SIA Names Jonathan Aguila as 2025 Insightful Practitioner Award Honoree

The Security Industry Association (SIA) has named Jonathan Aguila as the 2025 recipient of the SIA Insightful Practitioner Award, an honor recognizing excellence in promoting the implementation of innovative security solutions. Aguila will be recognized Nov. 19 during the 2025 SIA Celebrates & Honors event.

Jonathan Aguila is the global services director, systems and technology at Meta. He entered the security industry as a technician about 30 years ago and progressed through the industry, serving in roles in project management, global program management, national accounts and global accounts and then transitioning to the end-user space at Meta. Aguila previously served on the SIA Board of Directors’ Executive Committee and has advised the SIA Executive Committee on topics that were important to end users or could create additional value for them and has shared his insights as a speaker at SIA and other industry events. He has also provided leadership and expertise in the formation of SIA’s Security Systems Technician Apprenticeship Program for security technicians and installers.

During Aguila’s board tenure, he was a constant advocate for SIA within the practitioner community and strongly contributed to the vision for creating the Security Practitioners Advancing Real Conversations (SPARC) community, a forum for technical end users within SIA. SPARC is a community of security professionals dedicated to advancing state-of-the-art security technology that provides access to cutting-edge research, training and networking opportunities for its members and works to influence the direction of security technology standards and compliance. The community has produced intelligence reports on mobile credential development trends and guidance for evaluating artificial intelligence vendors and service providers, and further resources and publications are underway.

“I have always gravitated toward problem solving and helping people, so I transitioned to the end-user space to focus on wide-impact challenges and long-term implications within a single company, and growing a team that understands how to work across all aspects of the community has been a passion ever since,” said Aguila. “Giving back to the security industry and helping to improve collaboratively was the driver in working with SIA to form SPARC and the Apprenticeship Program. I am grateful for this award, but I am most grateful to be welcomed by the industry and to have the opportunity to help others feel welcomed and supported as well.”

“Jonathan Aguila is an innovative leader in our industry whose vision and initiative have propelled SIA’s efforts to engage with security practitioners and end users,” said SIA CEO Don Erickson. “He has been a tremendous advocate for SIA and SPARC as a community platform for end users, and his insights have been crucial in identifying end users’ top concerns and trends within the practitioner community. We applaud Jonathan for his many impressive contributions with SIA, Meta and the industry overall and thank him for his support of SIA and commitment to driving our industry forward, and we look forward to recognizing him at SIA Celebrates & Honors.”

SIA’s Insightful Practitioner Award was created to honor security practitioners who demonstrate leadership and excellence in promoting the implementation of innovative security solutions through education, advocacy and teamwork with the security industry and other stakeholders.

Featured

  • The Evolution of IP Camera Intelligence

    As the 30th anniversary of the IP camera approaches in 2026, it is worth reflecting on how far we have come. The first network camera, launched in 1996, delivered one frame every 17 seconds—not impressive by today’s standards, but groundbreaking at the time. It did something that no analog system could: transmit video over a standard IP network. Read Now

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • 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

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.

  • 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.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities