Joshua Herron

Gallagher Command Center is designed to give customers complete site control and management Digi Security Systems, a provider of electronic security systems, announced that it is partnering with Gallagher, a technology company that develops and delivers intuitive, intelligent, and innovative protection solutions. As a certified Gallagher channel partner, Digi offers a full suite of professional services, from business requirement analysis and customization services, through application engineering and auditing. Gallagher Command Center Digi develops systems using the Gallagher Command Center, a powerful access control solution designed to give customers complete site control and management. Fully configurable to suit the unique needs of a site, Command Center allows users to define, manage, and report on all aspects of their system. Everything that happens on-site is relayed to the Command Center operators in real time, and with mobile solutions you have ‘Security on the move’, enabling a swift and appropriate response to security threats. The Command Center also offers seamless integration with all complimentary security and site management solutions, including Gallagher’s flexible, integrated access control solutions. Gallagher’s access control solutions efficiently and reliably manage multiple access points to control risk, improve business efficiency, ensure business continuity, and increase profitability. Intelligent data management keeps customers’ information safe. Command Center also integrates with video security platform, intruder alarm, and perimeter protection products. Seamless Integration “Gallagher offers a highly secure, scalable, enterprise platform that is easy to configure and manage” “Gallagher offers a highly secure, scalable, enterprise platform that is easy to configure and manage,” said Joshua Herron, President of Digi Security Systems. “The Gallagher platform is a great choice for healthcare and government organizations. The reliable system integrates seamlessly with customer’s business management systems.” Gallagher security solutions protect government, military, healthcare, educational, industrial, and commercial organizations in more than 100 countries. The flexible system enables Digi to tailor solutions to address specific industry needs. The solutions are also designed to meet compliance regulations and achieve workplace health and safety objectives.

Wide Dynamic Range helps capture details in scenes with both very bright and very dark areas Digi Security Systems, a provider of integrated electronic security systems, announces that it designs cutting-edge electronic security solutions for educational environments. In addition, Digi’s experts, who are highly knowledgeable about a range of electronic security technologies and their applications in school settings, provide quality support and service to all of their customers. Digi provides a range of electronic security technology to schools, including video surveillance, electronic door access, intrusion detection, mass notification systems, digital signage, bell systems, intercom systems, network infrastructure and cabling, and VOIP/telephone systems. Digi solutions incorporating these technologies help maintain a safe environment for students and faculty, improve student body and faculty management, develop more efficient communications and awareness, resolve incidents quickly, and increase productivity. Cutting-Edge Electronic Security Products Digi’s greatest differentiator in the industry is not their knowledge of top-quality cutting-edge security products; however, it is their partnership with customers and rapid response time to service needs. Digi carries over a million dollars’ worth of inventory company-wide, which enables the company to be highly responsive whenever customers require service. In addition, Digi Security Systems provide free quotes, engineering, and proofs-of-concept, thus allowing potential clients to become familiar with their future security system even before making a purchasing decision. "Our team expertly designs, builds, and installs cutting-edge electronic security systems to meet the specific needs of each of our customers" Digi experts incorporate video surveillance technologies that are ideal for school settings into their electronic security solutions, such as a four-head configuration camera that monitors four simultaneous fields to minimize blind spots, ideal for capturing every possible angle in busy school hallways. Additionally, the camera’s design ensures that end users only need to purchase a single license to cover four complete camera views. Other cutting-edge video technologies available for school use include a high-resolution analytic bullet, which provides maximum coverage for seeing activities in complete darkness. The camera, which comes embedded with self-learning video analytics, features Wide Dynamic Range to capture details in scenes with both very bright and very dark areas. Video Surveillance Cameras “Our team expertly designs, builds, and installs cutting-edge electronic security systems to meet the specific needs of each of our customers. They then act as an extension of customers’ security organization to provide high-quality support and minimize the pain points of current video surveillance systems in the education industry,” said Joshua Herron, President at Digi Security Systems. “Today, high-quality digital video surveillance cameras, access control systems, and other electronic security technology are critically important tools in the effort to ensure safety and productivity in school settings. Digi makes accessing these key tools affordable and worry-free.” Digi Security Systems has partnered with University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Rogers State University, a number of public school districts, and more to provide top-quality, school-specific electronic security solutions. In addition to offering industry leading solutions and service, Digi experts can also help schools to find the funding for video security solutions. Save

The new NVR-based system was designed to run on the existing network without overloading it When Payne County, Oklahoma, found that the video security system installed in its new jail and existing county courthouse did not meet their current or planned future surveillance needs, they opted to replace it. Looking for a system that could integrate existing security hardware with newer technology, while also improving access, the Payne County Sheriff’s Office selected Oklahoma-based Digi Security Systems to design and install a new system. The system cost far less than competing options, and provides the flexibility and high-quality integration they needed to meet expanding needs. Since its initial introduction, Payne County has continued to work with Digi on necessary expansions, incorporating the updates into a single integrated security system. Digital Video Recorder After rebuilding its county jail facility in 2009, Payne County, Oklahoma, installed a new digital video recorder (DVR)-based system to serve both the jail and the nearby county courthouse. The system included 11 DVRs with about 80 cameras. Right from the start, the Sheriff’s Office found the system inadequate. They could typically use only about 8 of the DVRs at a time, since several were usually in need of service or repair. The system allowed only five logins for reviewing video simultaneously, and it was difficult to add new cameras or other technology to the system. The Sheriff’s Office began to learn more about potential options and search for a new solution; this search ultimately led them to Digi Security Systems, a local Oklahoma-based company that designs, builds, installs, and supports video surveillance, electronic access control, intrusion detection, burglar, and fire solutions. Digi was able to provide a comprehensive solution that most effectively met Payne County’s needs and solved the challenges presented by the former system. Officials from the Sheriff’s Office spoke with peers from nearby counties with similar-sized or larger facilities about their security systems. Based on these conversations and market research, they decided that a network video recorder (NVR)-based system would better meet their current and projected needs. Central Monitoring System The NVR solution provided by Digi is capable of consolidating all of the customer’s video recorder units into one unit. Additionally, Digi’s NVR system gives Payne County more expandability and flexibility, with the ability to add higher quality cameras, manage the system centrally from a single unit, and give access to multiple users. As a result, it effectively solves the issues that had been plaguing the county’s prior system. "Digi helped the Sheriff’s Office with all these needs on extremely time-sensitive projects where equipment was required immediately" “We needed to be able to expand the system to keep pace with the growing needs of the County, both within the jail and courthouse facilities and elsewhere,” said Captain Kevin Woodward of the Payne County Sheriff’s Office. He realized fairly quickly that the existing DVR system, which gave investigators such limited access to stored footage, was not going to cut it. “Our goal was to cost-effectively integrate the 80 analog cameras we already had installed into a new system, as well as to have flexibility in replacing them as they aged,” Woodward said. Once a decision was made to switch to a new video security and surveillance system, Payne County drafted a request for proposals (RFP), which emphasized the high priority they placed on flexibility. They wanted to be able to use their existing cameras where appropriate, and they also wanted to be able to choose their preferred future camera models, rather than be tied to a particular manufacturer. The Payne County Sheriff’s Office received bids from eight different electronic security and surveillance companies, and eventually awarded the bid to Digi Security Solutions. Seamless Integration Digi had been recommended by the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office, with whom they had spoken during their information gathering phase. Oklahoma County gave high marks to Digi Security Systems and the Avigilon technology to which Digi introduced them. Oklahoma County noted that the system proved easy and seamless to integrate. In addition, they can use any server they want, quickly setting up new components and getting them up and running smoothly. According to Captain Woodward, Digi provided the most cost effective solution among all the bidders, offering a solution that cost significantly less than the next closest competitor. Joshua Herron, CEO of Digi Security Systems, then worked closely with Woodward and the rest of his team to review key system needs and determine which existing equipment could be incorporated into the new system. They also discussed how the Sheriff’s Office could perform simpler installations on its own. “By virtue of their depth of knowledge and expertise about network-based security systems, Digi was able to offer us incredible cost savings,” Woodward said. “They gave us the support we needed to get a system up and running that fully meets our needs at a fraction of the cost of all of the other bidders.” Improved Overall Safety The new NVR-based system Digi developed was designed to run on the existing network without overloading it. Digi was able to encode all the older analog cameras and consolidate them into one 10-terrabyte (TB) internet protocol (IP) server, while still maintaining the output for their matrix, so they could continue to control all their cameras and pull them up through the new control system. This new system also gives access to multiple users simultaneously, solving one of the challenges of the prior system. "By virtue of their depth of knowledge and expertiseabout network-based security systems, Digi was able to offerus incredible cost savings" By switching from a DVR system to an NVR one, Payne County reduced the amount of cabling runs and therefore the labor associated with installing and maintaining the system. In addition, the NVR system allows Payne County greater flexibility and scalability in the number of cameras being used in the system, since they are no longer constrained by the number of ports in the DVRs. The new system is easier to use and provides investigators with far greater access to video footage, leading to improved overall safety and security. For example, they are now able to view hallways, as well as opening and closing doors. The system also lets them identify guards as they approach a door, and provides in-cell activity monitoring and security during moving of inmates. Electronic Security System Since the initial installation, the Sheriff’s Office has incorporated a second, 18-TB server, as well as approximately 50 advanced digital video cameras. Most of the new video cameras are 2 megapixel (MP) HD Micro Dome cameras by Avigilon, which take up less space than their analog counterparts, while providing greater resolution and easier installation. The system was also expanded from the jail and courthouse to include other county buildings, for example, a maintenance facility, and an administration building handling the 811 call system. All buildings are now integrated into a single electronic security system. Initially the Sheriff’s Office employees performed the bulk of updates required, but currently Digi provides installation assistance on the more difficult or challenging items, for example, cameras installed on the outside of buildings. "The solution Digi proposed and delivered to us is extremely valuable, since it offers us flexibility to expand as needed and allowed for a rapid transfer of systems with seamless integration with our existing technology,” Woodward said. “We select the server we want, install control software, and are up and running instantly.” Zooming Capabilities After the success of the integrated electronic security system, Woodward and his team began looking beyond the initial project scope, working with Digi to meet other county security needs. One such project was the installation of a high-resolution digital camera on the outside of the county courthouse to cover the area better and provide more detail. The 8 MP camera covers the entire side of the courthouse, enabling tracking of people outside the building, while also allowing investigators to zoom in to get a detailed look at faces. "Payne County is not simplya typical customer looking to add security cameras to a building" The Sheriff’s Office has also partnered with Digi and several of the County’s oil field companies, using security cameras to identify suspects in a series of after-hours oil field burglaries. In that instance, Digi loaned the equipment required, quickly putting together a system, including a camera, enclosure, and lens. In addition, Digi worked with the Sheriff’s Office to set up surveillance in remote fields where fires were being set. Mobile Command Post Another useful expansion is a modified bus that has been equipped as a mobile command post so investigators can work remotely. The command post contains its own server and 8TB computer; 4 dome cameras were installed to enable viewing of all sides of the vehicle, as well as other approaching vehicles. The County can use the command post for large scale events, emergencies, and natural disasters. Next up will be working with Digi to install a 27-foot mast with a camera onto the mobile command post. The Department is also considering integrating the county fairgrounds into the existing security system to ensure safety and security during large-scale events. The NVR-based integrated electronic security system designed and provided by Digi Security Systems has improved safety and security within the Payne County jail, courthouse, administrative buildings, and beyond. “Payne County is not simply a typical customer looking to add security cameras to a building,” concludes Captain Woodward. “We had complex needs, including Wi-Fi and microwave systems necessary to connect different sites. Digi helped the Sheriff’s Office with all these needs on extremely time-sensitive projects where equipment was required immediately.  Without fail, Digi was able to provide us cameras and equipment needed on the same day.”