Milestone Systems Celebrates 25 Years

  • Feb 24, 2023

The Danish-based company was founded in 1998 by engineers John Blem and Henrik Friborg Jacobsen. The pair started the business from a basement and had approximately USD $11,500 in seed funding. Today, Milestone has annual revenues over USD $140 Million and employs more than 1,200 people globally.

The first version of XProtect® – Milestone’s open-platform video management software and core product – was sold in 2002 in Canada. Since then, Milestone’s video technology products have been deployed in more than 500,000 security installations through a network of distributors and resellers. Milestone’s products are used by a variety of end users, from airports to municipalities to hospitals, and many others—virtually all industries use video technology software to protect people and assets and optimize workflows. Milestone’s XProtect can be integrated with the vast majority of cameras, sensors and other security devices.

Open Platform IP-based Video Technology Software
Beginning in 2003, Milestone expanded its footprint beyond its Brøndby headquarters on the outskirts of Copenhagen. The company now has a presence in 26 locations around the globe, including offices in the United States, Singapore, Bulgaria, Mexico, Australia, India and the United Arab Emirates.

Over the years, Milestone has played an important role in creating software that is truly based on an Open Platform, free from propriety hurdles. Its products are robust and scalable and integrated with most cameras, sensors and other security devices available on the market. The company emerged during the transition from analog to IP cameras. IP cameras enabled Milestone to build a reliable, open platform upon which third-party technology partners can create add-on applications.

Looking Ahead
For Thomas Jensen, CEO of Milestone Systems, celebrating the company’s 25th anniversary provides an opportunity to consider how far the company has come – and what the coming decades will bring.

“During the early 2000s, together with three or four other companies, we revolutionized the security industry by leading the transformation from analog to IP (digital) technology,” Jensen said. “Looking ahead, we are preparing to innovate again. We see a future in which data-driven video technology is a game-changer that will help to make society safer and a better place for us all to work and live.”

As the company continues to grow, Milestone aims to further its work in creating responsible technology. Since 2006, the company adopted a set of core values in which it puts people before technology. In 2009, Milestone incorporated a human rights clause into its end user license agreements. In 2017, it co-authored the Copenhagen Letter, a declaration calling on innovative companies to prioritize people when designing and using technology.
Facts about Milestone Systems

  • Milestone originated from an idea for seamlessly transferring financial data from the stock exchange. Founders John Blem and Henrik Friborg Jacobsen discovered the same technology could be used to transfer video data.
  • During its start-up phase, the company spent some time in the Symbion incubator in Copenhagen.
  •  In addition to selling software, Milestone also provides a hardware product called Husky. The first version was launched in 2013.
  • In 2014, Milestone Systems was acquired by the Canon Group, under which it operates as a standalone company.

Featured

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

  • AI Used as Part of Sophisticated Espionage Campaign

    A cybersecurity inflection point has been reached in which AI models has become genuinely useful in cybersecurity operation. But to no surprise, they can used for both good works and ill will. Systemic evaluations show cyber capabilities double in six months, and they have been tracking real-world cyberattacks showing how malicious actors were using AI capabilities. These capabilities were predicted and are expected to evolve, but what stood out for researchers was how quickly they have done so, at scale. Read Now

  • Why the Future of Video Security Is Happening Outside the Cloud

    For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reasons. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • 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.

  • 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.