Cyber security

Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., a global provider of memory products and technology solutions, announced it will showcase an array of products at Global Security Exchange (GSX) (booth 2685 Central Hall), the most established trade event for security professionals. The company will display its full line of industry-leading encrypted USB Flash drive solutions, including the IronKey brand purchased in 2016, as well as upcoming high-density business and enterprise SSDs and Server Premier memory. “When it comes to memory and data storage solutions, it is imperative that security professionals trust the products they use and the companies that make them. For over 30 years, we have been an unquestioned leader in this field,” said Richard Kanadjian, encrypted USB business manager, Kingston. “For storage-bound applications, Kingston stands ready as the industry shifts away from traditional 15k SAS toward NVMe, where the performance gains in terms of IOPS and lower latency is tremendous. GSX is the perfect venue for us to show the security industry our ability to provide it with the most complete line of superior data performance solutions for their varied security, data, audio/video or other applications.” GDPR compliant USB drives Kingston encrypted USB drives are designed to protect data that require high security and serve as an additional element in compliance with the EU’s GDPR GSX 2018 takes place at the Las Vegas Convention Center from September 23-27. Kingston is located in booth #2685 in the Central Hall. Kingston encrypted USB drives are designed to protect data that require high security, maintain a productive and efficient mobile workforce, and serve as an additional element in compliance with the EU’s GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). These drives help users meet specific agency directives, such as encryption, TAA and FIPS compliance, and are ideal for government or corporate use. The line includes both IronKey drives available in 4GB to 128GB capacities; and, Kingston DataTraveler models available from 4GB to 64GB. Securing data with SSDs In business applications, Kingston SSDs increase performance, help secure data, and extend the life of older systems. In enterprise applications, Kingston SSDs offer increased reliability and power fail features to keep mission-critical environments up and running 24/7. The upcoming DC500R is a high-performance 6 Gbps SATA SSD designed for read-centric data-centre workloads. It is designed with strict QoS requirements to ensure predictable random IO performance as well as predictable latencies over a wide range of read/write workloads. Special power-loss safeguards help reduce the likelihood of data loss and ensure that the drive will successfully re-initialise on the next power-up of the system. DC1000M U.2 NVMe SSD The DC1000M 2.5″ U.2 NVMe SSD's advanced architecture enables delivery of up to 600k IOPS of random read performance and a potent 3GB/s of throughput The DC1000M 2.5″ U.2 NVMe SSD features high-storage capacity and best-in-class enterprise performance. Its high-performance Gen 3.0 x4 PCIe NVMe interface enables high throughput and low latency on a standardised low-cost platform. The drive’s advanced architecture enables delivery of up to 600k IOPS of random read performance and a potent 3GB/s of throughput. Its strict QoS requirements ensure predictable random IO performance as well as predictable latencies over a wide range of workloads. The ‘mixed-use’ workload drive makes it ideal for running a wide range of applications. Kingston server memory is a worldwide industry standard. Server Premier modules are manufactured using a locked bill of materials (BOM). They are designed for big data centres, people who implement high-quality branded provisioned servers to those who use or build white-box systems and require a consistent brand and revision of DRAM. The line offers a variety of embedded memory products that provide maximum performance and flexibility

TIANDY Technologies, global supplier of versatile surveillance solutions catering to customers from enterprise to entry level, has announced the execution of a distribution agreement with SecureNet, one of the premier value-added IT Surveillance, cybersecurity and video conferencing distributors (VAD) in the United Arab Emirates. SecureNet will promote TIANDY's complete portfolio of surveillance solutions to its network of channel partners throughout the Middle East region. TIANDY-SecureNet collaborate on surveillance TIANDY innovative offerings directly address the surveillance market challenges surrounding Artificial Intelligence and Deeper Learning" "We are very excited about our new partnership with TIANDY Technologies and adding their portfolio of surveillance solutions to our line card, "said Avinash Wadhwa, VP Strategic Alliances & Business Development of SecureNet. “TIANDY innovative offerings directly address the surveillance market challenges surrounding Artificial Intelligence and Deeper Learning which are at the forefront with our customers. With the addition of the TIANDY family of surveillance products and our joint collaboration with eco-system partners, we can provide some of the most innovative solutions to the market today. TIANDY is an outstanding addition to our portfolio and it will help to provide our channel partners with leading-edge surveillance solutions making them more competitive." We are pleased to be announcing this partnership with SecureNet. SecureNet's experience and expertise in IT Security and IT Surveillance market in the Middle East makes them the perfect choice upon which to build a solid foundation for success, said John van den Elzen, General Manager EMEA for TIANDY Technologies. Van den Elzen continued, "Deploying our turn-key surveillance solutions with SecureNet's high professional services dramatically expands our ability to address the demands of commercial accounts. We look forward to a sustained and mutually beneficial relationship."

The rapidly evolving security landscape and the technologies poised to disrupt the industry will take centre stage in a reimagined expo hall at Global Security Exchange (GSX), being held Sept 23-27 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. In the first year of its rebrand following a 63-year history as the ASIS International Seminar and Exhibits, GSX is expected to attract more than 20,000 operational and cyber security professionals and 550 exhibitors for the industry’s flagship event. ASIS International is the world's largest association for security management professionals. “ASIS is reinventing the way our industry supports innovation,” said Richard E. Chase, CPP, PCI, PSP, 2018 President, ASIS International. “We're bringing together entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and business and industry veterans for conversations and hands-on demos of technologies that are reshaping entire industries. Attendees will hear perspectives from all vantage points and walk away with a better understanding of the risks and opportunities inherent in these applications. There is no other event in our industry offering these comprehensive discussions and demonstrations—directly on the expo floor.” The GSX show floor will feature immersive, experiential learning opportunities including the X Stage, the event’s signature innovation theatre Leading technologies at learning theatres Upending the traditional trade show experience, the GSX show floor will feature immersive, experiential learning opportunities including the X Stage, the event’s signature innovation theatre. Here attendees will see frontier technologies demoed, and will hear how cryptocurrencies and AI/VR/AR are reshaping entire industries. Education on the X Stage includes: Blockchains, Crypto, and De-Centralisation: Tuesday 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Learn how these technologies are poised to revolutionise fundamental concepts within the security industry, like identity management, authentication, and personnel surety. Forecasting Security Needs Through Intelligence–How Information and Analytics Will Drive the Future: Tuesday 3:30 - 4:00 p.m. Hear firsthand from Ty Richmond, CPP, president, Universal Services of America, as he discusses Allied Universal investments in AI and Robotics and how they leverage technology to make deployment of human protective assets more efficient and effective. Enterprise Virtual Reality: Wednesday 2:30 - 3:00 p.m. STRIVR kicks off an afternoon of programming focused on AR/VR and wearable technology by discussing how virtual reality is changing the game in developing training content. Security Innovation Landscape: Thursday 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Building off exciting news announced at Air Force Major General Bradley Spacy's Wednesday keynote, groups like AFWERX, Accenture, and the DHS Science and Technology Directorate will discuss the ways they are accelerating innovative solutions to create real long-term value. Xperience and Xcelerated Exchange Stage Additional theatres include the Xperience Stage–focused on tried and true best practices–and the Xcelerated Exchange Stage, which provides a ‘town hall’ forum for conversations between industry, technologists, and business and government leaders. Also, on the expo floor is the GSX D3 Xperience–providing hands-on demos and education around drones, droids, and anti-UAS defence systems.

GSX 2018 is both a new event for the security industry and the continuation of a 63-year tradition. Global Security Exchange (GSX) is the new branding for ASIS International’s annual seminar and exhibits, which have been held since 1955. In recent years, the ASIS event has joined forces with other organisations to expand its scope and to appeal to a broader audience. Partners include ISSA (Information Systems Security Association) and Infragard, a public-private partnership between U.S. businesses and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The expansion is continuing this year with the addition of 30 supporting organisations representing industry verticals and reflecting ASIS’s intent to unite the full spectrum of security. Improving the state of cyber security Held September 23-27 at the Las Vegas convention Center, GSX 2018 seeks to attract more than 20,000 operational and cyber security professionals and 550 exhibitors. The Cyber Security Summit will co-locate with GSX, offering cyber security programming at a time when it is needed the most Other elements will further expand the 2018 event’s scope. The Cyber Security Summit will co-locate with GSX, offering cyber security programming at a time when it is needed the most. Top government, industry and academic thought leaders will engage in a dialogue to improve the state of cyber security. The 2018 Security Cares Program will address school violence prevention and response in a free education program. Topics will include pre-violence indicators, target hardening, and best practices to involve the entire community of school administrators, law enforcement, security professionals and mental health providers. Experts to deliver keynote speeches Keynote speakers including CNN host Fareed Zakaria will bestow celebrity appeal. Air Force Major General Bradley D. Spacy will share details about the new AFWERX innovation and tech hub in Las Vegas and how the U.S. Air Force is collaborating with the private sector to bring new security product ideas to market. Spacy’s keynote on Sept. 26 will kick off Military and Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. Also, K.T. McFarland, former Trump Administration Deputy National Security Advisor, will share an insider’s perspective on critical foreign policy and defence industries. Attendees to ASIS International’s annual gathering typically list networking and education as big benefits of the event. Historically, the trade show aspect has existed separately from the educational program, and foot traffic to the exhibits has sometimes suffered from the competition. Beginning last year, and continuing in 2018, ASIS International has pursued innovative approaches to integrate the trade show more closely into the overall attendee experience. “The integration of programming and exhibits is truly seamless,” says one observer of the new approach. Held Sept. 23-27 at the Las Vegas convention Center, GSX 2018 seeks to attract more than 20,000 operational and cyber security professionals and 550 exhibitors X Learning Theatres GSX has sought to transform the exhibit hall into a ‘learning lab environment’ that features thousands of security products, technologies and service solutions (provided by the exhibitors), in addition to ‘immersive learning opportunities to connect the current and emerging threat landscape with solutions available in the marketplace’. There are several ‘X Learning Theatres’, including one (‘X-Stage’) focussed on leading-edge technologies such as blockchain, cryptocurrencies, AI, drones, and robotics. There is also an ‘Xcelerated Exchange Stage’ to facilitate discussions among security practitioners and solution providers. The ‘Xperience Stage’ showcases case studies and best practices. Also attracting more attendees to the Exhibit Hall will be ‘Career HQ’, a free career fair and enhanced career centre. ‘D3 Xperience’ (Drones, Droids Defence) will focus on unmanned systems with education and demos. The ‘Innovative Product Awards (IPAs) Showcase’ will highlight winners of an awards program. Focussing on security practices GSX is not as much about sales leads as about making connections and contributing to a larger conversation about how to protect people, facilities and assets ASIS International (now GSX 2018) is often compared to ISC West, the U.S. industry’s largest show held in Las Vegas in the spring. GSX 2018 this year may face even more scrutiny based on the changes, rebranding, and location (also in Las Vegas). However, GSX is a completely different show than ISC West, which focuses on the business of security. In contrast, GSX is much more about the practice of security than business. The international network of ASIS International members attend the yearly conference to make new connections, to learn and to benefit from the experiences of other security professionals around the world. The successful trade show exhibitors are the ones that approach the show with that understanding. GSX is not as much about sales leads as about making connections and contributing to a larger conversation about how to protect people, facilities and assets. ASIS International deserves credit for their efforts to integrate the trade show element into the larger goal of the event. Hopefully their new approach will enhance the overall experience for both attendees and exhibitors – and help to make the world a safer place as a consequence.

Hoverfly Technologies Inc., global supplier of tether-powered aerial drone systems, is pleased to announce it has engaged retired Deputy Chief of Los Angeles Police Department Mike Hillmann to consult and provide expertise to Hoverfly and public safety officials of cities, counties and special law enforcement agencies who are considering the use of Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) to assist in keeping their cities safe. Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) When incidents and/or events happen, having ‘real-time, situational awareness’ from above the scene is critical to managing risk and upholding public safety “With 24-hour news cycles, a never-ending stream of social media posts, mid-term elections and potential threats to the public at large, getting fast, accurate situational awareness from the air during an incident has never been more important when it comes to keeping the public safe. We are thrilled to have Chief Hillmann advising on use cases and how best to implement and integrate this new technology,” says Hoverfly SVP of Systems, Lew Pincus.  When incidents and/or events happen, having ‘real-time, situational awareness’ from above the scene is critical to managing risk and upholding public safety and the safety of those who serve our communities. Aerial/Drone surveillance He adds, “We typically have relied on manned aircraft to provide aerial coverage over a variety of incidents. On occasion, those assets have not always been available, deemed too disruptive or too expensive to deploy in certain situations where an aerial view clearly could have helped an incident commander better understand the situation. Deploying small tether-powered, highly portable, unobtrusive persistent cameras positioned high above the scene can now be used as either a standalone capability or integrated system with existing networks, security infrastructure and even manned aircraft.” Hoverfly tether-powered sUAV (Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) systems solve short battery-life problems associated with free-flying drones Today, Mr. Hillmann is helping chiefs of police, local city and county officials and other public safety personnel understand how Hoverfly’s tether-powered LiveSky systems can be deployed from police or EMS vehicles providing incident commanders with actionable intelligence from high above the scene within minutes of arrival. “Tactically, having the ability to stay in the air monitoring the situation from above for hours, days, even weeks at a time represents an amazing capability we never had before. During my career, I can think of hundreds of situations where having a drone in the air to provide real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance would have helped keep my officers and the community much safer. It’s a force multiplier that should be exploited by public safety,” says Hillmann. Hoverfly’s LiveSky systems Hoverfly tether-powered sUAV (Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) systems solve short battery-life problems associated with free-flying drones because they operate using a standard 120VAC power source or vehicle inverter. The power, command and control information and video are transmitted over the tether making the entire system completely secure from jamming, hacking or spoofing, ensuring the privacy of the data and improving safety. Perhaps the biggest benefit of Hoverfly systems is they are autonomous and require no piloting skills. The CEO of Hoverfly likes to say, “if you can operate an elevator, you can operate our LiveSky system.” 

Established by the French Government’s Ministry of Finance and Economics, the ACCORD project was commissioned to design and implement financial system modernisation. The charter of the ACCORD initiative team, composed of representatives from multiple government ministries, is to architect solutions that enable the French government to manage the finances of the country with the same level of accountability as private sector enterprises. The technology-based infrastructure selected was a smart card solution to confirm and authenticate users across 40 departments. HID Global’s Identity Assurance software The systems operated in parallel but could not leverage the benefits of a unified system AIFE – Agence pour l’Informatique Financière de l’Etat – chose HID Global’s Identity Assurance software coupled with smart cards for the solution. Ensuring users are ‘who they say they are’ over the course of several decades, individual French government departments had developed separate and distinct applications to manage activities such as budgeting, processing purchase orders, and other accounting activities. The systems operated in parallel but could not leverage the benefits of a unified system. Enterprise Resource Planning system With the inception of the ACCORD project, the government committed to streamlining finance management by moving to one system for centralised control of the country’s budgeting and finance operations – with a goal that by 2004, all government central entities will be using the standard Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. The transition to an online application that consolidates financial reporting and transactions requires an organisation to determine how it will identify users with certainty prior to granting them access to the system and to valuable data. The solution must be easy to use to ensure departmental acceptance of the new application and authentication process. It must also minimise the IT staff time required for day-to-day administration and helpdesk activities for a large population over 7,000 dispersed users. These multiple challenges presented an opportunity to leverage proven digital identification solutions from HID Global. Smart card-based PKI identification solution HID Global’s Security Client software solution and smart card readers are key elements for securing the finance system at all user points of entrySmart card-based solution using digital certificates with PKI, The French government-wide implementation securely links multiple departments, such as the Ministries of Education, Justice, Transportation and Housing, and Foreign Affairs, to the unified ERP application, enabling the exchange and ultimate consolidation of digital information. In 2000, the Ministry of Finance began deploying HID Global’s smart card-based PKI solution. HID Global’s Security Client software solution and smart card readers are key elements for securing the finance system at all user points of entry – any of which could become a source of fraudulent or malicious activity in the absence of strong authentication and confirmation of digital identity. Today, employees regularly use the card with a microchip that holds their unique credentials in the form of an Entrust digital certificate. HID Global’s Gold Entrust-Ready certification ensures a smooth deployment to large numbers of users, and the combined solution with Entrust TruePass delivers the following benefits: Enhanced Security: HID Global’s multi-factor authentication reinforces the fundamental security and intent of a PKI by requiring something the user has (a smart card) and something the user knows (a PIN code) in order to use the private keys stored on the card. To further enhance security, the key pair is generated on the cryptographic smart card itself, so that the private key is never exposed to the insecure PC environment. The tight integration of HID Global’s client software with Entrust ensures certificate key updates are transparently and automatically made on the card. Non-Repudiation: To support non-repudiation, it is essential that ERP system users provide undeniable proof that they are who they say they are. Keys used for that authentication can never be stored on the potentially vulnerable user workstation. Those sensitive keys must remain under the sole control of the user, and HID Global’s client software ensures private keys are generated on the card and remain in the rightful owner’s possession at all times. User Simplicity: HID Gobal’s Security Client software provides a familiar ATM-like user interface that makes complex digital identity and PKI technologies transparent, so employees can focus on their work responsibilities and financial application activities to easily access the system. HID Global’s commitment to openness and industry standards ensures that the French Government’s initial investment in digital identity products and smart card client software infrastructure is capable of supporting multiple PKI vendors and other forms of identity credentials in the future.

STANLEY Security, one of the most trusted names in the world of security, has provided a photography studio in Knowsley, Merseyside, with a top class wireless Ricochet technology-based alarm system financed through STANLEY Assure. Studio Argent is a 5,000 ft. sq. studio that houses and uses state-of-the-art digital equipment to produce creative and commercial photography for numerous large national and international clients, making security of their premises a priority.   Ricochet wireless networking technology STANLEY Security installed a modern intruder alarm system based on STANLEY’s Ricochet technology. This next generation wireless networking technology operates by receiving repeated wireless transmissions from devices located throughout the studio building to ensure that even the remotest areas are secured. Furthermore, any weak signals between devices prompt the Ricochet network to self-heal and automatically re-route communication so that the studio is protected at all times. STANLEY Security recommended the studio’s existing aging intruder alarm system be replaced, with the costs covered under STANLEY Assure STANLEY Security recommended the studio’s existing aging intruder alarm system be replaced, with the costs covered under STANLEY Assure. STANLEY Assure is a finance solution for customers wishing to benefit from up to date security technology without the risks of ownership and with evenly spread, manageable payment terms with no hidden extra costs. Additionally, included is a full monitoring package for total peace of mind. STANLEY Intruder alarm system STANLEY Assure removes the need to justify and raise significant capital outlay in a depreciating asset. Instead, STANLEY will buy back and take over an existing security system, upgrade it to incorporate the latest security technology, and then hire it back for usage. It provides an affordable means of upgrading a complete security system. Studio Argent not only benefitted from STANLEY Security’s product technology, but also gained access to STANLEY’s NSI Gold accreditation ProtectionNet Customer Service Centre (PNC) as a part of the contract. As a result, Studio Argent receives 24/7, 365 days a year monitoring and immediate customer care. The ease of usage of the new STANLEY intruder alarm system allows Studio Argent to activate the system in under five minutes Mesh technology and reduced false alarms The ease of usage of the new STANLEY intruder alarm system allows Studio Argent to activate the system in under five minutes, whilst previously the process took approximately 40 minutes. Furthermore, whereas the old system was hypersensitive and would often be set off by mice and moths in the building, the new system, relying on latest mesh technology, ensures no false alarms occur while offering airtight security which is easily scalable, should the studio expand its premises. After repeatedly having to pay additional, hidden costs to the previous security supplier for patch up work to the studio’s 20-year-old alarm system and dealing with subpar service which in one incident breached the national code of conduct for UK Alarm providers, Studio Argent was pleased to make the cut and move to a reliable security provider. John Organ, Owner of Studio Argent, happy with the move to STANLEY’s new alarm system said, “From the knowledgeable and expert representatives who contacted me to the total peace of mind and ease of operation that it offers, I feel that STANLEY Assure has really changed my life. I would not hesitate in recommending STANLEY to anyone.”

Pulse Secure, the provider of secure access solutions to both enterprises and service providers, has announced that Entegrus has successfully deployed Pulse Policy Secure advanced network access control (NAC), to strengthen overall visibility and access security across their hybrid IT infrastructure. Entegrus, a Canadian energy company, leveraged their existing Pulse Secure virtual private network (VPN) implementation to expedite NAC deployment and fortify their infrastructure in accordance with National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) guidelines. As a result, their security organisation extended visibility for remote and on-premise users and devices, as well as enhanced endpoint compliance and Internet of Things (IoT) risk mitigation. With a widely distributed IT infrastructure, we considered NAC as an effective way to improve our security posture without dramatically altering how we operate" Role of IT security in energy delivery Entegrus serves over 58,000 customers throughout Ontario. They bring electricity, renewable energy and water across three large regions, with a workforce spread out over 2,300 square miles. Entegrus’ objective is to provide safe, reliable and cost-effective provision of energy and related billing services, while providing high levels of service to its customers, partners and the communities it serves. IT security plays a critical role in protecting their delivery of energy and data services. “The threat landscape is constantly evolving, forcing us to always consider how we can go one step further. With a widely distributed IT infrastructure, we considered NAC as an effective way to improve our security posture without dramatically altering how we operate,” said Dave Cullen, manager of information systems for Entegrus. “We have a long-standing relationship with Pulse Secure. The level of integration between Pulse Secure secure sockets layer (SSL) and NAC, as well as the extended feature set, made it a straightforward choice for us. Perhaps the two most important things are that we have increased our security posture, and for the most part, there has been zero impact on our end users.” NAC provides foundational endpoint intelligence, resource access enforcement and IoT defences that support industry and regulatory compliance guidelines Endpoint intelligence and IoT defences Ensuring always active control while maintaining flexible, seamless access to network and application resources is an essential requirement for utility providers. Within such highly regulated industries, best practices dictate a constant cycle of security readiness review and improvement to meet an increasingly potent threat posed by cyber threat actors. NAC provides foundational endpoint intelligence, resource access enforcement and IoT defences that support industry and regulatory compliance guidelines. These compliance requisites apply to both regional and large national critical infrastructure providers. For stretched IT departments, Pulse Secure’s Secure Access solutions are designed to streamline deployment and on-going administration using an easy, integrated, policy-driven platform that works with a customer’s existing installed base and network infrastructure. In addition, Pulse Secure’s VPN solution utilises the same endpoint client, policy engine and appliance management as the NAC solution. Multiple advantages with single management console Entegrus took advantage of this platform capability to rapidly implement NAC. As a result, they gained dynamic intelligence, unified policy management, automated enforcement and threat response through a single management console. We needed to make sure our secure access technologies could adapt to new regulatory requirements and new business needs" Cullen highlights numerous benefits, including a simplified method of managing complex policies and user access rights, as well as an enforceable method of checking end-point devices to ensure that only properly patched operating systems can connect to the network. Another advantage of Pulse Policy Secure was evident after Entegrus recently merged with London, Ontario-based St. Thomas Energy. “We needed to make sure our secure access technologies could adapt to new regulatory requirements and new business needs, as the recent merger added new, unqualified infrastructure and grew our customer base by around a third, which also led to the hiring of 28 new staff members,” Cullen added.

Hospitality businesses work to provide a safe and pleasant customer experience for their guests. Hotels offer a “home away from home” for millions of guests every day around the world. These are businesses of many sizes and types, providing services ranging from luxury accommodations to simple lodging for business travelers to family vacation experiences. Hospitality businesses also include restaurants, bars, movie theaters and other venues. Security needs are varied and require technologies that span a wide spectrum. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the security challenges of the hospitality market?

Finding the exact right technology to solve an end user’s problem is challenging, but the rewards are great when an integrator gets it right. A wide range of available product types, price levels and added features increases the likelihood of identifying a technology to solve any problem. But with so many technology and product choices in the marketplace, identifying that one solution can be akin to finding a needle in a haystack. We wondered whether a vast range of product choices is always a good thing. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: Are security integrators and end users overwhelmed by “too many choices” related to security equipment and systems? How can they make sense of it all?

Consolidation – a decrease in the number of companies in a market achieved through mergers and acquisitions (M&A) – has been an important trend among manufacturers in the physical security market for many years. More recently, the trend has also appeared to extend to the integrator market. Larger integrators have been buying up other large integrators; in some cases, they have also been buying up smaller, regional integrators to expand their geographic coverage area. We wondered if this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable has noticed the trend. We asked: Has consolidation among security companies shifted to the integrator/installer market? What is the impact?