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May 2025 Issue

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Special Report: Critical Infrastructure

As we move deeper into 2025, the perimeter security landscape for U.S. critical infrastructure is being rapidly redefined. The convergence of emerging technologies, escalating threat vectors, and tightened regulatory oversight is driving a shift toward smarter, more adaptive security strategies. From energy facilities and data centers to transportation hubs and water treatment plants, protecting the perimeter is no longer just about physical barriers—it’s about intelligent, integrated defense. 

Commercial Fence

Market Outlook: Perimeter Security

smartPerimeter.ai’s latest Market Focus reveals robust growth across foundational perimeter safety technologies—fences, gates, barriers, and bollards. Fencing remains the dominant perimeter defense tool, with the U.S. market valued at $9.23 billion in 2023 and forecasted to hit $16.23 billion by 2033 (CAGR 5.81%). Growth is driven by security demands across government, commercial, and industrial sectors, compliance pressures, and new construction.

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New (and Better) Ways to Deploy and Enhance Access Control at Government Facilities 

By Ronnie Pennington, Altronix

The demand for more efficient and cost-effective ways to deploy access control at government facilities is a high priority as security and facilities personnel are being tasked to enhance security and safety, mitigate risks, and improve workforce management. This applies across the federal, state and local levels at facilities – from city halls to courthouses and administration buildings to military bases – to ensure that only authorized personnel have the level(s) of access they require. 

With the trend towards multi-factor identity authentication, modern access control systems employ some combination of mobile credentials, biometrics, prox cards or fobs, and keypads to activate a wide range of security entrances and electronic locks. This increases both the number of readers and related devices deployed at each door location, as well as the amount of power required to operate them. Yet at the same time, security and facilities management personnel are being asked to do more with less. Fortunately, new power and access integration and deployment solutions are can help achieve these divergent objectives, lowering overall costs while increasing system capacity and reducing the physical real estate required for installation. 

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5 Questions With…

John Nemerofsky, Chief Operating Officer, SAGE Integration

ISC West continues to be the premier stage for innovation in the security industry, and this year’s show was no exception. What stood out was the emphasis on AI to deliver proactive, unified security solutions. At SAGE, we are always looking at the latest technologies so we can develop partnerships that provide innovative and effective ways to mitigate risk and vulnerabilities in protecting our clients’ most valuable assets. ISC West provides the conduit to building those partnerships.  

The growing focus on smart perimeter technologies, particularly those that combine traditional physical barriers with advanced analytics and AI, isn’t the future; it’s available now and will only improve. The security integration market is shifting to data-driven solutions that integrate video surveillance, access control, and perimeter fencing into a unified security strategy. The shift to data-driven security solutions reinforces our approach at SAGE Fence, where technology and perimeter protection go together. 

SAGE Integration is a national security integrator with a client-first mindset. We partner with enterprise organizations to design, implement, and maintain electronic security systems that are scalable, secure, and built around each client’s operational goals. Our strength lies in our ability to manage complex, multi-site environments while delivering white-glove service experience. 

SAGE Fence complements SAGE Integration by protecting our client’s perimeter. From high-security anti-climb fencing to full turn-key design and installation services, SAGE Fence brings physical protection to the edge of a facility. At the same time, SAGE Integration connects it all through advanced access control, surveillance, and monitoring systems. Together, we are delivering a unified approach that bridges physical, electronic, and cyber security solutions to mitigate risk and vulnerabilities. 

We’re seeing a major shift toward holistic perimeter planning. It’s no longer enough to have a fence or a gate; clients are looking for intelligent perimeters that can detect, deter, and even respond. Organizations are integrating video analytics, intrusion detection, and even AI-driven monitoring into their perimeter designs. 

There’s more of an emphasis on early detection to prevent threats before they reach a targeted area. By developing smart perimeter solutions that are proactive, not reactive, we are helping our client create more time and space to deploy countermeasures to mitigate the threat. At SAGE and SAGE Fence, we are working hand in hand to design perimeter strategies as a first line of defense, not an afterthought. 

This is a great question that our team regularly discusses to ensure that we understand AI and, more importantly, the difference between AI, Analytics, and Automation. Once your team and client understand the difference, you can develop real-threat detection solutions to automate a threat response. AI is providing security teams with a higher level of situational awareness and agility to enhance the human element response by implementing AI-powered solutions. 

About John: As Chief Operating Officer at SAGE Integration, John focuses on operations, company acquisitions, and organic growth strategies He has spent my career driving growth and operational excellence in the electronic security systems technology space.

He has been honored with numerous awards including: 

  • SIA’s Sandy Jones Volunteer of the Year Award
  • George R. Lippert Memorial Award for long-term service to the industry
  • PSA Captains, Hang 10, and High Ride Awards

He is deeply committed to philanthropy serving as Treasurer and Board Member of Mission 500, and the Foundation for Advancing Security Talent (FAST) board. 

PRODUCT AND EVENT SPOTLIGHT

Altronix EBC48

EBC48 with NetWay Spectrum

The Altronix EBC48 is a high-performance rapid battery charger designed to keep your system up and running – recharging 32AH+ sealed lead acid or gel batteries in under eight hours. When integrated with Altronix NetWay Spectrum Hardened PoE Solutions it ensures your IP security and surveillance devices remain operational. EBC48 delivers reliability when power is out at the pole, ensuring security and lighting are powered 24/7. Plus, its built-in supervision features monitor AC failure and battery health, providing ultimate peace of mind. Compact, powerful, and essential for uninterrupted performance. LEARN MORE

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Wave to Open Switches

CleanWave Touchless Switch

The Dortronics CleanWave Touchless Switch provides reliable, hands-free operation with a simple wave. Using advanced microwave sensor technology, it ensures high detection accuracy with an adjustable range of 4–24 inches. Designed for sanitary environments, it features a gasketed faceplate, IP54 rating, and selectable output hold times (0.5–30 seconds). Ideal for cleanrooms, healthcare, biolabs, and food processing, CleanWave withstands harsh conditions indoors and outdoors. It seamlessly integrates with electronic locks, automatic door openers, and access systems, offering a durable, hygienic solution for modern access control in demanding settings. LEARN MORE

Washington DC at Night

The Premier Event in Perimeter Security

The Security Industry Association (SIA) is looking for engaging and informative speakers and sessions for the 2025 Perimeter PREVENT, the premier event in perimeter security. Perimeter PREVENT delivers engaging, commercial-free discussions with invaluable insights on the full sphere of perimeter security topics, from physical hardening to layering detection technologies. Join us in Washington, D.C. from June 17-18th. LEARN MORE

HS-L1.5 High Security Sensor

Uses advanced switch technology. Level 1 high security sets the standard for safes, vaults, and other applications. Available in single and dual alarms contacts models. UL 10C Fire Rated high security contacts. Listed to UL 634. LEARN MORE

LEADING COMPANIES AT ISC WEST

  • Actuate
  • ALCEA
  • Alertus
  • Altronix
  • AMAROK
  • Ameristar (ASSA ABLOY)
  • CEIA
  • Davista and ThriveLogic
  • Doorking
  • Dortronics Systems
  • Echodyne
  • LandSkyAI
  • Magnasphere
  • ProTech by Hirsch
  • PureTech Systems
  • Xtract One
  • Zenitel

See their comments below…

CEO and Founder, allowed time to see old and meet new friends. Actuate’ s AI software turns an existing security camera into a gun-and intruder-detecting smart camera. Actuate’ s event verification and high confidence response is the next wave in building a powerful and proactive perimeter security posture.

Ken Francis & Sonny Tai, Actuate

Marketing Communications Specialist, has the interesting job of persuading ISC attendees to touch their Guard Dog Electric Fence and see for themselves that a 7,000 shock is not only “safe but memorable” but stops crime. She confided, We get more volunteers after ISC starts serving beer.

Ella Faison, AMAROK

Head of Marketing & Communications. Continues to build a powerful brand image and product recognition for the leading provider of Intelligent Critical Communication Solutions, enabling everyone to hear, be heard and be understood, every time and everywhere. And had the best lip balm freebie!

Diane Ritchey, Zenitel

President and Co-Founder, has been a leader, innovator, contributor and charitable sponsor of our industry since the company’s founding in 1984. And Alan was a great host at the fantastic Alle on 66 reception. Important, the company designs and manufactures innovative solutions that integrate disparate infrastructure and maximize overall performance and efficiency, meaning it gets you power where you need it, including to the Perimeter.

Alan Forman, Altronix

National Sales Director. LandSkyAI has rightsized the solution to fit both customer needs and drone capabilities to ensure reliable guard tour with full property coverage, solid imaging, reporting and alerting. Their LandSky as a Service eliminates operational challenges for the customer to use drones and focuses on improved outcomes.

Mike Kobelin, LandSkyAI

Director of Marketing & Regulatory Affairs, shares the company’s product exhibits from residential to maximum security access control products plus new technologies that extend situational awareness at the perimeter. Doorking is enjoying its 77th year as a leading manufacturer of innovative products for the access control industry claiming to “have an access control solution for every property” and well, they are correct.

Rick Sedivy, Doorking

Marketing Manager, detailed the company’s ground-breaking weapons detection solution, OPENGATE, which offers the highest throughput weapons detection of people with backpacks, purses, and bags. CEIA builds several Walk-Through Metal Detectors with extremely high discrimination of personal metal objects to minimize the incidence of nuisance alarms.

Marilyn Thaxton, CEIA

Director, presented the unique and powerful value Echodyne Radar offers security programs through unique design and materials for better outcomes. Simply put: if you don’t have reliable situational awareness at your perimeter, you cannot manage threats. Rather, they manage you.

Kara Quesada, Echodyne

Marketing Project Manager, and @Ryane Burke, Senior Marketing Operations Manager, shared ProTech’s unmatched innovations and leadership in the utilities and especially, the energy perimeter security market. ProTech is the only manufacturer in the market to offer solar-powered and wireless perimeter security solutions that are essentially infrastructure-free. ProTech was the first and remains the only manufacturer in the world to develop a dual technology motion sensor (Piramid).

McKenna Boose, ProTech by Hirsch

Strategic Alliances Manager told SmartPerimeter.ai, “One of the great benefits of a mass notification system (MNS) is that it can suit your organization’s unique and evolving alerting needs, whether it’s addressing critical emergencies or simple day-to-day communications.”

Lauren Snyder, Alertus

President, told us “Security demands speed and precision, and at Dortronics, we deliver both from rapid off-the-shelf deployments to intricate custom door control systems, our commitment is to provide solutions that meet any need, without compromise.” Dortronics is the leader in state-of-the-art touchless switches, specialized electromagnetic locks, and advanced interlocking systems.

 John FitzPatrick, Dortronics Systems

Business Development Manager for Ameristar’s Transportation sector. Ben’s enthusiasm is contagious and his expertise made for an interesting and fun booth visit

Managing Director, shared ALCEA Critical Infrastructure’s focus protecting critical infrastructure such as energy, water, telecom, transportation, mining, oil and gas globally. The company’s SMEs have a deep understanding of the challenges, local conditions, regulations and standards faced in key CI sectors to deliver successful security outcomes.

Jerry Burhans, ALCEA

Vice President of Security Products, described Magnasphere as a disruptive technology company. Their door contact technology has set a new standard for protecting doors.   Magnasphere’s contacts are anti-defeat, won’t fuse and don’t break.  The Magnasphere motion uses FMCW radar to drastically reduce false activations in indoor and outdoor settings and their Anti Climb System (MACS) is designed for rigid and chain link fence protection. And their fixed panic switch uses Magnasphere switch technology to ensure it will activate in an emergency when needed.

Mike Keegan, Magnasphere

Principal, explained how this integration enables perimeter zones to detect, classify, and respond to threats automatically—ranging from loitering individuals to coordinated intrusion attempts—before they reach critical infrastructure. This integration enhances situational awareness, reduces response time, and optimizes resource deployment, ensuring a fortified and adaptive security posture across any perimeter environment.

Lou Barani, Davista and Thrive Logic

President and CEO, highlighted their patented location-based AI-boosted video analytics software, PureActiv®, for real time safety and security applications. Their primary emphasis is on autonomous perimeter intrusion detection of ground and aerial targets for country borders, coastlines, facility perimeters, and critical infrastructures.

Larry Bowe, PureTech Systems

Content Marketer. Writes a compelling essay proposing healthcare fundamentally reimagine how security integrates with the patient journey in Why Traditional Security Screening Fails Healthcare – Xtract One.

Sarah Wilson, Xtract one

#1 Reach to Perimeter Safety & Security Buyers

Solution Providers

ProTech by Hirsch: Unbreakable Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems

ProTech by Hirsch delivers cutting-edge perimeter security solutions, ensuring robust protection for critical facilities. With advanced technologies like GFence sensing cables and infrared sensors, ProTech detects threats in real-time, seamlessly integrating with Spectra and Velocity Vision VMS for a unified security platform. Designed for durability, ProTech’s IP-rated systems withstand extreme conditions, making them ideal for federal, education, and commercial sites. From military bases to schools, ProTech empowers Hirsch’s mission of “High Security Made Simple”, offering scalable, reliable defense against intrusions. Protect what matters most with ProTech’s proven, perimeter-to-core security expertise, trusted globally for mission-critical environments. 

Magnasphere: Perimeter Security

Magnasphere’s magnetic switch technology replaces the antiquated reed switch in door protection – providing a higher level of door security. Combined with the Magnasphere radar motion detector and the Magnasphere anti-cut and climb fence detection system, Magnasphere is your trusted source for all your perimeter security equipment needs.

AMAROK: The Smarter Approach to Perimeter Security for Your Business

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AMAROK provides electric fencing and other integrated perimeter security solutions, including video surveillance and monitoring, access control, lighting, and more, to keep criminals off our customers’ property. Securing over 8,000 locations across the country, we help commercial businesses protect their property, people, productivity, profits, and reputation. Nobody stops crime like AMAROK.

The Best of ISC West 2025

Indeed, the perimeter was all around this year’s ISC West. Here are our votes for the Best of ISC West:

Infrastructure & Perimeter Protection – Vehicle Incursions
Led by Rob Reiter of the Storefront Safety Council, this session dug into the legal and human cost of vehicle-based threats.

Scott Rosenbloom (Hercules High Security), Ben Whitman (Clark Fountain), and Sean Ahrens (Affiliated Engineers) emphasized a hard truth: vehicle attacks happen far more often than we realize—and “meeting code” won’t protect you from liability. With more than 31,000 vehicle-into-building incidents since 2014, sectors like retail, healthcare, and cannabis are facing rising exposure. Risk assessments aren’t just best practice—they’re legal protection.

Of course, The Best of ISC West includes the SIA New Product Showcase Awards program, recognizing winners in several product and service categories that touch on the Perimeter Safety & Security market. Here are the best Perimeter Safety & Security product winners.

  • Antiterrorism/Force Protection/Armed Aggressor
    • Winner: Xonar Technology – TruePort
  • Biometrics
    • Winner: Intel RealSense + Ones Technology – Biofix Gate Vision Powered by Ones Technology and Intel RealSense ID F450
  • Intrusion Detection and Prevention Solutions (Physical) – Wired or Wireless
    • Winner: SPOT AI – SPOT AI Remote Security Agent
  • Law Enforcement/Public Safety/Guarding Systems
    • Winner: 3Si Security Systems – DirectToDispatch
  • Threat Detection and Response Solutions
    • Honorable Mention: Xtract One Technologies – Xtract One Gateway

#1 Reach to Perimeter Safety & Security Buyers