Education 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.

It’s hard to believe that we’re in the final quarter of 2019. It’s time to wrap up goals and make new ones that will guide us into another decade. As we look forward, we can’t help but look back at some of the key trends that emerged in the last couple of years, and their continued presence in the product road maps and plans that so many security industry leaders and manufacturers are creating.  Some of these trends have enhanced the efficacy of security systems, whereas others have the potential of having adverse impacts.  Cybersecurity Cyber-attacks of all kinds have become, and will continue to be, a major threat, making this one of the most important initiatives that today’s businesses embrace. From a manufacturer’s perspective, building cybersecurity into the product from its inception is critical, with integrators beginning to demand this level of consideration from the products they sell. As a result of a rise in the convergence of IT applications alongside security investments, end users are now seeking out solutions designed with data security top-of-mind. All network connected devices such as DVRs/NVRs, servers, IP cameras, access controllers, intrusion alarms, smart sensors, are vulnerable, which is why this added step in developing cybersecurity protocols and applying them across the organization is critical.  Building cybersecurity into the product from its inception is critical More connected devices The Internet of Things (IoT) has been a major trend for the past few years in many industries, and this will continue as we integrate sensors of all kinds into the network. The collection and analysis of the data collected by these sensors is giving rise to a plethora of applications such as industrial applications, intelligent building management, event management, and much more. The physical security industry benefits by having additional intelligence for situational awareness and emergency management, as well as opportunities to provide additional value-added services and business insights. Being deployed in an increasing number of scenarios and with continued improvements in computing capabilities, video has the opportunity to become the eye of IoT. AI-enabled devices Software manufacturers are looking toward artificial intelligence to help propel advanced analytics in an effort to deliver more situational awareness to operators, and an increased ability to proactively assess threats or anomalies. While video and data analytic capabilities have been around for quite some time, some would argue they were rudimentary in comparison to software that uses AI to make existing applications such as facial recognition much more accurate, and to create new ways to detect anomalies. In addition, AI continues to be used to make sense of the large amounts of data that are being generated by intelligent sensors and by analyzing the growing amount of video. 5G connectivity It’s safe to say that 5G will revolutionize the way people stay connected to the internet. Extra speed, extra bandwidth are going to make our mobile devices faster, more powerful and hyperconnected, with the same thing happening to IoT connected devices such as cameras. This is going completely change the way we think about smart cities: More powerful IP devices connected to one another, powered by AI, will have a massive impact on the way we move, shop and live in urban areas. More powerful IP devices connected to one another, powered by AI, will have a massive impact on the way we move, shop and live in urban areas Privacy concerns  In most advanced economies around the globe, citizens are increasingly concerned with privacy of their data, and many governments have put – or are in the process of doing so – stringent data protection laws in place. The EU has lead the way in using these concerns to develop privacy regulations that govern the development of data-driven applications. This trend is starting to impact the entire globe, as we shift toward more data autonomy and privacy. Since most physical security applications involve the collection of video and data about people and assets, privacy regulations will continue to have a significant impact on the industry well into the future. Cloud and mobile capabilities Mobility is critical for physical security and is emerging through the development and use of cloud-based services, as well as the ability to access security devices through a smart phone or Web-based browser. That’s why there’s been such an influx of mobile apps created to manage cameras, receive automatic alerts for the most diverse event, and giving users the ability to grant or restrict access to a facility. All of this demonstrates the world’s demand for mobility, connectivity and ease-of-use. More video — everywhere Video is the cornerstone of security, providing both real-time and forensic coverage for emerging threats and incidents, which is why it’s one of the fastest growing segments of the marketplace. The use of video for traditional applications in new markets, as well as for use in newer applications that are not necessary security related is poised to see the most movement. In some industries such as oil and gas, there is a trend towards extending video coverage into extremely harsh and hazardous environments, so manufacturers are challenged to develop appropriately certified equipment to meet a more stringent demand. Manufacturing facilities such as food processing plants are also increasing their use of video for training and compliance purposes to prevent incidents such as food recalls that can be extremely costly for the business. It’s an exciting time to be a part of the security market, as we’re really just beginning to see that, when it comes to technology advancements, the sky is the limit. I would argue at the core of these innovations is the video data being collected, and as we work to build technologies that can harness the power of these applications, we will continue to be at the forefront of this movement toward greater intelligence and business insights. 

Insider threat programs started with counter-espionage cases in the government. Today, insider threat programs have become a more common practice in all industries, as companies understand the risks associated with not having one. To build a program, you must first understand what an insider threat is. An insider threat is an employee, contractor, visitor or other insider who have been granted physical or logical access to a company that can cause extensive damage. Damage ranges from emotional or physical injury, to personnel, financial and reputational loss to data loss/manipulation or destruction of assets. Financial and confidential information While malicious insiders only make up 22% of the threats, they have the most impact on an organization Most threats are derived from the accidental insider. For example, it’s the person who is working on a competitive sales pitch on an airplane and is plugging in financial and confidential information. They are working hard, yet their company’s information is exposed to everyone around them. Another type of insider, the compromised insider, is the person who accidentally downloaded malware when clicking on a fake, urgent email, exposing their information. Malicious insiders cause the greatest concerns. These are the rogue employees who may feel threatened. They may turn violent or take action to damage the company. Or you have the criminal actor employees who are truly malicious and have been hired or bribed by another company to gather intel. Their goal is to gather data and assets to cause damage for a specific purpose. While malicious insiders only make up 22% of the threats, they have the most impact on an organization. They can cause brand and financial damage, along with physical and mental damage. Insider threat program Once you determine you need an insider threat program, you need to build a business case and support it with requirements. Depending on your industry, you can start with regulatory requirements such as HIPAA, NERC CIP, PCI, etc. Talk to your regulator and get their input. Everyone needs to be onboard, understand the intricacies of enacting a program Next, get a top to bottom risk assessment to learn your organization’s risks. A risk assessment will help you prioritize your risks and provide recommendations about what you need to include in your program. Begin by meeting with senior leadership, including your CEO to discuss expectations. Creating an insider threat program will change the company culture, and the CEO must understand the gravity of his/her decision before moving forward. Everyone needs to be onboard, understand the intricacies of enacting a program and support it before its implemented. Determining the level of monitoring The size and complexity of your company will determine the type of program needed. One size does not fit all. It will determine what technologies are required and how much personnel is needed to execute the program. The company must determine what level of monitoring is needed to meet their goals. After the leadership team decides, form a steering committee that includes someone from legal, HR and IT. Other departments can join as necessary. This team sets up the structure, lays out the plan, determines the budget and what type of technologies are needed. For small companies, the best value is education. Educate your employees about the program, build the culture and promote awareness. Teach employees about the behaviors you are looking for and how to report them. Behavioral analysis software Every company is different and you need to determine what will gain employee support The steering committee will need to decide what is out of scope. Every company is different and you need to determine what will gain employee support. The tools put in place cannot monitor employee productivity (web surfing). That is out of scope and will disrupt the company culture. What technology does your organization need to detect insider threats? Organizations need software solutions that monitor, aggregate and analyze data to identify potential threats. Behavioral analysis software looks at patterns of behavior and identifies anomalies. Use business intelligence/data analytics solutions to solve this challenge. This solution learns the normal behavior of people and notifies security staff when behavior changes. This is done by setting a set risk score. Once the score crosses a determined threshold, an alert is triggered. Case and incident management tools Predictive analytics technology reviews behaviors and identifies sensitive areas of companies (pharmacies, server rooms) or files (HR, finance, development). If it sees anomalous behavior, it can predict behaviours. It can determine if someone is going to take data. It helps companies take steps to get ahead of bad behavior. If an employee sends hostile emails, they are picked up and an alert is triggered User sentiment detection software can work in real time. If an employee sends hostile emails, they are picked up and an alert is triggered. The SOC and HR are notified and security dispatched. Depending on how a company has this process set-up, it could potentially save lives. Now that your organization has all this data, how do you pull it together? Case and incident management tools can pool data points and create threat dashboards. Cyber detection system with access control An integrated security system is recommended to be successful. It will eliminate bubbles and share data to see real-time patterns. If HR, security and compliance departments are doing investigations, they can consolidate systems into the same tool to have better data aggregation. Companies can link their IT/cyber detection system with access control. Deploying a true, integrated, open system provides a better insider threat program. Big companies should invest in trained counterintelligence investigators to operate the program. They can help identify the sensitive areas, identify who the people are that have the most access to them, or are in a position to do the greatest amount of harm to the company and who to put mitigation plans around to protect them. They also run the investigations. Potential risky behavior Using the right technology along with thorough processes will result in a successful program You need to detect which individuals are interacting with information systems that pose the greatest potential risk. You need to rapidly and thoroughly understand the user’s potential risky behavior and the context around it. Context is important. You need to decide what to investigate and make it clear to employees. Otherwise you will create a negative culture at your company. Develop a security-aware culture. Involve the crowd. Get an app so if someone sees something they can say something. IT should not run the insider threat program. IT is the most privileged department in an organization. If something goes wrong with an IT person, they have the most ability to do harm and cover their tracks. They need to be an important partner, but don’t let them have ownership and don’t let their administrators have access. Educating your employees and creating a positive culture around an insider threat program takes time and patience. Using the right technology along with thorough processes will result in a successful program. It’s okay to start small and build.

Growing up, I was surrounded by the military way of life as my father was a Captain in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War and my grandfather and uncles all served in the military. Even from a young age, I knew I was going to serve our country. My 22-year career in the military includes serving in the United States Air Force, the California Air National Guard and as a reservist assigned to an active-duty Air Force unit. Training and development operations Over the course of my military career, I held a variety of assignments from starting out as a Gate Guard to becoming a Flight Chief and Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of a Security Forces section. I retired from the military as a Master Sergeant. After my deployment to Afghanistan, I joined Allied Universal as a security director. My 17-year career at Allied Universal encompasses roles including Service Manager and General Manager at the West Los Angeles Branch and leading the Training and Development operations and Fire Life Safety Division. In 2008, I was tasked to develop and implement the company’s Healthcare Division. Attaining meaningful employment opportunities Below are just a few reasons why the physical security sector is a natural fit for military veterans: Self-Discipline and Organization Coveted in Security Sector - I believe that the skills learned in the military, such as self-discipline and organization, have provided the necessary tools to be successful. I truly enjoy working with other veterans at my company as we all know that we can count on each other to get the job done right. This bond and sense of commitment to each other is always there. Multi-faceted Career Paths Available - The security sector also offers veterans the ability to attain meaningful employment opportunities with multi-faceted career paths. A veteran’s background and experience are highly valued in this sector and there are many positions to match our skill sets and expertise. The responsibility we have for those in our charge is really not any different than what we have learned in the military. Team Players - Teamwork is a lesson all military veterans learn. In the military, you live and work together, and are taught to support your team members and efficiently collaborate with the people around you. This is an invaluable skill in the security sector whether you are seeking an entry level or management position. No Military to Civilian Decoder Needed - Veterans need a ‘military to civilian decoder’ system to help explain the significance of their military skills and how they translate to the general employment landscape. The physical security sector, however, understands the language of the military and don’t generally require that military responsibilities be coded into language that non-military can understand. Securing mid-Level appointments The physical security sector features a wide variety of jobs from entry level, middle management to senior positions. A retired veteran with a pension may look to the security sector for part-time or full-time entry level work. Other former military, who are not eligible for retirement benefits, may secure mid-level appointments with the goal of climbing the ladder to the highest rungs. The flexibility and opportunity are unparalleled in the security sector. Veterans generally enter the workforce with identifiable skills that can be transferred to the physical security world and are often skilled in technical trends pertinent to business and industry. And what they don't know, they are eager to learn - making them receptive and ready hires in physical security environments that value ongoing learning and training.

There is a growing trend towards more outsourcing of the monitoring function among security companies. Technology developments are accelerating and increasing the need for monitoring companies to invest. The barriers to entry are higher than ever. These are some of the trends covered in a discussion at Securing New Ground 2019 titled ‘Monitoring: New Models and New Monetization Strategies’. A panel of monitoring company executives addressed topics centered on how the industry is changing and evolving. New entrants in the monitoring space New entrants in the monitoring space face barriers to entry, in particular the need for more investment"“New entrants in the monitoring space face barriers to entry, in particular the need for more investment in infrastructure and expertize,” said Spencer Moore, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Rapid Response Monitoring. ”Because of the expense of new technologies, more full-service monitoring companies are outsourcing the monitoring function to existing wholesale monitoring companies.” “The cost of entry has gone up, and companies are trying to preserve capital,” agreed Jim McMullen, President/COO at COPS Monitoring. “Larger companies are realizing wholesale monitoring does a better job from a customer service viewpoint. We are more focused on monitoring and the quality of service. It takes a lot of money to keep up with the cyber world,” added McMullen. Wholesale monitoring companies Wholesale monitoring companies are finding that they need petabytes of storage space, among other expensive requirements. “The trend is toward technology evolving quicker, and that often requires investment and training in a monitoring center,” said Daniel Oppenheim, CEO of Affiliated Monitoring. “Because trying out new technology is so important, wholesale monitoring centers often find that they serve as a ‘laboratory’ to experiment with newer technologies. Limited trials often expand later to broader outsourcing of a company’s monitoring services”, said Oppenheim. Automated Secure Alarm Protocol “What people miss out on is that monitoring is quite complex, and there are specialized services and skillsets, and barriers to entry from a regulatory perspective,” said Moore. Adding value to the monitoring function is The Monitoring Association’s ASAP-to-PSAP service Adding value to the monitoring function is The Monitoring Association’s ASAP-to-PSAP service. The national service saves time, improves accuracy and increases efficiency in communications between monitoring centers and public safety answering points (PSAPs). The service uses the Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP). Public Safety Answering Points Up to 60 PSAPS have joined the program, although the low number is misleading, given that a single PSAP could represent the ‘City of Houston’. (There are an estimated 6,000 total PSAPs nationwide). It has taken six to eight years to develop the program from its genesis to where it is today, when more participation is finally creating a critical mass. Technology is fundamentally changing monitoring companies. “We used to be a services company powered by a little bit of technology, but we’re now moving toward a technology services company,” said Moore. Critical ‘filtering service’ Monitoring provides a critical ‘filtering service’ between public requests for emergency service and those tasked with providing the services. In effect, monitoring centers work with manufacturers to make them more resilient to false alarms. Monitoring companies also provide a human touch in a time of need, and emotional empathy. Today, emergency information is being transmitted to PSAPs electronically, which saves time and money. The current low-taxation environment means there are fewer resources for municipal governments, so cost savings make a difference. Monitoring, a specialized skillset Increasingly, monitoring is becoming a business that requires a more specialized skillset Increasingly, monitoring is becoming a business that requires a more specialized skillset. Regulation, and the need for increasing investment, is driving consolidation. “With a decreasing number of monitoring companies, there are fewer customers for software developers and other tools. Less outside innovation makes it more likely monitoring centers will have to ‘go it alone’ and develop software and other tools internally,” said Oppenheim. Importance of monitoring systems “In effect, consolidation will serve to limit technology choices, and to increase the need to in-source a lot of expertize”, agrees Moore. Tying monitoring systems into other software systems is another continuing challenge. “People want our system tied into their system,” said McMullen. “I have two people who focus full time to tie our systems into other systems. There will be more computers talking to computers.”

Penetration testing of physical security systems is used to evaluate if a company’s security measures operate as intended. From a technology angle, penetration testing (pen testing) assesses whether the totality of the systems operate as designed, rather than testing each individual component. Does the system work with the officers, the policy and procedures that are in place? A session at ISC East, Nov. 20 in New York, will address the need for and benefits of penetration testing (also known as red teaming). The session, titled “We Sneak into High Security Buildings and Get Paid for It,” will be presented by Michael Glasser, President, Glasser Security Group. He has two decades of experience providing security design strategic planning, implementation oversight, auditing and penetration testing.   “Penetration testing determines whether people and systems are providing the protection you think they are,” says Glasser. Various system components should come together into a solution that works for the client.  People, technology and architecture are all components of successful security systems. His motto: “Stop guessing and starting testing." Test-driving security systems “You can compare it to driving a car,” says Glasser. “You want to be sure the brakes work and the engine works, but then somebody has to test-drive the car.” Stop guessing and starting testing" The concept of penetration testing goes back to the Cold War, when the military had “Red Teams” and "Blue Teams,” competing squads that used their skills to imitate attack techniques enemies might use. More recently, the term “pen testing” has become common in the cybersecurity industry, often referring to “white hat” hackers that test the effectiveness of cybersecurity measures. Applying the concept to physical security in corporate America brings the concept full circle. “People think their controls work, but they realize they really need to see if it all works together,” says Glasser. Pen testing in corporate America “You can go to any military base or nuclear power site and you see pen testing,” says Glasser. “But often it doesn’t happen in corporate America.”  Sometimes physical pen testing is approached as an extension of cybersecurity testing because addressing physical threats is an element in cybersecurity, too. “It’s the same service, except to make sure the physical house is in order,” says Glasser. Glasser’s session will be among the SIA Education@ISC East presentations scheduled at the education theaters on the show floor at ISC East, Nov. 20-21 at the Javits Center in New York. The process If you believe the movies, Glasser’s job is all fun and excitement, like a “bunch of kids having fun.” The reality is more mundane, he says. “People think it’s fun, but it’s work, not fun.” The process is front-loaded with weeks of research and surveillance to determine possible vulnerabilities before attempting a break-in. Research is based on threat modeling: What is a company worried about? Who is the bad guy? What do they want to do? What are the threats? The process is front-loaded with weeks of research and surveillance to determine possible vulnerabilities Among other tools, Glasser uses Open Source Intelligence (OINT), which is collection and analysis of information gathered from public, open sources, such as media, the Internet, public government data, etc. Glasser comes from a physical security industry family – both his mother and father were employed in the security industry – and he attended his first ISC East show in the 1990s when he was 11 years old. As a security consultant and security expert witness for more than 20 years, he has previously spoken at GSX and various ASIS International events. 

Gallagher Security, a division of Gallagher Group, a privately-owned New Zealand company, is a global presence in integrated access control, intruder alarm and perimeter security solutions. Gallagher entered the global security industry in the 1990s with the purchase of security access control business Cardax. In the last several decades, the company has leveraged its experience in electric fence technology to develop a variety of innovative solutions used to protect some of the world's most high-consequence assets and locations. Solving business problems Among Gallagher’s recent innovations is the Security Health Check, a software utility that enables customers to run an automated check on their Gallagher Command Centre security system. To get an update on the company, we interviewed Richard Huison, Gallagher’s Regional Manager for the U.K. and Europe, who says he has a passion for technology and solving business problems. Huison says working in the industry for more than 20 years has shown him you can never stop evolving and adapting. Q: What are Gallagher's points of differentiation versus competitors? Huison: Gallagher’s strengths are in solving business problems outside of the normal access control and intrusion detection solutions. Enforcing company policy through compliance and competency is what really matters to business continuity. Using Gallagher Command Centre to oversee the security, health and safety and compliance brings true business value to the client who benefits from reduced costs and risk to the success of their growth and strategy. Q: What is the biggest challenge for customers in the security market, and how does Gallagher help to meet that challenge? Huison: A great solution fit is key. Where most fail is choosing a solution that does not meet the needs of the client in 10 to even 20 years’ time. As businesses evolve and grow, so must the security solution. In a recent conversation, a client had to replace a 300-door access control system that was no longer supported. ‘Why Gallagher?’ they asked. The answer: ‘If you had chosen Gallagher 10 years ago, we would not be having this conversation.’ Ensuing the system you choose is legacy-compliant is king. Gallagher’s brand is well known for protecting Critical National Infrastructure Q: Please describe Gallagher's geographic presence in the UK and Europe. Huison: Gallagher’s brand is well known for protecting Critical National Infrastructure. They choose to adopt our solutions because we meet the highest levels of resilience against cyber-attacks. Our ability to modernize legacy systems ensures the maximum return on investment with minimal disruption to business continuity. Gallagher solutions cover a broad mix of verticals, with strengths in high security, education and large corporate entities. Our Channel Partner network is continually growing so more clients can benefit from the diverse and powerful Gallagher Command Centre software. Q: Describe how Gallagher is typically integrated into larger systems. Huison: Our systems offer the flexibility of being standalone or globally networked via our Multi-Server environment. Most integration happens logically where data is pushing into our Command Centre database. The single point of truth allows for minimal data errors and efficiencies around manual input. The total cost of ownership is greatly reduced in allowing the system to work for the client and not the other way round. Over and above this, Integration into other solutions brings that rich data back to one software front end. Q: What is Gallagher's biggest challenge and how will the company seek to meet that challenge? Huison: Our biggest and continual opportunity is being a relentless innovator. We are not short of ideas and how we are bucking the trends with our solutions. Broadcasting these messages is not always easy in the digital age. This is why Gallagher is investing heavily in more shows, publications and specific vertical conferences globally. Q: What is the market's biggest misconception about Gallagher? Huison: Our brand is known for perimeter solutions with our monitored Pulse Fence. What many forget is we have a very powerful access control and integrated intrusion detection solution that meets Government standards around the world. We are unique in that all three can be controlled via one software platform that is cyber-resilient and infinitely configurable to suit many verticals. Q: What is your message to the security market? Huison: Many see Gallagher as only suitable for large and complex sites. I openly challenge our audience, speak to us and you may find we can provide an Enterprise Level solution that is delivered on budget and provide an outstanding return on investment for the client. Our pedigree of 80 years shows we never stop innovating and building that trusted advisor status with many lifelong clients.

When a leading English university sought electronic locks for its newest student accommodation block, it turned to Aperio to extend its installed Gallagher Command Centre access control system. The University of East Anglia (UEA) has relied on Gallagher access control for a decade. To extend their Gallagher Command Centre system to Crome Court—a student residence with 231 en suite rooms separated into flats for between 8 and 13 postgraduates—they needed the right wireless solution. Wireless Locking Technology Aperio wireless locks are battery powered, and so use much less energyUEA’s needs included more than just security, stylish component design and affordability. Crome Court was specifically designed to minimise environmental impact, including CO2 emissions. Any access control system was expected to contribute to that goal. The university chose Aperio wireless locking technology from ASSA ABLOY. Aperio wireless locks are battery powered, and so use much less energy than wired magnetic security locks. They only “wake up” when a credential is presented to the reader. On Campus Training “We decided to offer Aperio to upgrade and extend our system at UEA because of its outstanding reputation within the security industry,” explains Jason Boyce, sales manager at Gallagher. “Having worked with us for 6 years, Gallagher knew we would deliver,” adds David Hodgkiss, national sales manager at ASSA ABLOY UK. Installation was quick and easy, aided by training delivered on campus by specialist ASSA ABLOY technicians. “We found ASSA ABLOY’s service faultless,” says Wayne Dyble, installation and support manager at Check Your Security, UEA’s service provider. Environmentally Advanced Profile There’s no need for expensive and time-consuming work changing the locks Crome Court’s secure doors are fitted with Aperio E100 online escutcheons. Students open them with programmable RFID smart cards, instead of cumbersome mechanical keys. If a keycard is lost, it is straightforward for UEA facilities staff to cancel it and issue a replacement—using a simple web-based interface or mobile phone. There’s no need for expensive and time-consuming work changing the locks. UEA also aimed to build Crome Court with an environmentally advanced profile. Here, too, Aperio delivered. Wireless locks are battery-operated and emit much less CO2 than wired magnetic locks. In fact, in carbon terms, Aperio locks emit 0.16 percent of the total emissions produced by standard wired locks. Flexibility is another Aperio asset: additional doors can be brought into the same integrated Gallagher system whenever needed. “We hope to roll out Aperio across all new and existing residential estate,” says Christine Beveridge, head of campus services at UEA.

The University of Birmingham educates over 30,000 students, with more than 6,000 doors providing access to student accommodation. Gallagher’s integrated access control solution is responsible for providing operational continuity and creating a safe and secure environment for students. Access Management System The University recently completed its new state-of-the-art student accommodation development, Chamberlain, which consists of a 19-storey tower and three low-rise blocks. An essential requirement was an integrated access control system, reducing the need for keys. Timothy Owen, General Manager of Student Accommodation at the University says, “We wanted to move away from using keys as students are prone to losing them and trying to manage thousands of locks and associated keys was a constant administration and financial drain.” We need to maintain control over access to our buildings, while ensuring a duty of care to our residents and staff" In order to minimise the complexity of managing a new system, the University required a solution that integrated with, or was an extension of, their existing campus access control and accommodation management systems. “We need to maintain control over access to our buildings, while ensuring a duty of care to our residents and staff so that they can go about their business as required,” says Timothy. “Fundamentally, we needed a system that gives both us and our resident’s confidence in the security of the accommodation.” Adaptable Access Solutions A large and complex estate with buildings of different construction and age, the University needed a solution that was flexible enough to accommodate their unique requirements. Gallagher Command Centre, together with the Aperio® wireless locking technology by ASSA ABLOY Access Control, was selected as the University’s preferred choice, meeting their security needs in a cost-effective way while still delivering to the overall specification. Timothy says, “The completion of our new state of the art Chamberlain development was extremely close to the date of the first student arrival, so the team had to be dedicated and work flexibly to ensure it was ready in time – which it was.” Improved Student Experience The Gallagher Command Centre integration allows for the access key and student ID to be combined in to one card, offering a number of benefits to both students and staff. The student ID and accommodation key is encoded on to one card, so it can be posted out in advance and access to the room automatically granted" Previously the accommodation arrival process required students to arrive at the University with their contracts and queue up so that a member of staff could sign them in manually and hand them the keys to their accommodation. From there students could head to their room. “Arrivals is always a busy time but with the help of the Gallagher solution we’ve not only improved the student experience but also the administration process,” says Timothy. “Now the student ID and accommodation key is encoded on to one card, so it can be posted out in advance and access to the room automatically granted via the accommodation management system. Students no longer need to queue for keys, can get to their rooms instantly, and spend more time enjoying their arrival experience.” Monitoring Access Cards The simple act of swiping an access card automatically checks the student in and a report can be generated to show who has arrived and who hasn’t, allowing staff to follow up accordingly. If the room is no longer required it can be quickly and easily re-allocated to another student, resulting in improved occupancy rates. Using Gallagher Command Centre together with the University’s accommodation management system allows staff to check on the well-being of students by monitoring the use of their access card. The University also houses students under the age of 18, and one of the safeguarding requirements is that the University can monitor their whereabouts on a daily basis. Timothy adds, “This can be difficult to achieve with many students to track, but Gallagher Command Centre can easily confirm the time and location of our resident’s last door access, providing peace of mind that students who may be uncontactable are in fact on site.” Replacing keys with a combined access and student ID card has reduced our operational costs" Creating Business Value University staff are also seeing positive improvements since the installation of the new system – particularly at the start of the year. The arrivals process is now less congested and more relaxed. The team have far fewer issues than with physical keys, enabling them to spend more time on the overall student experience. Since the installation of the first 800 bedrooms at Chamberlain, the University has already extended the system by a further 900 at Mason, with plans in place for an additional 1500 bedrooms this summer. Enduring Partnerships “Replacing keys with a combined access and student ID card has reduced our operational costs as we now have far fewer keys to purchase and store,” explains Timothy. “The student experience has improved, and staff are now free to deal with urgent matters and offer a more personal service. We can easily create reports to help us audit access and have generally provided a much more modern and secure place to live and work.” “The University has worked with 2020 Vision Systems for some time on CCTV and access control systems, so when they won the tender to provide and install the Gallagher and Aperio® systems we had every confidence that they would be able to deliver. The completion of our new state of the art Chamberlain development was extremely close to the date of the first student occupation and so the team had to be dedicated and work flexibly to ensure it was ready in time – which it was.”

Founded in 1871, Fulton County School System is the fourth largest school district in Georgia, United States. It consists of 101 schools and administrative support buildings, including 67 elementary schools, 19 middle schools, 17 high schools and eight charter organizations. Fulton’s mission is to provide a safe and secure environment for its more than 96,000 students and more than 12,000 full-time employees. To help enhance safety at more than 100 schools, Fulton has installed a full Avigilon security solution that includes Avigilon cameras with self-learning video analytics, Avigilon network video recorders, and Avigilon Control Center™ (ACC) video management software with Avigilon Appearance Search™ technology. Fulton is also deploying Avigilon Access Control Manager to secure physical access points, providing an integrated security solution for the district. Simplifying Recording And Capturing Of Footage Fulton sought to replace analogue cameras with an end-to-end high definition security system camera system in order to maximise protectionFulton sought to replace analog cameras with an end-to-end high definition security system camera system in order to maximize protection, enable proactive event response, and facilitate the recording, capturing and sharing of clear footage with its school board, police and the concerned public. Securing more than 100 buildings is no easy feat, but it’s of utmost importance to the Department of Safety and Security at Fulton, which also includes the School Police and Student Health Services and Emergency. Upgrading Video Security System With recent data showing above average student incident rates and student disciplinary concerns at some schools, upgrades to the security system were needed to allow better local and remote monitoring in important areas. “One of the biggest security challenges we face is our ability to reliably monitor important areas throughout our schools, especially during an emergency. With Avigilon, we not only benefit from exceptional image quality, but their advanced video analytics, like Avigilon Appearance Search technology, save us valuable time and effort, ultimately making our schools a safer place.” - Paul Hildreth, Emergency Operations, Safety and Security, Fulton County School System. Appearance Search Technology Avigilon high-definition cameras with self-learning video analytics and access control solutions have been installed in 101 schoolsAvigilon high-definition cameras with self-learning video analytics and access control solutions have been installed in 101 schools. ACC 6 video management software with Avigilon Appearance Search technology is a particularly exciting new development for the district. “We chose Avigilon because of the capabilities it offers in its advanced video analytics search technologies, including Avigilon Appearance Search,” said Paul Hildreth, Emergency Operations, Safety and Security for Fulton. “Their analytics are easy to set up and use, and can save us valuable time and effort, ultimately making our schools a safer place for generations to come.” Video Data Analysis Avigilon Appearance Search video analytics technology uses a sophisticated deep learning artificial intelligence search engine to sort through hours of footage with ease. This technology allows Fulton’s operators to click on a button and search for all instances of a person or vehicle across all cameras on a site, quickly and efficiently. This can save Fulton time and effort during critical investigations as Avigilon Appearance Search technology intelligently analyses video data, helping to track a person’s or vehicle’s route and identify previous and last-known locations. Avigilon self-learning video analytics enable proactive, real-time event response. Built from the ground up to manage high-definition video, Avigilon offers self-learning analytics on camera resolutions of up to 5K (16 MP). Avigilon Multisensor cameras were also set up to capture challenging angles and provide total coverage within a 180 to 360-degree area Avigilon H4 Platform Avigilon H4 bullet and dome cameras from the new H4 platform were installed, offering self-learning video analytics, greater resolution performance and Wide Dynamic Range support. Avigilon H4 cameras are available in 1 to 5 MP and 4K Ultra HD (8 MP) resolutions. Avigilon Multisensor cameras were also set up to capture challenging angles and provide total coverage within a 180 to 360-degree area. Upgrading the district’s security solutions began three years ago with a single high school as a pilot program. The success of this replacement led the district to integrate ACC in other school projects and, in 2014, Fulton opened new administrative centers with both Avigilon access control and video security solutions. At the start of 2017, Fulton began implementing a three-year approach to completing the upgrade. Image Quality And Resolution Before switching to the Avigilon solution, the district was challenged with low system reliability, which resulted in not having video evidence when needed. Furthermore, in situations where there was recorded footage, it was not of high enough quality to provide value. With the installation of Avigilon video security, Fulton has benefited from exceptional image quality and resolution across wide areas in all lighting conditions. The ongoing Avigilon implementation will provide the district with crucial and powerful insights that can help save time and effort during critical investigations. With the help of Avigilon trusted security solutions, the future looks bright for Fulton County Schools.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium has a rich history of innovation. Since its founding in 1984, the facility has become one of the world’s leading public aquariums and ocean conservation organizations.   Monterey Bay Aquarium has produced significant insights into the life history of sharks, sea otters, and bluefin tuna. The aquarium also was the first to exhibit a living kelp forest, and in 2004 it was the first to successfully exhibit and return to the wild a young great white shark. It is therefore no surprise that the Monterey Bay Aquarium desired the most innovative and state-of-the-art cameras as a key component for its security system, and Arecont Vision was able to deliver what they required. Until recently, the Monterey Bay Aquarium relied upon up to 60 analog cameras for its video security needs Constant Surveillance And Monitoring The aquarium has a huge campus, with multiple separate properties and an average annual visitation of two million people. Until recently, the Monterey Bay Aquarium relied upon up to 60 analog cameras for its video security needs. With such a large area to cover and with so many people to monitor, this type of system proved increasingly unreliable and insufficient to its growing security needs. The aquarium’s security staff also found it a major inconvenience that accessories and other parts for the system were exclusive to the original provider, limiting the security team’s options both technically and financially. The footage from the analog cameras was monitored on monochrome screens and useful viewing of surveillance video was quite difficult at times. The quality of the images was low, and the inflexible nature of the cameras resulted in a number of blind spots throughout the aquarium’s large campus. Difficult Lighting Conditons The aquarium also has some very challenging lighting situations, requiring more specialized, versatile cameras in order to properly capture images.  “We have some very difficult light levels here. The reflections of the water tanks can make certain areas lighter on camera than they are in person, or vice-versa,” stated Thomas Uretsky, Director of Security and Emergency Management for the facility. The security team reached the point where they knew they needed to upgrade. “The system needed more flexibility, multiple views on one camera, the works,” Mr. Uretsky said. “Blind spots needed to be eliminated, and we wanted as close to a 360-degree view as possible.” After thorough research, San Jose, California-based security integrator NSI Systems recommended Arecont Vision for the camera solution.   The aquarium has a huge campus, with an average annual visitation of two million people Arecont Vision Surveillance Expertise Mr. Uretsky and the team at Monterey Bay Aquarium collaborated with Arecont Vision regarding what they were looking for, where coverage was needed, and how to best fit in into their budget. Monterey Bay Aquarium chose ExacqVision as their video management system, another solid partner to help upgrade their prior surveillance system. A range of different Arecont Vision cameras were ultimately deployed to serve the aquarium’s varying needs. Arecont Vision MicroDome cameras were ideal for the ticketing area and customer lines. The series includes Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) models, which can achieve clear images across extreme lighting conditions, such as those found in some of the indoor spaces at the aquarium. MicroDome cameras have an extremely low profile and only a 4” diameter, making them ideal for discreet security surveillance. When asked for his thoughts about the MicroDome camera, Mr. Uretsky responded, “They are small and nearly invisible to anyone who doesn’t know what they’re looking for. The fact that they have such a small footprint makes them ideal for us in the ticketing and front entrance areas.” The Monterey Bay Aquarium now has the unique and flexible camera solution it required, utilising 360-degree video Another favorite at Monterey Bay Aquarium were Arecont Vision SurroundVideo Omni G1 and G2 adjustable-view cameras. The SurroundVideo Omni series utilises a patented 360º track where each of its four-megapixel sensors can be moved to cover virtually any angle. Remote motorised focus simplified installation with the Omni G2. Combined with the ability to interchange lenses, the Monterey Bay Aquarium now has the unique and flexible camera solution it required. The customizable features of the camera also simplify future changes that may occur at the aquarium, saving time and money if construction or remodeling were to occur. “The SurroundVideo Omni cameras are some of our favourites because we are getting four cameras in one. They have the most flexibility,” said Kevin Wright, Monterey Bay Aquarium’s security manager. “Our blind spots are much more limited, and we don’t need to use nearly as many cameras as we previously had in those areas.” Although each camera offers four separate views, only a single PoE (Power over Ethernet) cable and a single software license is required for integration with the Exacq software, further reducing costs. Megapixel Camera Performance The system has performed incredibly well to date. Not only was it installed on time, but it was completed within budget. The Monterey Bay Aquarium monitors the system locally, 24-hours per day. The images are viewed on a dynamic video wall in the new Security Operations Centre. While most footage is viewed on-site, some cameras have been enabled with the Exacq software for remote monitoring at satellite offices. For example, holding areas for rescued sea otters can be viewed remotely by a research team.   Some cameras have been enabled with the Exacq software for remote monitoring off-site Arecont Vision cameras have helped the aquarium’s security department in a variety of ways, one of which is increasingly common: addressing bicycle theft. Individuals will sometimes access a public recreational trail that runs along the aquarium’s main campus to steal unattended bikes parked by visitors or staff. Unlike the previous analog surveillance system, Arecont Vision’s megapixel cameras are able to provide the security department with good views and high-resolution images when reporting such incidents to the police department. The project at Monterey Bay Aquarium fulfilled a vast array of surveillance requirements — indoor and outdoor scenes, large and small spaces, low- to high-lighting conditions — and Arecont Vision cameras addressed each of the challenges. The deployment of the new cameras made an impression on Mr. Uretsky and his team. Making Potential Security Solutions Reality One installation inspired ideas for another, and Arecont Vision helped make these potential security solutions a reality as well. The continual partnership between the aquarium, the system integrator, and Arecont Vision has resulted in an ongoing collaboration between the three entities. “The reason we went with Arecont Vision was because it has a niche where a lot of manufacturers don’t, with its multi-view cameras,” Mr. Uretsky stated. Arecont Vision pioneered the first multi-sensor megapixel panoramic cameras in the surveillance industry in 2006, and has continued to enhance their capabilities, introducing adjustable-view Omni cameras in 2014. “These cameras have been fundamental as we systematically replace our old cameras with newer, megapixel versions. We are always improving and always adding cameras, so each time we’ve installed them we’ve been pleased.”

VMS software and IP products from Hikvision, a supplier of innovative video surveillance products and solutions, are now being used by the Government of Gujarat Directorate of Technical Education (DTE), to protect and administer education facilities and services across Western India. A government organization that provides qualitative and higher level technical training for students from a diverse mix of financial and social backgrounds, the Directorate of Technical Education’s (DTE) goal is to deliver global standards of excellence in technical education for all its students. Looking to provide a more secure environment and enhance education management, both inside its college campuses and within classrooms, DTE enlisted the help of Prama Hikvision India to evaluate their needs and recommend a practical solution. Enhancing Education Processes Working closely with the client, Hikvision undertook site surveys at 43 campuses across Gujarat and in respect of DTE’s management and system performance needs, proposed a cost-effective solution that would provide the required level of indoor and outdoor surveillance coverage. The considerations for the surveillance solution would also take-in DTE’s objective of enlisting the new system to play a role in enhancing the day-to-day education processes, where it could also be used to remotely monitor examinations, as well as being a time-saving facilities management tool for use across the large Western India state.The Hikvision control software fully supports smart search, playback, and smart detection Centralized Surveillance Monitoring Providing centralized remote surveillance and alarm monitoring, Hikvision proposed an IP-based solution that would use DTE’s existing secure virtual private network (VPN), which connects all education sites across Gujarat to a central point at the Directorate of Technical Education, in the capital city of Gandhinagar, Gujarat. At two control rooms, Hikvision iVMS-5200 Professional VMS software was installed to control and monitor the new surveillance system 24/7. Ideal for controlling any mix of surveillance system products, the iVMS-5200 Professional software fully supports all Hikvision products, including DVRs, NVRs, cameras and speed domes, as well as any mix of third party manufacturer products that conform to ONVIF standard. Allowing DTE’s security and management application needs to be addressed, regardless of its size and complexity, the Hikvision control software fully supports the installed Hikvision products’ smart features, including smart search, playback, and smart detection. Low-Light Surveillance Capability To provide affordable high-quality surveillance imaging across the 43 college campuses covered, Hikvision specified a mix of DS-2CD2620F-IS HD 2 Megapixel vari-focal IR network bullet, and DS-2CD2720F-IS HD 2 Megapixel outdoor network IR dome cameras. Both camera models provide 1920×1080 resolution, and true day and night (ICR) low-light capabilities, along with back-light compensation (BLC). Approximately 1,300 Hikvision cameras installed now provide comprehensive surveillance within the campuses lobbies, classrooms, laboratories, staff rooms, examination halls, auditoriums, storerooms, exit and entry doors, and open campus area access gates and car parks. Integrated Campus Security The Hikvision iVMS-5200 Professional VMS software enables 43 campus locations to be monitored easily and reliably"The Hikvision IP-based surveillance solution successfully illustrates just what can be achieved with large-scale integration,” explains Pinkal Shah, Asst. Manager - Technical Support, at Prama Hikvision India. “The Hikvision iVMS-5200 Professional VMS software enables 43 campus locations to be monitored easily and reliably, encompassing central video management, integration and failover mechanism." "Supporting all remote sites’ local storage and camera SD storage, the system uses Hikvision’s Center Video Record (CVR) mode using NAS to receive data streams directly from network cameras. With CVR mode, there is no need for an intermediate storage server, which not only increases storage efficiency and system stability, but also greatly reduces system hardware cost for the end-user.” DTE system operators can remotely check the status of facilities or presence/absence of support staff Remote Surveillance "The Hikvision video surveillance system utilizes a WAN/VPN to connect each of the separate locations in this massive multi-site project,” explains Mr. Dayashankar of Progility Technologies Pvt. Ltd., systems integration company responsible for the installation of the project. “The excellent Hikvision iVMS-5200 Professional VMS software enabled us to integrate the many existing third-party manufacturers cameras into the new system, as well as providing out of office hours remote alarm configuration and monitoring. We found the quality of the Hikvision networked camera images to be exceptional under every operating condition.” Viewed from the central monitoring stations, DTE system operators can now remotely check the status of facilities or presence/absence of support staff across Western India. In addition, on examination of the high definition play back, since the installation went live, incidents of petty theft have been recorded, and stolen belongings of students and facilities recovered.

An initial investment of $100 million launched the first American public university campus in Mexico: Arkansas State University Campus Queretaro (ASUCQ). Within five years of its 2017 opening, around 7,500 staff and students are expected to use the site, including campus accommodation for up to 1,500 students. To accompany such a high-profile development, the university needed security and access control systems with a trusted and proven track record protecting staff, students and other university assets. They sought a technology-based solution to reduce security risks across the campus, and specifically an access control system able to monitor multiple spaces and monitor all access points in real time. System software and hardware should make it fast and intuitive to generate or modify access rights for any campus user. A single solution needed to work across both common university facilities and separate areas with student accommodation. Monitoring Campus In Real Time With the SMARTair Wireless Online option, facilities managers monitor the campus in real time, with live updating of who enters where, and when ASUCQ turned to SMARTair to protect its investment and site users. So far, around 600 SMARTair battery-powered online escutcheons have been installed across campus. High traffic flows through many campus doors required robust access control devices. With the SMARTair Wireless Online option, facilities managers monitor the campus in real time, with live updating of who enters where, and when. Intuitive SMARTair software enables all day-to-day administration from a central control point. "SMARTair is a very secure access control system that is also very intuitive for user and access management,” says Jose Alfonso Suarez Torres, Operations Chief at ASUCQ. Future plans for ASUCQ envision a ‘university city’ with up to 20,000 students — all protected in real time with SMARTair access control. And because a SMARTair system is wireless, expanding and upgrading access control will never disrupt the daily work or campus life at this fast-growing university. SMARTair Mobile Solution Openow A single interaction with the SMARTair TS1000 software is all it takes to make a virtual key disappear automatically from a user’s Openow app The new SMARTair mobile solution, Openow also gives facility managers the option to send, revoke and amend the validity of users’ keys, wherever they (or the keyholder) may be — with no need for physical credentials like keys or smart-cards. Students and staff save time, with no access cards to collect or validate. Each user installs and validates their Openow app and collects keys virtually. Tap a SMARTair escutcheon with your phone... and the door unlocks, if you are authorized to enter. Administrators save time and resource at the end of a student or staff member’s time on campus. A single interaction with the SMARTair TS1000 software is all it takes to make a virtual key disappear automatically from a user’s Openow app. A simple, secure, modern solution to university access control.

The role of video surveillance is expanding, driven by all the new ways that video – and data culled from video – can impact a business. As a growing population of video cameras expands into new fields of view, we asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What is the most unusual application of surveillance cameras you have seen recently?

Tools such as standard operating procedures (SOPs) and checklists ensure that every factor is considered when installing a physical security system – or do they? Security system installations are detailed projects, and any overlooked detail is a missed opportunity to make the system better. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What is the most overlooked factor when installing physical security systems?

Products are the building blocks of the security industry. Historically much of the industry’s sales effort has been focused on highlighting product features and functionality. At the end of the day, however, an end user is less interested in the performance of any individual system component than in the system as a whole. Lately, the industry has embraced a changing sales approach by emphasizing systems rather than products. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the benefits of a transition from selling security products to selling security solutions?