Mercury Security Systems - Experts & Thought Leaders

Mercury Security, a pioneer in access control hardware and open platform solutions, has published its Trends in Access Controllers Report, based on a survey of over 450 security professionals across North America and Europe. Role in PACS design The findings highlight the controller’s vital role in a physical access control system (PACS), where the device not only enforces access policies but also connects with readers to verify user credentials—ranging from ID badges to biometrics and mobile identities.  With 72% of respondents identifying the controller as a critical or important factor in PACS design, the report underscores how the choice of controller platform has become a strategic decision for the security pioneers. Key trends of reshaping physical access controller The key trends reshaping physical access controller design and selection include: Security-First Thinking: 90% of respondents say staying aligned with cybersecurity standards is essential. More than 71% cite advanced protection – secure boot, OSDP, cryptography – as a top decision driver. Mobile and Cloud Integration: 55% seek controller compatibility with other credentials, including mobile credentials. Over half (52%) report cloud enablement as critical for scalability, real-time monitoring and remote management.  Reliability is Non-Negotiable: 63% rank reliability and uptime as the most important criteria in controller selection – far outweighing cost or feature specifications. Backward and Forward Compatibility: 86% require controllers that support long-term infrastructure planning through compatibility with past and future systems. Interoperability and Open Architecture: 76% cite interoperability with mixed-device environments as essential, underscoring the shift toward flexible, standards-based systems. The report also explores the emerging role of AI and edge computing in controller performance, as well as the growing integration of access data with building operations.

As security challenges grow ever more complex, collaboration is key. On June 26th, Wavestore convenes Blind Spot 2025 at its headquarters in Ottawa – a summit where federal agencies, critical-infrastructure operators, pioneering integrators, and private-sector innovators from across North America will come together to share insights and learn about closing security and surveillance gaps. Registration closes June 13th. A North American-scale coalition Blind Spot 2025 brings together an unprecedented mix of the continent’s security community: Government & Infrastructure: Department of National Defense, House of Commons, Public Prosecution Service of Canada, Hydro Ottawa, Power Corporation of Canada, BGIS, Canadian Museum of History. Systems Integrators: Convergint, Lamarco, Hilt International, Kirsch Group, Mercury Security, AC Technical Systems, and more. Private-Sector Innovators: Financial institutions (RBC Royal Bank, RBC Dominion Securities), real-estate (Royal LePage Commercial), parking-tech (Smart Parking Apps), and engineering firms (J.L. Richards & Associates, F.Trottier). Latest product developments “Bringing people together from different parts of the security world always sparks new ideas,” said Mark Claxton, Managing Director of Wavestore. “Our panels and roundtables are designed so everyone – whether you work for government, run an integration company, or manage security for a business – walks away with practical takeaways.” “We’ve heard firsthand about the challenges customers face every day,” added Sam Shalaby, CEO of Wavestore. “At the ‘Product Reveal & Expert Q&A,’ you’ll see our latest product developments – and have a chance to chat directly with our developers about how they can address your specific needs.” Expert-led sessions & exclusive product reveal Attendees will have the opportunity to: Hear from Security Practitioners: Learn from Former RCMP Deputy Commissioner Raf Souccar on balancing privacy and safety, Thomas Comerford on hardening critical sites post 9/11, and Jeremy Fromm & Phil Coppola on modern access-control methods – each sharing practical lessons. Join the “Beyond Security” Roundtable: Work side-by-side with peers from government, utilities, integrators, and private industry to discuss how video and metadata can improve both security and day-to-day operations. Be First to See Wavestore’s Latest Product Developments: In the 3:45 PM “Product Reveal & Expert Q&A,” get hands-on with their upcoming features – and chat directly with the developers about how they can help solve users' challenges. Time-sensitive opportunity With registrations closing June 13, Blind Spot 2025 is the last chance for North American security teams to learn from senior security pioneers, build connections across government, integrators, and industry. And engage in real-time in the final stages of Wavestore’s product development. Event details What: Blind Spot 2025 – All-Sectors Security Coalition Summit When: Thursday, June 26, 2025 | 09:30 AM – Late Where: Wavestore HQ, 1785 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa, ON Registration Deadline: Friday, June 13, 2025

Wavestore, a pioneering provider of flexible and scalable video management solutions, announces Blind Spot 2025, a new one-day event taking place on June 26, 2025, at the company’s North American headquarters in Ottawa. Designed for consultants, integrators, and end-users, Blind Spot aims to spotlight the unseen forces shaping the future of security-from AI blind spots and evolving threats to missed opportunities in operational insight. Event speakers lineup The event will feature keynote speakers, thought-provoking panels, technology showcases The event will feature keynote speakers, thought-provoking panels, technology showcases, and meaningful networking. The speaker lineup includes Raf Souccar, Former Deputy Commissioner of the RCMP, delivering the opening keynote; Thomas Comerford, Program Security Manager at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; and a panel featuring Jeremy Fromm (Mercury) and Phil Coppola (HID Global), who will share real-world insights on physical access control and system convergence. Challenge assumptions and new perspectives “Blind Spot is about confronting what’s not yet visible - but already shaping the future,” said Sam Shalaby, CEO of Wavestore. “The security industry is evolving rapidly, and the greatest risks and opportunities lie in what we haven't seen - or haven’t acted on. This event is a chance to challenge assumptions, explore new perspectives, and take the lead on building smarter, more resilient solutions before the future forces our hand.” Development of integrated security platforms Shalaby has outlined a bold roadmap focused on innovation, customer collaboration Since acquiring Wavestore in July 2023, Shalaby has outlined a bold roadmap focused on innovation, customer collaboration, and sustainable growth.  Under his leadership, Wavestore has accelerated the development of integrated security platforms that combine advanced cameras, robust video management systems, high-performance servers, and access control - creating a future-proof ecosystem for smarter decision-making. Wavestore’s latest product enhancements Attendees of Blind Spot 2025 will gain exclusive insight to Wavestore’s latest product enhancements, including health monitoring tools, AI-powered analytics, and real-time operational insights. The event is designed to foster practical conversations, challenge industry norms, and inspire new ways of thinking about security’s evolving role.

Consolidation is a dominant trend in the security marketplace. Large companies typically swallow up smaller companies as a means of expanding both their technology portfolios and their geographic reach. Sometimes a big fish is swallowed up by an even bigger fish.   Despite the pandemic and resulting economic challenges, the security market has continued to be a desirable environment for both big players and startups, which then provide abundant acquisition targets for the larger companies. Acquisitions of Motorola Motorola Solutions has been among the most acquisitive of the larger players, recently adding several smaller companies to their growing portfolio. Just this year, Motorola has acquired Ava Security, a video security and analytics company; Calipsa, another analytics company; and Videotec, an Italian provider of ruggedized video solutions for critical infrastructure applications. Video solutions that help to enhance safety and streamline operations while supporting customers In one announcement, Motorola chairman and CEO Greg Brown stated the goal of acquisitions is “to support our customers’ evolving security needs by expanding our portfolio of intelligent video solutions that help to enhance safety and streamline operations.” Previously, Motorola Solutions acquired Envysion, a video analytics company for the retail market. On the access control side, Motorola acquired Openpath Security, a cloud-based, mobile access control provider, in 2021. Motorola entered the video surveillance business back in 2018 with the acquisition of Avigilon for around $1 billion. Also now a part of Motorola are IndigoVision and Pelco, among others. ACRE's mergers and acquisition Another company active in the mergers and acquisition market has been ACRE (Access Control Related Enterprises). The company began with a spinoff from Ingersoll Rand in 2012 to become Vanderbilt Industries. As ACRE, the parent company has been active both in acquisitions and divestitures over the next decade. Vanderbilt grew with the acquisition of Siemens’ Security Products in 2015. ACRE owned Mercury Security, a manufacturer of OEM hardware used by access control companies, from 2013 until it was sold to HID Global in 2017. The acquisition of Razberi enhances the ComNet portfolio while providing complementary technologies ACRE’s more recent access control acquisitions are RS2 Technologies (in 2019), Open Options (2018), Feenics (2021), and Matrix Systems (2021). They acquired ComNet, a manufacturer of video and data transmission equipment, in 2016. The acquisition of Razberi (in 2020) enhances the ComNet portfolio and provides complementary technologies to the access control brands. Acquisition of ACRE ACRE itself was acquired by European investment firm Triton in 2021, and Joseph Grillo, the company’s founder, and CEO, announced his retirement in 2022. His knowledge of the security and access control markets helped to drive the company’s growth, including 11 successful acquisitions in all. Securitas acquiring Stanley Security  The acquisition of Stanley Security is transformational for both Securitas and the security industryStanley Security has also made headlines. In December 2021, Securitas signed an agreement to acquire the Electronic Security Business from Stanley Black & Decker for $3.2 billion in cash. Securitas President and CEO Magnus Ahlqvist says “the acquisition of Stanley Security is transformational for both Securitas and the security industry.” Allegion plc, global security products, and solutions provider, later signed an agreement to acquire Stanley Access Technologies and assets related to the automatic entrance solutions business from Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. for $900 million. Acquisition by HID Global, ADT Inc., & Allied Universal HID Global has acquired Vizinex RFID, thus increasing its presence and relevance in key vertical markets, including healthcare/medical, manufacturing, oil and gas, data centers, etc., and adding a key technology to HID Global’s RFID tag portfolio. ADT Inc. recently expanded its geographic reach with the acquisition of Key-Rite Security, a locally owned and operated security provider specializing in access control, surveillance, intrusion, and intercom systems in Colorado and for customers across the United States. Allied Universal continues its strategic growth with the acquisition of Attenti Group, an electronic monitoring company Allied Universal has acquired Star Protection Agency, the largest Hawaiian-owned and veteran-owned security company in the state. Although Star is primarily a guard patrol service, with workers at 125 sites throughout the state, it provides a range of security technology and consulting services. Internationally, Allied Universal continues its strategic growth with the acquisition of Attenti Group, an electronic monitoring company. Allied Universal will integrate Attenti Group with G4S Monitoring Technologies, to create Allied Universal Electronic Monitoring Services. SALTO Systems making acquisition news Also internationally, SALTO Systems has made acquisition news by investing in Bluefield Smart Access, thus strengthening its portfolio of access control solutions. SALTO Systems is a manufacturer of electronic access control and operating system solutions, designed to provide a seamless, keyless, and mobile experience for modern buildings. Also joining the SALTO Group is Cognitec Systems, a face recognition company. The goal is to strengthen their research, development, and market reach while working with SALTO on new technologies for expanding biometric markets. SALTO strategically selected Cognitec Systems to meet market requests for adding face recognition and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to the company’s electronic access control and ticketing solutions. Acquisitions by MOBOTIX and Resideo Technologies  Resideo Technologies, Inc. entered into an agreement to acquire First Alert, Inc., a provider of home safety products Further, on the international scene, MOBOTIX has reached an agreement to acquire Vaxtor Group, Tres Cantos, Spain, an artificial intelligence (AI) based video analytics provider, specializing in Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and Deep Learning technologies. On the residential system's front, Resideo Technologies, Inc. entered into an agreement to acquire First Alert, Inc., a provider of home safety products, from Newell Brands Inc. for $593 million in an all-cash transaction. Established in 1969 and based in Aurora, Illinois, First Alert offers a strong omnichannel presence serving end-users directly through retail and e-commerce channels and professional contractors through relationships with distributors and home builders.