Secure Global Solutions - Articles

Announcing stages™ live at USA Central Station on March 5, 2008

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:30:00 +0100

Irvine, CA

Bart Didden, president ofUSA Central Station has announced the successful implementation at all service locations of stages™ monitoring software developed by Secure Global Solutions (SGS). Systems are in place in Port Chester, NY, Milford, CT and St. Paul, MN. The challenge of implementing simultaneously in three locations required great coordination. The magnitude of the achievement is even more amazing since this was the first worldwide implementation of the stages™ system. .

USA Central is a high volume operation, requiring all of the features of a mature monitoring system. The installed configuration assures the highest reliability in the central station business with multiple servers updating each other in real time. “Assuring reliability for my dealers and maintaining a highly flexible operating environment” were among the key benefits that stages™ delivered. There is no single point of failure in the entire system architecture.

In the first few days of operation, there have been no failures of the system. It is a testament to the quality workmanship that signal handling, dispatch, and redundancy are all working flawlessly for the first implementation of a new system. Thorough testing by a talented team of USA operations personnel working with SGS created a very successful joint development project.

The SGS stages™ team were people I knew and I trusted their ability to create something special.” Mr. Didden says, “the decision to partner with SGS was easy as the SGS team is bursting at the seams with long time industry professionals that developed our old system.” The experience of the development team was key to creating a complete, high-performance system in only 11 months.

The stages™ system is a next generation application built on a SQL Server database and browser based technology. This unique browser solution simplifies installation and support The ability to service dealers is substantially enhanced since new features can be made available for use both in the office and in the field.

stages™ includes a unique dispatch wizard to guide operators through the dispatch process and assists with selecting the right task and the right call. Making certain you take the right action, documenting each step, and tracking all failures are invaluable tools in improving business operations.

Announcing the Second Annual SGS Breakfast at the Wynn

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:12:00 +0100

Secure Global Solutions (SGS) will hold its second annual breakfast on April 3rd from 8:00am to noon. This is a forum for SGS to meet with industry leaders, customers, and vendors looking for applied computer technology.

SGS is the leading IT resource in the security marketplace developing solutions in both open source and Microsoft compatible tools. This year we will present stages™, the next generation of dispatch software solutions for central stations. Also learn about backStage™ Monitoring, an innovative product creating an entirely new recurring revenue stream.

You must register in advance to attend this year’s forum. Last year over 100 multi-national industry leaders attended the inaugural SGS event marking the company’s debut in the security marketplace. In the past year, we have been diligently creating the solutions we promised.

stages™ next generation dispatch software has been completed and is “live” today – less than one year from inception! The first revision of stages™ is just the tip of the iceberg and product plans include revolutionary change for the central station. During the next year, millions of subscribers will be monitored with stages™ and it is important to understand the reasons for its selection. Come listen and learn concepts in automating that drive down operating costs in dramatic new ways.

backStage™ Monitoring is poised to change the scope of central station services for generations to come. Remember the revolution introduced by the digital dialer? IP communications are being deployed now and backStage™ Monitoring can deliver new service opportunities. Today, if it has an IP address, you can monitor it.

Hear from the SGS founders – Steve Keefer, Hank Goldberg, Bruce Weissman & Thom Meyer – about our achievements and what we see on the horizon. Customers using stages™ will be announced along with companies using the backStage™ Monitoring solutions.

ISC West

Wynn Las Vegas

SGS Expert on Network Security to Present at ISC West

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 18:21:00 +0100

Subject: Know Your Enemy: Securing Central Station IP Networks

Irvine, CA

Bill Brousseau, Vice President of Secure Global Solutions’ Network Operations Center (NOC) in Milwaukee, WI has been invited to present a public seminar on the business risks, needs and solutions for central station network security. The seminar is on April 2, 2008 and you can register at the ISC West 2008 educational program website. Bill is a CISSP and is exceptionally qualified with over 15 years of data security experience including designing, implementing, and testing data security systems for large corporations and utilities.

Convergence has arrived. The alarm industry is looking to capitalize on the integration of physical and network security. The question is, “are you doing enough to secure YOUR alarm business?”

Central station operations are more vulnerable to attack over the Internet – and the risk much greater – than the possibility of attack with guns and bullets. Central stations have historically focused on creating a secure work environment with bricks and mortar. Building strong walls, delivering phone lines underground and supplying backup power are hallmarks of how the alarm industry defines a “secure” central station. But, the reality is that central stations are not doing enough to reduce vulnerability to new types of attack.

These new threats can come from anywhere in the world, any time of day, and have all new methods and tactics. Internet connections, wireless transmissions, Bluetooth features are all “back-doors” that need to be protected as well as entrances to a building. The hacker’s count on lack of knowledge by the targets and this seminar will help you design defenses against these new threats.

The IP Revolution. In today’s world, IP has standardized and revolutionized the communications architecture. Along with the benefits brought by extensive change, are new risks that can “virtually” cripple central station operations. Inbound and outbound calls can be stopped, signals hidden, and data captured.

Live demonstrations of the tools and tricks used by hacker’s will show how vulnerable data can be. You will be amazed how odd bits of information can be manipulated to give a hacker free reign in your network.

Program Content. The presentation educates executives and administrators on the threats facing central stations data networks. As central stations deploy IP based systems and the alarm devices become IP based and accessible, new strategies and security measures are needed to protect resources from invisible threats. We will define what the threats are, how they operate, and provide strategies to protect and monitor IP networks. The presentation elements include:
1. Know your enemy: Internet threats, who and what are they?
2. Demonstrate common hacking and social engineering techniques.
3. Data security life cycle
4. Strategies for securing data networks
5. Security through monitoring – Continuous Data Monitoring

For anyone in the alarm business and especially if you operate a call center, this is a seminar you will want to attend. Bill will present, in clear English, information you can deploy today.

ISC West Speaker Listing

CSAA Technology Survey Results

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 18:47:00 +0100

CSAA Meeting Presentation on Central Station Technology
Kohala Coast, Hawaii

As part of theCentral Station Alarm Association (CSAA) annual meeting educational agenda, Hank Goldberg created an annual survey of alarm industry technology use and plans. As the security industry matures, it is increasingly necessary to adopt new technologies. The survey results were in line with expectations. It will be interesting to see how expenditures are changing in the years to come.

Over 240 responses (90 completed) with 12 outside North America. Approximately 30 large regional/national providers were included in the results. The majority of the industry is still comprised of independent alarm providers.

Alarm Company Annual Revenue

84% of respondents have under $10 million in revenue.

Central Station Employees

73% of companies have less than 20 central station employees.

Central Station Technologies Used 2007

The central station is still dominated by digital dialers. What was very interesting is the number of alarm companies that use other technologies. The question asked did not relate to revenue and was not meant to total 100%. Communications over wireless and IP are very common (over 60% of companies use some). Even more common is the use of IP communications for both video and access control.

Percentage of companies using

Annual Spending in IT

The key finding of the survey was the lack of spending related to technology. We asked about IT (information technology) and found the majority of companies spent less than $50,000 annually. While still very low, we were encouraged by plans to increase spending to over $85,000 (average) by 2010.

During the past 3 years annual spending on IT was under $50,000 for more than half of all alarm companies.

IT Expenditure Current and Future

Central station technology spending is growing over 100% in 5 years from an average of $82k in 2005 to $169k in 2010.

CSAA Annual Meeting Panel and First Annual Technology Survey

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 19:02:00 +0100

CSAA Annual Meeting Panel and First Annual Technology Survey

SGS’ Hank Goldberg has organized a panel of alarm industry software vendors to discuss “Looking to the future of the Central Station” at the CSAA Annual Meeting. Key industry software vendors will share views on technology and how the central station business is being impacted.

What is the market going to look like five years from now? Communications technology is changing the central station in fundamental ways. Is there a world without phone lines? What will your business do for products? The replacement of phone lines is equally unpredictable. Is the market GSM, WiMax, Wi-FI, Cable IP?

An important aspect of this presentation will be a summary of a survey sent to central stations by their vendors and by the CSAA. The survey is open to all central stations and can be accessed at http://csaa.survey.sgizmo.com. We only ask that you complete only one survey per company. In Hawaii, we will review the results of what companies are doing today and what they are planning for the next five years. For the first time, you can find out how your plans measure against industry norms. Please contact Ceila Besore (celia@csaaul.org) at CSAA after November 1, 2007 for survey results.

Following the survey, we will hear more about the future.

Revenue opportunities with GPS, PERS, and access control.
Convergence of technologies in computer security, and video have broad market implications.
Lessons from Europe – Market change to IP communication and DIY
Residential video – a revenue gain or resource drain?

One thing is clear. Change is going to happen. Common elements of all of the future technologies are speed, breadth, and bi-directional operation. The leading central station software vendors’ vision of market challenges and opportunities is critical information you need for your business.

Check our website after November 1 to see our report on the presentation, insight into trends and central station plans.