Interface Systems LLC - Experts & Thought Leaders

Interface Systems, a pioneering managed service provider delivering remote video monitoring, commercial security systems, business intelligence, and network to multi-location enterprises, outlined the security and technology trends expected to define retail, restaurant, and commercial business safety in 2026. The company anticipates an increased shift toward proactive, exterior-focused measures, AI-driven analytics for operational efficiency, broader adoption of human oversight for AI, and heightened regulatory standards. Proactive deterrence will lead security strategy  Commercial establishments such as retail and restaurant chains, car washes, automotive service centres, and other consumer-facing businesses are increasingly focused on securing their exteriors through preventive measures that detect and neutralise threats before they escalate. Advanced video analytics will be central to combating loitering, vandalism, and break-ins in real-time. By leveraging AI-driven detection in conjunction with remote video monitoring, businesses can stop crime before it happens and minimise the costs associated with damage and merchandise or equipment loss.  Human oversight will enhance AI-enabled security AI-enabled cameras are now highly accurate in detection and classification, continually improving as they learn from data. However, the most resilient security strategies acknowledge that bad actors are also constantly evolving. Hence, businesses are likely to incorporate Security Operations Centre (SOC) services to add a critical "human-in-the-loop." This hybrid model ensures expert analysts are available to handle exceptions, investigate persistent threats, and provide the oversight needed for a truly robust security posture. Regulatory mandates will drive security upgrades   Heightened scrutiny is expected in 2026 as both insurance providers and legislators tighten physical security standards. Retailers failing to demonstrate robust preventive measures face significant financial risks, including potential policy cancellations. For instance, New York jewellers are increasingly at risk of losing insurance coverage if they cannot certify that they have protections against specific high-tech threats, such as cell jamming. Simultaneously, legal mandates are expanding; the New York Retail Worker Safety Act (Senate Bill S.8358-B) now requires retailers to adopt comprehensive violence prevention programs and, for larger employers, install silent response buttons. Consequently, physical security companies must pivot to developing proactive solutions that meet these new regulatory baselines and satisfy insurers' stringent risk requirements. Video analytics will see widespread adoption Beyond safety, the use of video analytics to improve operational performance is expected to expand. Businesses will more widely adopt applications to monitor the speed of service, drive-thru throughput, food-handling compliance, store layout gaps, checkout wait times, and risk management scenarios such as slip-and-fall detection. These tools will help retailers and restaurants streamline operations, enhance guest experiences, and maintain a competitive edge. “Looking ahead to 2026, businesses that combine proactive deterrence, AI-driven video analytics, and expert human oversight will be best positioned to stay ahead of evolving threats,” said Sean Foley, Chief Revenue Officer at Interface Systems. “To ensure long-term success in retail and restaurant security, our focus remains on developing solutions that prevent crime, enhance efficiency, and maintain compliance.”

Interface Systems, a pioneering managed service provider delivering business security, networking, and business intelligence solutions to multi-location enterprises, announced the launch of TamperShield, its breakthrough monitoring technology designed to identify alarm system interference before an intrusion occurs. Traditional alarm monitoring only reports once an alarm is triggered. TamperShield continuously verifies that the alarm panel can communicate properly, providing faster visibility into communication failures, device tampering, and system health issues. The result is greater alarm uptime, faster threat awareness, and stronger protection for businesses that cannot afford downtime in their security operations. Interface's monitoring centres TamperShield is currently compatible with DMP and Honeywell alarm panels, allowing organisations to upgrade their monitoring capabilities without a complete system replacement. When an alarm panel is unable to communicate, an alert is sent to Interface's monitoring centres to notify customers and engage law enforcement, ensuring continuous protection and immediate situational awareness. Interface operates TMA Five Diamond-certified, UL-listed Interactive Security Operations Centres (iSOCs) staffed 24/7 by U.S.-based security experts who monitor more than 75,000 customer locations nationwide. These centres provide real-time response and alarm video verification, ensuring customers receive rapid, professional intervention whenever communication disruptions or intrusion attempts are detected. TamperShield Alarm Monitoring A national jewellery retailer is already deploying TamperShield Alarm Monitoring across all stores nationwide, reflecting strong customer demand in the jewellery and high-value retail sectors for intelligent, resilient alarm monitoring solutions that combat increasingly sophisticated criminal tactics. "Criminals are becoming more sophisticated in how they attempt to disable security systems before committing crimes," said Steve Womer, Senior Vice President of Product at Interface Systems. Interface's comprehensive portfolio Steve Womer added: "TamperShield Alarm Monitoring ensures that customers know the moment their system is compromised, so they can respond immediately." TamperShield strengthens Interface's comprehensive portfolio of integrated security solutions, which includes advanced interactive remote video monitoring, intrusion detection, cloud video management, video analytics, and access control, offering businesses an intelligent, layered approach to safeguarding their assets and people.

3xLOGIC, Inc., a major provider of integrated, intelligent security solutions, and a three-time Deloitte Technology Fast 500 winner, announced that Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. (parent of Panda Express, Panda Inn, and Hibachi-San) has completed deployment of 3xLOGIC’s VIGIL Trends Business Intelligence software to all of its North American locations.  Interface Security Systems, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is the integrator and overall project manager for this ambitious endeavour. Largest family-owned restaurant Panda Express is the largest family-owned restaurant in America, with more than 2,000 stores globally, 35,000 associates and $3 billion in sales. Since it was established in 1983, Panda has steadily grown with roughly 125 stores opening each year. Privately owned and operated, the restaurant is guided by the core values of its co-founders and co-CEO, Andrew and Peggy Cherng and is dedicated to developing its team members and giving back to the community. Business intelligence solutions “As an industry leader, Panda Express’s culture sets an expectation of best-in-class results,” explained Lyle Forcum, executive director of asset protection at Panda Express. “Accordingly, we needed a state-of-the-art business intelligence solution to provide us with truly actionable information. Intelligence we can act on is central to Panda’s business strategy, which focuses on meeting high standards through continuous operational improvement.” Starting in August 2017, 3xLOGIC and Interface Systems worked with Panda Express to customise Trends to meet the company’s unique, comprehensive needs. Interface began system deployment in QI 2018 with the first location going live in March 2018. Presently, Trends is deployed at 1,960 locations and has been integrated with existing Interface video surveillance and alarm systems. Tracking and improving operations “It was impressive that we were able to integrate Trends so seamlessly with existing intrusion and video systems,” said Sean Foley, senior vice president of national accounts at Interface Systems, “and the entire solution was rolled out without a single technician visiting any store.” Unlike many retail BI implementations, the focus at Panda Restaurant Group is not solely on retail loss prevention, but also on tracking and improving all operations at every store. Here are some of the key elements of store operations that Trends enables Panda to monitor, track, and improve: People Development: To set its people up for success, store managers are able to review all transactional behaviour and address opportunity areas with employees within two days. Comparing Store Performance: The store managers’ Trends dashboard shows very clearly how the restaurant is performing compared to other stores in the region and to their prior month’s performance. Optimising Store Efficiency: Trends visually displays how many people are working per hour, what job they are facilitating, and the revenue generated per hour. Monitoring Intrusion Data: Trends provides intrusion data, which shows in a very simple display when stores are opened and closed, deliveries are made, cleaning is done, and whether the store is being remotely armed and disarmed. Tracking Cash: Panda Express can track currency, how much is in the safe and when it was last counted, as well as petty cash spend along with scanned receipts for purchases. Custom Dashboards: The system provides an array of dashboards for all levels in the organisation that give an at-a-glance or drilled-down overview of an employee’s priorities and responsibilities. “At Panda, safety and loss prevention are key priorities in executing great operations,” said Lyle Forcum, executive director of asset protection at Panda Express. “We worked with 3xLOGIC and Interface for over a year to implement a highly-customised solution to meet these priorities. Now, we have a cutting-edge tool deployed across the entire enterprise that we can all be proud of.”

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?

A system's lifecycle is the journey it takes from planning and design through to decommissioning. Considering the entire lifecycle of a system can encourage integrators and end users to embrace higher-quality technologies with an eye toward maximising their value over time rather than focusing on lower-priced equipment. For additional insights, we asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: How does consideration of system lifecycles impact the choice of physical security technologies?

The hospitality industry drives economic growth and development by creating jobs, generating revenue, and initiating a ripple effect to improve profitability throughout the supply chain. The hospitality industry includes a vast number of small businesses, including hotels and restaurants. But what are the security challenges of these businesses, and how is the security marketplace serving those needs? We asked this week's Expert Panel Roundtable: How can technology address the security challenges of the hospitality market?