INDUSTRY FOCUS

Taking a Stand

The government, specifically with his signature, Pres. Joe Biden has thrown support to security manufacturers who play by an established set of rules in the best interest of the U.S. government.

Fiscal 2022 NDAA is an annual authorization for funding for Defense Department, and its military components. SIA officials have made it known that it is in full support of the passage of this legislation. SIA also recommended funding levels of military committees.

The letter, signed by Don Erickson, CEO at SIA, drilled down to specifics in military funding. It went something like this, though these are only a few examples.

SIA supports the authorized fiscal 2022 funding levels for critical biometric procurement and research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) programs noted in the House and Senate versions, including:

• Biometric Tactical Collection Devices, House and Senate Funding Requests, $11,097,000.
• Biometric Enabling Technology, House and Senate Funding Requests, $4,326,000.
• Biometrics Enabled Intelligence, House and Senate Funding Requests, $2,066,000.

Military installations continue to experience unpredictable threats from persons planning to cause physical damage to military facilities, harm military staff and strategic assets, and commit security breaches into classified areas.

To respond to these ongoing threats, DOD and each service branch created physical security procurement programs to improve the security posture of critical military facilities by overseeing the acquisition of closed-circuit television cameras, locking mechanisms at points of entry, counter UAS technology, and electronic physical access control systems, to name a few.

There is a little bit more here and there, but I got a kick out of the final paragraph from Erickson. He gets right the first time, and to the point of why there is an NDAA. Well done, Don.

“Therefore, we support the inclusion of the Senate’s report language on facial recognition technologies that prohibits federal agencies from awarding competition funds to facial recognition providers based in adversarial nations.”

This article originally appeared in the January / February 2022 issue of Security Today.

About the Author

Ralph C. Jensen is the Publisher/Editor in chief of Security Today magazine.

Featured

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services

  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Report: AI is Supercharging Old-School Cybercriminal Tactics

    AI isn’t just transforming how we work. It’s reshaping how cybercriminals attack, with threat actors exploiting AI to mass produce malicious code loaders, steal browser credentials and accelerate cloud attacks, according to a new report from Elastic. Read Now

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.