Daniel Gundry

Dark video images contain little or no information about the subject being surveilled. Absence of light can make it difficult to see a face, or to distinguish the color of clothing or of an automobile. Adding light to a scene is one solution, but there are also new technologies that empower modern video cameras to see better in any light. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What impact does lighting have on the performance of video systems?

The advent of a truly new market for the physical security industry is a rare occurrence. Particularly rare is a new market that is both fast-growing and provides an environment that is not just conducive to application of physical security technologies but that actually demands it. Such is the case with the market for legalized marijuana. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the security challenges of protecting the cannabis industry?

Video is widely embraced as an essential element of physical security systems. However, surveillance footage is often recorded without sound, even though many cameras are capable of capturing audio as well as video. Beyond the capabilities of cameras, there is a range of other audio products on the market that can improve system performance and/or expand capabilities (e.g., gunshot detection.) We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How does audio enhance the performance of security and/or video systems? 

The new year is several weeks old, so it is safe to say that many of our New Year resolutions have fallen by the wayside. Despite the limited success of our personal resolutions, the new year is a great time to take stock, look ahead, and plan to make 2020 the best year yet. Thinking about our industry as a whole, we asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What should be the security industry’s “New Year’s resolution?” 

The new year comes with new opportunities for the security industry, but what technologies will dominate our discussions in 2020? Topics such as artificial intelligence (AI) and HCI (hyperconverged infrastructure) became familiar in conversations during 2019, and they are likely to dominate our thoughts again in the new year. But other buzzwords are also gaining steam, such as “blockchain” and “frictionless access control.” Connectivity and the cloud will also be timely technology topics as the industry evolves. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What technology buzz will dominate the security industry in 2020?

Securing large campus environments can be particularly demanding and requires a range of technology solutions. In effect, a campus may represent a dozen or more individual facilities to be secured, in addition to protecting the overall environment. Seeking more insight into the number and variety of needs of securing a campus, we asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the security challenges of protecting large campus environments?

Fire and security systems are two elements of the same mission: To keep buildings and their occupants safe. However, the two systems often operate independently and may not be integrated. Should there be more integration and what are the pitfalls? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the challenges and opportunities of integrating security and fire systems?

The new school year is a good time to reflect on the role of security in protecting our schools. From video to access control to some newer technologies, our Expert Panel Roundtable found plenty to talk about when we asked this week’s question: How does security technology make our schools safer?

The ability to treat patients in a secure environment is a base requirement of hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Whether facilities are large or small, security challenges abound, including perimeter security, access control of sensitive areas, video surveillance, and even a long list of cyber-risks. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the security challenges of hospitals and the healthcare industry?

A basic tenet of sales is ABC – always be closing. But it's a principle that most professional salespeople would say oversimplifies the process. Especially in a sophisticated, high-tech market such as physical security, the required sales skills are much more involved and nuanced. We asked this week's Expert Panel Roundtable: What unique characteristics are required of salespeople in the arena of physical security systems?

The year ahead holds endless promise for the physical security industry, and much of that future will be determined by which technologies the industry embraces. The menu of possibilities is long – from artificial intelligence to the Internet of Things to the cloud and much more – and each technology trend has the potential to transform the market in its own way. We tapped into the collective expertise of our Expert Panel Roundtable to answer this question: What technology trend will have the biggest impact on the security market in 2019?

The new year 2019 is brimming with possibilities for the physical security industry, but will those possibilities prove to be good news or bad news for our market? Inevitably, it will be a combination of good and bad, but how much good and how bad? We wanted to check the temperature of the industry as it relates to expectations for the new year, so we asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How optimistic is your outlook for the physical security industry in 2019? Why?

In many regards, 2018 was a turbulent year for the physical security marketplace, driven by evolving technologies and changing customer needs, among other factors. Year-end is a great time to reflect, so we asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: What caused the most disruption in the physical security marketplace in 2018? 

By definition, an edge device is an entry point to a network. In the physical security industry, edge devices are the cameras, sensors, access controllers, readers and other equipment that provide information to the IP networks that drive today’s systems. In the Internet of Things (IoT), edge computing refers to an increasing role of edge devices to process data where it is created instead of sending it across a network to a data center or the cloud. In our market, edge computing takes the form of smarter video cameras and other devices that store and/or process data locally. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What’s new “on the edge” of security and video surveillance systems? 

Where does the time go? Before you know it, here we are at mid-year reflecting on an eventful first half of 2018 in the physical security market. It’s also a good time for our Expert Panel Roundtable to pause and look ahead at what we might expect in the second half of the year. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What technology development will have the greatest impact in the second half of 2018?

We are slowly returning to normal after the COVID-19 pandemic that has swept the world.  The journey to normality is going to see a large number of changes, and the physical security arena is set to be front and center in both implementing changes to keep the rest of the organization safe and within their own policies and procedures. Our return to work journey can be broken down into a number of areas for consideration. This is by no means an exhaustive list but will highlight the areas in which a security team can offer valuable insight and direction, and also some areas that end users may wish to consider as security leaders. Processes and procedures Employees returning to a site is going to be a major step for any organization, and this is where security leaders are going to be called upon to help. In these times of enforced social distancing, lockdown procedures, deep cleaning and personnel interaction protocols, each COVID protection program has a process to follow and this is the first place a security operations team may lend their experience. Physical security is built upon and relies on procedures and processes that must be strictly followed to be successful. These processes may be translated into the wider organization to help minimize confusion as the site becomes more populated. It is also a good time to review your own policies and procedures to ensure that they are adapted to meet the needs of the organization as people return to work. It is likely that you will have to increase the number of patrols or guards at access points, and you may have a new investigative process to consider for track-and-trace requirements, should there be a positive COVID-19 result. Monitoring The Security Operation Center (SOC) is likely to become an even more important part of the day-to-day operations on site. It acts as the centralized point for monitoring and incident management and may be subject to greater strain, incidents and demands than before. Ensuring that your SOC is suitable and equipped to handle these operations is key. While you may not have enough security staff to actively monitor your entire camera estate, video analytics provide a key ally. Many VMS manufacturers have simple video analytics built into their software, but there are specific tools available to help detect infractions around social distancing: people counting in a specific area to avoid over-crowding and a de facto fail on the social distancing measures; mask or PPE wear detection to ensure that people are appropriately dressed for their own protection; and people movement monitoring makes sure your employees aren’t bypassing the one-way system that you’ve implemented. An alert can be set up to identify when employees get within 6 feet of each other A particularly useful technique here is object distancing, where an alert can be set up to identify when employees get within 6 feet of each other for an extended period of time, aiding you in social distancing requirements. A second is built on wrong direction monitoring and will ensure that the one-way systems you create are being followed by staff and public alike as the analytic is capable of determining direction of travel for a pedestrian. A more advanced analytic may be the detection of PPE and ensuring that staff are wearing the appropriate masks and protective gear, although this is relatively dependent on strong camera positions and ensuring that the field of view is appropriately configured. There are a number of options to integrate with your access control systems, both physical and technology based. Thermal cameras and temperature probes may be used at entry points to ensure that anyone with a fever isn’t admitted to a location (although be careful when selecting a thermal camera and do thorough research on the temperature variation that it is able to detect). Human-to-human interaction Your physical security team is often the first human point of contact for your employees and often the most important. It may be necessary to increase your patrol and guard workforce temporarily to ensure that all entrances are covered and that entry procedures are tightened up or enhanced. I am confident that employees won’t mind an extra minute or two at the entrance for the improvement in their own health and wellbeing. If you do have an incident, perhaps where an employee is felt to be breaking the rules by not distancing appropriately, or ignoring mandated procedures, then your guard and patrol teams become vital peacekeepers in defusing and de-escalating the incident. Those same team members should also be trained in incident control and investigation, and with a well configured security environment (surveillance, electronic access control, personnel checks, etc.), they should form the basis of the track and tracing process of all staff that were on site and in contact with an infected employee should the worst happen and you have a positive COVID test returned. Protecting your security personnel Physical security operations team should be fully equipped with appropriate PPE This leads to my final point: your physical security operations team should be fully equipped with appropriate PPE, both while on patrol and in the SOC. Installing plexiglass panels between monitoring stations and spacing the monitoring stations appropriately should be the minimum first step. If your team is large enough, implementing a split A and B team is another possibility, with no interaction or risk of cross contamination between the teams, and a deep cleaning of the SOC and each guard station at the end of every shift. This ensures that you’ve covered at least 50% of your personnel in case of a COVID-positive event to keep operations moving, but also helps to create a contained working environment for this critical security function. If you have the space and the equipment, creating a secondary SOC, or engaging a remote GSOC (Global SOC) provider will improve your monitoring capabilities (GSOC companies are usually equipped with the latest video monitoring technologies) and reduce the risk of cross contamination. As you’ve read, there are many ways in which your physical security operations team can aid you in a successful return to work, playing a vital function in monitoring, managing and interceding in your organization. One final note: thank you to those front-line personnel for their tireless efforts in keeping us safe and healthy.

Dark video images contain little or no information about the subject being surveilled. Absence of light can make it difficult to see a face, or to distinguish the color of clothing or of an automobile. Adding light to a scene is one solution, but there are also new technologies that empower modern video cameras to see better in any light. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What impact does lighting have on the performance of video systems?

The advent of a truly new market for the physical security industry is a rare occurrence. Particularly rare is a new market that is both fast-growing and provides an environment that is not just conducive to application of physical security technologies but that actually demands it. Such is the case with the market for legalized marijuana. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the security challenges of protecting the cannabis industry?

Vistacom, a globally renowned provider of audiovisual and communications solutions, has announced that its annual Tech Expo, which highlights the latest technology innovations from its audiovisual, control room and technology partners, will go virtual with a four-part webinar series designed to highlight the latest AV and technology innovations. Earlier this year, Vistacom canceled the in-person expo owing to the ongoing concerns with the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), but has decided to offer the 2020 Vistacom Tech Expo as a virtual event. Vistacom Virtual Tech Expo Webinar Series Vistacom will highlight industry veterans and thought leaders to provide a comprehensive update on the latest industry trends and predictions live via webinar series, addressing several topics over the coming weeks: July 9: Implementing Hybrid Technology Solutions for a Seamless Education Experience July 28: Developing a Business Continuity Communication and Digital Transformation Strategy Aug. 18: Extending Situational Awareness Beyond the Control Room Sep. 15: Technology-as-a-Service - Leveraging New Financial Options and Buying Models for Future-Proofing Technology Upgrades Shift to virtual events globally Technological advancements and growing challenges in the current climate are driving innovation The shift to online events appears to be the new normal. Technological advancements and growing challenges in the current climate are driving innovation as recent studies show that by 2020’s end, 80% of internet traffic will be from virtual conferencing. “A virtual event provides Vistacom with an avenue to reach even more attendees interested in learning more about the emerging technology that organizations are quickly adopting in response to this changing business environment,” said Dan Gundry, Director of Sales and Marketing, Vistacom. Insights on audiovisual technology solutions He adds, “The series brings multiple thought leaders and technology experts together to provide insight into the newest trends and solutions in the AV industry, all from the comfort of your home or office, wherever that may currently be.” Vistacom’s Tech Expo 2020 webinar series is free to attend. The Vistacom Virtual Tech Expo is sponsored by Barco, a global technology company that develops networked visualization solutions for a variety of markets.

Video is widely embraced as an essential element of physical security systems. However, surveillance footage is often recorded without sound, even though many cameras are capable of capturing audio as well as video. Beyond the capabilities of cameras, there is a range of other audio products on the market that can improve system performance and/or expand capabilities (e.g., gunshot detection.) We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How does audio enhance the performance of security and/or video systems? 

The new year is several weeks old, so it is safe to say that many of our New Year resolutions have fallen by the wayside. Despite the limited success of our personal resolutions, the new year is a great time to take stock, look ahead, and plan to make 2020 the best year yet. Thinking about our industry as a whole, we asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What should be the security industry’s “New Year’s resolution?” 

Securing large campus environments can be particularly demanding and requires a range of technology solutions. In effect, a campus may represent a dozen or more individual facilities to be secured, in addition to protecting the overall environment. Seeking more insight into the number and variety of needs of securing a campus, we asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the security challenges of protecting large campus environments?

One of the common characteristics of trade shows is booths with walls and walls of new products. Sometimes exhibitors seem intent on displaying everything in their portfolio, even though the displays appear cluttered and may not be welcoming. In an age of system sales, in particular, the emphasis on products can seem off kilter. Discussions with exhibitors at this year’s GSX show reveal a new awareness of the need for less cluttered booths, but the equipment walls persist. Here’s a review of Day 2 from the show floor.  Allegion embraces more open booth design At GSX 2019, Allegion is among the exhibitors embracing a new, more open booth design that encourages engagement with customers and puts less emphasis on product displays. Discussions at the Allegion booth have centered around the value proposition and lower complexity of network-connected access control systems. The approach has been gaining a higher profile at Allegion since the company acquired Isonas, whose system configuration involves a reader-controller connected to the network via power-over-Ethernet cable. “Customers are also asking about Bluetooth technology and mobile applications,” said Jonathan Mooney, Allegion sales leader. Allegion is looking to deploy the Isonas software in other products in their portfolio; it will be offered in the range of Schlage wireless locks by the middle of 2020.The benefit of the cloud and network is to remove a lot of complexity and unnecessary costs for access control" “The benefit of the cloud and network is to remove a lot of complexity and unnecessary costs for access control,” said Mooney. Bosch offers complete security solution Bosch is introducing 55 new products at GSX 2019, but when it comes down to it, the company’s overarching message is not about individual products but about how they can be combined into a larger system. “At the end of the day, the message from Bosch is ‘how do I create a complete security solution?’” said Paul Garms, Bosch Director, Regional Marketing Security. “That’s what we are trying to demonstrate: How do all these things integrate?” Most of interest to attendees are actual demonstrations, which are a unique aspect of the trade show experience. “It’s nice at a show where we can really demonstrate what we are talking about when we say ‘integrated solution,’” said Garms. “And people can say, ‘oh yeah, if I trip this video analytic, the speaker will warn me I am approaching a restricted area.’ Or, when the manager signs in on the intrusion panel, now the associate can access a door he wasn’t able to before. It’s that integration and the complete solution that resonates. People are also interested in new products. At a show, they like to see them in operation.” At the Bosch booth, there is a big wall that illustrates some integration possibilities. An array of cameras was among the 55 new products introduced by Bosch, which also emphasized systems. Machine learning and advanced video analytics One implementation featured on the wall is Bosch’s Camera Trainer machine learning system. The system can “train” a camera to recognize a car in a parking lot, for example. Among the new Bosch products is the Autodome 7000i, the next generation of a best-selling camera, now with H.265 encoding and analytics such as line crossing. There is also an outdoor panoramic camera that is adjustable to 180-degree or 360-degree views. The new, less expensive 3000i series cameras provide an affordable option with edge analytics and Bosch’s data security protection included. Integration from Honeywell as well as 'the big picture' At Honeywell Security Group, Senior Product Manager G. Eric Green said the show seems to be much better attended than last year, “and we have had a lot of interest in our products.” Even end-user attendees typical of the GSX show are interested in the details of technology, as well as “the bigger picture,” commented Green. “Some of our booth visitors want to get into the weeds,” he said. “They say they want this piece of hardware. But they also also interested in the big picture. How things are interacting is very important.”Honeywell announced the 30 Series IP cameras, which can be used as part of video systems that comply with National Defense Authorization Act Section 889" “Most customers have installed products from other vendors that they expect us to work with. So integration is always at the top of the list. Can you work with these guys? Do you have an API? Do you support this piece of equipment? We always hear that a lot,” said Green. “There are customers who want best-in-breed products, but they’re not necessarily concerned about that coming from one manufacturer,” he said. “Other customers want ‘one throat to choke.’ When something goes wrong, they don’t want any finger-pointing.” Web-based security console and frictionless access control Honeywell is showing a beta version of its Pro-Watch 5.0 product, which is coming out in Q1 next year. It is an integrated security console that provides a map view of access control, video management, intrusion and other third party systems. The web-based platform offers access to each element, all controlled by permissions. “We are also building in an incident workflow engine that allows an operator to see exactly what steps he should take when something occurs as defined by the supervisor or a security director,” said Green. “It can literally walk you through, and it is completely freeform. Whatever you want it to say, it will say. This works in conjunction with access control, video, and all the things we talk to.” The Honeywell booth was a busy place on day two of GSX 2019 Another new Honeywell product is the OmniAssure Touch reader, a “frictionless” device that can read a credential off a smart phone in a user’s pocket. The user merely touches the reader, and it scans the area for a nearby mobile device that is authorized, and you can walk through the door. Honeywell also announced the 30 Series IP cameras, which are encrypted and can be used as part of video systems that comply with National Defense Authorization Act Section 889. They are made in Taiwan. Arcules' cloud security solution “There are fewer people here at GSX 2019, but we have seen a lot of really big companies looking for a cloud service,” said Andreas Pettersson, CEO of cloud video company Arcules. At previous shows, questions about the cloud often seemed out of curiosity. Now, potential customers are more decisive: They say “we want to move to the cloud.” Pettersson theorized that concerns about a possible weakening economy may prompt some companies to avoid the large capital expenditure of procuring a new on-premise system and instead opt for the minimal investment needed for a cloud system. Monthly operating expenses of a cloud system are also predictable and more easily managed, said Pettersson.At previous shows, questions about the cloud often seemed out of curiosity. Now, potential customers are more decisive Arcules is proactive on the subject of cybersecurity and has a two-page handout that summarizes the cybersecurity advantages of their system. They are eager to talk about cybersecurity as it relates to cloud systems, said Pettersson. He said that, in his experience, on-premise systems tend to have more cybersecurity issues,  whether because ports are left open or a firewall is implemented incorrectly. Users may also seek to bypass the firewall — a dangerous practice that is not an option with cloud systems. Security patches may not have been implemented; in a cloud system, such updates are pushed out automatically. The recurring monthly revenue (RMR) aspect of cloud systems are a windfall to integrators who embrace the cloud. “One integrator said he went on vacation for the first time in years because he had the extra money coming in,” said Pettersson. Control room integration from Vistacom "We're still fairly new to GSX, as our first show was 5 years ago, but what we have noticed is that the show continues to attract valuable attendees and drive critical conversations around what companies like ours must bring to the table in order to be successful in this space," said Dan Gundry, Director of Sales and Marketing, Vistacom. "We've had so many chances to learn from and share with potential customers and partners, and as a result, we continue to forge great relationships.” Vistacom is highlighting its control room integration and the value enterprise organizations can gain from implementing one in their facility. The company works alongside end-user customers and security integrators to build a command center space, taking into account video wall display technology, operator consoles and furniture, audio and lighting considerations, as well as temperature and more, in an effort to optimize these centers. Stay tuned for the full GSX 2019 show review.

Vistacom, global provider of audiovisual and communications solutions, has announced that it has promoted Dan Gundry to serve as Director of Sales and Marketing. Gundry will be responsible for leading the sales and marketing teams with developing new business opportunities in existing and emerging markets, as well as collaborating closely with key clientele to deliver innovative solutions. Interactive Video And Unified Communications Vistacom’s sustained growth, fueled by the demand for interactive audio, video, control room, and unified communications solutions, propelled the need for more cohesive strategies across the sales and marketing segments of the organization. Gundry will align these functions and play a key role in reaffirming Vistacom’s trusted position with client and vendor partners. Since Dan joined Vistacom, he has excelled in every role he has held of increasing responsibility" “I am honored to have the opportunity to further align our sales and marketing efforts at such a pivotal stage in Vistacom’s business,” Gundry said. “I look forward to working with our sales teams to focus on immediate revenue growth goals while ensuring the company remains a leader in the technology integration markets in the long-term.” Integrated Solutions Expert Gundry has worked for Vistacom for more than 15 years and most recently held the role of Director of National Control Room Sales. His strong background in mission-critical environments, integrated solutions, and command center operations enables him to help clients improve responsiveness and communications. Furthermore, his background in both construction management and technology provides a unique perspective and has helped Vistacom’s high-profile and mission-critical clients implement programs that enhance risk management and build proactive communications. “Since Dan joined Vistacom, he has excelled in every role he has held of increasing responsibility,” said Angela Nolan, COO, Vistacom. “As a well-known and highly respected expert in the technology industry, his strong leadership skills and in-depth background in technology, sales, and marketing makes him the ideal person to streamline these efforts across the company.”

Vistacom Inc., a provider of audiovisual and communications solutions, announced the availability of the enhanced version of its Vistacom SecureView video wall solution. Vistacom SecureView 2.0 is an intelligent visual solution that enables organizations to view data from multiple services and solutions in a single operational picture. Vistacom SecureView 2.0 Today’s mission-critical environments require efficiency and intuitiveness to maintain an effective and intelligent security posture. In a modern Security Operations Center, overview video walls play a critical role in helping leaders and control room operators gather data, identify potential risks, and engage in intelligent, proactive response. Vistacom’s SecureView 2.0 provides operators with a single-pane-of-glass view of operations across their infrastructure Vistacom’s SecureView 2.0 provides operators with a single-pane-of-glass view of operations across their infrastructure. Multiple data feeds are combined into a single system while creating a more simplified workflow through an intuitive user interface. The newest version of the innovative solution also incorporates a simplified touch panel to enable operators to change layouts and sources based on evolving security or operational requirements. Advanced displays are comprised of 1.7mm near-seamless bezels with less depth for a streamlined installation. Vistacom SecureView was developed to be sold and installed by local security integrators with the full weight of a remote team of Vistacom specialists to preconfigure the video wall system and provide support during installation and the life cycle. Video Wall Solution The solution can be configured with four, six or eight 55-inch commercial, 24/7-rated, ultra-thin LED displays that can be wall-mounted or floor-mounted. The video wall solution is pre-configured and tested by Vistacom’s technical experts prior to shipping and includes a two-year warranty.   “Vistacom SecureView 2.0 delivers a highly affordable solution that still delivers the advanced features that intelligent command centers require,” said Dan Gundry, Director of National Control Room Sales, Vistacom. “This updated technology offering allows us to help our customers and partners build the next generation of security operations centers, which require new levels of intelligence to quicken response and ensure rapid decision-making.”

VuTeur, an innovator in emergency management and business intelligence platforms, announced a new strategic partnership with Vistacom, Inc., a provider of integrated control room solutions. The companies will collaborate on the delivery of unified, intelligent communications platforms designed to help organizations respond more efficiently to an emergency. Vistacom, Inc., will bring VuTeur's emergency management and asset protection software into its robust solutions portfolio to offer more options for customers looking to integrate advanced communications tools within their organization. Incident Management Vistacom, Inc., incorporates technologies together that assimilate independent and critical data across video walls, control rooms, war rooms, training rooms and other command center locales. The addition of VuTeur's software platform will help provide the situational awareness necessary for improved response time, reliability and decision-making in mission-critical applications. The two companies will work together to deliver more options to Vistacom's current customer base within the security, utility, transportation, healthcare, government, entertainment, and other markets. The VuTeur platform is ideally suited for use in control rooms to assess and manage emerging incidents and is designed to provide the location and status on all individuals inside a building. It uses real-time location system (RTLS) technology embedded within modern mobile and smart devices to power two-way communication between individuals during an incident or event. VuTeur uses existing Wi-Fi connectivity to communicate directly with mobile users within a facility, allowing a user's location to be visualized on a map of the facility and reported to operators and responders. Unified Communications And Emergency Response Solution “Our goal is to provide customers with solutions that help unify communications across platforms to deliver comprehensive security coverage when and where it's needed most,” said Dan Gundry, National Control Room Sales Manager, Vistacom, Inc. “Incorporating VuTeur's incident management and asset protection technology into our product offering allows us to offer customers a more robust emergency response solution for a variety of applications.” “With Vistacom, we gain a strong partner in the control room and unified communications industry that will provide more incident response options to a growing market,” said Jana Rankin, CEO, VuTeur. “As we continue to expand VuTeur’s capabilities and integrate our technology, partners like Vistacom that share our passion for helping customers enhance safety measures are critical to our continued success.”