Banking & Finance security applications

Booth number: 14039 Dahua Technology USA Inc. will display video surveillance solutions, access control and intercoms at ISC West. Q: What was the first year your company exhibited at ISC West? Please share your remembrances of that experience. The first year that we exhibited at ISC West was in 2012. That was before we had a local US operation. The market started to pick up our brand and was surprised that we offer extensive product portfolios. In 2014, we registered our US office and continued to participate in ISC West. Through our presence at the show, customers get to know us better and understand that we are not just a product manufacturer but can also support them from the service and operation standpoints. We are local here and help our customers to grow their business and increase their satisfaction with us. A trade show is not just for marketing; ensuring the best ROI requires work by several parties in an organization Q: What strategies do you use to get the most out of exhibiting at ISC West? A trade show is definitely a lot of investment within a few days. Therefore, how we create the best ROI and meet the right customers are very important. A trade show is not just for marketing; ensuring the best ROI requires work by several parties in an organization, including products and technical expertise as well as the sales team. We use an internal and highly coordinated plan with the team to get a better result. We make sure everyone is on the same page in terms of the products/technology we are going to present and have the people with the best knowledge to present to customers who visit our booth. Therefore, a highly coordinated team strategy is required. Q: How do you quantify your success at ISC West? What ROI do you receive from the show? Every company has their ways to follow up with the leads and evaluate the ROI from the show. The way we are using is to upload all our leads to our software and track all these leads afterwards. If they are not already buying from us, our goal is to convert them to become a registered dealer. Customers get to know us better and understand that we are not just a product manufacturer but can also support them from the service and operation standpoints If they are already our registered dealers, we seek to grow their business by using our latest technology solutions. In general, all marketing activities in business today require a clear ROI, and it has to tie into the sales numbers. From our experience, the ISC West show provides the best ROI among other shows in the North American market. Q: What company activities (outside the show floor) does your company organize each year? We have a partner event and invite our value-added dealers and partners. We’ve been hosting this event since 2015. Q: What sets ISC West apart from other trade shows on the calendar? As I mentioned, ISC West provides the highest ROI among other shows in the North America market. This show also brings many of our customers and partners to the city as well. I guess people value this opportunity to meet and discuss the technology, the industry trends, and the business to figure out how we can grow together. Other trade shows might be smaller than ISC West and targeted at different markets or address different scopes of the industry need. Every show we attend in 2019 plays a strategic role for us to communicate with the market and find the customers we are looking for.

Booth number: 8045 Costar Technologies, Inc. is a public company that designs, develops, manufactures and distributes a full range of products for the video surveillance and machine vision markets. Costar consists of five operating companies: Arecont Vision Costar, CohuHD Costar, Costar Video Systems, Innotech, and IVS Imaging. The combined product portfolio consists of surveillance cameras, video surveillance systems, recorders, monitors, lenses, cables, accessories, and cloud-enabled services. For more about their presence at ISC West, we contacted Jeff Whitney, Vice President of Marketing for Arecont Vision Costar, a Costar Technologies, Inc. business unit. In 2005, the technology was extremely new and unproven to the typically risk-adverse security industry Q: What Was The First Year Your Company Exhibited At ISC West? Please Share Your Remembrances Of That Experience. One of our companies, Arecont Vision, exhibited in ISC West booth 17147 in 2005, a tiny space on which the hopes of the company rested. At the time AV was focused on pioneering IP megapixel surveillance cameras, but today we are part of Costar Technologies, offering cameras, VMSs, and recorders. In 2005, the technology was extremely new and unproven to the typically risk-adverse security industry. Talking with those who were with the company at time, the enthusiasm of the booth team reached the security dealers and systems integrators who were attending, helping bring megapixel cameras to a much wider audience. Q: What Strategies Do You Use To Get The Most Out Of Exhibiting At ISC West? The Costar companies have a very deep portfolio of products for the security market, and we bring our latest products from each business unit to ISC West. Attendees come in part to see the latest tech, and we drive our development cycle to have exciting new products to unveil on the show floor. We also have meeting space in the booth to provide one-on-one time with our executives and sales team, while sponsoring free admission to the expo for all who want it. Q: How Do You Quantify Your Success At ISC West? What ROI Do You Receive From The Show? Unveiling our latest products and solutions to existing customers and partners is key to a successful event, and ISC West’s large impact on the industry ensures that many will attend. Perhaps even more important is informing those attending of the strength of the Costar product portfolio, including many Made in USA products and services that others don’t deliver. Both help to drive leads for projects in which we can really benefit our partners and end user customers. Each of our companies will participate in meetings, dinners, and events with our customers and partners throughout the days of the show Q: What Company Activities (Outside The Show Floor) Does Your Company Organize Each Year? A large show like ISC West brings many of the Costar business units together, providing an excellent opportunity to continue bonding as a team, as well as to participate in events beyond the show floor. Each of our companies will participate in meetings, dinners, and events with our customers and partners throughout the days of the show. Q: What Sets ISC West Apart From Other Trade Shows On The Calendar? ISC West brings a very large number of interested, security-focused systems integrators, dealers, consultants, and end user customers all to one place for a three-day expo. That audience and opportunity to share our message validates the investment any large show requires from Costar or others. While some industry events have struggled to find and maintain their audiences, ISC West continues to deliver quality, knowledgeable attendees from across the Americas and around the world.  The show differs from other events we do, which are typically regional in attendance or focused more on specific vertical markets.

Booth number: 12089 At this year's ISC West, VIVOTEK USA, Inc. will be showcasing their 180⁰/360⁰ product line plus other general form factors with new features and benefits, including a cybersecurity application embedded onto the cameras, crowd detection, smart motion detection, tailgating, and many more. In addition to IP cameras, VIVOTEK will display a comprehensive product line that also includes NVRs, video receivers, video servers, PoE switches, and video management software. Q: What Was The First Year Your Company Exhibited At ISC West? Please Share Your Remembrances Of That Experience. We have come a long way from a little-known surveillance manufacturer with a small booth size VIVOTEK has been an exhibitor at ISC West for many years now. Looking back, we have come a long way from a little-known surveillance manufacturer with a small booth size to one of the global providers in the security industry with a recognizable and trusted brand. Now, we are well-known in the industry and are proud of our accomplishments, but we feel greater things are still in front of us. Q: What Strategies Do You Use To Get The Most Out Of Exhibiting At ISC West? Each year, we want our booth to tell our stories – who we are, what we do and what we are capable of, and where we are heading. We do not want to just be another camera manufacturer who only promotes and displays products; we want to be the solution provider that customers are looking for. In addition, we have very knowledgeable sale managers who can assist visitors at our booth who are looking for surveillance, whether it’s an upgrade or a totally new solution. Q: How Do You Quantify Your Success At ISC West? What ROI Do You Receive From The Show? Gain industry knowledge and perspective as to where surveillance security industry is heading Like any trade show, it is difficult to quantify success. We attend ISC West to promote the VIVOTEK brand, meet and discuss with customers and gain industry knowledge and perspective as to where surveillance security industry is heading. If we achieve these, then ISC West is a success for us. Q: What Company Activities (Outside The Show Floor) Does Your Company Organize Each Year? Our main focus each year at ISC West has always been the interaction with customers and potential customers on the show floor. We pride ourselves in the products and technology we offer, and there aren’t any other trade shows in North America to showcase our capabilities than ISC West. Q: What Sets ISC West Apart From Other Trade Shows On The Calendar? ISC West is the industry standard of security trade shows in North America. Since we are a security surveillance manufacturer, ISC West is the one show that all manufacturers in this industry must attend.

Booth number: 26041 March Networks is a global provider of video surveillance and video-based business intelligence solutions. Their product portfolio is end-to-end, ensuring that customers can deploy comprehensive solutions designed to help them address real business challenges and improve performance. At ISC West this year, March Networks will be showcasing new hosted services, new PTZ cameras and additional offerings. Attendees will also be encouraged to discover their solutions for banking, retail, cannabis and transportation – all of which help organizations transform video into business intelligence through the integration of surveillance video, analytics, and data from business systems and IoT devices. For more about their presence at ISC West, we contacted Peter Strom, President and CEO, March Networks. And not surprisingly, the technology was a lot less sophisticated compared to what we see today Q: What was the first year your company exhibited at ISC West? Please share your remembrances of that experience. I believe March Networks first exhibited at ISC West in 2001. I did not join the company until 2003, however I had been working in the industry for several years already, and can recall that the exhibitions back then had a much different feel. For one thing, there weren’t the very large companies we see today dominating a lot of the landscape. And not surprisingly, the technology was a lot less sophisticated compared to what we see today. Anyone who has worked in physical security for a long time can attest to the remarkable shift we have seen over the years, first with the transition from analog to IP video and all that entails, to security analytics, to today’s truly advanced business intelligence applications, hosted solutions, and artificial intelligence, computer vision and similar content analytics. Q: What strategies do you use to get the most out of exhibiting at ISC West? Our most effective strategy by far is scheduling our business meetings in advance of ISC West. Our sales team does a very good job of planning meetings with enterprise end users and channel partners ahead of time, so we’re hitting the ground running even before the doors open on Day 1 of the event. In addition, our channel partners are also very well organized, and know which organizations they are going to bring to our booth during ISC West. This pre-planning saves us a tremendous amount of time and ensures that we make the most of the opportunity to meet face-to-face with the many decision-makers who have traveled to the show. The quality and quantity of our planned business meetings is definitely how our company measures the success of our ISC West participation each year Q: How do you quantify your success at ISC West? What ROI do you receive from the show? The quality and quantity of our planned business meetings is definitely how our company measures the success of our ISC West participation each year. Of course we do track the number and quality of the leads we capture as well; however, our face-to-face meetings with end user organizations and channel partners are the primary measures of our ROI. Q: What company activities (outside the show floor) does your company organize each year? The activities we organize outside of the show floor vary from year to year. We have hosted customer appreciation events and roundtable events. We will typically organize an internal sales meeting as well to take advantage of the fact that many of our salespeople and product managers are in the same location. Q: What sets ISC West apart from other trade shows on the calendar? The timing of ISC West is good for most people, as it is still early enough in the budget cycle for most customers to leverage the show to help make decisions – particularly in our banking, retail, cannabis and transit target verticals. Holding the event consistently in Las Vegas is also beneficial, as it makes it easier for people and exhibitors to plan in advance. The city itself is well equipped to handle large exhibitions, offering everything from a central conference space at the Sands to the convenience of nearby accommodations, restaurants etc. Travel is typically convenient as well. In our opinion, ISC West is the premier industry show in North America and appears to be gaining momentum each year.

Booth number: 18037 Hikvision will showcase a wide-range of its video surveillance solutions and security products such as its DarkFighterX dual-sensor with patented bi-spectral fusion technology for low light color imaging; thermal technology for critical perimeter applications, as well as preventive maintenance through temperature alarming and fire detection; specialty solutions for vertical markets including retail, education, gaming and commercial real estate with tailored products and valuable business intelligence analytics; TurboHD (HD over coax) for high resolution video using existing cabling; PanoVu and multi-sensor cameras. We will also feature Hikvision’s central management system, HikCentral, which provides a highly-scalable, reliable, and efficient centralized system management. We bring the latest and greatest in technology and a knowledgeable workforce to meet our customers and partners Q: What Was The First Year Your Company Exhibited At ISC West? Please Share Your Remembrances Of That Experience? Hikvision has exhibited at ISC West since 2006. Our presence has grown considerably since then. Each year we showcase Hikvision’s latest technologies and the evolution of the brand through ad campaigns: “Heartbeat of Security” (2016), “Art of Video Surveillance” (2017), and “Achieve Extraordinary” (2018). At ISC West, Hikvision enjoys re-connecting with existing customers and developing new partnerships. Over the years, Hikvision has demonstrated growth and strength within the industry and will continue to support its partners through the dedicated workforce that makes up Hikvision North America.  Q: What Strategies Do You Use To Get The Most Out Of Exhibiting At ISC West? The strategy is simple. We bring the latest and greatest in technology and a knowledgeable workforce to meet our customers and partners. With our latest products displayed at our booth and our team of product managers, vertical-market leaders, and other technical gurus readily available in one place, it’s a great opportunity to connect with our current and future partners. Of course, we also have one-on-one client meetings in our meeting rooms throughout the show. And, we also host interactive experiences including trivia games, product demonstrations, and other technical presentations at the Thought Theater in our booth.  Q: How Do You Quantify Your Success At ISC West? What ROI Do You Receive From The Show? Hikvision quantifies its success with a variety of metrics including traffic throughout the booth, attendance at educational sessions we host, the number of meetings we conduct with customers, and responses from our sales team on the engagement with integrators and end users after the show. We also measure the feedback we receive from our advertising campaigns whether it’s through our signage at the show or coverage in publications.  Q: What Company Activities (Outside The Show Floor) Does Your Company Organize Each Year? We host a Hikvision Partner Celebration @ ISC West, an invitation-only event to celebrate Hikvision Dealer Partners, distribution, technology and design partners We host a Hikvision Partner Celebration @ ISC West, an invitation-only event to celebrate Hikvision Dealer Partners, distribution, technology and design partners, and end users. We consider it a fun way for us to say thank you to our valued partners in a casual setting. We’re also an enthusiastic sponsor of the Mission 500 Security 5/2K. Hikvision is fielding a running team, and we’ve begun our fundraising in earnest. Corporate social responsibility is part of our DNA at Hikvision, and the Security 5/2K is a wonderful way to join with our security industry colleagues to make a difference in kids’ lives and give back. Q: What Sets ISC West Apart From Other Trade Shows On The Calendar? Hikvision attends a variety of important conferences and trade shows throughout the year, but ISC West is the big show that attracts international attendees that everyone looks forward to. We wouldn’t miss it.

Booth number: 20031   Pelco is highly invested in providing end-to-end video surveillance solutions for customers, so this priority will remain the same in 2019 and beyond Pelco’s priorities for 2019 at ISC West are informed by worldwide trends in the security industry. As a result, Pelco will be focusing on enhancing cloud connectivity and cybersecurity for their customers. In addition, VideoXpert is Pelco’s best-selling video management solution, so this system will be the primary solution focus moving forward. Pelco is also planning to build upon Pelco Professional Services, which will include VxCare, a three-tier service plan for VideoXpert owners available worldwide this May. Overall, Pelco is highly invested in providing end-to-end video surveillance solutions for customers, so this priority will remain the same in 2019 and beyond. Q: What Was The First Year Your Company Exhibited At ISC West? Please Share Your Remembrances Of That Experience. Pelco was established in its current form around the year 1987, we have been attending ISC West since at least then. One memory that stands out is having to make many coax cables connect with all the analog cameras and switchers. Q: What Strategies Do You Use To Get The Most Out Of Exhibiting At ISC West? We truly value the media relationships we’ve nurtured over the years. The security trade media specifically have played a pivotal role in sharing the latest news as it relates to our industry and ISC West. In addition to media relations, e-mail blasts and blogs are also key tools to build buzz around our exhibit. Lastly, we utilize a playbook and training protocols developed for our sales department. This information ultimately benefits our customers because they will receive accurate and up-to-date information about our video surveillance solutions. One way we quantify our success at ISC West is to keep track of the number of people attending our booth Q: How Do You Quantify Your Success At ISC West? What ROI Do You Receive From The Show? One way we quantify our success at ISC West is to keep track of the number of people attending our booth. The show is considered the premier event in North American security so a major way we measure our ROI is through initial or final meetings with customers and partners. These initial connections can happen on or near the show floor. In addition, our product managers and engineers create a dialog with our customers so they can determine the transferrable value of a potential solution, which in turn influences our product world map. Q: What Company Activities (Outside The Show Floor) Does Your Company Organize Each Year? We have participated in the Security 5K in support of Mission 500. Additionally, we sometimes host customers at local end user sites so they get to see the system in operation. Q: What Sets ISC West Apart From Other Trade Shows On The Calendar? It’s the best-attended security conference in North America by far, attracting both domestic and international visitors.

Artificial intelligence allows machines to do jobs previously done by people. When it comes to security and surveillance, this technology allows cameras and control room equipment to identify a wide range of threats automatically and in real time across hundreds or even thousands of cameras – allowing security teams to take immediate action to protect people and assets. AI Technology And Surveillance Solutions Artificial Intelligence technology built into surveillance solutions help organizations optimize their security Video surveillance cameras are the electronic eyes of any security operation. In the past, human supervision was needed to make sense of the images captured, and to assess whether certain events posed a security risk or not. With some organizations using hundreds or even thousands of cameras to protect their people and assets, manual review of footage is simply impossible – potentially leaving them vulnerable to security breaches. Advanced Artificial Intelligence technology built into surveillance solutions can help organizations overcome this challenge and optimize their security. This means cameras, control-room equipment and back-end infrastructure can now ‘learn’ about potential threats for themselves by recognizing people, vehicles and even behaviors. Detection And Prevention The manual interventions needed with traditional security systems mean that teams were frequently reacting to breaches that had already happened. Artificial intelligence changes all this by recognizing potential threats before they impact company’s people or assets – allowing security teams to react immediately to neutralise any potential threat. Artificial intelligence solutions can automatically trigger alerts when a person appears in a restricted area For example, artificial Intelligence solutions can automatically trigger alerts when a person appears in a restricted area, or when a vehicle with a blacklisted number plate enters a site. With alerts delivered in real time, teams can identify and react to security threats and protect people and assets more effectively. And because alerts are automated, potential threats are hardly missed or overlooked. How Does Artificial Intelligence Work? Artificial intelligence systems become more intelligent over time, building databases of potential threats and reacting to new events accordingly. This allows systems to ‘think for themselves’ and to alert teams of any suspicious events or people who are caught on camera. Artificial intelligence technologies use advanced algorithms based on Deep Learning to distinguish between different kinds of security events and threats. Technologies incorporated into the Hikvision portfolio include: Facial recognition which allows law enforcement personnel to identify suspects and commercial teams to identify VIP customers in real time. Vehicle identification which can be used to identify vehicle number plates and recognize different types of vehicles (even down to make and model), or to trigger alerts when vehicles enter restricted areas. Perimeter protection which helps organizations to identify real threats by distinguishing people and vehicles from other moving objects and keeping false alarms to a minimum. Business intelligence which employs people counting, queue detection, and heat mapping technologies, so that organizations can enhance operational efficiency by making use of the data report. Increasing Commercial Success  Artificial intelligence isn’t just useful for identifying security threats – although this is a key strength of the technology. It can also help organizations increase their competitiveness and commercial success. For example, VIP customers who opt to participate in special marketing promotions or other incentives can be identified so staff can provide the right kind of service at the right time. This gives organizations the opportunity to personalize the service experience, foster loyalty and maximize customer lifetime revenues. Artificial Intelligence can help organizations to better understand customers and meet their needs more effectively In the same way, artificial Intelligence can help organizations to better understand customers and meet their needs more effectively – leading to more commercial opportunities. One feature – called People Counting – allows stores and commercial centers to map footfall at peak times, ensuring that staffing is optimized to meet demand. At the same time, stores can see which areas of the building customers visit most and adjust their merchandising and product positioning accordingly to maximize the sales opportunities. Artificial Intelligence At Hikvision Hikvision’s family of artificial intelligence products include the DeepinView network cameras and DeepinMind NVRs. The products help to tackle security with facial recognition; monitoring and counting of people; and recognition and detection of vehicles, to name a few. These features all depend on artificial intelligence technology to recognize, classify and respond to security threats. This article was written by Hikvision.

Johnson Controls recently unveiled the findings of its 2018 Energy Efficiency Indicator (EEI) survey that examined the current and planned investments and key drivers to improve energy efficiency and building systems integration in facilities. Systems integration was identified as one of the top technologies expected to have the biggest impact on the implementation in smart buildings over the next five years, with respondents planning to invest in security, fire and life-safety integrations more so than any other systems integration in the next year. As advanced, connected technologies drive the evolution of smart buildings, security and safety technologies are at the center of more intelligent strategies as they attribute to overall building operations and efficiencies. SecurityInformed.com spoke with Johnson Controls, Building Solutions, North America, VP of Marketing, Hank Monaco, and Senior National Director of Municipal Infrastructure and Smart Cities, Lisa Brown, about the results of the study, smart technology investments and the benefits of a holistic building strategy that integrates security and fire and life-safety systems with core building systems. Q: What is the most striking result from the survey, and what does it mean in the context of a building’s safety and security systems? The results show an increased understanding about the value of integrating safety and security systems with other building systems Hank Monaco: Investment in building system integration increased 23 percent in 2019 compared to 2018, the largest increase of any measure in the survey. When respondents were asked more specifically what systems they we planning to invest in over the next year, fire and life safety integration (61%) and security system integration (58%) were the top two priorities for organizations. The results show an increased understanding about the value of integrating safety and security systems with other building systems to improve overall operations and bolster capabilities beyond the intended function of an individual system. Q: The survey covers integration of fire, life safety and security systems as part of "smart building" systems. How do smarter buildings increase the effectiveness of security and life safety systems? Hank Monaco: A true “smart building” integrates all building systems – security, fire and life-safety, HVAC, lighting etc. – to create a connected, digital infrastructure that enables individual technologies to be more intelligent and perform more advanced functions beyond what they can do on their own. For example, when sensors and video surveillance are integrated with lighting systems, if abnormal activity is detected on the building premise, key stakeholders can be automatically alerted to increase emergency response time. With integrated video surveillance, they also gain the ability to access surveillance footage remotely to assess the situation. When sensors and video surveillance are integrated with lighting systems abnormal activity on the premise can automatically be detected Q: How can integrated security and life safety systems contribute to greater energy efficiency in a smart building environment? Hank Monaco: Security, fire and life-safety systems can help to inform other building systems about how a facility is used, high-trafficked areas and the flow of occupants within a building. Integrated building solutions produce a myriad of data that can be leveraged to increase operational efficiencies. From an energy efficiency standpoint, actionable insights are particularly useful for areas that are not frequently occupied or off-peak hours as you wouldn’t want to heat or cool an entire building for just one person coming in on the weekend. When video surveillance is integrated with HVAC and lighting systems, it can monitor occupancy in a room or hallway. The video analytics can then control the dimming of lights and the temperature depending on occupant levels in a specific vicinity. Similarly, when access control systems are integrated with these same systems, once a card is presented to the reader, it can signal the lights or HVAC system to turn on. In this example, systems integration can ultimately help enable energy savings in the long run. Security and life safety systems contribute to help enable greater energy efficiency and energy savings in the long run Q: What other benefits of integration are there (beyond the core security and life safety functions)? Hank Monaco: Beyond increased security, fire and life-safety functions, the benefits of systems integration include: Increased data and analytics to garner a holistic, streamlined understanding of how systems function and how to improve productivity Ability to track usage to increase efficiency and reduce operational costs Enhanced occupant experience and comfort Increased productivity and workflow to support business objectives Smart-ready, connected environment that can support future technology advancements Q: What lesson or action point should a building owner/operator take from the survey? How can the owner of an existing building leverage the benefits of the smart building environment incrementally and absent a complete overhaul? Lisa Brown: Johnson Controls Energy Efficiency Indicator found that 77% of organizations plan to make investments in energy efficiency and smarter building technology this year. This percentage demonstrates an increased understanding of the benefits of smart buildings and highlights the proactive efforts building owners are taking to adopt advanced technologies. There is an increased understanding that buildings operate more effectively when different building systems are connected As smart buildings continue to evolve, more facilities are beginning to explore opportunities to advance their own spaces. A complete overhaul of legacy systems is not necessary as small investments today can help position a facility to more easily adopt technologies at scale in the future. As a first step, it’s important for building owners to conduct an assessment and establish a strategy that defines a comprehensive set of requirements and prioritizes use-cases and implementations. From there, incremental investments and updates can be made over a realistic timeline. Q: What is the ROI of smart buildings? Lisa Brown: As demonstrated by our survey, there is an increased understanding that buildings operate more effectively when different building systems are connected. The advanced analytics and more streamlined data that is gathered through systems integration can provide the building-performance metrics to help better understand the return on investment (ROI) of the building systems. This data is used to better understand the environment and make assessments and improvements overtime to increase efficiencies. Moreover, analytics and data provide valuable insights into where action is needed and what type of return can be expected from key investments.

Where are video surveillance cameras headed? At the core of next-generation Internet Protocol (IP) cameras are advanced chips with artificial intelligence (AI) at the edge, enabling cameras to gather valuable information about an incident: scanning shoppers at a department store, monitoring city streets, or checking on an elderly loved one at home. Thanks to advanced chip technology, complex analytics operations are becoming more affordable across the full spectrum of surveillance cameras —professional to consumer — fueling the democratization of AI in the IP camera market.Complex analytics operations are becoming more affordable across the full spectrum of surveillance cameras Expanding The Global IP Camera Market  The video surveillance equipment market grew to $18.5 billion in 2018 and is expected to increase this year, according to IHS Markit. The latest research points to video everywhere, edge computing, and AI as the top technologies that will have a major impact in both commercial and consumer markets in 2019. Computing at the edge means that the processors inside the camera are powerful enough to run AI processing locally, while still encoding and streaming video, and are able to do it all at the low-power required to fit into the limited thermal budget of an IP camera. New SoC chips will be able to perform all of the processing on camera and provide accurate AI information, with no need to send data to a server or the cloud for processing. Instead, data can be analyzed right in the camera itself, offering high performance, real-time video analytics, and lower latency — all critical aspects of video surveillance. This new AI paradigm is made possible by a new generation of SoCs, a key driver behind the market growth of IP cameras. Complex analytics operations are becoming more affordable across the full spectrum of surveillance cameras to fuel the advent of AI in the IP camera market Micro-Processor-Enabled Video Analytics Next-generation video cameras will be able to create heat maps of stores to see where people spend the most timeMicroprocessor-enabled analytics allow users to more easily extract valuable data from video streams. How about an insider’s view into retail customer behavior? Consider video cameras at a department store, monitoring shoppers’ behavior, traffic patterns, and areas of interest. Next-generation cameras will recognize how long a shopper stays in front of a specific display, if the shopper leaves and returns, and if the shopper ultimately makes a purchase. Next-generation video cameras will be able to create heat maps of stores to see where people spend the most time, so retailers will be able to adjust product placement accordingly. Analytics will also help identify busy/quiet times of the day, so retailers can staff accordingly. By understanding customers’ behavior, retailers can determine the best way to interact with them, target specific campaigns, and tailor ads for them. Cue the coupons while the shopper is still onsite! Analytics will also help identify busy/quiet times of the day, so retailers can staff accordingly Fast Processing For Rapid Response At City Level City surveillance and smart cities are depending on advanced video surveillance and intelligence to keep an eye on people and vehicles, identify criminals, flag suspicious behavior, and identify potentially dangerous situations such as loitering, big crowds forming, or cars driving the wrong way.Quick local decisions on the video cameras are also used to help analyze traffic situations Quick local decisions on the video cameras are also used to help analyze traffic situations, adjust traffic lights, identify license plates, automatically charge cars for parking, find a missing car across a city, or create live and accurate traffic maps. Real-Time HD Video Monitoring And Recording When it comes to home monitoring, what will next-generation video surveillance cameras offer? Real-time monitoring and notification can detect if a person is in the back yard or approaching the door, if there’s a suspicious vehicle in the driveway, or if a package is being delivered (or stolen). Advanced video cameras can determine when notifications are and aren’t required, since users don’t want to be notified for false alerts such as rain, tree branches moving, bugs, etc. Next-generation video camera capabilities can also help monitor a loved one, person or pet, helping put families at ease if they are at work or on vacation. For example, helpful analytics may be used to detect if someone has fallen, hasn’t moved for a while, or does not appear for breakfast according to their typical schedule. City surveillance and smart cities are depending on advanced video surveillance and intelligence to keep an eye on people and vehicles, identify criminals, flag suspicious behavior, and identify potentially dangerous situations Next-Gen IP Cameras When evaluating next-generation IP cameras (cameras on the edge), look at the brains. These cameras will likely be powered by next-generation SoCs chips. Here is what this means to you:       Save on network bandwidth, cloud computing and storage costs. There is no need to constantly upload videos to a server for analysis. Analysis can be performed locally on the camera, with only relevant videos being uploaded. Faster reaction time. Decisions are made locally, with no network latency. This is critical if you need to sound an alarm on a specific event. Privacy. In the most extreme cases, no video needs to leave the camera. Only metadata needs to be sent to the cloud or server. For example, the faces of people can be recognized in the camera and acted upon, but the video never reaches the cloud. The cameras can just stream a description of the scene to the server “suspicious person with a red sweater walking in front of the train station, has been loitering for the last 10 minutes, suggest sending an agent to check it out.” This could become a requirement in some EU countries with GDPR rules. Easier search. Instead of having to look through hours of video content, the server can just store/analyze the metadata, and easily perform searches such as “find all people with a red sweater who stayed more than five minutes in front of the train station today.” Flexibility/personalization. Each camera at the edge can be personalized to work better for the specific scene it is looking at, compared to a generic server. For example, “run a heat map algorithm on camera A (retail) as I want to know which sections of my store get the most traffic; and run a license plate recognizer on camera B (parking lot) as I want to be able to track the cars going in/out of my parking lot.” No cloud computing required. For cameras in remote locations or with limited network bandwidth, users have the ability to perform all analytics locally, without relying on uploading video to a server/cloud. Higher resolution/quality. When AI processing is performed locally, the full resolution of the sensor can be used (up to 4K or more), while typically the video streamed to a server will be lower resolution, 1080p or less. This means more pixels are available locally for the AI engine so that you will be able to detect a face from a higher distance than when the video is streamed off camera. AI At The Edge Professional-level IP cameras capable of performing AI at the edge are coming soon with early offerings making their debut at this year’s ISC West. As we enter 2020, we will begin to see the availability of consumer-level cameras enabling real-time video analytics at the edge for home use. With rapid technology advancement and increased customer demand, AI is on the verge of exploding. When it comes to image quality and video analytics, IP cameras now in development will create a next-generation impact at department stores, above city streets, and keeping an eye on our loved ones.

Cybersecurity has become a major element – and a major source of discussion – in the physical security marketplace as a result of the rise in networked systems. And we may still not be talking enough about cybersecurity. Here is part one of our Cybersecurity series. “Cybersecurity requires everyone in the security industry to be playing offense and defense at the same time, every single day,” says Bill Bozeman, President and CEO of PSA Security Network. “It needs to just become part of the standard conversation when we are talking about physical security because they are so intertwined.” Creating New Industry Leaders Cybersecurity and physical security can be seen as two parts of a single entity, and increasingly the two will be combined at the enterprise level over the next several years. “This convergence of physical security and cybersecurity will create new industry leaders that will emerge to lead a new segment of the combined market through strong investment and leadership,” says Rob Lydic of ISONAS, now part of Allegion. Data capture form to appear here! Cybersecurity issues dominate almost every discussion in today’s physical security industry, and the clear message is that “manufacturers and integrators must continue to create robust and scalable cybersecurity offerings to protect customer data and facilities,” says Lydic. He contends that cloud services providers (such as ISONAS) are more cybersecure and reliable ‘by orders of magnitude’ than non-cloud solutions. Cybersecurity is linked to cloud-based systems and managed security service provider models Cloud-Based Services The Security Industry Association (SIA) has listed cybersecurity as one of 2019’s ‘Top Megatrends’ in the physical security market. SIA says it is important to prioritize cybersecurity among security businesses, for customers’ businesses, and for vendors. The trend calls for continual process improvement and investment. Bill Bozeman of PSA Security Network agrees: “Cybersecurity has definitely taken a strong foothold in the industry.” With the continued expansion of cloud-based services, cybersecurity will be more important than ever to integrators, manufacturers and end users alike, he says. Notably, cybersecurity is directly linked to two other important industry trends listed by Bozeman: cloud-based systems and the rise in recurring monthly revenue (RMR) and managed security service provider (MSSP) models, whose focus will include cybersecurity. Loss Prevention Executives The days when cybersecurity was exclusively the domain of the information technology (IT) department are gone. “Cybercrime is one of the biggest threats organizations of all sizes and types face today,” says Michael Malone, CEO of ADT Cybersecurity (formerly known as Datashield). “Considering the magnitude of these crimes, it now falls on the entire organization, including the traditional security or loss prevention executives, to band together to combat these threats.” Cybercrime is one of the biggest threats organizations of all sizes and types face today Malone favors (and his company offers) a managed detection and response (MDR) service, which combines advanced technology and human analysis. Using packet capture on the network, an MDR analyst can ‘replay’ a cyber security event and dig deeper into the incident and determine remediation steps. It’s an approach that significantly cuts through false positive ‘noise’ so security teams can focus on what matters. Helping Security Officers Interestingly, cybersecurity is poised to benefit from another major trend in the physical security market – the rise of artificial intelligence. Specifically, machine learning applications for cybersecurity include: detecting malicious activity, helping security officers determine what tasks they need to complete in an investigation process, analyzing mobile endpoints, decreasing the number of false positive threats, automating repetitive tasks like interrupting ransomware, and potentially closing some zero-day vulnerabilities. But AI in this case is not a panacea. Christopher McDaniels of Mosaic451 recommends pairing human intellect with machine technology to sort through data faster and catch hackers before they do much damage. Part two of our Cybersecurity series coming soon. 

The excitement of ISC West 2019 continued until the very end – almost. Exhilarated by the first two busy days of the show, attendees and exhibitors seemed to welcome a slower third day. There were no complaints about booth traffic, and still plenty of thoughtful conversations taking place, everyone determined to maximize the value of face time with customers until the last second. Building An IoT Ecosystem In SAST At a show lacking in high-profile new technology announcements, the biggest news is perhaps the possible long-term impact of first-time exhibitor Security and Safety Things (SAST), a Bosch startup. SAST is building a new Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem for the security and safety industry, including an app store, an open and secure camera operating system, a software developer environment, and a portal for integrators. SOCs (system-on-chips inside cameras) are becoming much more capable" Their 1,800-square-foot booth was big for a first-time exhibitor, and the American football theme was well received, as was the substance of the company’s effort to drive innovation in a highly fragmented industry. Seeing actual cameras and apps on display at the ISC West booth is “more real than PowerPoint,” says Hartmut Schaper, CEO of Security and Safety Things (SAST). “For us, seeing is believing,” says Schaper. “It was important for us to show cameras and apps for the first time. People are surprised at how far down the road we are.” “This dynamic will change in the industry,” says Schaper. “SOCs (system-on-chips inside cameras) are becoming much more capable. Soon there will be more processing power on the edge. People will find a way to use the extra processing power.” “Seeing is believing” at the SAST booth at ISC West 2019, where CEO Hartmut Schaper showed several manufacturers’ cameras whose functionality can be expanded using Android apps Developing More Apps Several large manufacturers are already involved in the initiative, but there are some holdouts. “We are having ongoing talks with everyone to convince them to join,” Schaper says. “Some of the bigger ones will come around. We are not a camera manufacturer, and not a threat. We are owned by Bosch but are managed completely separately. There will be more and more apps developed, and momentum will increase.” “A year from now we will have successful customers we can talk about, and more camera manufacturers on board,” he says. “This year we are taxiing on the runway, but next year we will have cleared the tarmac and be climbing.” If the approach succeeds, their first appearance at ISC West will be remembered as historic. Future Of Surveillance Cameras Off the show floor, in a nearby meeting room, chip maker Ambarella demonstrated technologies that will be driving the future of video surveillance cameras, including more intelligence at the edge. “People have been using more traditional video analytics approaches, though most of them have been disappointing,” says Chris Day, Ambarella VP of Marketing and Business Development. “What is ground-breaking now is the use of neural networks and real artificial intelligence, which has increased capabilities 100x. "You will see camera products coming out over the next year that are massively better than before. It’s not just incrementally getting better. Cameras will be coming out later this year with analytics that are absolutely amazing based on [the new chips.]” Larry Anderson, editor-in-chief of SecurityInformed.com, talks about Ambarella HDR and Low Light Solutions with Jerome Gigot, Senior Director of Marketing for Ambarella. (Source: Ambarella) New Systems-on-Chips Ambarella has introduced four new systems-on-chips (SoCs) in the last year, with emphasis on computer vision (video analytics). The newest is the S6LM Camera SoC with 4K imaging technology, unveiled at ISC West. The S6LM includes Ambarella's latest high dynamic range (HDR) and low-light processing technology, highly efficient 4K H.264 and H.265 encoding, multi-streaming, on-chip 360-degree de-warping, cyber-security features, and a quad-core CPU. People shouldn’t forget what a good camera is, and there doesn’t have to be a tradeoff" “With so much focus on AI and computer vision, I’m concerned the industry has taken focus away from low light imaging, wide dynamic range and image quality,” says Day. “You have to see the details in an image. People shouldn’t forget what a good camera is, and there doesn’t have to be a tradeoff, it’s all included in one chip.” From Products To Systems With a new general manager on board (Daniel Gundlach, formerly of Bosch), FLIR Systems Security Division is continuing its transition from a product company to a solutions provider, removing internal silos to clear the path. FLIR offers a strong end-to-end portfolio for Smart Cities applications, including the TruWITNESS line of body worn cameras and newly acquired Aeryon drones. FLIR’s historical strength as the top thermal imaging provider continues, but today they are much more than a thermal imaging company, offering visible day/night cameras, infrared pan-tilt-zoom cameras, video management systems and other technologies to provide a broader platform. FLIR's Saros security cameras combine multiple security technologies, including thermal sensors, high-resolution visible imaging, IR and visible LED illuminators, onboard analytics and two-way audio and digital input/outputs. Products In Critical Infrastructure Applications In addition to Safe Cities, FLIR installs a range of products in critical infrastructure applications, such as oil and gas and electric utilities. Ports also tend to combine traditional security with an emphasis on perimeter protection, a FLIR strength. Existing perimeter protection applications can open opportunities for the broader platform. For example, installing a complete system in an airport that already uses FLIR’s thermal technology represents “low-hanging fruit” for the company, says Fredrik Wallberg, FLIR Director of Marketing – Security and Intelligent Transportation Systems. Ambarella demonstrates its latest imaging technology for video security during ISC West 2019 (Source: Ambarella) Integrated Solutions Bosch's Focus At the Bosch booth, there was an emphasis on integrated solutions and the customer experience. A mock retail store setup demonstrated systems such as overhead cameras for people counting and alarm communication to provide an alert if a refrigerator door is left ajar. A wireless panic button generates a silent alarm, communicates with a 2-way radio, and triggers a camera to focus on the area. An AVIOTEK IP camera alarms if there is a fire, based on observing actual flames rather than smoke. A new Bosch fixed dome camera series offers wireless remote commissioning capabilities that reduce installation and set-up time by up to 75 percent. Set-up only takes three steps: install the mounting bracket, connect the cables, and attach the camera module. Commissioning can be done wirelessly or remotely with no need for ladders or lifts. Dahua Marks Five Years In The States An IR illuminator is attached to each lens module to ensure there is always illumination in the field of view Time flies in the security industry, and it has already been five years since the Dahua brand entered the U.S. market. Today the company offers products through ADI and some 20 distributors, and has more than 30 technical consultants and technical support employees and 50 or 60 sales people in the field (including independent rep firms). “We are growing,” says Tim Shen, Director of Marketing at Dahua Technology USA. “It’s exciting for the company.” At ISC West, Dahua introduced a line of Multi-Flex panoramic cameras with lens modules that can be repositioned along an internal track for 180-, 270- or 360-degree views, providing flexibility for integrators. An IR illuminator is attached to each lens module to ensure there is always illumination in the field of view. Cost savings come from ease of installation (one camera instead of four) and only one VMS license (instead of four). AI And Night Color Cameras Dahua is also emphasising its Night Color cameras that remain in full color mode regardless of how dark it gets. There is no IR illumination or IR cut filter – the camera stays in color mode and displays any visible image in colour with as little as 1 lux of illumination. The 2 megapixel version is on display at ISC West, and a 4 megapixel version will come in the fall. A year ago at ISC West, Dahua emphasised its initiatives in artificial intelligence (AI) in order to position the company as a technology leader. This year, the message was more general – ‘Power Through Technology.’ The range of Dahua technologies includes AI, Night Color, Starlight low-light imaging, fifth-generation HDCVI, and e-POE (Enhanced Power over Ethernet). Dahua USA's Director of Marketing says "the market itself likes AI", and expects more AI applications to follow (Source: Dahua USA's LinkedIn) “When we present AI to customers, they are happy, but when it comes to the budget they don’t have it,” says Shen. “The market itself likes AI, and it’s very much a buzzword. But we still need a proof of concept that it can do something good for end users. We need time to develop broader applications. The ‘smart retail’ market and education are good places to start.” he says. “AI is for project business,” adds Jennifer Hackenburg, Dahua’s Senior Product Marketing Manager. “Projects that are looking at AI haven’t come to fruition yet; they are still in the pipeline. It’s not for your everyday business. They are implementing it, but not as fast.” Access Control Beyond Doors Access control should extend beyond doors. That’s the message I heard at the ASSA ABLOY booth, which displayed a variety of physical locks and intelligent access systems. An example is traffic cabinets, those metal boxes in public locations that could potentially be accessed to invade an internal network. ASSA ABLOY emphasises the need to secure the variety of enclosures, cabinets, drawers and small spaces ASSA ABLOY emphasizes the need to secure the variety of enclosures, cabinets, drawers and small spaces throughout an enterprise. The company’s ‘security continuum’ message draws attention to the need for the right level of security for the right opening, using existing infrastructure as well as new electronic technologies. “Customers face a combination of non-traditional access control and questions on how they can secure things that are not doors,” says David Corbin, ASSA ABLOY Director of Access Control Accessories. The security message is resonating beyond the traditional security department to involve other stakeholders in an enterprise, including IT directors. There is new awareness of vulnerabilities that have been there forever, such as traffic cabinets that can be opened with a key purchased on eBay.

There are many new technologies at ISC West this year. There are also some tried-and-true solutions on display. More mature products have the benefit of being fully vetted and battle-tested, which may make them a more comfortable choice for security customers. I had a couple of discussions on Day 2 of the show about the advantages, and possible drawbacks, of new products. “To a security director, when you say ‘new,’ he translates that into ‘risk,’” says Bill Spence, VP of Sales, U.S., Canada and Western Europe for HID Global’s Lumidigm biometrics brand. “Anytime you say new, there is a probability of risk. The key is to educate. Education quantifies risk, and an educated customer can make an intelligent decision about risk versus reward.” “We have to take customers from where they are to help them understand new technologies,” says Spence. “We must give them a bridge to that understanding, and education is the bridge.” Lumidigm Biometrics Integrations An app provides graphics that take installers step-by-step through the installation process HID Global is incorporating Lumidigm biometrics into the new iClass SE RB25F fingerprint reader being highlighted at the show. Two-factor authentication can use either a card or mobile credential along with biometrics; there is no latency; and templates can be stored on a card. Another new offering at the HID Global booth is an augmented reality tool to simplify installation of newer systems that incorporate the more secure OSDP protocol. An app provides graphics that take installers step-by-step through the installation process. Also highlighted at the HID Global booth — and at the booths of turnstile manufacturers throughout the show — are embedded readers that provide tested and certified mobile access control for turnstiles. IClass SE technology is embedded in the iRox-T Turnstile Reader from Essex Electronics. Innovative Security Technologies There’s a delicate balance at any trade show between creating excitement about new products and educating customers to be comfortable with new technologies. There is some of both at ISC West 2019. In the future, hardware will be a delivery device, not the core of systems “We are on the cusp of change in the industry, and it’s closer than ever,” says Jennifer Doctor, Johnson Controls’ Senior Director, Project Management - Intrusion. “We will see the impact of promised technologies that will come from other industries, such as artificial intelligence. The very definition of security is changing. We are an industry that needs to be risk-averse, and we need to prove out the technology. There is innovation, but we just need to make sure technologies are what the market wants and expects.” “In the future, hardware will be a delivery device, not the core of systems, which will come from intelligence in the software and from services,” she adds. “The products we deliver will enable that.” Have 30 percent of service companies in the U.S. security market jumped into the cloud?  PowerSeries Pro Intrusion Portfolio Johnson Controls is highlighting the commercial PowerSeries Pro intrusion portfolio, which features PowerG encrypted technology that enables wireless systems that are cyber-secure. The cloud is coming on strong, and one company finding success in cloud systems is Eagle Eye Networks, which has seen 93% compounded annual growth over the past three years. Economies of scale have enabled them to lower subscription prices by 35%, with an extra 10% decrease for customers that pay annually. Ken Francis, President of Eagle Eye Networks, says they are signing up 50 new dealers a month for the cloud video offering. Francis estimates that 30 percent of service companies in the U.S. security market have jumped into the cloud “It’s really heating up,” says Francis. “The general cloud is driving increases in the surveillance cloud.” Jumping To Cloud Embracing the cloud and recurring monthly revenue (RMR) requires that dealers transform their businesses to ensure success. Francis says dealers should dedicate sales resources to cloud offerings rather than expect everyone to sell the cloud, and there should be a base commission plan on RMR services in lieu of upfront project fees. March Networks is also showing integration of video with the Shopify cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) system “Talk to professionals about your cash flow and understand how to capitalize on financing partners to ensure cash flow while investing in the RMR stream,” he adds. “And look for ways to reduce your costs to serve the customer base as your RMR increases.” For example, use of remote site diagnostics, configuration and support can avoid the need for expensive “truck rolls” that can undermine profitability. Francis estimates that 30 percent of service companies in the U.S. security market have jumped into the cloud. Alarm companies, which are accustomed to the RMR model, are generally ahead of the curve, while traditional security integrators are lagging. “It’s a requirement to change or die,” he notes. Insight Hosted Managed Service Also, in the area of managed services, March Networks is highlighting its Insight hosted managed service that can provide instant information on video systems located at remote sites, including visibility into firmware versions, camera warranty information, and cybersecurity status of systems. The ability to dive deeply into system status empowers a new recurring revenue stream for integrators. Color-coded icons summarize system status and show pending issues and clicking on the icons provides detailed workflow information. The system can also be offered for smaller systems such as those at convenience stores and quick-serve restaurants. March Networks is also showing integration of video with the Shopify cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) system. The integration enables managers to evaluate POS information, especially anomalies, to determine possible employee theft and other shrinkage issues.

Banks must meet their customers' requirements for security in a special way on many levels. Whether it is with their savings, taking advantage of over-the-counter services at a branch office, withdrawing money from the teller machines, making deposits via the cash recycling system, online banking etc. - for a long-lasting, trusting cooperation with a bank, customers demand the highest possible level of security. In order to fulfill these demands, banks rely on sophisticated hardware and software solutions that can be easily and efficiently expanded with MOBOTIX high-resolution video surveillance technology at an optimal cost-benefit ratio.  Commerzbank - competent services for private and business customers With around 820 branches, a consolidated balance sheet total of more than 600 billion Euro and almost 36,000 employees, Commerzbank is the second biggest financial institution of its kind in Germany and one of the largest in Europe and in the world. The bank's large number of branches ensures a closely meshed network and customer proximity. In the branches, the trend is towards "more service for the customer" and this of course includes being able to withdraw and deposit cash "around the clock." This, in combination with a sophisticated centralized security system, reduces the threat of criminal attacks. The technical implications of this approach are considerable.  Every branch has its own quasi-standardized comprehensive security package installed, in which camera surveillance plays an important role. Once a day, the relevant, locally stored events are transferred via the bank's own data network infrastructure to the bank's security center in Frankfurt and analyzed there. This meets the requirements of the Verwaltungs-Berufsgenossenschaft (VBG - German professional trade association) while keeping the usage of the data lines between the branch and the headquarters to a minimum during opening hours.   The dome camera series is suitable for use inside buildings  Flexible solutions for special tasks Security-related situations that cannot be solved using the standard package solutions are occurring with increasing frequency. This is where competent and creative service providers, such as ADS Networks GmbH come in, together with intelligent IP-based audio and video solutions from the technology leader MOBOTIX AG. Commerzbank required a pilot system installation in their branch in Erfurt. This branch is situated in a shopping arcade that was frequently used after closing time by numerous skateboarders to pursue their hobby. This deterred many bank customers from accessing the foyer of the building which houses the account statement printer and the ATM for cash withdrawals, thus also damaging the image of Commerzbank. The landlord's suggestion of barring the skaters from the arcade after closing time by installing rolling shutters was expensive and counter-productive since the bank customers would then have been equally unable to access the branch. The task was to present a solution that focused on the customer's needs. ADS Key Account Manager Semsettin Özünal suggested introducing MOBOTIX dome cameras to provide surveillance in the arcade. Thanks to its elegant design, the dome camera series is highly suitable for use inside buildings. The camera models are each equipped with two flexible, adjustable camera modules that can be individually positioned in all directions independently of each other.   The cameras are additionally equipped with a microphone and speakers The individual models are available with a range of different lenses. Michael Wihan, branch security specialist at Commerzbank and an open-minded technician, was immediately convinced and impressed by the advantages of the easily and quickly installable solution. The high-resolution color images of the two cameras enable around-the-clock visual surveillance of the arcade by staff at the Commerzbank security center in Frankfurt. The additional data traffic on the dedicated line also proved to be no problem at all since MOBOTIX IP cameras have very low bandwidth requirements. The cameras are additionally equipped with a microphone and speakers that allow the security staff to directly address the skaters in real-time and order them to refrain from their activities. The impact was enormous. After a short period of transition, the arcade is now free of skaters and can be accessed by anyone without any concerns for security - even during evening hours.  G8 summit in Heiligendamm A further security challenge for the banks was the G8 summit of the eight largest industrial countries that was held in Heiligendamm in mid-2007. The security experts at Commerzbank had to prepare themselves and take precautions against a potential threat to their branches in the Heiligendamm area by militant globalisation activists. Due to the exceptionally positive experience in Erfurt, Commerzbank again chose MOBOTIX IP camera technology. Within just a few days, the branches in Kröpelin, Roggentin and Warnemünde were visually and acoustically linked to the group's security center.     MOBOTIX CCTV technology provided an ideal solution for Commerzbank After the G8 summit, the decision was made to keep the highly effective and affordable security solution in place. It had proven to be valuable both in terms of preventing threats to the branches and improving customer service. In the event of technical problems, a member of staff at the security center can directly communicate with the customer in the branch foyer via the microphone and speakers in the cameras. IP cameras in the "branches of the future" In its "branches of the future", Commerzbank wants to achieve its goal of "more service for the customer". Additional security measures were therefore needed in the self-service areas that house the ATMs. To ensure customer protection, a reliable surveillance system is required in areas where an emergency button is also installed. In order to identify criminals "creeping in" at night, MOBOTIX' high-resolution IP camera technology combined with an intruder detection alarm system offers a convenient method of providing additional, cost-effective security. The highly detailed camera images enable all required information to be extracted from the image provided by one single camera. This makes it unnecessary to install several conventional cameras cutting investment, installation and operational costs, reducing administration, simplifying data storage and alarm analysis, reducing network traffic and increasing the general reliability of the system. Additionally, customers more readily accept the MOBOTIX solution because it is visually more discreet. There is no doubt that the "branch of the future" needs the intelligent, high-resolution IP camera technology from MOBOTIX as an alternative to the increased use of security personnel or other conventional security measures. So it's a good thing that MOBOTIX communication and security technology is already available today for the branch concepts of tomorrow.

As the popularity of internet banking increases, the demand for conventional bank counter activity reduces and we see increased reliance on ATMs or other transaction devices. Making the appropriate infrastructure adaptations represents a big challenge for banks and for their security. The increasing number of unmanned areas mean that security, especially CCTV, is needed more than ever. In fact wherever cash is handled, CCTV is vital: at conventional teller counters and ATMs, at cash centres and at every step along the cash logistics chain, as well as at data centres and other data infrastructure sites.Meantime banks have also been migrating from analog video systems to IP ones, and adding HD or megapixel video. Generally in this situation their initial requirement is for hybrid solutions which can replace a mixture of different system types with one common system while incorporating their existing (predominantly analog) cameras. Geutebrucks’s re_porter_bank+ was conceived as the ideal platform to meet this need. Essentially it is an entry level ‘omnibrid’ business surveillance solution specifically designed and configured for the banking environment which can be used with analog and/or IP cameras.FlexibilityThe re_porter_bank+ is intended for dealing with the variety of situations, components and peripherals found in a large existing network of branches and locations. It comes with 4, 8, 12, or 16 analog inputs which can be expanded up to 19 Geutebruck channels with three IP sources and supports the use of many different brands of IP cameras. With 1Gbit onboard Ethernet the re_porter_bank+ offers TCP/IP-based digital matrix functionality and unlimited (LAN/WAN) integration potential. Each unit can take up to 4 hard disks for video database storage.The re_porter_bank+ has camera position analysis and motion detection features to trigger alarms if there is any tampering with the video system itself or if an intruder is detected in any sensitive areas of the site. It can of course be integrated with existing branch alarm, access control and ATM systems. So at night and out of hours it protects against break-ins and vandalism by detecting intruders, forwarding alarms to a remote control center, carrying out guard tours and documenting events. The re_porter_bank+ protects against break-ins and vandalism by detecting intruders, forwarding alarms, carrying out guard tours and documenting events  ‘Omnibrid’ technologyGeutebruck’s ‘omnibrid’ technology allows the use of all current compression algorithms and standards – H.264, H264CCTV, MPEG4CCTV, M JPEG and ONVIF compliance – as well as audio recording, for analog and IP cameras. It supports H264CCTV, H.264 and MJPEG formats with freely configurable resolutions. In addition, it can transcode M-JPEG streams from IP cameras into MPEG4CCTV or MPEG4CCTV/MP (megapixel) CCTV-optimized formats. This has the advantage of enabling the user to use highly advantageous specialist CCTV processes like dual channel streaming (DCS) and dynamic live streaming (DLS) which deliver large network and storage savings.Geutebruck’s video sensors and intelligent video analysis software are well-known for their reliability, while its own specialist, CCTV-friendly, standard-compliant compression processes retain fluid motion, and consequently valuable detail, in situations where the vast majority of other H.264 implementations hesitate and shudder. A key advantage of this new omnibrid technology is that it enables video streams from third-party image sources to be processed using Geutebruck’s proven video analysis software. It therefore provides more scope for intelligent data management, enabling different compression formats to be used for different purposes, and gives system designers much more scope to achieve optimum customisations.An all-in-one banking solutionConceived as an all-in-one banking solution, the re_porter_bank+ more than meets the specifications of the BVG, the body which regulates video security systems in German banks and other cash-handling institutions. Its regulations cover details such as the location of cameras, picture resolutions, recording rates, the format of pre- and post-incident histories, evidential security and even the system maintenance regime – all with a view to deterring hold-ups, or failing that, to obtaining useful evidence of events.As a consequence of this German regulation Geutebruck has extensive experience of exchanging metadata with other systems (e.g. ATMs, access control, building management systems and others) and the capabilities of the  re_porter_bank+ include some specialist functions which are now of increasing relevance and interest internationally. For example, the re_porter_bank+ was designed to fulfilll the legal requirement that all German financial institutions should document all cash withdrawals at ATM machines, whether these are on their own premises or in public areas. So where ATMs are located in foyers secured by access control systems, the re_porter can record card data when the customer presents his card to the card reader at the foyer door; video as he enters the foyer; video as he approaches the ATM; a portrait from the portrait camera as the customer’s cash card is read by the ATM; account data as the transaction is processed; video of the customer’s hand taking the cash from the ATM and then video of the scene as he leaves the foyer. In short it provides a comprehensive package of readily available, water-tight evidence on each ‘event’ which avoids the enormous costs which could otherwise be involved in investigating card fraud or vandalism.Securing banks is a company traditionGeutebruck is no newcomer to the banking sector. It owes its very existence to supplying banks with the latest security solutions. In the 1970s it was the development of an unconventional film camera which helped solve German bank robberies and brought early success to the company. Later the long-running Multiscope range of digital video platforms were used in their thousands in banks worldwide. Now Geutebruck’s GeViScope+ is the obvious choice for central banks and major institutions and the re_porter_bank+ the trusty workhorse for high street branch networks.

Refurbishment work was recently completed at the K&N Kenanga International building in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, a 22-storey commercial structure with a three-and-a-half-storey annexed podium block, located in Kuala Lumpur's central business district. New features of the refurbished main lobby include a physical access control system based on the contactless LEGIC technology, a food and beverage area and an information counter. Kaba Jaya Security was selected to provide electronic access control, visitor management systems and half-height sensor barriers. The system includes six lanes of Argus HSB E11 for tenants and visitors, one lane of Charon HSD E03 for disabled access, and Kaba Exos® 9300 for electronic access control and visitor management. The completed system provides the K&N Kenanga building with: Access rights management of staff and visitors Efficient reception and management of visitors No long queues during rush hour Integrated Malaysian IC reader Asset protection Increased employee safety Defined access restrictions within the security perimeter Reduced operational cost Fewer administrative expenses A flexible, integrated, efficient security solution All systems integrated One point of responsibility for all three system

This project has a main purpose and goal, which is to connect the main bank office with other bank offices and buildings to achieve secure bank data transfer between all offices. This is very necessary for the bank. In most countries, the systems used for data transfer between companies or banks are based on fiber optic networks such as PSTN and GSM. But in Iraq, the situation is different because Iraq does not have the infrastructure for this network and even if it existed, it would have likely been damaged because of the successive wars that Iraq has known. So, Fidaa Group Co. needed to find an alternative idea to manage the installed network of this bank in order to have a reliable network. Fidaa Group Co. had chosen WiMAX technology from Proxim Wireless for many reasons, which will be discussed later. This project is a premier project in the Middle East and the world using the WiMAX technology in banks network, and we hope it will help to open a new vision of WiMAX technology applications. Why WiMAX? Before Fidaa Group started to find a proper solution for the bank network, there were regular solutions like satellite VSAT connection, SCPC-SCPC, connection with public IP and dynamic SCPC-SCPC VSAT and even the shared satellite systems like DVB-S – RCS, but all of these systems shared four main problems: 1-The high costs – Satellite connections bandwidth used to reach about $3,000.00 for each 1 mbps, whereas it costs nearly $0 after initial up-front equipment costs with WiMAX. 2-The high latency – All satellite systems have minimum data packet latency about 550-750 milliseconds latency, even in ideal situations, which caused problems for real time systems and software. Many real-time applications are sensitive and require less 550 milliseconds of latency to operate synchronously. Many networking companies utilize a very complex technology to overcome these problems, but with WiMAX , this problem had already been solved because the maximum latency is about 10-25 milliseconds – which is considered very fast and suitable for real-time systems that require low latency . 3-The deployment and maintenance – Maintenance, weather affection and time to solve any network problems is very difficult especially when you have a third party network operator like PSTN, GSM, and Satellite Operators. You will not have the ability to solve the network problems compared to your private network if you don’t have a WiMAX network. 4-The security factor is very important especially in banking systems. So in the network of any establishment, it is preferred to use a private network without a third party. This will help to decrease the possibility of data sniffing or to be spied on by anyone. With WiMAX, you have this advantage because it’s your network and you can use the latest security encryptions technologies in the world and have full access of your security employees charged to monitor and control the network 24/7/365 continuously easily which is very difficult to be done in with other technologies. Challenges Fidaa Group thinks WiMAX may threaten the fiber optic network from a cost perspective The challenges of this project could be divided in two sections: the first section is related to the non secure circumstances in Iraq which make work very difficult added to the absence of electricity for more 16 hours per day. Sometimes the workers could not reach work locations for more than a week. The hard weather with a temperature up to 50 degrees Celsius in summer and the connection difficulties between the workers who are supposed to make the alignments because the GSM networks which used to stop for more than a day were also problematic. VHF handsets were also banded. When Fidaa Group looked for a project at a very low budget, the WiMAX network was thousands or millions of dollars cheaper and works extremely well with excellent reliability and low cost running, making us very thankful for this new technology. The company thinks the WiMAX with this large spectrum of frequency (2-80 GHz) and the low cost will be the leader in telecommunication technologies and it may threaten the fiber optic network from a cost perspective. So after these years, we can say that our WiMAX network is working very good, which will encourage us to make other networks for a lot of establishments and gives us more confidence in our abilities and WiMAX’s reliability.  Conclusions and recommendations This project had added to Fidaa Group a new experience with the newest technology. The difficult situation in Iraq encouraged us to invent a new application for WiMAX technology in co-operation with Proxim Wireless, something which was not feasible before 2006. Departing from our experience, Fidaa Group recommends using the WiMAX technology in establishment’s networks especially in the countries which don’t have the network infrastructure or even enough budgets for other technologies or need a high secured network. Fidaa Group Company is ready to support any establishment worldwide to get full use of this technology with the lowest costs. 

Security Systems Design Limited has successfully completed the installation of a Samsung CCTV system at the London offices of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Following  a refurbishment of its  offices  on the third floor  of Senator House in Queen Victoria Street, EC4, the Bank asked Richard Slee, a Director of Security Systems Design Limited, to design a CCTV system which could assist security personnel to provide a high level of protection for staff as well as the Bank's assets. The Commonwealth Bank of Australia employs 38,000 people worldwide. Staff at its London offices are responsible for developing strategic partnerships with European banks and they also assist migrants to relocate their finances to Australia. "Senator House is a multi-tenanted office building and although no cash is handled on the premises, the Bank nevertheless needs to maintain strict control over visitors, welcome or otherwise," said Richard Slee. "The objective therefore was to install a CCTV system to work alongside an existing access control system." Richard worked closely with the Bank's Facilities Manager to draw up the specification for the system which included a requirement that all cameras should have day/night capabilities, as well as built-in lighting so that high quality color images could be captured during the day and equally good monochrome images in night time conditions. "We considered cameras as well as digital recording equipment from a number of manufacturers. We came to the conclusion that we could source all that was required from Samsung who were able to demonstrate confidence in the reliability of their equipment by offering a full three year warranty," added Richard Slee. "The other important factor that helped us make the decision to use Samsung equipment was that its DVRs are supplied with license-free CMS (Centralized Management Software) which makes it very easy for the Facilities Manager to monitor the CCTV system from a PC on his desk." The Samsung SIR-60 day/night domes capture high quality color images in any environment with its built-in LEDs Security Systems Design Limited installed Day/Night dome cameras with built-in LEDs. The dome cameras can capture very high quality color images at 580TV lines resolution during the day. At night or in any environment where there may be zero light, the camera's built-in LEDs are activated and provide effective lighting up to a distance of seven metres. At the same time, the camera switches to monochrome mode generating superb monochrome images at 700TV lines resolution. The brightness of the LEDs is automatically adjusted to take into account how far away an object or person is from the camera.  Images from the nine cameras are recorded simultaneously onto a Samsung DVR which uses a highly efficient MPEG-4 compression method to ensure that the three terabytes of on-board video storage capacity is more than enough to record all activity throughout the Bank's offices. The SVR-945 is located in the Bank's secure comms room. "In the current economic climate, the client was understandably looking for a solution which would not put undue strain on the budget available for security equipment," added Richard Slee. "I am pleased to say that we have been able to provide equipment which can be regarded as the best in its class and is able to exactly match the Bank's demanding requirements."

The Milestone Systems open platform IP video management software is an important tool for Loomis Denmark to ensure transparency throughout the entire cash services process. The transport and counting of cash, financial documents and other valuables is a business that demands ongoing attention to security, which is well covered by Milestone XProtect Corporate managing network cameras from Axis and megapixel cameras from IQinVision documenting every detail of the activities."For us security has the highest priority, for obvious reasons. Our customers' livelihoods are literally in our hands when we carry out our work, so it is therefore vital that there is a strong relationship of trust. And this relates not only to our customers but also just as importantly to our employees, who handle all the assets on a daily basis," explains Risk Manager Tom Andersen at Loomis.Loomis utilizes a number of security measures, where video surveillance plays a big role. Every day over 100 cameras in the Glostrup location and a similar number in the city of Brabrand help to ensure that all procedures and security processes are being upheld. Thereby Loomis makes sure that every instance of cash handling is documented so any eventual irregularity can quickly be resolved. The surveillance technology is based on Milestone Systems open platform IP video management software, XProtect Corporate, with network cameras from Axis and IQinVision. With just a few clicks, operators can control different cameras at the same time and view the live or archived video from any location. Loomis monitors all the entrances and exits, cash handling areas, receiving and deliveries, in addition to the outer perimeters of their premises. The 1st of April 2008 is a day that Loomis will never forget. That night at 3:32 a.m. the police received a robbery alarm from Loomis: a group of men had busted into the cash handling company's building by breaking a hole through the wall with a telescope laser, and managed to get away with DK 62 million. The biggest robbery in the history of Denmark thereby became a reality, despite all of the security measures they had in place at that time. Loomis immediately went to work reviewing all their procedures and systems to improve their security even more. "Of course the robbery sharpened our focus on security! Our business always has to live with the risk of robberies but we can make it more and more difficult for any attempts by dividing our security elements and defences into different levels that hinder and delay any criminal efforts so much that the police can manage to arrive and deal with it. One of our important components is the video surveillance, which is also a fantastic tool for the police to use as evidence in their work," says Tom Andersen, who emphasises that Loomis makes ongoing changes to their security procedures all the time.When the robbery occurred, Loomis had operations at night for cash counting so there were employees present at the time of the incident. Today, Loomis only operates during the day, and another part of the increased defense of the building includes new alarms installed to warn when anyone is even getting near the building from the outside. Loomis previously had an analog system that became outdated, so after a thorough review of their security needs in collaboration with SmartGuard, a Certified Milestone Partner, it became clear that the open platform IP video solution from Milestone Systems provided all of the right options. Transparency and documentation for top integrity   The open platform IP video solution from Milestone Systems provided all of the right options for Loomis When an employee is hired, he or she must go through a series of security procedures such as credit and police arrest record checks. Yet even though Loomis takes all these precautions, it is still necessary to have an extra guarantee of accountability, which the video surveillance ensures. Today there are many cameras in the work stations. The zoom functions in the software combined with the megapixel cameras from IQinVision deliver the sharpest images of money bags being opened, and the money counting is monitored from different angles. The video information can be compared with the customers' records so any eventual differences can be revealed and resolved. This saves time and provides thorough documentation and integrity for the asset management process. "With the video surveillance we can document that we do our work properly and this strengthens our objective role with our customers. The video also helps us ensure things for our employees: should anything questionable come up, we can immediately go back in the recorded video and see that the task was handled correctly," says Andersen."The reason that we chose Milestone was precisely because the solution includes an intelligent SmartSearch function that lets us click quickly to the exact date and time for the scanning of a particular money bag and view it. We can also look for an object that's disappeared simply by marking it in the images," he adds, and concludes: "The video monitoring makes it possible for us to live up to our promise of transparency and documentation for our customers. And the Milestone open IP platform also allows us to integrate the system with other innovative solutions over time. This creates a high level of flexibility, and is just one of the ways in which we have future-proofed our business."

ISC West 2019 is in the industry’s rear-view mirror, and what a show it was! The busy three days in April offered a preview of exciting technologies and industry trends for the coming year. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What was the big news at ISC West 2019?

Our Expert Panel is an opinionated group on a wide variety of topics, and we are dedicated to providing a useful and flexible forum to share those opinions. This week, our panelists address a range of opinions about several self-selected topics, culled from the large number of Expert Panelist responses we have collected in the last year. In this Expert Panel Roundtable article, we will share these varied and insightful responses to ensure they are not lost to posterity!

Ethical hackers are familiar to the world of cybersecurity. As cybersecurity awareness increases in physical security, they are also playing a larger role to ensure the safety of networked and information technologies used in our market. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What is the role of ‘ethical hackers’ to ensure cybersecurity of networked products in the physical security market?