Not surprisingly, the hot topic was the impact of September 11th on the security industry and purchasing.

SECURITY Magazine and its sister publication, SDM, which is aimed at dealers, presented results of a series of studies that shows vast and deep impact. An article elsewhere in this issue showcases those results.

SECURITY was also quoted in a recent Sunday New York Times article on how the tragedies surrounding September 11th and the bioterror aftermath have already led to noticeably more security staff hiring. The new Homeland Security operation at the federal level also has keyed on identifying effective corporate security efforts, current and future technologies.

There are some dangers, of course.

No one should oversell a solution-the risks, both tangible and intangible, are just too high these days.

Also the security industry needs to be respectful and circumspect, pointed out the Security Industry Association Executive Director, Richard Chace, at the Securing New Ground conference.

Still, it's obvious that security buyers are scooping up a lot of product, especially beefing up use of video surveillance and card access control. America's re-evaluation of its security efforts also has accelerated the attraction of biometrics and smart cards.

While the national press has honed in on the on-again, off-again dialog over a national identity card, speakers at Securing New Ground were more cautious, talking instead about the potential of offering a secure, smart card to airline flyers so that these people could more quickly and efficiently go through the escalating levels of airport security.

In a longer-term mode, look for building and safety code organizations to become even more aggressive in testing and approving terror-fighting products and systems.

Glass Protection

Sun Coast developed its WindowLock glass securement systems as a means to secure a building's most vulnerable outside link-the windows. Using a heavy gauge film laminate and a patent-pending locking channel system, the product has FM approval, standard 4350 for small missile impact by Factory Mutual Research Corp.; SBCCI product No. 9969 for large missile impact to meet the Southern Building Codes and has undergone Department of the Army, Waterways experiment bomb blast testing program.

While Sabac's advice applies to glass securement systems, it has application across numerous types of products.

The bottom line: as more security operations re-evaluate their staffing, technologies and programs, it's also good to evaluate changes in a reasoned way.