In brief: Security 101’s school strategy, RapidFire’s buy, RAD’s big order

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.—Security 101 has launched Safe Learning 101, a comprehensive new program developed in collaboration with nationally recognized school security expert Wayne Black.  

Safe Learning 101 brings together consulting expertise and the ability to design, implement and support proactive security strategies and modern infrastructure, establishing the first program of its kind to formally unite an independent school security authority with a nationally scaled integrator. 

“There are many reasons children get hurt in schools, but there is not one good reason,” said Black. “With the Safe Learning 101 approach, we give schools a clear, independent path forward, identifying risks, prioritizing what matters most and implementing practical steps that prevent violence before it happens.” 

An expert on school safety, Black has conducted hundreds of school security evaluations across the country, authored “School (IN)Security” and served as an expert in several high-profile school violence cases, including Parkland and Uvalde. His firm, Wayne Black & Associates, advises school systems, law firms, law enforcement agencies and public sector leaders on threat assessment, risk mitigation and emergency preparedness. 

Safe Learning 101 provides a unified, consultative experience by combining: 

• Strategic planning tailored to each school’s environment, culture and resource constraints 

• Technology design and deployment delivered by Security 101’s nationwide engineering and integration teams 

• Grant preparation and RFP development support, helping schools secure critical funding 

Security 101 then designs, installs and supports the integrated security systems that bring the consultant’s recommendations to life. 

Safe Learning 101 is the first launch of Safe Systems 101, Security 101’s new program designed to scale independently led, vertically tailored security initiatives across multiple industries. While Safe Learning 101 is the flagship program, Security 101 plans to expand the Safe Systems 101 framework into additional sectors where organizations face rising operational risk, tightening compliance requirements and a growing need for strategic security partnerships. These include healthcare, government, multifamily environments and other high-risk or highly regulated verticals. 

Pye-Barker Fire & Safety acquires Philadelphia Detection Systems 

ATLANTA—Pye-Barker Fire & Safety has acquired Philadelphia Detection Systems, bolstering fire alarm and security services surrounding Philadelphia. The transaction allows Pye-Barker to provide enhanced customer service in the area and help protect more businesses and lives from life safety threats. 

Philadelphia Detection Systems provides fire and burglar detection, video surveillance, access control and communication systems, serving New Jersey and Philadelphia. An innovator in the fire alarm space, Philadelphia Detection Systems has served customers with design, installation, and ongoing service and inspection since 1987. 

"For nearly 30 years, Philadelphia Detection Systems has been here to help protect what matters most for our community," said Stewart Rose, owner of Philadelphia Detection Systems. "I feel lucky to now have the national resources of Pye-Barker to help us serve customers better with additional fire protection solutions." 

Pye-Barker additionally acquired Low Volt Ninja in Philadelphia, which also focuses on fire alarm and security system services for commercial, industrial and residential customers. Along with Philadelphia Detection Systems, Low Volt Ninja helps expand Pye-Barker's full-service life safety solutions in the region. 

Philadelphia Detection Systems and Low Volt Ninja will continue to serve customers in Philadelphia and New Jersey as part of Pye-Barker. Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP, represented Pye-Barker in these transactions. 

RapidFire Safety & Security acquires ACT Low Voltage 

ST. LOUIS—RapidFire Safety & Security has acquired ACT Low Voltage (ACT), expanding RapidFire’s Texas footprint and accelerating growth in the Dallas–Fort Worth market. 

Founded in 2010, ACT Low Voltage is a NICET-certified, NFPA-compliant provider specializing in the installation and maintenance of commercial fire alarm systems across Dallas–Fort Worth. 

This acquisition strengthens RapidFire’s presence in a high-growth region and broadens its ability to serve customers with expanded fire protection and electronic security capabilities, including access control, video surveillance, and integrated life safety systems. ACT’s team will continue supporting customers locally, backed by RapidFire’s additional resources and regional scale. 
 
The acquisition reflects RapidFire’s acquisition-driven growth strategy to expand its regional footprint and build scaled capabilities in high-growth markets. 
 
“We’re excited to welcome ACT to RapidFire as we continue to expand in one of our fastest-growing markets,” said Bob Ricucci, chief revenue officer of RapidFire Safety & Security. “ACT adds strong local relationships and expertise that accelerates our growth in DFW and helps us deliver a broader set of fire and security solutions." 
 
“This marks a new chapter for ACT, its employees, and its customers. All team members will remain in place to ensure continuity, preserve trusted relationships, and maintain the service standards our customers rely on,” said Bryan Bingham, owner of ACT Low Voltage. “This decision was thoughtfully made to support growth and new opportunities under RapidFire ownership, while continuing the high standard ACT has delivered for years. Thank you to everyone who helped build ACT and support its future success." 
 
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC served as legal counsel for the transaction. 

Guardian Protection acquires accounts from Chorus SmartSecure  

PITTSBURGH—Guardian Protection has acquired approximately 6,000 customer accounts from Chorus SmartSecure, a privately owned company that has operated since 2019.  

Chorus has locations in Texas (formerly operating as BSG) and in Alabama, where it installs monitored residential and commercial security systems. 

The acquisition will grow Guardian’s presence in Austin and San Antonio and help expand Guardian’s brand to Alabama. It marks the fifth for Guardian since 2021, and plans are underway to continue its strategy.  

“From the beginning, our aim has been to deliver ‘Smart security, Made Simple.’ with a focus on a strong customer experience,” said Chorus President Rob Hardman. “This partnership with Guardian maximizes that commitment and brings additional scale, resources, and monitoring expertise that align with our commitment to bring harmony to the lives of our customers. We’re grateful to continue serving our expanding market as an authorized Guardian security provider and prepared to support a smooth, coordinated transition for every customer.” 

In the coming months, Chorus customers will transition from Chorus’ third-party monitoring center to Guardian’s U.L-certified, Five Diamond accredited monitoring facilities and in-house customer services. 

As part of this agreement, Chorus will continue to serve its markets as an authorized Guardian Protection dealer, creating a partnership approach that combines Chorus’ local sales, marketing, and operations expertise with Guardian’s national scale, in-house monitoring capabilities, and customer support resources. 

“We have been very thoughtful and deliberate with our acquisition approach, focusing on opportunities that complement our account base and provide us strategic opportunities for continued growth. I expect to continue pursuing acquisition opportunities that make sense for us,” said Guardian President Bryan Cipoletti. 

Motorola Solutions acquires HyperYou 

CHICAGO—Motorola Solutions has announced the acquisition of HyperYou, Inc. (Hyper), a conversational, agentic artificial intelligence (AI) provider designed to reduce the burden on understaffed public safety answering points (PSAPs) by handling non-emergency calls.  

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. 

This acquisition expands Motorola Solutions’ use of agentic AI across its Command Center portfolio and mission-critical AI, Assist. The company also plans to roll out additional specialized AI agents that understand the context of 911 calls, radio traffic and other data sources to take emergency actions.  

“Hyper’s agentic AI is helping us better manage high volumes of non-emergency calls and reduce the strain put on our call handlers and dispatchers,” said Ashish Kakkad, chief information officer at the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office. “By automating the routing of non-emergency calls, our telecommunicators can focus more of their time on emergency situations that require judgment, empathy and critical thinking. It’s a practical use of technology that improves outcomes for our community.”  

In addition to the new capabilities powered by Hyper’s technology, the company plans to roll out new Assist Agents to help save time and increase the effectiveness of emergency response. These agents will focus on removing language barriers in real-time between the 911 caller and call handler while guiding call handlers through complex emergency scenarios and accelerating the delivery of life-saving resources that will help support the incident.  

Fortreum acquires Kovr.AI to expand AI-driven cyber compliance capabilities 

LANSDOWNE, Va.—Fortreum has acquired Kovr.AI, adding a FedRAMP-authorized, artificial intelligence (AI)-native compliance platform to its cybersecurity assessment and advisory business as organizations face increasing pressure to navigate complex regulatory frameworks without sacrificing audit integrity. The acquisition pairs Fortreum’s practitioner-led, independent assessment model with Kovr.AI’s automated compliance technology, enabling organizations to manage the full compliance lifecycle - from readiness and evidence preparation to formal assessments and continuous monitoring - across standards such as FedRAMP, CMMC 2.0, DOD SRG, NIST CSF 2.0 and GovRAMP. Fortreum CEO and co-founder James Leach said the deal is aimed at enhancing the quality and defensibility of assessments, rather than simply accelerating them. “This acquisition is about doing AI right - making our assessments better, not just faster,” he said. “Our clients choose Fortreum because our findings represent genuine, independent judgment. By combining that human expertise with an AI platform already validated by the national security community, we’re raising the bar for what credible compliance looks like.” Fortreum will continue to operate as an independent assessor, including its roles as a CMMC C3PAO and FedRAMP assessment organization. The company emphasized that Kovr’s platform is designed to complement existing managed service providers, readiness consultants and compliance tools rather than replace them. 

CENTEGIX announces acquisition of Pikmykid 

ATLANTA—CENTEGIX, a K-12 school safety and emergency response technology provider, has acquired Pikmykid, a provider of dismissal management, reunification, and other school safety solutions. Together, the companies will deliver a unified platform that connects the everyday realities of the school day with critical incident response - giving schools a new level of visibility, control, and coordination across student safety. "School safety doesn't begin in an emergency - it's built into every moment of the school day," said Brent Cobb, CEO of CENTEGIX. "By joining forces with Pikmykid, we're connecting the operational moments that schools manage every day with the critical response capabilities they rely on when it matters most. From arrival to dismissal, schools will be able to manage student safety through one platform." Together, CENTEGIX and Pikmykid will deliver a comprehensive approach to student safety that spans: 

• Student monitoring: Real-time visibility and control over student transitions throughout the school day, enabled through Digital Hall Pass 

• Dismissal management: Safer, more efficient coordination of end-of-day pickup 

• Emergency response: Immediate alerting and coordination to initiate and manage critical incident response 

• Reunification: Structured, secure processes for reuniting students with approved caregivers during emergencies 

• Campus-wide visibility: Real-time awareness to support faster, more informed decision-making during emergencies 

• Connected school communities: Seamless coordination between school staff and families 

Research: Connected building systems result in 20% average increase in operating efficiency 

LAS VEGAS—Parks Associates and DOOR released new research - From Smart Home to Building Intelligence - at ISC West, highlighting the operational impact of connected building technologies in multifamily properties. As the industry transitions from standalone smart home and security solutions to integrated building intelligence platforms, the research shows that integrated systems are transforming multifamily property management through centralized visibility, automation, and data-driven operations. Key research findings from Parks Associates include: 

• 20% average increase in operating efficiency from connected building deployments. 

• 18% reduction in operating costs through integrated smart building technologies. 

• 19% reduction in energy costs and 18% reduction in water costs with smart building systems. 

• 21% decrease in safety and security incidents among properties deploying connected building solutions. 

“Smart building technologies are evolving into core operational infrastructure for multifamily properties,” said Kristen Hanich, senior director of research, Parks Associates. “When access control, IoT signals, and property data are integrated into centralized platforms, operators gain real-time visibility and automation capabilities that improve safety, efficiency, and operational resilience.” The research highlights access control as a core component within the broader Building Intelligence framework, connecting identity, device data, and property operations through centralized platforms. Currently, 70% of multifamily companies report deploying smart door locks in at least one property, rising to 91% among luxury properties, as operators implement connected systems to manage resident, staff, and vendor access across portfolios. 

RAD expands data center security footprint to 30 units at single site   

DETROIT—Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions (AITX), along with its wholly owned subsidiary Robotic Assistance Devices Inc. (RAD), has secured an order for 10 additional RIO Mini autonomous solar-powered security towers from an existing Midwest-based construction client. The units will soon be deployed at a large-scale data center development site, bringing the client’s total planned deployment at this single location to 30 RIO Mini units, each operating with SARA (Speaking Autonomous Responsive Agent). “Large-scale data center developments represent some of the most critical infrastructure projects underway today,” said Steve Reinharz, CEO/CTO and founder of AITX and RAD. “These sites demand continuous awareness and response from the earliest stages of construction through full operation. What we are seeing is a clear shift toward autonomous security as a practical and scalable solution during this phase. Expanding to 30 RIO Mini units at a single location reflects both the customer’s confidence in our technology and the growing role that SARA is playing in securing complex, high-value environments.” Upon deployment of these additional 10 units, the 30-unit RIO Mini footprint at this location is expected to earn the company more than $500,000 in annual recurring revenue (ARR), reinforcing the company’s expanding base of contracted revenue and continued progress toward achieving positive operating cash flow. The customer’s growth from an initial deployment to a 30-unit footprint at a single site reflects a repeatable expansion pattern as large scale construction projects advance and security requirements increase. 

SAGE Integration appoints Matthew LaRue as critical infrastructure manager  

KENT, Ohio—SAGE Integration has announced the appointment of Matthew (Matt) LaRue as critical infrastructure manager. LaRue is an accomplished security professional with a proven track record of driving operational excellence and expansion across the security and technology sectors. Throughout his career, he has managed large-scale accounts in the utility, petrochemical, and energy industries, led high-performing sales teams, and played a key role in revenue growth in the energy sector. His expertise includes acquisition management, relationship management, and operations, making him a trusted industry expert. “We are thrilled to welcome Matt LaRue to the SAGE Integration team,” said John Nemerofsky, chief operating officer, SAGE Integration. “Matt’s proven leadership, industry expertise, and commitment to client success align perfectly with our values and vision for growth. We look forward to the impact he will make as we continue to deliver exceptional solutions and service to our clients.”   

SmartSights names Michael Santoli vice president, enterprise sales 

AUSTIN, Texas—SmartSights, a provider of operational intelligence software for industrial plants, announced that it has appointed Michael Santoli as vice president of enterprise sales. SmartSights is backed by Capstreet, a Houston-based lower middle market private equity firm. “We are delighted to welcome Michael to SmartSights,” said Corey Rhoden, CEO of SmartSights. “His experience in enterprise sales combined with his understanding of the industrial manufacturing sector will be a key asset as we look to build our sales organization. Plus, Michael’s background in bridging software solutions with frontline operational needs aligns neatly with our focus on operational excellence.” Santoli joins SmartSights from Redzone Production Systems, a workforce solution provider for manufacturing companies, where he served as sales director. Previously, he was a senior sales engineer at factory automation equipment manufacturer Keyence Corporation. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration from SUNY Fredonia. 

Camelot Secure wins 2026 CIO 100 Award for AI-driven cybersecurity automation 

COLUMBIA, Md.—Camelot Secure has been named a 2026 CIO 100 Award winner for its use of agentic artificial intelligence (AI) and orchestration to automate threat hunting, infrastructure workflows, and incident response within its Secure360 platform. The CIO 100 Awards, now in their 40th year, recognize organizations that use technology to drive measurable business outcomes, including operational efficiency, innovation, and improved security performance. “The CIOs we’re recognizing this year aren’t just keeping the lights on, they’re driving the business,” said Richard Smith, head of event content, CIO 100 Awards & Conference. “AI, data, security, cloud; it all lands on the same desk now, and the best CIOs have stopped treating them as separate problems. The 2026 class shows what it looks like when you get that right.” Camelot Secure’s Secure360 platform is designed to help organizations address key cybersecurity challenges, including automating threat hunting, reducing security operations center (SOC) workload, improving incident response times, and orchestrating security workflows across tools and teams. The 2026 CIO 100 Award winners will be honored at the CIO 100 Awards & Conference, Aug. 17–19, 2026, at the Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa in Frisco, Texas.