American Dynamics Surveillance Quads

Johnson Controls announces Tyco Cloud, a new cloud-based security suite developed to help customers move costly and complex security infrastructure for access control and video surveillance to the cloud. With Tyco Cloud, organizations can reduce costs, improve enterprise security management and scale security operations on demand, providing unlimited possibilities to deliver security services over the internet. Accelerating digital transformation Tyco Cloud empowers this digital transformation with on-demand security management" Tyco Cloud allows users to protect lives, assets and facilities through management of access control, video surveillance and other security operations using secure cloud services and connected devices such as cloud cameras and controllers. Cloud solutions from Tyco run on an open and modern microservices architecture to ensure fast, scalable and secure services. “Our customers worldwide are embracing and accelerating digital transformation to make their businesses more intelligent, agile and cost effective,” said Martin Renkis, general manager of Cloud Solutions, Global Security Products at Johnson Controls. “Tyco Cloud empowers this digital transformation with on-demand security management that enables organizations to securely and cost-effectively customize their video surveillance and access control solutions based on site-specific and enterprise-wide requirements.” Multiple recording parameters For video surveillance, organizations can enable Tyco Cloud with any Illustra Cloud Camera or leverage existing camera systems using Tyco Cloud Gateways, which will automatically locate existing cameras from dozens of different manufacturers on a network and enable secure cloud management of those cameras. Tyco Cloud enables video storage in camera, in gateway, in low latency cloud, in high latency cloud or a hybrid combination to support unlimited flexibility and cost effectiveness. The intuitive interface allows users to customize multiple recording parameters, such as which cameras to record and for how long, video resolution, as well as create unique upload schedules to minimize bandwidth consumption. The service also offers Cold Cloud video storage for cost effective, high latency online archiving. The new Hyper View feature enables users to search through 24 hours of recorded video from up to 100 cameras within 60 seconds. Smartphone based mobile credentials Tyco Cloud ioSmart was cloud first designed to deliver convenience, cost savings and advanced security Tyco Cloud surveillance also supports powerful analytics such as heat mapping, object detection and crowd formation to name a few. For access control, the new ioSmart solutions from Tyco Cloud empower smartphone based mobile credentials and smart key managed access control for companies to securely allow personnel to conveniently access facilities using their smartphones without the security risk of lost, stolen, or cloning of legacy card technologies. Tyco Cloud ioSmart was cloud first designed to deliver convenience, cost savings and advanced security for access control. The Tyco Cloud Enterprise Manager portal provides users with a comprehensive view of their entire security solution through a single interface. Proper password management It provides real-time status and management of every connected device on a clickable global map. This simple dashboard also enables tracking and management of users, bandwidth utilization, cloud storage and device firmware. Additionally, Tyco Cloud secures all data from any device to the cloud and to the end user. Every connected device as well as the cloud platform are supported by the Johnson Controls Cyber Solutions Product Security Program, which delivers enhanced safeguards against cyber attacks, including additional controls for proper password management and end to end encrypted communications.

As physical security systems increasingly resemble the architecture of an IT (information technology) network, the cybersecurity risks are increasing. Sometimes hacks in physical security go unrecognized because of poor detection. Here's part two of our Cybersecurity series. Going forward, the physical security industry should adopt the same principles as the information security market, embracing new elements such as risk assessment and certifications. A change in culture is needed to align and embrace cybersecurity and make necessary improvements, says Terry Gold of D6 Research. Independent Testing And Access Control There are signs of progress. Increasingly, access control systems today are designed to be more cyber-resilient and are tested extensively to discover and address any vulnerabilities. Data capture form to appear here! For example, the latest version of Tyco’s C-Cure 9000 undergoes independent testing to discover and address any critical vulnerabilities, and new firmware and software updates are tested to ensure they do not open any ‘back doors.’ Tyco’s Cyber Protection Program is part of the company’s ‘holistic approach’ to supplying customers with quality solutions. If cybersecurity is managed properly, the new wave of access control systems are as secure as previous systems. In some cases, more secure. For example, the new generation of smart cards, such as MiFARE DesFIRE EV1 or EV2 and HID iCLASS SEOS, use protocols that are much safer than the last generation Wiegand systems. New secure protocols such as OSDP version 2 are a better alternative to Wiegand. The new wave of access control systems are more secure than previous systems and use protocols that are much safer than the last generation Protocols For Wireless Electronic Locks Wireless electronic locks use security protocols such as encryption and authentication that prevent cybercriminals from accessing the network to get data and intercept commands. In short, the information in an IP-based access control system is at no greater risk than any other information being transmitted over the network, as long as smart decisions are made on how systems are connected and data is transmitted and stored. Standards are one approach to ensure a minimum level of cybersecurity for physical security products and systems. For example, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) seeks to work with manufacturers to up their game on cybersecurity and to certify compliance to a minimum level of cybersecurity ‘hygiene.’ Requirements For Software Cybersecurity The UL Cybersecurity Assurance Program (CAP) has developed the UL 2900-1 standard, which offers General Requirements for Software Cybersecurity for Network-Connectable Products. It was published in 2016 and in July 2017 was published as an ANSI (American National Standards Institute) standard. The standard was developed with cooperation from end users such as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. National Laboratories, and other industry stakeholders. UL 2900-2-3 – the standard that focuses on electronic physical security/Life Safety & Security industry, was published in September 2017. Cybersecurity should be an element in physical security as the risk for data to be physically removed from a building is greater than ever Physical Security Integral To Cybersecurity Not only should cybersecurity be an element in physical security, the reverse is also true: Physical security should be seen as integral to cybersecurity. Looking at the intersection of cybersecurity and physical security from this opposite angle uncovers a world of opportunity to make the enterprise safer. Physical risks to cybersecurity include insider and outsider threats, poor or non-existent screening, and the presence of a seemingly innocent personal item. Off-the-shelf devices such as SD cards, external hard drives, audio recorder and even smart phones can be used to transport audio, video and/or computer data into and out of a building. For the private and public sectors, the risk for data to be physically removed from a building is greater than ever, and physical security systems can protect against this vulnerability. Missed part one of our Cybersecurity series? Click here. Part three, coming soon.

Effective access control can be achieved without the use of cards using a new generation of secure facial authentication enabled by artificial intelligence and machine learning. Alcatraz AI is introducing a system that deploys a sensing device, about the size of a badge reader, with multiple color and infrared cameras that can detect facial features and confirm an identity. Real-time 3-D facial mapping avoids anyone using a photograph, video or mask to spoof the system and confirms there is a real person that matches the stored facial image. System Helps In Tailgating Mitigation Deep neural networks, powered by NVIDIA, enable the system to achieve new levels of frictionless access control, says Vince Gaydarzhiev, CEO of Alcatraz AI. Computer processing is achieved at the edge to ensure speedy and secure access control. We saw an opportunity to create a system that solves issues of tailgating and addresses the need for security without increasing friction"“We saw an opportunity to create a system that solves issues of tailgating and addresses the need for security without increasing friction,” says Gaydarzhiev. The accuracy of the system lessens the need for security guards, he says. The Silicon Valley startup, currently with 20 employees, was founded in early 2016 by a team from Apple, NVIDIA and Lily Robotics with a goal of targeting mid- to large-sized corporations that currently have deployed badging systems. The company has raised close to $6M from venture capital firms and individuals, and Johnson Controls/Tyco has invested in the startup. Alcatraz AI’s sensor device, mounted near a door, confirms a user’s identity and communicates the user’s badge number to the existing access control infrastructure. “The system improves the facial profile every time, using the neural network to be even more accurate in the future,” says Gaydarzhiev. He says it is the industry’s first “instant one-factor authentication for multi-person in-the-flow sensing.”   The system is less expensive than previous facial authentication systems and does not require users to be very close to the reader Easy Enrollment And Deployment Enrollment in the system is easy. Companies can deploy a separate enrollment station, or any reader can be used for enrollment. After badging in a couple of times, the face matching system “enrols” the face with the associated badge number, thus allowing the user to dispense with the badge altogether. In the future, the frictionless system simply recognises the user and opens the door. A user company can quickly deploy the system at locations where thousands of employees have access, without requiring employees to go to HR for enrollment. Gaydarzhiev says accuracy of the system is no less than that of iris scanning, and the accuracy is configurable for specific needs. He says the system is less expensive than previous facial authentication systems and does not require users to be very close to the reader. Facial authentication is also more flexible than iris scanning or fingerprinting. Detecting Intent From Positioning Of Eyes The system detects intent from the positioning of the eyes and body to avoid opening a door unintentionallyIn contrast to near field communication (NFC) or Bluetooth systems, the technology does not require a compatible smart phone or have issues of communication range. There is no need for users to stop and perform an action or gesture to signal intent. The system detects intent from the positioning of the eyes and body to avoid opening a door unintentionally, says Gaydarzhiev.  Alcatraz AI is targeting high-tech enterprises, including healthcare, government and eventually banks. Currently they have three pilot installations among large global software companies and are undergoing trials with some government agencies. Today, they sell direct to end users, but the intent is to develop a dealer channel that will account for most of the sales.