In the spring, Electronic Security Association (ESA) conducted an online survey of its membership, as well as consumers, to gauge emerging trends in the residential space.

Thanks to the implementation of best practices and advances in technology, recent years have seen reductions in false alarm dispatches that are helping bolster the relationship between law enforcement and the security industry. Yet there remains much to be done to further strengthen and grow the partnership. The 2011 Law Enforcement Security Industry Study serves as a report card for both sides.

While the specter of Big Brother remains a concern for many citizens across the United States, results from a recent survey suggest the use of video surveillance is growing in acceptance as a means of deterring crime in public places.

Annual report points up the need for installing security and fire systems contractors to be diligent in providing the latest life-safety products to residential customers. Discover how regular maintenance services and education are helping reduce
fire fatalities.

Video surveillance, mass notification, access control and emergency communications interoperability continue to pose challenges for many campus safety protection professionals

For the first time the Security Spending Survey reveals how much installing companies are paying each month for equipment — overall as well as by specific product categories. Top buyer listings are presented along with purchasing patterns associated with different business characteristics ...

The Electronic Security Association (ESA) polled its regular members to gauge their current business performance and growth expectations for the next two years.

The latest "Financial Analysis of the Industry" report by the National Systems Contractors Association (NSCA) tracks and benchmarks key financial ratios for a wide range of installing contractors in the commercial electronic systems industry.

According to SSI’s latest annual Installation Business Report (IBR), despite all the buzz about megapixel cameras and video analytics, a considerable percentage of installing security contractors have yet to jump on the bandwagon.

Business in this market rose 7 percent (from 168 in 2009) to buck a troubling trend that had seen ground lost five of the previous six years.

As indicated elsewhere in these survey results, large companies prospered in 2010; others, not so much.

In a turnabout from recent years, the residential market fared better than the commercial segment in 2010 as operators across the board reported an increase in monthly installations.

After five consecutive years of decline, the average number of fire alarm systems being installed by dealers/integrators returned to its 2007 total.

The average number of video surveillance installations per dealer/integrator has continued to back away from its all-time high in 2007, losing another dozen projects.

The average number of access control projects held firm for the second year in succession at 60 installations.

Despite economic turmoil, the estimated number of burglaries decreased 1.3 percent when compared with 2008 data.

Problems with entering and exiting buildings continue to trigger the most false alarms, and only increased their prominence in 2010.

Despite the tough economy, installing security contractors anticipated about 2-percent revenue growth ($14.8 million to $15.1 million) in 2010.

Installing companies projected considerably smaller revenue growth in 2010 (2 percent) than they realized in 2009 (19 percent).

Global shrink retreated 5.6 percent during the most recent 12-month period, according to the 4th annual Global Retail Theft Barometer, reversing last year's spike in shrink rates in every geographic market.