The top security stories of 2010

It was a big year for our industry. IP video started to take off. Brink's became Broadview and then was purchased by Tyco and merged into ADT. UTC bought what was once GE Security and then relaunched the Interlogix brand. Two top distributors, Tri-Ed and Northern Video, merged. Monitronics and Protection One were both acquired by investment companies. TSA finally got its chief. WikiLeaks leaked, leaked and leaked some more. The ESA put its foot down against shady sales practices. Safran bought L-1, making the biggest acquisition the biometrics industry has ever seen. Okay, enough of the chatter...here's what made news in 2010!

The Top Acquisitions and Mergers -- Who bought who in 2010?

Broadview Security to merge with ADT
Tyco executives announced deal to purchase Broadview for $2 billion, merge it with ADT Security Services

ASSA ABLOY to buy LaserCard
$80 million purchase takes HID Global deeper into government secure identity solutions

UTC closes on GE Security acquisition
UTC to GE dealers and customers: Stability expected in GE Security product lines

UTC defines its roadmap for enterprise security management
Following acquisition of GE Security, a merged R&D and a streamlining of offerings

Interlogix brand returns to security industry
Former GE brand reintroduced by UTC following GE Security acquisition

Safran to buy L-1 Identity Solutions for $1.1B
L-1 also selling its intelligence services business to BAE for $296M

Protection One to be acquired by private equity firm
Company’s majority shareholders approve sale to GTCR

3M to acquire Cogent Systems
Acquisition of biometrics firm takes 3M deeper into the business of security

Private equity firm acquires Tri-Ed, Northern Video Systems
New combined company to operate as Tri-Northern Security Distribution

Flir to acquire ICx
Thermal and night vision camera maker buys homeland security technology firm

DVTel purchases Ioimage
Purchase of analytics company expands DVTel's end-to-end offerings in IP video

March Networks to buy Cieffe
Purchase gives company added footprint in European IP video market

iControl announces merger with uControl
Newly merged company's co-CEO says firm looking to expand, bring best home management solution to the market

Next page: The top stories of 2010 for security directors and CSOs...

The Top Stories of 2010 for Executives

John Pistole confirmed to head TSA
Deputy FBI director unanimously approved to spearhead agency

Leaked US cables reveal sensitive diplomacy
WikiLeaks releases hundreds of thousands of sensitive State Department cables

Study: Global shrink down 5.6 percent
Increase in security spending found to correlate with reduction in retail theft

Bomb plot shows failure of TSA air cargo screening plan
TSA's plan for 100 percent air cargo screening is years behind schedule

Encryption of BlackBerry emails becomes international debate
India, UAE, Saudi Arabia threaten to shutdown firm's encrypted email services in their nations

NY car bomb suspect captured
After capture aboard Emirates flight, Shahzad reportedly cooperating with investigators

Why Walmart is adopting RFID
Former Walmart LP executive Eric White says asset protection is benefited, but not core reason behind technology upgrade

TSA changes policy on pat-down searches
TSA officers will no longer use back of hands to search sensitive body areas

Drug violence impacting security for businesses in Mexico
Security experts discuss how CSOs can mitigate risks in the country

Securing the corporate mailroom
Industry experts discuss key methods and technologies to detecting threats received in the mail

Corporate safe rooms: What lies beneath?
Not just for celebrities, businesses often use hardened safe rooms for potential harboring of executives

The open carry gun movement and corporate security
Gun advocacy rallies raise a question for corporate security: Do you allow customers to openly carry?

Taking TWIC beyond 'flash pass' status
Even though the TSA doesn't yet mandate it, some TWIC users are moving forward