Marketing security is similar to marketing other service-based solutions in many ways, but there are several unique aspects that successful companies understand and incorporate. Honesty and integrity are examples of characteristics that consumers love to find in all salesmen and marketing specialists. Unfortunately, many industries have a terrible reputation in this regard, but people continue to purchase products and services from the very people they accuse of bad behavior. Marketing security is extremely different. Once a company or individual is dishonest or loses integrity with customers, they soon fail. Security marketing professionals make or break their careers with the values they emulate.

Modern alarm systems use end of line resistors for each zone or sensor to ensure that an intruder doesn’t bypass the sensor by simply shorting out the cable. With most alarm panels, a zone consists of cable (unless you are using wireless sensors) that is connected to some type of sensor which runs to an alarm panel. The cable is physically connected to a specific input on the panel which gets an identity such as “front door”. In this example, the circuit is complete when the door is closed. The end of line resistor is put in place to show the panel the resistance it needs to see when the circuit is closed. When the door opens, the circuit is broken so the alarm panel no longer sees the end of line resistor and goes into an alarm state. Door contacts, motion detectors, glass break detectors, and other sensors work the same way with respect to the end of line resistors.

Video wall architecture varies depending on manufacturer and operational requirements. There are two basic categories of video walls, hardware-based or software-based, that determine the needed components to make the wall run smoothly. For example, software-based architectures rely heavily on the processors on board to perform the heavy lifting related to dynamic switching and control of the inputs so these systems require very high end servers. The location of the electronic components that make up the video wall is also an important consideration for service, maintenance, noise, power, cooling, and other reasons so the type of wall used will determine where the components are located.

Video wall monitors vary greatly in cost, appearance, resolution, and many other attributes. Different video wall architectures are available to allow users the flexibility to choose the model that best fits their performance requirements and budget. Seamless walls feature monitors that appear to be one large screen due to their small border. Other monitor arrays have noticeable gaps between the monitors, but work fine based on the video wall’s functionality requirements. For example, the video wall displays may need to be collocated, but not bleed over across monitors. The number of monitors that are necessary to effectively display the required images is another important consideration.

Video walls are an integral component of command and control centers. There are multiple manufacturers of video walls, but most are categorized into two groups. Some video walls use software and processing to control and manage the wall while others use hardware switching devices to control and manage the video wall display. The type of monitors chosen directly affects the look and feel of the video wall since the control and managing components are ultimately viewed on the physical monitors that make up the display. Numerous models with different characteristics exist, but resolution, size, and mullion gap or bezel width are some of the main considerations when choosing the monitors.

Location and aesthetics are important considerations when planning to incorporate turnstiles in a security solution. Turnstiles are available in many models and each is designed for different applications. Outdoor turnstiles are typically metal structures that are rugged and built to endure extreme environmental conditions while indoor models are designed to be more visually appealing. For example, optical turnstiles that are designed to look sleek and allow higher traffic volume are built to visually fit in office settings and nice facility entrances. Aside from ensuring local power is available, turnstiles can be located almost anywhere that has a channel of logical foot traffic.

Choosing the best turnstile for a particular application requires the evaluation of several variables. Cost, footprint, pedestrian traffic flow, aesthetics, and environmental surroundings are a few of the things that must be considered. Each type of turnstile is designed for specific purposes and applications. Integrators need to understand the benefits and drawbacks of each type of turnstile in order to properly specify the ideal model for each situation. In many cases, several turnstile types could technically work so the remaining variables must be considered.

Physical security is typically achieved using a combination of security technologies. Turnstiles are a valuable asset when access control and visitor management are part of a security solution. Turnstiles come in many varieties, but typically consist of a pedestrian barrier that allows passage to authorized personnel. Proximity cards, key fobs, keypads, biometric readers, and other access control devices are normally used to authenticate a person’s identity. Turnstiles can be programmed to control entry and exit or to allow people to pass freely. Turnstiles have different designs to accommodate functional needs and aesthetic requirements, but their purpose is the same.