A rare event for North American security manufacturers is upcoming. ShotSpotter is planning to IPO on the NASDAQ, aiming to raise $34.5 million. US IPOs, overall, have become much tougher since the dot com boom, with revenue and growth demands t...
By Brian Karas - about 1 month ago
A Shark Tank TV show appearance has attracted big attention for Guard Llama, a security startup touting a 'panic button' paired with mobile app that claims "911 help, 3X faster." We bought one and tested it to see if the startup delivers on the...
By Brian Rhodes - about 1 month ago
Mobile video systems - those mounted on buses, trains, cars, boats, etc. - are a niche within video surveillance with its own particular challenges. 160 integrators provided feedback to IPVM on: Installing mobile video systems Most common app...
By Brian Karas - about 2 months ago
An alarm system can call for help in the event of an attempted break in, but only if it is armed. If an adversary forces an authorized user to disarm the alarm, however, that adversary can gain entry without alerting emergency responders. Therefor...
By Ari Erenthal - about 2 months ago
The function of an alarm panel is to gather information from sensors and respond to this information by triggering actions. While it is possible to program these responses manually, most alarm panels have a variety of responses preprogrammed and g...
By Ari Erenthal - about 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 - 2 months ago
Strobes provide visual notification of alarm incidents, as sirens are used to give audible notification. Using a strobe gives alarm users and alarm responders another way confirm alarms when they cannot hear the sirens. In this note, we examine ho...
By Ari Erenthal - 3 months ago
2Gig is one of the most widely used intrusion systems, with two product lines that are the main offering of many alarm companies, huge national installers and small mom & pop shops alike. In this dual-test, IPVM bought both variants of this a...
By Brian Rhodes - 3 months ago
Simplisafe markets themselves as a 'better way' than traditional professional alarm companies. However, in one key way, Simplisafe hides the alarm permitting process from their marketing material, only making it clear after the system is purcha...
By Ari Erenthal - 3 months ago
Panic switches allow silently triggering an alarm system when it is otherwise disarmed. In this tutorial we explain and contrast the 7 most common types, including: Covered Switch / Hold Up Emergency Button Latching Switch Wireless Keyfob F...
By Ari Erenthal - 3 months ago
This January, the Washington DC police video surveillance system was hacked with ransomware, impacting 123 of 187 cameras. Last month, IPVM confirmed that the police system was using Genetec recorders, Axis cameras and Cradlepoint equipment. Now...
By Brian Karas - 4 months ago
The Washington DC Metropolitan Police Department's surveillance system was hacked in January 2017. Two immediate questions were: Whose equipment was it? How did it happen? We have been able to answer the first of those two questions throug...
By Brian Karas - 4 months ago
While alarm systems are popular, balancing between the right level of protection, the appropriate components and an acceptable price can be very challenging. This in-depth tutorial explains each fundamental element, offering guidance on the pros a...
By Ari Erenthal - 6 months ago
FLIR has acquired Prox Dynamics, a Norwegian maker of small military-grade drones, for $134M. FLIR president Andy Teich provided additional details to IPVM on this acquisition, and what it might mean for FLIR's security division.
By Brian Karas - 7 months ago
One company is dominating the body camera business - Taser. The stun gun leader aims to grow a VSaaS powerhouse and take over one of the fastest growing video surveillance niches. However, 6 US cities have made various allegations against Taser ...
By Brian Karas - about 1 year ago
The shooting at Orlando's Pulse nightclub is raising questions among entertainment venue owners, and security professionals, about how to balance security at safety at these locations. Inside, we provide suggestions and recommendations specific t...
By Brian Karas - about 1 year ago
Hitachi, relatively unknown in the security industry, says their forthcoming analytic software can "predict crimes before they happen". We spoke with Hitachi to better understand these claims, and analyze how the software is intended to work. Th...
By Brian Karas - about 1 year ago
Government intrusion or smart practice? One city is requiring business that cause repeated problems to get video surveillance. In this note, we examine what they are doing and the pros and cons of this approach.
By Ethan Ace - about 1 year ago
New information shows a Hikvision executive is simultaneously a leader within the Chinese government national security ministry. This runs counter to Hikvision's assertions that state owned enterprises simply own shares of Hikvision. In this not...
By John Honovich - about 1 year ago
Silicon Valley is bringing us security robots, or as the startup, Knightscope, likes to call it, "Advanced Physical Security Cutting Edge Anomaly Detection Autonomous Presence 24/7" We spoke with Knightscope at ISC West 2016, and examine their of...
By Brian Karas - about 1 year ago
CCTV video quality is widely seen by the public as terrible - grainy, out of focus, hard to make more out than moving fuzzy blobs. The Motor City has been pushing businesses to install HD systems, and the effort is paying off. A shooter at a ga...
By Brian Karas - over 1 year ago
Bodyworn camera use continues to increase, with more police departments mandating it and the US pledging $75M for new cameras. In this report, we share test results of the Panasonic Arbitrator BWC, part of Panasonic's line of evidence capture pro...
By John Scanlan - over 1 year ago
Rogue cellphones. Most DVRs/NVRs and VMSs have options to limit video export to external devices, but none of them can fix the analog hole.
By Brian Karas - over 1 year ago
Integrators: cut your prices or your customers are going to go around you. That is the lesson of a recent California police department whose choose a FLIR brand, Lorex, as their (at least temporary) jail solution.
By Brian Karas - over 1 year ago
Taser, the company, is best known for its stun-gun product (or "CEW - Conducted Electrical Weapon") which is commonly referred to as a "Taser". But over the last few years, Taser has grown to include body cameras and video storage rather than jus...
By Brian Karas - over 1 year ago
