Changing technology due to national security threats

Changing technology due to national security threats

Fall is quickly approaching and as we reflect on the last 8 months there have been challenges, along with new opportunities. One item to note is the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has placed Dahua and Hikvision on the list of companies deemed as threats to national security. This has caused alarm and video installers using these products to change technology offerings to ensure compliance with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Dahua and Hikvision are currently working with the FCC to address the NDAA compliance issues. Many camera manufacturers are NDAA compliant and below is a short list of companies that have product available:

  • Avigilon
  • Avycon
  • Axis Communications [4]
  • Bosch
  • FLIR
  • Mobotix
  • OpenEye
  • Paxton

WHIRC provides both video health monitoring and video verification services by connecting either through direct integration or by receiving email alerts. WHIRC continues to support and provide monitoring options as different video platforms become prevalent in the marketplace. We are proactively working with manufacturers to ensure compatibility and support. In August, WHIRC launched our OpenEye integration providing a full monitoring option. We also offer health monitoring of video systems that is much like traditional alarm system notifications. When a signal is received, WHIRC is able to notify the customer when a camera is offline, an NVR loses connection, storage reaches capacity, and much more.

WHIRC is excited to be a custom solution provider for you and your customers!

Message from Business Manager Ashley Raisanen

Changing technology due to national security threats

Enhancing network reliability

Happy New Year! As part of our ongoing commitment to provide you the best service, WHIRC is committed to enhancing network reliability for you and your customers. This includes implementing increased redundancy for alarm traffic and security of customer data. To meet this goal, we installed and migrated to enhanced networking equipment, providing an even more robust WHIRC network.

WHIRC purchased our own block of IP Addresses from the national database. Traditionally, IP addresses that are programmed into a customer’s alarm panel would be bound to a specific internet service provider (ISP). Owning our own IP Addresses significantly reduces the impact of outages, fiber cuts, and ISP maintenance, by allowing WHIRC to adjust alarm traffic flow in real time.  Another benefit is seamless redundancy between WHIRC and our Cloud Monitoring Solution.

What does this mean for WHIRC dealers? As new panel connections come online, the new IP address will need to be used. Existing panels that are programmed with old IP addresses will not be immediately impacted by this change. Updates to the existing panels can be made over the next 18 months. WHIRC looks forward to working with you to ensure your customers security and connectivity meets their expectations.

Message from Business Manager Ashley Raisanen

Big change, big opportunity

Big change, big opportunity

To many, the news that Interlogix was discontinuing its product line came as a surprise. Many dealers have built their business around this product line and were disappointed by the sudden news. However, WHIRC is prepared for exactly this kind of situation. Our long-standing relationships with many different manufacturers allow us to help dealers get connected to continue with sales, service, installation and monitoring as they transition away from Interlogix.

WHIRC has already helped dealers move product lines and start implementing new offerings. Depending on your focus, there is a solution that WHIRC can help you migrate to and we will continue to support the Interlogix platform moving forward. We provide training resources, pricing information, distribution contacts and networking opportunities with the different manufacturers. And, most of all, we provide continued monitoring and support service as dealers move forward.

WHIRC is also moving ahead with its 3G conversion plans. As a partner, we are working with our distributors and manufacturers to bring you options and cost-effective solutions to upgrade this outgoing technology. Our focus is on the future. We have overcome technology challenges in the past and expect more in the future as technology continues to evolve at a faster and faster rate.

These are exciting times and with change comes additional opportunities. As security and technology providers, we need to be flexible and proactive. WHIRC is committed to helping you through this transition with timely product, service and monitoring support. Let us know how we can help you!

Security business is on the rise

Security business is on the rise

Many dealers were worried when new players entered the security market and the DIY industry expanded, but this may have been a benefit rather than a detriment. According to a study by SDM magazine, 2018 was a great year for sales for many security dealers. Growth in DIY has pushed the alarm manufactures to add new features and services that are available at your fingertips. These technology advancements increase the opportunities for both dealers and monitoring centers. These days, monitoring just about anything out there has become the reality for WHIRC and we will continue to grow and meet the needs of our dealers.

A rise in advertising for DIY products has increased the public’s awareness about the importance for security overall and has contributed to the economy’s growth. Security is everywhere you look these days, including on television shows and in the news.

An article in SDM magazine shared results of SDM’s own research, which showed positive results across the alarm industry in 2018 ¬- for both residential and business markets.

“More dealers and integrators – 73 percent – expected a growth in revenue in 2018, when polled in September 2018, a 6 percent increase over the previous year. And 85 percent of respondents reported 2018 was a good to excellent year for intrusion alarms, up from 81 percent the previous year, while a whopping 96 percent expected 2019 to be at least as good if not better than 2018.”

Recent advancements in interactive services have led the customer to interact with the alarm panel more and more often. This alone creates that “stickiness” that all dealers are looking for to decrease churn. At the same time, customers are starting to see security as a necessity in life. WHIRC is integrated with most interactive services providing the necessary solution to stay competitive in today’s market. (See our featured promotion from Alula below.)

Monitoring continues to be the driving factor of devices in a connected home solution. As technology continues to evolve, the monitoring market is where the affordable solutions will continue to reside. WHIRC offers many different solutions at an affordable rate that is customizable to the customer’s needs.

As our dealers are expanding their offerings, WHIRC is committed to providing the same excellent 24/7 monitoring service that dealers expect. If it can send a signal, we can monitor it!

Ways To Grow Business In Today’s Changing World

Ways To Grow Business In Today’s Changing World

Are you prepared for the next sunset? Companies across the United States are beginning to sunset their 2G and 3G networks in favor of 4G and Long-Term Evolution (LTE) technologies. Verizon has announced that it will cease to support 3G devices on its network after December 2019, T-Mobile one year later and Sprint a year after that. With the new sunset approaching, now is a great time to talk to your customers about a system upgrade and new features that are available.

WHIRC can help you take an old system and make it new again with interactive services through SecureNet, AlarmNet, Telguard, Uplink, or any third-party provider that we are integrated with. This will update the functionality of the system to be able to use apps and additional features without updating the whole system. 

A study by Parks Associates noted that only 23 percent of current security subscribers have an integrated smart home device. By switching your customers to interactive services, you can maintain and grow your customer base. This happens because interactive products make the customer sticky to the dealer as customers will come to depend on this technology that they will use every day. These add-on products are also key to driving new recurring monthly revenue.

This year, one of WHIRC’s goals is to get our dealers ahead of the sunset and help them prepare. We are doing this by implementing new technology like SecureNet, which is a more universal platform to transition older systems into a more interactive system. WHIRC is fully integrated with most third-party communication vendors.

At WHIRC, we work with distributors and manufacturers to ensure pricing competitiveness. As a WHIRC partner, you receive discounts from distributors. If your customers do have to replace gear due to the sunset, you can take advantage of our partner pricing and get it at a discounted rate. You may choose to pass those savings along to your customers as a further incentive to move them to an interactive system.

The Business Case For Interactive Services

The Business Case For Interactive Services

The security industry has dramatically changed, and interactive services are here to stay, which can be a terrific way to attract new customers and retain existing customers. The national churn rate in the alarm industry lingers around 10 percent, but with interactive services that are used daily, a customer becomes tied to the services and to the dealer.

Parks Associates, Inc. found that 40 percent of consumers who currently have security systems are interested in energy management, versus 25 percent of those without a security system. Adding interactive services will allow users to control the lights and temperatures in their home, while increasing a dealer’s recurring monthly revenue. WH International Response Center (WHIRC) recommends focusing on the fact that these products are affordable and will be used daily. They also integrate with the customer’s existing security system.

Most interactive services have a dashboard for dealers that can help you navigate your customer base and point out customers who are not fully using the system to its capacity. WHIRC recommends marketing to those customers and encouraging additional features to enhance the customer experience. And it’s not just for residential customers. With integrated access control, video and security, interactive services are a great fit for commercial applications.

With your partnership, WHIRC is determined to provide the services needed for your success. We are currently integrated with most of the major interactive services and will soon be integrated with SecureNet Technologies to offer a solution that is more versatile and has panel compatibility.

SecureNet is fully integrated with the DSC iotega, 2GIG GC2, 2GIG Rely and Alula Helix. SecureNet also has an IGM that will allow dealers to update their legacy systems, re-engage their customers, and improve customer retention. SecureNet uses a fully encrypted VPN communication from the security system to the central station. It comes with the SmartLink App for interactive security, video monitoring, home control and built-in automation. Dealers can manage contacts, set notifications and the app has the ability to be custom branded.

For more information or to get set up for SecureNet services, contact Rick Stevens (612-868-0010) or Cody Decker (763-477-3124) today.