News / People, Feb 2026

Grow RMR with NAPCO NA-Series Access Panels and MVP Cloud Platform

As security pros look to start the new year with new customers, new services, and new recurring revenue opportunities, NAPCO Security Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: NSSC), a leading manufacturer of professional security, access control, and electronic locking solutions, today announced the availability of its new MVP Cloud-Based Access Control Platform and NA-Series 1- and 2-Door Access Panels.

 Cloud-Ready and Built for Fast Installs. The new NA-Series access panels are purpose-built for fast, super-economical deployments, helping reduce installation time, equipment requirements, and service overhead. Available in 1- and 2-door configurations, models NA-1 & NA-2, respectively, NA-Series panels are cloud-ready out of the box and designed to support streamlined installations without extra on-site components required by other brands.

For even faster setup, MVP EZ App includes Scan2Enroll, allowing installers to use a smartphone camera to scan a QR code on a panel or access lock to instantly enroll the device into the system.

Predictable RMR and Lower Total Cost of Ownership. Built for Napco’s MVP Cloud-Based Platform, the NA-Series panels enable dealers to deliver modern access control while supporting predictable recurring monthly revenue (RMR) and lower total cost of ownership (TCO) for customers.

MVP supports both mobile-only deployments (MVP-EZ) and hybrid remote/on-premises configurations using mobile and desktop management, allowing systems to scale easily as customer needs evolve. Security pros can standardize installations while expanding accounts from small businesses to large, multi-site systems without replacing hardware or changing software.

Designed for Managed Services and Long-Term Growth. The MVP platform also allows dealers to define customizable end-user privileges, giving customers as much or as little system control as desired via app, desktop, or both. Core capabilities include remote user management, scheduling, system status and emergency notifications, and the ability to lock down individual doors or groups of doors when required.

By reducing on-site equipment, simplifying system management, and enabling remote service, MVP helps dealers lower service costs while increasing long-term account value.

 Unified Hardware, Credential Flexibility, and Video Integration. MVP supports the new NA-Series panels, as well as NAPCO’s broad line of top-rate, low-maintenance wireless access locks, including Prox, PIN, and mobile-ready solutions for virtually any door type or application. The platform supports a wide range of credentials — including BLE, mobile, NFC, Prox, and MIFARE — and scales seamlessly from a few doors and users to thousands on one unified platform. The platform will also support integrated video, recognizing video as an essential component of modern access control and security workflows.

MVP Cloud-Based Access-Ready, the NA-Series access panels are available now through leading NAPCO security distributors. Online introductions and training sessions are also available. For more information, visit www.napcosecurity.com.

Coming Soon? Automatic, Hands-Free Residential Doors

Is there a demand for smart automatic residential doors that recognize the homeowners and open and close automatically, totally hands-free? A startup tech company called Doma Home is bringing such a product to the market, with July 2026 availability planned. At this time, no pricing information is available.

Doma calls the Doma door “a software offering delivered through a hardware experience,” to be sold directly by the company’s manufacturing and dealer partners. The intended market is upscale residential construction and renovation.

According to Doma, the Doma Intelligent Door will be equipped with the following:

• Doma WelcomeDrive – a whisper-quiet, motorized opener and closer that authenticates the homeowner and opens the door automatically as they approach, then securely closes it.
• Embedded Security & Identity Sensors – advanced radar, motion, and facial recognition sensors detect movement and identity for effortless and secure access. It also features an electronic, high-security multipoint door lock and an interior security and home control panel.
• Architectural Integrity – Doma’s hardware and sensors are built invisibly into the door’s core, preserving the aesthetic integrity of wood, fiberglass, or metal finishes.
• Hardwired Reliability and Longevity – no batteries, bridges, or visible components; each system is powered and hardwired for continuous operation. The system was designed for longevity and can function regardless of weather or power outages.
• Compatible and Serviceable – all Doma components support the Matter standard and are designed for maximum compatibility with existing and future home systems, including Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa and Savant. All electronics and motors can be serviced without requiring the door to be removed.

With Doma WelcomeDrive, doors with Doma Intelligence feature an integrated, motorized opener and closer. Effortlessly authenticating residents’ arrival, WelcomeDrive opens the door. Once inside, the door closes and locks behind the resident.

“Doma is our answer to what the smart home was always meant to be—intelligence that disappears into the architecture, working quietly in the background to make life simpler, safer, and more human,” said Yves Behar, Doma co-founder.

This new product will also be available for windows. Doma Intelligent Windows will feature motorized opening and closing as well as electronic lock and unlock, air quality sensors, and indoor/outdoor radar sensing to monitor a home’s occupancy and security. The windows will keep the home secure, protect against weather, and open and close based on air quality, HVAC systems, and the presence and behavior of occupants. Not only will homeowners save money on heating and cooling, but they will also have a comprehensive system to manage air quality, rather than relying on one-off purifiers.

dormakaba Acquires Avant-Garde

dormakaba has signed a binding agreement to acquire Avant-Garde Systems Inc., one of the largest independent solution providers for entrance control systems in the United States. This acquisition represents a core-in-the-core acquisition, strengthening dormakaba’s North American go-to-market in access automation solutions.

Founded in 2015 and based in Clarksville, Indiana, Avant-Garde provides a “one-stop-shop” solution for their customers. Avant-Garde combines in-depth entrance control expertise with full-service capabilities, offering full lifecycle from consultation and product selection to installation and support. Products include a full range of turnstiles, vehicle and pedestrian gates, metal detection, turnstile canopies and guard houses.

The Avant-Garde acquisition adds key capabilities in target strategic growth verticals such as data centers, airports and nation-wide integrators.

Till Reuter, CEO dormakaba, says: “We are delighted to welcome the Avant-Garde team into our Group. This acquisition is an important piece to advance our North American growth plan. It will strengthen our entrance systems control capabilities, enhancing our high-margin business as well as positioning us for growth in our key verticals: airports and data centers.”

dormakaba expects to close the acquisition of Avant-Garde Systems Inc. in early January 2026. Financial terms were not disclosed. dormakaba expects the transaction to be accretive to Group EPS from day 1.

Brivo App Uses AI for Faster Lockdowns

Brivo has added voice-activated capability to its mobile access control platform, enabling security teams to trigger emergency lockdowns and perform other access control tasks with spoken or typed commands. The Brivo Genius Mobile Agent, now available in early release, adds conversational artificial intelligence (AI) to the Brivo Access Mobile App, the company announced. 

The company said it is the first physical security technology provider to offer users the ability to instantly execute critical security actions — from site-wide emergency lockdowns to routine business settings — through simple voice or text commands.

The mobile agent uses natural language navigation powered by AI and is built directly into the mobile app. Brivo said the voice-activated interface is designed for crisis situations where stress can make it difficult for administrators to remember passwords or locate seldom-used features such as lockdown, allowing commands to be executed immediately and saving critical time during emergencies.

Steve Van Till, CEO, at Brivo, said natural language interfaces are becoming the user experience of choice and that expanding AI capabilities reflects how physical security is evolving from a cost center to a strategic business enabler. He added that the company continues to develop AI tools that allow administrators to manage operations and improve safety outcomes with the simplicity of voice.

The company said it is the first physical security technology provider to offer users the ability to instantly execute critical security actions — from site-wide emergency lockdowns to routine business settings — through simple voice or text commands.

The mobile agent uses natural language navigation powered by AI, and is built directly into the mobile app. Brivo said the voice-activated interface is especially important in crisis situations where stress can make it hard for an administrator to remember passwords or locate seldom-used features such as lockdown. Brivo Mobile Agent executes voice commands immediately, saving what the company described as critical time in emergencies.

Integrated with other AI-driven security tools such as Eagle Eye Gun Detection within the Brivo Security Suite, the mobile agent lets administrators use commands like “Activate Full Lockdown” to start emergency access protocols and respond to threats right away.

Brivo said the new capability also supports broader facility and business operations. Features include confirming actions via the AI agent before they are carried out to help avoid mistakes, automatic logging of commands for audit and compliance, natural-language management of remote access and multi-factor authentication settings, and easier execution of daily tasks such as unlocking doors and filtering events.

HID Funds School Security Scholarships 

HID has funded 1,000 scholarships to support training through the National Council of School Safety Directors’ (NCSSD) Foundations of School Security Leadership Certificate course.

The initiative, which will run through 2026, aims to reduce cost barriers and expand access to professional development for those responsible for protecting K–12 communities. Scholarship recipients will also receive a one-year NCSSD membership, according to an announcement.

HID said the partnership with NCSSD reinforces the company’s commitment to enhancing safety for students, teachers and staff. The program is designed to help build a stronger foundation of knowledge for school professionals working to address modern threat environments while maintaining open and supportive learning spaces.

Developed by NCSSD’s network of school security professionals, the Foundations Certificate is a nine-part, self-paced online program based on the Path to Safer Schools framework. The curriculum covers prevention, preparedness, response and recovery, offering practical guidance for personnel in both public and private schools. Eligible participants include administrators, directors, coordinators, specialists and staff who have direct or indirect safety responsibilities.

NCSSD noted that while school administrators are experts in education, they depend on trained security professionals to address evolving safety challenges on K–12 campuses. The HID-funded scholarships are intended to expand access to comprehensive training that supports real-time incident response, emerging threat readiness and post-incident management.

Enrollment is now open. Scholarship details and application information are available at https://www.ncssd.org/.

Squire USA Eyes North American Critical Infrastructure Market

ST. LOUIS, Missouri – Squire Locks USA has appointed Channel Championz, founded by security industry veteran Jerry Burhans, to lead its expansion into the North American critical infrastructure market. Burhans, a seasoned industry executive with leadership roles at ISONAS, SimonsVoss, and ASSA ABLOY, brings over 30 years of experience in the U.S. security hardware and access control market. He will lead Squire’s North American expansion, with a focus on transportation, utilities, telecommunications, and other mission-critical infrastructure sectors.

With 245 years of lock manufacturing in the United Kingdom, Squire is recognized for its hard-wearing, industrial padlocks, including the world’s strongest production padlock, the S100CS. But beyond strength, Squire is also one of the few manufacturers whose padlocks undergo the rigorous EN12320 European testing standards for real-world attack resistance. These criteria are often more demanding and application-relevant than many U.S. benchmarks.

“Squire’s Stronghold series brings a level of mechanical security this market hasn’t seen in years,” said Burhans. “These aren’t just strong padlocks; they’re engineered and tested to survive in the real world. We’re talking about products that can resist drilling, cutting, sawing, freezing and corrosion, certified to EN12320 Grade 6, which goes far beyond U.S. standards. In critical infrastructure, that level of protection matters.”

Channel Championz will focus on introducing the Stronghold line to the U.S. market, alongside Squire’s inigma smart access control system. inigma enables users to manage access to compatible padlocks via Bluetooth, using a secure smart key programmed through a dedicated mobile app. Designed specifically for critical infrastructure applications, inigma eliminates the need for managing multiple physical keys across remote or dispersed sites. Just as importantly, the system offers centralized control and detailed audit trails, supporting compliance with NERC-CIP standards that require strict logging and traceability of access to protected utility assets.

“Squire is bringing something security hardware distributors haven’t seen in a long time,” added Burhans. “An independent, family-owned manufacturer that’s technically sophisticated, strategically focused and truly committed to its U.S. partners.” 

“Distributors today aren’t just looking for a product; they’re looking for a partner who answers the phone, provides knowledgeable support and builds long-term relationships. You’re not dealing with a revolving door of salespeople or a diluted corporate structure. You’re getting consistent expertise, direct access to decision-makers, and a brand that’s here to invest in the channel, not bypass it.”

John Squire, Global CEO at Squire added: “We’re thrilled to be working with the Channel Championz team and to leverage Jerry’s expertise in this sector. They understand the value of strong distributor relationships and staying close to the customer, which aligns perfectly with Squire’s approach of building a long-term presence rooted in trust, service and performance.

Squire Locks USA is deeply committed to serving the North American market. This expansion underscores the company’s long-term dedication to providing North American critical infrastructure customers with trusted, high-performance security solutions to safeguard the systems that millions rely on every day.”

People in the News

Integrated Control Technology (ICT) has appointed longtime security industry veteran Robert Romps as Western Regional Sales Director for the United States.

Romps brings more than 25 years of experience spanning residential installations, small-scale deployments and large enterprise environments. ICT said his background blends technical depth with channel leadership and a strong customer focus.

In an announcement, Romps said he is eager to join a company that prioritizes innovation and support for its partners. He noted that ICT’s Protege ecosystem offers a flexible and intuitive platform for modern security needs and said he looks forward to working closely with integrators to help them deliver measurable value.

Before joining ICT, Romps spent seven years as Regional Sales Manager at Kastle Systems supporting customers across the central U.S. He previously served as Executive Vice President at Advanosys Security and Automation Technologies leading growth initiatives, solution development and partner enablement. Earlier roles at BW Systems and Colorado Systems Group strengthened his work in system integration and enterprise solution delivery.

A long-time Colorado resident, Romps will operate from ICT’s Denver office where he will lead regional growth efforts, expand the company’s partner ecosystem and support both new and existing partners across key vertical markets.

Pat Alvaro, Senior Vice President and General Manager for North America, said Romps’ leadership and relationships across the Rocky Mountain region make him a strong fit for the role. Jeff June, Vice President of Sales for the U.S., added that Romps’ enterprise knowledge and commitment to partner success will be central to ICT’s continued growth in the U.S. market.