SIA New Member Profile: LMN Software Corp

New Security Industry Association (SIA) member LMN Software Corp provides software tools and appliances to help companies document, monitor, harden and secure their security networks. The company was co-founded by Jeff Leite, who is based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and John Day, who is based in Toronto, Canada.

SIA spoke with Jeff Leite, co-founder and president of LMN, about the company, the security industry and working with SIA.

Tell us the story of your company.

Jeff Leite: LMN Software Corp was formed from conversations that occurred over 10 plus years between two friends who worked together in the security industry. John Day worked as a manufacturer rep for me, and eventually, in 2019, those coversations led to the creation of a product and John and I partnered to form LMN Software. Both John and I have more than 27 years of experience in the security market, John having served as a technician, distribution salesperson, security integrator and manufacturer’s rep and my work having been integral to two startups: NVT for 15 years and ComNet for 10 years. John and I share a passion for network security and customer service.

What solutions/services does your business offer in the security industry? And what makes your offerings or your company unique?

JL: LMN Software Corp makes software tools and appliances to help companies document, monitor, harden and secure their security networks. Being from the security industry I insisted that the company follow the security industry way of doing business – no recurring licensing, sell everything as a one-time purchase and provide real training and tech support for free. LMN products are available through traditional industry channels and supported by manufacturer’s reps. As it stood before LMN, most Integrators, AE firms nor distribution partners have had a simple way to consume network security products.

What are the biggest challenges facing your company and/or others in the security industry?

JL: One of the greatest challenges in the industry is finding, educating and keeping technicians. Many companies are running on three cylinders as fast as they can to keep up with work with the techs they have, which means very little time for educating those who do the critical work of installing security systems. Because of this, many security integrators are uncomfortable with providing network security, leaving many systems unprotected completely or left for the end user to manage. Alternately, a handful of security integrators contract third-party service providers to do this work, adding cost and complexity to managing the networks they themselves installed.

What is your company’s vision, and what are your goals for the security industry?

JL:Since over 60% of all successful network intrusions occur inside the firewall, EdgeSentry by LMN is a critical component ensure bad actors can’t easily gain access to these networks from the inside. Employee safety is strongly tied to network security.  It simiply can’t be ignored. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that most distributors sell a tremendous number of unmanaged switches which are difficult to secure (we can). LMN is providing the missing link between physical security and cybersecurity.There is a lot of talk about convergence, but until these networks get secured, there are a lot of networks at risk.

What do you think are the biggest opportunities in the security industry right now?

JL: We believe that there is an opportunity for security companies to monitor security networks for both network security and for system operation. This model allows security integrators to charge recurring revenue, create maintenance agreements and better service customers. LMN makes it simple for any technician to do this work by providing a common interface for most of the switch brands used in security networks.

What does SIA offer that is most important to you/your company? And what do you most hope to get out of your membership with SIA?

JL: As the need for network security grows in the security business, so will the need for good impartial sources of information and standards. We see the SIA having a lead role in development of these standards. We are already actively communicating with SIA team members to start conversations surrounding better technician training for hardening networks as well as how to standardize documentation of the security status of networks at time of system commission.

SIA offers LMN a way to eductate more members about this important topic and the ability to participate in the process of creating better standards. Networking is an important part of what we love about SIA, but LMN is really about giving the security a product that not only helps protect themselves (liability) and their customers from inside jobs, but also offers a path to creating recurring revenue all while providing better customer service. By not charging recurring fees for our products, we make this a simple transition.

The views and opinions expressed in guest posts and/or profiles are those of the authors or sources and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Security Industry Association.