Is Your Central Station Prepared for 2021 and Beyond?

Is Your Central Station Prepared for 2021 and Beyond?

2021 has finally arrived, creating an opportunity to take stock of the past year and to think about how to make the future better. For central stations and alarm monitoring businesses, this is an excellent time to rethink some legacy processes and examine how new technologies are reshaping the security industry. Below are five ways you can prepare for 2021 and beyond. (more…)

Cyber Cleaning for Work-From-Home Devices and Home Networks

Cyber Cleaning for Work-From-Home Devices and Home Networks

While keeping devices and networks free from virtual clutter has always been an important aspect of operational efficiency and cybersecurity, the widespread practice of working from home has highlighted the criticality of this housekeeping task. Most home devices and networks were not designed for the rigors of everyday corporate use, much less when combined with personal pursuits such as gaming, social media, etc. The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has alerted us to the dangers of infection on many fronts, including those from malware and unsecured networks.

However, cybercriminals aren’t the only consideration. Resource intensive applications, background processes, adware, and even uninstalled applications can slow down your computer. Performing some DIY cyber cleaning tasks to clear up your disk space can lead to more efficient performance and a better user experience. Follow these steps to streamline your computing experience. (more…)

Four Questions to Take the Scare Out of Business Fire Safety

Four Questions to Take the Scare Out of Business Fire Safety

October may be the time for candy and costumes but for businesses, it’s also Fire Safety Month! Every organization must take the threat of fire seriously, especially since studies show over 40% of businesses never recover after a disaster. Here are a few questions many owners may have about prevention and alarm monitoring when considering protecting their employees and assets from fire. (more…)

Protecting Your Work-From-Home Devices and Home Networks from Cyber Threats

Protecting Your Work-From-Home Devices and Home Networks from Cyber Threats

As COVID-19 continues to change our world, the threat from the virus extends far beyond the potentially deadly health impacts. As the workforce shifted to a work-from-home model, many businesses were not prepared. Lack of WFH policies, VPN connections, and a lax “bring your own device” approach have made businesses and their employees prey to malware, phishing, and numerous other virtual threats.

The good news is that there are steps that companies and workers can take to secure their information. The following suggestions can help keep your employees, their devices and both business and personal data secure while working from home. (more…)

Modernizing Electronic Security Infrastructure

Modernizing Electronic Security Infrastructure

The world is changing rapidly. Companies spend thousands, if not millions, of dollars on electronic security infrastructure and monitoring equipment only to find that updates and integrations are tedious and costly. In the worst-case scenario, systems can even become obsolete, which leaves businesses with burdensome equipment and unusable software. More commonly, organizations have numerous, disparate systems that operate independently of one another, which increases the risk of missed opportunities for security interventions. (more…)

Six Alarm Monitoring Best Practices for Effective Campus Security

Six Alarm Monitoring Best Practices for Effective Campus Security

As the head of security at a K-12 school or college, you’ve been tasked by the principal, college president, or school board to create the safest possible campus for faculty and students alike. To fully protect students, teachers, and staff, you need to be well-versed in the latest and most effective campus security technologies. Here are six best practices to follow when setting up alarm monitoring systems, video surveillance, access control, and other crucial elements of your campus security. (more…)