I have no affiliation with this webinar, but I have spoken to Carl Herberger, the presenter, and I can verify that he’s one grade A, hard-core nerd who really understands where IT and physical security come together.
You can read some of our conversation here, but the basic idea is that he works for EvolveIP, a company that’s looking for security integrators to team up with and help navigate the worlds of online authentication, hardening of networks, etc., that may not come naturally to your traditional security integrator.
Here are the topics he’ll be covering:
* Pandemic Continuity Planning
* Readdressing Malware Variants
* Addressing Social Networking and Web 2.0 Threats
* Re-architecting the Technical Security Perimeter
* Incident Response/”Get to the Bottom of It”
* Unmanaged Mobile Devices
* Growth of Social Engineering Techniques
* Cryptographic Key Management
* Virtual Machine (VM) Security
* The Ability to “Prove” Appropriate Levels of Deployed Security
It’s at 11 a.m. on March 16 (the page says “Thursday,” but I’m pretty sure it’s happening on the 16th because that’s what the calendar picture indicates - kind of an ugly typo there…) and it might be worth your while.
It’s been well documented how Mace would like to rid itself of the car wash business (and they’re getting pretty close). Now comes word they’re exploring selling off their digital marketing business, which sells things like beauty products online:
Mace Security International, Inc. (”Mace”, “Corporation” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ Global:MACE) today announced that it has retained Northside Advisors LLC, a boutique investment banking firm, to explore the sale of the Company’s Digital Media Marketing Segment. The Company’s Digital Media Marketing Segment is an e-commerce and online marketing business which has two operating divisions: (1) e-commerce, the sale of products on internet promotional sites, and (2) online marketing, which publishes internet promotional sites that offer the Company’s and third party products for sale. The segment uses proprietary technologies and software to sell products on the internet.
Dennis Raefield, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer stated that “the Company has not made a decision to sell the Digital Media Marketing Segment but is exploring the possibility of a sale dependent on the level of interest and offers the Company receives. If Mace sells the Digital Media Marketing Segment, it will use the funds in the operation of and to grow its Security Segment. We are committed to executing our strategy of focusing on our core security business and building a company for future growth.”
Also, if you’re looking for signs the economy is back on track, the fact that companies like Mace, L1, Pro One, etc., are exploring sales opportunities should tell you that corporate America thinks there’s money that wants to be thrown around right now. That’s a good thing.
Milestone, Genetec, and OnSSI might get the most pub as video management software providers, but Exacq is a definite dark horse that a lot of installers like to work with. More than one camera manufacturer, too, has told me Exacq is the easiest to work with and integrate with.
Actually, it’s a lot more than just 1,000 cameras:
* (1,000) Network Fixed Dome Cameras: Panasonic type WV-NW484S
- (1,000) 1/2″ 4.5~12.5mm Day/Night IR Lens
- (1,000) 15~50 F1.5 1/3″ Auto Iris Lens
- (1,000) Camera Mounts
* (90) PTZ Cameras and mounts: Panasonic type WV-NW964
* (2,000) IR Illuminators: Raymax type RM50-AI-30, RM100-SI-30
* (4,000) PIR Detectors: Xtralis type PRO-45H, PRO-100H, PRO-250H, PRO-18WH
They’re being sold by Honeywell Building Solutions and they were apparently purchased new for the 2010 winter Olympics.
So, why isn’t Honeywell BS just keeping the equipment around and using it on other jobs? Were they leasing the equipment to the Olympics, or are they just reselling it for them and then giving them the money? Does the Olympics not care if they get the money back?
I’ve got a few calls in but I’m not getting anything immediately back. I’ve also got a call in to the auction people about whether you have to buy the whole lot or not. I’m guessing you do.
Seems like a big parcel, though. What’s the winning bid on that?
I know I’m supposed to be on the side of the security guys, but sometimes you just have to admire a set of thieves (this is why crime movies are so popular, I’m guessing).
They didn’t appear on store security cameras. They cut a hole in the roof and came in at a spot where the cameras were obscured by advertising banners.
So, pretty clearly, they knew the security system inside and out, just like Tom Cruise knew all about that security system that protected the NOC list in the first Mission:Impossible.
Don’t touch the floor! Not even a bead of sweat!
So, that leaves us with two possibilities: 1. They were employed by the Best Buy (or some other Best Buy); 2. They cased the joint extensively and nobody noticed.
Seems like you’d be able to catch the guys either way. However, there’s one indication they may be too smart for the authorities:
Police believe that’s how some brazen bandits managed to swipe 20 Apple notebooks early this morning at a Best Buy on Route 1 in South Brunswick without detection.
That’s right: They stole only Macs. Clearly, we’re dealing with highly intelligent crooks here.
Even some guy named John Harris, who’s “an expert in security who has consulted on thousands of burglaries,” agrees with me:
“I would say they were a professional crew,” said Harris, who is based in Atlanta, Ga., but does work throughout the nation. “At least I’ve never dealt with anything like this. From time to time, people break in, but not usually through the roof.”
You heard Harris: It’s an unprecedented level of sophistication. I mean, they came through the roof! Clearly, Harris needs to watch more Mission:Impossible movies.
How long will it be before most DVRs are solid state, with no moving parts that can break down?
I hear all the time about DVRs not lasting more than a couple of years, with drives failing left and right, and about the importance of failover and RAID 5 and all that good stuff for NVRs, too.
But if we weren’t relying on spinning drives, we wouldn’t need to worry nearly as much about failure, right?
Sure, we’ll always want more storage, and the spinning drives are out ahead and will likely stay out ahead, but a DVR with 128 gigs of storage wasn’t too shabby just a few years ago and many are still sold with only 250 gigs.
Okay, well, it’s $5 million Canadian, which is actually like $10 million U.S. nowadays, right?
What’s that?
It’s only $4.84 million U.S.?
Huh. I thought our economy had fallen completely apart and the Canadians would soon be our overlords. My bad. When I was in college we could go across the border and turn our dollars into gold bars, so this even-steven thing is taking some getting used to.
Covington Capital Corporation (”Covington”) is pleased to announce the completion of a CDN$2.5 million investment in Waterloo-based Aimetis Corp. (”Aimetis”, the “Company”) as part of a total financing round of $5 million.
“Waterloo Sunset” is one of my favorite Kinks songs. Just thought I’d mention that.
Established in 2003, Aimetis (www.aimetis.com) is a provider of network video surveillance technologies designed primarily for the retail and transportation markets. Aimetis’ key differentiator is that they offer an innovative product solution that provides video surveillance software combined with artificial intelligence based video analytics technology.
Hmmm. I’m not sure Covington really wants to go with “artificial intelligence” there. Is it really AI? I’m okay with “intelligent video,” but artificial intelligence implies thinking computers and Hal 2000 type stuff. And doesn’t VideoIQ and a few other companies offer a VMS with analytics built in? What does “differentiator” really mean, anyway?
It is this unique integration of both video-surveillance and analytics technology that allows their clients to receive alerts in real-time as well as review and analyze activity almost immediately. The speed with which Aimetis’ software is able to capture, store, and provide for review of detailed video data is tremendous. The Company’s technology is extremely valuable to both small and large scale enterprises requiring flexible, efficient, and reliable surveillance systems. The Company’s client base includes both local enterprises and global leaders such as the City of Oshawa, Loblaws, Munich Airport, Netherland Railways, BMW, and Mercedes.
Hmmm. Couple things here. First, I like that the speed is “tremendous.” Maybe the PR people got caught up in this past week’s NFL combine: “Look at the speed on that VMS! It’s tremendous!”
Also, are we going to call the City of Oshawa a “global leader”?
There’s some other stuff about how happy everyone is in the release, but you knew that already. I’ll get a call into Aimetis and see what’s what and who else is involved in the round.
HARTFORD, Conn., March 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) announced today it closed on its agreement to purchase the GE Security business from GE (GE).
“This strategic acquisition enhances the scale, market reach and product offerings of our existing UTC Fire & Security business,” UTC Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Louis Chenevert said. “It demonstrates our disciplined approach to acquisitions and capital redeployment that focuses on delivering shareholder value.”
The GE Security business, formerly part of GE Home & Business Solutions, supplies security and life safety technologies through a broad product portfolio for commercial and residential applications.
UTC first announced its agreement to acquire the GE Security business in November 2009. The business now becomes part of UTC Fire & Security, which provides fire safety and security solutions to more than 1 million customers worldwide.
Based in Hartford, Connecticut, UTC is a diversified company that provides high technology products and services to the building systems and aerospace industries.
Ho, hum. The announcement of the intent is always much more fun than the closing.
If so, you should consider playing in the AIREF golf tourney in Vegas, the day before ISC West.
Here are the details, if you’re so inclined:
Wilton, Connecticut (January 4, 2010) The 7th Annual Alarm Research and Educational Foundation (AIREF) golf tournament will be held March 23, 2010 at the Revere Golf Club in Las Vegas, one day prior to ISC West. The tournament promises players a casual golf outing with other industry professionals while supporting AIREF initiatives in the process.
AIREF, an all-volunteer nonprofit foundation, was created in 1977 by ESA to serve as the research arm of the industry and funding for the foundation is derived almost solely from the golf tournament. In 2003, AIREF and the Electronic Security Association (ESA) founded the tournament as a way to help raise money for industry research.
Research studies funded by AIREF include a survey of Salt Lake City residents that showed 65 percent of registered voters disapprove of the city’s verified response ordinance and a more recent study by Rutgers University that showed residential burglar alarms deter crime.
To register for the tournament, visit www.airef.org. For more information about the tournament and sponsorship opportunities, call (203) 762-2444 or email Pat Remes at premes@airef.org.
To learn more about AIREF’s initiatives and studies, visit www.airef.org.
And, of course, there’s the Security 5k, in which I will definitely be participating (it was kind of our idea, after all), on Thursday morning. Sign up at Mission 500’s registration page.
And while those costs of being public hurt, it didn’t help that the company isn’t exactly turning a profit:
As disclosed in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2009, the Company has continued to incur losses and negative cash flows from operations as the general economic slowdown has negatively impacted demand for the Company’s products. As a result, the Company has implemented a wide variety of cost saving measures, including, among other things, the closing of the Company’s facility in Anaheim, California, a reduction in staff and the termination of a consulting contract. In conjunction with the decision to deregister, the Company is in the process of implementing a number of additional measures to reduce expenses. These include further staffing cuts (bringing the total reduction in headcount since September 30, 2008 to ten employees, or approximately 22% of the Company’s workforce), the elimination of certain marketing expenses and a 5% reduction in pay and the suspension of 401(k) matching benefits for all employees. “It is our belief that these actions will substantially improve the cost structure of the Company and better position Sielox for profitability in the future,” stated Mr. Brunt.
In its most recent filing, Sielox reported $22.68 million in annual earnings (down about 11 percent), which resulted in losses of $3.73 million, with just $267,000 in cash against more than $3 million in debt. There are roughly 35 million shares outstanding, valued most recently at just over 2 cents each.
They’re keeping their options open, though, for the access to capital that selling shares in the company offers:
The Company will notify the OTC Bulletin Board (the “OTCBB”) of its decision to terminate its reporting obligations under the Exchange Act. As a result, the Company’s shares will not continue to be quoted on the OTCBB. The Company expects that, following delisting, its shares will be quoted on the Pink Sheets, LLC (”Pink Sheets”), an electronic network through which participating broker-dealers can make markets, and enter orders to buy and sell shares of companies. A registered broker-dealer that currently makes a market in the Company’s shares has indicated an intention to sponsor the Company’s shares on the Pink Sheets, and to act as a market maker, if the Company delisted. The Company anticipates that there will be additional market makers for the Company’s shares following delisting.
