Picking Up the Pace
- By Ralph C. Jensen
- Sep 01, 2014
Idesco Corp. started in the security business
in the early 1940s. They began with ID
badging for the Department of the Army.
Well, times have changed, a lot, in the past
seven or eight decades but one constant is that
Idesco is still involved in security.
In fact, company president Andrew Schonzeit
says Idesco’s biggest asset, as an integrator, is that
they “stay one step ahead.” They have to because
the company is involved in some of the highest
profile installations in New York City, including
Pace University, City University of New York
and New York University. They also are involved
in Madison Square Garden, New York City Police
Department, The New York Yankees, and many
other installations known worldwide.
“It is obvious that our sweet spot is New York
City,” Schonzeit said. “There is more than enough
work in the city to keep us busy. We work with
dozens of agencies within the New York City
government, but our strongest vertical is higher
education.”
Currently, Idesco is involved with Pace University.
The school deploys 250 analog cameras and
150 Vicon IP cameras. Also in place are wireless
locks and an access control system designed by S2
Security Corp.
Working with Friends
Idesco and Pace University are not strangers to
one another. In fact, the two institutions have been
working together for so long that Idesco’s security
team has been vetted and badged as contractors
on the campus. While the two have an ongoing
services contract, Idesco is currently working on a
new security installation in a residential dormitory
on campus. The 36-story tower is in the heart of
Lower Manhattan and the entire security system is
being installed as the facility is being built.
If you haven’t heard of Pace University, perhaps
you weren’t listening. The university is well known
for its undergraduate business school, theater and
arts, and a law school.
Since 1906, Pace University has produced
thinking professionals by providing high-quality education for the professions with a
firm base in liberal learning amid the
advantages of the New York Metropolitan
Area. Pace is a private university
with campuses in New York City
and Westchester County, enrolling
almost 13,000 students in bachelors,
masters, and doctoral programs in its
College of Health Professions, Dyson
College of Arts and Sciences, Lubin
School of Business, School of Education,
School of Law, and Seidenberg
School of Computer Science and
Information Systems. The university
also has a campus in White Plains,
where it offers graduate programs.
Getting a Head Start
in Security
Pace Institute began its transformation
after World War II into a modern
university with emphasis on the
liberal arts and sciences. The university’s
leadership and fiscally sound
management, grew from rented facilities
and few resources into one
of the largest universities in New
York State, with a multimillion dollar
physical plant, an endowment of
more than $100 million and a reputation
for excellent teaching and talented,
ambitious graduates.
Only a few years ago, the relationship
between Pace and Idesco came
to fruition.
“Service from Idesco’s team of security
professionals has changed everything
for us,” said Thomas A. Tresselt,
associate director of Safety and
Security at Pace University. “Idesco
helped us understand the need for a
standardized access control system.
We are now standardizing on the S2
Access Control Platform. They have
also introduced us to remote access
to our cameras. This is something we
use on a daily basis.”
Pace has been working closely
with Mike Troiani, Idesco’s Service
Manager. Troiani has been recommending
new technology and working
with Pace to ensure that all solutions
answer their needs and fit their
budget.
“Our objective is to guarantee
that their security system is functioning
100 percent of the time,”
Troiani said. “We want to be quick and efficient so we are ready to intervene
at any time. We schedule
installations when students are not
in the premises so that we do not
disrupt the school’s activities.”
Idesco’s installation team has
played a major part in the success of
this project. “Keeping such a big structure
safe and secure is a team effort,”
Troiani said. “Brian Simpson, our
operations manager, and Sergio Rocha,
who oversees installations, have
helped anticipating and implementing
the right security solutions for Pace.”
“Idesco offers us 24-hour a day
service,” Beatty said. “Because of
their willingness and ability to help
us prevent a security breach, they
have remote access to our camera
system, and if there is a problem,
their technicians can get online and
fix any problems with the cameras.
“They also have helped us standardize
our access control entry cards.
We had been using HID and AWID
card systems, but we have transitioned
to a one-card HID system.”
Pace University has deployed its
own secure network over a VLAN
where security officials can take remote
tours of the campus, and the system
has been used by NYPD to view
the surrounding area in cases where
criminal activity has taken place.
University officials are sold on
campus security primarily because
residence halls are always full whether
school is in session or not. When
university is out for the summer, high
schoolers attend various activities
and events hosted by the university.
And, the university is no stranger to
high-profile events, such as the 2003
Democratic Debates, held in the university’s
750-seat theater.
“There were 10 candidates in this
debate and we found the biggest
problem we faced was with the media,”
said Vincent Beatty, University
Director of Safety and Security in
the Department of Administration.
“The Pace Security department has
all former NYPD officers, and we
have a great working relationship
with the NYPD.”
New York based, Schonzeit feels
that Idesco’s strongest vertical is in
higher education. In order to understand
what technology is available to
their growing portfolio of contracts,
company officials attend multiple
tradeshows and depend upon their
suppliers to keep them up to speed
on trends and technology.
“Security is a fast growing industry,”
Schonzeit said. “Our job is
to separate the theoretical from real
life, and what is reality from the
hype. That’s why we depend upon
our suppliers, and why we have preferred
products in all that we do. We
do prefer to work on IP networked
solutions, but we also understand if
the end user wants to keep the existing
legacy system in place. We honor
that request, of course.
“Certainly, there is more bang for
the buck using IP networked solutions. When the decision is left up to
us regarding what equipment should
be used, we pretty much decide what
camera and VMS, for instance, we
will use. We often work as the consultant
and the system designer.”
Schonzeit also said there is no
one camera for every situation, but
is pleased with the relationships the
company has built over the years
with numerous camera manufacturers.
He is quick to say that he and
his installation experts often talk
to product manufacturers, offering
them suggestions to make upgrades.
Field technicians also talk to the
manufacturer, asking for ideas to
make the project even better.
Business is Strong
Many businesses in the country are
finally bouncing back from the recession
of 2008. Idesco weathered the
storm pretty well. Schonzeit said they
took a little bit of a hit, mainly because
there were fewer new construction
projects, but he said, “Security is almost
a recession proof industry.”
“Our business has been very
strong and is growing,” Schonzeit
said. “What we are seeing now is
that there are bigger and more projects
being bid on. It is a good time to
be in the security industry. We also
see biometric offerings growing, but
I don’t believe they will be a mainstream
solution just yet.”
Idesco, much like any other security
integrator, watches for bids and
often gets referrals from pleased end
users. One of their newest contracts
is furnishing a security installation
and a service contract for British Airlines
at New York’s JFK International
Airport.
“One thing we keep in the forefront
are the needs of the customer,”
Schonzeit said. “We want to be sure
to handle areas of our expertise, and
provide the customer with a professional
experience.”
With the customer in mind, Idesco
recently added Michael Perlow to
its staff. Perlow didn’t stray far from
the company because he had worked
for Idesco before. He worked for a
global security solutions provider
for a while overseeing national sales,
when Schonzeit called him and asked
for a “cup of coffee.”
Their discussion meant something
to Perlow, who accepted a new
position as vice president of sales at
Idesco. Ironically enough, one of his
goals is to increase Idesco’s visibility
in the market as a solutions provider
that provides cloud-based solutions,
service plans, well-trained technicians
and an intimate relationship with clients.
His goals are clear, meaning he
wants to streamline the processes on
the sales side, and raise profitability.
His top goal is to build on maintenance
contracts, serving the customer
to the best of their ability.
Changes in the Industry
Perlow is a forward thinker. He clearly sees a path where customers can manage systems remotely, and include a
cloud-based storage plan. His plans include having a heart-to-heart conversation
with Idesco clients, showing them all the options that are available to
them with new technology.
“Every company must have a strategic plan,” Perlow said. “Part of our strategic
plan is to update our internal processes and finding better ways to be a
strategic partner and trusted advisor to our clients.”
For Idesco, it’s all part of picking up the pace of today’s security world.
It all comes full circle back to Pace University, which is probably the
most visible end user on Idesco’s books. Because of the university’s commitment
to security, campus officials were able to offer their facilities to First
Responders during the 9/11 attacks. They also were ready to help during the
more recent Hurricane Sandy, where First Responders were able to rest after
a long day’s work.
Pace University has established its own security approach.
The first approach is through the employment of a professional in-house security
staff with many years of law enforcement and private security experience.
The second approach is through the use of a uniformed security guard
company. Both are on hand 24-hours-a-day to provide professional support
and security services. In addition, the university has developed a Security
Awareness Program. Campus officials address various groups and use the
Pace Intranet and school newspapers to send alerts, update information and
furnish tips on safety and security.
With New York City as its playground, Idesco has a wealth of opportunities.
The city is growing and construction is booming again. Security integrators
in the city are able to pick up their pace.
This article originally appeared in the September 2014 issue of Security Today.