We can't sit back and relax

Security company owners and executives need to keep a watchful eye on their competitors and the increasing role of technology in the industry. Regardless if you own an installation business, run a proprietary central station or manufacture security equipment, as new services emerge, so does the customer's appetite for the best system. The position of software will only be promoted in the months and years ahead. The fantastic ability of the human mind to both conceive and produce code that can create novel applications should never be underestimated or undervalued. The big companies get it, and they have continually proven this by spending money on not only acquiring the individual companies that have developed fresh approaches, but also through supporting continued product development and specialized training. Just take a look at the efforts of General Electric, United Technologies and Tyco International. All these companies have built a diversified portfolio of security products and services that enable them to offer robust security systems. Security influences all aspects of society, so you don't have to be a CEO to pay attention. Larger organizations are now investing in complex security systems that incorporate a network of technologies that include biometrics, data analytics and IP-based cameras. Friends and family members that are outside of the industry may have little idea of these things today, but in a short time, they will. Questions about how the technology works and the impact on civil liberties all depend on where they experience it first. The dog days of summer may be upon us, but there's little reason to sit back and relax.