Weston in Space

TYSONS, Va. —  Alarm.com  (Nasdaq:  ALRM ) on Thursday reported fourth-quarter net income of $16 million, besting the prior year period by $3 million. Total quarterly revenue rose 18% to $165.6 million, compared to $140.5 million in the prior year period. Alarm.com ended the year with more than 10,000 service provider partners who sell and service the company’s technology in more than 7.6 million customer properties in over 40 countries. The company’s security-oriented IoT platform is sold into four market segments: residential, multifamily, small business and enterprise commercial. Quarterly SaaS and license revenue increased 17% to $105.5 million, compared to $90.1 million. Gross revenue increased 18% to $165.6 million, compared to $140.5 million in the prior year. For the full year, SaaS and licensed revenue of $393.3 million grew 16.6% over 2019. Hardware and other revenue in the fourth quarter was $60.1 million, up 19.2% over Q4 2019. The increase in hardware reve...

Unsurprisingly, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the security industry (as well as many others) to put the brakes on M&A deals. With the vaccine rolling out and restrictions being lifted around the country, it looks like things are starting to return to normal. So far we’ve seen around a dozen mergers or acquisitions since the start of 2021. Two of the more notable happened in February. The first most popular in terms of pageviews was ADT’s acquisition of Ackerman Security System’s existing customer accounts in a cash deal worth $73 million. Under terms of the transaction, the super-regional dealer will join the ADT Authorized Dealer Program and sell and install ADT smart home security services to its new customers. The biggest deal in terms of money transferred goes to Eaton’s acquisition of Tripp Lite, a leading supplier of power quality products and connectivity solutions, for $1.6 billion. The deal is the second priciest transaction of the year so far, only behind Teledyne’s $8...

BOCA RATON, Fla. — ADT (NYSE: ADT ) on Thursday reported a net loss of $112 million in its fourth quarter, compared to $72 million during the same period the prior year. The company posted full-year total revenues of $5.3 billion, compared to $5.1 billion during the prior-year period. For the year, ADT reported a net loss of $632 million, compared to prior year’s net loss of $424 million. Net loss increased primarily as a result of an increase in operating expenses associated with the ownership of Defenders and an increase in net interest expense. The increase in net loss was partially offset by higher total revenue, net of the associated costs of revenue, and the aggregate impact due to the sale of ADT Canada in 2019. Adjusted EBITDA was $2.2 billion, compared to $2.5 billion a year ago. The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA from the prior year period was driven by the impact from the Defenders acquisition, the sale of ADT Canada and a lower volume of commercial transactions due to the C...

In this week’s Top Su rveillance Videos… Superstar Lady Gaga received horrible news on Thursday while filming a movie in Rome. Her dog walker was shot four times and two of her French bulldogs were stolen. A security camera caught the whole incident unfold. Video footage shows a white sedan pull up to the dog walker. Two suspects try to steal the dogs but the dog walker won’t go quietly, literally. He screams as he tries to fight them off but once the dogs are taken, he is shot multiple times. The thieves would end up taking two of the dogs, the third running back to the dogwalker as the suspects sped off. Neighbors quickly called the police and tended to the dog walker until first responders could arrive. Lady Gaga is offering a $500,000 reward for the safe return of the dogs. Also this week… Video footage from a Chicago suburb car dealership caught the moment suspects beat a car delivery driver and made off with three new cars. The video shows the delivery driver being thrown ...

SAN DIEGO — Snap Surveillance, developer of Force Multiplier, an AI-enabled multicamera tracking solution, has sold the assets of the company to SenSen Networks of Sydney, Australia, with equity priced at A$1,000,000. SenSen, an AI solutions provider, launched its operations in North America in 2017 and currently serves cities of Calgary and Edmonton in Alberta, Canada, with a variety of Smart City AI solutions. The acquisition of Snap Surveillance is a result of significant synergies between the two companies’ technology stacks and common target markets, according to an announcement. Snap Surveillance’s team, based here, has joined SenSen with significant backing to support the growing current customer base and partner network in the Americas, according to the announcement. Related: Convergint Partners With Camio to Provide Real-Time Video Search Snap Surveillance says it has demonstrated strong traction for its Force Multiplier product in multiple vertical markets includin...

MINNEAPOLIS — LVC Companies has earned prestigious Double Diamond Distributor honors from the ANSUL Alliance Rewards Program for the fourth consecutive year. Based in Marinette, Wisc., ANSUL manufactures fire-suppression systems, extinguishers and offers fire training. LVC utilizes ANSUL’s lineup of special hazard fire protection products in a variety of applications, ranging from hand portables to pre-engineered restaurant, vehicle and industrial fire-suppression systems. Diamond Distributor distinction is based on achieving goals established by the manufacturer’s parent company, Johnson Controls . “Consistently earning this level of distinction is a testament to LVC’s commitment to protect and connect our customers with industry-leading life safety, security, and communications products and services,” says LVC President and CEO Bert Bongard. “We are honored to receive this recognition, as less than 20 percent of ANSUL distributors achieve Diamond status.” “Reaching Diamond Distr...

PHILADELPHIA — Asylon, an unmanned aerial system (UAS) and robotic perimeter security company, based here, announces that former United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Deputy and Acting Administrator Daniel K. Elwell as an official member of the board of advisors. As the deputy and acting administrator within the FAA, Elwell was responsible for managing the safety and efficiency of civil aviation within the United States. In addition, he helped usher in a new breed of aircraft — UAS . This came at a time when commercial demand, application and capability of UAS skyrocketed. Elwell played a crucial role in the UAS industry through working to develop the Department of Transportation (DoT) UAS Integration Pilot Program (IPP), serving as the government’s designated official for the Drone Advisory Committee (DAC), and creating rules surrounding UAS remote ID and operations over people. “As an American UAS security company who has partnered with the FAA on these new programs,...

WESTMINSTER, Colo. — Systems integrator cooperative  PSA announces addition of EAGL Technology to its Managed Security Service Provider Program (MSSP). EAGL is a manufacturer of indoor/outdoor IoT wireless gunshot sensors as well as sensors that can detect vape, car collisions, flood waters and critical infrastructure failures. “EAGL produces solutions that address today’s real-world security concerns,” says Tim Brooks, PSA’s vice president of sales and vendor management. “Its solutions are designed to quickly identify an active shooter threat. We are pleased to add EAGL to our lineup of products.” EAGL was initially developed in the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy and is now deployed globally in airports, schools, C-suites, commercial offices, convention centers, bus stations and inner cities worldwide, according to an announcement. Its product portfolio contains deployment for a variety of industries and venues. Related: Shotspotter: Gunshot Rates Increased 48% Across U.S...

DALLAS — Brinks Home Security has embarked on what it terms “an artificial intelligence (AI) transformation” in partnership with OfferFit to innovate true 1-to-1 marketing personalization, according to an announcement. Founded last year, OfferFit uses self-learning AI to personalize marketing offers down to the individual level. Self-learning AI allows companies to scale their marketing offers using real-time results driven by machine learning. Self-learning AI, also called reinforcement learning, first came to national attention through DeepMind’s AlphaGo program, which beat human Go champion Lee Sedol in 2016. While the technology has been used in academic research for years, commercial applications are just starting to be implemented. Related: Brinks Home Security Inks Long-Term Deal With Largest Dealer, Skyline Security Brinks Home Security CEO William Niles approached OfferFit earlier this year about using the AI platform to test customer marketing initiatives, accordin...

Presented in podcast form for the first time ever, SSI ‘s annual Business Issue roundtable presents four members of The Monitoring Association ( TMA ) describing how they are successfully navigating through the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the valuable takeaways are how internal and external people skills, grit and adaptability have never been more critical. Participants include: Jeff Cohen, president of Cleveland’s Quick Response wholesale third-party central station; Kevin Stone, COO for New York’s Doyle Security Services; Allison Tuke, monitoring operations manager for Vancouver-based Paladin Technologies; and David Velasquez, the central station manager for American Burglary and Fire, a St. Louis-based security systems and monitored services provider. To hear what these security execs have to say, watch this edition of   Security Speaking below, or listen or download it directly from SSI . You can also listen to it via your streaming platform of choice. A condensed version of t...

NEWBURY PARK, Calif. — Platinum Tools , a leader in solutions for the preparation, installation, hand termination and testing of wire and cable, announces the launch of the TPS200C, a pocket-sized PoE++ tester. At only 2.5-square-inches and weighing two ounces, the new TPS200C has been designed for all varieties of PoE up to 56 volts and 280 watts of power, requires no batteries and can be used inline or by itself, according to the announcement. “Powered by the PoE circuit, the TPS200C requires no batteries and can be used inline with an actual PoE device to measure current flow, or by itself in Powered Device [PD] Simulation mode to determine the maximum power available from the PoE power source,” explains Sean Rothermel, Platinum Tools product manager. Related: Platinum Tools Adds New Fiber Optic Cleaner Line to Portfolio Other TPS200C features include: Tests up to 4-pair PoE (IEEE 802.3bt Type 3) Easy-to-read, bright, scrolling OLED display Test PoE on active data cable...

SALT LAKE CITY — Control4 , based here, has officially certified the DoorBird driver. DoorBird IP door stations can now be integrated directly into Control4 systems. The Bird Home Automation Group develops, produces and markets high-quality IP video door intercoms under the trademark “DoorBird” around the world. The company’s headquarters and production plant are located in Berlin, Germany, with a further office in San Francisco. Customers can now access their IP intercom directly from Control4 interfaces without the additional cost of a third-party driver. The new certified driver recognizes the doorbell, video camera and motion sensor of the door station immediately after installation. The devices communicate over a shared-network via hardwired PoE (Power over Ethernet) or WiFi. Related: Most Commonly Owned Smart Home Device? The Security Camera. This integration features audio and video calls from the door station to touch panels or the Control4 OS 3 app, as well as a live...

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Ring announces the release of the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2, a new video doorbell complete with 3D motion detection with radar, enhanced audio capabilities with an array microphone, and customizable privacy features. Combined with new head-to-toe video, 3D motion detection and bird’s eye view, Ring says the new device gives homeowners more context about what is happening at their front door. 3D motion detection also powers the new Bird’s Eye View feature, which provides an aerial view of the homeowner’s property and a map of where a motion event starts to give historical context to the nature of the event. Homeowners can set 3D motion detection thresholds and customizable motion zones that trigger recordings, and privacy zones can exclude areas in the camera field of view from video recording for added privacy. You can read more on how this radar technology works on Ring’s blog here . Related: Amazon’s Ring Recalls 2nd-Gen Video Doorbells for Fire Hazard...

TEMPE, Ariz. — More than 3 in 4 senior IT and IT security leaders believe their organizations lack sufficient protection against cyberattacks despite increased IT security investments made in 2020 to deal with distributed IT and work-from-home challenges, according to a new IDG Research Services survey commissioned by Insight Enterprises (NASDAQ: NSIT ), a global integrator of technology solutions. That high level of concern over the ability to withstand cyberthreats in today’s complex IT environment is causing 91% of organizations to increase their cybersecurity budgets in 2021, nearly matching the 96% that boosted IT security spending in 2020, according to the survey by Insight’s Cloud + Data Center Transformation team. The survey, “Cybersecurity at a Crossroads: The Insight 2021 Report,” examined the impact of the distributed IT landscape and pandemic-related transition to a remote workforce on IT security, including shifts in modernization priorities, projects undertaken in 2020...

SAN RAMON, Calif. — ONVIF , a global standardization initiative for IP-based physical security products, has appointed of Leo Levit as the new chairman of the ONVIF Steering Committee. Levit serves as director of system integration at Axis Communications and brings to the chairman’s role a strong technical background and more than a decade of product management, marketing and sales experience. Levit takes over from Per Björkdahl, who is stepping down from the role of chairman after nine years. “For the past decade, ONVIF has worked to facilitate nearly universal interoperability of IP physical security devices and clients, enabling end users and systems integrators to have freedom of choice in their selection of video surveillance and access control products,” Levit says. “I look forward to being part of the next evolution of ONVIF as it continues to support our evolving industry and the deepening relationships between analytics, IoT, AI and other technologies.” Prior to his role ...

ATLANTA — Honeywell (NYSE: HON ) announces the expansion of capabilities of its MAXPRO Cloud portfolio with the launch of MPA1 and MPA2, access control panels that offer Cloud web-based or on-premise hosting options. “Our technologies can be integrated into existing systems, helping our customers create and maintain flexible, bespoke solutions best suited to their needs, which is especially important for SMBs,” says Rick Koscinski, North America general manager, Honeywell Commercial Security. “Our new MPA1 and MPA2 control panels strengthens our MAXPRO Cloud offering by giving users cost-effective access control functionality and real-time security information from anywhere.” MAXPRO Cloud is a Cloud-based security solution designed for multisite small-to-medium-sized businesses that is said to provide effective and efficient security and safety, while minimizing IT costs and future-proofing investments. The solution integrates access control and video into an integrated and easy t...

A year ago no one could see or imagine the upheaval the rest of 2020 (and now into 2021) was going to throw at humanity ― particularly the United States and Canada — with a pandemic that has been as merciless on lives as it has on livelihoods. As if that was not nerve-wracking enough, there’s been a turbulent election and social unrest as well. Like never before, the economy and business community has been put through the proverbial wringer these past several months. However, the electronic security industry’s collective refusal to relent in taking care of its workers and customers, delivering lifesaving and lifestyle systems and services, and finding new paths to profitability have further entrenched a well-earned reputation for responsibility, resiliency and reliability. Related: Evolving Monitoring Center Standards in the Age of COVID One of the best vantage points from which to observe, evaluate and pick up insider knowledge about the industry is through the eyes and minds ...

SECURE Perspectives is a monthly column by the  Security Industry Association (SIA)  profiling women in the security industry. This column is part of SIA’s  Women in Security Forum , an initiative to support the participation of women in the security field through programs, professional development and networking events. For this edition of  SECURE Perspectives , SIA spoke with Kelle Shanks, senior account executive at Convergint Technologies. SIA: How did you get into the security industry? Kelle Shanks : I found my way to the security industry completely by accident. I made a staffing sales call on a security integration company in 1994, and I thought it was such a cool industry. The sales manager hired me! How does your organization serve the industry? Convergint Technologies is a global, service-based systems integrator whose top priority is service in every way — service to customers, colleagues and community. Our promise, and our number-one objective, is t...

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Security Industry Association (SIA) has named Tony Diodato as the recipient of the 2021 SIA Standards Service Award. The honor is presented to an individual demonstrating continued excellence and tireless service in volunteer efforts related to the leadership, development, education and advocacy of SIA’s standards programs and services. SIA will present Diodato with the award at The Advance , SIA’s annual membership meeting, which will be hosted March 23 as a virtual event. Diodato is the founder and CTO at Cypress Integration Solutions. Before founding Cypress in 1983, he became acquainted with SIA 40 years ago at his first trade show in New York City, where he met prolific industry veteran and SIA volunteer Sandra Jones. Related: SIA Releases Version 2.2 of OSDP Access Control Standard Diodato has been active in efforts to develop SIA Open Supervised Device Protocol ( OSDP ) — a SIA access control communications standard designed to improve interop...

SAN JOSE, Calif. —  Vivotek , a global provider of IP surveillance solutions, announces the launch of its iNSIGHT Series with products driven by the Open Security & Safety Alliance (OSSA). “Our new iNSIGHT Series presents added value and a deeper understanding that goes beyond the surface,” explains David Liu, president of Vivotek USA. “The initiative follows OSSA’s technology stack for video security devices that prescribes an open and standardized platform for security and safety solutions.” The OSSA describes itself as a nonprofit, non-stock corporation that brings together like-minded organizations in order to outline specifications for a common standardized platform for security and safety solutions which are accessible for everyone. Founding members include Vivotek, Bosch Building Technologies, Hanwha Techwin, Milestone Systems and Pelco. Vivotek’s iNSIGHT Series products include an 8MP, 50M IR, IP67-rated fixed dome camera, the FD9392-EHTV-O , and the IE9111-O AI-box...

LONDON — The global cybersecurity market is forecast to be valued at $403 billion by 2027, according to Brandessence Market Research and Consulting (BMRC). The market, estimated to be valued at $176.5 billion in 2020, will experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.5% over the 5-year forecast period, according to BMRC, based here. Cyber-attacks are usually aimed at changing, accessing or interrupting normal business processes or destroying sensitive information; thus, cybersecurity services are necessary for businesses and organizations of all sizes. The world is depending on technology more than ever before; hence, digital data creation has surged as a result. As governments and businesses store a great deal of their data on computers and transmit it across networks, the threat of cyber breaches is ever present. Common types of cybersecurity include data loss prevention (DLP), network security, identity and access management (IAM), intrusion detection systems (IDS) or ...