After the Dust Settles

My girlfriend and I recently bought our first house, a new-build on the southeast fringes of the DFW metroplex. We moved in at the end of August and, just a few days before I left for GSX, finished transforming the piles of boxes and furniture and odds and ends into our new home. Not only is this general area of the city still under development, but so is our community—we’re one of probably a half-dozen families moved in so far. The rest of our street, as well as the two or three streets north and south of us, is still very much an active construction zone.

We’ve been asked about our street, our neighborhood, our part of town in terms of what it’s like—the general sense of the community. And the truth is that there isn’t really a “community” to speak of yet. The feel of the area is still a blank slate. We’re about 10-15 minutes away, in several different directions, from well-developed urban areas with all the amenities of a big city. So to say that we’re “out in the middle of nowhere” is a bit of a stretch. But the empty streets, the dead-quiet nights, and the sudden novelty of signs of life (lawnmowers going a few houses down, dog-walkers crossing in front of our house) are equal parts calming and disconcerting.

This is all to say that as of very recently, the concept of security and security products has taken on a much more personal level of importance. We bought padlocks for the back gates. We have a home security system with audible notifications every time the front, back, or garage door opens. (Our dog has already developed a Pavlovian response to the “front door open” message.) Our Ring doorbell sends notifications to our phones every time it detects motion and automatically records 45-second videos of each event that we can review at our convenience.

We’re not in a good neighborhood or a bad neighborhood; we’re in a community that has yet to figure out what kind of neighborhood it is. We could just as easily sleep with the windows open and the doors unlocked (who else is even around?) as we could with the hatches battened down and our new home security system armed and ready. Needless to say, we’ve been choosing the latter so far.

Security isn’t just about protecting against known threats. It’s about protecting against the unknown. It’s about doing what it takes to feel safe when there’s no lay of the land to even get a read on yet. It’s about feeling safe going to bed at night in a new home, in a new housing development, in a newly developing part of town. And the vast array of security products on display at GSX definitely planted a few ideas in my mind of future investments we could make to keep our castle secure.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning and Campus Security and Life Safety. He can be reached at [email protected]

Featured

  • It's Show Time

    I am one of those people that likes to see things get bigger and better. As advertised, ISC West is going to be bigger (more exhibitors) and better (more attendees). It’s show time in Las Vegas. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West
  • SIA Releases New Report on Operational Security Technology

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has released an impactful new resource – Operational Security Technology: Principles, Challenges and Achieving Mission-Critical Outcomes Leveraging OST. Read Now

  • Cyber Overconfidence Is Leaving Your Organization Vulnerable

    The increased sophistication of cyber threats pumped by the relentless use of AI and machine learning brings forth record-breaking statistics. Cyberattacks grew 44% YoY in 2024, with a weekly average of 1,673 cyberattacks per organization. While organizations up their security game to help thwart these attacks, a critical question remains: Can employees identify a threat when they come across one? A Confidence Gap survey reveals that 86% of employees feel confident in their ability to identify phishing attempts. But things are not as rosy as they appear; the more significant part of the report finds this confidence misplaced. Read Now

  • Mission 500 Debuts Refreshed Identity Ahead of Security 5K/2K at ISC West

    Mission 500, the security industry’s nonprofit charity dedicated to supporting children in need across the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico, has unveiled a refreshed brand identity ahead of ISC West. The charity’s new look includes a modernized logo with refined messaging to reinforce Mission 500’s nearly decade-long commitment to serving the needs of children and families in crisis. Read Now

    • Industry Events

New Products

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • 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.