Firms form Physical Security Alliance

CHANTILLY, Va. - Eighteen security-related technology firms have joined together to form the Physical Security Alliance in an effort to develop a set physical security products and services. Among the group’s planned offerings are security systems consulting services, physical security products and solutions, and managed security systems integration services. The decision to form the alliance was spearheaded by GTSI Corp. and was based on increased competition from security technology firms for lucrative government contracts for both IT systems and physical security services. Because many of those firms offer differing solutions that are not compatible with each other, they are left out of those contracts, which require integration, said Arpad Toth, a senior technologist for GTSI who founded the PSA. The goal for the alliance is to have 40 members involved by mid-year. All companies interested in joining the alliance will meet certification requirements before gaining admission. The current members of the alliance are BNX Systems Corp., Cisco Systems Inc., Defense Group Inc., DigitalPersona Inc., DMJM Technology, Equis Corp., Griffid LLC, GTSI, Intel Corp., ISR Solutions, Lenel Systems International, NetBotz Inc., ObjectVideo Inc., Panasonic Inc., Seneca Inc., StorageTek Corp., Trident Tek Inc. and videoNEXT. The companies plan to deliver custom security-related products and services for their customers. A group of high-level system designers and architects will determine specific system requirements for each customer, then a second group of architects will develop the systems and solutions.