ADT is one of the biggest players in the security industry, with ~$4 billion revenue. In 2017, they were acquired / merged with Protection 1. Now, the combined entities are coming after both the residential and commercial markets. New IPVM stat...
By IPVM Team - 8 days ago
Hikvision USA's Head of Cybersecurity has exited the company. In this note, we review the move, share Hikvision's feedback and examine the company's efforts to improve their cybersecurity following numerous vulnerabilities and problems (e.g., 1, ...
By Brian Karas - 10 days ago
Manufacturer sales people are very important to integrators, but it takes more than just punching a clock to be successful and truly valuable to partners. 150+ integrators told IPVM the most important improvements sales people can make. Here they ...
By Ari Erenthal - 30 days ago
One rising trend is the tendency for people to disclaim their statements on work related topics as their own 'opinions' or 'personal opinions'. This is silly. Obviously, one's work influences one's opinions (via paycheck, culture and experience)...
By John Honovich - about 1 month ago
Hikvision has accused IPVM of 'cyberbullying' them, declaring IPVM 'destined to fail.' This is the 3rd anti-IPVM Hikvision post in 2 weeks, including Hikvision giving IPVM an 'F', following last month's Hikvision declaring IPVM 'absolutely unethic...
By John Honovich - about 1 month ago
NLSS has been one of the most ambitious security / surveillance startups. After selling his last startup, Sypixx, to Cisco, Pete Jankowski founded NLSS, marketing it as the "Next Level in Video Management", combining access control, video analytic...
By Brian Karas - about 1 month ago
A rare event for North American security manufacturers has happened. ShotSpotter has IPOed on the NASDAQ, raising $30.8 million. US IPOs, overall, have become much tougher since the dot com boom, with revenue and growth demands typically quite h...
By Brian Karas - about 2 months ago
It has been nearly 2 years since the infamous Bryan Schmode 'resigned' as Avigilon COO. Now, Avigilon once again has a COO, promoting James Henderson into the position. The Avigilon COO title has previously been a last-stop for senior executive...
By Brian Karas - 2 months ago
A Hikvision marketing employee was caught by IPCamTalk trying to surreptitiously disparage IPVM and IPCamTalk. This is an outgrowth of Hikvision's anti-IPVM marketing campaign and their most recent failed attempt to denigrate IPVM. Hikvision rece...
By John Honovich - 2 months ago
We criticize Knightscope regularly - their lack of revenue, their trying to fool mom 'n pop investors, their associating themselves with a clueless company, Jim Cramer's nonsense 'interview', etc., etc. Overall, Knightscope is a company far far...
By John Honovich - 3 months ago
The hit list. Kirschenbaum's recent newsletter complained about a 'hit list', bemoaning how a company took aim at ADT. Alas, that's the Google racket. When someone searches for a term (like 'ADT'), Google will gladly sell numerous ads for anyone...
By John Honovich - 3 months ago
The ballerinas are out. The price cuts are back. Hikvision is struggling to build a premium brand (i.e., 'The Art of Video Surveillance') so they have reverted to what has worked best - putting "ALL HIKVISION PRODUCTS" on sale. In this note, ...
By John Honovich - 3 months ago
Can building a deep learning video analytics application be as easy as the typical VMS installation? Maybe not quite, but Nvidia is aiming to make it much easier with their developer kits and shared software libraries that can enable a decent linu...
By Brian Karas - 3 months ago
Take a look: Did you think, even for a fraction of a second, "$3 per share, could be a good deal"? If so, you should not invest in anything. Simply put your money underneath your mattress and save yourself. The price per share is irrelevant, a...
By John Honovich - 4 months ago
The use of 'booth babes' is way down overall, but one company, Rapid Response, continues to treat ISC West like it is an HBO brothel documentary setting up a literal lineup of 10: The sheer number used by Rapid Response compared to how few are ...
By John Honovich - 4 months ago
IPVM went to Las Vegas, examining what vendors are showcasing and what is new. Attendance was up, according to the show, and was certainly well attended. This is our final edition of the show report covering all 3 days of exhibits and key takeaw...
By IPVM Team - 4 months ago
Huawei owned HiSilicon is a hidden key component of many of the cheapest cameras on the market. For the second year in a row, HiSilicon has wasted $200,000 with the most bizarre booth strategy seen.
By IPVM Team - 4 months ago
Hikvision's Chairman and Communist Party Secretary told Xi Jingping his gift for the Communist Party's 100th anniversary in 2020 will be to make Hikvision the industry's #1 brand. In this note, we examine the statement, Hikvision's current positi...
By John Honovich - 4 months ago
Another gimmick or a real deal? The company that brought 'Unlimited' Enterprise VMS License for Just $32,000 and a cannon to ISC West are back with a new deal. This time for $10,000 in free VMS licenses. In this note, we examine the offer from IP...
By Brian Karas - 4 months ago
Hikvision has hired a crisis communication writer as the company ramps up its efforts to deal with the 'crisis' it feels it is facing. 'Crisis communications' is a public relations speciality "designed to protect and defend an individual, compa...
By John Honovich - 4 months ago
One of the fastest growing companies has turned into one of the rockiest, as cooling growth, management turnover and a roller coaster stock price shakes Avigilon. So how do integrators feel about Avigilon? 100+ integrators told IPVM in detail, re...
By John Honovich - 5 months ago
This post helps PR and Marketing people understand and productively work with IPVM (as much as possible given our independent, often critical, position). It may be useful for others as it talks about our philosophy and positioning. Backgrou...
By John Honovich - 6 months ago
Sony is attempting to deemphasize the severity of the backdoor uncovered in Ipela cameras. Meanwhile, IPVM has verified that the root password for the backdoor has been cracked. Downplaying the severity of the hard-coded backdoor puts both users...
By Brian Karas - 6 months ago
PR is not dying, warns pleads PR firm. Take 40+ year old industry PR firm LRG, who recently lamented the 'misconceptions' that: Traditional PR is dead Scrap their company’s PR program And awkwardly reassured that PR is: Not going away a...
By John Honovich - 6 months ago
Dahua, the mega-Chinese surveillance manufacturer not primarily owned by the Chinese government has been trying to break out of the shadow of Hikvision (who is controlled by the Chinese government). They have struggled to differentiate themselves,...
By Brian Karas - 6 months ago
