency mass notification plan, unfortunately it tends to take an actual emergency to see how it works in action. Such was the case in Boston last week, when jammed phone and SMS lines created snarled and ineffective communications. The Boston Police, however, seemed as prepared for the communications breakdown as they were for the actual emergency response. Using social media — mainly Twitter — Boston Police was able to spread its emergency notification messages literally across the globe in a matter of minutes; and, thanks to the help of the media and concerned citizens from all points on the compass, that message was multiplied at an exponential rate. I count 30 Tweets concerning the bombing — everything... -
Video surveillance plays key role in Boston's bombing investigation
By Steve Lasky - Friday April 19, 2013
What began decades ago in the UK as a way to control soccer hooliganism has come full circle as a result of the senseless bombings this week during the Boston Marathon. The use of video surveillance by law enforcement, with the cooperation of the private sector, not only captured the bombing events, but has been a key to identifying the bombers themselves. Urban video surveillance deployment is the fastest growing sector in the video world. Cities ranging from metropolises like New York City and Chicago to smaller burgs like Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and Sandy Springs, Ga., have made video an integral part of their secured cities plan. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently said that Americans should get used to “more visibility and less... -
Fast50 winners unveiled
By Deborah L. O'Mara - Friday April 5, 2013
Today, Security Dealer & Integrator magazine announced the winners of its second annual Fast50 best practices and ranking program. You can see all the winners here in our digital edition and on SecurityInfoWatch.com . There are three different rankings but the overall winner is based on a formula leveraging percentage growth and revenue growth. Here are the top 20 companies based on the overall ranking (please note that this year we allowed for ties, also indicating the close competitiveness of the program): 1. Securityhunter 2. Tech Systems 3. Kratos Public Safety & Security Solutions 4. American Integrated Security Group 5. Vision Security 6. MSA Systems Integration 6. Netech Corp. 8. Security Networks 9. X7 10... -
Keeping up with hackers
By Joel Griffin - Friday April 5, 2013
In February, President Barack Obama issued a cybersecurity executive order that directs U.S. intelligence agencies to share information on potential cyber threats with private businesses that are considered part of the nation’s critical infrastructure. The order also gives government agencies a year to devise a “baseline framework” for cybersecurity that incorporates peer-based standards and industry best practices. This week, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which is part of U.S. Department of Commerce, hosted the first in a series of cybersecurity workshops designed to help develop this framework in Washington, D.C. But while government officials and industry leaders meet to exchange ideas about how... -
Much ado about drones
By Joel Griffin - Thursday March 28, 2013
Ever since Congress approved the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, which called for the agency to open up domestic airspace for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), there has been an outcry from privacy advocates, as well as federal and state lawmakers to regulate how drones can and cannot be used. In the last month alone, bills have been introduced in North Carolina and Maine that would restrict the use of drones by law enforcement officials in those states. Just last week, legal experts told the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee that current privacy laws need to be updated before UAVs take to the skies in mass over the next decade. Lost in all the hysteria over privacy concerns, however, is that very few people have considered... -
Keeping up with Innovation
By Paul Rothman - Friday March 22, 2013
It seems like someone pressed the fast-forward button on technology a few years ago, and the breakneck pace has put the security industry on a virtual speedway — with many end-users, integrators and even vendors desperately trying to avoid being left behind the video surveillance curve. Of course, the “gateway drug” to this massive technology shift is IP technology, as it has opened the door to what seems like thousands of other technology breakthroughs. Thought you had a grip on high definition? Well, can you really explain the difference between HDTV and megapixel cameras to your client or company executives? Have you heard of Ultra HD yet, because chances are, you might hear about it in the future. How about video compression...
