Curious about who has won in the past? Over the last 38 years an incredible range of dealers have impressed SDM with their unmistakable success, innovation, use of industry best practices, and notable growth and accomplishments. Each year the winners are truly a snapshot of what is great about the industry.

SDM’s 2015 Dealer of the Year combines both old and new ideas to pave the way for the future.

Vector Security’s commitment to revamping its internal structure to be prepared for what’s ahead; strong dedication to employee advancement; and passion for doing what’s right for customers and the industry overall earned itSDM’s 2015 Dealer of the Year Award.

They say necessity is the mother of invention.

SDM has extended the deadline to July 7 for companies to apply to become the 2017 SDM Dealer of the Year, an annual recognition of companies that demonstrate unmistakable success, a high level of innovation, the use of industry best practices, and notable growth and accomplishments in the security dealer industry.

The ADT brand is synonymous with security — instantly recognizable by virtually every competitor and potential customer in the United States. Its 143-year history, combined with its massive size (an estimated $4.3 billion in gross revenues in 2017 and ranked No. 1 on the SDM 100 Report every year since its inception in 1991) puts this security dealer in the ranks of some of the largest companies in the country.

Industry giant ADT is not only awake, it is focusing heavily on providing premium customer service and a better experience overall.

Lexington, Ky., is known for a few things: horses, bluegrass, bourbon, a historic downtown area, and — when it comes to security systems — Bates Security/Sonitrol of Lexington.

From its humble beginnings in a Toyota Corolla, CPI Security — originally Crime Prevention Inc. — has operated with a singular focus.

What do termites, diamonds and security have in common? All three are components of the history of this year’s SDM Dealer of the Year. Sonitrol began when Al Cronk, a police officer, was interested in verifying alarms using audio; Bob Baxter invented microphones to detect termites in trees.

With deep, long-standing roots in the community, this company’s service-based culture and strong commitment to both employees and customers have earned it the distinction of being named SDM’s 2021 Dealer of the Year.

When it comes to maintaining relationships with customers, this company is at the top of its game, all while increasing revenue and keeping employees healthy, happy and engaged. 

Faced with debt, higher than desired attrition, challenges in retaining employees, inflation and supply chain issues caused by a global pandemic, this company managed to get completely debt-free, lower attrition, raise both wages and prices, and still make a profit — all of which resulted in a “war chest” that helped them invest in key cyber and marketing efforts.

SDM's Top Systems Integrators: SUSTAINED GAINS

Touched by an improved economy in most regions and some expenditure of Homeland Security funds, seven in 10 firms reported in the 10th annual SDM Top Systems Integrators Report

Click to expand and see full integrator rankings. Total annual revenue of nearly $8 billion, built upon more than 61,000 project starts, marked an extremely robust year for the 100

The big splash security systems integrators made in the market during the first three quarters of 2008 was tempered by a fourth quarter that looked more like a quiet ripple

MidCo Inc., Burr Ridge, Ill, was founded in 1960 by Edwin F. Janik and Albina Janik as a small intercom and paging company. What started out as a two-man operation

In the security systems integration business, fewer than 20 firms operate globally or nationally. The majority of integrators are regional and local businesses, which depend on construction and spending

The hotter the fire the harder the steel, some say. Tough times often forge resilient businesses with unexpected outcomes — demonstrated by the Top Systems Integrators who turned last year’s challenges into opportunities to retool their offerings. “We are most proud of our ability to getter better every year despite market conditions,” says No. 6 ranked Johnson Controls Inc. 

Do you think your security dealership or systems integration company may qualify to be ranked on the SDM 100 Report or the SDM Top Systems Integrators Report?  Published annually by SDM Magazine, these reports provide an excellent opportunity to market your company to potential customers as one of the industry’s most well-recognized businesses, as well as to attract employees and impress potential investors.

Security systems integrators had expected to pull ahead in 2011, but instead they experienced a dismal first half of the year and a better-by-comparison but still “just average” second half. Following a 4.4 percent drop in 2010, systems integration revenue among the industry’s largest security companies fell yet again — by 3.6 percent in 2011 — leaving many wondering what it would take to get back up to speed. Integrators face sharp curves in the need to quickly adopt IP as the primary infrastructure for security systems, as well as to create business models that offer security as a service.

Revenue classified as North American systems integration revenue rose from $6.29 billion in 2012 to $7.36 billion in 2013 — even though seven fewer companies are included in the report. However, for comparison purposes, SDM measures the top 100 companies’ 2012 integration revenue ($6.25 billion) against the top 100’s 2013 integration revenue ($7.33 billion).

While there has been no shortage of market pressures and disruptive influences on the security business lately, systems integrators nonetheless performed well last year. As a group, the integrators encapsulated in SDM’s 2015 Top Systems Integrators Report didn’t show much growth — just 0.3 percent. But that had more to do with the structure of the report than with the companies’ individual accomplishments in 2014.

Which suppliers do the largest systems integrators use? This Top Systems Integrators brand-usage report lists the top 15 manufacturers and top 12 distributors that earn the business of the largest systems integrators in the physical security channel.

Security systems integrators lauded the state of the market in 2015, yet their revenue was down 1 percent overall and among those integrators with which a year-to-year comparison could be made, a significant number — 34 of 82 companies — reported decreased North American systems integration revenue.

As security systems integrators take to the world stage amidst trends such as the commercial Internet of Things, cybercrime and terrorism, they showed their prowess with 14 percent growth in 2016.

Security integrators are benefiting from vital technology innovations that are far greater than just simple upgrades.

Security integrators describe the 2018 market for integrated security systems as “strong,” “hot” and “accelerated” — all apt terms, given that the nation’s largest integrators grew their systems integration revenue by at least 14 percent last year.

The 2020 Top Systems Integrators Report ranks security integrators by their North American systems integration revenue. The report represents many of the largest security systems integrator companies in the industry.

Security integrators faced no shortage of curveballs in 2020, but many in the top 100 managed to stay ahead in the count and find successes.

Which manufacturers and distributors do the largest systems integrators support? This Top Systems Integrators brand-usage report lists the companies that earn their business.

In the face of significant obstacles, the 2022 SDM Top Systems Integrators are demonstrating the resilience, creativity and perseverance that keeps them at the top.

Security integrators had a tough challenge in 2021 and continuing in 2022 — supply chain shortages and rising and/or constantly changing pricing.

By adapting their sales models, vendor relationships and pricing, the 2023 SDM Top Systems Integrators performed exceptionally well in spite of significant obstacles.

Which manufacturers and distributors do the largest security integrators use most? This Top Systems Integrators brand-usage report lists the companies that earned the majority of their business in 2022.

With unprecedented changes in technology and customer expectations driving up demand, the 2024 SDM Top Systems Integrators had a banner year.

Here are the vendors and distributors that earned the trust of the top 100 security integrators in 2023.

Monitoring centers are focused on improving customer contact and providing tools for ease of use and quicker response.

Subject matter experts assess practical use case applications for artificial intelligence, along with identifying vertical market opportunities and sales conversation insights.

A trio of industry professionals discuss the challenges and opportunities that integrators face when offering both security and data installations.

More businesses are becoming aware of biometrics for identification and access control — and security professionals who help educate them will reap the benefits..

ONVIF, a standardization initiative for IP-based physical security products, has surpassed 25,000 conformant products and is celebrating its 15th anniversary.

Fire-related services, a traditional market segment ruled by code, still provides plenty of opportunities for integrators to help end users update and enhance their systems — which translates to increased RMR and customer loyalty.

FieldHub and Affiliated Monitoring's partnership offers a comprehensive solution for managing operations in a single cloud-based platform.

This integration broadens the business’ ability to ensure door-to-door security and capture access related data to store, search and notify of exceptions in the cloud.

Real-life applications of security technologies.

According to the announcement, this new integration empowers organizations to protect their data to satisfy compliance requirements, corporate mandates and to cost-effectively increase storage capacity.

Security integrators recognize the customer benefits of autonomous security technologies like security robots, surveillance drones, and drone detection systems. But they admit the hurdles to sales are high.