Working closely with Nice’s regional sales managers (RSMs), TMG “will provide local dealers and distribution partners with an additional layer of field support, resources and expertise,” according to the company announcement.

This strategic partnership “reinforces Nice North America’s ongoing commitment to expanding localized sales expertise, dealer engagement and market development within the security and smart home channel,” the announcement says.

Why Did Nice Partner with Thomasson Marketing Group?

“Regional representation plays a critical role in how we support our partners and drive growth in key markets,” says Donnie McVicker, chief sales officer of Nice North America, in the company announcement. “Thomasson Marketing Group brings strong relationships, deep industry knowledge, and a proven ability to execute at the local level.

“Their focus on dealer engagement and sell-through initiatives will help expand the reach of our 2GIG portfolio and support our partners’ success across this important region,” he says.

With this partnership, Thomasson Marketing Group will represent 2GIG solutions across Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming, the announcement says.

Led by president Jordan R. Thomasson, TMG “has built a strong reputation for delivering strategic sales representation and channel development within the security and low voltage electronics industries,” according to the company announcement.

Through this relationship, Nice North America “continues to invest in its regional representation strategy, ensuring dealers and distributors have access to the resources, expertise and support needed to succeed in an increasingly competitive market,” the announcement says.

“We’re excited to partner with Nice North America and represent the 2GIG portfolio across such a dynamic region,” says Thomasson in the announcement. “2GIG continues to be a trusted name in the security and smart home space, and we look forward to helping dealers grow their businesses through strong local support and market development.”

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We also saw New York Knicks fans celebrate the team’s historic comeback in Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden by taking to the streets and, for some reason, throwing eggs at San Antonio Spurs superstar center Victor Wembanyama as he got off the team bus and tried to go into the hotel after the game.

Other surveillance videos this week include a Massachusetts mother lashing out at a graduation ceremony, flash floods across the Midwestern U.S. and someone setting up a burning cross in a historic Chicago park.

Click here to check out the latest batch of Surveillance Videos of the Week. Send your suggestions for future editions to digital editor Craig MacCormack at craig.maccormack@emeraldx.com.

The post Shark Attack Near Fla. Naval Base: Surveillance Videos of the Week appeared first on Security Sales & Integration.

EINDHOVEN, Netherlands — Global intelligence-first video security provider IQSIGHT recently announced that security and technology industry leader Ted Wilkinson has joined its executive team as vice president of sales, North America.

In his new role, Wilkinson “will be responsible for accelerating sales growth, executing regional go-to-market strategy and deepening engagement with IQSIGHT’s channel partners and customers,” the company announcement says.

“Ted brings the right combination of industry insight and execution expertise to lead our North American team and align the regional sales efforts with our broader global strategy,” says Sam Ward, chief commercial officer, global sales, at IQSIGHT, in the announcement.

“He is committed to cultivating loyalty with our channel partners and customers by empowering the sales team
to meet market needs and unlock new opportunities for growth,” he says.

Why Did IQSIGHT Add Ted Wilkinson?

Wilkinson has more than three decades of experience and “has been instrumental in developing successful key account and channel strategies, scalable go-to-market models and effective initiatives that build stronger customer and partner relationships,” according to the IQSIGHT announcement.

He has “a proven ability to lead high-performing teams, deliver consistent results and expand market presence,” the announcement says.

“IQSIGHT’s core strengths in visual intelligence and delivering high-quality, reliable solutions create an excellent foundation for growth,” says Wilkinson in the company announcement. “I look forward to working with the passionate and committed team in North America to deliver an exceptional customer experience providing technologies that help organizations reduce risk, improve safety and keep operations running smoothly.”

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The decision “establish[es] a long-term coordination and continuity framework designed to strengthen global collaboration across the fire and emergency services profession,” the announcement says.

The Secretariat structure “will provide continuity between Congresses, preserve institutional knowledge, support host-nation coordination and strengthen sustained international engagement on emerging fire and life safety challenges,” according to the association announcement.

“It is an honor for the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association to serve as the Secretariat for the World Fire Congress,” says Otto Drozd III, executive secretary of Metro Chiefs, in the announcement. “What is being established through this partnership is far more than operational coordination for a single event.

“It is the long-term infrastructure designed to support continuity, global engagement and sustained collaboration for future Congresses and the international fire and emergency services community. With the support of NFPA and IAFC, combined with the research and learning efforts being advanced through UL Research Institutes’ Fire Safety Research Institute, the World Fire Congress is building a strong and enduring foundation capable of supporting global cooperation for generations to come,” he says.

What is the World Fire Congress?

The World Fire Congress is a biennial global forum that “brings together fire and emergency service leaders to strengthen international cooperation, share knowledge and advance evidence-informed dialogue on evolving fire and life safety challenges impacting communities worldwide,” according to the announcement.

Topics include firefighter health and safety, climate-driven disasters, structural fires, wildfires, emerging technologies, prevention, response, recovery and resilience.

The 2026 World Fire Congress will take place Sept. 8-9 at the QEII Conference Centre in Westminster, London, hosted by the United Kingdom and organized by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC).

In addition to the Secretariat announcement, the World Fire Congress confirmed that UL Research Institutes’ Fire Safety Research Institute (ULRI) “will support the Congress’ learning, research and insight efforts by developing global Communities of Practice designed to sustain collaboration between Congresses,” the announcement says.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates is scheduled to host the Congress in 2028, and proposals are currently being accepted for prospective host nations for 2030.

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The alliance “enables the two companies to combine complementary strengths to help higher education institutions navigate both long-term transformation and immediate safety challenges through a referral program,” according to the joint announcement.

Academic Innovators’ multidisciplinary approach “brings together a network of partners and professionals across the higher education ecosystem, including edtech providers, legal experts, financial advisors, investment bankers and public policy specialists, to develop forward-looking solutions for evolving institutional needs,” the announcement says.

The industry insiders and strategic collaborators “help colleges and universities anticipate change, navigate complexity and proactively shape their future with confidence,” according to the joint announcement.

Why is ZeroEyes Partnering with Academic Innovators?

By uniting a future-focused advisory approach with ZeroEyes’ advanced threat detection and real-time response capabilities, the collaboration “empowers institutions to better anticipate threats, enhance preparedness and respond with confidence in an increasingly complex environment,” according to the joint announcement.

“We are pleased to partner with ZeroEyes to provide integrated solutions that not only help higher education leaders navigate evolving operational and financial pressures but also enhance campus safety and resilience in an increasingly complex threat landscape,” says Dr. Brian C. Mitchell, managing principal and president of Academic Innovators and past president of Washington & Jefferson College and Bucknell University, in the announcement.

ZeroEyes delivers an integrated suite of artificial intelligence-powered analytics and security tools, including capabilities such as weapons detection, real-time threat geolocation and more, designed to enhance preparedness, accelerate threat identification and enable effective response.

It provides real-time, actionable intelligence on the illegal brandishing of weapons, such as guns and knives, in or near occupied spaces, alerting local staff and law enforcement with images and precise location data, often in a matter of seconds from the moment a gun is detected.

“By combining our proactive safety technology with Academic Innovators’ forward-looking, multidisciplinary expertise, we’re helping institutions respond to threats faster and plan more effectively for a safer, more resilient future,” says Mike Lahiff, CEO and co-founder of ZeroEyes. “We are proud to partner with them.”

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The SIA Data Privacy Advisory Board “provides information and best practices to help SIA members handle sensitive data in a safe and secure manner to protect the personally identifiable information of their employees, partners and customers from potential abuses, breaches and misuses,” the announcement says.

Manna is associate general counsel and deputy chief privacy officer at global security products and solutions provider Allegion, which serves both residential and commercial markets in more than 120 countries. He advises senior leadership and business teams across a broad range of legal matters, supporting strategic initiatives and helping the organization navigate complex legal and regulatory issues.

Manna holds a bachelor’s degree, a Juris Doctor and a Master of Science in cybersecurity risk management from Indiana University. He is recognized as a Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US) and Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) by the International Association of Privacy Professionals.

Why is Manna SIA Data Privacy Advisory Board Chairman?

Manna moderated an SIA Education@ISC conference session on data privacy at ISC West 2026 and hosted a breakout room for the Data Privacy Advisory Board during the 2026 SIA Open House.

Key Data Privacy Advisory Board activities and accomplishments include:

• Developing the Security Cornerstones Learning Series module on data privacy,
• Publishing the SIA Privacy Code of Conduct and data privacy codes of practices for video surveillance and access control to guide the handling of sensitive data and
• Developing the Data Privacy Pro Certificate program, which helps security professionals advance their expertise on key data privacy concepts and gain strategies for data protection and compliance.

“I’m honored to serve as chair of the SIA Data Privacy Advisory Board and to build on the group’s strong foundation, including initiatives such as the SIA Data Privacy Pro Certificate,” says Manna in the SIA announcement.

Programs like this help security professionals understand evolving privacy and security challenges and apply that knowledge in practical, real-world scenarios to strengthen data protection,” he says. “As organizations navigate an increasingly complex mix of federal, state and global privacy requirements alongside rapid advances in artificial intelligence and shifting security standards, they need practical, experience-driven guidance. I look forward to working with the board to develop resources that help organizations manage risk, strengthen trust and protect the data entrusted to them.”

“SIA is proud to welcome Tony Manna as chair of the SIA Data Privacy Advisory Board,” says SIA CEO Don Erickson in the association announcement. “Tony’s deep knowledge of privacy, data protection and risk management and strong leadership experience will provide great value to the advisory board going forward.

“We look forward to working with Tony to build on the advisory board’s educational content, best practices resources and analysis of the complex privacy, legal and regulatory environment our industry must navigate,” he says.

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The partnership “combines Emergency24’s established monitoring infrastructure and dealer network with Worldview Monitoring’s experience in remote guarding delivery,” the announcement says.

Together, the companies “aim to help monitoring centers, dealers and security providers introduce and expand remote guarding services in a way that supports long-term growth, recurring revenue opportunities and operational consistency,” according to the joint announcement.

Why Are Emergency24 & Worldview Monitoring Partnering?

The partnership between Emergency24 and Worldview Monitoring is “designed to address that need through a service model focused on operational consistency, structured escalation and helping dealers introduce remote guarding in a way that aligns with how they already support commercial customers,” the announcement says.

“Remote guarding has moved well beyond being a niche offering,” says Tim Pearman, CEO of Worldview Monitoring, in the joint announcement. “More dealers and monitoring organizations are actively evaluating how to support it, but maintaining consistency becomes increasingly important as deployments scale.”

“Our partnership with Emergency24 is significant because it validates the model within the U.S. market. The focus is not just on analytics or technology. It’s about delivering the service consistently and helping partners introduce remote guarding in a way that aligns with how they already operate,” he says.

Emergency24 “views the partnership as part of a broader shift taking place across the security industry as video monitoring continues evolving into a more proactive service category,” according to the joint announcement.

“Commercial customers are asking dealers more questions about remote guarding because they want greater visibility and faster intervention when activity occurs after hours,” says Steve Mayer, CEO of Emergency24, in the announcement. “For many dealers, the opportunity now is figuring out how to introduce those services in a way that supports long-term growth while remaining manageable operationally as accounts expand.

“Worldview’s experience in remote guarding delivery made this a strong fit for us. The partnership gives our dealers access to a proven operational model while maintaining the consistency and reliability they expect from Emergency24,” he says.

The partnership “will support monitoring centers, dealers and security providers looking to introduce remote guarding through a structure designed to integrate with existing monitoring environments, dealer workflows and customer relationships,” according to the joint announcement.

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ATLANTA — Full-service fire protection, life safety and service service provider Pye-Barker Fire & Safety has acquired Liberty Lake, Wash.-based Fire Protection Specialists, strengthening “its comprehensive services for customers in the Northwest,” according to the joint announcement.

This transaction “will add integrated fire protection services to Pye-Barker’s existing fire alarm and security offerings in the Pacific Northwest,” the announcement says.

Established in 1999, Fire Protection Specialists serves Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and California with the installation and servicing of fire suppression and fire alarm systems for commercial and industrial customers, including education, utility, government and healthcare facilities.

The company’s fire protection solutions include advanced system monitoring, system inspections and testing and fire extinguisher service.

Why Did Pye-Barker Acquire Fire Protection Specialists?

Fire Protection Specialists offers clean agent fire suppression systems to extinguish fire in high value spaces, such as data centers, equipment vaults and MRI/CAT scan rooms. The team also has expertise in automatic extinguishing systems for commercial kitchens and off-road fire suppression systems for heavy mobile equipment.

“We welcome the Fire Protection Specialists team to the Pye-Barker family with open arms,” says Bart Proctor, CEO of Pye-Barker, in the joint announcement. “They have a longstanding reputation of expert care in their community, and that legacy was clear in every conversation we had with their team.

“As we join forces, I’m excited for us to strengthen our customer service in Washington and beyond,” he says.

Fire Protection Specialists’ technicians and staff will continue to serve customers in the Northwest. Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP represented Pye-Barker in the transaction.

The post Pye-Barker Acquires Washington-Based Fire Protection Specialists appeared first on Security Sales & Integration.

This milestone makes FieldResolve “the most comprehensive technical knowledge base available to security and fire professionals,” according to the CMOOR Group announcement.

With this expansion, projects built inside FieldResolve “can now encompass virtually any security or fire product an integrator or dealer works with, from access control panels and intrusion detection systems to fire alarm controllers, video surveillance equipment and beyond,” the announcement says.

Technicians “can mirror the full, multi-manufacturer complexity of a real installation and get fast, accurate answers across every product on that job,” according to the company announcement.

How Does FieldResolve Help Integrators in the Field?

“Real-world security integration is never single-manufacturer,” says Connie Moorhead, CEO and founder of The CMOOR Group, in the company announcement. “A field technician walks into a job and faces Johnson Controls panels, Bosch detectors, Avigilon cameras and Kidde Commercial fire systems, all in the same building. FieldResolve was built for that reality.”

“Multi-manufacturer environments are the norm, and among the most challenging scenarios a security technician can face,” according to the company announcement. “When a system fault occurs, determining whether the problem originates with the panel, a device, the wiring or an integration between two different manufacturers requires deep cross-product troubleshooting knowledge that most technicians carry only through years of experience.

“FieldResolve changes that equation. The platform’s technical knowledge base spans products from Honeywell, Bosch, DMP and dozens of additional manufacturers, giving security and fire technicians a single resource that reflects the full scope of what they actually install,” the announcement says.

“By creating a project in FieldResolve that mirrors an actual installation, including all manufacturers present on the job, technicians can ask questions in plain language and receive precise, sourced answers drawn from that knowledge base,” according to the company announcement.

“For security and fire integrators managing large, complex installations, including schools, hospitals, high-rise buildings or enterprise campuses, the ability to perform multi-manufacturer troubleshooting from a single platform represents a significant operational advantage,” the announcement says. “Shorter service call resolution times protect both the customer relationship and the company’s bottom line.”

How Does FieldResolve Handle Data?

FieldResolve is “also differentiated by how it handles data,” according to the company announcement. All queries and results are end-to-end encrypted, meaning “none of its data ever feeds into the broader large language model (LLM).”

“Information entered into FieldResolve remains secure and will never find its way to the internet at large, making it one of the few AI field technician support platforms built with enterprise-grade data privacy at its core,” the announcement says.

The 40,000-document, 36-manufacturer milestone “reflects The CMOOR Group’s ongoing commitment to building FieldResolve as a true field-ready platform, not a document search tool, but an intelligent technical partner that understands the life safety systems professionals install and service every day,” according to the company announcement.

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Other clips this week explore a recent trend by so-called “treasure hunters” in Brooklyn and Queens who were spotted climbing out of sewers in those boroughs, a deadly explosion at a paper mill in Washington that killed 11 people and a fireworks factory explosion in Malta.

One of the biggest stories of the week across the U.S. was the series of sonic booms, meteor explosions and fireballs. As you might imagine, those rare occurrences made for some spectacular videos!

Click here to check out the latest batch of Surveillance Videos of the Week. Send your suggestions for future editions to digital editor Craig MacCormack at craig.maccormack@emeraldx.com.

The post Rescuers Save 8 in Flooded Cave: Surveillance Videos of the Week appeared first on Security Sales & Integration.

The directors will begin their terms following the association’s Annual Meeting in November 2026.

The following individuals were re-elected to the TMA board of directors:

• Michael Picciola, ADT, LLC – Vice President
• Justin Bailey, Becklar Monitoring – Secretary
• David Charney, Everon – At-Large Board Member
• Richard Flores, Puget Sound Energy – GSOC Board Member
• Brandon Niles, Acadian Monitoring Services, LLC – Contract Monitoring Board Member
• Joseph Pereira, Securitas Technology – At-Large Board Member
• Joey Rao-Russell, Kimberlite Corporation dba Sonitrol – Regional Board Member

What Does TMA Leadership Say About the Board?

“TMA is fortunate to benefit from the expertise, vision, and commitment of these accomplished industry leaders,” says TMA president Alan Gillmore IV in the association announcement. “Their collective experience in professional monitoring, security and technology will help guide the association as it advances initiatives that strengthen the professional monitoring industry and support our members.”

As members of the board of directors, the elected leaders “will help shape the association’s strategic direction and oversee programs that advance public safety, industry standards, education, advocacy and innovation throughout the monitoring and security sectors,” according to the TMA announcement.

The post The Monitoring Association Elects 2026-2028 Board of Directors appeared first on Security Sales & Integration.

Gill is founder and CEO of Alert Enterprise and he has spent more than two decades advancing enterprise security through artificial intelligence-driven automation and identity-first security strategies. In recognition of his contributions to engineering, technology and industry leadership, Gill was awarded an honorary doctorate of engineering by Guru Nanak Dev University in 2026.

Prior to founding Alert Enterprise, he founded Virsa Systems, a governance, risk and compliance and application security company acquired by SAP in 2006. Beyond business, Gill supports industry and community initiatives, including serving on advisory boards and leading Trakki, his initiative focused on education, AI learning and community development in Punjab, India.

Why is Jasvir Gill the Vice Chairman of the SIA UAB?

When the SIA Utilities Advisory Board was established in 2022, Gill was among the group’s founding members and immediately stepped into the role of Technology Subcommittee chairman. He has been “engaged with the advisory board’s development of educational content to help utility security practitioners, integrators and end users tackle cyber-physical convergence in practical, actionable terms,” according to the SIA announcement.

“Critical infrastructure is the backbone of modern society, and securing it is one of the defining challenges of our time. I am honored to serve as vice chair of the SIA Utilities Advisory Board and collaborate with some of the brightest minds in our industry to advance the future of cyber-physical security,” says Gill in the announcement.

“We have an extraordinary opportunity to reimagine security as a catalyst for resilience, operational excellence and sustainable growth,” he says. “By bringing together innovation, leadership and a shared commitment to protecting what matters most, we can help build a safer, stronger and more connected world.”

What’s the SIA Reaction to the New UAB Vice Chairman?

“SIA is proud to welcome Dr. Jasvir Gill as vice chair of the SIA Utilities Advisory Board,” says SIA CEO Don Erickson in the association announcement. “Since this group was established, Jasvir has brought his conviction, passion and expertise to helping address the unique security challenges facing utilities.

“His leadership in partnership with chair Joey St. Jacques will be immensely valuable in the advisory board’s efforts to shape how the next generation of security professionals approaches the protection of critical infrastructure,” says Erickson.

The SIA Utilities Advisory Board develops recommendations and guidance for the physical security and cybersecurity of utilities infrastructure, offers formal responses to security rules and guidance proposed by regulatory agencies, shares knowledge with related industries and develops content for SIA events and publications.

Key advisory board initiatives include helping to develop the Security Cornerstones module on critical infrastructure security, hosting the annual Protecting Utilities lunch events at ISC West and East, developing a six-session SIAacademy LIVE! course on securing utilities and the energy sector and developing SIA’s Guide to NERC CIP Compliance.

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HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Convergint will mark its 25th Annual Convergint Social Responsibility Day tomorrow, closing operations worldwide for a full, paid workday so colleagues can volunteer in the communities where they live and work.

Coinciding with Convergint’s 25th anniversary, this year’s effort also includes the expansion of its STEP (Secure, Train, Educate, Protect) Up for Schools initiative through a newly structured grant program to help underserved K-12 schools strengthen safety and security infrastructure.

“Convergint Social Responsibility Day reflects a commitment our colleagues have carried forward for 25 years by showing up for the communities where we live and work,” says Ann Fandozzi, CEO of Convergint, in the company announcement.

“As we mark this milestone anniversary, we’re continuing to expand the impact of STEP Up for Schools alongside our partners to help provide safer, stronger learning environments for students and educators around the world,” she says.

What’s Involved in Convergint Social Responsibility Day?

This year’s Convergint Social Responsibility Day efforts will bring together nearly 11,000 colleagues, families, and more than 45 industry partners across 37 countries, contributing approximately 60,000 volunteer hours worldwide, according to the company announcement.

“From supporting children and families in need to advancing school safety and strengthening local communities, these initiatives reflect Convergint’s belief that creating a safer and more secure world starts with investing in the people and communities we serve,” the announcement says.

Through the 2026 STEP Up for Schools Grant Program, Convergint and its technology partners awarded 20 grants to underserved K-12 schools across the U.S., supporting a range of school safety and security needs, including access control, video systems, environmental and vape sensors, preventative maintenance services, fire alarm inspections and security risk assessments, according to the company announcement.

Since launching in 2018, STEP Up for Schools has supported more than 175 schools and communities through donated security upgrades, assessments, volunteer-led projects and in-kind contributions. While the average STEP Up for Schools project represents approximately $25,000 in donated products and services, Convergint and its partners have also delivered several flagship initiatives valued at more than $250,000.

Since the program’s inception, Convergint estimates STEP Up for Schools has contributed more than $7 million in donated products, services and expertise to “help create safer learning environments and stronger communities worldwide,” according to the company announcement.

The post Convergint Marks 25 Years of Community, School Service Work appeared first on Security Sales & Integration.

For a room packed with integrators, end users, consultants, technology partners and press members (including yours truly), that line set up the central argument of his keynote. The physical security industry, Palmquist contends, is sitting on mountains of data it has long ignored, and the tools to extract value from it have finally arrived.

“At Milestone, we believe that we now live in the visual intelligence era,” says Palmquist, vice president, Americas, at Milestone Systems. It’s a claim he repeated throughout the talk, and it’s one that he frames less as marketing than as a reading of where the market is already headed.

A Parallel Business Model, Not a Disruption

Palmquist’s framing is worth pausing on because it sidesteps the usual disruption narrative. He defines the industry’s baseline in just a few words: safety, security and liability management. Those functions aren’t going anywhere.

What’s emerging, he argues, is a parallel business model that expands what’s possible without unseating the table stakes.

“A parallel business model lets us expand in a completely new way,” says Palmquist. “Take on new opportunities within an industry that’s always been a certain way.”

The opportunity, in his telling, is the data that has always been there: footage organizations have reviewed maybe 1% of the time, then promptly deleted every 30, 60 or 90 days.

The Humby analogy comes into sharper focus here. Oil sat under the earth while business models operated above it, Palmquist notes, until extraction and refinement made it a commercial game-changer. He believes the same inflection point has now come to physical security.

“Suddenly, because of the invention of new tools that are very powerful, the data that we have otherwise taken for granted…suddenly has more value,” says Palmquist.

It’s a confident reframe and one that lands differently depending on where you sit. For security dealers, installers and integrators wondering how to grow accounts, it gestures at a new revenue category. For end users, it reframes stored video from a liability to a resource.

Four Forces Converging

Palmquist built his opening talk around four forces that he says are converging to make the visual intelligence era real. The first is artificial intelligence itself.

“AI is transforming how video data, or data in general, is used,” says Palmquist, pointing to the broader market and personal experience as evidence that powerful tools are evolving fast.

Applied to the data security operations already collect, he argues, those tools open value that didn’t previously exist.

The second is pace. Innovation is accelerating faster than ever, Palmquist says, acknowledging with some humor that the same statement will be true next year. He reaches for autonomous vehicles in Las Vegas and reusable rockets as proof that breakneck change isn’t hyperbole. The third is architecture.

“Edge-to-cloud is the new architectural reality,” says Palmquist, dismissing the old orthodoxy that air-gapped systems would never touch the cloud.

The point isn’t that cloud wins outright; it’s that customers now have architectural freedom to deploy across sites based on complexity and size.

The fourth force is the one that gives the keynote its ethical center: trust and responsibility. As tool sets grow more powerful and the data largely concerns human beings, Palmquist argues, guardrails become essential to every deployment.

“Technology should always be set up to serve humanity, and never the other way around,” he says. Coming from a vendor in a year saturated with AI promises, the line reads as a deliberate signal rather than a throwaway.

One Milestone, Multiple Solution Sets

From the market thesis, Palmquist pivots to the company. The strategic message is consolidation under a single brand.

“We believe that the platform that is simple and flexible is the way to win,” he says, describing a setup in which edge devices capture all forms of data, AI surfaces what matters most and customers add or retire technology at the speed of the market.

That platform, he explains, occupies three complementary tiers under a unified Milestone brand. On-prem and hybrid solutions run through XProtect VMS, the enterprise-class software for which Milestone is known, and which it now augments with hybrid capability.

Video analytics and AI run through BriefCam and Project Hafnia. Cloud-delivered offerings run through Arcules VSaaS, with more roadmap elements taking advantage of the new architecture.

Palmquist positions this expansion as continuity, not reinvention.

“We are the same company we have always been for 28 years,” he says.

The throughline is partnership. Milestone’s DNA, he argues, is to be an open-platform company intentionally built to work with third parties, many of them exhibiting in the foyer.

“One company cannot deliver the innovation that any end customer needs at the speed of their business,” says Palmquist.

That open-platform claim is backed by scale. Palmquist cites a 28-year-old business, for thousands of enterprise installations, more than 3,000 technology integrations and a partner ecosystem exceeding 1,000 members.

He also flags App Center, which he says lets technology partners and end customers add innovation to the Milestone product set themselves. The pitch to the channel is that the open model, not any single vendor’s roadmap, is what keeps solutions relevant as innovation accelerates.

Capture Everything, Understand What Matters

The keynote closes on the 2026 tagline that doubles as Milestone’s product philosophy.

“Capture everything,” says Palmquist, returning to the mountains of data, “but the most important thing is understanding what matters most.”

Here, he adopts a predictive posture. Looking back at footage is fine, he says, and understanding the present is fine, but the real prize is predicting the future: knowing how to muster resources or where to deploy people based on intelligence drawn from data.

“We’re entering an era now where the tech is evolving to be so good, we think we’ll start getting intelligence in areas that we haven’t yet thought to request,” says Palmquist.

We’ll all find out whether the industry will move as quickly as Palmquist suggests and he concedes security does tend to move more slowly than other sectors. But the argument he laid out is compelling and, for an opening keynote, unusually disciplined.

The data has always been there. The tools have arrived. The brand is unified. And the guardrails, at least rhetorically, come first.

“The age of visual intelligence is here,” says Palmquist. “It’s happening now.”

For about 450 security stakeholders in the room, Milestone Xperience Days were pitched as a chance to debate exactly that.

The post Milestone’s Palmquist Makes the Case for the ‘Visual Intelligence Era’ appeared first on Security Sales & Integration.

These “operational realities” include alarm volume, service level agreement attainment, operational maturity and artificial intelligence adoption, according to the announcement.

Commissioned through independent research firm Censuswide, “The State of Physical Security Operations in 2026” surveyed 300 U.S.-based professionals responsible for physical security operations at organizations with 500 or more employees and at least $5 million in annual revenue.

The findings “reveal a striking disconnect between confidence and operational effectiveness across modern security operations centers (SOCs),” according to the HiveWatch announcement.

What Does the HiveWatch Report Reveal About Service?

“At a time when security teams are being asked to manage more devices, more alerts and more operational complexity than ever before, many organizations still lack the visibility and operational benchmarks needed to understand how effectively their programs are actually performing,” says Ryan Schonfeld, co-founder and CEO of HiveWatch, in the company announcement.

“This report highlights the growing gap between perceived readiness and measurable performance, while also showing how AI and automation are beginning to separate mature security operations from those struggling to keep pace,” he says.

Among the report’s key findings:

• Large enterprises report false alarm rates approaching 44%
• Nearly 30% of organizations still rely on manual device health checks instead of fully automated monitoring systems
• 97% of respondents are either currently using AI or actively evaluating it for security operations
• AI adoption reaches 75% among organizations that rate themselves at the highest maturity levels, compared to 43% among lower-maturity programs

The report also identifies “a growing ‘automation deficit’ across the industry, with operators spending significant time on repetitive administrative work such as manual alarm triage and routine notifications instead of higher-value threat analysis and response,” according to the HiveWatch announcement.

“The physical security industry has spent years talking about technology adoption, but the more important question is whether security programs are remaining operationally effective as complexity scales,” says Jordan Hill, co-founder and head of product for HiveWatch, in the company announcement.

“The organizations making meaningful progress are the ones operationalizing AI and automation to reduce noise, improve response and give operators the ability to focus on actual threats,” he says.

The report combines independent survey data with operational benchmark insights from HiveWatch customer environments to provide security leaders with comparative data across operational maturity, AI adoption, device monitoring, alarm management and SOC structure.

The post Report: 19% of Security Teams Consistently Meet Their Own SLAs appeared first on Security Sales & Integration.

HOBOKEN, N.J. — Identity-driven cyber resilience and crisis response company Semperis has been named one of the 2026 Inc. Best Workplaces, according to a company announcement.

The annual list recognizes organizations across North America that foster exceptional company culture, deep employee engagement, and growth opportunities.

“At Semperis, our culture is built on the belief that doing the right thing—for our customers, our colleagues and our communities—creates lasting impact,” says Mickey Bresman, CEO of Semperis, in the company announcement. That mindset shapes how we work together, how we support one another’s growth and how we help organizations around the world strengthen cyber resilience.

“We are honored to be recognized by Inc. Best Workplaces for the fifth consecutive year because it reflects the passion, collaboration and purpose our employees bring to Semperis every day—and our shared commitment to be a force for good,” he says.

What Other Awards Has Semperis Won?

Semperis has been named to Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 for six consecutive years. Its Purple Knight community tool, a free security assessment solution designed to identify vulnerabilities in Microsoft Active Directory, Entra ID and Okta, has been endorsed by leading cyber-agencies from the Five Eyes Alliance nations, including the NSA and CISA.

Inc. selected this year’s honorees from thousands of submissions, evaluating each company through “a comprehensive employee survey conducted by Quantum Workplace,” according to the Semperis announcement. The assessment measured leadership effectiveness, perks, fostering employee growth and overall company culture. Each organization’s benefits were also audited to determine its overall score and ranking.

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SAN MATEO, Calif. — Artificial intelligence-powered physical security technology provider Verkada recently announced the promotion of Carlos Rocha to lead its Latin American (LATAM) business as country manager as the company expands to meet accelerating demand for AI-powered physical security solutions in the region.

Based in Mexico City, Rocha will lead Verkada’s go-to-market strategy, sales operations and partner development across Latin America. The company “has grown rapidly in the past year in partnership with its network of more than 400 partners in the region, with its LATAM bookings up 300% year-over-year,” according to the Verkada announcement.

“Carlos has been instrumental in building Verkada’s business in Latin America from the ground up,” says Eric Salava, chief revenue officer at Verkada, in the company announcement. “He joined as our first employee in Mexico and has since scaled the team to more than 30 employees who are driving real impact across LATAM. This promotion reflects how we’re investing in the region.”

Why Did Verkada Promote Carlos Rocha?

“Latin America is one of the most dynamic and fast-growing markets in the world, and Verkada is uniquely positioned to capture this market opportunity,” says Rocha in the company announcement.

“Organizations here – global manufacturers, retailers, and industrial firms who are rapidly expanding their physical footprints — are ahead of the curve when it comes to AI and cloud adoption, which has made Verkada’s AI-native, cloud-based platform the clear choice for their capital investments,” he says.

With a customer base that has grown 52% in the year across the region, Verkada “is bringing AI into the physical world to solve real-world challenges for organizations like C5, Softek, Finsa and American School Foundation,” according to the company announcement.

“Verkada’s impact is scaling alongside its fast-growing customer footprint: its video security cameras process more than 400 million images per hour during peak hours, its access control powers 8 million door unlocks per day and its visitor management system prevented more than 5,000 potential threats last year,” the announcement says.

Verkada’s investment in LATAM comes on the heels of launching four new offices across the U.S., including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles and a new international hub in Dubai. The company’s recent investment from CapitalG, Alphabet’s independent growth fund, values Verkada’s footprint of more than 30,000 customers globally at $5.8 billion.

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That’s why we need YOUR help to make sure our 2026 Video Surveillance Deep Dive survey captures the latest developments of the ever-expanding video surveillance market — but you need to act fast!

What’s in the 2026 Video Surveillance Deep Dive Survey?

In SSI’s 2026 Video Surveillance Deep Dive survey, you’ll have the chance to tell us more about the scale of your video surveillance work, the growth of your video surveillance opportunities, how various vertical markets are accepting video surveillance applications and, finally, roadblocks you encounter from customer’s IT departments.

You can also share your thoughts on cloud-based and Video Surveillance-as-a-Service offerings, how much recurring revenue your video surveillance work generates and features you think could help to make your video surveillance work even more successful in the future.

And, because artificial intelligence is everywhere these days, of course we have a question in this year’s survey about how AI is influencing the video surveillance market.

In addition to providing basic information about your video surveillance work, you’ll also be able to share more on challenges you’re encountering when it comes to these applications. And, if you want to share your opinions with SSI readers about what you’re seeing in video surveillance, we’ll give you the opportunity to do that too.

You’ll see the results of the story and accompanying analysis in the July/August 2026 issue of Commercial Integrator + Security Sales & Integration as well as online.

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The ESA Industry Research Center “is designed to give integrators and dealers a deeper, more informed foundation for the decisions that drive their businesses forward,” according to the association announcement.

Backed by the nationally recognized macroeconomic forecasting firm Beacon Economics and led by ESA chief economist Christopher Thornberg, a founding partner of Beacon Economics, the Center “will deliver meaningful economic and industry insight to help integrators and dealers make smarter business decisions,” the announcement says.

What is the ESA Industry Performance Index?

At the core of the Research Center is the ESA Industry Performance Index (IPI): a composite 0-100 score reflecting “the health, capacity, and forward trajectory of the electronic security and life safety sector,” according to the ESA announcement.

Rather than broad economic proxies, the IPI is “built entirely around the specific forces that drive performance in this industry,” the announcement says.

The IPI measures industry health across four dimensions. The first, Business Activity and Market Growth, “tracks current demand and future trajectory, capturing revenue trends, project backlogs, segment growth, mergers and acquisitions activity and sales velocity,” according to the ESA announcement.

Workforce Capacity and Pressure “examines whether the industry can meet that demand, monitoring hiring timelines, vacancy rates, wage pressures and the growing skills gap between traditional field roles and today’s artificial intelligence-enabled technical positions,” the announcement says.

Revenue and Business Model Health “looks beyond topline growth to assess the durability of earnings, analyzing profit margins, the ongoing shift toward recurring revenue and contract quality.” Rounding out the Index, Technology and AI Adoption “tracks the industry’s pace of modernization from the transition to proactive monitoring and connected systems integration to customer-facing technology and cybersecurity readiness.”

The IPI is slated to officially launch in July 2026.

Why is ESA Launching the Center?

“The ESA Industry Research Center represents a pivotal moment for our industry,” says Kevin Stone, ESA chairman and chief operating officer at Doyle Security Systems, in the association announcement. “For the first time, integrators and dealers will have access to the kind of rigorous, purpose-built economic intelligence that supports smarter decisions, stronger businesses and a more resilient industry overall.

“This is exactly the type of forward-looking investment ESA exists to make on behalf of its members and the industry,” he says.

Beacon Economics “brings nationally recognized forecasting expertise and rigorous quantitative methodology to the ESA Industry Research Center,” according to the association announcement.

Working alongside the Beacon Economics team, Thornberg “will provide ongoing economic insights, analysis and guidance in direct support of the IPI and the broader research initiatives behind the Center,” the announcement says.

“ESA has always been committed to equipping the industry with the knowledge and resources it needs to grow,” says Thornberg in the ESA announcement. “The ESA Industry Research Center takes that commitment further, adding a new layer of economic intelligence that gives integrators and dealers a sharper, more data-driven view of where the industry stands and where it is headed.”

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