United Kingdom (UK) News

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 essentia...

It amazes me how in a few short years security systems have gone from simple, dumb cameras witnessing events to intelligent eyes, ears, speech and touch solutions that boost situational awareness far beyond human capabilities. It seems the only senses missing from the equation now are smell and taste. And who knows, someone might be working on those in a lab somewhere right now. But what’s really fascinating to me is how the Internet of Things (IoT) has opened a world of possibilities for...

Timely and important issues in the security marketplace dominated our list of most-clicked-upon articles in 2018. Looking back at the top articles of the year provides a decent summary of how our industry evolved this year, and even offers clues to where we’re headed in 2019. In the world of digital publishing, it’s easy to know what content resonates with the security market: Our readers tell us with their actions; i.e., where they click. Let’s look back at the Top 10 article...

Consolidation persisted in the physical security industry in 2018, and big companies such as Motorola, Canon and UTC continued to make moves. Also among the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) news in 2018 was a high-profile bankruptcy (that ended well), continuing consolidation in the integrator market, and the creation of a new entity called “LenelS2.” Here’s a look at the Top 10 M&A stories in 2018: 1. Motorola Acquires Avigilon Motorola Solutions announced in Februar...

The security marketplace is talking about a lot of different subjects. Our website’s Expert Panel Roundtable discussions in 2018 reflected some of the “hot topics” in the industry.  The very most-clicked-on Expert Panel Roundtable discussion in 2018 was about privacy issues and GDPR’s impact on physical security systems. Other hot topics that made the Top-10 list of roundtable discussions included obstacles to adoption of mobile credentials, what’s new “...

In the wake of 9/11, the Federal Government’s secure-the-fort, big idea was to create an identity credential for all federal employees and contractors. Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD)-12 set it all in motion. Today, we know the smartcard-based credential that arose from HSPD-12 as the Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card. The PIV card is meant to give employees/contractors physical access to federal facilities and logical access to federal information systems. While u...

As the world continues to become more connected, it’s becoming increasingly important to adjust security and safety procedures in the workplace. But today’s ever-evolving office environment can present unique safety and preparedness challenges. No two businesses are exactly alike, with some located in numerous buildings or spread out across campuses, while others have employees that frequently journey from different locations, work remotely or travel internationally. With this shif...

There is a new event on the calendar for the security industry in 2019: The Security Event 2019, 9-11 April, at NEC, Birmingham. For additional details and a preview of the new trade show and conference, we spoke with Tristan Norman, Founding Partner and Event Director, The Security Event. Q: It seems recently that some trade shows have been on the decline in terms of exhibit size and attendance. Why does the physical security industry need another trade show? Norman: I think there are numer...

Johnson Controls announces that it has partnered with Civic Technologies, the global digital identity leader. Johnson Controls will integrate the Civic Secure ID Platform (SIP) with C-CURE 9000 Security and Event Management Systems from Software House to provide visitor management with greater data privacy and protection, enabling building visitors to securely present their verifiable identity using the Civic App. This partnership will enable properties secured by C-CURE 9000 a more convenient...

Edesix, UK-based provider of Body Worn Cameras, announces a partnership with Environment Agency enforcement teams in the East Midlands following a successful six-month trial. The trial, which was commissioned after a growing number of abusive incidents during site inspections to waste sites, found that wearing Body Worn Cameras helped to reduce incidents of anti-social behavior, assaults and threats against Environment Agency staff. Abusive Behavior Footage captured on a bodycam in the North-...

Terry Gold of D6 Research has been giving “cyber in physical security” presentations at a variety of conferences, including ISC West and the Cyber:Secured Forum. We caught up with him for some insights about the intersection of cybersecurity and physical security. Q: Tell us a little bit about your background, specifically in the context of its relevance to cyber security in physical access. Gold: I started out in information security and then got involved in physical security al...

As buildings become more complex and smarter, the age-old traditional maintenance methods that are based mostly on hands-on human monitoring are becoming more and more inadequate. Instead, the world is fast adopting building automation as a key component of smarter and more proactive maintenance strategies. The aim is to free up maintenance staff and give them time to focus on other tasks while machines monitor the different systems that work together to make the facility functional. Specific...

Employee turnover is a problem for many companies, especially among younger employees who have not developed the philosophy of employer loyalty that was common in previous generations. Nowadays, changing jobs is the norm. The idea of spending decades working for a single employer seems almost quaint in today’s economy. However, excessive employee turnover can be expensive for employers, who are looking for ways to keep their brightest and best employees happily toiling away as long as poss...

School shootings continue, as does a search for answers. What solutions are there to prevent school shootings and/or to improve the response (and thus minimize the death toll)?  In the physical security industry, we like to think we have solutions that can help, if not “solve”, the problem, but realistically speaking, how effective are they at the end of the day? We like to think we have solutions that can help, if not “solve”, the problem: but how effective ar...

Inner Range access control products all include intruder detection systems certified as Grade 3, according to European Standard EN50131-1. The grading system reflects how skilled and prepared intruders might be. Grade 3 (on an ascending risk scale from 1 to 4) assumes intruders will have some knowledge of an alarm system and a comprehensive range of tools and portable electronic equipment. Many insurance companies will not provide business cover unless a Grade 3 alarm system is in place. Effec...

Belden Inc., a global provider in signal transmission solutions for mission-critical applications, announces a new team dedicated to supporting the connectivity needs of the global hospitality market. This team, specializing in cable and connectivity infrastructures, is comprised of experts in each of Belden’s four hospitality sectors: hotels and resorts, casinos, cruise lines and theme parks. In the hospitality market, facilities are constantly innovating to keep guests satisfied. As tec...

Today, more and more video security cameras are increasingly connected to the internet and transitioning into intelligent sensors that collect significantly more data than video security images alone. However, as this level of connectivity and collection of business-sensitive data becomes more widespread, the threat from cybercrime also rises. This is clearly an issue that affects everyone. After all, nobody is immune from cybercrime, not even the experts, which raises the question: What is the...

OnSSI and Oncam have partnered to seamlessly integrate the companies’ industry-leading VMS and panoramic camera solutions. The integration of Oncam’s Evolution 12 Series and Evolution 180 outdoor and indoor panoramic cameras with OnSSI’s recently released Ocularis 5.6 VMS provides a highly efficient means to further improve situational awareness and reduce overall costs. OnSSI-Oncam Integration “This latest integration leverages the extensive camera management and contr...

At Intersec this year, on stand SA-J31, Veracity will be demonstrating and launching COLDSTORE Colossus, the 4U, 45-bay, 630TB video storage solution. COLDSTORE Colossus is engineered to meet the long-term retention needs of the Middle East. The COLDSTORE family offers unique benefits including a 10x increase in hard disk life and power savings of 90%+. In fact Colossus, with 630TB and 45 disks, consumes less than 80W of power! This gives the COLDSTORE range not only enviable performance benefi...

Thousands of security professionals gathered Nov. 14-15 at the Javits Center in New York City to explore new products, solutions and technologies, network with security luminaries and obtain high-quality industry education. ISC East, sponsored by the Security Industry Association (SIA), is the Northeast’s largest security industry event; more than 7,000 security professionals attended or exhibited at this year’s conference. Following day 1 of ISC East, SIA gathered industry luminar...

The basic principles of access control are well established: only authorized people should have access to secure areas, only at times that can be defined in advance, and only within a system that can identify exactly who went where, and when. Traditional mechanical lock-and-key systems cannot accomplish this — at least, not without loading a huge admin burden onto security staff. But modern, electronic wireless access control has the flexibility to achieve it. What criteria determine the...

ONVIF, global standardization initiative for IP-based physical security products held its annual membership meeting in early November this year, with an overview of important activities of 2018 and perspective on the year ahead. Attendees heard presentations on the final release of Profile T in 2018, an advancement which represents how ONVIF keeps pace with technological advancements that affect product development and interoperability between IP-based physical security products. Profile T For...

Salient Systems Corporation, a globally renowned innovator of unified security solutions, has announced the launch of its new CompleteView 20/20 Video Management Solution. With Salient’s robust and flexible User Interface (UI), users can manage and administer enterprise security solutions up to 30% faster. Superior command and control tools, seamless third-party integrations, and advanced analytics enable Salient’s comprehensive management solution, CompleteView 20/20 VMS to meet se...

The concept of how security systems can contribute to the broader business goals of a company is not new. It seems we have been talking about benefits of security systems beyond “just” security for more than a decade. Given the expanding role of technologies in the market, including video and access control, at what point is the term “security” too restrictive to accurately describe what our industry does? We asked the Expert Panel Roundtable for their responses to this p...

Today’s security leaders encounter many challenges. They have to operate with reduced budgets and face challenging and evolving risks on a daily basis. Security leaders are often ignored and only called upon when needed or in disaster situations. Many don’t have an ongoing relationship with the C-suite because the C-suite doesn’t understand the value they bring to the whole business. In order to resolve these challenges, a security leader can appl...

ADT Inc.’s acquisition of Red Hawk Fire & Security, Boca Raton, Fla., is the latest move in ADT Commercial’s strategy to buy up security integrator firms around the country and grow their footprint. In addition to the Red Hawk acquisition, announced in mid-October, ADT has acquired more than a half-dozen security system integration firms in the last year or so.  Here’s a quick rundown of integrator companies acquired by ADT: Protec, a Pacific Northwest commerc...

Frontline Security Solutions has won the 2018 C-CURE Partner of the Year Award. The award was presented to Chris Masters, Director of Frontline Security Solutions, by Gordon Morrison, GB Sales Director for the Tyco access control and video brands, at the C-CURE Enterprise Partner Appreciation Dinner which took place on 28th November at Boisdale of Canary Wharf. It was also announced at the dinner, which was attended by representatives from many of the UK’s leading security system integrat...

Retail banking combines a demand for high security with complex workflows. Staff need efficient access. Facility managers need the flexibility to design access permissions around individual needs, so not everyone can access every area whenever they choose. Nobody wants to carry or track large numbers of keys. These were the requirements, managers of Creval — a regional bank in Italy — faced when seeking an alternative to a mechanical master-key system. Creval needed new access contr...

ASSA ABLOY Electronic Security Hardware and ASSA ABLOY Group brand Adams Rite announces the release of the HES 9800 and Adams Rite 7800 Electric Strike. The HES 9800/Adams Rite 7800 Series is a low-profile, surface mounted electric strike designed specifically to work with the Adams Rite 8800 & 8700 Series Narrow Stile Rim Exit Devices and the EX88 Interlocking Rim Exit Device. As the only electric strike compatible with the unique Adams Rite Starwheel and Interlocking latching mechanism, t...

Integrated security manufacturer TDSi is pleased to announce the appointment of Greg Little as Technical Support Engineer. Greg will be providing First and Second Line support to TDSi’s customers, for both engineering and sales support – with a specialization in IP networking and CCTV. John Davies, Managing Director of TDSi commented, “We are delighted to welcome Greg back to the TDSi team, as he was previously our Sales Support & Estimator for five years. With a highly im...