Weston in Space

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Rapid Response Monitoring Services announces the appointment of Indira Emmadi to vice president of information technology. Emmadi joins Rapid Response from Palo Alto Networks where she served as a solutions engineer managing engagements with their key strategic accounts and led a team that provided cybersecurity solutions to organizations like Google and Microsoft for their Cloud services globally. Emmadi started her career working as a support engineer for Cisco TAC. After leaving Cisco, she had successful careers at Broadcom, Inc., Riverbed Technology, Citrix Systems and Radware, according to the announcement. She holds two Master’s degrees, one from Wichita State University in Electrical Engineering and a second from Syracuse University in Computer Science. Rapid Response says Emmadi is an expert in cybersecurity regarding network and security architectures for hyperscale enterprise networks, service providers, data centers and Cloud infrastructures, and she ha...

MINNEAPOLIS — Milestone Systems’ MIPS Partner Summit returned last week as an in-person event, now invite-only, for the first time since 2020. Held Oct. 24-26, at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, more than 400 Milestone partners convened to hear about the company’s roadmap, latest innovations, products and solutions. The event was centered around four main ideas: “Beyond security;” business outcomes; responsible technology; and adapting to partners. Beyond Security Across multiple keynotes, the term “beyond security” was brought up. What Milestone means by this term is utilizing sensors that may already be installed in an application and using them for other opportunities. During a healthcare panel, Bosch Business Development Manager Mike Guarino noted, “I talked to one of my counterparts who’s a security director in the hospital, and he said we’re trying to do more with less. We’re trying to do more with less and and how can we be more proactive and intelligent about utilizing thos...

The most-read stories on SecuritySales.com in October 2022 mainly centered around the residential security market. The month’s biggest story was ASSA ABLOY announcing its intention to sell its Emtek and Yale smart residential business in the U.S. and Canada in order to resolve the the U.S. Department of Justice’s antitrust concerns. In September, the DOJ filed a complaint over ASSA ABLOY’s proposed acquisition of the Hardware and Home Improvement division (HHI) of Spectrum Brands. That acquisition was announced in September 2021 . Also attracting eyeballs in October was the reveal that the U.S. Defense Department included Dahua Technologies among 13 new companies added to its blacklist of organizations it says are backed by the Chinese military. The move was the latest blow to the company which has faced numerous bans and restrictions over the last few years, including the introduction of the Secure Equipment Act, which bans the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from conside...

In this week’s Top Surveillance Videos… Next to Christmas, Halloween is the biggest “decoration holiday” of the year. Unfortunately, there are some out there that just don’t have any respect for people’s decorations. We’ve seen real-life Grinches stealing Christmas decorations , as well as hooligans vandalizing Halloween ones on numerous occasions. The latest example of the latter comes from Texas. You’ve probably noticed an increase of 12-foot tall skeletons in front of homes. For whatever reason, these $300 behemoths have become very popular and are hard to find in stores. That would probably explain why a woman in Texas decided it would be a good idea to steal one from a yard … in broad daylight. Surveillance video shows her pull the skeleton down and then try to shove it into the back of her SUV. She can only fit less than half the skeleton into the vehicle and though we don’t see footage after that, she apparently somehow makes off with it. Also this week… A restaurant in ...

CHICAGO — Motorola Solutions (NYSE:  MSI ) announces it has acquired Futurecom Systems Group, a leading provider of radio coverage extension solutions for public safety agencies, based in Ontario, Canada. Futurecom designs and manufactures in-vehicle, fixed and portable radio frequency (RF) repeaters and extenders exclusively for Motorola Solutions. These complementary products are critically important to public safety agencies, serving as vital communication “hotspots” to extend and enhance land mobile radio coverage across vast and remote areas without nearby radio towers, according to the company. “Radio communications are trusted as a lifeline by first responders, and over 800 agencies across the world depend on Futurecom products to remain reliably connected in the line of duty,” says Scott Mottonen, senior vice president, products, Motorola Solutions. “Futurecom is an important part of both our history and our future, and together, we will continue to innovate mission-cri...

MINNEAPOLIS — Milestone Systems continues to increase its range of on premise, hybrid-Cloud and Cloud-native data-driven video technology solutions with the unveiling of the new Milestone Kite video surveillance as a service (VSaaS) to complement its existing XProtect on Amazon Web Services (AWS). Revealed during its MIPS 2022 event, the company describes Milestone Kite as a simple, secure and scalable VSaaS solution for small- to medium-sized businesses, where XProtect on AWS is optimized for the enterprise market. Milestone Kite is well-suited for single or distributed organizations that need an easy way to centrally manage all their sites in one unified system. Providing continuous access to new features with little or no maintenance effort, it is designed for businesses and enterprises with high value, less complexity and multiple geographic locations such as banks, retail chains, schools, and residential buildings, according to the company. “Milestone understands and recognizes...

BARCELONA — Fractus, a research and development company headquartered in Spain, announces it has filed lawsuits against ADT and Vivint for infringement of its United States  patents on internal antenna technology for security systems. Fractus describes itself as the pioneer of geometry-based antenna technology. By applying the science of geometry and mathematics to antenna development, Fractus delivers small antennas that fit inside devices with optimum multi-band functionality. Its patented technology has been incorporated into antennas used in ADT and Vivint’s security systems, according to the company’s lawsuit. The technology prevents the degradation of an antenna’s electromagnetic performance to the point that the device ceases to function in its intended manner or may require the designer to compromise on other desirable device attributes, such as size. It solves this through a variety of novel solutions enabling multiband operation and small size without the efficiency i...

Personal-finance website WalletHub has released the 2022 edition of its “Safest States in America” report. In order to determine the most secure states, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 53 key metrics grouped into five different categories: personal and residential safety; financial safety; road safety; workplace safety; and emergency preparedness. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest level of safety. You can view the full details of the report and its methodology  here . The Safest States in America New England continues to be the safest region of the country, according to WalletHub’s metrics. Vermont was named the safest state in the U.S. for the second year in a row. Maine, New Hampshire and Utah were also the runners-up in back-to-back years. The rest of the states in the top 10 remains unchanged from last year, except for Hawaii landing at number five, replacing New Jersey which was ranked 10th last year...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Snap One announces it has acquired Parasol, a 24/7 remote support service based on OvrC, creating new opportunities for integrators to focus on running their business while increasing profitability, productivity and service levels to their customers. The acquisition builds on Snap One’s strategic investment in Parasol last year and affirms its commitment to supporting its partners across the entire project lifecycle, according to the company. Terms were not disclosed. According to Snap One CEO John Heyman, bringing Parasol under the Snap One umbrella promises multiple benefits for its partners. “Parasol has succeeded in popularizing a powerful remote service solution that helps professional integrators reduce response times, increase monthly service revenues, and improve client experiences with support,” Heyman says. “Adding to our initial investment, a full acquisition demonstrates our confidence in the service offering and the growth opportunities it offers to Sn...

COPPELL, Texas — IDIS, a global provider of South Korean-based video technologies, is renewing its focus on the fast growing North American cannabis industry. The company points out that after experiencing a spike in sales at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. cannabis sector has settled back into a more even period of growth and is projected to post revenues in excess of $32 billion in 2022. One recent report states the cannabis industry is now projected to be worth $57 billion by 2030 and is growing at a CAGR of 11%. This continued market growth, coupled with strict compliance measures that accompany all cannabis production and sales activities, make it an attractive sector for security providers. As part of IDIS America’s success in this fast-growth sector, the company has released an updated eBook to support cannabis operators and help systems integrators understand video tech requirements in both retail and production environments to ensure compliance and incre...

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Security Industry Association ( SIA )announces it has named Kasia Hanson, global director – video, safety and security – Network and Edge Group at Intel Corp., as the 2022 recipient of the SIA Progress Award, an honor presented by SIA’s Women in Security Forum (WISF) celebrating individuals who pave the way to success for women in the security industry. SIA will present Hanson with the award on Wednesday, Nov. 16, during the 2022 SIA Honors Night reception. Hanson, who also serves as SIA’s WISF chair, leads Intel’s global video, safety and security sales for the company’s Network and Edge Group. Her team drives technology design, go-to-market and ecosystem orchestration strategies that drive revenue and adoption of artificial intelligence and edge technologies across the security industry, according to the announcement. She is a 22-year veteran of Intel with deep technology expertise across the Internet of Things, AI, physical security and cybersecurity,...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Snap One has enhanced the capabilities of its partners’ security systems through the announcement of its ONVIF open forum membership, which provides and promotes standards for interoperability of IP-based physical security products. The company’s first ONVIF-supported product lines include the new Luma x20 surveillance cameras and Clare Controls ClareVision security solutions, and the company states these products enable smart home and security professionals to immediately add these products to existing ONVIF-compatible systems. “Snap One is proud to join the global ONVIF consortium to help advance the standards and interoperability of today’s leading security systems and products,” says Forest Liu, senior product director, Snap One. “Our product teams are already hard at work making our existing and upcoming security offerings fully ONVIF-compatible to provide Partners even greater choice and flexibility when designing or updating security systems.” Snap One ...

IRVINE, Calif. — Arcules, a provider of unified, Cloud video-surveillance-as-a-service solutions (VSaaS), announces a strategic global distribution partnership with Wesco. The partnership is said to expand brand awareness and increase access to easy, scalable and reliable Cloud and managed services in North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa. As a result of the partnership with Wesco, Arcules says it will now be able to expand its reach through Wesco’s vast distribution network, giving greater visibility as customers continue to seek more flexible and secure Cloud video solutions. As a leading global communications and security supply chain solutions provider with a highly respected brand and high-quality and reliable service, Wesco is an ideal partner for Arcules to work with as it looks to enhance its impact globally, according to the company. Related: Arcules Hires Steve Prodger as Chief Revenue Officer “When it comes to video surveillance and security, companies of...

DRAPER, Utah — ProdataKey (PDK), a manufacturer of Cloud access control solutions for mobile applications, and InvictusXP, a developer of a community technology platform for residents and building managers, have joined forces to create an all-in-one mobile solution for multi-tenant properties. The companies state that residents, guests and visitors can now interact with PDK access control readers throughout their buildings using the same InvictusXP mobile app they use for community notifications, virtual concierge services, visitor video intercom communications, and other conveniences. PDK mobile credentials within the Invictus app will permit unlocking of building entrances and doors to common spaces, including parking garages, clubhouses, playrooms, fitness centers, pools, mailrooms, laundry and other secure areas. “PDK’s open API gives dealers the ability to offer customers the convenience of access control nestled seamlessly within other applications, and our integration with I...

TYSONS, Va. — Alarm.com (Nasdaq: ALRM ) announces it completed a majority-stake acquisition of Noonlight, a next-generation connected safety and event management platform that enables new applications and provides enhanced emergency response capabilities. Noonlight was founded in 2013 to deliver advanced technology that “protects and comforts people so they can live freely.” The company began as a personal safety mobile application and has grown into a connected safety platform that has organically attracted over 3.5 million Noonlight app users. Noonlight’s software platform enables context aware event management and emergency response for a range of IoT device vendors. “Noonlight is a demonstrated leader in the personal safety and emergency response space and we’re pleased to bring their entrepreneurial team and leadership into the Alarm.com family,” says Jeff Bedell, Alarm.com’s chief strategy and innovation officer. “Our investment in Noonlight will help expand its business and ...

Sometimes going mainstream can be a bad thing. Fans in some cases will accuse their favorite bands of going commercial, for example. In the early 1990s, Metallica released its “Black” album and some fans dismissed the record as too commercial. In other cases, however, going mainstream can be a positive thing. A good example of this scenario is security-based smart home products. Over the past several years, large electronics brands that include Amazon and Google have entered the market. These well-established brands’ entry into the security industry have bolstered the profile of the entire market and they have helped to foster consumer awareness for access control and video surveillance products. One specific product merges these two categories and has found widespread adoption — video doorbells. In addition to raising consumer awareness, the other major benefit of these mainstream brands entry into the security market is these products also provide an entry point into more advanced...

REDMOND, Wash. — Aiphone Corp., an international manufacturer of intercom and security communication products, has announced that its IX Series intercoms are now compatible with the Genetec Security Center. Aiphone’s unified IP security platform provides users with a single interface between multiple security devices and their data, and Genetec states this integration enables Aiphone IX Series customers to easily incorporate their video intercom systems into a larger unified security platform. “Our integration with Security Center and Sipelia gives our customers enhanced capabilities and broadens our collaboration with a trusted security solutions provider like Genetec,” says Brad Kamcheff, marketing manager, Aiphone Corp. “Our customers want solutions with the ability to integrate many different devices — and teaming up with Genetec ensures this is possible.” Aiphone-Genetec Security Center Integration Provides Higher Levels of Safety Aiphone explains that Genetec Security Center...

LAKE FOREST, Calif. — Netwatch North America, a provider of proactive video monitoring solutions, announces the newest version of its Netwatch Web App, a web portal that enables Netwatch dealers to perform essential site management functions for their customers. This robust, self-serve interface empowers dealers to easily access and manage all customer sites from the convenience of a web browser, according to the company. Built to enhance speed and efficiency, the Netwatch web app allows dealers to manage sites from anywhere and at any time. Dealers can verify location and system status, update arming and disarming schedules, and modify critical contacts from a single solution. The solution is also said to deliver a rich user experience for the end user, providing a clean, modern UI experience where security leaders can quickly and intuitively manage situations and settings on demand. Whether a partner needs to launch a new site, update alarm response escalation, or verify an inci...

COPPELL, Texas — IDIS announces the company’s end-to-end video solution is helping the Bristol Zoological Society in the creation of a new Bristol Zoo at its 136-acre Wild Place Project site in the U.K.. This follows the closure of the Society’s 186-year-old Bristol Zoo Gardens on Sept. 3, as the charity pushes forward with an inspiring wildlife conservation agenda, according to the company. When the work is completed over the next few years, around 80% of the species at the new Bristol Zoo will be linked to conservation breeding and conservation programs around the world — a higher percentage than any other zoo in the U.K., the announcement states. Upgraded CCTV visibility over the site was said to be a crucial part of the Zoo’s strategy. The installation, carried out by KIS Fire and Security, has already delivered conservation benefits. For the first time, a wolverine cub has been born and raised at Bristol, with vets using remote video to avoid disturbing the skittish animals dur...

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Security Industry Association ( SIA ) announces it has named Peter Boriskin, chief technology officer at ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions, as the new chair of SIA’s Standards Committee. In this role, Boriskin will lead and work with committee members to develop, promote and advocate industry standards in a coordinated effort with other standards and specification writing bodies. “I am grateful to be appointed as chair of the SIA Standards Committee by SIA members. It is an exciting time to be in the security industry, as there have been tremendous technology advancements in the past few years. As technology continues to evolve, industry consensus on security solutions performance, safety and design will be crucial to its success in market,” says Boriskin. “The usage of artificial intelligence (AI) is a great example of this progress, as it has become a megatrend within our industry. Manufacturers, integrators and end users alike should consider how to ...

STOCKHOLM — The ASSA ABLOY Group has formally filed its response to the U.S. Department of Justice’s complaint to block the proposed acquisition of the Hardware and Home Improvement division (HHI) of Spectrum Brands. ASSA ABLOY announced the $4.3 billion acquisition of Spectrum’s HHI division in September 2021 . The division includes the Kwikset, Baldwin, Weiser, Pfister and National Hardware brands. Filed last month, the DOJ’s complaint alleges that the merger would eliminate important head-to-head competition between ASSA ABLOY and Spectrum, risking higher prices, lower quality, reduced innovation and poorer service in the sale of at least two types of residential door hardware: premium mechanical door hardware and smart locks. The complaint also states that the proposed transaction would transform these markets, giving ASSA ABLOY a near-monopoly in premium mechanical door hardware and more than a 50% share in smart locks, leaving only one significant competitor. To fully resolv...

DAVIS, Calif. — After numerous delays , the Matter 1.0 wireless specification has finally arrived. The Connectivity Standards Alliance, the international community of more than 550 technology companies committed to open standards for the Internet of Things, has announced the release of the Matter 1.0 specification and the opening of the Matter certification program. Member companies who make up all facets of the IoT now have a complete program for bringing the next generation of interoperable products that work across brands and platforms to market with greater privacy, security and simplicity for consumers. As part of the Matter 1.0 release, authorized test labs are open for product certification, the test harnesses and tools are available, and the open-source reference design software development kit (SDK) is complete — all to bring new, innovative products to market. Further, Alliance members with devices already deployed and with plans to update their products to support Matter c...