Convergence Hits The High Road

One of the great benefits of attending ASIS, or any other security conference is the new products, technology and people. I like the products and technology because they are a great fit for Security Products magazine. The people are a perfect fit for the industry.

I opened my 2009 ASIS experience with a visit with ADT. What you can look for from ADT this year is a thorough experience with access control, or on their own terms, deploying more intelligence at the edge of the network.

What this means for businesses is allowing management to focus more of their assets on their particular businesses and outsourcing security to the professionals. This moves ADT into the building infrastructure security business. It also means security fills the role as the security outsource professional.

Security professionals are the core competency professionals. Daiva Wood, manager of access control products at ADT probably said it best, “We have dedicated people that cross all verticals. We understand the special needs of access control.”

Security also is about the people. Our online editor and I spent time yesterday morning weaving our way from one booth to another interviewing security stars. We’re putting together a video extravaganza that will be available on our Web site where I ask a few questions and we capture the essence of security people in a few minutes.

Take the time to check this out, and watch the interview with Altronix president and CEO Alan Forman. If you want to learn about customer service and serving the integrator and end user, Alan has the recipe.

In a few words, he says, “take care of the customer.”

I spent Monday evening with Altronix staff and a few of their closest friends at the Yankees/Angels baseball game. I watched, and the recipe is still the same whether on the tradeshow floor or the baseball stadium … take care of the customer’s needs.

You’ll enjoy the video with Forman. That’s a promise.

Why this is so important to me is because of an interview I had late in the day on the tradeshow floor. I’m interested in everything available to the security industry at large, but the question was asked of me whether I liked controversy or not. I suppose it was meant within this industry.

Here’s my answer. After thinking about this for several hours, some of my best friends are editors of competing magazines. All of them have been kind and gracious to a fault. There is little room for controversy when we all want to reach the same goal. That goal is to provide the best security possible for the end user. Each end user has different needs, and I return to the phrase by Forman, “take care of the customer.”

It’s good advise, and I’m glad that thought came to my mind during a baseball game among friends and editors.

I’m anxious for Day Two at ASIS. There are a lot of reasons to attend, including products, technology and the people.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • 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

  • 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

Most   Popular

New Products

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.

  • 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.