Security companies grow fast, again in 2012

NEW YORK—The 2013 Inc. 5,000 list has been released and, again this year many security companies made the list, which ranks businesses based on self-reported growth data.

Topping the list of included security companies was Security Hunter of Baltimore, Md. At number 551, it had $21.8 million in revenue in 2012, a three-year growth of 820 percent over its $2.4 million in 2009 revenue. Founded in 1988, the company manufacturers and installs electronic and physical security systems used by federal agencies, including the Department of Defense.
Here are the other security companies on the Inc. 5,000 list:

-#942: Exacq Technologies, which was recently acquired by Tyco, is based in Fishers, Ind., and is a VMS provider. Three-year growth rate of 462 percent, with revenues of $54.6 million, and $9.7 million in 2009. Founded in 2002, Exacq has 118 employees.

-#950: EP Technology of Champaign, Ill., manufactures and distributes intelligent video security products. Focuses on manufacturing and supplying closed-circuit television systems, security cameras and digital recording devices. Three-year growth rate of 457 percent, with revenues of $28.7 million, and $5.2 million in 2009. Founded in 1997, EP Technology has 70 employees.

-#1419: AMP Security of American Fork, Utah, sells and installs security systems to protect people, their homes and their possessions and to arrest and prevent burglary, fire and medical emergencies. Three-year growth rate of 282 percent, with revenues of $24.8 million in 2012, and $6.5 million in 2009. Founded in 2007, AMP Security has 550 employees.

-#1492: NDI Recognition Systems of Longwood, Fla., designs and manufactures automated license plate recognition technologies for use in law enforcement and other public safety applications. Three-year growth rate of 268 percent, with revenues of $4.1 million in 2012, and $1.1 million in 2009. Founded in 2003, NDI Recognition Systems has 20 employees.

-#1594: Alliance Security of Warwick, R.I., installs, services and monitors alarm systems in homes and businesses. Three-year growth rate of 248 percent, with revenues of $29.4 million in 2012, and $8.4 million on 2009. Founded in 2003, Alliance Security has 215 employees.

-#1758: Vision Security of Orem, Utah, provides security alarm and monitoring services mostly for residential customers. Three-year growth rate of 219 percent, with revenues of $31 million in 2012, and $9.7 million in 2009. Founded in 2006, Vision Security has 250 employees. In April the company closed on a new $35 million credit facllity.  Dan Noble, former CFO of the company, was promoted to president in March.

-#2132: DTT Surveillance of Los Angeles, Calif., supplies, installs, and supports digital surveillance and monitoring equipment for the restaurant and hospitality industries using security, theft-prevention and quality-control products. Three-year growth rate of 174 percent, with revenues of $20.2 million in 2012, and $7.3 million in 2009. Founded in 1999, DTT Surveillance has 270 employees. Here's a link to a story we wrote about their recent expansion into Los Angeles and plans to hire 500 new employees.

-#2350: Smith Monitoring of Plano, Texas, offers home security and monitoring systems, and home automation integration systems. Three-year growth rate of 154 percent, with revenues of $7.2 million in 2012, and $2.8 million in 2009. Founded in 2006, Smith Monitoring has 25 employees.

-#3885: Nationwide Security Solutions of Vancouver, Wash. sells and installs residential and commercial security and automation systems. Three-year growth rate of 72 percent, with revenues of $6.7 million in 2012, and $3.9 million in 2009. Founded in 2006, Nationwide Security Solutions has 50 employees.

-#4043: Intelligent Access Systems of Garner, N.C. is an electronic security systems integrator that provides services to the critical infrastructure, healthcare, and higher education vertical markets. Three-year growth rate of 66 percent, with revenues of $16.7 million in 2012, and $10.1 million in 2009. Founded in 2004, Intelligent Access Systems has 65 employees. Here's a story about an IAS' expansion into Charlotte, N.C. last year.

-#4179: Control4 of Salt Lake City, Utah, provides operating systems for residential and commercial use, delivering intelligent control of consumer electronics products, appliances and networking systems with products that enable home-theater control, multi-room music, smart lighting, temperature-control and security systems. Three-year growth-rate of 62%, with revenues of $109.5 million in 2012, and $67.7 million in 2009. Founded in 2003, Control4 has 333 employees. It also recently did an IPO.

-#4284: Defender Direct of Indianapolis, Ind., sells and installs ADT home-security and Dish Network systems for homeowners. Three-year growth rate of 57 percent, with revenues of $394.9 million in 2012, and $250.7 million in 2009. Founded in 1998, Defender Direct has 1,923 employees. Defender is the largest ADT dealer in the country. Here's a story about Defender's CEO Marcia Barnes, who was named to that role in 2012.

-#4509: ObjectVideo of Reston, Va., makes intelligent video software and apps that help companies, governments, and smartphone users organize, find, and share video more effectively. Three–year growth rate of 50 percent, with revenues of $18.9 million in 2012, and $12.6 million in 2009. Founded in 1998, ObjectVideo has 53 employees. ObjectVideo has focused on protecting its intellectual property in recent years. Here's a story that addresses its work in that area.

-#4560: Sentry Communications & Security of Hicksville, N.Y., installs and services security systems, including digital CCTV, fire systems, and access control, for commercial, industrial, and residential clients. Three-year growth rate of 48 percent, with revenues of $6 million in 2012, and $4.1 million in 2009. Founded in 2003, Sentry Communications & Security has 40 employees.

-#4665: Power Home Technologies of Raleigh, N.C., Specializes in the sale and installation of residential and small business security systems. Three-year growth of 46 percent, with revenues of $19.1 million in 2012, and $13.1 million in 2009. Founded in 2004, Power Home Technologies has 350 employees. Here's a story about Power Home Technologies' decision to join Monitronics.

-#4782 Life Safety Engineered Systems of Buffalo, N.Y., sells, installs and services commercial fire and security alarm systems. Three-year growth rate of 42 percent, with revenues of $7.1 million in 2012, and $5 million in 2009. Founded in 1994, the company has 25 employees.

-#4925: Electric Guard Dog of Columbia, S.C., provides perimeter electric security fencing across the nation for industrial and commercial locations. Three-year growth rate of 37 percent, with revenues of $19.4 million in 2012, and $14.2 million in 2009. Founded in 1973, Electric Guard Dog has 70 employees. EGD's perimeter protection is solar-powered, electrified and subscription based. Here's a story we wrote about a $42 million credit facility they scored in the fall of 2011. And here's another story about how the company's fences fared (well) during Hurricane Sandy.