Johnson Controls has completed the sale of its ADT Spain business to Norwegian company Sector Alarm for net proceeds of $98 million, according to Memoori. The transaction was completed on April 1, 2026, and Johnson Controls confirmed it in its third-quarter report filed at the end of July. With the acquisition of ADT Spain, Sector Alarm has further strengthened its position in one of Europe’s most competitive alarm markets, where it now ranks third behind Verisure and Movistar Prosegur Alarmas. Founded in Norway in 1995, Sector Alarm operates across Europe and provides alarm solutions to more than 730,000 residential and business customers.

The Spanish sale continues Johnson Controls’ withdrawal from its international alarm monitoring operations, which began in 2023 and has already included businesses in Australia and New Zealand, Mexico, as well as its UK residential portfolio. According to Memoori’s analysis, this series of transactions points to a broader restructuring of the company’s security portfolio and a greater focus on other strategic areas of its business. Memoori also refers to earlier reports that Johnson Controls is considering the potential divestment of its access control and intrusion detection businesses, although no such transaction has yet been confirmed.

For Sector Alarm, whose expansion strategy is backed by investment firm KKR, the acquisition of ADT Spain represents another step in strengthening its presence in the European alarm and monitoring services market.

Axis Communications has introduced three purpose-tuned camera kits for automatic license plate recognition (LPR), all with AXIS License Plate Verifier preinstalled. The cameras capture license plates and, under optimal conditions, can also identify vehicle type, color, make, and model, without requiring external servers.

The AXIS P3285-LVE Kit is designed for slow-speed traffic and features a 2 MP dome camera, with allow and block lists managed directly on the device. The AXIS P1485-LE Kit uses a robust 2 MP bullet camera for reliable license plate capture in free-flow traffic, while the AXIS P1486-LE Kit combines a 3 MP camera with global shutter technology to capture fast-moving vehicles with low distortion across two traffic lanes.

All three kits are ready to use out of the box and designed to provide accurate and reliable license plate recognition even in challenging lighting conditions. Built on open APIs, they can be easily scaled and integrated with Axis and third-party VMS platforms. The cameras also feature electronic image stabilization, while the vandal-resistant slow-speed model can be safely installed at lower, easily accessible mounting heights.

More information is available from Axis Communications.

Texecom, a leading UK manufacturer of professional security systems, today announced the launch of Texecom Guardian with AURA UK, a security technology company providing businesses and individuals with instant access to private security response services anytime, anywhere using a connected device.

The launch creates a new commercial opportunity for Texecom installers. By making a professional response service available to customers with compatible systems, installers can add greater long-term value to every installation, strengthen ongoing customer relationships, and benefit from an additional recurring revenue stream, without having to build or manage their own response operation.

For self-monitoring security users, an alarm activation has traditionally meant receiving an alert and being limited about how to react to the situation. Traditional solutions have typically offered no guaranteed route to physical intervention, leaving users reliant on keyholders, friends, family members, or police attendance, which is increasingly uncertain given pressure on time and resources – or simply to hope that it is a false alarm and ignore the notification.

Texecom Guardian changes this by giving users direct access to guaranteed physical security responses. When an alarm is triggered, self-monitoring users can now request attendance from a vetted, SIA-licensed security officer through AURA’s nationwide network of ACS-accredited partners.

Behind the integration is AURA’s intelligent response platform, which automatically matches each request with the nearest available vetted, SIA-licensed responder, using real-time location data to coordinate attendance and provide users with live visibility from dispatch through to arrival.

Indeed, once the responder has been dispatched, users can track the responder’s journey in real time and communicate directly with AURA’s 24/7 UK control room, providing visibility and reassurance throughout the incident. AURA, which already operates across more than 178,000 protected sites, is able to deliver average response times of under 29 minutes across the country.

Texecom Guardian is available now through a simple monthly subscription, providing access to physical security response when it is needed most, without the uncertainty of arranging or paying for a callout during an active incident.

Alex Booth, Managing Director of AURA UK, said “self-monitoring has transformed how people manage security, but until now there has been a clear gap between receiving an alert and getting help on the ground. This partnership closes that gap by giving users access to a trusted, guaranteed physical response whenever they need it — directly from the security app they already use.”

David Mountfield, CEO of Texecom, added that “Texecom was built to give users greater control over their security, and this integration takes that further by adding access to a professional physical response when it matters most. AURA’s technology and responder network provide a natural extension of the self-monitoring experience.”

The OSDP Verified program, administered by the Security Industry Association (SIA), has so far validated 222 products from 32 companies and brands for compliance with the OSDP standard for access control communications. Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP) enables bidirectional communication between readers and controllers and was developed as a more secure and capable alternative to the legacy Wiegand interface. Its implementation improves interoperability between devices from different manufacturers, enhances device management, and supports capabilities such as Secure Channel encryption, smart card communications, and biometric readers.

SIA took ownership of the OSDP protocol in 2012, while the product verification program was launched in April 2020. “Since its launch in April 2020, the SIA OSDP Verified program has tested and validated 222 products from 32 companies and brands – substantial progress in six years, highlighting the market need and the program’s success,” said Cameron Walker-Miller, director of standards and technology at SIA. He added that the program now includes participants from nine countries across North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, with growing interest from international manufacturers. As of July 2026, the verified product list also includes 46 access control units and nine peripheral devices.

More information about the standard and verification program is available from SIA OSDP.

Professional security media platform asmag.com has launched its new annual survey in cooperation with Hikvision, aiming to gather insights from security industry professionals on current technologies and trends in video surveillance. The research is part of a series of surveys through which asmag.com and Hikvision track the views of users, integrators, and other industry stakeholders and examine the changes shaping the security market. Previous joint surveys have addressed topics including the application of large AI models in video surveillance, sustainability, and technologies for capturing images in low-light conditions.

The results of these surveys are used to analyze the adoption of new technologies, evolving customer requirements, and the direction of market development. The organizers are therefore inviting security professionals to share their experiences and opinions and contribute to a more representative picture of current industry trends.

The 2026 survey is available via the asmag.com and Hikvision survey questionnaire.

Avigilon has announced that its Intercom Touch smart video intercom is now available for shipment following the launch of the new access control solution. The device combines a video intercom, card reader, and built-in controller in a single enclosure while using a single PoE+ cable for both power and data transmission, eliminating the need for additional controllers or auxiliary hardware. Thanks to its surface-mount design, it is suitable for both new installations and retrofit projects.

Support for RS-485, relay outputs, and RTSP enables seamless integration with existing security systems without requiring a complete infrastructure replacement. According to the company, this approach reduces installation time, simplifies deployment, and allows security teams to focus more on protecting people and facilities. More information about the device and how to schedule a demonstration is available on the Avigilon Intercom Touch.