Genetec will showcase its security technology with Convergint and Axis Communications at The Security Event in Birmingham, with a display focused on cloud, AI and unified security platforms.

Visitors to the Genetec stand will see its unified platform, cloud-enabled architecture and a wider range of supported devices and workflows. The company will also share a partner stand with Convergint and Axis Communications, focused on integrated security systems.

The announcement places Genetec among a group of suppliers using the Birmingham event to present new products and partnership models to security installers, consultants and end users in the UK. For physical security suppliers, the event is a venue to meet channel partners and customers as buyers weigh cloud migration, system integration and the use of AI in operational settings.

Montreal-based Genetec sells software for video management, access control and automatic number plate recognition, as well as intrusion detection, intercom and digital evidence management. It says it serves more than 42,500 customers in more than 159 countries through a network of channel partners and consultants.

Partner focus

The joint stand with Convergint and Axis Communications reflects the importance of alliances in the security sector, where software, cameras, access systems and services are often sold and installed as part of broader projects. Integrators and manufacturers have increasingly emphasised interoperability as organisations seek to connect older equipment with newer cloud-based tools rather than replace systems entirely.

That approach has become more prominent as customers look for ways to modernise estates across offices, industrial sites, public spaces and critical infrastructure. In many cases, buyers want software-led systems that can pull in data from multiple devices while allowing staged upgrades over time.

The exhibition will highlight modern system architectures and how newer technologies are changing the security market. It will also address practical uses for those systems, including workflows that bring together separate parts of physical security operations.

Convergint, a major systems integrator, described the event as a chance to discuss how the market is changing. “The security industry is evolving rapidly, with increasing demand for integrated, scalable, and intelligence-led solutions. At Convergint, we’re focused on working with leading partners like Genetec and Axis to help our customers navigate this shift-bringing together physical security, data, and cloud capabilities to deliver smarter, more resilient environments. Events like The Security Event are a great opportunity to share insight, showcase innovation, and connect with the people shaping the future of our industry,” said David Palmer, UK Commercial Leader at Convergint.

UK market

The UK security market has seen sustained interest in platforms that combine video surveillance, access control and analytics, especially where operators want central oversight across multiple sites. Vendors argue that unified systems can reduce management complexity, though customers still face questions around integration costs, cyber security, data governance and procurement cycles.

AI has become a growing part of that discussion, particularly in video analysis and event management. Security providers are positioning AI tools as a way to filter large volumes of alerts, identify anomalies and improve response times, while buyers and regulators continue to scrutinise accuracy, bias and the handling of personal data.

Cloud adoption is another area of debate across the sector. Some users are moving workloads to the cloud to simplify remote management and updates, while others continue to favour hybrid models that keep parts of the infrastructure on site for resilience, compliance or cost reasons.

Genetec expects the event to help deepen ties with its partner channel and customer base. “The Security Event is an unmatched opportunity for us to engage with our channel partners, integrators, consultants, and end users. We look forward to strengthening industry relationships, holding meaningful conversations, and uncovering new opportunities,” said Nicholas Smith, Regional Sales Director UK & Ireland at Genetec.

The vases, expected to fetch up to £1,000, are being sold by Banbury auctioneers Holloways on April 15.

They were bought in 1947 by Leonard Barker at a country house auction in Oxford, and have remained in the family ever since.

Eileen Hancock, Mr Barker’s daughter, said: “I’m not sure why he bought them.

“He wasn’t a collector or dealer, and I think he just liked them.

“I don’t know what he paid for them but, knowing my dad, he would have got them for a good price.”

Ms Hancock, 92, kept the vases in her Chipping Norton home after her mother Edith passed away in 1994.

The vases, believed to date from around 1900, stand almost half a metre tall.

She said: “I don’t know how much longer I’ve got left and I don’t want them to get chucked away or lost.

“I would prefer them to go to someone who can cherish them as I have done.”

Jasper Marsh, director at Holloways, said: “My job is all about memories – making new ones and remembering old ones.

“That wonderful 1940s photo of Eileen’s family with her brother Ronnie cradling the vase brings it to life like nothing else.

“We are delighted and proud to be selling the vases and sending them on their next chapter.”

NetAlly has launched the LinkRunner AT 1500 network link and cable tester, expanding its LinkRunner range for frontline network technicians, IT teams and managed service providers.

The device is intended for routine troubleshooting, moves, adds and changes, and fault isolation on copper network links and cables. It is designed to help technicians validate connectivity and identify faults more quickly without relying on a laptop or specialist training.

The tester checks connectivity, link speed, VLAN and Power over Ethernet in a single action. It also automatically uploads results and screenshots to Link-Live, NetAlly’s reporting and analysis platform, helping site staff share findings with colleagues and remote experts.

According to NetAlly, the unit tests several parts of a network link, including cable length, common miswires and distance to fault, and can identify the nearest switch name and port.

It also verifies link speed and duplex up to 10 Gig, validates VLANs and network services, and checks connectivity to devices on and off the network. For power testing, it measures PoE voltage, wattage and active pairs, including validation of full 90W PoE performance for equipment that requires PoE++.

Dan Klimke, Director of Product Marketing at NetAlly, outlined the company’s positioning for the device and its target users. “The 1500 brings pro-level testing to frontline techs at just £1,140 MSRP. It draws on our twenty-five-plus years of experience building innovative troubleshooting tools for network engineers and technicians,” he said.

NetAlly linked the product to growing power and network demands in connected buildings and device deployments. “The goal is simple: put fast, definitive answers in the hands of the technicians closest to the problem, so issues get solved at the source, not escalated up the chain. With Wi-Fi 7 access points, smart building systems, and modern IoT devices increasingly demanding higher power levels that only PoE++ can deliver, the LinkRunner AT 1500 validates full 90W PoE performance to ensure those devices are fully powered upon deployment,” Klimke said.

Speed claims

NetAlly also cited customer survey data to support the case for handheld testing tools in day-to-day network work. In a 2025 survey, customers reported completing installs and repairs up to 60% faster using its tools, according to the company.

The claim reflects the operational pressure on IT teams managing more complex wired and wireless environments with limited staffing. Products that let less experienced technicians capture and share structured test results have become a bigger part of network operations, particularly for distributed sites and service providers managing multiple customer estates.

Channel focus

NetAlly sells its products only through authorised channel partners. In the UK, Full Control Networks is one of those partners and, according to the company, has worked with NetAlly for more than 25 years.

Full Control Networks describes itself as an independent supplier of network products and services, offering support on product selection and training for IT teams. That long-standing relationship gives NetAlly an established route to UK customers seeking network testing and diagnostic tools.

The launch comes as network teams face growing pressure to prove not only basic connectivity but also correct power delivery and service availability before devices go live. As enterprises roll out higher-powered wireless access points, smart building systems and a wider range of connected devices, handheld testers that combine cable checks, switch discovery and PoE validation are becoming more relevant in field operations.

NetAlly said the LinkRunner AT 1500 is priced at £1,140 MSRP.