Top Ways Security Integrators Improve Their Careers

Published Sep 03, 2019 16:50 PM

With DIY products expanding and the future of integration debated, how do integrators stay sharp so they are not left behind?

IPVM Image

180+ integrators told us how they better themselves, learn new skills, and expand their careers.

Inside this report, we examine their insights and methods for keeping up to date with the industry and how they stay a step ahead of their competition.

Key ******

** *******, *** *** ****** *****, in *****:

  • ********** *** ********** *********
  • ****** ****** ********
  • **** **** *** ***** ******** **************
  • *** ****
  • ******** ******** ******** & *******

*** ***** *** ******** *****, **** integrators ********* '******** ** ******** ******** & ************' ** * *** **** of ***** ***** ** **** ****** better. ** **** ** *** ***** themes ** ******** *****.

Persistent *** ********** *********

****** ***** ******** ** *** ********* mentioned **** ****-********* ********, *******, *** research *** *** ******* ****** *********** make ********** ****** *** ******** ***** skills.

**** ******* ********** *** ****** *** the ****** ** ********* ******** *** self-driven ** ***** ** ******** ** edge ** ******* *** ******** *********.

*******, **** *********** **** ******** ************** to ***** *********:

  • "******* ******* *** ************* *** ********** training *** *******"
  • "******** ** * ********, *** * think * **** **** ***** ** I ****** **** ** *** ******** world ** *** ****** **, **** try ** ******* *** **** **** and ** **** **."
  • "* ** ********** ******** *** ******** new ************."
  • "* *** ** ***** *** *** time. *** **********, *** ******, ****** ways ** ***** ******, ****** ** constantly ******* *** **** ** **** the ****** *************."
  • "******* ******* ** ****** ************ / products *** ***********. *** ******** ** even **** **** ******** *** *** need ** **** **** ***** **% to ** ***** *** ******."
  • "* ** *********** ******** ** ******* my ****** ******* ** ** ********* to **** ** **** **** ******** technology **** * ** ********** ***** the ******** *** **** ***** * part ** **."
  • "************ ******* ***** *** ************ ** systems"
  • "****** ****** ******** *** ********. ***** is * *** ** *********** ********* to ****** ** ********* *** ************* of *** ********* ** **** **********. It ***** ** ******* ************** *** personally."
  • "****** *** ********, ***. * **** look ** ******* ***** ******* **** smart ***** *** **** ****."
  • "****** ****** ** ***** ********* ***. Webinar's, *******, ************** *** ****** ******* in **** ********."
  • "******* ****** ** ******** ** ***** new **********. ******* ****** ** ******** to **** **** ** ****** ***** the ********'* *****. ***'* *** *** comfortable."
  • "* ********** **** ******* ** ********** trends ** ***** ** ******, ***** to ***** *****, ****** ******* *********** classes, ********, ***."
  • "* ** ****** ******* *** ********, and ******* *** **** ** ******* myself, *** *** * *** *** company *** ***** ** *********. "
  • "* ****** **** ***** ******* ** learn ***** *** *******, *** * continue ** ****** *** *** **** diploma *** ***** *** **** ***** it."
  • "******** ** **** ** * *** about *** ********** *** ********."
  • "******* ******* *******. ********* *** *************. Instead ** ******* **** * ****** media ********, * ************* ***** ****** to ***** ********* ** * **** something ** **** ** *** ***** side ** **."
  • "******** ** **** ***** ** *** curve ** ***** ** **********. ******** about *** *******, ************, ***."
  • "* ** ******** ******* ** ***** more ***** ******** *** ******** ************."
  • "* ** ****** ** ***** ** on *** **** ******* ************ ** well ** ****** *********** ****** **** legacy ******* ***** * *** *** my ******* ****** ****. "
  • "*** **** ***** **** ***** **** to ** ** ***** ** *** employer."
  • "******** ***** ***. ** *** ****'* constantly ******** ***** *** ********** *** where *** ****** ** *****, *** are ***** ** ** * ******** without ****** ******* ** ****. * like ** **** ** **** **** to **** ** ********* ** *** market *** ********* *'* ******** ** make * **** **** *** **** is *****."
  • "*** **** ******* ** ********* *** excellence *** ** **** *** ****** or ***. ***'* ** ********* *** kind/generous **** ********** *** ** ** you ***** *** ************ **** "* dont **** ** ********** ********* *** I *** ****** *** ***** ***** me.""
  • "********** ****** ** ***** *** *********. I **** **** * ********** ****** control *** ***** ************ **********. ** are ****** ** ********** ********* ** add ** *** ********* *** ******** RMR."
  • "*** ********* ***** *** ************ *** new ******** ** *** ******"
  • "**** ******* ,**** ********** * *** on *** ******** ***** ********* ****** videos **** ** **** ********* ** the ******** ** * ***"
  • "******** *********, ********* *** **** ****** obsolete **** ****."
  • "* ****** ***********, **** *****, *** listen ** ******** ** **** ********* and ********** ******. * **** ** always ** ******** ********* *** *** bettering ******."
  • "*** **** *** **** ******* ********* reading ** ****** *******."
  • "******** ********. ** *** *** *** constantly ******** ** **** ******** - you **** ** **** ******. ** are ** *** **** ** ******* technology *********** **** *** ********. **** like *** ** ***** - *** can *** ****. ** * ** the ******* ******** *** ** ********* and ******* ******* * **** *** technology *** **** ***** *** ****** is ***** - * *** ******* my ******* **** ***** *** **** the **** ** **** *** *******."
  • "**** ****** *******."
  • "** ***** ** ********* ***** **** and ** *** ******* ** ** work ***. * ** ********** ******* up ** ***** ****** ****, **********, on ******** ** **** ** ******** just ** **** ** *** ** things."
  • "****** * ******* *** ** *******, webinars, *** ********** ********.""

Pursue ****** ********

***** *** ** *** ********* ********* that ************-***** ******** ** ** ***** a **** ** *** **** *** better *** ****** *********.

***** ****** ******** ** ***** ****** toward ************ ******** ******** *** ************, integrators ******* ********* ** ******* * big **** ** ********* ******** ****** by ********* ******* *********.

  • "******* **** ********** ********* **** ********* vendors ** ******* ***** ** ***** as * ******** *** **** ********** items ***** ******* *** ******* ** adapt. ********** ******** **** ***** *** party ********* **** **** **** *********** and ********* ** *** ******* ********* for *********."
  • "*'* ********* ******** *** ****** ****** controls ************** **** ** *******, ****, Software ***** ***** ******** ***** ********* with ************ *** ******** ********."
  • "******** ** ********* ** ******* ************* certifications ** ** ***** ** ***** on ******** ** *** *** ** the *****."
  • "* ****** ********, *** ******** ******** by **** *** ** ***** ** well ** **** ** *** ** new ****** *** ************ **** ***** affect *** ********."
  • "* ** ********** ***** **** ********** with *** ************ *** ******** *** hardware. **** ** ****** **-**** ** webinar ******** ** * *** **** up **** ******* ** ********."
  • "******** ** ********* ** ******* ************* certifications ** ** ***** ** ***** on ******** ** *** *** ** the *****."
  • "** ****** **** ********* ** **** supplier *********."
  • "************ ******** ** ******* *** ******** new ******** ** **** *** ********."
  • "* ******* *** ******** ******* ** our ******** *** *********. "
  • "******* **** ******* ** ***** ***** new ******** *** ********** ************."
  • "********/********, ************ ******** *** **** ********** education ******* *******. *** **** ** stay ******** ** ***** ****** ** your **********, ********** **** ** ******** technology."
  • "******* ** ** **** **** *** latest ********* ** *** ***** *** also **** *** ***'* ** *******."
  • "****** ************ ******** ** ******** ** use, ************ ****** ******** (****** ****!) to **** *** **** **** *** the ******** *** ***** ****** ** third **** **** ********* ** ************ in ******* (****** ************, ****** ************, analytics ************ ***.)"
  • "**** ** **** ****** **************."
  • "** *** ****** ************ ******** *** Access ******* *** ********* *** *********."

Use ****

***** **** ****** *** **** ** and ********* ** **** *******, ***** 1 ** ***** ** ********* ************ mentioned **** **** ******* *** ******* have ***** ** ********* ***** ****** and ********* ** ******* ******** ********:

  • "*** *** * **** ****, **** the *******, *** *** ** **** on *** ** **."
  • "****** ********* ** *** **** **** has ** ***** *** ******* ** eye ** *** ********. **** ****** to ********** **** ** *** ***** offerings **** ******."
  • "******* **** *****."
  • "**** *******, [***** ****] ************ ******** and ***** *****."
  • "**** *********** ** ****, ******* ****** trend & ******** ******** *******."
  • "* ***** ******** ***** *** ************ and ********* ******* ****** ******* **** IPVM *** ******."
  • "********, ******* **** **** *** ************* and ** ****** ******* ****"
  • "********** ******** *** ******* *** ********* writings **** ****."
  • "* **** *******, ***** **** ******* with ********* ***** **, ******** ******** like **** ** **** ** *** of *** ****** *** ******** ***********."
  • "*'* ******* ****** ******* ** ***** through ******* **** ******** ********* ****. "
  • "** * ***** ***** * **** the **** ******** *** *********** ***** products *** ********. "
  • "* ********* **** ** **** ******** from ****."
  • "* **** ****... ******* **'* *** best!"

ASIS **************

*********/***'* ********* ********* *******, ***** *** ** ***** ****** responses ********* *** ***** ******* ********* for ******** **************.

**************** *** *** *** ****************** ******** ********* ** ***** ********* as ****** ***** ***** ***********:

** ***** *****, ***** **** ******** were ********* ** ********* ** ************* up-to-date ****** *** ******** *********** ** members, ******** ***** ******* *********** ****. In *******, **** ****** ******** *** more *******, *** *** *** ********** areas **** ****** ***** **** ******:

  • "* **** ** *** ** *** from *** ***** **-** ********."
  • "******** *** *** ****, ********** ** new ********** **** ******* ******* ************ to ****** ********* ******."
  • "**** ******, ******* ** ** ** much *** ********** ** ********."
  • "**** *** *************, *** ***** ****** certifications."
  • "* *** ** **** ** ** the ****** **********, *********** ** ** local **** *******, *** **** *** classes ** ****** ** *********."
  • "******** ********** ***** **** ** **** or *** ****** ** ***** ******** opportunities. "
  • "******** *** ********+ *** ********* *** PSP, ** **** * ****** *** more ********** ************* ** ******** ************."
  • "* ** ********* ******** *** *** PSP. "
  • "*** **** **** ** ******* ** years ** ********** *** ******* ***** certs (********** ****) ** ******* *** next ** *****... ******* **** *** ones **** **** ******. "

Other ****** ********, **************, & *******

***** **** ** ******** ******** ********, other ******* ******** *** ************** **** sporadically ********* ** ****. ***** ***** sources **** *** ********* ** **** than * ******* ** *********, *********** cited ***** ********** ** ********** ***** careers.

***** ******** ************, *******, *** ******* ****** ********* degrees:

  • "* **** ** ****, *** ******** on ***-*, *** **** **** * degree ** **. **** **** ****."
  • "* **** ** ******* *+/***+/********+ ***** as **** ** *** *** ** done. * **** ** ******** **** this ****. * *** ** **** a ******** ** **********-******* **** ***** other *****. ******* ** ****** - I **** *** ***** ** ******* standing, ** **** ********* **** ***'* know ** ******* **** * ** speaking **** * ******** ** ********* and **********, *** **** **********. "
  • "******* ** ********** ******** *** *******"
  • "************* ** ************* ******** **** ** CSEIP"
  • "* **** ** ********* ** ******."
  • "**** ********** ********* ******* *******."

Increase ******** ******** & *******

** ******** ** ******* *********, ***** one ** ****** ********* *** ***** in ******* *** *********** ***** ******** networks, ***** **** ********* **** ** a ************ ****** ** ******* ***** business.

  • "**** * **** **** *** *** last ** ***** ***** ****, ******* education *** ***********. ******* *** ************* my ******** *** ******** ********."
  • "*'* ********* ********** ** ***** ********** and ******* ******** ******** ** *** moment ***** * **** ** ******** moving *******."
  • "*'** ******* ** ********** **** ***** people ********* ***********. ** ******* ** much ** ******** ** **** ** don't **** ** ** ********** ** everyone *** ***** ** **** ** are **** **."
  • "****** ******** *** ****** ***********. ** a ***** ******** ***** ********** ** death."
  • "********** *** ***, ************ *************."
  • "******, ******** *** ***** **** ** customers **** ** ***** ** ******* and ******** **** * *********."
  • "******* ** **** *** *** ******** makers *** ****** ** ** ****."
  • "**** **********, ************ **** ****** ** areas ***** * **** * *** be ******** ** *** **** ***** of ** **** ******. ******* *** about *** ************* *** **** ************ so * *** **** ******** ***** about **** ***** ** ** ******* career."
  • "* *** ** **** ** ** relationships **** *** ************ *************** *** higher ***. ********* **'* ***** *** you ****, *** ** **** **** you ****."

Focusing ** ******** ******** & ************

***** *** ******** *********, * *** select ******** ****** ******* ***** **** the ******* '**** *** *****' *********.

*** ********* **** ******* ** ********** labor ********* ******* ********** ******* ***** and ********** ******** ** *** ** their **** ********* *******:

  • "* **** **** ******* ********* ** talent *********** ** ****** *** ***-**-*** role **** * **** ** *** company *** ******** **** ******* ** that ***** *** ** ********** *********** or "*************" *****."
  • "******* ** *** ********** ****, ******* it's **** ****!"

*** *** ******* ********* ***** ** grow ******** ******** ** ********* ***** security *********:

  • "******* ** ******* ***** ***** ***********. Lots ** *** **** ******* ** retire ***** *** *** **** ***’* want ** **** ** *** *********. Now ** *** **** ** ***."

*******, ***** *** ** ***** ***** integrators ********* ******** ***** ** ***** to *** ******** *** ****** ** the *** **** *** *****, ** the ********* *********** *********** ******* ** ********* *********** In ***********.

Comments (14)
U
Undisclosed #1
Sep 03, 2019

****+* ******* ******: **** **, ***** 25, ***** **, **** **, ********* 10, *** **, ******* *, ***** 3, ***** *.

***** *

******** *

**** ******, *** ******* *** ** grim ** **** ***. * **** always ******* ** *********, ***** *** then ********. ** ** ********** * will ****, ******** *** ***** *** subject ******** *** ******** ** *** only *** ** *** ** *** next ***** ** *************.

** *** ****** ***** ******* **** how ** *****, **** *** ******** do *** ********** *** ** **** worked. (****, **** ***** ** *******).

(5)
(2)
(1)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #2
Sep 03, 2019

*** *** ***** *** *** ** being **** ** ******* *** ********* works? ******** ****** ******** **** ** meet *** *******...

***** *** * **** **** * took * *** ***** **** *** preparation *** * ************* ****. * passed *** **** ******* ******* *** class *** ***** *** ********* ***** as ** ******** **. *** ******* even ***** ** *** **** **** he *** * ******* **** *** program.

** *** **** ** *** **** there **** *** **** **** **** could *** *** **. *** *** didn't ***** ******* **** *** *** afraid ** *** *********. *** ***** guy **** ****'* *** ** *** effort. *** ******* ********* **** ** on ****. * ***** ** ***** an **** ***** ***** ****** ******* with *** ** *** ***** ** them.

* ****'* ****** ** *** ***** exam, *** * ***** * ***** from *** ***** **** ***** **** two ******** *** ****'* **** *** test.

* ***** ** ****...

U
Undisclosed #1
Sep 03, 2019

** ** ******** **** *** *** guys *** ******** ******. ** ** also ******** **** ******* *** *********** followed ** ***** ******* *********** ********** or **** **. *** *** ** the *** **** **** ** ******* with *** **********(*******) ******* ** ** completed ******** ***** ***** * ******* score *** ***. ** ***** *** were **** ** **** ** *** assist, **** *** ****** ** **** the ******* *** *** *** *** test ** **** ** ***. ******* can **** **** **** *********** ** simply *********, ******** *** ********* * heuristic ****** *** ***** * ****.

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #3
Sep 08, 2019

*** ********* ** ********/******** ****** ** that **** *** **** ** **** questions **** *** ***** ******* ** or **** ******* ******* ******, *** must **** ***** **.

(1)
U
Undisclosed #4
Sep 08, 2019
IPVMU Certified

****+* ******* ******: ********** *

* **** ** ****** *** *******, they **** *** *** ** ** something :)

Avatar
Jerry Wilkins
Sep 03, 2019

***** *******, ********* *** ***** **** responded *** ******* ** ******* ***** "Trade-craft". ** *** ******** *** *** decision ** ******** ********** ** **** there *** ***** ***** **********.******** *** ***** ** ********,****** ***** ** ** ******** *** deployed *** **** ***************** ******** ***** **. *** ******* of ********* ***** ********** ****** *** "what". ******** **** ***** ****** ********** solutions *** ************ ********** ****** *** "how". * ******* ** ** ********* to **********/******* *** ******** "***". *** customer ******* ******* ******* ** ******** technology *** **** *** ******... ******** Risk! **** ******, ******** ** ******** outcomes. ** ** **** ** *** customers ***** *** ********** *** ** used *************** ******... ** *** ** **************** ** ******* ** * ********* incident? ** ****** ** **. *************, in **** ***** ** ***'* **** about *** ***** *(**'* ** ********). *** *** ** *********/************** ********** (******) ****** * ******** ******** ** improve *** *******? ** *** ********** our ******** ***** ** ***** ** truly **** * ********** ** **** start ****** *** "**** **" *********. Time *** **** ***** ********** ** not ******** ** ** *** ******** incident ******** ****. ** * ******, it **** *** **** ***** ***** the ****! * ******* *** ******** does *** ***** ****** ** *** basic ******** ********* ***** ******** "*** Hazard" ***** ********. * ******* ** need ** **** ** *** ********** fits ** ** *** ********* *** or ******** ****** *****. **** ** opinion.

Avatar
Lynn Harold
Sep 08, 2019

******* *********** ** * ***** ***** not **** ****** ******* ** *********. Within **** *****, ***** *** *********, Project ********, *********** ***********, **********, *** Support *********, ** **** * *** - **** **** * ********* ****** requirement. ********** ** **** ******* ****, I've ****** ***** **** ***** *** install **** ***** *** * ****** perspective **** ********* *** ******** *** project. * ***** "**** ** * going ** **** ** *** **** done"? ********* ********* ** ****, ******* datasheets ** ******* - ********* ********** is *********. ******** ****** *** **** field **********.

(4)
(1)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #5
Sep 09, 2019

* ***** *** ** *** ********* side **** *'** ***** ****** ** get ********* ********** *******. ********* ****** want ** *** *** *** **** of ********, *** **** ****** ** get **** *** ** ** ** myself *** ** ******. **** ** for ******* ******* ************* **** ** wanting ** ** ** ********** ** something, *** **** ***** ******* *** those, *** ** * **** ******* certification **** ******* ***** ***** ** where **** **** *** ***** (**'* never ******** ***** ** **).

* ***** * ******* *********** ** all *** ***** ** ****. ***** experience ** ****, *** ** ***'** too ******** ** **** ** ************ manual, ** **** * ****** **** offered, **** * ***'* **** *** far **** ***** ********** **** ****** take ***.

Avatar
Lynn Harold
Sep 09, 2019

|"***** ********** ** ****, *** ** you're *** ******** ** **** ** installation ******,"

** ******* ** *** ******** ** RTFM, **** * ******'* **** **** on ** ****.

(3)
(1)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #5
Sep 16, 2019

* ****** *** ** **** *** choose *** ** ** ** "****". Sometimes * *** *****, *** ********** I *** ****** **** *******.

DR
Dennis Ruban
Sep 13, 2019

******** *** *** ********* ****. *** it ****** **** ***? ***** *** say **** ***** *** **** ***** worth **? **** ********* (****, *****) or *********** ***********?

JH
John Honovich
Sep 13, 2019
IPVM
(1)
DR
Dennis Ruban
Sep 13, 2019

* **** *** ******** *** ********... I'd **** ** ** ***** *** something ******. *************, **** ***/*** *** the **** ****** ********** *************

ZH
Zane Hickman
Sep 16, 2019

******* ******* ** **** ****** ***** out ** ******* **** * ** in ******* **********. **, *** ****** a ******** ********** (*** *** ****** most ******* ****** ********* ** *** time - **** ***** *** **** now), ** *** ********* *** ** to ****** * **** ** *********. Getting ** *** **** ****** *** into *********** *** ******** **** *** security. * ** ** *** ******* that ***** *** **** *********** ** our ******** **** **** * **** cursory ************* ** ******** **********, *** I *** ** ** *** *** to ************* ******. *** *** ***** providers/vendors/etc. *** ** ***** * ***** peg **** * ****** **** ****** understanding *** ******* ** ***** ** propose */*** ********(*). ** ****** ** to ****** ********** ********** *** ***** more ************* ** ******* **** ** the *******. ***** ** ** ********, it *** *** ******* ** **** but *** **** ** **** ** some ***** ** ********.

****, *** ************ ************* ***** (***) just ********** * *** *************: *** Associate ********** ************ (***). ** ** intended ** ********* ******** *** ****** level ************** ***** **** ******** *** bar *** ********* * **** ********** for **** **** ********** ** ********* knowledge ** * ************. **** ***** it ****:********* ********** ************ (***)

* ***** ********* ** ***** * was *********** **** ** *** *** knowledge ** * ******* **. **** being ****, * **** **** ************* is *** *** ********, *** * see **** ** * **** ******** stone **** ***** *** *** ********* a ********** *** **** ******** ******* of ************ ***********.