The Protection Bureau - Experts & Thought Leaders

Security-Net, Inc., a network of renowned security system integrators, is welcoming The Protection Bureau, a long-time member of Security-Net, back to its membership fold. The return of The Protection Bureau comes just a few months after Corbett Technology Solutions, Inc. acquired the Exton, Pennsylvania, based integration firm. Mike Jobrey, the General Manager of The Protection Bureau, has now assumed the role as the member representative for the company. Security-Net member Mike Jobrey said, “The Protection Bureau has a strong cultural alignment and business vision that matches that of Security-Net, and has been a loyal member for over twenty years. We are thrilled to continue this partnership that has driven proven results, since its inception.” Through its multiple geographic locations, The Protection Bureau services the entire Mid-Atlantic area of the United States of America, with offices in Exton, Pennsylvania and South Plainfield, New Jersey, as well as in Richmond, Virginia.  The Protection Bureau Founded in 1975, The Protection Bureau has been consistently praised for its expertise, as a security systems integrator Founded in 1975, The Protection Bureau has been consistently praised for its expertise, as a security systems integrator and for its reliable, around-the-clock service. It has been recognised multiple times, as a ‘Top Systems Integrator’, by SDM Magazine. Corbett Technology Solutions, Inc. acquired The Protection Bureau in October 2021. At that time, longtime Security-Net member - J. Matthew Ladd, former President of The Protection Bureau, stepped down from the organisation. “We are pleased to have The Protection Bureau rejoin Security-Net and to be able to leverage the expertise that Mike Jobrey will bring to the group,” said John Krumme, a member of Security-Net and also Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cam-Dex Security Corp. Wide understanding of dynamic solutions John Krumme adds, “With more than 30 years in the security industry, Jobrey has a keen understanding about dynamic solutions being deployed by systems integrators and the demands of end user customers.” Mike Jobrey said that he looks forward to continuing to share industry best practices that will enhance business for all Security-Net members. In addition, he plans to actively participate in the technical, sales and operational groups, developed by Security-Net, Inc.

The goal of OPS-Net is to ensure customer satisfaction in the completion of security system installations Security-Net, Inc., a global provider of security system services, announced today that it has formed a new committee within its organisation called OPS-Net to provide greater support to clients and improve customer satisfaction. The goal of OPS-Net is to enhance communication between project managers and to ensure customer satisfaction in the completion of security system installations. OPS-Net joins two existing groups, Tech-Net and Sales-Net. Tech-Net brings together the top technical experts from each company to share information about the latest security products and to trouble shoot technology problems, while Sales-Net is focused on national accounts strategy, project management and lead generation. “With OPS-Net, we can ensure that when the operations piece of Security-Net takes over on a nationwide or global security systems integration project that the process is efficient for the client,” said Michael Jobrey, chairman of OPS-Net and Vice President of Operations for The Protection Bureau, a Security-Net member company. “We want to make sure that a project is completed to the highest level of satisfaction of the client.” Members of OPS-Net will include members from Security-Net whose focus is on business operations. OPS-Net will develop programs for optimised fulfilment, the implementation of a policy of best practices within the Security-Net organisation and enhanced communication among project managers. Its inaugural project has been to collect information on how well and in what capacity Security-Net members are currently collaborating. OPS-Net’s other goals include enhancing project start-up times, streamlining material fulfilment of projects from beginning to end, and improving and streamlining internal communications. The group intends also to develop a system for measuring its own success. OPS-Net and Security-Net members will be in attendance at the 60th Annual ASIS International Conference and Trade Show September 29 to October 2 in Atlanta to further develop the initiative. Security-Net will be exhibiting at booth 2437 at the conference.

The security market is very active right now. Business is strong, according to most of the people that I talk to in the industry. In 2017, we at The Protection Bureau had one of our best years ever revenue-wise. Because of a strong economy, businesses are spending money on security. 2017 growing trends The trends that happened in 2017 vary. One trend that is growing is the national account concept. This is because clients are deploying more and more enterprise-level systems and taking advantage of network-based systems. Another trend this past year is growth of the IP video market, a strong technology in the market because and where many integrators generate their revenue. We also saw many clients with older surveillance systems invest in updating their technology, such as replacing older IP-based systems with newer versions and taking advantage of analytics and greater recording options and storage solutions. Many of our customers also invested in updating their access control systems by replacing their older Weigand cards with more secure card formats. Unexpected challenges One of the unexpected challenges we ran into this past year related to technical roadblocks that integrators hit with products. For example, a camera manufacturer may increase the capabilities of the camera, but the capabilities of the recording systems have not caught up. Or, the access control system has to integrate with other systems, but the application programming interface (API) is not finished. That has perhaps been one of the biggest surprises this year as an integrator. Looking ahead to 2018 The economy looks like it will be as strong in 2018 as it was in 2017. I expect that cybersecurity will continue to have a strong impact on the security market because there are greater network security issues. It’s important that security systems integrators understand that the cybersecurity impact is going to be huge in 2018.There is currently a battle going on as to who can provide the lowest-cost camera - this means that integrators are going to have to watch their margins Some other impacts I expect to take shape involve the IP camera market. There is currently a battle going on as to who can provide the lowest-cost camera. This means that integrators are going to have to watch their margins. For example, if the integrator buys a camera for $500 and sells it for $1,000 that is a good margin. However, if that camera now cost $100, and the mark-up is $200, that will greatly reduce profits. Strong IT service providers will win The biggest winners in the market will be those who position their companies to be strong IT service providers. The trends are changing very quickly, and security systems integrators who are geared towards providing a high level of technical expertise are going to be more successful.There is currently a battle going on as to who can provide the lowest-cost camera. This means that integrators are going to have to watch their margins Business at The Protection Bureau is up 19 percent over last year. We also completed projects in 39 states and one country, so our national accounts business is extremely strong. Our successes have been in the organisation, project management and sales of national accounts. The challenge going forward is to keep up that level of revenue, profitability and manpower. If you talk to any integrator around the country and ask them what is your biggest headache, they will tell you it’s finding good people trained on IT and networks. Certified Security Project Manager qualifications 2017 was also an extremely strong year for Security-Net, of which The Protection Bureau is a member, especially relating to the national account work we do with each other. Last year we achieved $17.8 million in revenues with national level projects and expect to beat that number in 2018. The quality of the members of Security-Net continues to grow. We are also really pleased that all of our security project managers are becoming a Certified Security Project Manager (CSPM) through the Security Industry Association. This is going to have a positive impact on Security-Net and every member’s business.

The Protection Bureau is one of the top-10 security integrators in the US You really can’t talk about The Protection Bureau without discussing its founder, the late Keith Ladd. If you’ve been in the industry any length of time, you probably had a chance to meet him. I certainly did. In fact, when I was a cub reporter with one of the first security publications I ever worked for, my inaugural visit to a customer and central station was to The Protection Bureau. That’s where I met Keith Ladd. He was a busy man, but took time out to talk to me about the nuances of the security industry. Most of all, he was kind and understanding, patient with my (extremely rudimentary) questions about security. Keith Ladd’s 40-Year legacy And now, this summer, The Protection Bureau celebrated 40 years of exemplary service – thanks not only to Keith but to his son J. Matthew Ladd, chief executive officer, and daughter Karen Ladd Baker, senior vice president, who continue to lead the central station company into new technologies and services – but always with an emphasis on the customer and their employees. Keith Ladd was an extraordinary person with a knack for technology even when he started the company, which he ran for 35 years until turning it over to Matt and Karen to operate. Keith Ladd passed away in 2009 at the age of 74 and has been remembered posthumously throughout the industry with awards and accolades. Today, The Protection Bureau operates in 38-plus states with more than $15 million in annual revenue and some 95 employees. The company is one of the top-10 security integrators in the country, with a professional central monitoring station, also in Exton, and an office in South Plainfield, N.J. The Protection Bureau was at the forefront of the industry’s move into the world of services, offering managed access control security in the late 1990s and video monitoring in 2009. Growth driven by employee engagement J. Matthew Ladd credits the company’s continued growth both to his father’s legacy and “can do” attitude, and to active participation in every aspect. “My sister and I were not just handed the company by my father,” says Ladd. “We were always very involved and let our employees also be part of its success by embracing their opinions and new technologies. We have a fantastic team and have built a company that can grow by itself.” “My sister and I were not just handed the company by my father. We were always very involved and let our employees also be part of its success by embracing their opinions and new technologies. We have a fantastic team and have built a company that can grow by itself”, says J. Matthew Ladd, CEO of The Protection Bureau Ladd says his father started the company in his garage in 1975. Now the firm has a 16,000-foot Central Station Alarm Association Five-Diamond certified central station and a fleet of 67 vehicles. The central monitoring station has fully redundant virtual servers and handles fire alarms, intrusion alarms, forced and held door alarms, environmental supervision, medical, holdup, intercom door control and fully managed video and access control services. Customer-focused strategy The Protection Bureau is also a member of the Electronic Security Association, Security-Net and is a PSA Security Network owner/member. The company’s offerings include all the latest services, including home automation and interactive services and video, in addition to intrusion detection and a vast array of complete home and commercial security services. According to J. Matthew Ladd, the company continues to expand its technology services, but the real story behind its success is a solid focus on the customer. “Our mission as a systems integration company has not changed. Our charge is to provide the most professional services to our customers, treat everyone with respect, and work closely alongside current and future members of the community and the industry. In this way, we know we can all succeed and provide the peace of mind everyone deserves.”

If we didn’t have manufacturers, integrators wouldn’t have anything to sell. But what is the role of manufacturing companies when it comes to taking those products to market? Effectively managing the sales channel – helping resellers be successful without somehow undermining their efforts or (heaven forbid!) selling direct to an end user – is an ongoing and delicate challenge for manufacturers. They want to do everything in their power to ensure success of their products in the marketplace, and they want to support their integrator partners, whose success is synonymous with their own. So we asked our panel this week: How can manufacturers add value to the selling process without undermining their installers, integrators and/or distributors? Or, more generally, how should manufacturers engage with end user customers?