They say power corrupts but for security systems it’s a lack of power that corrupts. All the latest and greatest products, systems and technology is fantastic, but it ain’t worth a plug nickel without the electrical energy required to maintain operational integrity. Power loss is an omnipresent threat for any electronic device but one that is too often misunderstood or disregarded. In addition to major outages, other problems such as surges, voltage sags and momentary outages can wreak havoc with any building system, including security. Both naturally occuring and manmade, these issues jeopardize communications, IT systems and electronic components.
According to Frost & Sullivan, every year 72 percent of U.S. businesses are affected by power quality that interrupts critical operations. The Electric Power Research Institute pegs the annual cost to the U.S. economy due to power interruptions between $104 to $164 billion; plus another $24 billion lost due to poor power quality phenomena. And for various reasons the grid is being pushed to the limit more and more each year. As a security systems contractor, you need to make sure your clients are prepared for these challenges lest you look bad. In essence, you need to provide security for the security system.
Fortunately, there are many relatively easy and sensible solutions security providers can deploy for their customers with compelling return on investment (ROI) cases seal the deal. I recently hosted a Webcast with Bill Allen, director of marketing for Minuteman Power Technologies addressing this important topic in great detail. The session outlines the challenge and offers plenty of solutions. Again, it may not sound like the most sexy part about security but it is critical and so I urge you to give a listen here: Making Sense of Power Protection Solution in Security Applications.
