Central station managers going to Las Vegas for the upcoming ISC West can also earn certification as trainers. The recently-revised SIA-APCO Central Station Operator Instructor (Train the Trainer) Course is scheduled for March 25-28 at the Tuscany Suites and Casino in Las Vegas, with additional sessions throughout the year.

3M Cogent, Pasadena, Calif., a global provider of biometric identification solutions to government agencies and commercial enterprises, announced that its MiY-ID Gov biometric access control reader is the first product to be certified as an approved biometric authentication system by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) in accordance with FIPS 201 standard.

At ISC West last week, Samsung Techwin and Intelligent Security Systems (ISS) jointly exhibited an integrated video surveillance system that combines Samsung’s video surveillance cameras and devices and ISS video management services (VMS) and image analytics.

Matrix Systems, a Miamisburg, Ohio-based access control and security solutions provider, appointed security industry veteran Ron Kandcer as its vice president-sales last week during ISC West.

Lenel Systems International Inc., a provider of enterprise software, integrated systems and access control systems, launched OnGuard® 2012 at ISC West last week.

Tri-Ed / Northern Video Distribution welcomed S2 Security Corp., a provider of IP-based integrated physical security systems, as a new vendor partner. S2’s Pronto access control line is now available at all Tri-Ed / Northern Video U.S. locations, as well as via online ordering.

Interface Security Systems LLC completed a merger transaction with Westec Intelligent Surveillance Inc. 

Mercury Security Corp., a provider of open platforms for access control and Tridium, a provider of open platforms for device-to-enterprise integration and building automation, announced a technology partnership to integrate their respective platforms.

OzVision and Schneider Electric signed a strategic marketing and distribution agreement to provide U.S. businesses with comprehensive Video Surveillance as a Service (VSaaS) solutions. The agreement was signed in January 2012 and announced last week during ISC West.