Security cellphone away

TRUST THE SYSTEM: Chris Morra, right, general manager and CEO of National Security and Fire Alarm Systems Inc., and dispatcher Russ McClintic, in the control room of the company's central station in East Providence. Morra started the business after buying out the owner of a small security firm where he worked at the age of 19. / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO
TRUST THE SYSTEM: Chris Morra, right, general manager and CEO of National Security and Fire Alarm Systems Inc., and dispatcher Russ McClintic, in the control room of the company's central station in East Providence. Morra started the business after buying out the owner of a small security firm where he worked at the age of 19. / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

A car dealership in Massachusetts avoided a worker’s compensation claim last year after internal video surveillance revealed the worker who allegedly fell on the job deliberately put water on the floor.

That’s one of many anecdotes Christopher Morra, CEO and general manager of National Security and Fire Alarms Systems Inc. of East Providence likes to tell when conveying just how effective that type of security protection is. Morra declined to name the dealer.

In fact, the growth of that aspect of Morra’s business is leading him to open a second office in Naples, Fla., this fall, precisely because of the demand from both consumers and businesses. Video surveillance is much more affordable today, and also easier to manipulate via smartphones and computers, he said.

“We’ve tripled our rate of installation for that part of our business,” Morra said.

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When Morra started out, a burglary alarm was set using a key to a control panel in a big metal box. Today, he said, everything can be done from an iPhone or Android smartphone. Security systems of all types now enable company leaders to know when employees or customers show up or leave and allow homeowners to know when the kids come home, he said.

Morra started the business after buying out the owner of a small security firm in East Providence where he worked at the age of 19. He incorporated in 1982. Over 33 years, the video-surveillance market has grown the fastest, he said.

Most of National Security’s business is split between fire alarm services and security, which includes video surveillance, closed-circuit TV, electronic access control and other traditional types of security for residential, commercial and government property, Morra said.

The company also provides records protection through humidity and thermal monitoring, he added.

While much of the business is done in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut, National Security serves customers all over the country, Morra said.

Primary products are provided by Digital Monitoring Product for security and fire; Fire-Lite for fire alarms; and HID, which provides property access control by electronically reading cards, wands or tokens, Morra said.

The biggest obstacle to growth has been state and federal regulations, which include fees for licensing and security clearance, particularly in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, he noted.

While the last major move National Security made in 1991 was from a 3,000-square-foot office in East Providence to its current, 10,000-square-foot location, the expansion into Florida will double the firm’s size, Morra said.

“I’ve seen the growth there,” he said. “We can bring our product there and do very well.” •

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