Convergint Acquires Ballou Fire Systems, Expanding Fire Alarm & Life Safety Business

Acquisition Will Grow Convergint’s Presence in Houston and the South-Central U.S., Bolstering Capabilities in Healthcare, Education and Commercial Vertical Markets

Convergint, a global leader in service-based systems integration, today announced it has acquired Ballou Fire Systems, LLC, a Houston-based integrator that designs, installs and services electronic life safety, security, and communications systems.

The acquisition brings an expert team to Convergint, expanding the company’s capabilities in the Houston and South-Central region and bolstering its service offerings with a focus on the healthcare, education, and commercial markets. The company’s focus on total life safety protection enables Convergint to build on Ballou’s already extensive and established network of customers and partnerships in the region.

“The cultural synergies between Convergint and Ballou are undeniable, and we have always been impressed with their dedicated team and best-in-class service,” said Sean Flint, president of United States and Canada, Convergint. “Ballou’s well established, experienced, and highly trained team of frontline colleagues greatly compliments our South-Central U.S. life safety presence.”

“By joining forces with Convergint, we’re able to help our customers take a more comprehensive approach to their critical life safety infrastructure, while supporting global customers with a presence in their local markets,” said Thomas Ballou, president and CEO, Ballou Fire Systems. “Further, Convergint’s culture of service and safety is well-aligned with our own core values, with both of our organizations dedicated to providing the tools, training, and programs so that all projects and service calls are completed successfully and without incident.”

Convergint has completed 55 acquisitions since 2001—extending its geographic reach to be closer to its customers, expanding its technological and vertical market expertise, and enhancing its global network of talented colleagues and leaders.

Featured

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services
  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Report: AI is Supercharging Old-School Cybercriminal Tactics

    AI isn’t just transforming how we work. It’s reshaping how cybercriminals attack, with threat actors exploiting AI to mass produce malicious code loaders, steal browser credentials and accelerate cloud attacks, according to a new report from Elastic. Read Now

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

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.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • 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.