Matt Barnette

AMAG Technology provides an overview on its regional development and the current market trends in these regions. The integrated security solution provider speaks about the consolidation of the video market and the growing necessity to develop security solutions that address the needs of their customers. The overall economy positively impacted the North American security market in 2015 as AMAG Technology has experienced unprecedented growth as an organization. On the international side, there has also been growth, but the market has been affected by challenges in the Middle East and softening markets in Europe. We view the Asia Pacific region as an area for continued development. We are investing in EMEA and APAC currently and will support Latin America as those markets turn. Change And Consolidation Change is the name of the game in the security industry. We continue to see a consolidation of the video market, and I expect that will continue in 2016. The unexpected news was the announcement of Securitas buying Diebold. It will be interesting to watch how Securitas tackles the market with this acquisition moving forward. Meeting Customer Requirements Video analytics and biometric-enabled devices will start to impact the ways customers use security systems in 2016 Looking ahead to 2016, I think we will continue to see consolidation in both the manufacturing and integration sides of the industry. Companies are looking to acquire complementary product lines to accompany existing products. The winners will be the manufacturers who are more nimble and able to respond quickly to changes in customer’s’ buying patterns. Companies who cannot easily change their direction to meet customer requirements and expectations will experience challenges. Our competitors will need to create products that address the larger security needs of their customer base and do it quickly. One of our biggest challenges as a company is to find and retain top talent, especially in the North American business. The tight employment market has made it difficult to fill several open positions as we continue our growth. Redefining Security Systems It is a great time to be in the security industry. Technology advances are providing better and more cost effective solutions for customers. Video analytics and biometric-enabled devices will start to impact the ways customers use security systems in 2016. Competitors have also created opportunities with some large global organizations, and we are taking full advantage of this situation. Customers are looking for end-to-end solutions that include access control, video management and identity management. AMAG provides that full product platform, offering all three at a lower price than competitors. We feel we are well positioned for growth in 2016 and beyond. See the full coverage of 2015/2016 Review and Forecast articles here

PSA Security Network (PSA), the globally renowned systems integrator consortium, has announced the appointment of Matt Barnette as its next Chief Executive Officer. PSA’s current CEO, Bill Bozeman, plans to retire from the organization in 2021. Matt Barnette most recently served as Vice President of Physical Access Control Solutions North America Business Unit for HID Global and previously held the role of President at Mercury Security. “We are thrilled Matt has accepted our offer to be PSA’s next CEO,” said Board Chairman, Dan Budinoff, adding “Finding a replacement for Bill was no easy feat, but after an extensive search, Matt’s reputation in the industry, unparalleled experience and leadership acumen proved to be the perfect combination to lead PSA into the future.” Physical security industry expert Matt Barnette is a seasoned veteran in the physical security industry with over 30 years of experience in management and executive roles. He first joined Mercury Security back in June 2016. After the successful sale of Mercury Security to HID Global in October 2017, Barnette maintained the operational responsibility for the Mercury business worldwide, in addition to leading the HID Government Solutions Business (PIV) division and the HID Global Accounts organization. “I’ve had the privilege of knowing Matt for many years and believe PSA is in very capable hands,” said Bill Bozeman, adding “I am proud of all we have accomplished at PSA. The organization is in exceptional health and will continue to grow and prosper with Matt at the helm.” Member of Security Integration Hall of Fame Bill Bozeman has over 40 years of experience in the security systems integration business Bill Bozeman has over 40 years of experience in the security systems integration business and has been PSA’s CEO since 2000. He has won many prestigious industry awards, including the Paul Marcus Award and is a member of the Security Integration Hall of Fame. Bozeman was recognized as one of the 25 Most Influential Security Executives and received the George Lippert memorial award, recognizing outstanding contributions to the Security Industry Association (SIA). In 2020, he received The Security Legend Award by Security Systems News. Cyber security and managed services firm “Bill leaves a tremendous legacy at PSA and I am honored to have been selected for this role,” said Matt Barnette, adding “PSA’s mission is more important than ever for systems integrators and the company has been leading the way in cyber security, managed services and emerging technologies in our industry.” Matt Barnette began his security career in 1991 and has overseen sales, marketing, operations and corporate activities and initiatives during his tenure. Prior to Mercury/HID, Barnette was President of AMAG Technology – a G4S Company and spent 12 years working in various roles within the global organization. Barnette starts at PSA on January 1, 2021, and will work alongside Bozeman for a transitional period. Bozeman and Barnette will both be present at PSA TEC, May 3 – 6, 2021, to discuss the state of PSA and the security industry as a whole.

HID Global, a worldwide provider of trusted identity solutions, announced that it has extended its open-architecture controller line with the introduction of HID Aero. Building on the proven success of its Mercury intelligent controller platform delivering total security beyond the door, HID Aero extends flexibility and access control choices to a wide range of businesses, while future-proofing an organization’s investment as requirements change. “HID Aero is providing features to a broader market that were generally available only in solutions for larger organizations, while eliminating the ongoing cost and complexity of designing, manufacturing and maintaining panel hardware at the same time,” said Stephen Carney, Vice President of Product Marketing, Physical Access Control Solutions with HID Global. Physical access control systems “It also brings end-to-end security to everyday applications with encrypted communication and threat detection, and its robust features to meet corporate compliance.” HID Aero platform controllers are backward compatible with HID VertX modules to simplify upgrades Built with openness in mind, HID’s controller portfolio delivers a nimble platform that provides original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), channel partners and end customers an array of solutions for deploying a broad range of physical access control systems. HID Aero platform controllers that fit in the same footprint as earlier HID VertX controllers and are backward compatible with HID VertX modules to simplify upgrades. Remote management capabilities The controllers include hardware, firmware, software and tools that speed development time, as well as host and controller authentication, and encryption to protect keys. HID Aero enables remote management capabilities with HID Signo and other HID readers supporting Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP), minimizing the need for field inspection and reconfiguration. Mercury LP Linux intelligent controllers and MR Series 3 SIO modules bring game-changing level of extensibility, flexibility and value to security and IT departments seeking to stay ahead of the vast changes in technology. The controller’s multi-device and third-party application integration capabilities enable easy integration of wireless locks and other devices, as well as destination control and dispatch, intelligent power supply analytics, FICAM authentication and numerous other advanced applications. Access control software Systems are highly configurable to dynamically enhance situational awareness Mercury MR Series 3 SIO modules are a diverse subset of controllers that are specifically dedicated to point control and monitoring as well as individual door oversight for system expansion of Mercury LP Linux controllers. The modules provide the flexibility to choose the controller configuration that best meets customer needs. With all controllers based on HID’s Mercury hardware platform, users can choose from a large variety of access control software providers over time without any re-investment in hardware. Systems are also easy to migrate to new software and highly configurable to dynamically enhance situational awareness. Access control requirements “With over 25 years in the market and used in more than four million panels shipped globally, HID’s Mercury open platform hardware addresses the full spectrum of access control requirements,” said Matt Barnette, Vice President of Global Accounts and Mercury, Physical Access Control Solutions with HID Global. “This ensures OEM partners, installers and end customers spanning virtually all vertical markets can select from a variety of controller solutions to meet their needs.”

Feenics has announced that its Keep by Feenics cloud-hosted access control platform is now certified and approved for government and federal agency use in Personal Identity Verification (PIV) credentialing and Physical Access Control Systems (PACS). FIPS 201-2 Evaluation Testing Feenics attained its listing on the GSA Approved Products List (APL) for all versions of Keep after completing the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 201-2 Evaluation (sometimes called FICAM) Testing Program. FIPS 201 was developed to satisfy the technical requirements of HSPD-12, the Department of Homeland Security’s mandated common identification standard and database for credentialing federal employees and contractors. After months-long testing, review and validation of the platform by third-party accredited testing lab CertiPath, both on-premise and cloud-hosted server applications of Keep satisfied requirements to become available for procurement by federal entities and listed on the GSA Schedule. Cloud Smart strategy “As the government targets the acceleration of cloud-hosted deployments through its Cloud Smart strategy, Feenics has effectively opened new channels of business for its value-added resellers and integrators”, said Chris Smith, who leads Federal Government efforts at Feenics. This certification affirms the Keep proof of concept as a secure platform for federal government applications “Keep was validated against a rigorous, comprehensive set of functional requirements derived from government-wide specifications”, said Smith, adding that more than 300 tests were conducted in an installed simulation at CertiPath facilities. ‘Keep Access Control as a Service’ software “This certification affirms the Keep proof of concept as a secure platform for federal government applications”, Smith further stated, adding “To maintain this status, Keep Access Control as a Service (ACaaS) software will undergo ongoing evaluation of new and updated versions”. “There’s a cloud-first mentality across U.S. government agencies that will help reduce the carbon footprint of hardware, while improving efficiencies with real-time updates, redundancies and lower maintenance costs”, said Paul Di Peso, Feenics Executive Vice President, adding “Receiving our FIPS 201 approval and attaining our APL validates the direction of access control in this vertical market.” Integration with Mercury Security controller DiPeso said the government is heading rapidly in the direction of increased cloud implementation, especially as new IT modernization initiatives emerge. He said “We believe we can be a major asset to the government’s push to cloud adoption”. Keep software integrates directly with the authentic Mercury Security controller Keep software integrates directly with the authentic Mercury Security controller that authenticates the PIV credential, rather than a separate communication module, further reducing the installed hardware footprint. Enterprise-enabled access control solutions “As the cloud and serverless environment proliferates in the government space, there’s a move to lessen reliance of onsite hardware”, said Matt Barnette, President of Mercury Security. “Having enterprize-enabled access control solutions like Feenics using HID’s pivCLASS solution via Mercury’s LP4502 controller brings additional applications to installers and customers alike”. (Feenics is a Platinum Partner to Mercury Security, an HID company.) Feenics continues to fortify its position as an ACaaS pioneer, certified as an International Organization for Standardization ISO 9001:2015 Company. In addition, the company recently received a 2020 Platinum Govies Award from Security Today in the Access Control Software/Controllers category.

Genetec Inc., globally renowned technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence solutions, has announced that it is now offering multiple FICAM-(Federal Identity, Credential, and Access Management) certified options for its Security Center Synergis access control system. Personal Identity Verification In a market that has been traditionally weighed down by limited solutions that are often proprietary, these new options offer non-proprietary, open-architecture choices to efficiently validate Personal Identity Verification (PIV and PIV-I) for federal employees and contractors. By unifying all systems in the Security Center Synergis platform, security teams can better mitigate risks" “Older physical security technology no longer meets federal standards or complies with the latest regulations, that’s why government agencies are looking to modernize their operations. By unifying all systems in the Security Center Synergis platform, security teams can better mitigate risks, increase operator efficiency and reduce cybersecurity efforts all while remaining compliant with the latest FIPS standards” said Justin Himelberger, Enterprise Systems Business Development Manager—Federal & DOD at Genetec. Genetec offers two FICAM-certified options: Onboard authentication using Mercury LP4502 controller: Ideal for new installations, this option is an efficient and cost-effective approach to achieving FIPS 201 compliancy. By embedding pivCLASS authentication firmware into a Mercury LP4502 controller, users reduce their hardware expenditure and benefit from a speedy authentication process. Authentication using HID PAM: Ideal for retrofits, customers can upgrade their existing systems by adding a dedicated pivCLASS Authentication Module (PAM) from HID to their installation. Genetec – Mercury Security partnership “Genetec and Mercury Security have been close partners for years and we are pleased to offer our US Federal market customers FICAM-compliant solutions that are nonproprietary and based on an open-architecture. The Mercury LP4502 controller with Genetec Synergis access control system enable customers to comply with the most stringent access and identity federal standards with the minimum amount of disruptions,” said Matt Barnette, President of Mercury Security.

Genetec Inc., global technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence solutions has announced that Mercury Security, part of HID Global, global player in the OEM access control technology segment, awarded Genetec the highest level in their partner program, Platinum Premier. The Platinum Premier status recognizes Mercury's select business partners who demonstrate continued market growth, strong integration with Mercury solutions, and shared interest in the open architecture approach to access control. Mercury Security Platinum Premier Partner “As a Mercury Security partner and reseller since 2014, we take pride in having achieved Platinum Premier status in just a few short years. Mercury is a key partner in the development of our access control strategy as we are aligned in our efforts to provide innovative and cyber-secure access control solutions based on an open architecture,” said Georges Tannous, Director of Strategic Alliances at Genetec. Genetec has demonstrated significant growth with the Mercury brand of products over the last several year" "Genetec has demonstrated significant growth with the Mercury brand of products over the last several years. This growth coupled with their continued investment in the open platform philosophy drove the well-earned recognition as a Platinum Premier partner. Genetec-Mercury Security Collaboration We look forward to working together with the Genetec team to deliver open, scalable and secure solutions to our collective end users.,” said Matt Barnette, Vice President at Mercury. According to the 2017-2018 Access Control Intelligence Database by IHS, Genetec has rapidly risen to become one of the leading developers of access control software with a top-5 ranking in the Americas and a stronger global market share growth.

Mercury Security, a global provider of OEM access control hardware and part of HID Global, will host a panel discussion on best practices for hardening an access control infrastructure for enhanced security at next week’s ISC West conference in Las Vegas. Mercury partners will also debut the new Authentic Mercury MR Series 3 SIO modules that feature enhanced cybersecurity and advanced integration capabilities in their respective booths. Integrating IT Security Best Practices Matt Barnette, President of Mercury Security, will moderate a panel discussion on creating a secure, end-to-end secure access control ecosystem that includes hardening the physical access infrastructure and integrating IT security best practices to close vulnerability gaps introduced by the cloud, web, networks and other systems.  Title:  How to Deploy a Cyber 'Hardened' Access Control System for Enhanced Security Date: Thursday, April 12th, 2018 Time: 2:30-3:30 PM  Location: Sands 302, Level 1 Participants: Bill Bozeman, President and CEO of PSA Security Network, and Sal D'Agostino, Founder and CEO of IDmachines Partners Will Showcase Mercury Products At ISC West From April 11-12, 2018 Visit Mercury’s Platinum Premier, Platinum Elite and Platinum partners’ booths at ISC West to learn more about the new, bright red, MR Series 3 SIO modules that extend integration, enhance cyber security and provide seamless upgrades for existing Mercury-based deployments. Built on the Authentic Mercury open platform, the next-generation SIO modules provide OEMs, channel partners and end customers the flexibility to choose the controller configuration that best fits their needs.

HID Global, a global provider of trusted identity solutions, will showcase its portfolio of solutions that power trusted identities in HID booth #11063 at next week’s ISC West in Las Vegas. The company will also present in several Security Industry Association (SIA) educational sessions and local community events during the conference. HID Global Collaborates With Mission 500 HID is participating in a number of charitable events within the Las Vegas community in partnership with Mission 500, a non-profit organization that works closely with the security industry to provide aid to children and families living in poverty across the US. On Wednesday, April 11, HID will work with the organization to assemble 500 Hygiene Care Packs that will be donated to the Children’s Health Fund.  HID is also an Event Sponsor for the Mission 500 Security 5K Run and 2K Walk taking place on Thursday morning, April 12. All proceeds generated by the race will be contributed to Mission 500. HID Presents On The Connected Workplace, Mobility And Secure Access Control Systems: Wednesday, April 11, from 9:45-10:45 AM: Ian Lowe, Director of Product Marketing, Enterprise Physical Access Control, will present ‘How Advanced IoT Technology Can Create the Connected Workplace of the Future’ in Sands 304, Level 1. Thursday, April 12, from 2:30-3:30 PM: Matt Barnette, President of Mercury Security, part of HID Global, will host a panel discussion, ‘How to Deploy a Cyber 'Hardened' Access Control System for Enhanced Security’ in Sands 302, Level 1. Panel participants include Bill Bozeman, President and CEO of PSA Security Network, and Sal D'Agostino, Founder and CEO of IDmachines. Thursday, April 12, 2018, from 11:00 AM-12:00 PM: Neil Fallon, Manager, Government Sales Identity & Access Management, will participate in the ‘Using a Mobile Device as a Multipurpose Credential’ panel discussion in Sands 307 Level 1. Live Demonstrations In HID Global booth Visit the HID Global booth #11063 at the Sans Expo and Convention Center for live demonstrations of the company’s solutions and services that address specific needs for issuing, authenticating, managing and monitoring trusted identities. HID will also feature partner solutions that represent a broad spectrum of applications and capabilities that are powered by HID technology.

Open architecture in physical access control is built around Mercury Security’s access control panels, the de facto standard embraced by more than two dozen access control original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Mercury and several of its OEMs teamed up March 3-4 to present MercTech4, a conference in Miami aimed at updating security consultants about the latest developments related to the Mercury platform. MercTech4 highlighted a new generation of access control products, which are increasing the capabilities for Mercury OEMs in areas such as two-way communication and encryption. Enhancements include use of the OSDP (Open Supervised Device Protocol) v2 communication standard instead of the older (and less flexible, less secure) Wiegand standard. Other advantages are relay count activations, a crypto memory chip and default encryption, a critical feature ensuring greater cybersecurity. Integration Of Hardware With Physical Security Mercury hardware is sold exclusively through OEM partnerships. The new LP4502 controller and access control platform use the Linux operating system. Mercury also provides hardware integration at the controller level with elevator manufacturers such as Otis, Kone and Thyssenkrupp, including “destination dispatch,” which groups passengers going to the same floors into the same elevators, thus reducing waiting and travel times. Mercury hardware is sold exclusively through OEM partnerships. The new LP4502 controller and access control platform use the Linux operating system Integration of Mercury controllers with LifeSafety Power’s IP-based intelligent power supplies enables system health and diagnostic data to be shared for preventive maintenance. Mercury also offers several “bridge” products to enable its OEMs to transition installed proprietary systems from outdated Casi-Rusco (GE), Software House I (Tyco) and Infographics (GE) technologies to an open platform using Mercury hardware.  Business As Usual Other recent news for Mercury is the company’s acquisition by HID Global last fall. Mercury Security President Matt Barnette says the acquisition will not impact how Mercury goes to market. “It’s business as usual,” he says. “It’s 130 days into the acquisition, so it’s still early on, but we are continuing to do what we do.” HID will develop a roadmap for improved combined solutions among the controller, reader, credential and cloud Steve Carney, HID Global’s vice president of product marketing for physical access control, provided an update from the HID Global perspective to MercTech4 attendees. He reiterated that there would be no change in Mercury’s OEM go-to-market strategy. He emphasized that Mercury’s team and talent remain core to the brand, and HID will develop a roadmap for improved combined solutions among the controller, reader, credential and cloud. Open architecture companies throughout the access control industry – Mercury’s OEM partners – are incorporating the new boards into their products, each putting their “spin” on those capabilities and expanding the functionality of their systems. At MercTech4, seven of those OEMs hosted small groups of consultants in focused meetings to highlight what’s new with their products. Lenel Honored As 'Platinum Premier' Partner Lenel, Rochester, N.Y., has been a Mercury's OEM partner since 1995. Lenel is Mercury’s first-ever "Platinum Premier" partner. In recent years, Lenel’s OnGuard system has evolved into a fully browser-based system providing both alarm and cardholder management through web browsers, and access to the platform on a computer, laptop or tablet. OnGuard WATCH (Web Access Trending and Comprehensive Health) provides system monitoring tools and health checks, such as tracking CPU usage and logging error files. Lenel has introduced its own BlueDiamond mobile credentialing system based on Bluetooth Low Energy and deploying mature technology previously used by sister UTC companies for real estate locks and in the hospitality market. Feenics, an Ottawa, Ontario, cloud-based access control company, was also among the Mercury OEMs participating in MercTech4. The Keep by Feenics platform is scalable from a single door to a global enterprise environment. A RESTful API provides easy connection of third-party applications. Feenics emphasizes cybersecurity in the cloud, using Amazon Web Services, Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption, and Veracode penetration testing. They use MongoDB open source database replica sets instead of Microsoft SQL.  Mercury and several of its OEMs teamed up March 3-4 to present MercTech4, a conference in Miami aimed at updating security consultants about the latest developments Integration And Encryption RS2 Technologies, Munster, Indiana, is another Mercury OEM highlighted at MercTech4. Their top vertical markets are K-12 schools, utilities, healthcare and government. RS2’s features include a PSIA-compliant interface, compatibility with BACnet and the Pinwheel DME (Data Management Engine) for bi-directional database integration. RS2 offers web-based support, and each edition of the Access It! software implements features suggested by customer RS2 offers web-based support, and each edition of the Access It! software implements features suggested by customer. Product enhancement is a focus of RS2’s engineering. Open Options, Addison, Texas, is a Mercury Platinum Elite partner whose customer base spans every vertical, and whose feature set reflects customer feedback. Open Options offers Mercury hardware mounted inside a sleek plastic enclosure, among other form factors. The company emphasizes an open business culture and dedication to customer service. Customer support is a direct phone line to speak with a live person every time to get any issue resolved. Open Options’ DNA Fusion Version 7 platform includes new features such as an updated user experience. DNA Fusion interfaces seamlessly with security technologies — including video, biometrics, wireless locks, and more. Last year, Open Options marked 20 years of partnership with Mercury Security. Engineering For The Masses Avigilon, Vancouver, B.C., is embracing new Mercury products in its completely browser-based Linux platform that can scale from entry-level to enterprise systems. The ACM (Access Control Manager) software is engineered for IT professionals and is updated every 60 days.The Linux-based system uses features such as the Avigilon “Appearance Search” capability to shift operation of security systems from a reactive to a proactive stance For Avigilon, access control is a component of a broader approach that uses analytics and self-learning to manage massive amounts of data and provide the information an operator needs. The system uses features such as the Avigilon “Appearance Search” capability to shift operation of security systems from a reactive to a proactive stance. Genetec, Montreal, Canada, emphasizes the value of its “unified” approach that combines video, access control and automatic license plate recognitions into a single platform – designed from the ground up – that incorporates communications, intrusion detection and analytics. Cybersecurity failures prominent in the news often occur because of negligence – the customer had not implemented a software patch, for example. Genetec helps to manage such concerns. When cameras are deployed in the Genetec platform, the system provides an alert if a new camera firmware version is needed. The Genetec Update Service (GUS) notifies customers of any needed software updates. Prominence Of Cybersecurity Honeywell’s Win-Pak access control software is integrated with the Pro-Watch security management suite. Cybersecurity is a corporate priority for Honeywell, whose products follow the SDLC (systems development life cycle) process with security requirements based on the ANSI/ISA 62443-3-3 standard. Microsoft's Threat Modelling tool identifies entry and exit points of systems that an attacker could exploit, providing the development team an attacker's viewpoint. The secure product development process includes static code analysis, secure code review, code signing, binary scanning and component inventory. Products are thoroughly tested by the Product Security Assurance Team and at times by an Advance Independent Testing Team. If vulnerabilities are identified after release, they are handled by the Product Security Incident Response Team. Cybersecurity issues dominated a consultant roundtable event on the second day of MercTech4. There was plenty of spirited discussion and some valuable insights among the 40 or so participating consultants. More to come on that in another article in the next couple of weeks.

Mercury Security has identified key trends that will influence the access control market Mercury Security has identified key trends that will significantly influence the access control market and drive the next generation of security systems in the coming years. The company’s forecast is based on its unique insights as a market leader in access control technology, with over three million panels sold and the largest installed base and greatest accumulated run time of any provider in the world. Mercury points towards the broader adoption of open architecture; a deeper focus on cyber security; and integration of cloud and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies as key elements that will drive the access control systems of the future. Paradigm Shift In Security “Access control is becoming more dynamic than ever as new technologies and sophisticated cyber threats compel the industry towards a more forward-looking approach to security,” said Matt Barnette, President of Mercury Security. “As the importance for access control and security systems continues to expand within organizations, expectations for open architecture and interoperability, adherence to cyber security best practices, and the ability to function within cloud and IoT environments is driving the future requirements for access control. All of these factors have created the perfect climate for a major paradigm shift in the security industry.” Key Physical Access Control Trends The company’s outlook highlights top trends that are shaping how organizations deploy and leverage the benefits of physical access control systems: Demand For Interconnected Systems With mobile and more connected environments becoming the norm, access control systems initially aimed at simply securing buildings and doors will now serve as the backbone for overall building security and management. Products and solutions that adopt and drive open standards for interoperability, such as PSIA, OSDP and BACnet, will be the first step to ensuring flexibility in future systems. This model will provide extreme scalability and increased ROI, while delivering better integration capabilities. Customers seeking to integrate new access control technologies, plus intrusion, elevator control, building automation, IoT and third-party applications into a common platform will be able to manage these systems more efficiently via a single infrastructure. Mercury anticipates the continued growth and adoption of open-based access control solutions throughout 2017 and beyond Cyber Threats Demand Holistic Security Cyber threats will become more pervasive and targeted towards access control systems, which will require a more holistic approach–including hardware, software and end-user due diligence in identifying threats–to establish the strongest line of defense. Equally important will be solutions featuring bi-directional and secure communications, from connected peripheral devices through to host software applications; this will be enabled by incorporating industry standards such as OSDP and the latest encryption methods between devices. Manufacturers employing secure lifecycle design methods and routinely assessing the cyber security posture of their products will be essential as systems become more connected, integrated and available through the cloud. Cloud And IoT Simplify PACS Deployment And Management The integration of cloud and IoT technologies with traditional access control systems will drive new, powerful tools that simplify and accelerate the deployment and management of PACS. Cloud-based monitoring services that emerge from combining PACS with smart building applications will deliver robust analytics that proactively pinpoint and troubleshoot potential system failures. They will also monitor secure connections between peripherals and trigger firmware updates to address potential cyber threats. IoT functionality embedded into PACS panels will enable connections to the cloud-based services to simplify activation of these capabilities. Organizations will begin to see the pay-off of using cyber-secure, interoperable solutions that leverage the cloud and IoT as customers embrace open hardware as the foundation for their PACS. Paving the way for the future of access control, Mercury anticipates the continued growth and adoption of open-based access control solutions throughout 2017 and beyond.

Industry’s first embedded native firmware integration adds seamless proactive power reporting for leading Mercury software partners LifeSafety Power Inc., Mundelein, Ill., announces a breakthrough in connecting intelligent power management analytics to leading software manufacturers directly through Authentic Mercury Security hardware. End users can now obtain intelligent alerts and power solution testing natively through one single user interface with no additional hardware. This new functionality, part of the growing LifeSafety Power and Mercury Security partnership, brings proactive real-time reporting and delivers mission critical information on overall system health before it fails. Accessing Real-Time Data LSP’s patented proactive and analytics-based technology solution is supported through the Mercury EP controller product family. Mercury OEM partners now have the ability to access real-time data, including power system status into the controller for display through their specific graphical user interface. “This truly enhances and expands the potential for systems integrators to offer remote power management to customers who will benefit from predictive analysis and detailed reporting on the health and well-being of their solutions,” said Joe Holland, Vice President of Engineering, LifeSafety Power. “Mercury Security and LifeSafety Power are long-time technology partners who see the intrinsic value this relationship brings to security.” Authentic Mercury EP Controllers "The LifeSafety Power interface is now embedded in the current line of Authentic Mercury EP controllers and will be standard in the company’s future products" The LifeSafety Power interface is now embedded in the current line of Authentic Mercury EP controllers and will be standard in the company’s future products. The integration provides critical details on the power management system, enabling end-user customers and system installers to intelligently monitor and maintain their deployments. Additionally, the interface is based entirely on the Physical Security Interoperability Alliance (PSIA) protocol, which further demonstrates LifeSafety Power’s and Mercury Security’s commitment to driving open standards in the physical security industry. “Before the new LifeSafety Power and Mercury product, an administrator would have to physically go around to check batteries and power supplies throughout their access control deployment. Intelligent power management embedded within the controller eliminates this work,” said Matt Barnette, President of Mercury Security. “Expanding our position as the leading provider of intelligent access control components, Mercury’s integration with LifeSafety Power’s intelligent power management solution is a big step forward for our multi-device integration strategy.” Enhancing Reliability And Performance LifeSafety Power has effectively shifted the paradigm of the power supply industry by creating a new category of intelligent power management solutions that provide robust, proactive analytics to mission-critical devices. This substantially adds to overall system health, performance and reliability. This is the beginning of the rollout of other capabilities and functionality that will be added to the networked power category. For systems integrators leveraging the widely-specified Mercury Security platform, this integration yields substantial value to the installing company and their specs.

Brivo OnAir combines access control technology, video surveillance and mobile credentialing in a unified cloud-based security platform Brivo, the provider of cloud-based physical access control systems and mobile credentials, and Mercury Security, a global provider of OEM access control hardware, announces the integration of the Authentic Mercury open platform into Brivo’s flagship OnAir access control system. “We have always believed in open standards for our physical access control system, and lately we’ve heard a growing desire among our customers for an open hardware solution,” said Steve Van Till, President and CEO of Brivo. “Many of our customers have a preference for Mercury hardware, and want to leverage the Mercury training they’ve already invested in their installation teams. We also appreciate the scalability of the Mercury platform, because it extends our reach into more enterprise customer applications.” Brivo OnAir Brivo OnAir combines access control technology, video surveillance and mobile credentialing in a unified cloud-based security platform. Brivo pioneered the service in 2002, and has grown to be the largest cloud-based provider in the security industry. The company added a mobile solution in 2015 that is compatible with all installed Brivo systems, as well as the newly supported Mercury hardware. OnAir will support Mercury within both new and existing OnAir accounts, and presents the same user interface that Brivo customers already use and like. Authentic Mercury Platform "Mercury is pleased to welcome Brivo as a valued Authentic Mercury Partner," said Matt Barnette, President of Mercury Security. “With Mercury’s proven open hardware and Brivo’s scalable products, we look forward to jointly addressing the market demand for fully interoperable, flexible access control platforms and cloud-based solutions.” The Authentic Mercury platform is the dominant open hardware solution for access control with advanced, industry-leading features that are optimized to meet the full range of customer requirements in today’s dynamic market. Mercury product availability for the Brivo OnAir system is set for Summer of 2017.

New status reflects on-going commitment to innovative access control integrations with Mercury Solutions Genetec Inc., a provider of open architecture security and public safety solutions announces that Mercury Security, the global leader in the supply of OEM access control hardware, has chosen Genetec to join its group of Platinum Elite Partners. The Platinum Elite Program recognises Mercury's select business partners who demonstrate sustained market growth, and access control technology based on an open architecture with the deepest levels of integration with Mercury solutions. Enhancing Relationship With Mercury By achieving Platinum Elite Partner status, Genetec will be able to further enhance its collaborative relationship with Mercury by serving as an extension of both companies engineering and development teams. Together, Genetec and Mercury will be able to collaborate even more closely to provide advanced solutions that address the increasing demand for a more open approach to update legacy access control modules to a unified, IP-based system. "As a Mercury Security technology partner and reseller for just a few short years, we take pride in having achieved Platinum Elite status so rapidly,” said Derek Arcuri, Product Marketing Manager at Genetec. “With our shared commitment to developing advanced access control solutions based on an open architecture, we are confident we will make the market’s transition to IP access control and unified security as simple and cost efficient as possible for our joint customers and integrators," added Arcuri. "Genetec has grown to become a leading force in the Access Control industry, and a trusted partner to Mercury," said Matt Barnette, President of Mercury Security. “We are pleased to add them to our chosen group of Platinum Elite Partners and look forward to working even more closely with their engineering and development teams to deliver open, Authentic Mercury based solutions to the market."

The partnership lends further credibility to Keep SMS and integration with Authentic Mercury hardware Feenics, Ottawa, Canada, has achieved elite Platinum Partner Status for Mercury Security, Long Beach, California, indicative of the company’s commitment to non-proprietary hardware cloud-computing environments. Authentic Mercury Security is one of the most widely used and specified access control hardware brands in the world.Keep Security Management SolutionFeenics is the originator of the award-winning Keep by Feenics Access Control as a Service (ACaaS) cloud-hosted security management solution (SMS). The partnership lends further credibility to Keep SMS and integration with Authentic Mercury hardware. "We are very excited to welcome Feenics as a Platinum Partner for the Authentic Mercury platform," said Matt Barnette, President of Mercury Security. "The partnership has experienced phenomenal growth since its inception and validates the growing trend in the industry to open, cloud-based access control solutions.”Cloud-Based Access Control SolutionPaul DiPeso, Executive Vice President of Feenics, said, “Achieving Platinum Partner status with Mercury is a validation of our strategy of teaming with the best field hardware provider in the industry in Mercury, while Feenics focuses solely on developing the most robust, cloud-based, access control solution, to meet the growing needs of the end-user market. The numbers don’t lie with our rapid growth and we are fortunate to have a tremendous partner in Mercury. Their support has been second to none.”

Vanderbilt is now an Authentic Mercury partner Vanderbilt, a provider of state-of-the-art security systems, continues to demonstrate its commitment to delivering open systems solutions through its compliance with open standards and close collaboration with aligned technology providers. In its effort to further extend system flexibility and customer options, the company recently completed its integration with Mercury Security and is now an Authentic Mercury partner. Best-In-Class Security Solutions The integration ensures Vanderbilt devices support Mercury Security’s hardware controllers and peripheral panels, enabling end users to build best-in-class security solutions, maximize existing investments, reduce costs and extend product lifecycle. For Vanderbilt’s systems integrator partners, an open-architecture approach supports the long-term success of technology deployments, providing freedom to choose solutions that work best for a specific deployment, an end user’s needs and crucial infrastructure requirements. As an Authentic Mercury partner, Vanderbilt will provide customers with a streamlined path to move beyond proprietary hardware to more feature-rich access control solutions. Through its close technology partnerships and support of open standards efforts such as those promoted by ONVIF, Vanderbilt affords the interconnection of its solutions and devices with other IP-enabled systems to aggregate security data. This approach allows users to improve security staff productivity, increase situational awareness and gather more security and business intelligence. Enhanced Flexibility “Open solutions enable greater choice in technologies for end users, streamlines installation and maximises product integration,” said Matt Barnette, President, Mercury Security. “Vanderbilt’s support of Mercury solutions allows more flexibility for today’s modern security leaders and systems integrators, and supports the future of the industry.” “There is increasing demand for open and interoperable access control solutions and Vanderbilt is expanding its capabilities with solutions that are open and scalable to allow users the freedom to use existing investments and third-party devices as part of a best-in-class security solution,” said Mitchell Kane, President, Vanderbilt. “Open systems benefit the entire security marketplace and Vanderbilt is dedicated to promoting open solutions that allow stakeholders to expand systems as security needs evolve over time. Our partnership with Mercury is a significant step forward in meeting this goal.”

The Authentic Mercury model allows its customers to choose from industry-leading access control software providers, at time of product selection and also as their needs evolve Mercury Security, a global leader in OEM access control hardware, today announced its new MS Bridge series of Authentic Mercury hardware for “screwdriverless” upgrades from legacy Software House iSTAR Pro systems to open, interoperable access control. The MS Bridge includes multi-device interface panels that leverage most of the existing legacy system infrastructure, enabling a direct board swap for migration. The award-winning solution provides end-user customers a cost-effective and streamlined path to move beyond the limitations of proprietary hardware for feature-rich access control. “Advances in technology and acquisitions within the industry are increasing end-user demand for more flexible access control systems that can keep pace with changing marketing dynamics and business requirements,” said Matt Barnette, President of Mercury Security. “Our new solution is built on the Authentic Mercury open platform designed for interoperability, so organizations can take advantage of new features and functionality available today, as well as future technology and enhancements down the road.” Easy System Changeover With Authentic Mercury Model To help organizations protect their access control investment, the MS Bridge eliminates as many of the system installation requirements as possible–including the need to re-wire legacy devices in order to reduce the impact of system changeover. The Authentic Mercury model also provides the freedom for customers to choose from industry-leading access control software providers, both at time of product selection and in the future as their needs evolve. The MS Bridge multi-device interface panels are designed to fit the specific physical parameters of Software House’s iSTAR Pro Series access systems. To upgrade, customers simply disconnect the Software House iSTAR Pro board and connect the appropriate Mercury MS Bridge panel for an easy, “screwdriverless” changeover to the Authentic Mercury open platform. Mercury Security’s Partner Network To Showcase MS Bridge The new MS Bridge for Software House iSTAR Pro is available through Mercury Security’s partner network. The MS Bridge was showcased by the company’s Platinum Elite and Platinum partners at ASIS International, held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida from September 12-15: Lenel: Booth #2700 Honeywell Security: Booth #2401 Open Options: Booth #2661 RS2 Technologies: Booth #3361 Genetec: Booth #2327 IDenticard: Booth #2051 S2 Security: Booth #1740 Maxxess: Booth #3613 Save

Mr. Barnette succeeds Steve Wagner, who is retiring after spending a decade at Mercury Security, most recently as President ACRE, a global Electronic security solutions provider, today announced it has appointed Matthew Barnette as President of its subsidiary Mercury Security. Mr. Barnette will be responsible for leading Mercury through its next phase of growth as it continues to work with valued partners to leverage industry-proven Authentic Mercury technology to create open, integrated access solutions for customers. Innovation & Profitability In Security & Access Control Mr. Barnette has more than two decades of experience in the security and access control industry, where he has focused on driving innovation, strategy and customer-lead profitability for a number of organizations. Prior to Mercury Security, he served as President of AMAG Technology, a leading provider of access control, video management and end-to-end security management solutions, owned by the UK parent company G4S. Mr. Barnette held several executive leadership positions during his twelve-year tenure at the company, where he led AMAG Technology to double-digit organic growth in North America, and oversaw an extensive global rebranding process.  Prior to AMAG Technology, he held positions with Andover Controls, Intellikey and Sensormatic Electronics. Supporting Mercury Partners “Matt's deep industry expertise, leadership and vision are perfectly matched to drive the shared mission and success of Mercury Security and its valued partners,” said Joe Grillo, CEO of ACRE. “As an industry veteran known for his successful track record and customer-centric approach, I am confident that Matt has the proven ability to build upon the strategic support delivered to Mercury partners and capture the increasing market demand for open and interoperable access control solutions with Authentic Mercury hardware.”  Reporting to Joe Grillo, Mr. Barnette succeeds Steve Wagner, who is retiring after spending a decade at Mercury Security, most recently as President. Mr. Wagner continues to be a shareholder in ACRE and will serve as a consultant to ACRE through 2017.

AMAG Technology is proud to announce the expansion of its product line to include Symmetry CONNECT™. The enterprise-wide software platform helps large multi-site organizations to operate more efficiently – mitigating risk, increasing safety, and reducing operating costs. AMAG Technology is an access control, video management and end-to-end security management system provider. Building Sustainable Policies Symmetry CONNECT offers multi-site organizations an easy to use software solution that automates process so companies more efficiently use their security system to secure their facility and meet industry specific compliance and audit requirements. Symmetry CONNECT allows organizations to build sustainable policies and automate manual disjointed procedures reducing manual errors and labor intensive processes. Users can be up and running the same day with the hosted solution, and there are no long term contracts or commitments to make. The flexible policy-based software platform easily expands or contracts as business needs dictate. “Businesses are suffering from rapid global growth and consolidation which means more disparate security systems, data and manual disjointed growth while striving to meet regulatory and compliance requirements,” said AMAG Technology, President Matt Barnette.  “Symmetry CONNECT automates manual processes thereby eliminating errors, streamlining data, minimizing risk and reducing cost to help companies meet audit and compliance requirements and provide a more secure environment.” Credential Authentication And Compliance Symmetry CONNECT ties together different security systems, streamlines the administration of access rights and consolidates disparate data into one centralized location that is available to anyone with authorized access.  Symmetry CONNECT ensures compliance through proven automated levels of enforcement that include notifications and escalations. Credential Authentication and Compliance reduces costs and labor intensive manual processes by automating the following: Data driven on and off boarding of employees and contractors Rule and policy based access assignment and removal Quarterly reviews of users and their access by the area owners Ad-hoc and canned reporting to meet compliance requirements Request access process When used in tandem with the Symmetry access control system or Casi Rusco Picture Perfect system, Symmetry CONNECT can bring all facilities’ security management systems together to seamlessly manage access rights and disparate databases. It offers a large potential savings in administration costs and provides a way to demonstrate compliance to all relevant regulatory agencies. Visitor Management Symmetry CONNECT Visitor Management automates and tracks the entire life cycle of a visitor request starting with the web based pre-registration of visitors by the host, check-in and badging at the reception lobby, and continuing through checkout. The Visitor Management module automatically checks each individual visitor against a “watch list” and notifies hosts of their guest’s arrival via email or text.  Visitors can self-register on a tablet, smartphone or kiosk and securely admit themselves into a facility without any manpower intervention. Additional Features Include: Full smartphone / tablet capabilities Major web browsers supported (IE, Chrome, Firefox, iOS…) Watch list NDA / Policy upload Signature capture Visitor self-registration License / Passport / Business Card scanning Robust reporting Integrated with Symmetry Customized visitor badge design QR code capability Email and text notifications Policy and Rule configuration Adding visitor management to Symmetry CONNECT requires no further installation, and it is easy to expand and add additional sites as business grows. The low cost per visitor processing makes this an affordable option and simple solution to mitigate risk.

Visitor will have a firsthand experience of Symmetry CompleteView Video Management at IFSEC 2015 G4S Technology has entered into a technology partnership with Salient Systems, Inc. and will offer Salient’s CompleteView Video Management System and TouchView Mobile Video Apps under the Symmetry™ brand. The Symmetry Security Management platform brings together Identity Management, Access Control, Alarm Management, and Video Management combined with Situational Awareness. Joining the Symmetry platform is the feature-rich set of video solutions to be known as Symmetry CompleteView Video Management System, Symmetry PowerProtect NVR server platforms, and Symmetry TouchView Mobile apps. “Salient video solutions have a proven track record of excellence in providing scalable, easy to use, cost effective solutions. The partnership will extend the capabilities of the Symmetry range of video products allowing us to create an advanced feature set to meet the diverse needs of the video customer and giving them freedom to choose the best technology specific to their business requirements,” said G4S Technology, President, Matt Barnette. Symmetry CompleteView Video Management System and Symmetry TouchView Mobile apps provide an additional set of video solutions to complement and build on existing Symmetry Video products, meeting the diverse needs of video customers through scalability from entry level to enterprise solutions, standalone or integrated, and adding the flexibility of a mobile solution. Symmetry CompleteView Video Management System Designed for flexibility, Symmetry CompleteView offers unlimited scalability to manage small to enterprise-class video security challenges. Known for its ease of use, Symmetry CompleteView offers a consistent user interface, and network friendly features like Dynamic Resolution Scaling and Smart Search, which makes it fast and easy to locate video recordings. With a true bi-directional interface to Symmetry Access Control, alarms and events can trigger recordings on cameras and recordings can be automatically associated with access control events. “Salient video solutions have a proven track record of excellence in providing scalable, easy to use, cost effective solutions" Symmetry CompleteView uses Dynamic Resolution Scaling to manage bandwidth consumption. Video resolution is automatically scaled at the server before transmitting to client machines, and is customized to fit the video display requested by the client. When video is displayed at a larger size, it is automatically streamed at the higher resolution for high quality display. The resolution is reduced for smaller screens such as tablets or smartphones, saving bandwidth. Symmetry CompleteView integrates with the Symmetry line of HD cameras as well as many other leading camera manufacturers, offering end users more camera choices for their video solution. Symmetry CompleteView supports both analog and digital technology. Customers replacing analog cameras with network cameras simply check the IP box in their configuration as the camera licence is interchangeable between analog and digital IP. Symmetry CompleteView offers a simple and easy to use way to organize complex deployments and provides complete control of view layouts and interactive maps for an enterprise installation. Users can monitor the status of all servers, add or remove users, change the configurations of servers and clients, and push software updates out to servers and clients from a single desktop application. Symmetry TouchView Mobile Apps Users can view Symmetry CompleteView software from their iPhone®, iPad® or Android™ smartphones using Symmetry TouchView Mobile Apps. View live video, recorded video and PTZ camera control from anywhere, anytime and from any camera. The Dynamic Resolution Scaling automatically sizes the video for live viewing, significantly reducing network usage and providing higher frame rates over mobile connections. "As a company, we are committed to providing cost effective, easy to use, scalable products" “As a company, we are committed to providing cost effective, easy to use, scalable products that meet the needs of our customers today and tomorrow,” said Barnette. “Our Symmetry Security Management System is one of the best in the marketplace. We have now teamed up with one of the best companies and video solutions in the market to provide the industry’s most straightforward, cost effective approach to video surveillance.” G4S Technology will continue to sell and support its existing video management software and hardware. The existing Symmetry Video Management System comes standard in the Symmetry Access Control software. Symmetry Encoders offer a wide variety of choice from single channel unit to a rack mount chassis for up to 40 cameras, and offer advanced motion detection and video content analytics on every channel. Symmetry’s robust integrations and the addition of the new video product line will give customers more options to meet their business needs. The Symmetry Access Control and Integrated Security Management System offers users the next generation of security solutions, providing users with unprecedented security management and situational awareness. Now coupled with the power of Symmetry CompleteView, Symmetry PowerProtect and Symmetry TouchView Mobile video solutions, customers will have more choices allowing them unparalleled levels of system intelligence that are unmatched in the market today. Contact the Symmetry team today to make an appointment to see, firsthand the Symmetry CompleteView Video Management product at IFSEC from 16th-18th June.

Mr. Grado has taken over responsibility for sales across the Latin/South America region AMAG Technology, the market leading access control and video management company, is pleased to announce that Ramon Grado, Vice President of International Sales has taken over responsibility for sales across the Latin/South America (LATAM) region.  In this new role, Ramon is responsible for the overall coordination, functional management and leadership of all sales activities across this region as well as his continued responsibility for Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA) and Asia-Pacific (APAC). Expanding Presence Across LATAM “I am honored to have this unique opportunity to serve AMAG Technology across the LATAM region,” said AMAG Technology, Vice President of International Sales, Ramon Grado. “My experience within AMAG Technology over the last fourteen months has allowed me to understand why Symmetry users are so loyal to the product. We have a fantastic opportunity to build on the company’s market position across LATAM and real competitive advantages to strengthen relationships with our customers.” “Ramon’s extensive executive level sales and international experience, along with his winning track record and expert language skills make him ideal to take on this additional international responsibility,” said AMAG Technology, President, Matt Barnette.  Previous Roles Ramon joined AMAG Technology as Vice President of International Sales early last year. Prior to joining the company, he served as Director of Sales at CNL Software, Inc. where he developed channel partnerships in the Middle East and LATAM, grew Pipeline and account activity and captured revenue from large projects in the Americas. He was also Managing Director, Europe, Middle East, Africa, India, Pakistan and Latin America for IQinVision, Director of International Business Development for Integral products, and held several director level positions that increased in management responsibility. Ramon takes on this role at an exciting time as AMAG Technology has entered into a technology partnership with Salient Systems, Inc. and will offer Salient’s CompleteView Video Management System, PowerProtect NVR Server Platforms and TouchView Mobile Video Apps under the Symmetry™ brand.  This suite of applications will add to the already strong Symmetry Security Management platform which combines identity management, access control, alarm management, and video management with situational awareness.

AMAG Technology, a leading provider of access control, video management and end-to-end security management solutions, announces the release of Symmetry CONNECT™, a policy-based platform providing safety, security and risk management capabilities for organizations demanding a process and policy based approach to managing all their enterprise security functions. Symmetry CONNECT allows organizations to build sustainable policies and automate manual disjointed procedures reducing errors and minimizing risks. In addition, Symmetry CONNECT helps ensure compliance by meeting industry specific audit reporting requirements and by providing a platform that eliminates mistakes and delivers an end-to-end solution. Five modules provide an effective solution to help users operationalise their business. “Symmetry CONNECT combines solutions for access control, video management, compliance and monitoring and offers a modular approach to meeting those challenges,” said AMAG Technology, President Matt Barnette. “You don’t have to address all challenges at once. Maybe today you just need to address a legacy access control system, but next year you can begin addressing your security compliance and operational needs. Symmetry CONNECT helps you bring together disparate systems, disjointed processes and data on your timeline to meet your security needs.” Symmetry CONNECT is an enterprise-wide software platform which helps large multi-site organizations to operate more effectively and security personnel to respond more efficiently. Symmetry CONNECT offers additional software modules for Identity Management, Visitor Management, Emergency Preparedness as well as Risk and Vulnerability Assessments that can be applied at any stage of a system’s development.