This month, ST&D editor Steve Lasky caught up with the bigwigs at seven leading video technology companies to discuss the current state of security video and their ideas for the future. Their opinions vary widely in some cases, but all expressed two common desires: to work with security executives to find the best solutions for individual needs, and to educate them on new technologies. Want to hear more? Read on.

ST&D: Security executives are faced with a barrage of options for cameras, storage, and video management solutions. What advice do you have for users trying to choose the right solutions for their applications?

Allan Lamberti, director of U.S. Sales for TOA Electronics Inc: The first questions we always need to ask are: What are you concerned about? What are you trying to observe? Has a risk assessment been completed? The answers to these questions determine what solution is developed and recommended to the security executive. Selling technology for the sake of technology is not only foolish; it most likely will not offer the client a usable solution. The responsible supplier will always seek to first understand the application before developing a system recommendation.

William L. Stuntz, CEO of BroadWare: Build in flexibility. Surveillance technology is changing rapidly and new capabilities are constantly being developed and refined … Choose a system that allows you to plug in new technologies and to integrate products from multiple companies—a system that will expand as your operations or requirements grow … Given that there are so many choices in the marketplace, it's equally important that security executives look for solutions that promote vendor independence. Proprietary technologies are a problem that most manufacturers try to sweep under the rug. This ends up costing end users a lot of money, since they end up being locked into one manufacturer or standard.

Frank Abram, deputy general and vice president of Sales and Marketing for Sanyo Security Products: Use the services of a trusted dealer or consultant. Their first priority should be to provide the end user a solution to the application rather than representing a particular product and/or product line. Look for expertise in the dealer's or consultant's ability to draw best-of-class product from different manufacturers and industries and bring these products together into a complete systems solution that is designed to address a unique application.