ADT Continuing Expansion Into Public Sector

• By Laura Swift
• Sep 03, 2009

DALLAS -- Security system integration is a key component for ADT, as the company focuses on expanding more of its services to the public sector.

Cooperative contract awards between security providers and government, education and non-profit agencies are a new trend in the security industry, said Keith Jernigan, ADT’s state and local government director.

ADT emphasized its growing presence in the public sector during a media summit August 24-26. Additionally, the company showcased technology and emerging trends during a tour of its IP technology lab and demo room, and discussed business goals with a diverse panel of security experts.

During the municipal security demonstration, three police officers discussed ADT’s role in local law enforcement initiatives.

Peter Scheets, deputy police chief, Bryan, Texas, and Tyrone Morrow, retired police chief, Bryan, Texas, said they are in the process of installing a multiphase camera system in downtown Bryan. ADT installed the first phase of the fiber optic system, which included IP and PTZ cameras.

“We wanted to see what technology could do to aid security,” Morrow said. “There have been numerous national and international cases where technology, like livescan and CCTV, has solved crime issues. With the installation, we have now brought this technology to Bryan.”

Asset money and government stimulus grants funded the installation. A similar ADT camera system installed in McGregor, Texas, was funded by stimulus money as well.

“There is a vertical market for state and local government,” Jernigan said. “Government stimulus funds are encouraging business growth.”

ADT was recently awarded a national alliance cooperative contract from the National Joint Powers Alliance. The contract allows public agencies to receive competitive bid procurement access to ADT’s security services.

After the municipal security demonstration, the security panel discussed business growth and security integration. Morrow and Scheets participated, as well as Robert Picasio, senior manager of global security for GTECH, Kenneth LeCesne, global physical security director for Perot Systems, Jay Montgomery, corporate director of security for Kinder Morgan and Steve Foster, police chief, McGregor, Texas.

“Automation, integration and compliance are the three things that shape what we do with security systems, said LeCesne. Picasio said integrator flexibility is important for achieving effective security.

Jay Hauhn, vice president of technology and industry relations for ADT, highlighted emerging technological trends. Haugn said ADT is researching the benefits of inductive technology for powering wireless devices. Inductive technology captures bursts of energy from movement. Haugn said the power emitted from a swinging door can be captured and used to power a wireless device.

In addition Hauhn said cellular 4G long-term evolution, solid state hard drives, cloud computing and long-range iris scanning are advancing technologies that ADT customers should expect to see in the future.

“IP version 4 will be replaced by IP version 6, which provides an almost unlimited number of unique addresses,” Hauhn said. “And traditional card access servers will be replaced by software and solid state hard drives. IP connectivity will move from a controller to a card reader.”