Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/31496
SECURITY SYSTEMS NEWS FEBRUARY 2011 www.securitysystemsnews.com EDITORIAL 15 Tim Purpura, PUBLISHER tpurpura@securitysystemsnews.com Brook Taliaferro, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Martha Entwistle, EDITOR mentwistle@securitysystemsnews.com Daniel Gelinas, MANAGING EDITOR dgelinas@securitysystemsnews.com Tess Nacelewicz, ASSOCIATE EDITOR tnacelewicz@securitysystemsnews.com Peter Macijauskas, E-MEDIA MANAGER pmacijauskas@unitedpublications.com SEND PRESS RELEASES TO: EDITORIAL OFFICE editor@securitysystemsnews.com Tel: 207.846.0600 Fax: 207.846.0657 ADVERTISING OFFICE Security Systems News 106 Lafayette St., PO Box 998 Yarmouth, ME 04096 Tel: 207.846.0600 Fax: 207.846.0657 EAST Tim Purpura, PUBLISHER Tel: 207.846.0600, ext. 217 Fax: 207.846.0657 tpurpura@securitysystemsnews.com WEST Gregg Shapiro, ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Tel: 207.846.0600, ext. 273 Fax: 207.846.0657 gshapiro@securitysystemsnews.com MARKETPLACE & LIST RENTALS Cath Daggett Tel: 207.846.0600, ext. 300 Fax: 207.846.0657 cdaggett@securitysystemsnews.com Glen Halliday, PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Brenda Boothby, CIRCULATION DIRECTOR EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Bill Bozeman, CEO/President PSA Security Network Daniel G. Decker, President Safety Systems Inc. John Mack III, CEO Imperial Capital Jack Mallon, Managing Director Mallon & Associates Dave Merrick, Marketing Director Vector Security Peter A. Michel, CEO iSECURETrac Richard Perry, President Security Networks LLC Lisa Prosser, Owner/President General Alarm Inc. Tony Smith, President Security Finance Associates Greg Spurr, Vice President TD Bank, N.A. Tony Wilson, President CMS • Steve Brody of Standard Security Systems SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION www.securitysystemsnews.com/subscribe Security Systems News PO Box 1742 Lowell, MA 01853-1742 Tel: 978-671-0449 • Spencer McDonald of P.A.C. Systems, Inc. • Kelly Gill of Abbott Security & Fire • Curtis Thresher of Alpha Burglar & Fire Alarm Systems SSN News Publishers of specialized business publications PRESIDENT & CEO J. G. Taliaferro, Jr. VICE PRESIDENT Rick Rector For quality article reprints of 250 copies or more, call PARS International Corp. at 212-221-9595 or email reprints@parsintl.com. 800-354-3863 Account & Business Acquisitions O Sailing out of the storm n our front page this month, we have a media company and a telco entering the security space. The $1.2 billion acquisition of third-party monitoring giant Monitronics by Ascent Media Corporation is notable for a number of reasons. Ascent is a big new player that appears to be ditching other subsidiaries in favor of an investment in security. It’s also significant because of the size and the complexity of the deal. Prior to the announcement, more than one person told me that if this deal got done, it would bode well for the security industry. The Monitronics deal reinforces the idea that security is a “safe port in the storm” CapitalSource’s Bill Polk told me, and it’s further evidence that the capital markets are opening up. And if you look through the pages of this issue, it’s clear that’s true. Just in the last month, many deals, big and small got done. Not that “the storm” has passed. Times are still tough out there. The latest unem- ployment and housing foreclosure figures are evidence of that. And while the security industry may be a safe port, your com- petitors inside and outside of the industry realize that too. On page 14, George DeMarco, ESX chairman and former owner of Greater Alarm, gives his opin- ion of Verizon’s January entrance into the home security market. He makes several points including the fact that competition is good. Couldn’t agree more. New and talented competitors mean you’ve got to work harder, perhaps, but it makes you better at your job. Your product or service can’t help but improve. Fortunately, there are lots of opportuni- ties to improve your security business. Looking for ideas? Check out the page 1 “Virtual roundtable discussion” featuring several members of the TechSec Solutions Advisory Board. Wait, is that a rather shame- less pitch for our TechSec Solutions 2011 conference (Feb. 13-15 in Delray Beach, Fla.)? Well yeah, but check out the content of the discussion, and pay particular attention to panelists’ predictions about “the next big thing.” “Cloud is the next big thing, Martha Entwistle and we’ve seen that building for a while,” says Steve Van Till. “Hosted video has a huge future,” says Dieter Kondek. “Hosted security services and the use of smartphones in security,” suggests Bob Beliles. Want to hear more? Debate the fine points? Talk to folks who are solving real world prob- lems with IP security and emerging technol- ogy? We’d love to see you in Delray. Most read stories on www.securitysystemsnews.com, January 7, 2011 - Jan. 13, 2011 • Verizon debuts home security offering • Air sampling technology market goes nuclear • Obama signs Red Flags Clarification Law • Infinova raised $300 m. in IPO • Former Ill. assoc. director charged with felony • A host of services at Altec Systems • Post merger, Kratos execs outline goals for 2011 • Looking at the Monitronics acquisition • ADT takes Pinnacle to court • GVI looks at next phase of evolution Get your news - anytime, anywhere Download the SSN News App for your iPhone or iPod Touch today! Now available at the App Store. Download the SSN News app now at: http://linktoapp.com/ssn+news