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Issue link: https://ssn.epubxp.com/i/146870
sECuRItY sYstEMs NEWs august 2013 CommerCial & systems integrators www.securitysystemsnews.com SDI is $55m business after buy By Martha Entwistle CHIGAGO—Systems integrator SDI is now a $55 million business after the acquisition, announced in June, of i-sys, a $15 million systems integrator that specializes in integrated security, environmental and fre safety solutions. Based in Charleston, David Gupta S.C., i-sys has 70 employees and additional offces in Sacramento, Calif., and Knoxville, Tenn. David Gupta, founder and CEO of SDI, said SDI took a structured approach to "identify a frm that complements ours and fts the profle of what we look for in terms of specifc geographic [coverage] lawsuit and services, [as well as a frm that has] the same values and culture." SDI has not done fre traditionally. "This is a new capability for us," he said. It's important to have this capability as all critical systems are tied together, he said. "Our market geography, type of client we address and the services we offer are all expanding [as the result of this deal]," he said. SDI, which is based here, also has offces in Los Angeles, Miami and Ankara, Turkey. SDI's specialty is complex installations and it has an entire IT division and, in addition to advising clients on physical security, "we understand how to move data around," Gupta said. "We understand how to talk to a CIO and how to implement complex systems [including the network itself]," Gupta said. I-sys focuses on verticals such as fnancial institutions, universities, airports, seaports and state and local governments. Gupta said that i-sys extends SDI's reach beyond government and into the private sector, with clients such as a major bank with 17 1,500 branches. SDI now has particular "IT infrastructure and IT-management expertise" to offer the banking and other vertical markets, he said. "We're excited about addressing the [banking] market … that [has] challenges at the physical security and cyber level as well, Gupta added. "A strong capability in IT and API implementation" are differentiators for SDI. SSN #1 Residential Lock Brand with Z-Wave® Continued from page 16 out to ISC seeking opportunities and were subsequently hired were brought on board based on their character, work ethic, skill and unique ft for the needs of ISC as it continues its growth." Jean Pierre Nogues, a partner at Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp, told SSN in an email interview that the case presents a number of issues involving non-compete agreements and trade secrets that are often raised when key employees leave one company and go to work for a competitor. "Defendants contend that they have done nothing to violate those covenants for several reasons, that the covenants have expired, and that Tyco has waived those provisions. These are all issues that will have to be resolved by the court in determining whether there has been a breach," he said. Nogues noted that non-compete agreements are treated differently under the laws of various states. In terms of trade secret violations, Nogues said that most states have adopted the Uniform Trade Secrets Act. He said that actual disclosure or use of trade secrets is prohibited, and threatened disclosure may be prohibited. "However, many jurisdictions reject the notion that someone who has trade secret information will 'inevitably disclose' that information if employed by a competitor of his former employer, which is one of Tyco's allegations in this case." Tyco's Brett Ludwig said "Tyco Integrated Security does not comment publicly on matters of ongoing litigation." SSN Increase RMR Increase system usage Increase customer retention Provide the total security solution FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit: www.kwikset.com/wirelesslocks or call your local security products distributor.