SDM Magazine
SDM Magazine, founded in 1971 and owned by BNP Media, is a B2B trade publication serving North American security dealers, systems integrators, and manufacturers through a monthly magazine, proprietary benchmark reports (SDM 100, Top Systems Integrators), award programs, and a Buyers Guide directory reaching 10,000+ professionals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1971
- HeadquartersTroy Mills, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What SDM Magazine does
SDM Magazine, founded in 1971 and owned by BNP Media, Inc., is a B2B trade publication serving the North American electronic security industry. It targets security dealers, systems integrators, and manufacturers/distributors, providing news, analysis, regulatory updates, and business intelligence across access control, video surveillance, fire/life safety, monitoring, integration, and smart home segments. The publication's core franchise is a monthly print and digital magazine with an eMagazine archive, supported by the SDM Newswire daily feed, a blog, podcasts, video programming, and a webinar calendar.
The company's product portfolio extends well beyond the magazine itself into proprietary research and recognition franchises that function as industry benchmarks: the SDM 100 Report ranking U.S. security dealers by recurring monthly revenue (since 1991), the Top Systems Integrators Report (since 1996), the Annual Industry Forecast (since 1981), and the State of the Market Series covering five security segments. Award programs including Dealer of the Year (since 1980), Systems Integrator of the Year (since 2004), and the sponsored TMA Excellence Awards reinforce brand authority. A Buyers Guide directory with RFP submission capability connects buyers with manufacturers and distributors, and the SDM Store sells security industry books and publications at unit pricing (e.g., the Physical Security Assessment Handbook at $180).
SDM generates revenue across four streams: advertising and sponsorship (display ads, branded content, sponsored Insights), recurring subscriptions (print and digital editions and newsletters), one-time product sales through the SDM Store, and subscription-based Buyers Guide directory listings. Distribution spans the sdmmag.com website, email newsletters, social media (Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube), RSS feeds, and print, reaching over 10,000 security industry professionals. The publication maintains mutual strategic partnerships with the three dominant security industry associations (SIA, ESA, TMA) and has recently added the Ask SDM AI-powered Q&A tool layered over its editorial archive.
SDM Magazine firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SDM Magazine
- Legal name
- BNP Media, Inc.
- Website
- https://www.sdmmag.com/
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1971
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- SDM Magazine, founded in 1971 and owned by BNP Media, is a B2B trade publication serving North American security dealers, systems integrators, and manufacturers through a monthly magazine, proprietary benchmark reports (SDM 100, Top Systems Integrators), award programs, and a Buyers Guide directory reaching 10,000+ professionals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where SDM Magazine is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Troy Mills
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
SDM Magazine business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Advertising & Sponsorship: Revenue generated from sponsored content, display advertising, and branded content partnerships with security industry manufacturers and service providers
- Subscriptions: Print and digital magazine subscriptions, eMagazine access, and newsletter subscriptions for security industry professionals
- Product Sales: Sale of industry publications including books, reports, and research materials on security topics
- Buyers Guide Directory: Featured listings and RFP services for manufacturers and distributors in the security industry buyers guide
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Physical Security Assessment Handbook |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Security Industry Publications |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
SDM Magazine product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SDM Magazine is a B2B trade publication and content platform serving the North American electronic security industry. It publishes a monthly print and digital magazine and operates a portfolio of exclusive annual research reports (SDM 100, Top Systems Integrators, State of the Market Series, Annual Industry Forecast), award programs (Dealer of the Year, Systems Integrator of the Year, TMA Excellence Awards), the Buyers Guide directory with RFP capability, the SDM Store for security books, the Ask SDM AI tool, plus podcasts, videos, webinars, and the SDM Newswire daily feed.
Product overview
SDM Magazine is a security industry trade publication that operates as a content platform delivering news, analysis, and industry reports. The core product is the SDM Magazine publication covering access control, video surveillance, fire/life safety, monitoring, and smart home segments. The portfolio includes exclusive research products (SDM 100 Report, Top Systems Integrators Report, State of the Market Series, Annual Industry Forecast), award programs (Dealer of the Year, Systems Integrator of the Year, TMA Excellence Awards), and a Buyers Guide directory. Additional offerings include the eMagazine digital edition, SDM Newswire feed, Blog, Podcasts, Videos, Ask SDM AI tool, Events/Webinars, and a Store selling security industry publications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SDM Magazine (monthly print/digital trade magazine) Monthly trade magazine covering the electronic security industry with news, articles, and analysis on access control, video surveillance, fire alarm, monitoring, and smart home for security dealers, integrators, and manufacturers.
- SDM 100 Report Annual ranking and analysis of the top 100 U.S. security dealers by recurring monthly revenue (RMR); the industry's primary benchmark for measuring the size and health of the electronic security market.
- Top Systems Integrators Report Annual ranking by North American revenue of the largest U.S. firms contracting electronic security projects for non-residential markets.
- State of the Market Series Annual in-depth research reports covering five major electronic security industry segments: video surveillance, alarm systems and monitoring, access control, fire alarm, and connected home.
- Annual Industry Forecast Study Annual study measuring the health of the electronic security industry through surveys of installing security dealers and systems integrators.
- Dealer of the Year Award Annual award program recognizing outstanding security companies in the electronic security industry.
- Systems Integrator of the Year Award Annual award recognizing one systems integration company demonstrating success, innovation, best practices, and notable growth.
- TMA Excellence Awards Annual awards program sponsored by SDM Magazine recognizing central stations and monitoring center managers certified by TMA-recognized Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories, including Monitoring Center Manager of the Year and Monitoring Center of the Year.
- Buyers Guide Directory Annual online directory of security industry manufacturers, distributors, services, and dealer programs covering access control, video surveillance, home systems, and alarm monitoring, with RFP submission capability connecting buyers with suppliers.
- SDM Store Online store selling security industry books and publications, including the Physical Security Assessment Handbook, Biometrics guides, and video surveillance materials.
- eMagazine (Digital Edition) Digital edition of SDM Magazine accessible via online viewer with archive of past issues.
- SDM Newswire Daily news feed covering security industry developments, product launches, company news, and market trends.
- Ask SDM (AI Q&A Tool) AI-powered question-answering tool that allows users to ask questions and receive answers from SDM Magazine's expert content library.
- SDM Videos Video content including news roundups, interviews, event coverage, and educational content for security professionals.
- SDM Podcasts Audio content including the SDM Editors' Podcast featuring industry discussions, interviews with security professionals, and trade event coverage.
- SDM Events & Webinars Industry calendar of trade events plus webinar programming covering fire alarms, security technology, and business growth strategies for security professionals.
- SDM Blog Editorial blog featuring opinions on industry issues from the SDM editorial team and guest bloggers covering security topics.
Quantifiable outcome
- SDM 100 Report serves as the primary measure of consumer dollars in the alarm industry, ranking companies by Recurring Monthly Revenue (RMR)
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use SDM Magazine
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
SDM Magazine technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
SDM Magazine partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Security Industry Association (SIA)coreSIA and SDM collaborate on the ISC West conference coverage and SIA Education@ISC program, featuring over 330 speakers from across the security industry. SDM provides extensive coverage of SIA events, scholarship programs, and industry initiatives including the SIA Waypoints column.
- The Monitoring Association (TMA)coreSDM Magazine sponsors the TMA Excellence Awards, recognizing outstanding central stations and monitoring center managers. The awards are designed to recognize any central station certified by TMA-recognized Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories.
- Electronic Security Association (ESA)coreSDM covers ESA events including ESX (Electronic Security Expo), with coverage of Innovation Awards and ESA Research Center initiatives. ESA membership and events are regularly featured in SDM Newswire.
- SIA New Products and Solutions (NPS) AwardsminorSDM provides coverage of the SIA NPS Awards at ISC West, where IronYun was recognized with Best New Product for the IronYun Vaidio AI Vision Platform 8.0 and Swear received the Judges' Choice Award.
- TMA Excellence AwardscoreSDM Magazine sponsors the TMA Excellence Awards program, featuring categories including Monitoring Center Manager of the Year and Monitoring Center of the Year awards.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SDM Magazine competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- IFSEC Global: A major international security industry media outlet providing news, analysis, and event coverage tied to the IFSEC trade show. Comparable to SDM in content category but with a global rather than North American geographic focus.
- Security Sales & Integration (SSI): A long-running B2B trade publication serving security dealers, integrators, and installing companies with editorial coverage, industry rankings, and awards. Directly comparable to SDM as a competing security channel trade magazine.
- Access Control & Security Systems: A trade publication covering access control, video surveillance, and integrated security systems for installers, integrators, and end users. Overlaps with SDM's coverage of access control and integrated systems.
- Security System News: A B2B publication covering security dealers, integrators, monitoring providers, and product manufacturers. Directly comparable to SDM in editorial coverage of the security channel and in targeting installers and integrators.
- SecurityInfoWatch.com: A leading digital-first B2B media outlet covering security dealers, integrators, and end users across video surveillance, access control, and intrusion. Competes with SDM for security industry readership and digital advertising spend.
- Security Today: A trade media brand covering commercial and enterprise security products, systems integrators, and end-user security managers. Comparable audience overlap with SDM, particularly on the systems integration and commercial security side.
- Security Dealer Magazine: A B2B trade publication focused on security dealers, installers, and integrators with product news, business management, and industry trends content. Closely mirrors SDM's editorial scope and target audience.
Regional players
- Security World Market: An international security industry media outlet with regional editions serving markets outside North America. Comparable in editorial category (security channel coverage) but primarily serves non-U.S. geographies.
Broad incumbents
- BNP Media (Parent Company / Sibling Titles): The diversified B2B media parent of SDM Magazine operating a portfolio of trade publications across multiple industries. Provides direct structural comparability in B2B media business model, audience development, and association partnerships.
- Endeavor Business Media: A large B2B media company owning numerous trade publications across security, facilities, and industrial markets. Comparable as a diversified B2B media owner with security-adjacent titles and similar multi-channel monetization.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SDM Magazine social profiles
Digital presenceSDM Magazine financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SDM Magazine leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
SDM Magazine funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SDM Magazine M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SDM Magazine
What does SDM Magazine do?
SDM Magazine is a B2B trade publication and content platform serving the North American electronic security industry. It publishes a monthly print and digital magazine and operates a portfolio of exclusive annual research reports (SDM 100, Top Systems Integrators, State of the Market Series, Annual Industry Forecast), award programs (Dealer of the Year, Systems Integrator of the Year, TMA Excellence Awards), the Buyers Guide directory with RFP capability, the SDM Store for security books, the Ask SDM AI tool, plus podcasts, videos, webinars, and the SDM Newswire daily feed.
Is SDM Magazine a public or private company?
SDM Magazine is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was SDM Magazine founded?
SDM Magazine was founded in 1971. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is SDM Magazine based?
SDM Magazine is headquartered in Troy Mills, United States, in the North America region.
How does SDM Magazine make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Advertising & Sponsorship is the primary driver. The others are subscriptions, product Sales and buyers Guide Directory.
Who are SDM Magazine's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are IFSEC Global, Security Sales & Integration (SSI), Access Control & Security Systems, Security System News, SecurityInfoWatch.com, Security Today and Security Dealer Magazine. Security World Market is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are BNP Media (Parent Company / Sibling Titles) and Endeavor Business Media.
Does SDM Magazine have an API?
No public API is recorded for SDM Magazine.