Weston in Space

BROOMFIELD, Colo. — WaveLynx Technologies, a developer and manufacturer of access control devices and credentials, announces a new strategic integration partnership with Feenics , an enterprise-class, Cloud-based access control manufacturer. As an OEM partner, Feenics will resell the WaveLynx line of Ethos readers and credentials. In addition, they will soon integrate the WaveLynx MyPass Mobile Credentials into the Keep ACaaS platform, enabling automated mobile credential provisioning for their suite of security and safety management solutions. “We love to align ourselves with partners who share our commitment to driving secure, open, and interoperable solutions into the security market,” says Laurie Aaron, executive vice president at WaveLynx. “Feenics is a leader in the enterprise Cloud access space, and we are excited to enter into this partnership as we feel our products are a natural fit for their portfolio. As each of our products have recently been specified in multiple commo...

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Canada — Camden Door Controls, based here, announces new CV-WR Series Wiegand output receiver and two-button mini fob. The high security solution is said to be compatible with all access control systems that use Wiegand protocol and is ideal for both short- and long-range applications up to 300 feet. By pressing either of two buttons, users can control a barrier gate or overhead door up to 300 feet from the receiver. The same transmitter can be presented in front of a 125 KHz. card reader and operate as a conventional access credential. The receiver allows for anti-passback control on gate applications, according to the announcement. The CV-WRX4 multiprotocol receiver supports 26- and 37-bit Wiegand and facility codes 1-225. It features high security rolling codes with 19 trillion combinations, as well as an IP-65 rated weather and vandal-resistant enclosure. Related: Camden Unveils CV-603 Series 2-Door Bluetooth Access Control System The CV-WTX2 two button, ...

It was about this time of the year in 1956 when I, almost a man, graduated high school. I was 17, about the youngest in my class, and just about the least likely to succeed having spent the previous four years doing almost everything to avoid studying or preparing for the future. While all my friends were preparing to go to college, I was sitting at home wondering what to do when fall came. Get a job? Travel (I had a ’46 Chrysler that probably could’ve made it to the Iowa border, one of the closest states to Chicago where I had pretty much grown up)? Nothing appealed to me, and the closer we came to the fall season the more my parents were becoming hysterical at my not going to college. Naturally, I did the only thing a person my age could do; I enlisted in the United States Army. Since the Army had come out with a new enlistment program of six months active duty, followed by 5½ years of reserve duty, I felt I didn’t have anything to lose. And so it was, five weeks later I found myse...

Security professionals know the public key infrastructure (PKI) offers the best way to protect communications between an enterprise’s machines, network and mobile devices, virtual servers and the IoT. But what sends them to an integrator is the painful realization that managing digital certificates for this soaring volume of machines, devices and network end points has exceeded any efficient or reliable manual approach to lifecycle management. PKI certification automation is the solution. But before they can help clients realize its benefits, integrators often need to dispel three myths about the Cloud -based digital certificate lifecycle automation solutions that are now available as a service (also known as PKI-as-a-Service). Myth #1:   It is easier to just install certificates manually than to install and configure the utilities required for PKI certificate automation. There was a time when automating PKI certificate management required the cost, configuration, support and po...

In this week’s Top Su rveillance Videos… There few material things people have a bigger connection with than their car. Whether it’s the latest luxury SUV or an old jalopy, there’s nothing like a bond between a car and its owner. Take for instance this woman in California and her $500 Honda Civic. Surveillance video shows the woman leave the barbershop she works at and head to her car to get her cigarettes. You can then see her talking to someone inside her car. The man was able to get in because the window does not go up. When asked why he was in the car, the suspect claimed to be in the wrong one. After going back and forth, the car’s owner throws a punch to his head. The suspect then struggles to escape out the passenger side. Once he’s outside, the owner is ready to fight. Instead, he runs away. As he fled, he dropped a shaved key, which is a modified key designed to work in multiple ignitions. Also this week… Earlier this year, an Australian supermarket was struck by a rash ...

My discussion this month will be on one of the key components that need to be considered when designing any mass notification system (MNS), and that is the risk analysis. Before any design is laid out, shop drawings produced, equipment ordered or a system is installed, a risk analysis needs to be executed. The size and complexity of the occupancy will in the end dictate the size of the risk analysis. The concept of a risk analysis is not new, nor is it found only within NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code. There are many books on the topic, as well as courses that are taught at the graduate level within engineering, finance and management. At the highest levels, it does involve very complex mathematics and several Nobel Economic Prizes have been awarded on aspects of this topic. By definition, risk analysis is identifying and analyzing future events that may have a negative impact on individuals, property, assets and the environment. Within NFPA 72 , it is described as “...

BALTIMORE — Members of the Baltimore City Council Public Safety Committee on Wednesday unanimously passed a temporary ban on the use of facial recognition in Baltimore. The action to advance a proposal that would ban nearly all applications of facial recognition technology in the city does not include the Baltimore Police Department. The bill will now move from committee to Baltimore City Council June 8. Prior to the vote, the Security Industry Association (SIA) and other leading technology and business groups wrote a letter to the committee expressing concerns about the profound negative impact of the measure for residents of Baltimore. The letter noted, “[prohibiting] access to opt-in customer experience conveniences, whether in retail, health care or other settings, is much broader than the concerns raised around law enforcement and government applications.” While a number of U.S. cities have banned used of the technology by city agencies, the proposal is only the second in the...

TUCSON, Ariz. — Technology may not be able to halt the onset of pandemics; however, it can help prevent the spread of disease, educate, warn and empower those on the ground to be aware of the situation, and plainly lessen the impact. Take, for example, the University of Arizona (UA) where administrators collaborated with Genetec and systems integrator Route1 to assist in deploying a distribution process to vaccinate as many people as possible, as quickly and efficiently as possible. The task arose after the university was chosen as a COVID-19 vaccine point of dispensing (POD). “We had already heard about how ALPR (automatic license plate recognition) could be used for tolls and monitoring traffic flow, and we were eager to see if the ALPR cameras could help us automatically track vehicles entering and exiting our POD,” explains Jim Sayre, director of operations – parking and transportation services at UA. To build a solution that would not only offer valuable insights about their ...

It’s not just me, your humble amateur cryptocurrency owner, who thinks it’s high time integrators start getting more involved in the mysterious world of Bitcoin. Kalkine Group CEO Kunal Sawhney says A/V and IT integrators who don’t jump on board now are missing out. “Technology underpins the world of audio and video integration and the digital currency realm,” Sawhney wrote , partly in response to my recent blog post on why A/V integrators should accept Dogecoin and other forms of cryptocurrency as payment for their work. “The former enables organizations to make the best use of A/V equipment, and the latter is changing the way we undertake financial transactions. A/V integrators are providers of Internet of Things (IoT) services, integrating equipment such as projectors, speakers, and software into a unified system,” said Sawhney. “Cryptos are also revolutionizing finance by infusing in it a decentralized tech called blockchain,” he said. “The common thread between A/V integratio...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — DMP announces authorized dealers across the MidSouth/Southeast region have a new regional training manager. Matthew McDonald will now provide technical training and support throughout that region. McDonald has worked in the security industry since he earned his Criminal Justice degree from the University of Alabama. Most recently, he was the major accounts liaison for STS Group, an authorized DMP dealer based out of Madison, Ala. Formerly, he also worked in inside sales and was an STS Group technician. As a new regional training manager for DMP, McDonald will be based out of Athens, Ala., where he has lived the past eight years. In his new role, he will leverage his DMP product expertise to support DMP dealers throughout his territory, which includes Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Northwest Florida. Related: DMP XT Series Control Panels Now Certified for Use on FirstNet “With his impressive DMP product knowledge, Mat...

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Private equity firm AE Industrial Partners (AEI) has acquired Cross-Fire & Security Co., a full-service fire and life-safety company based in Brooklyn, N.Y. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. AEI, based here, up to now specialized in aerospace, defense and government services, space, power generation and specialty industrial markets. Cross-Fire will serve as the entry point for a new fire and life-safety services platform as the firm looks to make significant investments in this critically important industry, according to an announcement. Cross-Fire is a full-service provider in the design, engineering, installation, maintenance, monitoring and servicing of life-safety systems. AEI has partnered with key industry executives to support Cross-Fire’s growth and will be strengthening its board of directors with the addition of Kelly Romano as chairman of the board, and Ed Cettina as a board member. Romano, an AEI operating partner, has deep sector expe...

PITTSBURGH — Vector Security President and CEO Pamela Petrow has been appointed to the board of directors of the Philadelphia Contributionship (TPC) Mutual Holding Co., the oldest property insurance company in the United States. Vector Security , based here, is a sister company of TPC. “We are pleased to welcome Ms. Petrow to The Philadelphia Contributionship Board of Directors,” says Chairman Scott Jenkins. “Over the years, we have watched and celebrated her success in leading Vector Security’s growth, expansion and strategic direction. We look forward to her contributions to the Board as we leverage TPC’s financial stability and long-standing history to fulfill the mission and vision of the Contributionship and its subsidiaries.” Petrow joined Vector Security in 1982 and after a series of promotions, was appointed president and CEO in 2010. Since then, she has led the company through major acquisitions that created the Vector Security Networks and ADS Security divisions within the...

There are more than 100 million sensors, cameras and other devices deployed and collecting data in smart homes across the country, and that number is only growing as Americans continue to welcome the rollout of the Internet of Things (IoT) . Consumers love the way connected devices share information with one another — and with us — as they make life more convenient and make the home function like a well-oiled machine. But this same data can also be a benefit to the security installers who set up many of these smart home systems. Installers have a wealth of information about their customers thanks to these connected devices. With a simple analytics layer to turn this unstructured data into useful business intelligence, installers can use it to grow and expand their revenue. In a nutshell, the right business intelligence can make the security integrator proactive instead of reactive. This means staying out in front of what customers want, and tailoring services to fit their needs. T...

WESTMINSTER, Colo. — PSA, the world’s largest consortium of professional systems integrators, announces the addition of NETGEAR to its distribution network. NETGEAR, a leading global provider of networking products that power businesses and smart homes, is said to offer PSA a uniquely comprehensive portfolio of highly flexible and scalable network switches. NETGEAR will additionally offer routers, extenders, wireless airbridges and WiFi range extenders to the PSA network . “NETGEAR has a product offering that is second to none,” says Tim Brooks, PSA ’s vice president of sales and vendor management. “Offering NETGEAR products to PSA integrators is a testament to the diversification of disciplines that is taking place with the proliferation of technology.” The manufacturer provides end-to-end networking solutions serving the needs of both consumers and small to medium businesses delivering networking, storage and security solutions without the cost and complexity of big IT. Relate...

STOCKHOLM — ASSA ABLOY has acquired Sure-Loc Hardware, a leading supplier of residential locks and associated hardware in the United States, for undisclosed terms. “I am very pleased to welcome Sure-Loc into the ASSA ABLOY Group. This acquisition delivers on our strategy to strengthen our position in the mature markets through adding complementary products and solutions to our core business,” states Nico Delvaux, president and CEO of ASSA ABLOY . Sure-Loc was established in 2002 and has approximately 45 employees. The main office is located in Salt Lake City, Utah. According to the company’s website, Sure-Loc products feature affordable style with a wide variety of designs to enhance both traditional and contemporary homes. The company’s Ridgecrest Modern line is said to be built with high-end components and top finishes. The Ridgecrest Mountain line is an elevated collection of door hardware. Its mountain contemporary design features split spindle latches, forged materials and hig...

PITTSBURGH — The PowerHouse Alliance and CEDIA have partnered to expand the availability of CEDIA’s industry-leading in-person training programs . As one of the first CEDIA Education Partners in the industry, the PowerHouse Alliance 11 distributor members will host in-person CEDIA Training courses at more than 55 locations across the United States beginning in the fourth quarter. “It is a common cry throughout the channel: dealers want access to CEDIA ’s hands-on foundational courses to support both newly hired employees as well as technicians who want to advance their career through a deeper understanding of the fundamentals of systems integration,” says Giles Sutton, CEDIA co-interim CEO. He continues, “This partnership with PowerHouse makes CEDIA education more accessible than ever before and will equip technicians with some of the most important skills including using tools, job site etiquette and safety, documentation and testing. PowerHouse locations will offer comprehensive h...

Just a reminder on the best practices philosophy. Providing best practices in sales, service and installation means just that. In sales, do you provide all the options for your prospect or just the minimal? It is your obligation as a security professional to provide both average and high security options. We know that the majority of crimes are not very sophisticated. Let the customer decide and you can document accordingly. In service, give the customer options such as annual maintenance. In installations, make sure that your techs have the skills and knowledge to do the job professionally. Provide training, and again, document accordingly. Electronic access control (EAC) vulnerability is always a hot topic and knowledge of such can set you apart from all the amateurs. Have you heard of Gecko ? If you’re an avid reader of Tech Talk you might remember back in March 2008 that I mentioned this little electronic creature. It was a very small device that could be easily put inline with a...

INDIANAPOLIS — CertaSite, based here, has acquired Marine Fire Sales & Service, a family-owned business in Toledo, Ohio. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition is CertaSite ’s fourth in Ohio. Established more than 40 years ago, Marine Fire has extensive experience in providing fire sprinkler systems, fire alarm systems , fire extinguishers and emergency lighting solutions. Marine Fire’s solid reputation in the region will allow the company to grow its customer base and expand into new markets under the CertaSite umbrella, according to an announcement. “CertaSite is a company that we trust because they share our values and code of ethics for saving lives and protecting property,” says Marine Fire Owners Kelley and Dave Tipping. “We are proud of the customer service that our team provided for more than 40 years. We fully believe that under CertaSite, our employees will have the opportunity for professional growth and career advancement and our customers will ...

TORONTO — Smart home technology provider ecobee, based here, announces that its WiFi thermostat can now be integrated into Alarm.com -based security and smart home solutions. The integration will allow end customers to seamlessly control their ecobee smart thermostats in apps powered by Alarm.com, according to the announcement. The company’s smart thermostats are said to save up to 26% on heating and cooling costs. ecobee currently offers a number of ENERGY STAR-certified thermostats and a suite of home monitoring products. “We’re excited to be able to deliver improved convenience and energy savings to customers in partnership with Alarm.com,” said Greg Fyke, ecobee vice president of product. “Our smart thermostats save up to 26% on heating and cooling costs making them not only a great choice for your wallet, but also a way to help create a more sustainable world.” Related: Families and Technology: Early Adopters and Market Influencers ecobee has a long-standing partnership ...

CHANTILLY, Va. — Corbett Technology Solutions (CTSI), a portfolio company of Wind Point Partners, announces the acquisition of DavEd Fire Systems, a provider of fire alarm and security system design, integration, maintenance and managed services. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 1982, DavEd provides its solutions and services throughout the New York and New Jersey metropolitan areas. The company partners with customers across all fire system needs, from design through implementation, as well as 24/7 emergency service and maintenance. “We here at DavEd are extremely excited to join the CTSI family,” says David Hoshia, president and founder of DavEd. “CTSI is known throughout our industry as a leader and innovator, and those core values — combined with a willingness to truly partner with customers and deliver tailored solutions — makes their culture a tremendous fit with DavEd.” Joe Oliveri, President and CEO of CTSI notes, “For almost four decades, DavEd has ...

Two miles away from ADT’s U.S. headquarters, tucked away in a one-story building — unremarkable among dozens of others in this Boca Raton, Fla., commercial office park — is the operation colloquially known among ADTers as the “ADT Engineering Lab.” The name on its door, at suite 10, says something different. The ADT Engineering Technology Center is one of those places most new hires at the smart home security company hear about; yet, when asked few will say they’ve ever been there. It took me two years to get my invite, the result of several months of cajoling Mark Reimer, ADT ’s vice president of product engineering, into letting me come visit. I arrived on my motorcycle and parked conveniently out front in one of the many available spaces. I’m greeted at the door by Tim Rader, senior director, product development and engineering, who dropped a casual “nice” followed by a long pause and gaze into the lot. Inside, we went straight to his office. The whole scene looks strikingly simi...