| Security-Net has grown significantly in stature as a global national accounts organisation |
Back in the day, security companies kept their business close to the vest, didn’t collaborate and worked locally, without expanding beyond limited geographic boundaries.
Security-Net™, Exton, Pa., came about in an effort to find a better way. So some 22 years ago, in 1993, the organisation began a journey – one that would eventually establish it as a highly respected national accounts-based group of systems integrators.
SourceSecurity.com went to Security-Net founding member Bill Savage, president of Security Control Systems Inc., Houston, to recount the organisation’s journey from past to present.
SourceSecurity.com: Overall, what is the goal of Security-Net and its members?
Savage: Security-Net was founded to give independent integrators the ability to collaborate on various fronts. In 1993, there wasn’t much industry collaboration. Everyone worked within their own geographic areas and product lines. Several of us began talking about the challenges of maintaining good relationships with manufacturer partners and customers as we grew outside our areas. As a result, our members, now with 50 regional offices and 1,200 professionals across the U.S., Canada and abroad, have grown significantly in stature as a global national accounts organisation, representing significant purchasing power.
SourceSecurity.com: What do Security-Net and its members see as some of the most important technological changes? How is the organisation poised to make the most of them?
Savage: Certainly one of the most significant trends is the globalisation of security. When I started in the business 35 years ago, if you had a handful of access control readers at the protected premises that was considered significant, but integration unlikely. Today we see security extend its reach around the globe at even modest-sized companies. The way systems are configured and scalable, smaller facilities in remote areas are just as important as larger ones. Large-scale systems are spread across the globe, and that takes knowledge and expertise not all integrators have. The other thing impacting our approach to system design is the need for the highest levels of security, including data security. We recently launched a pilot program to foster collaboration and secure data exchange using individual member companies as test beds to ensure the information customers entrust to us is safe not only internally but as we distribute it across their networks.
| Security-Net recently launched a pilot program to foster collaboration and secure data exchange |
SourceSecurity.com: How has the organisation changed and adapted to the morphing technology landscape?
Savage: We always saw technological innovation at the highest levels of the systems integration industry where Security-Net was involved. Systems integration has continued to advance, in the distribution of data; resiliency of networks; and emerging technologies such as biometrics. As the economy has improved and the consolidation of manufacturers continues, there’s renewed investment in research and development, and we are right in the thick of advising supplier partners. The Tech-Net subgroup of Security-Net represents a wonderful resource for manufacturers thinking about product roadmaps who want to pick the brains of top companies. They come to us to get insights from some of the greatest minds in the systems integration industry.
SourceSecurity.com: What's coming in the future; any changes for the organisation, in philosophy or other?
Savage: One of the things we have been working on is the continued international expansion of Security-Net. We’re trying to expand our offerings and attract more partners in different areas across the globe. Yet we’re always cautious and must maintain the utmost levels of professionalism as we grow and expand. We continue to focus on providing local, high-quality services to our customers and don’t want to lose sight of that. We also spend a lot of time huddling about the service delivery process and have invested substantially in custom software to manage large-scale projects, which is important to our customers moving forward.”
SourceSecurity.com: Any closing thoughts about Security-Net and its contributions to the security industry?
Savage: I think one of the things we need to remember is that we originally got together based upon an atmosphere of control and mutual respect. This isn’t like joining a club. Non-participation is not an option. We expect members to participate fully in meetings and projects and the various programs Security-Net offers its customers. We must not lose sight of the fact that we are independents, but as we grow continue to put the customer first and offer great products and services. We are proud of our organisation and what we have been able to accomplish.”