On The Editor's Desk

As I write these words, Security Systems News Managing Editor Cory Harris (pictured above at the podium) is in one of my favorite cities, Denver, Colo., for PSA TEC, the conference devoted to the systems integrator community. To say that I have some serious FOMO going on seeing all of Cory’s, and other industry peers’ posts on social would be an understatement! But I am very excited Cory gets to experience his first TEC, a rite of passage for any SSN editor, for sure! And what a great...

Can't think of a better time to have a Security Systems News' "40 under 40" takeover of the website than right now as the team here at SSN and many of the winners from this year's class get ready to converge on Nashville for our SecurityNext conference, April 25-27 at The Westin Nashville. Please check out the first eight of the 40 profiles that are appearing here and in print all year long!  For the full list of winners, please click here. And keep...

With temperatures warming up here in chilly Maine – and sights, sounds and smells of spring, rebirth and renewal in the air – the team here at Security Systems News is gearing up for SecurityNext, which returns to an in-person event later this month, April 25-27, in Nashville, the music city. Coming off a successful and exciting ISC West in Las Vegas last month, the theme of rebirth and renewal seems fitting, as ISC West came back strong after a tough year in 2021 due...

Great to be in Las Vegas for ISC West 2022, which is back and buzzing with the same kind of energy and traffic we have seen in past years before the pandemic. Great to see so many familiar faces, catch up with industry news and gossip, as well as see the latest and greatest in new technology and products. Check back here and on the SSN website for the latest news coming out of ISC West, starting with the news form SIA coming out of the Advance, including a new chair, board and committee members. I...

To say I am beaming with pride today is an understatement, as the announcement yesterday – on International Women’s Day – of the inaugural Security Industry Association (SIA) annual Power 100 list is such a monumental step for an industry that I have been fortunate enough to report on these past six years – literally almost to the day. As I mentioned in the Power 100 announcement, serving on the WISF Nominations Committee, I was truly amazed at the high number of quality...

In preparing to announce this year’s recipients of our third annual Security Legend Award to probably the most well-known and liked couple in security, Christine and Andrew Lanning, I started to think back on all of the ways each of them has not only inspired and influenced me as an editor and person, but also the industry itself, as they are the epitome of selfless. They are givers, that much I am sure of, and the industry is so much better because of their tireless efforts. Over the past...

Just about two years to the day, Security Systems News hosted our inaugural SecurityNext conference in New Orleans, bringing together some of the top thought leaders within physical and cybersecurity to delve into the latest trends and most promising technologies, while celebrating our “40 under 40” and Security Legend Award winners, and providing an intimate and open setting for networking, mind-melding and fun! Fast forward two years, and I am super excited to build on the success...

January is the month of new resolutions … looking forward to the year ahead … making plans and strategies for a successful 2022. This is also the time of year to look into our crystal ball here at Security Systems News to see what our readers have determined are the top trends and challenges for the year. Looking at our News Poll results, along with the Security Industry Association’s (SIA’s) Megatrends’ report, similar themes start to play out for the year. For...

Okay, so 2022 hasn’t started out the way we wanted. For me, personally, my son tested positive for COVID on New Year’s Day, along with half his school over the past few weeks, a story that is being repeated in cities across the U.S. as we enter year three of what seems like a recurring nightmare we all can’t wake up from. Wait, Paul, I thought this blog was supposed to be about glimmers of hope? Yes, hope. Seems like that is all we have to hold onto these days, as we all...

I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the holidays and ring in the New Year than by telling 40 young security professionals that they are part of this year’s Security Systems News’ “40 under 40” Class of 2021! Getting those emails back from thankful and grateful recipients is really rewarding for me, and kind of makes me feel like Santa when he sees a child opening-up that gift they wanted but didn’t think they were going to get that year. As one “40...