SIA New Member Profile: Elite Interactive Solutions

New Security Industry Association (SIA) member Elite Interactive Solutions offers property and casualty risk mitigation through its remote guarding and monitoring solutions. The company – whose primary offices and Security Operations Command Center (SOCC) are in Los Angeles, California – employs more than 100 people and provides premium service to thousands of clients nationwide, offering services spanning system design, installation, monitoring and maintenance for myriad vertical markets, including commercial, multifamily housing, auto dealerships, shopping centers and campuses.

SIA spoke with Aria Kozak, founder and CEO of Elite Interactive Solutions, about the company, the security industry and working with SIA.

Tell us the story of your company.

Aria Kozak: I founded Elite Interactive Solutions in 2007, and for that I am referred to as “The Father of Remote Guarding.” Elite is a real-time crime prevention provider incorporating leading-edge technologies including custom-calibrated video analytics and artificial intelligence, highly skilled SOCC agents and trusted law enforcement partnerships.

Elite’s approach to and success in crime prevention emanates from my life experiences and lifelong commitment to preventing nefarious acts and capturing criminals. I dedicated myself to the security industry after completing a distinguished tour of duty in the Israeli military and then migrating to the United States. From 1976 to 1990, I founded and built Universal Alarm Systems into one of the nation’s largest and most successful burglar alarm and armed guard response companies. I sold Universal to ADT in 1990, remaining as a consultant. In 1996, I launched a high-end integration firm called IntelliSec. It was always my dream and vision to provide true crime prevention, and that has been realized with Elite. 

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

AK: Elite’s exceptional crime prevention is enabled through four essential elements. First is our leading-edge technology. Elite’s proprietary engineered, patent-pending blend of 16 essential elements –  including video analytics, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity – filters out the “noise” to zero in on actual events monitored 24/7 via state-of-the-art, fully redundant UL command center. Then there’s our high-caliber personnel consisting of specially trained former law enforcement and military agents who are experts at responding in real-time to incidents and diffusing situations through live voice-down interactions – preventing or stopping criminal activity 96% of the time.

Next is Elite’s key partnerships. Due to trusted relationships and endorsements from law enforcement –  including an in-house Law Enforcement Advisory Board and FBI-LEEDA support – our command center calls are given priority response that helps officers be safer and achieve detainments and arrests. Finally are our perfected processes. As the remote guarding originator, since 2007 Elite has reimagined proactive security and refined best practices – from system design and deployment to monitoring and response – to its current state of crime prevention perfection and total customer satisfaction.

What’s something we might not know about your company – or something new you’re doing in security?

AK: Elite’s impressive operational metrics, many of which are not found elsewhere within the security industry, include $1 trillion+ clients’ assets protected; 7-second average incident response time by Security Operations Command Center agents; 96% of crimes resolved by SOCC agents through their real-time response and live, interactive voice-downs; zero false alarms to law enforcement; priority police response when contacted by SOCC agents to crimes in progress; and less than 2% annualized attrition.

We have empirical data showing our command center is on pace to top 60,000 crime preventions and assisting police in 1,000 detainments and arrests during 2023. That is indisputable proof that through our unique approach and unparalleled success in crime prevention, Elite is to the security industry what Tesla is to the automotive industry.

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

AK: At Elite, our mission is to never miss an event and to proactively provide true, real-time crime prevention while acting as a partner to clients and law enforcement. But at our core, Elite is a technology company that is always seeking to optimize the latest advancements to best serve those objectives.

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

AK: There is no question that remote guarding – which brings together the two hottest security technology sectors in video surveillance and artificial intelligence – offers the greatest opportunity for the next several years. Commercial market end users are tired of traditional, reactive solutions that are practically worthless where it comes to actually preventing crime and catastrophe. As they become more aware of the capabilities of remote guarding, they will demand nothing less.

What are your predictions for the security industry in the short and long term?

AK: Those that align with the tidal wave of opportunities coming due to the true, real-time crime prevention achieved through properly executed remote guarding will prosper and grow. Those that do not adjust to this new, technology-enabled future will wither on the vine and eventually fade away. The fantastic news is this opportunity is like the deep blue ocean, bigger than the entire current security industry combined. And it is the path to not only better partnering with law enforcement but also bringing them a solution at a time when they have never been more strapped for resources. This is why now is the time to partner with experts in the field, like Elite.

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

AK: For the industry, it is breaking out of outdated technologies and business models and complacency to embrace change and possibilities and seize the enormous opportunities I have already mentioned. It’s a paradigm shift. Of course, finding talent continues to be a major issue, and the answer lies in looking to other fields in your recruiting efforts. The security industry is changing, and so is the composition of those entering the business – embrace and train them with an open mind and all eyes on success!

What do you enjoy most about being at your company and in the security industry?

AK: After many decades spent in the security industry I am at a stage in my life when many might retire, but I love this business too much and am too excited about the opportunities that lie before us. I am highly passionate about Elite’s remote guarding and the new artificial intelligence, robotics, analytics and automation technologies are making things I envisioned years ago finally possible. And I am fortunate to have in place some of the industry’s best talent who are also wonderful human beings to help Elite realized its full potential.

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?

AK: I have interacted with SIA for many years and always respected its leadership and important role representing all of the industry’s best interests. The organization offers tremendous resources and plays a crucial role in advancing and standardizing industry standards, as well as providing critical representation among interest groups, lawmakers and even the general public. I also appreciate SIA’s events and networking opportunities, and Elite is looking forward to participating in education efforts and committee involvement.  

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.