Top Stories


Allied Universal ® Expands Technology Services Division; Acquires Chicago-Based Phoenix Systems & Service Inc.

Allied Universal® today announced the acquisition of Phoenix Systems & Service, Inc. (PSSI) – a full service security systems integrator providing security solutions to customers in Chicago and nationwide. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

New Temperature Monitoring Systems Fill the Need for Businesses to Stay Afloat While Combating the Spread of COVID-19

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses are seeing an immediate need for thermographic technology.

NRF Calls on Retailers to Set Nationwide Mask Policy

NRF Calls on Retailers to Set Nationwide Mask Policy

The National Retail Federation issued the following statement encouraging all retailers to adopt a nationwide policy that requires customers to wear face coverings or masks to protect the health and well-being of customers, associates and partners during the coronavirus pandemic:



Smith named Regional Sales Manager for the Great Lakes Region

SALTO Systems has appointed Scott Smith as Regional Sales Manager for the Great Lakes Region.

Identiv Appoints Mike Taylor as New Vice President of Global Sales

Deep Expertise in Security and IoT Markets Enables Continued Growth in Global Sales

Sousssan Named CEO of dormakaba

Following a search by its nomination committee, dormakaba announced this week that Sabrina Soussan has been appointed as the company’s new CEO effective April 1, 2021. Soussan has served as the co-CEO of Siemens Mobility since 2017 and had held several leadership positions in the company over the past 20 years.

Deadline Looms: Integrators to sever ties with Hikvision, Dahua

Deadline Looms: Integrators to sever ties with Hikvision, Dahua

The government has mandated that integrators interested in doing business with them must eliminate all Hikvision and Dahua products from their supply chain by Aug. 13. This falls under a new interim Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).

GardaWorld Acquires Leading Integrated Security Risk Management Firm WorldAware

GardaWorld Security Corp. is pleased to announce its acquisition of WorldAware, a leading security risk management firm based in the United States. WorldAware, combined with Crisis24, a GardaWorld Company, will create THE premier industry player in integrated security risk management.

Security Guard Saves Child From Burning Building

Security Guard Saves Child From Burning Building

An off-duty Allied Universal security guard, Phillip Blanks, caught a three-year-old child who was dropped from a burning apartment in Phoenix last week. As smoke and flames engulfed the apartment, Blanks saw what was happening and ran towards the building.

Gen. Stan McChrystal to Deliver Keynote Address at GSX+ on Military and Law Enforcement Appreciation Day

ASIS International has announced that General Stan McChrystal, US Army (RET), will present a Global Security Exchange Plus (GSX+) keynote address on Military & Law Enforcement Appreciation Day at GSX+. The presentation, titled Leading in a New World, will take place on Wednesday, 23 September.

Active TWIC® and HME Holders Can Use Their Credentials to Obtain TSA PreCheck™

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is expanding its TSA PreCheck™ eligibility to all active Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC®) and Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME) holders who are U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals or lawful permanent residents.

Short Term Prospects for Physical Security Depend Upon Containing COVID19

Short Term Prospects for Physical Security Depend Upon Containing COVID19

We have charted the fortunes of the world’s physical security business over the last 12 years.

Applications for Body Cameras Expand Well Beyond Law Enforcement

Applications for Body Cameras Expand Well Beyond Law Enforcement

Weeks of protests in the wake of the killing of George Floyd have placed renewed attention on police body-worn cameras, whose two largest U.S. manufacturers have a significant Seattle presence.

Huawei is in Trouble in the United States

It’s no secret that Huawei is in trouble because of U.S. sanctions. The Chinese tech company's access to vital American technology is at greater risk than ever before.

The Top 10 Most Exploited Vulnerabilities: Parsing an Important Recent National Cyber Awareness System Alert

The National Cyber Awareness System (NCAS) issued its Alert numbered AA20-133A last month, which identified the 10 most exploited vulnerabilities from 2016 to 2019.

EyeLock Announces Global Partnership with Integral Technology Solutions

EyeLock LLC has announced that is has secured a global partnership with Integral Technology Solutions out of Freehold, N.J. Integral’s proven track record of designing and deploying biometric authentication solutions is a perfect complement to EyeLock’s global distribution network.

Cook Boardman Acquires Advantech

The Cook & Boardman Group LLC (C&B), a specialty distributor of commercial door entry solutions and systems integration services has announced the acquisition of Dover, DE-based Advantech Inc. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

A Custom Design for Screening

Allied Universal® Technology Services experts are working with customers to design and implement the screening solutions that best fit their company's environment, requirements and existing security operations.

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

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.

  • 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.

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”