Why your next security project might cost more? Thank the Tariffs!
By Gina Stuelke, CEO of Kenton Brothers
Tariffs are hitting every industry… particularly those targeting Chinese imports and electronic components. This has resulted in several significant effects on the physical security industry. Here are the top three ways they’re impacting this sector:
1) Increased Hardware Costs
- Impact: Many security products, such as surveillance cameras, access control panels, and network video recorders (NVRs), rely on imported components (e.g., semiconductors, circuit boards) or are fully manufactured abroad, especially in China.
- Result: Tariffs (e.g., under Section 301 in the U.S.) have raised the cost of importing these goods, leading manufacturers and integrators to either absorb the higher costs, pass them onto customers, or seek alternative suppliers—often at higher prices or with lower quality.
2) Supply Chain Shifts and Delays
- Impact: To avoid tariffs, many companies have shifted production to alternative countries (e.g., Vietnam, Mexico, or India), which has disrupted established supply chains.
- Result: This realignment has caused production delays, limited product availability, and longer lead times for projects, particularly for integrators relying on just-in-time inventory models.
3) Product Redesign and Re-certification Costs
- Impact: Some manufacturers have redesigned products to eliminate tariffed components or qualify for tariff exemptions.
- Result: These changes often require new certifications (e.g., UL, FCC), increasing R&D and compliance costs. Integrators may also need to retrain staff or adjust installations due to changes in product specs or form factors.
As tariffs continue to reshape the landscape, staying informed and adaptable isn’t just smart. It’s essential for protecting both your assets and your bottom line. We’re here to help. Give us a call.
I thought I would take a break from our normal security stories and talk about an internal communication tool that I found recently. I imagine that most companies struggle with communication, I know we do at times. We do a great job of talking to each other, but a lot of our knowledge is tribal, passed down from one member to another.
I happened upon a product called 
The last feature that was a must for us was permission-based pages. I wanted to allow each department to be able to create and edit their own processes and procedures, while allowing other related departments to be able to view as needed. For example, the HR department can create policies for the employees and everyone in the company can view them in XWiki.
At Kenton Brothers Systems for Security, our mission is to protect people property and possessions. It’s important work, and we take our work very seriously. A part of our role is creating policy and procedures for companies around physical security and how you interact with the situational environment around you. For instance, if there is an active shooter scenario at your workplace, we would help your company create the procedure for helping those affected deal with that situation. Today we are taking a different spin.
Situational awareness, often described as the perception of environmental elements and events with respect to time or space, plays a pivotal role in personal safety and security. In transitional spaces, being attuned to your surroundings means being able to identify potential threats, assess the level of risk, and respond appropriately to ensure your well-being.
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