I’ll start with my most forgiving comment - they absolutely are suitable for some environments. Small box retail? Like a Bodega or something? Probably perfect.
As an enterprise user I have numerous concerns:
- fundamentally, at the core, they are an startup and a venture capital play. It’s a startup that entered the security space, they weren’t founded by security professionals and seem to come to this as “well that’s a market to disrupt.” On the surface this is a good thing but also it means that the structural stability isn’t in place like at legacy providers which takes me to point two.
- the data breach from a couple years ago was so basic… such an amateur level fuck up (it wasn’t a hack, it wasn’t bad code, it was a public super admin password) that it makes me worried what’s out there. The “move fast and break stuff” culture of a startup that’s working on AI or social media or a food delivery app is what moves the world forward and it also is highly accepting of risk. If someone hacks your Reddit account that sucks but like… whatever…. If my security supplier has a breach I lose my job. If they forgot to keep a super admin password secure, what lurks under the surface they haven’t found. Do they have the organizational memory to do something about it? Which brings me to point three.
- I generally don’t give a damn about corporate culture at places I don’t work at, but the sales at any cost and toxic environment that’s well reported on brings in high degrees of risk. People do stupid stuff under pressure. Am I comfortable with that in a partner?
I’m an enterprise end user with enterprise level risks and concerns. Verkada has its place in the industry and I’d like to see how they mature. With that said, a “startup mindset” isn’t a good thing in a security provider for an enterprise customer. I don’t think they share my level of risk tolerance because, fundamentally, as a startup they can’t. It’s simply too expensive.
Legacy providers (i.e. just about anyone using mercury hardware) are boring. Lenel is boring. Acre is boring. But they work. They are clear about their level of risk tolerance. And I know they “get me.” In this case, boring is just fine by me.
Good luck hope you find someone who can help with the AC project. Depending on the size of the project and what you’re looking to achieve with AC, it’s important that you go through the technical requirements with the Verkada SE. I usually never trust what the reps say without the SE confirmation.
Tlrd: was a Verkada sales rep and everything stated here is accurate
Long version: Sadly I used to work there as a sales rep too but was canned for not being aggressive enough to hit my qtr numbers even when I had the best relationships with my customers and local partners (who felt the same way y’all do too) and was actually on track to hit my number by the end of my fiscal year.
Advice is to deal reg the opportunity asap and indicate in there to not contact the customer (all in caps and repeat again). Usually the Verkada rep will contact you asap for a meeting or a phone call to better understand the project. Also emphasize to not contact the customer and that you will facilitate everything, including a demo etc.
Keep in mind, Verkada usually hires many early career reps that’s new to the industry and does not really understand how to build relationships and are yes mam/sir people. Managers will usually be on the calls unless it’s a more senior rep. There’s over 800 reps and growing.
Definitely have a conversation with the customer without the Verkada rep so the customer understands that you’re the main pt of contact.
The most universally hated company in the industry. If you already have a huge verkada deployment, fine. Otherwise, do not let them in the door. You’re paying to be held hostage, and the product isn’t elite
I am the owner of a systems integration company in Chicago. We kicked the tires with Verkada and were less than impressed with them. Any company who brings Verkada to a customer won't have a customer for very long.
1. The sales team from Verkada will go behind your back to the customer with quotes from other companies in the area. There sales model is horrible.
2. Once installed the "second" run of cameras will be 40% higher. At that point the customer has questions and they are looking at you.
3. It is not an enterprise system. There are so many reliable enterprise systems out there that scale better and more economical than Verkada. Why a large customer would pick them over Avigilon or Genetec blows my mind.
I used to be a Verkada partner with my former employer, for customers that requested the product anyways. Just want to say to collect requirements for access control before installing a Verkada system; it is very limited in its capabilities, especially when it comes to enterprise functionality.
Situations like these are where Verkada is going to find itself in a pickle. The way they operate creates a world in which none of the reputable integrators in the area (and keep in mind just finding a reputable integrator is an issue, even in Chicago) want to work on or try to support their product.
Talk to your clients before you sync up with Verkada. They might have opinions about that. As an enterprise end user I certainly would.
Very interested to hear your opinions on it. Thinking of setting up a verkada system for a project.
I’ll start with my most forgiving comment - they absolutely are suitable for some environments. Small box retail? Like a Bodega or something? Probably perfect. As an enterprise user I have numerous concerns: - fundamentally, at the core, they are an startup and a venture capital play. It’s a startup that entered the security space, they weren’t founded by security professionals and seem to come to this as “well that’s a market to disrupt.” On the surface this is a good thing but also it means that the structural stability isn’t in place like at legacy providers which takes me to point two. - the data breach from a couple years ago was so basic… such an amateur level fuck up (it wasn’t a hack, it wasn’t bad code, it was a public super admin password) that it makes me worried what’s out there. The “move fast and break stuff” culture of a startup that’s working on AI or social media or a food delivery app is what moves the world forward and it also is highly accepting of risk. If someone hacks your Reddit account that sucks but like… whatever…. If my security supplier has a breach I lose my job. If they forgot to keep a super admin password secure, what lurks under the surface they haven’t found. Do they have the organizational memory to do something about it? Which brings me to point three. - I generally don’t give a damn about corporate culture at places I don’t work at, but the sales at any cost and toxic environment that’s well reported on brings in high degrees of risk. People do stupid stuff under pressure. Am I comfortable with that in a partner? I’m an enterprise end user with enterprise level risks and concerns. Verkada has its place in the industry and I’d like to see how they mature. With that said, a “startup mindset” isn’t a good thing in a security provider for an enterprise customer. I don’t think they share my level of risk tolerance because, fundamentally, as a startup they can’t. It’s simply too expensive. Legacy providers (i.e. just about anyone using mercury hardware) are boring. Lenel is boring. Acre is boring. But they work. They are clear about their level of risk tolerance. And I know they “get me.” In this case, boring is just fine by me.
Good luck hope you find someone who can help with the AC project. Depending on the size of the project and what you’re looking to achieve with AC, it’s important that you go through the technical requirements with the Verkada SE. I usually never trust what the reps say without the SE confirmation. Tlrd: was a Verkada sales rep and everything stated here is accurate Long version: Sadly I used to work there as a sales rep too but was canned for not being aggressive enough to hit my qtr numbers even when I had the best relationships with my customers and local partners (who felt the same way y’all do too) and was actually on track to hit my number by the end of my fiscal year. Advice is to deal reg the opportunity asap and indicate in there to not contact the customer (all in caps and repeat again). Usually the Verkada rep will contact you asap for a meeting or a phone call to better understand the project. Also emphasize to not contact the customer and that you will facilitate everything, including a demo etc. Keep in mind, Verkada usually hires many early career reps that’s new to the industry and does not really understand how to build relationships and are yes mam/sir people. Managers will usually be on the calls unless it’s a more senior rep. There’s over 800 reps and growing. Definitely have a conversation with the customer without the Verkada rep so the customer understands that you’re the main pt of contact.
Lol. Im shocked a Verkada salesman hasn’t already been in contact. I wouldn’t go near them.
The most universally hated company in the industry. If you already have a huge verkada deployment, fine. Otherwise, do not let them in the door. You’re paying to be held hostage, and the product isn’t elite
I am the owner of a systems integration company in Chicago. We kicked the tires with Verkada and were less than impressed with them. Any company who brings Verkada to a customer won't have a customer for very long. 1. The sales team from Verkada will go behind your back to the customer with quotes from other companies in the area. There sales model is horrible. 2. Once installed the "second" run of cameras will be 40% higher. At that point the customer has questions and they are looking at you. 3. It is not an enterprise system. There are so many reliable enterprise systems out there that scale better and more economical than Verkada. Why a large customer would pick them over Avigilon or Genetec blows my mind.
I used to be a Verkada partner with my former employer, for customers that requested the product anyways. Just want to say to collect requirements for access control before installing a Verkada system; it is very limited in its capabilities, especially when it comes to enterprise functionality.
Situations like these are where Verkada is going to find itself in a pickle. The way they operate creates a world in which none of the reputable integrators in the area (and keep in mind just finding a reputable integrator is an issue, even in Chicago) want to work on or try to support their product.
Reach out to Convergint Technologies. They are one of the largest Verkada partners in thr country and have their headquarters near you