Security Sales & Integration October 2021 - 64

Secure Perspectives
Presented by
Execs Share Smart Home &
Cloud Access Opportunities
This column is brought
to you by the Security
Industry Association's
(SIA) Women in Security
Forum, supporting
diversity through
programs, professional
development and
networking events. Here's
a sampling of the complete
perspectives posted
monthly at securitysales.
com/tag/secureperspectives.
▶
How did you get into the security industry?
Anne Ferguson: My journey to the security
industry was more about the role and the channel-driven
nature of the company, rather than
the industry. I was totally new to security, having
previously worked in financial services. The transition,
however, was somewhat seamless for me
because of the emerging digital world. Both the
financial and security industries focus on solving
real-world problems and helping people take care
of the things that matter most to them, so there
was a natural correlation. The partner-centric dynamic
and catering to both partners and end users
were also familiar to me.
ANNE FERGUSON
Vice President of
Marketing, Alarm.com
▶ What are the biggest opportunities your
company - and the industry - are seeing?
AF: One of our biggest opportunities is continuing
to educate consumers on the value of a fully integrated
ecosystem and the benefits they gain by utilizing
a single platform for their home or business
security needs. There is an ongoing need for more
education on stand-alone devices versus a device
that is connected to an entire suite of other smart
devices. We're also very excited about international
growth opportunities as demand for smart home
and business services accelerates around the globe.
DR. FAWZIA ATCHA
Vice President,
IMRON Corp.
▶ What do you hope the SIA Women in
Security Forum can achieve for the
security industry?
AF: I hope the SIA Women in Security Forum can
continue providing a platform for female voices
and perspectives to be more prevalent in the industry.
Shining a light on more technical opportunities
for women is also important to bring in more
gender diversity. One interesting bit of evidence we
found recently was that Alarm.com's best-performing
social media ad showcased a female technician
during an installation. It proves that the interest in
seeing women in " unconventional roles " is there.
▶ How did you get into the security industry?
Dr. Fawzia Atcha: I have been passionate about
two very different things: science and business.
With science, I have culminated 13 years of education
with a doctorate degree focusing on molecular
genetics. Throughout these years, I learned
about brain function and the intricate dynamics
regarding gene activation; however, the quest for
science does not end there. As more research continues,
we find that there is more that we don't
know than we do know. I commend all research
scientists in their continued pursuit of knowledge.
From that milestone, I then looked toward
my other passion, business.
With that I turned to IMRON Corp., the
brainchild of my husband. He was the first to
write a fully integrated Windows-based application
for this industry. I valued his expertise and his
unique ability to foresee the emergent technology
trends. Almost 20 years ago, I began at the very
bottom of the pecking order at IMRON Corp. to
garner an understanding of this industry, and the
rest, as they say, is history!
▶ How can the industry remedy the lack
of diversity in security?
FA: Awareness and support. When I first arrived
in this industry, I noticed a stark disparity in diversity,
and this is changing, albeit at a slower
pace. I believe organizations such as SIA are doing
great things to create the awareness. We also
need to reach out to other industries and convey
the opportunities and support that are available,
especially to those who would like to join but
may be intimidated by this disparity.
▶ What trends are you seeing in
Cloud-based access control?
FA: More and more users would like to have complete
administration and control over physical security
management remotely. Coupling this with
mobile credentials allows administrators to instantly
manage, process and revoke access privileges as needed.
The current times have also made more comprehensive
occupancy control, granular lockdowns and
tracing reports immediate requirements.
SECURITY SALES & INTEGRATION (USPS 511-590) (ISSN 1539-0071), Vol. 43, No. 10, is published monthly by Emerald X, LLC., 100 Broadway, 14th Floor,
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Security Sales & Integration October 2021

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