Brinks Home™ Achieves Alarm Validation Scoring Standard Certification for Monitoring Centers

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Brinks Home, one of North America’s leading home security and alarm monitoring companies, announced today that its Monitoring Centers have earned UL certification for Alarm Validation Scoring (AVS-01). With only a handful of certified companies, it marks a significant advancement in alarm verification practices, and through Brinks Home’s achievement, the certification reinforces the company’s commitment to improving emergency response and reducing false alarms.

The AVS-01 certification comes at a time when the security industry is grappling with the growing challenge of false alarms, which place unnecessary strain on Emergency Communication Centers (ECCs) and local law enforcement. Designed by The Monitoring Association (TMA), the AVS-01 is a framework for alarm validation scoring that provides ECCs with the information needed to accurately assess the severity of an alarm and pass that information to the appropriate authorities before they arrive on-site. With this scoring standard, monitoring centers like Brinks Home can categorize alarms with specific threat levels—from no threat to a confirmed threat to life—ensuring law enforcement understands the situation and can respond accordingly.

“Accuracy in security monitoring is critical to ensure the most effective response to an alarm,” said Rick Sheets, vice president of monitoring and compliance at Brinks Home. “Through the AVS-01 certification, we can provide ECCs with the most accurate information possible, reducing false alarms and improving safety for everyone involved.”

To achieve this certification, Brinks Home adopted the necessary technology in its monitoring systems and underwent a UL audit for compliance. The process also involved integrating new workflows into the monitoring platform, training Emergency Dispatch Operators (EDOs) to gather and score information accurately, and implementing a quality assurance program to ensure adherence to the new standards. The AVS-01 certification is a new development in the security industry, and Brinks Home’s certification underscores the company’s dedication to innovation and customer safety.

As technology evolves, Brinks Home is exploring advanced verification methods, including video monitoring and AI recognition, to further enhance alarm assessment. The AVS-01 system will continue to refine alarm prioritization, aiming for police to respond to the most critical alarms first with more accurate information to make better decisions and improve emergency response. Brinks Home remains committed to leveraging new technologies to reduce false alarms, enhance safety, and provide greater peace of mind for homeowners.

For more information about Brinks Home and its Monitoring Centers, visit www.BrinksHome.com/monitoring.

SimpliSafe® Achieves Alarm Validation Scoring Standard (AVS-01) UL-Listed Certification

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Congratulations to TMA member SimpliSafe® on the achievement of its UL-listing for the ANSI/TMA Alarm Validation Scoring Standard (AVS-01).

AVS-01 TMA-AVS-01 provides a standardized method of creating an alarm scoring or classification metric for unauthorized human activity detected by alarm systems. An alarm score 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 score will assist law enforcement with resource allocation and Call for Service prioritization.

SimpliSafe is the third TMA member to achieve the certification. See the full list HERE

Read the full story on https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/simplisafe-achieves-alarm-validation-scoring-standard-avs-01-certification-to-enhance-alarm-information-for-first-responders-and-improve-emergency-outcomes-302366702.html?tc=eml_cleartime

ATN-01 Preliminary Comment Period now open!

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The TMA-ATN-01 Active Threat (Detection) Notification Standard DRAFT is now available for a “Preliminary Technical Review.” The purpose of this optional non-ANSI process review is to gather preliminary stakeholder feedback prior to publishing the final draft for the official ANSI public comment period. It allows for meaningful suggestions to be considered for inclusion in the committee’s final draft document used for the ANSI public comment period.

All Industry comments must be submitted no later than December 4th, 2024, 9pm Eastern.

  1. Please download the TMA-ATN-01 Active Threat (Detection) Notification Standard DRAFT (PDF Format).
  2. Submit all comments individually using the online comment form
  3. All comments will be reviewed by the committee and replied to as soon as possible

After the committee has done the final review, the draft standard will go for 60 days through the ANSI Public Comment process.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Bryan Ginn at bginn@tma.us. Thank you.

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.

Bold Group Blog Explores AVS-01 in New Post

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TMA member, Bold Group, recently posted a blog introducing its customers to TMA’s AVS-01 standard. The full blog, entitled “What to Know About AVS-01” can be read HERE.

This is a great example of how members can support TMA’s outreach.

Special appreciation to Julie Steven, Senior Marketing Director, Bold Group, for allowing us to share this.

Public Comment Period for the ANSI/TMA-AVS-01 Standard is Now Open, Closes June 9, 2024

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The Monitoring Association’s (TMA) AVS-01 Standard Committee has completed revisions to the ANSI/TMA AVS-01-2023 Alarm Validation Scoring (AVS) Standard and the draft is available for comment. In accordance with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) directives, a 30-day public review period opened May 10, 2024, and will close June 9, 2024.

TMA is a Standards Development Organization, or SDO, accredited by ANSI, which facilitates and coordinates the U.S. voluntary standards and conformity assessment system. As an SDO, the TMA Standards Committee works on standards that benefit consumers, regulators, and the security industry.

View the proposed changes: AVS-01 Markup | Summary

Comment Form: https://tma.us/standards/comment-form-for-avs-01/

Learn more about the ANSI/TMA-AVS-01 2023 standard at https://tma.us/standards/tma-avs-01-alarm-validation-standard/

SSN Interview: Pioneering Standards: Rapid Response Leads with TMA AVS-O1 Validation

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Security Systems News (SSN) Editor in Chief Cory Harris interviewed TMA President Steve Butkovich and TMA Immediate Past President and Standards Committee Chair Morgan Hertel, Rapid Response Monitoring, at ISC West in Las Vegas on the topic of TMA’s standards development initiatives.

View the full interview at Pioneering Standards: Rapid Response Leads with TMA AVS-O1 Validation

Axis Announces Support for IEEE Security Standard

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Axis Communications announced support for the IEEE 802.1AE MACsec security standard in the latest release of its operating system, AXIS OS 11.8, for more than 200 network devices, including cameras, intercoms and audio speakers.

According to the company, the development enables such devices to automatically encrypt data at a foundational level to enhance zero-trust networking. Axis says it is the first manufacturer of physical security products to support MACsec (Media Access Control Security).

With AXIS OS 11.8, MACsec is enabled by default (through EAP-TLS/Dynamic CAK mode). Data is encrypted at the Ethernet Layer 2 (data link) network level, safeguarding the integrity of data being transferred between Axis devices and MACsec-enabled Ethernet switches.

Axis says that, even if a user is already implementing HTTPS or a different form of encryption at another layer, adding MACsec at layer 2 effectively double encrypts the data, meaning that an attacker would need to intercept and decrypt both layers in order to see or steal critical information.

“Customers benefit from security features that are enabled by default and that do not require any pre-configuration,” said Andre Bastert, global product manager, AXIS OS, in a statement. “They lower installation complexity, and thereby, literally save time and money. These security features are great examples of zero-trust security that do not require more time from customers. With the increase in the convergence of OT (operational technology) and IT (information technology), these standard security mechanisms are what IT professionals expect of smart IoT products, and we are meeting their needs as part of Axis’ long-term strategy to enable secure, zero-touch integration of Axis network products into zero-trust networks.”

New White Paper Now Available for Download

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TMA’s latest White Paper, “Implementing the AVS-01 Alarm Validation Scoring Standard: Enhancing Alarm Response Through Industry Collaboration,” is now available for download.

The AVS-01 Standard represents a collective effort to address industry challenges. Participating monitoring center leaders demonstrate their commitment to industry-wide best practices, fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence in alarm response. This strengthens industry credibility and professionalism, promoting consistent and effective alarm response processes.

TMA has prepared a White Paper that highlights the benefits of implementing the AVS-01 Standard and inspires monitoring center leaders to actively participate in this voluntary standard.

Check it out and see why monitoring centers that actively participate in AVS-01 position themselves as industry leaders, showcasing their commitment to public safety and operational excellence. Join the growing community dedicated to improving alarm response and public safety through standardized practices. Become part of the movement driving the improvement of alarm response and public safety.

Download the White Paper HERE.

Learn more about the AVS-01 Alarm Validation Scoring Standard and its benefits at http://tma.us/standards/tma-avs-01-alarm-validation-standard/.

TMA Automation Summit Opens Dialogue on New Standard Implementation

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On Tuesday, March 28th, TMA hosted its Automation Summit in Las Vegas, NV. Key stakeholders from across the security and monitoring communities convened in-person and remotely via Zoom to hear from a panel of volunteers who lead the development of TMA’s newest ANSI standard – Alarm Validation Scoring Standard [TMA-AVS-01], which was released in January 2023. With the standard’s accreditation finalized, the next step is to inform, educate, and initiate its implementation and adoption by monitoring centers, automation software providers, ECCs, and law enforcement.

The purpose of the Automation Summit was to open a dialogue amongst key stakeholders across the industry.

TMA extends special appreciation to Mark Hillenburg, DMP, and his team for their generous support of the event.

A recording of the meeting may be viewed on demand HERE.