Strategic Insights from Wall Street
By Jeff Kessler, Managing Partner, Imperial Capital

After a relatively brutal last 12 months, we look forward to a 2010 in which some major strategic moves in the security industry will bring on some interesting industry-wide changes. At the 2009 ASIS we were told several times that there was no new "earth moving" technology being introduced at the show this year, partially due to the poor economy. While we would agree with that assessment, we also believe we saw the underpinnings for some of the most major structural changes we will witness in the security industry for years to come. Knowing the highly conservative nature of the industry –(the system has to work!)– we don't make the previous statements very lightly. What is going on to make us so forward in our statements? Come to New York City for SNG 2009 on November 10-11 to find out.

We will give a detailed summary of why we think the hall will be so illuminating and why the talk "in the hallways" will be just as juicy.

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New SIA Report Breaks Down Latin American Security Market
By Ronald Hawkins, Security Industry Association

Increasing crime in Latin America is driving growth in the physical security market, pushing the sector to $430 million a year in Mexico alone, according to the new Latin America Security Market Report from the Security Industry Association (SIA).

The comprehensive, 157-page report examines the electronic physical security (EPS) markets in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela. In addition to analyzing the demand for security products in these high-growth markets, it looks at each nation's economy, demographics, infrastructure and legal and tax environment.

"As we see in the news, security is a real concern in many parts of Latin America, and the report reflects this," SIA Research Director Mark Visbal said. "Growth in the electronic physical security sector is often significantly outpacing growth in the economy as a whole."

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How Convergence is Changing the Market
By Bob Eck, President and CEO, Anixter

The shift from analog to IP, particularly in video surveillance and access control, is changing the way security dealers and integrators think about the way they recommend solutions to customers. In the U.S. and around the world, market statistics continue to show a steady decline in analog security solutions with a corresponding growth in IP solutions.

Because customers can analyze and use data from IP solutions in many different ways—from sending an alarm to counting store traffic—they are thinking differently about the uses and value of IP video surveillance in their operations. In addition to traditional security and life-safety applications, customers can use IP video-generated data in merchandising, traffic control, marketing and other valuable nonsecurity applications. Combined with more data-intensive application choices, this flexibility gives convergence a powerful appeal, which explains why more customers are embracing IP-based video surveillance and access control systems.

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Focusing on Customer Outcomes
By Marty Guay, President, U.S. Division-Niscayah Group AB

At Niscayah, we believe in helping our customers:

Instead of simply recommending and installing equipment, the traditional role of an integrator, we work with customers as an adviser and partner—from analysis and design through installation, maintenance, and systems operation.

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Trends Changing the Video Landscape
By Fredrik Nilsson, General Manager, Axis Communications

It's important to recognize that technology trends impacting security are not exclusively coming from the security market. In the video surveillance sector, two technologies are changing the landscape today. Both have been adopted from the consumer and business markets and repurposed for security applications.

High Definition TV (HDTV)
Large, flat panel, high definition TVs have been a huge hit with consumers for several years—and have led security managers to seek similar quality images on their video surveillance monitors at work. Although megapixel cameras have provided higher resolution images, they have several drawbacks, including large bandwidth requirements, lack of frame rate and color fidelity guarantees, and an aspect ratio ill suited to computer screen monitoring. At ISC West in April 2009, new cameras were introduced to the security market that eliminate these drawbacks using H.264 compression and HDTV technology. Network cameras that comply with HDTV standards offer:

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