Changes coming to SecurityInfoWatch Forums - For the Better

[N. A. Corbier]

Since I've been on SecurityInfoWatch.com's forums, I've noticed alot of things. A major increase in traffic, both "lurkers" and posters. An expanding of our forum userbase from mainly integrators, dealers, and facility management personnel to traditional guard services personnel, both administrative and rank-and-file officers.

We've had many lively discussions, some rough times from people coming over and "bashing the industry," for which our benefactors in Cygnus Business Media (who run this site and forum) have "laid down the law," and provided the other sections of the security industry a look into the contract and proprietary guard services market. What our employees, managers, and other end-users care, think, and worry about.

It brings me a sense of satisfaction that, after talking with SecurityInfoWatch.com's Editor-in-Chief, Geoff Kohl, the SIW Forums will be expanded to reflect the recent surge in guard services discussion and persons.

We will be getting more sub-forums, making the forum site easier to navigate and find topics that interest us. These topics should also spur discussions on things we sometimes forget, or don't realize to talk about. Equipment. Officer safety. Liability Management (Wait, we discuss that alot...) Patrol Tactics. Things that we do every day.

There will also be a place for new users to say hello, much like other sites with an "Introductions" area.

So, as SIW expands its forum services, tell your friends and co-workers in this industry. It is my hope that we become as "large" a forum as Officer.com. And in that largeness, we maintain the same civility and sense of community that we have right now.


No, they're not paying me to say this. I just like the product.

[Crinsol]

N.A.,

As a security integrator, may I request that you folks keep us in mind as this forum evolves.

The general discussion section should include us techies, or the tech side of the house should have its own general discussions.

I am advocating a combined general discussions section simply because true security integration includes technology, policies & procedures, and personnel. I think that the more information the guard force has of technology and its capabilities the better off they will be.

Simple case in point: We installed over $500,000 of security equipment at facility and a week after commissioning the systems went down due to guard interaction. This was in reality no fault of the guard staff-they simply where not given proper instruction on how to use it.

We now make a point of working closely with the guard staff, to the extent of getting them certified. This not only allows us to have knowledgeable eyes on site daily, but has given leverage by the guard company to ask for raises. The guards at these locations make over $15/hr because of this convergence.

This is my .02 cents and take it for what its worth.

This is a great site-thank you Geoff- and I expect it to grow rapidly.

Merry Christmas from SoCal!

[N. A. Corbier]

N.A.,

As a security integrator, may I request that you folks keep us in mind as this forum evolves.

The general discussion section should include us techies, or the tech side of the house should have its own general discussions.

I am advocating a combined general discussions section simply because true security integration includes technology, policies & procedures, and personnel. I think that the more information the guard force has of technology and its capabilities the better off they will be.

Simple case in point: We installed over $500,000 of security equipment at facility and a week after commissioning the systems went down due to guard interaction. This was in reality no fault of the guard staff-they simply where not given proper instruction on how to use it.

We now make a point of working closely with the guard staff, to the extent of getting them certified. This not only allows us to have knowledgeable eyes on site daily, but has given leverage by the guard company to ask for raises. The guards at these locations make over $15/hr because of this convergence.

This is my .02 cents and take it for what its worth.

This is a great site-thank you Geoff- and I expect it to grow rapidly.

Merry Christmas from SoCal!

Due note that the "general discussion" is the old "On Guard" forum, ie: General catch all. Looking above the guard industry forums, there are the "regular" integration/manufacturer/dealer forms that SIW has had for quite awhile.

General Discussion should not be limited to just guard services discussion, but anything related to the security industry.

[Bill Warnock]

Security Equipment Integrators

The security integrator is an important part of the concentric circles concept of Physical Security. A word of caution to those who install. Take care of what cables go where and what happens in low voltage conductors are in close proximity of heavy-amp draw conductors.
If the equipment manufacturer is in the habit of explaining the workings and operator troubleshooting in engineering terms, the battle is lost. The manuals must be written in layman terms and the decision logic tables clearly and carefully laid out.
Those manuals written by lawyers for lawyers or engineers for engineers have they there place, but not in the working security community.
Enjoy the day,
Bill

[Mr. Security]

We will be getting more sub-forums, making the forum site easier to navigate and find topics that interest us. These topics should also spur discussions on things we sometimes forget, or don't realize to talk about. Equipment. Officer safety. Liability Management (Wait, we discuss that alot...) Patrol Tactics. Things that we do every day.

There will also be a place for new users to say hello, much like other sites with an "Introductions" area.

Great improvement. My thanks to all who worked to make it happen.

[IrishGuard]

......which our benefactors in Cygnus Business Media (who run this site and forum)......

It brings me a sense of satisfaction that, after talking with SecurityInfoWatch.com's Editor-in-Chief, Geoff Kohl, the SIW Forums will be expanded to reflect the recent surge in guard services discussion and persons.

We will be getting more sub-forums, making the forum site easier to navigate and find topics that interest us. These topics should also spur discussions on things we sometimes forget, or don't realize to talk about. Equipment. Officer safety. Liability Management (Wait, we discuss that alot...) Patrol Tactics. Things that we do every day.

There will also be a place for new users to say hello, much like other sites with an "Introductions" area.

So, as SIW expands its forum services, tell your friends and co-workers in this industry. It is my hope that we become as "large" a forum as Officer.com. And in that largeness, we maintain the same civility and sense of community that we have right now.

The above are selected quotes from the main article by N.A. Corbier as a reference to my question which is,

Could we have the same facilities as Officer.com, such as the ability to Upload an Avatar?

Thank you for the resource and I appreciate your effort.

[N. A. Corbier]

The above are selected quotes from the main article by N.A. Corbier as a reference to my question which is,

Could we have the same facilities as Officer.com, such as the ability to Upload an Avatar?

Thank you for the resource and I appreciate your effort.

This is what I've learned about the avatar situation. The site currently has disk space allocated for "profile pictures," but does not have disk space allocated for "avatars."

I've been told that the IT department that runs SIW is allocating space, at some time, but that turning the avatar system on in vBulletin won't work till that space is allocated on the hard drive to store avatars.

So, Geoff Kohl is waiting for the IT department to allocate drive space for the uploading of avatars before he can turn that feature on.

[IrishGuard]

Cygnus Public Safety Group

I notice that under the Cygnus Public Safety Group Banner on the Home Page of Officer.com is does not list SecurityInfoWatch as a Group Member.

I was under the impression that this Website was part of the Cygnus Public Safety Group.

[N. A. Corbier]

From what I can figure, this is part of the Cygnus Security Group. I do know that Geoff does not work out of Cygnus Public Safety Group's offices.

This is the Vertical Market Page for Cyngus Business Media's Residential, Industrial, and Commercial Security Group: http://www.cygnusb2b.com/Market.cfm?MarketID=26