Top show topics included: Cybersecurity, wearable cameras and monitoring everything
04/13/2016
Martha Entwistle
Paul Ragusa
Spencer Ives
LAS VEGAS—The line to register for ISC West on Wednesday, April 6, was six people across and ran out the door at the Sands Convention Center here.
“Overall attendance is on track to be up 1 percent over 2015,” Mickey McCarter of the Security Industry Association told Security Systems News.
SIA reported that the exhibit floor had almost “30,000 industry professionals” and “a record 1,072 exhibiting companies and brands.”
Security Systems News’ editors can confirm that the aisles—and the hallways around the show floor, and many of the educational sessions—were packed on day one and day two. The traffic on day three, while lighter, was noticeably heavier than previous years.
This year also included the first Connected Security Expo. Located just outside the entrance to show floor, the expo featured exhibits and a conference program talking about cybersecurity.
Below are the roundups from the show floor, the educational sessions, the ISC West/SSN Media Stage and beyond for ISC West 2016.
Paul's Round-up
My first full day at ISC West 2016, which was on Tuesday, was spent with the good folks at DMP, who provided a daylong Owners Forum in support of their dealers.
Several dealers commented that they were happy to see that DMP is responding to the latest trends—DIY and home automation—while also providing a forum where they can give feedback about the direction DMP is taking with its products and services.
On Wednesday, I started the day at the 9th annual Axis Communications breakfast, which turned out to be a great way to prepare for ISC West, while learning about the newest camera technology and solutions the company was unveiling. Using a Fairy Tale theme and the Goldilocks and the Three Bears story, Axis CEO Martin Gren pointed out how Axis has solutions to fit the needs of small, medium and enterprise locations.
During the presentation, Gren unveiled the Axis Companion Line, a comprehensive out-of-the-box solution to help small businesses address their security needs that also offers a focused support program for local installers called the Axis Companion Specialist initiative, as well as delivering quality benefits of IP-based video surveillance. The company also introduced three new mini-dome network cameras to its M30 Series, two multi-sensor panoramic cameras, and Perimeter Defender, a video analytics application for intrusion detection that is best suited for the enterprise market. Axis also unveiled its Camera Station 5, a full-featured video management software best suited for mid-sized installations, and updates to its popular Zipstream technology.
Keeping with the theme of video solutions, great food and good people, I was able to attend a press event hosted by Genetec, Bosch Security and SecureXperts, and the unveiling of their Cyber Secure IP Video Solution featuring CHAVE, which stands for Credentialed High Assurance Video Encryption. With cybersecurity being such a hot topic right now, those in attendance were eager to hear about how CHAVE is resilient against unauthorized access, malware, brute force cracking and other exploit techniques.
For my booth visits, I was able to get some unique glimpses into some great new technology and products being introduced at ISC West 2016.
My visit to the Salto Systems booth gave me a unique glimpse into the company's evolution, new software and security access control solutions. Salto’s VP of Marketing Jennifer Stack provided a comprehensive overview of the company’s wire-free electronic locking solutions, and the future direction the company is going, both domestically and internationally.
My visit to the SRI Identity booth allowed me to see the company's exciting biometric technology first-hand. SRI Identity’s Steven Perna, executive director of products & solutions, gave me a great demo of the power of biometric technology featuring iris recognition—the future of identity and access control is here!
I then stopped by the STOPware booth, where the STOPware team of Paul Terschuren, company president/CEO, Phil Mantia, senior account manager, and Debbie Pendleton, VP of sales and marketing, gave a great overview of the capabilities of the company’s secure visitor identification and tracking technology—so many applications and options available!
I also was able to get some face-to-face time with the marketing team at Icontrol Networks/Icontrol One—David Box and Greg Roberts—who shared with me the company’s evolution and success with its interactive security and home automation products and services, as well as how the company is helping dealers to benefit from the new opportunities available in the connected home market.
I also had a great opportunity to tour the Honeywell Security & Fire booth—the biggest booth this year at ISC West 2016. Honeywell’s George Janelis, senior channel manager, gave me some informative demos on the amazing technology Honeywell now has available for the connected home, and outlined the increased support and options now available for Honeywell dealers looking to provide these options to their customers.
On Thursday, I started the day bright and early with the Security 5K/2K with Mission 500, a great charity in support of children and families in need. This year’s race raised $95,000, and awareness of how much more still needs to be done.
Back at the expo hall, I was able to conduct two great video interviews at the SSN Media Stage for ssnTV. My first interview was with Tom Kerber of Parks Associates, a market research company, who shared with me some interesting insights from the show as he was able to meet face-to-face with so many from the security industry. He noted that ISC West is an opportunity to gather “qualitative evidence to support some of the data and research we are seeing in areas like RMR growth, for example.”
My second video interview was with LOUD Security Systems president John Loud, who shared some insights on the industry, and the importance of this show for him, as he was able to meet with fellow dealers at the DMP Owners Forum on Tuesday. He also noted that ISC West gives him a chance to visit with other partners such as Honeywell to see firsthand the newest products, services and training the company provides in support of its dealers.
In the afternoon I was back on the trade show floor visiting booths, and checking out the latest and greatest in the industry.
I visited BeON, a company that CEO Alexei Erchak said, “is taking a preventative approach” to security with its smart light bulbs that learn your schedule, and provide a simple but effective burglary deterrent. As he pointed out and demonstrated, you just use your light switch to turn it on and off just like any other bulb, but you recharge the built-in smart battery each time the light is on.
At the Altronix booth, Kirby Han, art director, gave me an informative overview of the company’s newest security, access, fire and surveillance products, which he pointed out “are evolving to meet the needs of dealers,” from residential to commercial.
At the Galaxy Control Systems booth, I was able to meet with Rick Caruthers, executive vice president, and Robert Laughlin, president, who spent some valuable time giving me his unique perspective on an industry he has been working in for more than 35 years. He pointed that the company provides a “complete and secure solution” for dealers, one that is based on decades of proven research and development from some of the best minds in the industry.
Visited the Nortek Security & Control booth, where Greg Stone, video product line manager, gave me a great demo on the full line of new 2GIG IP video solutions for the residential and small business markets.
Also sat down with Mitchell Klein, new executive director of Z-Wave Alliance, who shared with me the company’s unique vision for the smart home, including a look at the direction the company is going with its amazing products and technology.
Also met with some other interesting exhibitors, including Fibaro Home Intelligence, where I spoke with Rich Bira, managing director, USA, and Sightlogix, outdoor video specialists, where I spoke with John Romanowich, president & CEO, as well as RSF Security, where I met with Dennis Bitton, general manager.
Was also able to make it over the Axis Communications booth, where I got a great tour of the company’s newest camera and surveillance technology and products. In addition, I visited with OnSSI, On-Net Surveillance Systems’ (OnSSI), an award-winning IP-based surveillance software company that shared with me the next evolution of its software.
Also made it over to Universal Electronics, which specializes in sensing and control technologies for the smart home. The company announced at the show that Ecolink Intelligent Technology, Inc., its wholly owned subsidiary, has entered into an agreement with Interlogix, which operates as UTC Fire & Security Americas Corporation, Inc. Through this agreement Ecolink security sensors will be available exclusively through all Interlogix sales channels within the residential and commercial security segment.
On Friday, I finished my first ISC West strong, packing in as much excitement as I could in the shortened last day, and powering through like I did through the finish line of the Security 5K the day before. All I can say is, I survived the race, and my first ISC West!
For my video interview for ssnTV, I sat down with ESX chairman and security industry veteran George De Marco, who shared with me his experiences at ISC West this week, as well his vision on the industry moving forward. He also gave me a preview of ESX 2016, which is June 8-10, in Fort Worth, Texas. De Marco said he is “expecting a great show this year. We have a robust educational lineup, as well as exciting expo, keynote speakers, events and activities lined up.”
To start the day off on the trade show floor, I swung by the award-winning DMP booth to congratulate the team and see up-close some of the products the company had unveiled earlier at the DMP Owners Forum on Tuesday, including its new XTLplus Wireless Security Control Panel.
I then made it over to first-time exhibitor, Alarm.com. It was great meeting Jay Kenny, senior vice president of marketing, face-to-face earlier in the week, and to see the new products the company unveiled at ISC West this year, including a Wi-Fi Doorbell Camera - Skybell HD Edition. Alarm.com also launched a new V521IR indoor infrared camera, and a new eight channel SVR100 continuous in-home video recorder. Although this was the first time Alarm.com was exhibiting, the company has had a strong presence at the show for many years, providing training for its dealers in an ideal industry setting.
I had the opportunity to visit the Kwikset booth, and get a demo of the company’s latest smart lock and access control technology products from Keith Brandon, VP, sales & marketing, residential access solutions. At the show this year, Kwikset unveiled its Kevo Home Connect Bridge, an all-new bridge device accessory that seamlessly integrates the Bluetooth-enabled Kevo smart lock with home automation and security systems. The company also announced its keyway-less touchscreen lock, its signature series motorized deadbolt with home connect technology, and its smartcode touchscreen deadbolt.
I also visited some companies in the DIY space, including the Nest/Google booth, as well as the Smanos booth, where I met with General Manager Brian Stark, who shared with me the company’s vision for 2016, especially on the residential side, including the ISC West launch of its UFO Panoramic WiFi HD Camera and Smart Video Doorbell as new additions to its comprehensive range of easy-to-use smart home security products. The smart home company also showcased its award-winning K1 SmartHome DIY Kit.
All and all, the overall buzz for the week on the show floor was positive, with many saying traffic and attendance seemed equal to or stronger than past years, although official numbers are not in yet.
Well, as they say, that’s a wrap! See you next year!
Spencer's Round-up
After landing safely in Las Vegas on Tuesday afternoon, it was nice to kick off the show with a good evening with the folks at Altronix, in the Wynn. On my walk back I happened to meet Ray Coulumbe, founder of SecuritySpecifiers.
The first day of the ISC West show floor, for me, started with attending the keynote presentation “Lights! Camera! Action! How Paramount Pictures delivers enhanced safety and global security while driving operational efficiency and sustainable ROI.” The panel consisted of three from the studio, Scott Phemister, executive director of global risk and crisis management, Jeff Reider, senior analyst for global risk and crisis management, and Steve Tiffany, director, studio systems, and moderated by SSN’s Martha Entwistle.
The panel offered five pieces of advice: 1. Examine response methodology, i.e. what the interface looks like, and, for Paramount, this included the point that operators shouldn't have to leave the main interface to respond to alarms. 2. Do your homework; for Paramount this meant looking at each of the more than 150 buildings on the company’s campus and uploading site plans. 3. Configure the system for an event driven response. Reider said you’ve got to know your desired outcome, what priority to assign each alarm, and who should handle each situation. 4. Preparing to go live, such as with fine-tuned operator training. 5. Maintain the system, including system audits and looking to newer better technologies that would fit.
From there I went to my first meeting on the show floor: hearing from Security Partners’ director of product services Andy Stadler. He said it’s good to reach the one-year anniversary for the company’s Las Vegas facility, which it cut the ribbon on just before last year’s ISC West.
I left the show floor to meet in a side room with AvantGuard and Freeus CEO Josh Garner. When asked about the state of the PERS/mPERS industry in the years to come, Garner said, “We’re betting pretty big on mobile.” He doesn't think the market will become entirely mPERS, but does expect a shift, where most solutions will be mPERS within the next five years—possibly sooner.
At a press event for Assa Abloy, I heard about some of the company’s latest solutions. Two points that stood out to me where key fobs that have back-and-forth exchanges with the access control panel, updating access privileges by the day, and “greener” solutions like solar panels paired with outdoor electronic locks.
At IBS’ booth I caught up with Jens Kolind, who told me more about the company’s personal safety app and a new version that’s designed for use on first dates.
It was nice to meet Tim Smokoff, group VP, health and wellness, for Nortek, in person. We had spoken recently on Numera’s latest PERS solution, the Numera Home Safety Hub. Outside of personal monitoring, Smokoff pointed to vice interaction as a big trend for the industry, possibly leading to the demise of the app, “The more you do with voice, the less you do with apps.”
I conducted two video interviews today, both of which went really well. I got to meet one of our “20 under 40” Class of 2015 award winners, Nicole Swartwout, who recently launched an mPERS company, CallSafe. Having come from a security background, previously with integration company CallTeks, she said that it’s a much different ISC West experience coming with a PERS/mPERS focus.
My second interview was with Jay Hauhn. We chatted about CSAA and the latest developments with the ASAP to PSAP program. Hauhn said that there’s been progress with getting PSAPs to come on line after ADT announced its participation last year. There are about 20 PSAPs live now, he said, and another 75 working on going live with it. I also saw Elizabeth Lasko, CSAA vice president of marketing and communications and met Becky Lane, VP of membership and programs both of whom had come to watch the interview.
Back on the show floor, I visited with Steve Schmit from UL he said that the recently announced Cybersecurity Assurance Program has come up a few of the company’s conversations on this first show floor day.
I stopped by Rapid Response Monitoring’s booth to speak with Christopher Denniston, the company's marketing and communications manager, about the latest from the company. One recent initiative for the company: a new website, which launched in the past week according to Denniston. When asked what were big topics for the monitoring industry, he said, “Communication paths and dealers looking for a long term solution," adding that 3G may have a sunset as early as 2020.
From there I went and met some of the team from CMS, including Tony Wilson, president of CMS, Jennifer Marshall, company marketing and communications manager, and Rose Sabourin, operations support manager.
Just as I had expected, getting out and off the Vegas strip for the Security 2k/5k was a great start to Thursday morning. The fresh air and being able to stretch my legs—before a good amount of walking the show floor—was really nice.
My first scheduled meeting of the day was with COPS Monitoring’s Jim McMullen, company president and COO, and David Smith, COPS director of marketing and communications. A big topic of the day was UCC’s acquisition by COPS’ parent company Lydia Security Monitoring. McMullen was telling me about how the companies would work together, referring dealers they met to the monitoring center that would better fit their needs, whether it is UCC or COPS. McMullen, also president and COO of Lydia Security Monitoring, said that Lydia would also be open to expanding more with future acquisitions.
From there I went to the other side of the show floor to see SentryNet. It was nice seeing David Avritt—company president—again, and meeting Alain Jamet, SentryNet VP of operations, and Julie Beach, vice president Americas sales, software and controls, for Stanley Security. Avritt said that SentryNet’s acquisition by Stanley has been a big topic for the company at the show. The company will not change in any large way, he said—it would remain focused on the independent dealer, and have the “same faces.”
When I stopped by UCC’s booth, and met with president Teresa Gonzalez and SVP Mark Matlock, I heard similar things about the recent acquisition as when I talked with COPS. Most similarly the execs at UCC echoed McMullen's statement that dealers would be referred to one or another as best fit them. “Our goal is not to compete with each other, it’s actually to complement,” Gonzalez told me.
Bold Technologies was talking a lot about its cloud offering at this year’s ISC West, according to Rod Coles, Bold’s CEO. He said that the company is focused on the next version of its central station automation platform, to be called Neo, which should be available by the end of the second quarter, in time for Bold’s Users Group Conference, he said.
Coles and I walked from the Bold Technologies booth down the aisle to White Rabbit Electronics space on the show floor. Coles, also CEO of White Rabbit, said the company is awaiting final steps of approval before beginning full production.
I then got to catch up with All American Monitoring. Tammy Zappa, the company’s manager, talked with me about how All American is seeking further certifications. While the central station is already UL-listed and CSAA Five Diamond certified, it is looking into FM and ETL certifications as well, Zappa said. “That adds legitimacy to who we are and what we do,” she said. It was good to see Bob Keefe, All American’s president, while I was at the booth as well.
Walking up to MKS’ booth, things looked a little different than last year. Many of the team members had stethoscopes around their necks, there were MKS branded prescription pads on the desks along with test tubes filled with mints. President Victoria Ferro explained to me that it's the new theme for this year: MKS has the “cure” for common hassles for central stations, such as manual data entry, lacking automation, and long operator training.
At Monitronics’ booth, I met with Peter Tonti, VP of product management, Frank Guido, CMO, and Renee Mallonee, marketing manager. We chatted a bit about the company’s recently restarted dealer council. The council’s most recent meeting was held on Tuesday, addressing topics like increased demand for home surveillance, including multiple cameras and NVRs. Montironics also recently announced a new package for the show: a $10,000 value for dealers signing on between now and June 1. Dealers signing up with the company in that time get benefits like four eContract tablets, 20 free customer leads, and marketing materials.
This is the second year that CentraLarm has had a booth at the show, and it was great to stop by and meet so many members of the team: Scott Mailhot, VP of operations, Julie Robillard, western regional sales director, Trudy McManus, regional account manager, and Stephanie Helmig, vice president of finance.
One of the big topics when I met with EMERgency24 last year was its incident command and control system, which works with BluePoint Alert Solutions. Patrick Devereaux, SVP at EMERgency 24, said the technology’s also one of the biggest topics for the company this year, with the difference being that more people have heard of the technology and sought out E24, Devereaux said. I also got the chance to catch up with Kevin McCarthy, national sales manager, and Bernie Ramos, director of operations.
I got to start the last day at the show by talking on camera with Bart Didden, president of the newly founded company SDN, Security Dealer Network. Didden, who created SDN as a separate entity to help dealers wanting the DragonFly DIY offering, said that discussions went well with dealers at the show. Dealers were able to sign up at ISC West.
My next video interview was with Mike Zydor, managing director for Affiliated Monitoring. It was nice to talk more about the company’s upcoming conference, Catalyst, focused on the sales and marketing of PERS devices. Specifically he mentioned the recently announced keynote speaker, former MLB player and manger Bobby Valentine.
George Fletcher, advisory board member for Mission 500, stopped by the media stage. It was nice talking with him about Thursday’s 5k/2k.
Back on the show floor, I briefly met with Alarm Monitoring Services’ CFO,Dera Jolet. I also caught up with Jeff Cohen, president of Quick Response, a monitoring center based in Cleveland.
Monitoring America Alarm Co-op was a new company for me this year. It was nice talking to president Ron Wies and vice president Jason Campbell about the unique structure of a co-op wholesale central station, where each dealer is a part owner in the company.
Cliff Dice, CEO of Dice, told me that the company has had a lot of conversations about it’s alarm industry signaling network, which handles alarms from POTS lines. The company is also preparing for its users group conference later this month in Michigan.
I met with Garner of Freeus yesterday just off the show floor, but was gladly able to stop by the company’s booth today to hear about how the show’s been from GM Brock Winzeler and national sales manager Marc McGrann. When showcasing the new Belle mPERS device, they said that the month-long battery life really sets the solution apart from other mPERS offerings.
At Acadian Monitoring Services’ booth I met with director of operations Brandon Niles, and president Blane Comeaux. Niles and I talked about the company’s ESOP program, and, by extension, SSN’s latest news poll on ESOP in the security business. He said that employees have more stake in the business being part-owners. Niles also said that video monitoring is a big trend for the company.
Larry Folsom and I both found it interesting how out meeting was the last meeting on the show floor for both of us, just as it had been at last year’s ISC West. I also met with other members of the team: Nicola Oakie and Jennifer Tagle.
It was great to catch up with so many folks at this years show and hear about the wide range of topics, from mPERS to cybersecurity.