Interface Systems LLC - Experts & Thought Leaders

Interface Systems, a provider of AI-powered security and expert remote video monitoring for restaurants, retailers, and commercial businesses, today published “The Real Cost of Alarm Failure,” a new report from its 2026 Loss Prevention Research Series. The data-driven study models the cumulative operational expense of false alarms across multi-site portfolios, utilising municipal ordinances and fee schedules across 25 U.S. cities, police dispatch policies in 23 cities, federal labor data, and real-world vendor repair costs. The report provides critical operational data to help loss prevention, risk management, and operations leaders identify where safety budgets are being quietly eroded. The study distinguishes between visible costs, such as municipal fines, and the broader operational disruptions that occur long before any city fine is issued. Remote video monitoring Key data and findings from the report: Fines Are Just the Tip of the Iceberg: For a standard 10-store retailer averaging 3 false alarms per location, direct municipal fines total just $1,220 annually. However, adding unverified guard dispatches, manager keyholder logistics, and lost labor hours brings the baseline annual cash drain to $7,230. The Police Non-Response Turning Point: In 21 of the 23 major cities analysed (including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Houston), local police departments enforce policies that suspend or entirely revoke emergency dispatch privileges for properties exceeding a set number of false alarms. The Worst-Case Exposure: For a 10-store operator, the risk climbs to a staggering $37,230 in annual liability if each location experiences a single break-in after losing local police response privileges. The Insurance Void: The study reviews clear commercial case precedents where insurance carriers successfully denied six-figure corporate burglary claims on appeal because the operator allowed their monitored alarm system or permits to lapse. The First-Alarm Drain: While city penalties typically waive the first or second false alarm event, the operational cost hits on day one. A single false alarm triggers between $150 and $500 in blended fees, whether from dispatching a private security unit or requiring a manager to respond after hours to an empty facility. Remote intervention specialists “Multi-location operators frequently look at false alarms as a minor compliance issue because the municipal invoice is relatively small,” said Sean Foley, Chief Revenue Officer at Interface Systems. “What this data reveals is that the real damage happens behind the scenes. When a property crosses a city's infraction threshold, it triggers an operational domino effect: managers are pulled away from customers, administrative teams spend hours fighting permit suspensions, and ultimately, police units stop showing up. Our goal with this report is to show organisations how to close those exposure windows before they result in a serious, uninsurable loss.” The report emphasises that cities only penalise businesses after emergency units physically respond to a false alert. Interface Systems solves this by deploying remote intervention specialists at its U.S.-based Interactive Security Operations Center (iSOC) to review live video feeds the exact moment a sensor trips. By visually verifying site safety before dispatch occurs, Interface clears 95% of commercial alarm events as false, keeping compliance fines off corporate ledgers and ensuring properties stay off restrictive municipal non-response lists.

Interface Systems, a provider of AI-powered security and expert remote video monitoring for restaurants, retailers, and commercial businesses, today announced the addition of Brivo to its end-to-end managed access control portfolio that includes solution design, system integration, professional installation, ongoing maintenance, and technical support. As organisations continue to adopt cloud-based security technologies, many are seeking access control solutions that simplify administration across multiple locations and improve operational efficiency. Modernising security infrastructure Brivo's cloud-native platform enables centralised management of users, physical and mobile credentials, schedules, and door activity from a single interface, offering real-time visibility. Combined with Interface's U.S.-based Interactive Security Operations Centers (iSOCs), customers benefit from a single trusted partner to secure and manage facilities across multiple locations. "Our customers want security solutions that can scale alongside their business and are easy to manage," said Sean Foley, Chief Revenue Officer at Interface Systems. "Adding Brivo to our managed access control portfolio gives organisations another proven option for modernising their security infrastructure while continuing to benefit from Interface's expertise in system design, deployment, integration, and ongoing support." Improving operational efficiency “We're pleased to welcome Interface to our growing partner ecosystem,” said John Szczygiel, COO at Brivo. “Their nationwide reach and deep expertise serving restaurants, retail, and commercial businesses make them an ideal partner. Together, we'll enable organisations to strengthen security, improve operational efficiency, and deliver exceptional experiences across some of the most dynamic industries in the market.” Restaurant, retail, and commercial business leaders interested in evaluating their access control strategy can schedule a complimentary security assessment to find the right managed access control fit for their operations here.

Interface Systems, a provider of AI-powered security and expert remote video monitoring for restaurants, retailers, and commercial businesses, today released its 2026 Restaurant Security Benchmark Report, an annual study based on 1.1 million monitoring events across 9,392 U.S. restaurant locations representing 78 quick-service, fast-casual, and casual dining brands. The report provides operational data at a scale to help restaurant security and operations leaders understand when risk peaks, where it concentrates, which threats escalate fastest, and which intervention strategies prove most effective across thousands of monitored locations. Informed security decisions "Restaurant operators are balancing employee safety, customer experience, and operational efficiency across hundreds or even thousands of locations," said Brent Duncan, CEO of Interface Systems. "This report provides real-world operational data that helps them understand where risk is greatest, when intervention matters most, and how to make more informed security decisions." Protecting people is the primary security challenge. Loiterers and panhandlers (49.8%) and disturbances (21.5%) together account for over 70% of high-priority events. Theft and loss, the dominant threat in retail, barely registers at restaurants. Other threats tracked included battery and assault, burglary, robbery, property damage, and medical emergencies. Real-world operational data Risk is highly concentrated in a small set of locations. Three percent of monitored locations generate 81% of all high-priority events, and the top 100 sites alone account for 59%. Uniform security spend across a portfolio overprotects most sites and underprotects the few that carry the risk. Risk extends across the clock. High-priority events stay elevated around the clock, peaking at 6 PM during the dinner rush, while roughly 30% occur overnight between 10 PM and 6 AM when restaurants run skeleton crews or sit closed. January was the worst month, running 61% above the summer low. Significant operational burden Interactive remote monitoring resolves most incidents before police response is required. Of 1.1 million events, only 1.6% required a police, fire, or medical dispatch. Trained intervention specialists with live video and two-way audio resolved 98.4% remotely. False alarms remain a significant operational burden. Restaurants generated more than 296,000 false alarms during the reporting period, with nearly half occurring during morning opening procedures. Video verification resolved more than 97% before emergency dispatch, helping operators avoid unnecessary fines while preserving first responder resources. Reducing operational disruption Employees rely on live support during vulnerable windows. Staff initiated more than 82,000 requests for monitoring assistance over the year, approximately 225 every day, including live monitoring, voice-down interventions, and employee escorts during opening, closing, and cash-handling activities. Risk surrounds holidays. Christmas Day recorded the fewest incidents of the year, while Christmas Eve saw three times as many. The day after Presidents Day produced the highest incident volume of any holiday period as restaurants returned to normal operations. The 2026 Restaurant Security Benchmark Report is based on anonymized event metadata collected between June 1, 2025 and May 31, 2026 across 9,392 restaurant locations nationwide. In addition to benchmarking data, the report offers practical guidance to help restaurant operators improve employee safety, reduce operational disruption, and align security resources with actual risk.

Historically, physical security systems have protected retail companies’ assets, people, and profits. Security prevents theft (shrinkage), while maintaining order and ensuring a safe environment for customers and staff. Today’s retail business is changing by leaps and bounds, driven in large part by technology advances. Newer physical security systems are finding new ways to deter crime and provide operational data, in the process preserving brand reputation and ensuring the business remains viable and welcoming. We asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: What's new in retail applications for physical security?

To serve various vertical markets and industries effectively, security professionals must recognise that each sector has unique assets, risks, compliance requirements, and operational needs. Instead of offering a one-size-fits-all solution, security system providers must tailor their products, services, and integration strategies to address the distinct requirements of vertical markets. We asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: Which vertical markets have the greatest growth potential for physical security systems?

Ethics can impact a company's reputation, profitability, and overall sustainability. Ethics extend beyond the law to encompass doing the "right thing" even when it is not legally mandated. As technologies such as artificial intelligence and data sharing continue to impact the physical security industry, a focus on ethics today is timelier than ever. A commitment to moral principles is critical to build a successful, sustainable, and respected industry. We asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: What is the role of ethics when deploying emerging technologies in physical security?