by Jessica | Jan 7, 2019 | WHIRC News
NEWS RELEASE
Rockford, Minn. (January 7, 2019)
WH International Response Center (WHIRC) recently received its Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL) listing as a Central Monitoring Station for the 24th straight year, dating back to 1994. This means WHIRC has met or exceeded quality, safety and training standards set by UL. WHIRC is committed to exceeding UL’s standards to ensure continuity of quality service to its customers.
Monitoring companies and standards and certifications companies such as UL are keeping a close eye on the rapid advances in technology. New requirements are in place for UL 827, which is the Standard for Central-Station Alarm Services, that take effect mid-2020. This UL standard update not only improves the security of all data and information, but also increases the dependability and redundancies to protect that data.
WHIRC continues to stay up-to-date with technology and embraces the changes to the new UL standards. The effective date for the requirements was pushed back earlier this year as some monitoring centers were unable to meet the new requirements in the original timeframe. However, WHIRC completed the necessary updates and is already compliant with all the new 2020 standards.
WHIRC also recently renewed the prestigious “TMA Five Diamond Monitoring Center” designation from The Monitoring Association (TMA). This designation is granted annually to monitoring centers that satisfy all of the requirements of the “five points of excellence.”
The TMA Five Diamond designation means that a monitoring company has demonstrated an exceptionally high degree of responsibility to their businesses and their customers through the investment of time, money and commitment to quality operator training.
There are approximately 2,700 monitoring centers in the United States. Fewer than 200 have achieved the Five Diamond designation, setting these companies apart.
To learn more, visit the WHIRC website at whirc.com or call (800) 858-7811.
by Jessica | Dec 28, 2018 | WHIRC News
NEWS RELEASE
Rockford, Minn. (December 28, 2018)
Ashley Raisanen, business manager of WH International Response Center (WHIRC) was recently recognized by Security Systems News as a “20-under-40” award winner in the Class of 2018.
Raisanen, age 31, started with the company as an overnight dispatcher in 2009 and has worked her way up in the company. Other previous roles include data entry specialist and day shift supervisor. In her current role, Raisanen works with forecasting for the future of the business as well as managing the everyday operations of the company.
Raisanen, who has been the business manager since 2015, said she likes to see how new technologies fit in with monitoring services. “I love the new technology, I like to understand how it works,” she said. “I’m a very technical person when it comes to the nitty-gritty of the business. I like that the business is changing every day, it keeps you on your toes.”
Paul Ragusa, editor of Security Systems News, said he was impressed with this year’s class. “Each of these professionals has shown innovation and dedication to advancing the industry—they have all earned this award,” he said.
Security Systems News will be honoring its “20 under 40” Class of 2018 award winners with a special reception at its TechSec Solutions conference in Delray Beach, Florida, on February 25 and 26, 2019.
To learn more about WHIRC, visit whirc.com or call (800) 858-7811.
by Jessica | Aug 1, 2018 | WHIRC News
Monitoring companies and standards and certifications companies such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), are keeping a close eye on the rapid advances in technology. New requirements are in place for UL 827, which is the Standard for Central-Station Alarm Services, that take effect mid-2020. This UL standard update not only improves the security of all data and information, but also increases the dependability and redundancies to protect that data.
WHIRC continues to stay up-to-date with technology and embraces the changes to the new UL standards. The effective date for the requirements was pushed back earlier this year as some monitoring centers were unable to meet the new requirements in the original timeframe. However, WHIRC completed the necessary updates and is compliant with all the new standards.
In the Feature Article below, Rod Coles, chief executive officer at Bold Technologies, talks about the “cloud” monitoring solution. We announced at the WHIRC Partner Symposium in May that our disaster site will be located in the Bold Cloud solution. This provides WHRIC with additional redundancies and capabilities to complete updates and upgrades seamlessly. This means there will be no interference in monitoring or connection for you and your customers. WHIRC’s cloud configuration will be a complete replica of our physical site and is housed at one of Bold Technologies’ two data centers. We are excited for this solution and the additional security it brings, and it is a UL approved “cloud” monitoring platform!
Along with advancing technology, cyber security is a constant focus for the WHIRC team. We assure you that security measures are in place to protect all data and information retained at WHIRC. We are prepared for future growth and excited for what the future brings!
by Jessica | Feb 1, 2018 | WHIRC News
The U.S. security alarm market continues to grow and WHIRC is fully prepared to handle it. We are continually aware of upcoming technology and are proactively prepared for the implementation.
The Freedonia Group research firm from Cleveland, Ohio, valued the U.S. security alarm systems market at $3.8 billion in 2016, and forecasts the market to reach $4.9 billion by 2021 at a compound annual growth rate of 5.1 percent.
Both the residential and non-residential sides of the alarm systems market are predicted to be in high demand with The Fredonia Group predicting the greatest demand coming in life safety systems, followed by intrusion.
“The biggest driving factor … is going to be the continued growth of construction activity going forward,” Katherine Brink, industry analyst, Freedonia Industry Studies, told Security Systems News (see our Featured Article below). Brink added that this factor effects both residential and non-residential.
Brink said that key technological trends will include the ongoing interest in video verification in the residential market, as well as systems that can connect with smart homes.
The growing senior population is also creating an opportunity for the Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) industry. The increasing number of seniors, partnered with a higher desire to stay in their homes (as opposed to moving into assisted living facilities) makes PERS devices a key piece of technology for the coming years. WHIRC offers multiple options in PERS products and monitoring including traditional phone line, cellular, and GPS.
To help stay on top of technology breakthroughs, WHIRC participates in most interactive services through manufactures of “smart home” applications. These interactive services would include arm, disarm, thermostats, lights, locks and many more. WHIRC also offers multiple video monitoring options, including traditional video, DVR’s and NVR’s.
WHIRC is fully prepared for future growth in technology. If the device can send a signal, we can receive it including alarm signals from traditional phone line, cellular, IP, radio, email and SMS.
WHIRC offers multiple methods of notification from our staff including text messaging, email, automated voice and traditional voice call from an operator. This customizable approach allows us to meet the needs of each individual customer regardless of how their system is set up. WHIRC also offers customized reporting that is included in our standard monitoring rates.
With the demand of growth increasing 52 percent, we at WHIRC are ready.
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