Connected Technologies - Experts & Thought Leaders

In an emergency, first responders, School Resource Officers (SROs), and responsible parties need to gain access to campus buildings to assess alerts and potential threats. With Connect ONE®’s new Emergency Response Platform (ERP), included with any service level at no additional charge, first responders and SROs can view cameras, unlock doors and outputs, activate task functions, initiate lockdown and see recent activity. Connect ONE ERP Connect ONE ERP unifies multiple school systems into one interface without separate site log-ins The Connect ONE ERP unifies multiple school systems into one interface without separate site log-ins. Integrators can offer 911 and dispatch centers viewing and access control of schools to assist responders during critical threats. The cloud platform ERP provides a separate agency login with specific designated permissions for first responders, who can only see customer site locations shared by the security dealer. Emergency Response Platform “The Emergency Response Platform allows Connect ONE dealers to partner with local law enforcement by providing the tools they need to diffuse an emergency quickly and effectively with powerful information to view and control facility security,” said Dan Simon, Technical Director, Connected Technologies.  He adds, “It’s a great solution to heighten safety and create safer experiences for the public, while ensuring you keep a customer long-term with a valuable service.” ERP: Use-case in action Nightwatch Security & Telephone LLC has executed the ERP at several of the area’s school districts Nightwatch Security & Telephone LLC, Sedalia, Mo., has implemented the ERP at several of the area’s largest school districts serving more than 5,000 students. Nightwatch Owner, Jeff Kesterson said it’s simple to update proximity key fobs and input agency officer’s access codes to stay current with staffing changes or modifications to permissions. “First responders and SROs maintain access to schools with proximity access control key fobs, but staying current with staffing changes was unwieldy before the ERP,” said Jeff Kesterson. Key fob credentials The Sedalia Police Department, which has access to schools in the city, said the ERP is a huge timesaver for administering key fob credentials. “Ease of administering credentials was important and adding or removing personnel from the system was clunky before the ERP. Instead of logging into all the school systems separately, we can look at everything in one place,” said Commander Joshua Howell, Operation’s Support Bureau, Sedalia Police Department. Connect One’s GeoView System Mapping Viewing and controlling options are also available via Connect One’s GeoView System Mapping Viewing and controlling options are also available via Connect One’s GeoView System Mapping – a real-time Google mapping feature, which adds the capability of seeing floor plans of the building along with point and click control of doors and cameras. Dispatch can easily respond to officers on-site and unlock doors for quick entry by clicking on GeoView’s map and door icon. Other features of the ERP A single application screen to add or remove agency personnel system codes/access credentials from shared customer systems. System codes are included in profile templates, so permissions come pre-defined for simple additions by the agency. Permissions may only be modified by the dealer to prevent misconfiguration; customers will maintain the ability to view the permissions without making changes. Activity by agency personnel is reviewable by the customer in reporting and notifications. Integrates with leading intrusion, access control, video, fire, temperature, humidity, MNS, environmental and weather systems. Connect ONE and the ERP is the unified, cloud management platform for schools that’s making a difference with easier access while increasing situational awareness.

Connected Technologies announces the launch of Connect ONE® NFC Wallet Card Solutions, giving users a simple and secure way to use their smartphones as access credentials through Apple and Google Wallets. With Connect ONE NFC Wallet Card Solutions, organizations can eliminate the hassle of physical badges. Users simply hold their phone near a compatible reader to gain access — no apps to download and no device unlocking required, with cards remaining functional for a period even if the phone battery is low. Interface to deploy NFC Wallet Cards “End users provision NFC Wallet Cards through the Connect ONE interface for easy deployment,” said Dan Simon, Technical Director, Connected Technologies. He adds, “Dealers can use the interface to deploy NFC Wallet Cards on any system, elevating the customer experience, while generating new streams of RMR from existing installations.” Connect ONE NFC Wallet Card Solutions Connect ONE NFC Wallet Card Solutions feature these capabilities: Universal system compatibility – Works with DMP, Bosch, Elk, Cansec, and any other access control platform. Streamlined provisioning – Cards are sent by email or text and added directly into Apple or Google Wallet. No third-party apps required – All card management is performed through the Connect ONE platform. Branded wallet cards – Card design is customized with the company logo, keeping the brand visible to users daily. The ability to generate RMR – Provides dealers with recurring monthly revenue opportunities while delivering ongoing value to end users. Legacy migration support – Seamless transition from existing physical cards while maintaining compatibility with MIFARE and other proximity devices. Rising Adoption of Wallet Cards NFC wallet technology is rapidly becoming the preferred access method for businesses and end users. According to the 2024 Contactless Usage and Adoption Study by the NFC Forum, 73% of consumers report being “familiar” or “very familiar” with NFC, and for the first time, the majority of contactless users say they prefer a mobile phone for access over a physical card.

Nightwatch Security & Telephone LLC, Sedalia, Mo., took a common problem for first responders – ready access to schools in an emergency – and turned it into a positive with a cloud management platform. Nightwatch owner Jeff Kesterson is partnering with local law enforcement on implementing an Emergency Response Platform (ERP) which gives police, sheriff and state highway patrol agencies in Sedalia and Pettis County greater accessibility and situational awareness at local school campuses. Cloud management platform The company provides access control, intrusion detection and video surveillance, managed via the Connect ONE Leveraged through the Connect ONE® by Connected Technologies cloud management platform, first responders and School Resource Officers (SROs) can view real-time activity at local schools, initiate immediate access, or lock down the protected premises. Nightwatch is the systems integrator and physical security service provider to the Sedalia School District (Sedalia 200), one of the largest districts in the county with over 4,500 students in PK-12 facilities; Sacred Heart School; La Monte R-IV School in neighboring La Monte, Mo., and Greenridge R-VIII. The company provides access control, intrusion detection and video surveillance, managed through the Connect ONE cloud platform management interface. Remote locking and unlocking capabilities “We asked Connected Technologies to develop a simple way to update, administer and input agency officer’s codes/credentials for the schools through Connect ONE,” said Jeff Kesterson. “They came back with the ERP, which unifies all the school’s individual systems into one interface for viewing, management and control without separate site logins. It goes even further, and allows remote locking and unlocking capabilities during critical threats,” he said. Fobs and system permissions Users can manage the fobs and system permissions in one place for all the schools viathe ERP Kesterson added that first responders, as well as SROs at each school, maintain access with proximity access control key fobs, but updating the devices to stay current with staffing changes was unwieldy. Now, users can manage the fobs and system permissions in one place for all the schools through the ERP. Sedalia 200 school administration manages more than 700 fobs annually, utilizing the Connect ONE platform daily. The ERP provides agencies with a separate login with certain designated permissions for first responders who can only see customer site locations shared by Nightwatch. Via the emergency dashboard, first responders can login to view cameras (where implemented), unlock doors and outputs, activate task functions, initiate lockdown and view recent activity. Door access control and camera viewing The Sedalia Police Department has access to schools within the city limits: Sedalia 200 which includes 10 schools plus administration and maintenance buildings and Sacred Heart School. The Missouri State Highway Patrol A has access to the same schools as the Pettis County Sheriff’s Office The Pettis County Sheriff’s Office has access to Sedalia 200 schools and buildings; Sacred Heart School; La Monte R-IV; and Greenridge R-VIII school districts. The Missouri State Highway Patrol A has access to the same schools as the Pettis County Sheriff’s Office. The ERP allows Nightwatch to easily set up various zones of jurisdiction, giving first responders access to the schools they are obligated/expected to respond to an emergency. Of the four school districts using the ERP, all except Sacred Heart School provide both door access control and camera viewing/playback to the departments with access. ERP for enhanced accessibility and response Commander Joshua Howell, Operation's Support Bureau, Sedalia Police Department, said the ERP is a huge timesaver, and allows the department to administer key fob credentials, streamlining the process when personnel access requires modification.  “Ease of administering credentials was important and adding or removing personnel from the system was clunky before the ERP. Instead of logging into all the school systems separately, we can look at everything in one place,” he said. Commander Howell added that the platform allows authorities to unlock doors if an emergency responder doesn’t have a proximity device, saving time as opposed to dispatching a patrol officer to the scene. The Pettis County Sheriff’s Office is also leveraging the ERP for enhanced accessibility and response readiness. School safety planning Sheriff’s Office has over 650 square miles in the county, including Sedalia and smaller cities “This has been a great tool for us,” said Sergeant John Cline, SRO Unit Supervisor, Pettis Co. Sheriff’s Office. “We’re continuing to build it out and have integrated it into our school safety planning. Being able to remotely manage key fobs and initiate lockdowns – there’s substantial benefit to having that immediate control,” he said. The Sheriff’s Office has jurisdiction over 650 square miles in the county, including Sedalia and several smaller cities. It manages some 40 key fob credentials issued to patrol officers and SROs assigned to the schools. SROs serve the daily law enforcement needs of the schools, but if they aren’t available to provide access in an emergency, the ERP provides that function in real-time. Emergency Response Platform Nightwatch provided training on the interface to the units, and Sgt. Cline said it was intuitive “Our schools recognize the importance of having a close relationship with law enforcement,” Sgt. Cline continued. “Being able to get into a building quickly when seconds count has made the relationship that much stronger,” he said. Nightwatch provided training on the interface to the departments, and Sgt. Cline said it was intuitive and easy to grasp in a one-hour session. “The Emergency Response Platform allows Connect ONE dealers to partner with local law enforcement by providing the tools they need to defuse an emergency quickly and effectively with powerful information to view and control facility security,” says Dan Simon, Co-Founder, Connect ONE. “It’s a great solution to assist in public safety while also ensuring you keep a customer long-term.” Other benefits of the Emergency Response Platform A single application screen to add or remove agency personnel system codes/access credentials from shared customer systems. System codes are included in profile templates, so permissions come pre-defined for simple additions by the agency. Permissions may only be modified by the dealer to prevent misconfiguration; customers will maintain the ability to view the permissions without making changes. Activity by agency personnel is reviewable by the customer in reporting and notifications. Connect ONE and the ERP is the unified, cloud management platform for schools that’s making a difference with easier access while increasing situational awareness for first responders.

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