The Blog Basics

In today’s threat environment, physical security and cybersecurity are no longer separate silos — they must work hand in glove. As you protect your intellectual property, your people, your critical equipment, and your sensitive spaces, your video systems, access control, alarm systems, and network infrastructure form an interlocking defense. Choosing a U.S.‑based (or North American) camera and security hardware manufacturer such as Avigilon helps you maintain tighter supply chain control, compliance, and trust in tamper resistance. When integrated with a full security stack and backed by a local provider (ideally one with deep security and IT experience, like ABT), that system becomes a force multiplier for your broader cybersecurity posture. In this blog, I’ll walk you through how Avigilon ties into your overall cybersecurity strategy: protecting IP, controlling human capital risk, linking access control, and why having a local integrator matters.

Why physical security is now part of cybersecurity

Before diving into Avigilon specifically, let’s set the stage. Many organizations still treat “cybersecurity” as purely digital — firewalls, endpoint protection, email filtering, etc. But in truth, your networked cameras, door controllers, intrusion panels, and access control systems are endpoints too — and ripe for exploitation if left out of your security architecture.

• A compromised camera feed or DVR/NVR can allow an attacker to surveil your facility, understand movement patterns, and plan operations.

• A bad actor with physical access (via tailgating, stolen badge, or insider) can circumnavigate cyber defenses.

• Attacks often bridge the analog–digital divide: a human unlocks a door, then lateral movement occurs in your network.

So you need a harmonized strategy: physical security devices that are designed with cybersecurity in mind and full integration into your enterprise security operations.

That’s where a modern, holistic manufacturer like Avigilon comes into play.

Who is Avigilon (and why their origins matter)

Avigilon is a security technology company that designs video surveillance, analytics, and access control solutions. In 2018, Motorola Solutions acquired Avigilon, folding it into a broader safety and security ecosystem.

One of Avigilon’s differentiators is that their video hardware is manufactured in North America — specifically, facilities in Plano, Texas, and Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. This “made in U.S./North America” capability helps reduce risks associated with foreign supply chains or hidden components or firmware. It gives you more control over firmware provenance, traceability, and confidence in what goes into your system.

Of course, “U.S.‑based” doesn’t automatically guarantee perfect security — but it gives you a stronger starting position, particularly when defending intellectual property or satisfying compliance demands or government contracts that prefer (or require) domestic or allied manufacturing.

Avigilon also embeds cybersecurity principles into their platform: confidentiality, integrity, availability are core design tenets. They hold ISO 27001 (and relevant extensions) certifications for their cloud offerings, showing that data protection is baked into their operations.

How Avigilon fits into your full security architecture

To realize the full benefits of Avigilon (or any advanced platform), you don’t want video in one silo, access control in another, intrusion in another, etc. The power comes when these systems interoperate. Avigilon’s architecture supports exactly that.

Video + analytics + unified command

Avigilon’s video platform (Unity, on‑premise; Alta, cloud) includes built‑in AI analytics (e.g. appearance search, unusual motion detection) which allow proactive detection, not just passive recording. You’re not just capturing video — you’re converting it into actionable intelligence.

They also publish an integrations ecosystem: Avigilon Alta and Unity integrate with third‑party access control, intrusion, alarm systems, and other tech.

 For example:

• The Avigilon Unity + AMAG Symmetry integration allows alarm events and video to interoperate, so your operator can view video and respond from a unified interface.

• Unity and DMP intrusion panel integration allow you to arm/disarm alarm areas or silence alerts directly through the same control pane.

• Mercury Security controllers are a certified integration partner for Avigilon’s Unity access solution.

• Avigilon’s Alta Video system supports direct and proxy integrations with external access control systems — so your video view can show door state, forced open, access event overlays, etc.

Because of these integration points, you can treat video, access, and alarm systems as modular components in one platform rather than as disjointed “best-of-breed” islands.

Access control with real‑time visibility

Avigilon’s access control product line (mobile, card, fob, intercom) gives you real-time and historical insight into every access event. You can sync users, assign access privileges, and manage everything from one interface. Their access systems are designed to integrate with their video system — so when someone presents a badge at a door, video can pop up automatically.

During emergencies, you can issue site‑wide lockdowns instantly from a central dashboard, securing all doors with a single command.

Because these access events are tied to the video layer, you can audit exactly which doors were accessed, by whom, and correlate with video to detect anomalies or misuse.

Protecting IP, human capital, and equipment

Let’s connect this to your core assets:

1. Intellectual property (IP):
Your lab, R&D, product development, or data centers are likely among your most valuable assets. Unauthorized physical access to those areas — even sporadically — can lead to theft, espionage, or tampering. With Avigilon:

• You can set highly granular access policies.

• When an access request is made, you can instantly view the associated video to verify legitimacy.

• You can detect “tailgating” or forced open events via analytics and trigger lockdowns or alerts.

• Correlate suspicious behavior with other logs (network activity, badge anomalies) to detect insider risk.

2. Human capital:
Your people are your biggest investment and your most sensitive safety concern. A security system must protect them — not just your property. Using Avigilon:

• Body‑worn camera feeds or intercoms can integrate into your system to support staff safety.

• Video alerts (e.g. aggression, loitering) in high‑risk zones can prompt security or management to intervene early.

• Access control ensures that only authorized personnel enter sensitive spaces (labs, server rooms, control rooms).

3. Mission‑critical equipment:
Industrial machinery, servers, cleanrooms, test rigs—all of which are expensive, vital, and sometimes fragile. A security breach can lead to equipment theft, sabotage, or downtime. Avigilon’s video + analytics can detect:

• Vibration, motion, or presence in off‑hours.

• Tampering, blockage, or removal of components.

• And by linking those events to access control and alarm systems, you can automate protective responses (lock, alert, record).

The cybersecurity benefits of a U.S. (or North American) manufacturer

Now let’s talk more about why it matters that your camera and security hardware supplier is domestic or at least continental.

Supply chain trust and firmware integrity

When a camera is manufactured overseas, it’s harder to monitor components, firmware builds, and whether backdoors or subcomponents exist. By using Avigilon (manufactured in Plano, Texas, and Richmond, B.C.) you get closer oversight and more transparency.

You can demand proof of secure boot, signed firmware, and source traceability — things more feasible when your vendor is operating nearby and subject to U.S./Canadian laws and export controls.

Regulatory, contract, and compliance advantages

Many government, defense, or regulated industries require domestic (or “trusted”) manufacturing or audit trails. Using U.S.-based or allied suppliers reduces procurement risk and compliance friction. It’s easier to certify, to submit to audits, and to demonstrate chain-of-custody.

Also, by selecting a vendor with strong cybersecurity standards (e.g. ISO 27001) and built-in security principles, you reduce your vendor risk footprint. Avigilon’s certificate compliance is a built‑in advantage.

Reducing hidden risk from third‑party dependencies

Because Avigilon builds both hardware and software in-house or in tightly controlled partners, you reduce reliance on opaque subcontractors or unpredictable OEMs. That minimizes the surface for hidden vulnerabilities.

Also, their integration model allows you to centralize and rationalize security, reducing duplication, conflicting protocols, or insecure stitching across multiple vendors.

Why partner with a local integrator — not just a remote provider

Even the best technology is only as good as its deployment, configuration, and support. That’s why working with a local integrator (especially one that understands both IT and physical security) is crucial.

Rapid service, response, and deployment

When something breaks — camera offline, door stuck, network issues — you don’t want to wait days or weeks. A local provider can respond quickly, swap hardware, and troubleshoot on-site.

They also better understand your Colorado-specific environment (climate, permitting, codes, supply logistics). Moreover, they can help local staff with hands-on training, regular physical inspections, and preventive maintenance.

Deep understanding of your network, policies, and risk

A local integrator that’s also savvy in networking and IT security can help you:

• Segment your camera and access-control networks (e.g. VLANs, firewall rules).

• Harden switches, network paths, and infrastructure so that the physical systems don’t become backdoors into your data network.

• Align your physical security with your cybersecurity policies (e.g. log retention, SIEM integration, threat response).

• Perform architecture reviews, penetration testing, and audits tailored to your facility.

That combination of physical security expertise + IT competence is rare but immensely valuable.

Customization, fine-tuning, and local oversight

No facility is a “one-size-fits-all.” Your integrator can calibrate analytics thresholds, set up site-specific rules (e.g. lockdown paths, zone definitions), build automations and cross-trigger events, and adapt as your business evolves.

They can also provide regular health checks, firmware updates, and local oversight — ensuring your system stays current and secure.

Accountability and partnership

Because they are local and accountable to you, you get personal service, trust, and the ability to escalate when needed. You’re not at the mercy of another distant call center. The local integrator becomes an extension of your security team.

How to architect a defensible Avigilon‑based security posture

Here’s a rough blueprint (you’ll fine-tune based on your facility layout, risk profile, and scale) for how to weave Avigilon into your full security and cybersecurity strategy.

1. Network segmentation and isolation

   • Put video, access control, alarm, and IoT security systems on their own VLAN(s).

   • Use firewalls, ACLs, and strict routing rules to prevent lateral movement.

   • Use encrypted communication (TLS, VPN, etc.) between devices and backends.

2. Zero‑trust access control policy

   • Least-privilege access: only grant door access needed.

   • Use multi-factor or mobile credential where possible. Avigilon supports mobile, card, fob systems.

   • Monitor badge use and enforce time-of-day or location-based rules.

3. Analytics and automated response

   • Use Avigilon’s analytics to detect anomalies in motion, presence, or patterns.

   • Create trigger rules: e.g. forced-open door → initiate lockdown → send video to guard console.

   • Integrate with alarms/intrusion and threat detection systems to escalate automatically.

4. Centralized logging and SIEM integration

   • Push logs (access logs, video event logs, door events) into your Security Information & Event Management (SIEM).

   • Correlate physical events with network and endpoint events.

5. Redundancy, resilience, and failover

   • Use redundant NVRs, backup power, and failover networking to maintain availability.

   • Use health‑monitoring to detect device outages early.

6. Regular audits, tests, and updates

   • Quarterly security audits, penetration testing of your physical and digital systems.

   • Firmware updates, patching, and configuration hardening.

   • Review door schedules, user access, camera health.

7. Incident playbooks and drills

   • Define standard operating procedures (SOPs) for alarms, intrusions, forced entry, etc.

   • Train your staff and your local integrator together on response time and roles.

8. Change control and traceability

   • Track any hardware or software changes in your security environment.

   • Ensure firmware upgrades are signed and validated (which is easier if your vendor has strong chain-of-custody).

9. Secure remote access and management

   • If remote access is required, lock it down via VPN, role-based access, and 2FA.

   • Log remote activity; avoid exposing device web interfaces directly to the internet.

Real-world benefits and use cases

Let me paint a few plausible scenarios where the combination of Avigilon + integration + local support does real work for you:

• A badging event occurs late at night in a lab. The access control event pops up in your dashboard and immediately correlates with video footage. The security operator sees someone trying to tailgate, triggers the door to lock, and dispatches a guard before damage happens.

• Motion sensors and video in a machine room detect irregular vibrations outside scheduled hours. The system auto-triggers a lockdown while alerting management, allowing them to catch an intruder before equipment is moved.

• In a compliance audit, you produce an audit trail: who accessed R&D rooms, when, video logs, and correlation with network login times — proving there was no unauthorized access to sensitive IP.

• After a visitor miscues a badge, the system flags a forced door open; your integrator arrives in minutes and remediates the weak sensor or broken latch, reducing downtime.

• You spin up a new clean room in a wing. Your local integrator designs the camera coverage, analytics thresholds, and door logic so it smoothly fits your defense-in-depth model.

Key caveats and considerations (so you don’t overpromise)

• Firmware trust and supply chain audits: Even with U.S./North American manufacturing, you should demand vendor transparency about firmware, components, and secure boot.

• Cost/licensing: Integration (e.g. for access control, alarm systems) often requires additional licenses on both sides (your VMS and your access control). Some users report this can get expensive.

• Scale complexity: Very large or multi‑site deployments need careful infrastructure planning — network bandwidth, storage, redundancy, latency.

• Human error: All security systems assume humans follow policy. A badge misuse, weak credential, or lax process can nullify technology advantages.

• Vendor lock‑in: The more you tie into one vendor ecosystem, the more dependent you are. Weigh the trade-off between integration ease and flexibility.

• Ongoing maintenance burden: Camera systems, analytics, access control need regular calibration, updates, and testing.

How to get started

You don’t have to overhaul everything at once. Here’s a path forward:

1. Assessment
   Ask your local integrator to perform a security audit of your physical/digital convergence: camera coverage, network segmentation, access control gaps, and weak zones.

2. Pilot deployment
   Deploy Avigilon devices and analytics in a high-risk zone or sensitive area (lab, R&D, server room). Connect them to your access control and alarm systems to test event correlation and response automation.

3. Integrate with your cybersecurity ecosystem
   Route logs into your SIEM, integrate alerts with your incident response, and create cross-domain playbooks.

4. Scale progressively
   Once you prove value in your pilot, expand to other zones. Use lessons learned to refine policies, thresholds, and automation across your sites.

5. Training and drills
   Train both your in-house security/operations team and your integrator. Run intrusion drills, badge misuse tests, and incident simulations.

6. Ongoing monitoring and upgrade cycles
   Stay current with firmware, review analytics thresholds, cycle out aging cameras, and schedule periodic reviews.

Now is the perfect time to upgrade your office technology and security infrastructure — and Section 179 can help offset the cost.

By investing in new security solutions before year-end, your business may be able to deduct the full purchase price of qualifying equipment on your 2025 taxes. That means you can enhance cybersecurity, boost productivity, and modernize your workflow while reducing your tax burden. ABT’s experts can help you choose the right devices, structure your lease or purchase for maximum savings, and ensure your upgrades are fully compliant and in service before December 31. Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your perimeter security and save thousands — let ABT help you leverage Section 179 to make your 2025 upgrades pay for themselves.