In brief: Ken Francis joins DMP, Pye-Barker acquires CARE Security & Monitoring, Axis shares perspectives

DMP hires Ken Francis to lead development of next-gen video-centric products  

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.—Digital Monitoring Products (DMP) has announced the hiring of Ken Francis, former president of Eagle Eye Networks and CEO of Actuate, to focus on the continued unification of DMP’s products with video surveillance and artificial intelligence (AI).  Francis is a seasoned security-technology executive with more than 20 years of experience leading global product, go-to-market, and channel expansion to commercialize cloud and vision-AI solutions. He has scaled global partner ecosystems, transitioned businesses toward recurring revenue models, and translated advanced technologies into deployable services for operators and monitoring centers. “The market is ready,” said Rick Britton, president & CEO of DMP. "We've produced  monitored solutions for generations, including more recently our video monitoring product, AlarmVision, while the industry explored many different approaches to video monitoring. The market is maturing, and DMP dealers want fully integrated video solutions built specifically for professional monitoring. Ken will help us shape the next generation of Digital Monitoring Products.” 

Pye-Barker Fire & Safety acquires CARE Security & Monitoring  

ATLANTA—Pye-Barker Fire & Safety has announced the acquisition of E.D.S., Inc., dba CARE Security & Monitoring, headquartered in Louisville, Ky.  This transaction allows Pye-Barker to grow its services in the state with the help of CARE's local teams and expertise. CARE Security & Monitoring has been on a mission to provide the highest-quality security systems and customer service for over 30 years. Founded in 1993 by Dave and Ellen Smith, CARE is now owned and operated by Chris Harr and Jerry Codey, two retired police officers who took over the business in 2012. CARE designs, installs and services security systems backed by 24/7 local station monitoring. The company offers intrusion and fire alarms, access control, biometric systems, video surveillance systems and fire extinguisher services to help protect people and property. "We want to help our customers feel the empowerment of knowing their businesses are secure," said Harr. "We take comfort in seeing that Pye-Barker shares the same commitment to creating peace of mind for the communities they serve. With Pye-Barker's national resources, we can serve more customers and provide new opportunities for our team." CARE's skilled team will continue to serve customers in Kentucky, now backed by Pye-Barker's extensive resources. 

Axis Communications launches inaugural Axis Perspectives report 

CHELMSFORD, Mass. — Axis Communications has announced the release of its first annual Axis Perspectives report, a research-based publication examining the evolution of intelligent video and its expanding role. Backed by proprietary global research, expert insights, and real-world use cases, the report quantifies how intelligent video is enhancing security while increasingly driving safety, operational efficiency, and business intelligence across industries. “Intelligent video is undergoing a fundamental shift - from monitoring what happens to actively informing how organizations protect people, operate and make decisions,” said Fredrik Nilsson, VP, Americas, Axis Communications. “With Axis Perspectives, we take a strategic, research-driven view of that evolution, bringing together global data, real-world deployments, along with a practical maturity model to help organizations understand where they are today and how to unlock the full value of video as a connected, data-driven business capability.” The findings reveal a clear inflection point: while security remains foundational, organizations are rapidly adopting intelligent video as a powerful business sensor, unlocking insights that improve performance, reduce costs, and enable automation at scale. Based on firsthand research and data analysis, the report provides a strategic roadmap for how cameras are evolving into active contributors to enterprise decision-making, delivering measurable results in high-impact environments.  The full report is available at www.axis.com. 

Defined Marketing names Hannah Livergood as director of marketing  

SEASIDE HEIGHTS, N.J.—Defined Marketing, a marketing agency serving the security industry, has announced the appointment of Hannah Livergood as director of marketing, marking a significant expansion of the firm’s strategic leadership team. Livergood brings more than a decade of experience across the security and technology sectors, with deep expertise in product marketing, channel strategy, and integrated communications within complex B2B SaaS and physical security ecosystems. Throughout her career, she has led comprehensive go-to-market initiatives spanning product launches, sales and partner enablement programs, competitive intelligence, and positioning strategy. She is recognized for translating sophisticated technical platforms into clear, compelling narratives that resonate with dealers, integrators, monitoring centers, and enterprise buyers alike. “Hannah is someone I’ve had my eye on for quite some time,” said Janet Fenner, president of Defined Marketing. “Her ability to blend product depth with strategic storytelling is rare in our industry. She understands the channel, the technology, and understands how to align teams around growth. As Defined continues to scale, bringing in a leader of Hannah’s caliber was a natural next step.”  For more information, contact  jfenner@definedmktg.com.  

Amazon Ring and Flock Safety cancel partnership 

SEATTLE — Less than six months after announcing a planned integration between Amazon’s Ring and Flock Safety’s network, Amazon confirmed the companies have jointly decided to cancel the partnership. In a blog post released Feb. 12, Amazon stated, “Following a comprehensive review, we determined the planned Flock Safety integration would require significantly more time and resources than anticipated. As a result, we have made the joint decision to cancel the planned integration.” The company further emphasized, “The integration never launched, so no Ring customer videos were ever sent to Flock Safety. The partnership was originally intended to connect Flock’s system with Ring’s Community Requests feature, which allows users to voluntarily share footage with law enforcement. The announcement follows months of public backlash over Flock Safety’s surveillance network, which is used by federal agencies such as ICE and local law enforcement departments. Flock Safety issued its own statement regarding the cancellation, saying the decision followed ongoing discussions with customers, public officials, and community stakeholders. “Technology plays a powerful role in helping communities prevent and solve crime,” said Garrett Langley, founder and CEO of Flock Safety. “But that impact only matters if it strengthens trust and aligns with local community expectations. Our priority is ensuring that every tool we build and deploy reflects the standards our customers and their communities expect. Right now, that means staying focused on local innovation and disciplined, responsible growth.” 

Resideo wins two 2026 IoT Breakthrough Awards for smart home innovation 

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Resideo Technologies has announced that it was named a winner of two 2026 IoT Breakthrough Awards, recognizing standout innovation across the Internet of Things landscape. The company was honored for the Honeywell Home X8S smart thermostat and the First Alert CX4 video cameras.  The IoT Breakthrough Award program, now in its 10th year, recognizes the world’s most innovative companies, products, and solutions driving the future of connected technology. The Honeywell Home X8S smart thermostat was named the “Smart Heating and Cooling Product of the Year” for its advanced approach to whole-home comfort. The First Alert CX4 video cameras earned recognition as the “Connected Home Camera Product of the Year” for redefining home security with high-quality video, flexible installation options, and seamless integration into the connected home. “Winning two IoT Breakthrough Awards is a powerful validation of our commitment to designing connected solutions that make homes more comfortable, secure, and intelligent,” said Pat Tessier, vice president of product development for Honeywell Home and First Alert solutions at Resideo. “From comfort management to video security, our teams are focused on delivering technology that solves real problems and fits seamlessly into everyday life.”    

SIA names Daniël Reichman, Mark Schreiber as Sandy Jones Volunteers of the Year 

SILVER SPRING, Md.—The Security Industry Association (SIA) has named Daniël Reichman, Ph.D., and Mark Schreiber, CPP, CPD, as the 2026 recipients of the Sandy Jones Volunteer of the Year Award. SIA will present Reichman and Schreiber with the award at The Advance, SIA’s annual membership meeting, which will be held March 24 during ISC West. Reichman is the CEO and chief scientist of Ai-RGUS, an artificial intelligence startup spun out of Duke University. Reichman serves as a member of SIA’s Artificial Intelligence Advisory Board, which engages regulators on emerging AI issues and provides guidance on the safe, responsible and effective use of AI in security solutions. Schreiber is the principal consultant at Safeguards Consulting, a security design and consulting firm in Greenville, S.C. Schreiber’s security career has spanned almost 30 years in design and consulting roles within the engineering and construction industry. For the majority of this time, he has been directly responsible for the complete design of large enterprise physical security systems from conception to design completion and oversight.  A longtime dedicated SIA member, Schreiber is a member of the Voice of the Industry (VOI) steering committee for Security Practitioners Advancing Real Conversations (SPARC), SIA’s technical end user forum. 

ADT announces inclusion in the S&P SmallCap 600 Index 

BOCA RATON, Fla. — ADT has announced its inclusion into the S&P SmallCap 600 Index, effective prior to the opening of trading on Feb. 9, 2026. “ADT’s inclusion in the S&P SmallCap 600 represents an important milestone for our company and reflects the resilience of our recurring revenue model and the progress we’ve made strengthening our business and delivering consistent performance,” said ADT Chairman, President and CEO Jim DeVries. “As we remain focused on serving our customers, generating strong cash flow, and executing our strategy, we believe this addition will enhance our visibility within the investment community and highlight the long-term value we are creating for our shareholders, employees, and communities.”  More information on the S&P SmallCap 600 and S&P Dow Jones Indices is available at www.spdji.com. 

Speco Technologies announces integration with Bold Manitou 

AMITYVILLE, N.Y.—Speco Technologies has announced that starting in March 2026, it will introduce a new integration between the Speco Blue Series line of NVRs, hybrid recorders, and IP cameras and Bold Group’s Manitou alarm monitoring software.  This integration adds value for central stations and integrators by connecting dependable Speco Blue video surveillance with trusted alarm monitoring workflows. “This partnership expands how our customers can work with their preferred monitoring platforms without sacrificing the features they count on,” said Todd Keller, president of Speco Technologies. “We know flexibility and compatibility are crucial in today’s security landscape, and we’re delivering exactly that.” With this integration, Speco Blue Series cameras seamlessly connect to Bold Group’s Manitou software, allowing operators to monitor live video, verify alarms, and communicate via two-way audio, all from a single, centralized dashboard. For more information visit www.specotech.com. 

Cynomi launches Cyber Advisory Excellence Awards 

BOSTON and TEL AVIV, Israel — Cynomi has announced the launch of the company’s Cyber Advisory Excellence Awards, a new program designed to recognize the leaders, teams, and emerging talent advancing cyber advisory within security program management.  As cyber risk increasingly shapes executive decision-making, organizations need more than tools according to Cynomi, they need trusted advisors who can translate risk into business outcomes, guide resilience planning, and build confidence at the leadership level. The Cyber Advisory Excellence Awards celebrate those delivering measurable impact across the vCISO, vCIO, CISO-as-a-Service, and the broader MSP, MSSP, and IT services ecosystems - highlighting the practices shaping the future of cybersecurity services.  “These awards recognize the people who are moving cybersecurity into the boardroom conversation - driving resilience, earning executive trust, and delivering outcomes that protect customers and strengthen businesses,” said Tim Coach, chief evangelist of community and channels, Cynomi. “We created this program to spotlight the leaders raising the bar for cyber advisory - those who have made security a true business enabler through repeatable, scalable program management.” 

Wanaware report exposes healthcare IT security gap 

BOULDER, Colo. — WanAware has released a new benchmark report, The Healthcare IT Visibility Gap: More Tools, Less Clarity, revealing how healthcare organizations’ modernization and AI ambitions are outpacing their ability to see, secure, and manage critical infrastructure.  The report finds that infrastructure visibility remains fragmented despite rising investment in cloud, monitoring tools, and security platforms, with 60% reporting that at least 26–50% of their infrastructure is insufficiently monitored, driving preventable incidents, security detection lag, and growing risk as AI adoption accelerates. “There’s a widening gap between how modern healthcare environments are built and how well they’re actually understood,” said Jeff Collins, CEO of WanAware. “Organizations are deploying more tools and pushing forward with AI initiatives, but without a unified view of their infrastructure, risk becomes embedded in daily operations. The Healthcare IT Visibility Gap report is based on an independent survey of 600 US-based healthcare IT leaders spanning executive, network operations, and security roles that was conducted in January 2026. Download the full report here. 

Hanwha Vision unveils ConfigPro tool 

TEANECK, N.J. — Hanwha Vision is releasing ConfigPro, a new device management and configuration tool for simplifying large-scale security installations. Engineered for enterprise and multi-site environments, ConfigPro lets integrators and system designers efficiently configure, manage, and maintain thousands of devices simultaneously from a centralized interface. Built on a server-client architecture, ConfigPro reduces installation time and minimizes on-site configuration errors by enhancing device configuration prior to deployment. Processing tasks are offloaded to a server, freeing workstation resources while improving system performance and scalability across large projects.  “Configuring devices one at a time is inefficient and impractical, especially in large-scale deployments,” said Kevin Choi, product manager at Hanwha Vision. “ConfigPro is a dedicated, enterprise-grade tool that allows multiple devices to be configured simultaneously, dramatically improving speed and eliminating the headaches typically associated with surveillance system management.” 

Gallagher Security expands strategic partnership with M.C. Dean 

CANTON, Ga. — Gallagher Security, a provider of integrated access control, intrusion detection, and perimeter solutions, has announced the expansion of its longstanding partnership with M.C. Dean through a new strategic solutions partner agreement. Partnered since 2016, M.C. Dean designs, builds, operates, and maintains cyber-physical solutions for some of the world’s most recognizable mission-critical facilities, secure environments, complex infrastructure, and global enterprises.  “Our partnership with M.C. Dean has always been grounded in trust, technical excellence, and a shared vision for what security can enable,” says Mark Junge, chief executive of Gallagher Security. “After nearly a decade of working side by side, this strategic evolution represents a natural next step. It reflects the confidence we have in each other and our shared commitment to delivering intelligent, resilient security solutions on a global scale.”  The expanded partnership strengthens its ability to support large-scale, mission-critical deployments through partners who operate at the highest levels of complexity and assurance. “This agreement reinforces our confidence in the work we do together and the environments we support,” says Jeff Fields, director of federal programs – Americas at Gallagher Security. “M.C. Dean understands what it takes to deliver in high-consequence, mission-driven settings. This next phase of our partnership ensures we’re even better aligned to support customers who demand reliability, security, and long-term performance.”  

Everon appointed to NASPO Supplier Advisory Group 

IRVING, Texas — Everon has announced its appointment to the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) Supplier Advisory Group (SAG) for the 2026–2027 term. NASPO’s Supplier Advisory Group brings together a diverse group of suppliers representing key industries that support state and local government operations. Members serve two-year terms and engage with NASPO leadership both virtually and in person to share insights on contract terms and conditions, solicitation processes, market trends, and opportunities to advance the value of cooperative purchasing programs nationwide.  As a SAG member, Everon will provide perspective informed by decades of experience delivering mission-critical security, life safety, and technology solutions to government agencies across the U.S.  “We are honored to join NASPO’s Supplier Advisory Group and contribute to the meaningful dialogue that helps shape procurement best practices across the country,” said Scott Wulforst, director, business development for state & local government at Everon. “State and local agencies rely on strategic partnerships to keep communities safe, and Everon is committed to supporting NASPO’s mission of advancing procurement excellence through innovation, transparency, and collaboration.” 

Sielox awarded new PEPPM Purchasing contract 

CHERRY HILL, N.J. — Sielox, a provider of integrated access control and emergency response technologies, has announced that a new PEPPM Purchasing contract has been awarded for their "Crisis Lockdown Alert Status System" until the end of 2028. Granted by the National Purchasing Cooperative in all 50 states, PEPPM can be used as an agreement with participating schools, local, and state agencies and non-profits. “We’re thrilled to have been awarded this contract from PEPPM for the third time and look forward to our Certified Integrators serving public and non-profit organizations across the country,” said Sielox President Karen Evans. “This contract makes it easy for essential public organizations to improve their safety and security systems without exceeding budget limitations.”  Among the Sielox products available through the PEPPM program is the patented CLASS (Crisis Lockdown Alert Status System), with design features can improve emergency notification and response capabilities. Initially designed for the education market, CLASS is a resource for SLED, hospitals and other essential public facilities. Sielox CLASS can be integrated with Sielox and OEM partner products or devices with an IP address, to create a complete end-to-end solution. More information about PEPPM contracts is available at www.peppm.org.