Canada News

Access control growth is driven by several factors A major shift from PC-based clients systems to solid state, embedded operating systems, browser-based user interfaces, remote services, and changes in compliance legislation are helping drive the rapidly growing adoption of access control systems in both the residential and commercial security markets. John LaFond, VP of Integrated Systems at Linear LLC, explains these contributing factors as Linear LLC looks towards the futur...

In a layered approach to security, the outermost layer increasingly might refer to an area outside a fence line. The sooner a facility is alerted to a possible threat, the better, and when a threat reaches inside a facility’s fence, it may be too late to mitigate it. Security directors need situational awareness that extends outside the facility and provides the ability to intercept intruders before they become a threat. Zones of interest, or buffer zones, outside a facility’s fence...

Avigilon Corporation, a leading global provider of end-to-end security solutions, recently announced the addition of the HD Video Appliance series to its expanding product portfolio. The HD Video Appliance series delivers the performance of the award-winning Avigilon Control Center (ACC) video management software, dramatically simplifies system design, and increases ease of installation. A turnkey product, the HD Video Appliance series enables end-users to reduce both installation time and cost...

Besides the look, the VARIO i8-3 940nm LED panels were chosen for the ease of specification and installation On a large private estate in Vancouver, Canada, Raytec is at the heart of a best in class 24-7 HD CCTV system for a residential client. Colin Bradley, President of specialist audio video integration company Coastal Integrated Technologies in Vancouver, who was responsible for designing the system explains: “From the outset we knew that high quality illuminati...

Spread of the Ebola virus beyond Western Africa has heightened concerns among healthcare professionals and the general public. In practical terms, healthcare facilities – including their security departments – are preparing to deal with whatever happens next as concerns about the disease continue. Even areas that are not a “hot zone” for Ebola virus exposure may face additional challenges, given uncertainty about the spread of the disease and a possible influx into hospit...

More efficient event-driven video surveillance can be achieved by replacing VCA with physical detection Event-driven video for surveillance and recording involves using a video recorder or video management software system that is triggered by movement in the areas where cameras are located. Event-driven video can be achieved by using intelligent motion detection or video contents analytics (VCA) on the camera, recorder or PC server. Recently, performance of VCA has improv...

Customers sometimes look at how old or new a company is when having to decide between different security suppliers. But should they? There are several decision-influencing factors in the security industry. Other than the actual technical specifications of the security systems and solutions, there are several other factors people take into consideration such as customer service, technical support offered, product warranties and interoperability, just to name a...

A year after its launch, PSA Security Network’s National Deployment Program is creating new opportunities to enable local integrators to have a shot at getting business from large companies with a nationwide footprint. Collectively, PSA Security Network’s some 250 electronic security systems integrators are responsible for more than $2 billion in annual security systems design, installation, integration and maintenance business related to access control, video surveillance, intr...

The acquisition combines two complementary companies and creates a more sophisticated systems integrator Intertech Security, an independent security systems integrator based in Pittsburgh, PA, recently announced that it has acquired Accent Electronic Systems Integrators, Inc. (Accent ESI), a privately-held, certified system integration firm, headquartered in Bridgeville, PA. “The acquisition combines two complementary companies and creates a bigger, more sophisticated s...

A health and performance monitoring system geared specifically to the physical security marketplace can be beneficial for all If a security or video surveillance / CCTV system isn’t working, who’s to blame? Or more to the point, what’s to blame? Is the problem the malfunction of a specific device on the edge of the IP network, or is it a network or other system failure? How can an end user or dealer / installer know what the problem is? How can a ca...

Automatic Systems, a world leader in the automation of secure entrance control, announces that its ParkPlus and TollPlus barriers are fully compatible with the ALPR technology and its mechanical and electronic components can be seamlessly integrated within the robust housing of the barriers. Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) is a control method using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology on images taken by video cameras. Motorways and off-street parking are the sectors investi...

Genetec™, a leading provider of unified IP security solutions and Mercury Security, a global leader of OEM access control hardware, recently announced a closer technology partnership geared to benefit both Genetec and Mercury customers with a broader, open-platform choice when moving to Genetec’s Synergis IP access control solution.  Genetec customers will be able to leverage Mercury’s complete line of door controllers and associated modules for both new and existing syste...

Reporting has a direct effect on an organization’s security and safety At what time of day do you have most people in your building? Do you have enough parking spaces for your employees? Are there always enough first aiders in the building to meet safety requirements? Security systems provide a wealth of data, which can provide the answers to these questions and more. By extracting reports from your system, you can gather valuable information to increase safety or improv...

emerald is a Touch screen Reader,Door Controller, VOIP Intercom andSystem Terminal all in a single box CEM Systems, part of the Security Products business unit of Tyco, is pleased to announce that the emerald multifunctional touch screen terminal has been awarded 2014 Security's Best Award in the ASIS Accolades Awards. ASIS Accolades is an awards competition that recognizes the security industry’s most innovative new products, services, and/or so...

Video cameras were big news at the ASIS International Seminar and Exhibits in Atlanta, but the eagerly anticipated new 4K Ultra-HD cameras took a back seat to other camera innovations, including a rash of new panoramic view cameras in various flavors and types (including faster frame rates) and a renewed emphasis on cameras as intelligent system components. Samsung announced its new Open Platform program that leverages the added computing capacity of Samsung’s WiseNetIII computer chip ins...

This patent further enhances Avigilon’s portfolio of intellectual property Avigilon Corporation, a leading global provider of end-to-end security solutions, recently announced that its High Definition Stream Management (HDSM) technology has been awarded patent number US 8,831,090 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Introduced in 2008, HDSM technology has been instrumental in advancing Avigilon’s position as the premier provider of cost-effective, inn...

Information overload. That's how tradeshows can seem. You're being fed lots of information by several different people in a short amount of time. It can all be very overwhelming. So what do you do? It's relatively easy to create a plan for smaller shows. But with larger events such as Security Essen, IFSEC and ASIS, it's far easier to become overwhelmed by the amount of choices and options.With Essen and ASIS just behind us, we asked some of our panellists to reflect on...

We are in the midst of tradeshow season. With Security Essen and ASIS International back to back this year, several manufacturers are present at both. ASIS is one of the largest security tradeshows in North America, but not nearly as huge as Security Essen. Some prefer Essen, and others prefer smaller shows like ASIS or IFSEC. We asked some of our panellists for their thoughts on smaller versus larger tradeshows. Let's see what they had to say.

A busy first day at the ASIS International Seminar and Exhibits in Atlanta ended with a surprise strategic announcement by one of the industry’s largest suppliers and one of its most successful up-and-comers. Axis Communications and Sightlogix announced a strategic agreement to sell both technologies cooperatively to end-user customers through dealer channels. Despite the broad product range Axis brings to market, the company does not have a perimeter security solution, which is the stren...

In its role to achieve “plug-and-play” interoperability for security system and device integration, the Physical Security Interoperability Alliance (PSIA) is looking ahead to some new possibilities in its long-term roadmap. David Bunzel, PSIA executive director, shared with me some of the active discussions among alliance members about where the next wave of interoperability initiatives may lead. Integration of wireless locks is at the top of the list, a response to the growing and...

Commoditisation is the biggest problem facing today’s security integrators, says Bill Bozeman, president and CEO of PSA Security Network, an electronic security cooperative encompassing some 250 electronic security systems integrators, and aligning them with over 150 vendor partners. Multi-million-dollar manufacturers are taking advantage of economies of scale to drive down pricing of many of the components our industry uses, and lower prices are poised to have a long-term detrimental imp...

Just days before the ASIS International conference and exhibits in Atlanta, the global security market's attention last week has been focused on the big Security Essen 2014 trade show in Germany. With more floor space, exhibitors and attendees than ASIS, Security Essen highlights a wealth of technology resources to an eager international audience every two years. Several SourceSecurity.com staff members attended Security Essen last week, and my colleagues reported that the well-attended show ref...

Background In the greater New York area, ferries are a critical part of the transportation infrastructure, especially during emergency events such as the 2003 Blackout, Hurricane Sandy and 9/11. NY Waterway needed a video solution that could feed into a centralized system for efficient command and control of their fleet of vessels. Homeland security considerations demanded high-quality images that could be transmitted in real time, streaming from the ferries with open-sourced equipment durable...

Bluetooth Smart creates new ways to open doors and gates The latest generation of access control systems offers more secure and sophisticated credentials, and new credential form factors including mobile devices that offer a more secure and convenient way to open doors and parking gates. Mobile access control also delivers a simple and user-friendly secure identity management process, and a platform for integrated, multi-layered physical access control (PACS) and IT security s...

In his new role, Hanley will be responsible for managing and overseeing OnSSI’s North American sales OnSSI announced that Matt Hanley will join the company as Director of Sales for North America, effective September 22. Hanley brings more than 27 years of industry experience focused primarily on large-scale video and access control integrated solutions. “Matt’s expertise and success in the integrated solutions market will help OnSSI expand the reach of our f...

I love Wikipedia, not just because I use it every day, but also because it reflects the value that can be created when a large community works together. When each member of a community contributes a small part, the result is monumental. I saw an estimate somewhere that it would take a million pages to print out Wikipedia. Is there an opportunity to leverage video in the same way; that is, to tie together the capabilities of millions to create a central repository that could be useful? Consider...

Surveillance cameras in public places and private properties are rather ubiquitous these days, but what is less obvious is whether a camera is a "dummy" camera or not. Installing fake surveillance cameras to use as a deterrent is a common tactic used when the price of a real security camera falls outside of one's budget. But when should dummy cameras be used? What are the implications this poses? Let's see what some of our panellists think.

Genetec™, a leading provider of unified IP security solutions recently announced the upcoming release of Sipelia Communications Management, a new module of Security Center that enables unified SIP (Session Initiated Protocol)-based communications between operators and intercom devices deployed throughout an organization. Seamlessly integrated in Security Center (v. 5.2 SR7), intercom communications can now be intricately linked to security systems over any IP network. With access controlle...

Senstar, the world’s largest manufacturer of perimeter intrusion detection systems (PIDS) is pleased to announce RoboGuard™, a new first-of-its-kind autonomous perimeter surveillance robot. RoboGuard travels on a monorail and constantly patrols a secured perimeter. It conducts regular inspections of the fence line and can promptly respond to suspected intrusions. A complete system consists of autonomous robots, each covering up to 1 kilometer (0.6 mi), with a battery charging station...

The Silver Comet Trail is a 61-mile hiking and biking trail west of Atlanta that follows a route previously traveled by the Silver Comet passenger train from 1947 to 1969. I heard about the train when I was growing up but was never a passenger. As an adult, I have been on the Silver Comet Trail a couple of times; it’s mostly level and great for biking (or walking). The former route of the railroad tracks has been paved over, extending through a beautiful, natural environment that feels lik...