Guardian Security acquires Security Lock, Safe & Alarm

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Guardian Security Systems has acquired Security Lock, Safe & Alarm. A Tacoma-based family-run business, Security Lock, Safe and Alarm is known for its dedication to personalized service and has been servicing the Greater Tacoma market since 1922. This acquisition strengthens Guardian’s presence in the South Sound market while preserving the local, customer-first approach that Security Lock, Safe & Alarm clients have valued over the years.

Vince Wingerter, representing Security Lock, Safe & Alarm, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: “Our clients have come to expect personal attention and high-quality service from us, and we are thrilled to partner with Guardian. This collaboration allows us to enhance our offerings while continuing to provide the same level of care and attention our customers deserve.”

“We love when we can help a family business transition to another family business as they are looking to exit. The Wingerter’s customers will be well taken care of out of our local Fircrest Office,” said Ainsley Close, President of Guardian Security.

Allied Universal Named to Newsweek List of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Veterans

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TMA member Allied Universal®, a leading security and facility services company, has been named to the Newsweek list of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Veterans 2024/2025. Receiving the highest ranking of five out of five stars, the publication evaluated the company’s official programs for veterans, reviews and information from social media platforms.

“We have tens of thousands of veterans on our team around the globe. No longer on active duty, they continue their commitment to lifesaving, protecting and defending people and communities,” said Allied Universal Global Chairman and CEO Steve Jones. “We are honored to work alongside these amazing team members from all branches of the military. It’s with gratitude and pride that we thank each and every veteran working at Allied Universal.”

Allied Universal is committed to building a more diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace that fully supports its commitment to becoming an Employer of Choice, including providing rewarding career opportunities to veterans and those newly transitioning out of military service.

To read more, visit https://www.newsweek.com/rankings/americas-greatest-workplaces-veterans-2024-25.

Brinks Home Unveils Account Value Calculator for Selling Home Security, Alarm Accounts

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Brinks Home recently launched its new Account Value Calculator (AVC), billed as an AI-enabled tool that provides home security business owners with a transparent and confidential method to value their alarm account portfolios in just days. The new tool facilitates both small and large transactions while enabling rapid access to liquidity, according to announcement.

AVC is also said to offer support for divesting additional assets with the purchase of alarm accounts, such as inventory and vehicles, ensuring a seamless onboarding process for customers transitioning to Brinks Home. The AVC marks the inaugural offering of the new Brinks Home B2B hub, Brinks Home Exchange (BHX), set to launch fully next year.

“The Account Value Calculator is just the beginning of an exciting journey for us and our current and future partners,” said William Niles, CEO of Brinks Home. “This tool provides immediate value by enabling partners to easily assess their portfolios and access liquidity. However, it’s also a foundational element of our long-term strategy to create a robust platform that will streamline operations, enhance collaboration and open new opportunities for growth.”

Featuring competitive, AI-generated pricing, the AVC simplifies the valuation process, reduces costs and minimizes manual touchpoints. The tool accelerates the traditional offer process from the industry standard of 15 days to as quickly as two business days. Brinks Home expertise spans various transactions, including purchasing individual accounts, large bulk acquisitions and business acquisitions, with customizable deal structures to meet diverse partner needs, according to the announcement.

Upon the seller receiving their valuation and choosing to proceed, Brinks Home will facilitate the process to acquire the seller’s customer accounts. In addition to facilitating transactions for individual accounts, Brinks Home is positioned to purchase entire books-of-business for companies looking to liquidate their enterprise. The dedicated Brinks Home team will collaborate closely with partners to develop customized purchase structures that align with both parties’ strategic goals.

“As we prepare for the full BHX platform launch in 2025, we are committed to developing a cutting-edge online platform that addresses the complexities of selling alarm accounts,” said Mike Hackett, senior vice president of enterprise business development at Brinks Home. “The AVC tool alleviates the stress associated with valuation and transaction processes, making it easier for our partners to achieve their goals.”

Guardian Protection Expands Central Florida Presence With Vortex Security Buy

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Guardian Protection has acquired Vortex Security, based in Jupiter, Fla. Vortex has operated in Florida since 2013, professionally installing commercial and residential security systems.

The acquisition is said to increase Guardian Protection’s customer base primarily in its central Florida footprint.

Guardian Protection President Bryan Cipoletti commented, “This is another highlight in our continuing journey toward profitable expansion. Guardian is financially strong and eager to acquire like-minded companies. We plan to actively pursue acquisition opportunities that make sense for us.”

Vortex Security, which placed 79th in the 2024 SDM 100 rankings, is Guardian Protection’s third acquisition since 2021, when it acquired Rampart Security Systems in Pennsylvania. Guardian acquired Vintage Security of Maryland in 2023.

Vortex’s products and customer base parallel with Guardian’s business and the transition is expected to be seamless. Vortex customers will transition from Vortex’s third-party monitoring center to Guardian’s U.L.-certified, Five Diamond accredited monitoring facilities and in-house customer services.

Securitas Awarded 2024 National System Integrator of the Year by Axis Communications

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Securitas Technology was recently awarded the 2024 National System Integrator of the Year by Axis Communications at its 19th annual Axis Connect and Converge Conference (ACCC) held in Nashville, TN. The company was recognized for its innovative solutions and dedication to meeting its clients’ needs.

“We are honored to receive this recognition from Axis Communications,” said Tony Byerly, Global President and CEO of Securitas Technology. “Our shared values and focus on innovation have allowed us to create exceptional solutions for our clients, helping them navigate complex security challenges while staying at the forefront in today’s dynamic environment. This award is a testament to our team’s dedication, the strength of our partnerships, and our ongoing commitment to help make your world a safer place.”

“Success is built on partnerships, and on behalf of Axis, it is my pleasure to congratulate Securitas Technology on being named the 2024 National System Integrator of the Year. Securitas Technology’s dedication to their clients and the exceptional work they do solving their challenges continues to amaze me,” said Larry Newman, Senior Director of Sales, Axis Communications, Inc. “We’re grateful for our incredible partners who continuously go above and beyond. Together we are making the world a smarter, safer place.”

Axis works with more than 90,000 partners across 179 countries at every stage. Axis’ partner network includes the Channel Partner Program, the Technology Integration Partner Program, the Architecture & Engineering Program, and the Axis Developer Community. For more information about Axis’ partner programs, visit www.axis.com/en-us/partner/programs.

NMC Team Member – 500th Graduate of AVS-01 Monitoring Center Operator Training

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NMC’s Josh Olsen is the 500th professional to graduate from TMA’s Monitoring Center Operator AVS-01 Online Training! The training, which launched in July of this year, is an interactive three-module course. Developed primarily for monitoring center operators and delivered online, the dynamic course provides a comprehensive introduction to the AVS-01 Standard; illustrates the Standard’s measurable alarm level classifications; demonstrates the call handling process; and explains the importance of public safety and law enforcement engagement.

Olsen shared NMC has successfully implemented the AVS-01 standard and expressed his appreciation for the course’s design and methodology, commenting, “I believe I learned something new and useful as we move forward with streamlining and perfecting the way we communicate and respond to those in need.”

Congratulations, Josh!

For more information about the AVS-01 training course and to enroll, please visit TMATraining.net.

Important Industry Update – New Threat of Verified Response

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We are seeing a sudden uptick in public safety agencies considering or implementing verified response policies. Seattle, Washington recently implemented this policy with virtually no warning to its citizens or our industry. We know that other cities have also been considering these policies which are detrimental to our ability to protect and service our customers.

The Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC) is working directly with local and state alarm associations to combat these efforts providing expertise and background information that has convinced hundreds of agencies to avoid verified response in favor of the model alarm ordinance that reduces false alarms and continues police response to alarms.

SIAC also continues to work directly with the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the National Sheriff’s Association to promote the model alarm ordinance and best practices in alarm management.

The cost of fighting verified response on a local level can cost thousands of dollars in legal fees, lobbying costs and time investment. SIAC’s dual role of promoting the model alarm ordinance and helping communities oppose verified response is more important than ever.

SIAC needs your financial support to continue this vital mission.

Donate to SIAC:

  • By paypal: https://www.paypal.com/donate
  • By check: Go to https://siacinc.org/donate/ for more details on donating by check

Everon receives 2024 HIRE Vets Gold Medallion Award from the U.S. Department of Labor

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U.S. Acting Secretary of Labor Julie A. Su recognized Everon as one of the 839 recipients of the 2024 HIRE Vets Medallion Award during a virtual award ceremony presented by the U.S. Department of Labor. Everon earned the gold award after applying earlier this year. The Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act (HIRE Vets Act) Medallion Program is the only federal award program that recognizes employers who successfully recruit, hire, and retain veterans.

“We’re extremely passionate about being a military-effective organization and showing our nation’s former servicemembers a long-term path to success as they reenter civilian life,” said Mike McWilliams, President & Chief Operating Officer for Everon. “Given their unique set of technical skills, a call to serve others, and valuable leadership experience, former military servicemembers are some of the best professionals in the security industry. We’re proud of all the veterans who’ve joined us at Everon and whose drive for excellence matches our own.”

In an effort to foster an environment that would attract former servicemembers to a civilian career in the security industry, Everon has championed a number of veteran integration assistance programs to ensure the inclusion and success of military employees within the organization. This includes dedicated mentorship and peer-to-peer communications channels, the opportunity to participate in service projects that benefit nonprofit organizations whose missions support veteran and military member communities, and inclusive company events to honor service members and their families.

“Our goal is to create a sense of community and connection among veterans and military servicemembers at Everon that opens them up to opportunities for sustainable career growth and development,” McWilliams continued. “We’re so proud of what this award means and the impact it shows we can have in transforming the security workforce.”

Everon joins 838 other companies from 49 states, plus the District of Columbia, who have shown a commitment to hiring veterans but also ensuring that they have a long-term career and growth plan that uses the diverse skills they acquired through their military service.

Recipients of the 2024 HIRE Vets Medallion Award meet rigorous employment and veteran integration assistance criteria, including veteran hiring and retention percentages, availability of veteran-specific resources, leadership programming for veterans, dedicated human resource efforts, and pay compensation and tuition assistance programs for veterans. More than 1,600 employers have earned a HIRE Vets Medallion Award since 2019.

The New DICE Revolutionizes Video Monitoring with Cost-Effective Cloud Solution

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Dice Corporation, a pioneer in alarm and video event management, announced a groundbreaking change to its pricing model for its interactive Video platform.

By eliminating per-camera charges and offering free camera connections, Dice is significantly reducing the cost of entry for alarm and video monitoring centers seeking to leverage cloud-based solutions.

This innovative approach takes advantage of DICE’s extensive infrastructure and expertise in developing integrated GPU farms. By optimizing cloud-based video monitoring, Dice is aligning the costs of video surveillance with traditional alarm monitoring, making it more accessible and affordable for businesses of all sizes.

“Our UL and ULC infrastructure as well as our North American carrier operations at IPtelX provide us with a substantial competitive advantage,” said Cliff Dice, President and CEO of DICE Corporation. “By owning the software, data centers, and fiber network, we can offer video monitoring centers and traditional alarm centers significant cost savings. Our new pricing model further empowers businesses to adopt video monitoring solutions, as they can now focus on subscriber-based revenue rather than per-camera costs. We believe this will greatly accelerate the adoption of video monitoring within the alarm and guarding industries.”

DICE’s advanced AI-powered solutions are designed to streamline operations and reduce reliance on human intervention. By automating many aspects of video monitoring, Dice is driving down costs and improving efficiency.

For more information on DICE Corporation, visit www.dicecorp.com or call 989-891-2800.

The IACP Ratifies Resolution for ANSI/TMA-AVS-01 2023 Alarm Validation Scoring Standard

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The executive committee of The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the world’s largest and most influential professional association for police leaders, ratified a resolution encouraging PSAP/ECC operations by law enforcement agencies to use The Monitoring Association’s (TMA) ANSI/TMA-AVS-01 2023 Alarm Validation Scoring Standard. The resolution was prepared and submitted to the IACP’s Private Sector Liaison Sector by Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC) and Partnership for Priority Verified Alarm Response (PPVAR). The resolution was ratified in late October at the IACP’s Annual Meeting in Boston.

As written in the final, approved resolution, “WHEREAS, IACP recognizes the need to focus on the credibility of alarms received by law enforcement/first responder call centers from alarm companies and private entities through the establishment of defined threat levels as contained in AVS-01, will allow for agencies to deploy limited resources efficiently and communicate situational information to responding officers for greater officer/community safety…”

“The AVS-01 standard introduces ground-breaking methodology developed to assist public safety departments with their alarm response policies and to increase law enforcement safety,” states TMA Standards Committee Chair Morgan Hertel. It provides a standardized method for calculating an alarm score, or classification level, that results in a repeatable metric that estimates the validity or potential threat level of a burglar alarm activation using historical and real-time data. The alarm scoring assists law enforcement with resource allocation and Call for Service prioritization.

Stan Martin, executive director, SIAC, commented, “I am thrilled that SIAC successfully facilitated the approval of this resolution. This accomplishment highlights the strong trust and respect we have cultivated with the IACP leadership throughout the years.”

Learn more about the AVS-01 standard online at https://tma.us/standards/tma-avs-01-alarm-validation-standard/.
Read the full text of the resolution HERE.