Q & A From the Top: Frank DeFina

Anyone who visited Samsung’s booth at ISC West 2010 saw noticeable evidence of the company’s plans to take a more aggressive position in the U.S. security market. Has the recent consolidation of the Samsung Electronics and Samsung Techwin product lines into a “new Samsung” set the stage for the emergence of the latest major player in the U.S. security market? For insights into the future of the new Samsung Techwin America, we interviewed Frank DeFina, a former Panasonic executive who is Samsung’s new senior vice president of sales and marketing in North America.

Q. We saw the promotional materials all over this year’s ISC West 2010 show -- can you please elaborate on Samsung’s 2010 vision?

A. Simply put, the Samsung 2010 vision is a new business initiative we created to establish and position Samsung as a comprehensive supplier of security system solutions -- not just video surveillance systems but also access control, intrusion detection and alarm systems we are now developing for integration with our imaging technologies.

This technology offering will be built around our line of video surveillance solutions, specifically in the IP video and networking arena.

There is a lot of untapped potential for Samsung in the U.S. market, and we see security as a power zone for Samsung. Our 2010 business initiative will help make this happen by expanding our solutions offering, enhancing our reseller and partner programs, and further solidifying and extending our relationships with end users. To accomplish all these goals, we intend to deliver the best performance and value proposition in the industry. Our strength in video surveillance technology is a given, and we share the vision as to where integrated system technologies are headed. We are developing core innovations that will drive the security industry moving forward without leaving our existing customers behind, as evidenced by our most recent analog video introductions.

We also are integrating numerous technologies into broad-based seamless solutions. Now it’s simply a matter of making more people aware of the innovation and resources available to them.

Q. How is this different from your competitors’ integrated solutions?

A. Few companies offer the vast number of products related to the security market that Samsung offers.

We made a big showing at ISC West 2010 to make this statement and outfitted our booth with an extensive range of products, including analog video, IP video systems products, cameras and DVRs, plus our evolving access control, intrusion and alarm systems. Our products aren’t just assembled from off-the-shelf components; they’re the result of extensive research to ensure they deliver what the market needs today and tomorrow.

Samsung’s technology leadership really does make a difference -- just ask anyone who received a demo of our latest video surveillance solutions at ISC West.

Our new megapixel cameras provide the industry with a more cost-effective means of migrating to HD-quality video, and our new H.264 solutions provide a value proposition that makes them very attractive for virtually any level of application. Additionally, we recognize the need to support the transition from analog to networked systems, which is demonstrated with our analog cameras featuring advanced digital signal processing. The combination of high performance, quality and affordability that Samsung provides across such a wide range of video surveillance products will change the landscape of the industry.

Q. What new technologies are contributing to the change in how integrated system solutions are designed and built?

A. Samsung plans to launch 170 new products this year. We’ve expanded our video surveillance offering to more easily bridge existing analog system devices with new IP video network-based systems that talk to each other and offer interoperability between system platforms. We are on the cutting edge of IP-based system products and technologies, such as megapixel imaging with H.264 compression.

Our new 1.3 megapixel IP cameras feature Samsung’s unique WiseNet digital signal processing, our new DVRs feature H.264 compression and our new analog cameras feature Samsung’s innovative new W5 chipset. These products reflect Samsung’s core value: a passion for performance and efficiency unlike any other major player in the professional security space. We look to the future to anticipate market needs and demands so we can best help our customers implement new technologies and future-proof their investment in electronic systems.

Q. How will your distribution and reseller channel change with Samsung’s 2010 vision initiative?

A. An emphasis on people is another core value for Samsung, and we know that our company’s success depends on the success of our distribution and integration partners, along with our relationships with customers.

We are looking to increase Samsung’s presence by cultivating productive, mutually beneficial relationships with a broader base of partners and customers at every level.

Expanding these relationships is critical to extending the scope and effectiveness of Samsung’s position in the U.S. market. We also will continue our strategic relationship with GVI Security as Samsung’s master distributor. We are in the process of implementing new programs to best support and facilitate system integrators, architects and engineers, and resellers to ensure Samsung’s security systems technology has the best opportunity to be considered at the initial stages of projects.

We have the right people on board along with the technical capabilities to accomplish these program objectives.

The recent merger of Samsung Techwin and Samsung Electronics has unified and expanded the resources Samsung is dedicating to the professional security systems market. We look forward to moving forward with a stronger organization that’s highly focused and offers a new level of integrated security system solutions.

Featured

  • Security Today Announces The Govies Government Security Award Winners for 2025

    Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 winners in The Govies Government Security Awards. The awards honor outstanding government security products in a variety of categories. Read Now

  • Survey: 60 Percent of Organizations Using AI in IT Infrastructure

    Netwrix, a cybersecurity provider focused on data and identity threats, today announced the release of its annual global 2025 Cybersecurity Trends Report based on a global survey of 2,150 IT and security professionals from 121 countries. It reveals that 60% of organizations are already using artificial intelligence (AI) in their IT infrastructure and 30% are considering implementing AI. Read Now

  • New Research Reveals Global Video Surveillance Industry Perspectives on AI

    Axis Communications, the global industry leader in video surveillance, has released its latest research report, ‘The State of AI in Video Surveillance,’ which explores global industry perspectives on the use of AI in the security industry and beyond. The report reveals current attitudes on AI technologies thanks to in-depth interviews with AI experts from Axis’ global network and a comprehensive survey of more than 5,800 respondents, including distributors, channel partners, and end customers across 68 countries. The resulting insights cover AI integration and the opportunities and challenges that exist with regard to security, safety, business intelligence, and operational efficiency. Read Now

  • SIA Urges Tariff Relief for Security Industry Products

    Today, the Security Industry Association has sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick requesting relief from tariffs for security industry products and asking that the Trump administration formulate a process that allows companies to apply for product-specific exemptions. The security industry is an important segment of the U.S. economy, contributing over $430 billion in total economic impact and supporting over 2.1 million jobs. Read Now

  • Report Shows Cybercriminals Continue Pivot to Stealthier Tactics

    IBM recently released the 2025 X-Force Threat Intelligence Index highlighting that cybercriminals continued to pivot to stealthier tactics, with lower-profile credential theft spiking, while ransomware attacks on enterprises declined. IBM X-Force observed an 84% increase in emails delivering infostealers in 2024 compared to the prior year, a method threat actors relied heavily on to scale identity attacks. Read Now

New Products

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.