The cybersecurity landscape has changed dramatically over the past few years, especially with the rise of remote work settings. As more organizations shift to decentralized models, protecting sensitive information and ensuring operational integrity has become increasingly complex. For businesses seeking to navigate these evolving threats, veterans offer a unique advantage.

This month I am talking with my long-time friend and fellow ESA volunteer, John Loud, founder and President of LOUD Security Systems based in Kennesaw, GA. LOUD Security Systems has been in business since 1995 and serves the Atlanta area where they offer installation and monitoring services to both the commercial and residential industry segments. 

Whether you’re an experienced business owner, a newcomer trying to break into the industry, or an executive at an established firm, understanding how startups operate can provide crucial insights into your own business strategy. Startups thrive because they can pivot quickly and adapt to market demands. This agility allows them to challenge industry giants and, in many cases, disrupt long-standing business models.

The conflict between security and privacy intensifies as technology develops and monitoring capabilities become more advanced. The United States Constitution’s Fourth Amendment, which safeguards people from arbitrary searches and seizures, is a key document which influences the laws governing video surveillance. The notion of a “reasonable expectation of privacy” plays a crucial role in establishing the legality of monitoring.

I had the fortune to be at the right place at the right time for many years, and it all started immediately after my service in the Navy when I went to work for ADT while also attending school where I studied matters related to electronics. During those early years while with ADT, I served as a service manager in their Los Angeles Central Station.

…This got me thinking about security prospects who have bought systems in the past. Remember how much those systems used to cost? Considering how these customers or prospects perceive the cost of new or upgraded systems, what numbers do they have in their heads?

ViSTA Networking Solutions (VNS) proudly announces its strategic distribution partnership with Trinity Innovative Solutions (Trinity). Under this agreement, VNS gains the privilege of reselling Trinity’s comprehensive product line, including the Trinity Trailer offering, further enhancing their commitment to meeting customer demands.

Since mid-2020, the working world has witnessed a rapid transformation of the workplace dynamic, largely resulting in the ongoing struggle to establish new ‘workplace norms’. Although many breakthroughs have occurred in organizational cost-efficiencies, new problems have arisen in maintaining a connected culture.

I’ve heard it many times and there is no denying that the acronym is certainly a tongue-twister, but it truly describes this organization:  The Partnership for Priority Verified Alarm Response (PPVAR) was established to promote the value of verification and validation of alarm events during the emergency response process using video, audio, and other emerging technologies while deploying those technologies with proven best practices.

Running a business is often a rewarding endeavor, but it also comes with its own set of challenges and stressors which often lead to sleepless nights. This can be especially true for the security business owners who either work or keep themselves available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. 

Hive Logic is unveiling its revolutionary Visualization Engine, a transformative tool that consolidates all your sensors and data into a single, unified view. This innovation is more than just a technological advancement — it’s about turning fragmented information into actionable insights.

ViSTA Networking Solutions (VNS) is pleased to announce a new set of set of systems as part of their video security product line – Vigiles.  The Vigiles-LPRappliances are specifically designed for Automated License Plate Recognition at the edge.  The first Vigiles-LPR offering is a complete solution which includes an integrated 33X 4MP PTZ camera, enclosure, and processor as well as a quick mount bracket system.

Every business owner should have a general idea of the worth of their own business as it is good practice to keep the pulse of what is transacting in our industry. Fortunately, our data shows that over the past two years, businesses that sold based on their EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation and Amortization) value generally transacted in the 4X-9X multiple range.  What do those numbers mean for you?  Should the data set your expectations?
Well, it depends…

As we celebrated Independence Day last month by honoring the valor and dedication of our military, it’s still a great time to consider how former service members can enhance your security operations. Leveraging their disciplined training and technical expertise offers a unique strategic advantage in the rapidly advancing security landscape.

It all began for me in the security industry in 1982: I was a college student who also worked the graveyard shift at a local Sonitrol central station, grinding for my living expenses like most college students do. At the time, I believed there was a means to an end with that as I had aspirations of becoming a police officer. After hitting my two-year mark with Sonitrol and just as I was completing my program in school, the Branch Manager of the central station approached me to offer a position in sales.

The IRS loosely defines fair market value as the price at which a business would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller when the former is not under any compulsion to buy and the latter is not under any compulsion to sell; both parties having reasonable knowledge of relevant facts.

For its employees, clients, and guests, physical security has always been a top concern for businesses of any size. Specifically, access control systems are essential to protecting these individuals and their belongings. In its original form, access control was authorized using physical keys or keycards. But with the proliferation of smartphones and their connection with safe digital technologies like Google Wallet and Apple Wallet, things continue to shift very quickly.

Early in my career in the electronic security industry, I remember someone telling me that you are either born into this industry or you fall into it. My experience was the latter. Almost twenty years ago it began with an opening for an inside salesperson at Honeywell Security in Louisville, KY. Since then, I’ve enjoyed working for small dealers, large integrators, and other manufacturers. I’ve been in vaults with $40 million in cash, secured critical infrastructure, and helped men wearing earbuds and sunglasses protect our country. It’s been an amazing experience and I’m proud to have helped hundreds of clients along the way.