Southwest Automated Security
Southwest Automated Security is a 100% employee-owned wholesale distributor of automated security products — gate operators, access control systems, IP video surveillance cameras, and door hardware — serving professional installers and dealers through 28 branch locations across the United States.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersDallas, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Southwest Automated Security does
Southwest Automated Security is a 100% employee-owned wholesale distributor of automated security products serving professional installers, integrators, and dealers across the United States. Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company is incorporated in California and operates under the DBA "SAS." It distributes four primary product categories: gate operators (from manufacturers including Viking, FAAC, DKS, All-O-Matic, HySecurity, US Automatic, Nice, MAX, and LiftMaster), electronic access control systems, IP video surveillance equipment (dome, bullet, PTZ, and turret cameras from Uniview, Hikvision, Hanwha, Provision-ISR, Turing, Digital Watchdog, Mobotix, and Vitek), and door hardware/operators. The company does not develop its own technology; rather, it aggregates, inventories, and distributes multi-brand hardware from established security manufacturers, supplemented by dealer-facing services such as an e-commerce platform powered by Sana Commerce, a technical support hotline, and an Illustrated Parts Breakdown Library.
The business model is fundamentally B2B distribution. Revenue is generated through wholesale hardware resale margins on products sold to professional installers and dealers, who in turn deploy these products at end-customer sites. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; business customers must register for an account or contact a sales representative at one of 28 branch locations to obtain pricing. The company employs 51-100 people across West Coast, Central US, and East Coast regional clusters, with assigned sales representatives at each branch and an organizational structure organized around a horizontal segmentation approach targeting professional security integrators.
Growth and expansion strategy is executed primarily through physical distribution buildout and selective acquisitions. In May 2026, Southwest Automated Security acquired Gates and Controls, Inc., combining two recognized leaders in gate operator, access control, hardware, and video surveillance distribution. The acquisition was structured under the existing 100% employee-owned model with integration guided by the company's HEART principles. The combined organization is positioned to offer expanded product breadth, increased inventory availability, and enhanced technical support to its dealer base across the United States.
Southwest Automated Security firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Southwest Automated Security
- Legal name
- Southwest Automated Security, Inc.
- Website
- https://www.southwestautomated.com/
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Southwest Automated Security is a 100% employee-owned wholesale distributor of automated security products — gate operators, access control systems, IP video surveillance cameras, and door hardware — serving professional installers and dealers through 28 branch locations across the United States.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Southwest Automated Security industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Security Products Wholesale Distribution
- NAICS
- Computer and Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software Merchant Wholesalers (42343), Computer and Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software Merchant Wholesalers (423430)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Electronic Parts & Equipment, Nec (5065)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Security Systems Monitoring & Dispatch (SOC/Remote Guarding) (IMAIAEAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Retail Security Command Center/Remote Guarding (LP monitoring) (BPAKAJAN)
Keywords
Where Southwest Automated Security is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dallas
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices27 records
Markets served
Southwest Automated Security business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Product Distribution: Southwest Automated Security generates revenue through the distribution and resale of automated security products including gate operators, access control systems, video surveillance equipment, and door hardware to professional installers and dealers across the United States.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Southwest Automated Security product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Southwest Automated Security is a non-installing, stocking wholesale distributor that supplies automated security products to professional installers and dealers across the United States. Its core inventory spans gate operators, access control systems, IP video surveillance cameras, and door hardware sourced from multiple industry manufacturers. Distribution is executed through 27+ physical branch locations and a registration-gated e-commerce platform, supported by Technical Support and an Illustrated Parts Breakdown Library.
Product overview
Southwest Automated Security operates as a national distributor of automated security products serving professional installers across the United States. The company distributes gate operators (Viking, FAAC, DKS, All-O-Matic, HySecurity, Nice, MAX, US Automatic, LiftMaster), access control systems, IP video surveillance cameras, and door hardware from multiple industry manufacturers. The product portfolio centers on four main categories: Gate Operators for automated entry systems; Access Control for electronic building security; Video Surveillance encompassing IP dome, bullet, PTZ, and turret cameras from brands including Uniview Technologies, Hikvision, Hanwha, Provision-ISR, Turing, Digital Watchdog, Mobotix, Vitek, and others; and Door Equipment for automated door systems. The company provides e-commerce dealer accounts, technical support (877-SWTECH1), and an Illustrated Parts Breakdown Library. In May 2026, Southwest Automated Security acquired Gates and Controls, Inc. to expand distribution capabilities. With 28 branch locations across West Coast, Central US, and East Coast regions, the company supports customers through a 100% employee-owned business model.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Gate Operators Automatic gate operators for residential, commercial, and industrial applications, distributed from multiple industry manufacturers including Viking, FAAC, DKS, All-O-Matic, HySecurity, US Automatic, Nice, and MAX for professional installer customers.
- Access Control Systems Electronic access control solutions including card readers, keypads, proximity sensors, and associated hardware for managing building and facility entry, distributed to professional security installers and dealers.
- Video Surveillance / IP Cameras IP-based security cameras including dome, bullet, turret, and PTZ models from multiple brands, ranging from 2MP to 12MP resolution with features including IR illumination, AI analytics, two-way audio, and various form factors for indoor and outdoor surveillance applications, supplied to professional installers.
- Door Equipment Door hardware including door operators, strikes, hinges, and related components for automated door systems in security applications, distributed to professional security installers and dealers.
- Technical Support Services Technical support hotline available 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM CST, Monday through Friday at 877-SWTECH1, providing direct assistance for installation guidance, troubleshooting, and product selection for security installation professionals.
- Illustrated Parts Breakdown Library Online resource providing illustrated diagrams and parts information for gate operators from manufacturers including LiftMaster, Viking, FAAC, DKS, All-O-Matic, HySecurity, US Automatic, Nice, and MAX, supporting dealer service and installation work.
Companies that use Southwest Automated Security
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Southwest Automated Security technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Southwest Automated Security partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Gates and Controls, Inc.coreSouthwest Automated Security acquired Gates and Controls, Inc., combining two recognized leaders in the distribution of gate operators, access control solutions, hardware, and video surveillance products. The acquisition brings together decades of industry expertise to strengthen distribution capabilities across the United States. The combined organization promises expanded product offerings, increased inventory availability, and enhanced technical support, guided by Southwest Automated Security's HEART principles.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Southwest Automated Security competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Security Equipment Supply (SES): SES is a regional wholesale distributor of security, surveillance, access control, and intrusion products serving professional installers, with a comparable product mix and dealer-focused GTM model in overlapping US geographies.
- ScanSource: ScanSource is a value-added distributor of security, networking, AV, and point-of-sale solutions to resellers and integrators across North America, with overlapping IP camera, access control, and physical security product categories and a similar dealer-led GTM motion.
- LVC Companies: LVC Companies is a regional value-added distributor of security, surveillance, and low-voltage products serving integrators across the Midwest, with a similar product mix and dealer support model to Southwest Automated Security's Central US branches.
- Snap One: Snap One distributes smart-home, AV, security, and networking products to professional integrators through a hybrid e-commerce and reseller model — a directly comparable distribution GTM even though its product portfolio is more AV-and-smart-home weighted than gate operators.
- PSA Security Network: PSA Security Network is a cooperative of security and AV integrators that also operates as a wholesale distributor, aggregating purchasing power across its member dealers — a comparable model to Southwest Automated Security's dealer-focused distribution business.
- ADI Global Distribution: ADI Global Distribution is the largest North American wholesale distributor of security, AV, and low-voltage products, serving professional installers and dealers with multi-category product lines and branch network that directly overlaps Southwest Automated Security's offering.
Broad incumbents
- Graybar: Graybar is a broad-line distributor of electrical, communications, and security products with a large North American branch network serving contractors and integrators, overlapping with Southwest Automated Security in access control and surveillance but spanning far more categories.
- Wesco International: Wesco is a Fortune 500 broad-line distributor of electrical, communications, and security products with a national branch footprint acquired through the Anixter merger, making it a larger incumbent competitor with overlapping physical security categories but a much broader portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Southwest Automated Security social profiles
Digital presenceSouthwest Automated Security financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Southwest Automated Security leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Southwest Automated Security subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Southwest Automated Security funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Southwest Automated Security M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Southwest Automated Security
What does Southwest Automated Security do?
Southwest Automated Security is a non-installing, stocking wholesale distributor that supplies automated security products to professional installers and dealers across the United States. Its core inventory spans gate operators, access control systems, IP video surveillance cameras, and door hardware sourced from multiple industry manufacturers. Distribution is executed through 27+ physical branch locations and a registration-gated e-commerce platform, supported by Technical Support and an Illustrated Parts Breakdown Library.
Is Southwest Automated Security a public or private company?
Southwest Automated Security is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Southwest Automated Security founded?
Southwest Automated Security was founded in 1996. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Southwest Automated Security based?
Southwest Automated Security is headquartered in Dallas, United States, in the North America region.
How does Southwest Automated Security make money?
One revenue line is on record: product Distribution.
Who are Southwest Automated Security's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Security Equipment Supply (SES), ScanSource, LVC Companies, Snap One, PSA Security Network and ADI Global Distribution. Broad incumbents are Graybar and Wesco International.
Does Southwest Automated Security have an API?
No public API is recorded for Southwest Automated Security.
What industry is Southwest Automated Security in?
Southwest Automated Security's product category is Security Products Wholesale Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAIAEAF, Security Systems Monitoring & Dispatch (SOC/Remote Guarding), with a secondary code of BPAKAJAN, Retail Security Command Center/Remote Guarding (LP monitoring). Its NAICS code is 42343 and its SIC code is 5065.