Every year, the Electronic Security Expo (ESX) Innovation Awards recognize excellence and innovation within the electronic security and life safety industry. These coveted awards honor next-gen products, technologies, and services that advance the industry and provide meaningful growth opportunities for integrators, dealers, and monitoring professionals.  

ESX is pleased to announce this year’s Innovation Award winners, which were selected by an independent panel of industry experts based on criteria spanning innovation, market relevance, user experience, and potential impact. ESA congratulates the following security technology providers that have each earned a 2026 ESX Innovation Award: 

ACCESS CONTROL:  

CYBERLOCK – CYBERKEY BLUE 4  

BUSINESS OPERATIONS SOFTWARE: 

WESUITE – QUOTEANYWHERE WITH EMBEDDED SELENA AI 

FIRE DETECTION AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS: 

ALARM.COM – BUSINESS FIRE COMMUNICATOR (ADC-FC100) 

INTRUSION SYSTEMS:  

DMP – XR650 CONTROL PANEL  

MANAGED SERVICES:  

ADI – WATTBOX POWER INSIGHTS DASHBOARD 

MONITORING SERVICES:  

WORLDVIEW MONITORING – WHOLESALE REMOTE GUARDING PARTNER PROGRAM  

REMOTE GUARDING & INCIDENT RESPONSE:  

AURA – AURA SMART DISPATCH 

SMART HOME TECH:  

ADI – ACCESS NETWORKS B670 WIFI 7 OUTDOOR ACCESS POINT 

STRUCTURED CABLING, CONNECTIVITY & POWER SUPPLIES:  

CYBERPOWERS SYSTEMS – OL1K5RTHD SMART APP ONLINE UPS 

VIDEO ANALYTICS:  

CYBERLOCK – DYNAMIC AUDIT EVENTS 

VIDEO SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS: 

 AJAX SYSTEMS – AJAX TURRETCAM HL

“The 2026 ESX Innovation Award winners are redefining what’s possible in security and life safety,” notes ESX Chairman George DeMarco. “These technologies and services are helping companies operate more intelligently, serve customers more effectively, and create safer environments. We applaud these innovators for raising the standard across our industry.”

 

Congratulations to this Year’s Techvision Challenge Winners

In addition, ESA congratulates the winners of its TechVision Challenge, a live, Shark Tank-style competition where these award winners pitched their products to integrator judges for the Best of Show award. This year’s Best of Show distinction was awarded to DMP for its XR650 CONTROL PANEL, with Alarm.com as Runner-up for its BUSINESS FIRE COMMUNICATOR (ADC-FC100). 

Vote for the People’s Choice Innovation Awards

Now that the judges have spoken, it’s time to hear from you.

The ESX 2026 People’s Choice Innovation Award recognizes the product or service that attendees believe represents the most exciting, impactful, and innovative solution showcased at this year’s event.

Review the finalists in the video below and cast your vote for the innovation you believe will have the greatest impact on the industry.

VOTE HERE

Each year the Electronic Security Association (ESA) recognizes and honors an ESA member who has served on one of its committees, task forces, or boards, and has consistently demonstrated extraordinary leadership, service, and dedication to the electronic security and life safety industry. This honor comes in the form of the Sara E. Jackson Award, which is named after this former ESA president who exemplified unwavering dedication to the industry.  

This year’s very deserving recipient of the Sara E. Jackson Award is industry veteran and advocate Michael Barnes. As Founding Partner of Barnes Associates, an investment banking and consulting firm that specializes in the security alarm industry, he is a longtime trusted advisor on acquisitions, raising capital, strategic planning, and performance assessment.  

Barnes started his career out of college in banking and insurance, where he had small glimpses of the security alarm industry. In 1984 he worked briefly with Potter Electric Signal Company then went on to launch Barnes Associates in 1986. Since then, the company has been involved in more than 285 transactions with an aggregate transaction value in excess of $30 billion. In 1990, Barnes Associates started the first of several performance benchmarking programs that allowed security alarm companies to contribute their financial and operating data on a standardized basis and have their performance benchmarked against their peers. These programs continue and provide valuable insight into how the industry is doing overall. He launched another industry initiative in 1995, along with the law firm of Buchanan Ingersoll, when they co-founded the annual Barnes-Buchanan Conference. This annual event was designed to bring capital providers and security alarm companies together to discuss issues related to industry growth, performance, and the creation of value. 

Michael Barnes’ journey with ESA actually began in 1984, when he briefly worked with Potter and was elected to the Board of Directors of SIA (Security Industry Association). At that time, SIA provided a representative that served on the Board of the NBFAA (National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association, which is now known as the Electronic Security Association – ESA) and Barnes served in that role.  

“I was new to the industry, and it was through this involvement that I learned about how the industry was structured and its common challenges. It also was a great platform for meeting and interacting with industry leaders,” Barnes says. “In 1986, when I started Barnes Associates, Inc., I continued to focus our attention on involvement with the NBFAA and subsequently ESA. This was the trade association speaking on behalf of our security alarm company clients and tackling the myriads of issues faced by the industry. I served on a number of committees, typically those working on issues related to industry sizing, growth and performance, and/or of a financial nature.”

Fast forward to 2022. John Loud and Merlin Guilbeau asked if I would be willing to serve on the Board of Directors of ESA as a Competency Director, a role I have wholeheartedly enjoyed and embraced.” 

Barnes states humbly that he is deeply honored to receive the Sara E. Jackson Award. “ESA is such a great organization and voice for the industry, and I am pleased to have contributed to its success. To receive this important award means the world to me.”  

ESA’s Chief Executive Officer Merlin Guilbeau states, “Michael Barnes exemplifies the spirit of ESA and the legacy of Sara Jackson. His unwavering commitment to service, leadership, and advancing our industry has made a lasting impact on both ESA and the professionals we represent. Michael’s passion for giving back and elevating others sets a standard we can all aspire to, and we are proud to recognize him as our 2026 honoree.” 

And as Kevin Stone, ESA’s Outgoing Chairman echoes, “I am thrilled that Michael Barnes has been named the recipient of the 2026 Sara E. Jackson Award. Michael’s deep industry knowledge and unwavering leadership on the ESA Board and Finance Committee have been vital to our mission and success. His dedication perfectly mirrors the legacy of resilience and service established by Sara E. Jackson herself.”  

If staying compliant and reducing administrative burden are priorities for your business in 2026, make sure CMS (Compliance Management Solutions) is on your list at ESX.

Since 2011, CMS has supported security and fire alarm companies in navigating the complex and ever-changing world of licensing and regulatory compliance. With requirements that vary by state and even by city, their expertise helps businesses stay aligned, reduce risk, and avoid costly delays that can impact operations.

At ESX 2026, CMS will highlight how their nationwide compliance management services help companies stay organized and maintain operational momentum. By handling licensing complexities behind the scenes, CMS allows security professionals to focus more on growth and less on regulatory challenges.

A key advantage is peace of mind. With deep industry knowledge and continuously updated regulatory insight, CMS acts as a trusted partner that helps integrators and alarm companies operate with confidence in a highly regulated environment.

Visit Booth 706 at ESX 2026 to explore how CMS can help you stay compliant and keep your business running smoothly.

If simplifying deployments and improving project profitability are priorities for your business in 2026, make sure Digital Watchdog (DW) is on your list at ESX.

Digital Watchdog delivers cloud-centric video surveillance solutions designed to help integrators streamline installations, improve system performance, and reduce overall project complexity. With advanced AI capabilities, high-quality imaging, and flexible compatibility across multiple environments, DW helps dealers modernize their offerings while maintaining operational efficiency.

At ESX 2026, DW will showcase solutions built to support a wide range of applications, including IP megapixel systems, Universal HD over Coax, and legacy analog environments. Their platform allows integrators to upgrade existing systems, improve scalability, and deliver reliable performance without requiring complete infrastructure overhauls.

A key differentiator is flexibility. By supporting both modern and legacy environments within a unified ecosystem, DW helps dealers adapt to customer needs, simplify migrations, and maximize value across a broader range of projects.

Visit Booth 612 at ESX 2026 to explore how Digital Watchdog can help simplify installations and improve profitability for your business.

If growing recurring monthly revenue and expanding connected security offerings are priorities for your business in 2026, make sure M2M is on your list at ESX.

M2M is focused on accelerating the adoption of smart security through simple, scalable, and cost-effective IoT solutions built specifically for alarm companies and integrators. Their technology is designed to help security providers deliver connected systems more efficiently while creating new opportunities for long-term customer value and recurring revenue growth.

At ESX 2026, M2M will showcase solutions that simplify deployment, expand service capabilities, and help dealers compete more effectively in the rapidly evolving connected security market. From smart communicators to integrated IoT technologies, their platform is built to support scalable growth while reducing operational complexity.

A key advantage is accessibility. By making connected security solutions easier to deploy and manage, M2M helps integrators accelerate adoption, improve customer experiences, and unlock new business opportunities without adding unnecessary complexity.

Visit Booth 206 at ESX 2026 to explore how M2M can help grow your business and support your smart security strategy.

If strengthening perimeter security and improving detection accuracy are priorities for your business in 2026, make sure OPTEX is on your list at ESX.

For more than 45 years, OPTEX has been a global leader in sensing solutions, delivering advanced detection technologies powered by LiDAR and infrared. Their solutions are designed to help integrators secure critical infrastructure, commercial properties, and high-value assets with greater precision, reliability, and situational awareness.

At ESX 2026, OPTEX will showcase technologies that help security professionals enhance perimeter protection and improving overall system performance. From outdoor intrusion detection to intelligent sensing applications, their solutions are built to support a wide range of security environments and operational needs.

A key differentiator is detection accuracy. By leveraging advanced sensing technologies and decades of expertise, OPTEX helps integrators deploy smarter security solutions that improve response capabilities and deliver stronger outcomes for end users.

Visit Booth 213 at ESX 2026 to explore how OPTEX can elevate your security solutions and support your business growth strategy.

If improving efficiency and delivering scalable security solutions are priorities for your business in 2026, make sure IDIS Americas is on your list at ESX.

IDIS delivers a comprehensive portfolio of advanced video surveillance and AI-driven technologies designed to help integrators deploy systems faster, simplify operations, and scale with confidence. From powerful analytics to end-to-end video solutions, IDIS focuses on helping security professionals reduce complexity while improving performance across a wide range of applications.

At ESX 2026, IDIS will showcase solutions developed entirely in-house, giving dealers and integrators greater control, reliability, and flexibility throughout the deployment process. This vertically integrated approach helps streamline compatibility, simplify management, and create a more seamless experience for both integrators and end users.

A key advantage is operational efficiency. By combining intelligent video technologies with simplified system architecture, IDIS helps dealers reduce installation challenges, improve system performance, and support long-term customer growth with confidence.

Visit Booth 618 at ESX 2026 to explore how IDIS Americas can help streamline operations and support your business growth strategy.

If improving operational efficiency and increasing project profitability are priorities for your business in 2026, make sure Vicon is on your list at ESX.

For over 55 years, Vicon has delivered end-to-end security solutions across video, access control, and AI for organizations around the world. At ESX 2026, they’ll be showcasing the NEXT Modular Camera System, designed to simplify installation, reduce deployment time, and help integrators lower overall project costs.

Built for flexibility, Vicon’s solutions support both cloud-based and on-premise environments, allowing dealers and integrators to tailor systems to a wide range of customer applications. Their platform is focused on helping security professionals streamline operations while improving margins and long-term scalability.

A key differentiator is ease of deployment. By simplifying camera installation and reducing complexity in the field, Vicon helps integrators complete projects faster, minimize labor costs, and improve operational efficiency without sacrificing performance.

Visit Booth 301 at ESX 2026 to experience the NEXT Modular Camera System firsthand and see how Vicon can help simplify installs and grow your business.

If expanding recurring monthly revenue and delivering more connected experiences are priorities for your business in 2026, make sure Alarm.com is on your list at ESX.

Alarm.com is the leading platform for the intelligently connected property, helping dealers and integrators deliver security, video, access control, automation, energy management, and more through a single, unified interface. Their platform is designed to simplify operations while enabling providers to offer a broader range of services to both residential and commercial customers.

At ESX 2026, Alarm.com will showcase how integrated smart property technology can help dealers streamline management, improve customer engagement, and create long-term recurring revenue opportunities. By bringing multiple systems together into one ecosystem, dealers can reduce complexity, improve efficiency, and deliver more value with every installation.

A key advantage is flexibility. From intrusion and video to access control and automation, Alarm.com allows security professionals to scale solutions based on customer needs while managing everything through one platform. This unified approach helps dealers strengthen customer retention and position themselves for long-term growth in an increasingly connected market.

Visit Booth 200 at ESX 2026 to explore how Alarm.com can help scale your business and unlock new RMR opportunities.

If growing recurring monthly revenue and improving operational efficiency are priorities for your business in 2026, make sure Alibi Security is on your list at ESX.

Alibi is a 100% channel-focused technology provider delivering video surveillance, access control, and cloud solutions built specifically for dealers and integrators. With a direct-to-dealer model and a highly experienced team, Alibi is designed to provide the support, tools, and resources security professionals need to compete and grow.

At ESX 2026, Alibi will be showcasing solutions that help reduce complexity in the field while opening up new opportunities for service-based revenue. From high-performance on-premise video systems to cloud-based offerings like remote video monitoring, their platform is built to support scalable growth and long-term customer value.

A key differentiator is reliability. With a sub-1% failure rate and built-in cloud management tools, Alibi helps minimize truck rolls, streamline troubleshooting, and improve overall system performance. Their integrations with leading security platforms also allow dealers to expand their capabilities and pursue a broader range of projects with confidence.

As highlighted in the video below, Alibi’s focus on ease of use, system reliability, and real-world application enables integrators to deliver stronger solutions while improving profitability across their business.

Visit Booth 300 at ESX 2026 to experience it firsthand and explore how Alibi can support your growth strategy.