The sad reality of today’s campuses, whether K-12 schools or college campuses, is that they can no longer be areas anyone is welcome to enter; there must be steps taken to prevent someone who would enter the campus with intentions to harm students, teachers, and staff. For years many organizations have been reactionary, thinking some of the horrific acts of violence happen elsewhere but could not happen here. However, recent events, especially the Parkland shooting, have caused many to realize they must be proactive. People who studied education most likely have no formal training in the security field, yet now they are expected to make expert decisions about campus security. So how can those in this field make the best choices with regard to campus security? Paul Fisher shares four things to consider when developing campus security. Access control system Integration has been one of the biggest buzzwords in the security industry for the past few years Integration has been one of the biggest buzzwords in the security industry for the past few years. People understand the need for different technologies to communicate effectively and reliably, and to provide law enforcement, firefighters, and school administrators with seamless communication with security systems so they can effectively do their jobs. “Many of the recent tragedies have caught us, from the campus security side, off guard,” Paul Fisher, Director of Key Accounts, at Salient Systems said. “Just because I have this access control system, this camera system, and a gunshot detection solution, security professionals still need to confirm these products are going to work seamlessly together.” Seamless interoperability Unfortunately, Fisher says, as 9/11 taught us, seamless interoperability isn’t always the case. “While many security consultants might say certain technologies should or must integrate, they don’t necessarily go through the process of step-by-step implementation and review,” Fisher said. “You need to ask yourself, ‘If this is happening, what should happen next?’” The main goal of the consulting world is to fit a video system or a security system into the budget of the school district or bond, and unfortunately, things might get left out as schools don’t always have enough money to outfit their campuses with a fully effective security solution. Video surveillance systems Schools can focus on physical hardening aspects of security, such as a man trap area in a vestibule Fortunately, attitudes in this area seem to be shifting as campus security professionals address real threats towards their campus and begin to be proactive about implementing a solution that truly integrates and interoperates with the various layers of available technology, as well as with campus readiness programs and local law enforcement. Schools can focus on physical hardening aspects of security, such as a man trap area in a vestibule or bulletproof doors. Another technology that campuses are finding useful is gunshot detection. While this technology is not new, it has certainly become far more effective than it was in its earlier iterations, and when integrated properly with video surveillance systems and cellphone map technology, it can be an incredibly useful tool for law enforcement entering a potentially deadly situation and for those who need the earliest possible warning. Law enforcement awareness “If you talk to students and really listen to the stories that come out of the shootings,” Fisher said. “So many times, the kids say, ‘We thought it was something else; we didn’t realize it was a gun.’ Until they realize the gunfire is right next to them, they don’t know what is happening.” As soon as the gunshot is detected, that’s an early warning for the teachers and students to get out of the hallways and into a classroom or an area where they can lock the door. Another related technology that must integrate with an overall security system is automatic lockdown. As soon as the school realizes there is the potential for an event, it must have the ability to lock down as many doors as possible while still providing the ability to see inside the school, so the responding officers have a better idea the threat and giving staff and law enforcement awareness into the situation. Facilitate Situational Awareness Situational awareness is closely tied in with a campus security system’s integration with other technologies Fisher says most schools use their video surveillance systems primarily for investigation purposes after the fact, but to truly save lives, schools must be able to offer useful live video feeds to law enforcement. This requires integration with gunshot detection systems that can pinpoint the spot where a shot was fired and highlight the live feed from nearby cameras. A simple interface must give an officer, who may not be trained in such a system, the ability to know where the camera is located and the direction it is pointed so that he or she has the situational awareness necessary to find and neutralize the threat as quickly and safely as possible. This situational awareness is closely tied in with a campus security system’s integration with other technologies. gunshot detection system To help organizations better capitalize on this technology, Salient’s platform is offering the ability to implement maps into a cellphone device, Fisher says.“So now with a handheld device, cellphone or a tablet, approaching law enforcement, if given that access, can look at a map that will show the direction the camera is pointed and its physical location on the map of the facility,” Fisher said. “If the video surveillance system is tied to the gunshot detection system, it would trigger the camera to change colors indicating this is the general direction the shot came from. With a camera that is physically located in the area, the instant video will show exactly what’s happening in the camera view area.” Good financial fiduciaries For educational institutions, finances are probably the biggest barrier to getting the most effective system. Those making the decisions must not only spend the allotted money wisely, but they must spend it on proven technology. Schools can’t afford to spend it on a new technology that makes huge promises but fails to deliver. Local businesses often partner with law enforcement who will come in and do an evaluation of the facility One way Fisher says educational organizations can ensure they are good financial fiduciaries is to cultivate partnerships with local, state, and even federal law enforcement agencies. “A security consultant addressing a school board doesn’t have as much weight as your local FBI saying it,” Fisher said. Local businesses often partner with law enforcement and the FBI, who will come in and do an evaluation of the facility. Law enforcement agency “They come into ports, airports, critical infrastructure on a daily basis and provide a threat assessment. It would be valuable for school districts to go to local or state level and even a federal level law enforcement agency and ask for an evaluation of their campus,” Fisher said. “Those evaluations would provide a high level of assurances for a school board when they propose a bond request.” Institutions must partner with the right companies to truly get the most out of their security solutions and integrations. “The industry started with proprietary technologies in everything they did,” Fisher said. “And then it moved to an open architecture approach. Security industry manufacturers are now moving back to a proprietary format, meaning that companies have decided they want to be the jack-of-all-trades and the master of none. They offer access control, cameras, VMS, analytics—they try to wrap it all up and say they can do it all.” Video security solution Fisher says it is the companies that continue in an open architecture approach that has the ability to really hone in on the best-of-breed technologies and provide the flexibility to adopt and deploy the best available components of a total solution. “We are committed to helping you design the best video security solution for your needs,” Fisher said. “And we will integrate with companies that offer products that meet those needs.” Integration between systems can be one of the most important features for day-to-day users of the security system. If multiple security technologies are in place, integration of those technologies should be a goal for most organizations’ security programs in order to maximize benefits from each system.

You are not alone: operators everywhere are asking themselves what are they going to do? How are they going to get back to business, and fast? How are they going to cost-effectively operate with all the new safety requirements that have arisen as a result of COVID? How are they going to ensure it all gets done for the safety of customers and staff? How are they going to protect their brand from the negative exposure of being identified as a property with a reputation for COVID? The economic impact of COVID is expected to hit brick and mortar businesses the worst, as their businesses are dependent on people being physically present. According to a recent report by RBC, it is estimated that 70% of Americans expect to avoid public spaces, 57% of Canadians will be unwilling to attend conferences without a vaccine and 63% of people will prefer to drive vs fly.  This means, that for those of you in the business of travel, conferences, co-working spaces, retail stores, museums, art galleries, restaurants, sports arenas, hotels, cruises, airlines, resorts, theme parks, long-term care, education, etc. in the blink of an eye your approach to on-site safety just changed. To ensure your property is safe and secure, it is no longer just about access control, video surveillance and intruder alarms; it is also about sanitisation To get back to business and operating at full capacity after COVID, operations must find a way to eliminate the fear, uncertainty and doubt in the minds of their customers and employees. The affect of COVID-19 on safety and security To safely get back to business, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasis that all operations need a pandemic response planJust like cybersecurity has had a direct impact on the IT strategy and budget, COVID will have a direct hit on the operations strategy and budget. To ensure your property is safe and secure, it is no longer just about access control, video surveillance and intruder alarms; it is also about sanitization, the lines between the security and maintenance just blurred. From customers, to employees, to government regulators, to management, the focus is now on operations and the sanitization policies, procedures and actions of the team. To put this change of priority into perspective, six months ago, sanitisation was not top of mind for people. Why, because it was not a life or death issue, we had other first world problems to garner our attention. From an operations perspective if we enabled a sanitization issue to become significant enough to impact the safety of customers and staff and therefore the brand, then that was an operational choice versus a mistake. Standards for sanitisation  Just like cybersecurity has had a direct impact on the IT strategy and budget, COVID will have a direct hit on the operations strategy and budgetThe issue is, today while the operating priority of sanitization has significantly increased, it is not measured and managed to the same standard as the other safety and security concerns across a business. Also, important to consider, while people may not hold an operation liable during this first wave, we can guarantee they are not going to be as understanding during the second wave or a future pandemic. To safely get back to business, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Health and Safety regulators emphasis that all operations need a pandemic response plan and should follow these simple guidelines: Develop your plan Implement your plan Maintain and revise your plan While this sounds simple enough, keep in mind that requirements are constantly evolving and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future, or at least until all the research is in. To create an emergency response plan for a pandemic, properties must first determine what needs to be sanitized. The current requirements dictate that most surfaces and objects will just need a normal routine cleaning, it is only the frequently touched surfaces and objects like light switches and COVID has changed the game and made the digital transformation of operating procedures not a ‘nice-to-have’ but a must-havedoorknobs that will need to be cleaned and then disinfected to further reduce the risk of germs on surfaces and objects. The challenge is when you step back and consider what people touch in a day; the list quickly grows. After only 30 minutes, I easily came up with a list of over 60 items that one could call ‘high touch’! If you think about it, the list is extensive; telephones, doorknobs, drawer handles, counters, pens, keypads, computers, etc. and the list is only going to get longer as the research comes in.   The challenge is when you step back and consider what people touch in a day; the list quickly grows Operating efficiency  If we don’t change our ways, not only will we be doomed to continue making the same mistakes, but we will continue to be lost in paper and filing cabinetsTo scope the impact on operations as part of the plan, we must then find and identify all of those high touch things across the property. If we then combine that with the fact that CDC requires that all high touch locations must not only be cleaned more often, but that they also require that each location is first cleaned with soap and water, and then disinfected for one minute before finally being wiped down. This means a one-minute task just turned into a 4-minute task, that must now be completed multiple times a day. From a resourcing perspective this adds up quickly, and operating efficiency must be a priority. Not to mention it is going to get very complicated to measure and manage especially. Post COVID rules Getting back to business is going to be complicated; lots to do, lots of moving parts and no technology to help. The fundamental challenge to keep in mind is not that the sanitization requirements have evolved, the real issue is that for most businesses this area has been left unchanged for generations. Still today most rely on checklists, logbooks and inspections to manage the responsibilities of our front-line workers, which might have been fine before COVID. Post-COVID the rules have changed and so should the approach to managing physical operating compliance on the front lines. COVID like most physical operating requirements is tactical, detailed and specific; broad strokes, the honor system and inspections are not going to cut it. The digital transformation  COVID has changed the game and made the digital transformation of operating procedures not a ‘nice-to-have’ but a must-have. If we don’t change our ways, not only will we be doomed to continue making the same mistakes, but we will continue to be lost in paper, filing cabinets filled with checklists, never to be seen again. Only with the right data can we significantly improve the operational decisions necessary to accelerate our return to full operating capacity. At the end of the day, to fully recover, operations must eliminate the fear, uncertainty and doubt in the minds of customers and employees, only then can we really get back to business.

Synectics has secured a multi-site protection contract for a customer whose infrastructure assets are considered critical to national security. Responsible for maintaining an energy network that supplies over 3.9 million homes and businesses, the customer required a centralized system to guard against both physical and cyber threats at five key sites – each recognized as a national asset with corresponding levels of access clearance. The Synectics solution, driven by its Synergy 3 command and control platform, integrates third-party sensors, analytics, cameras, systems, personnel databases, and edge devices. The resulting level of situational awareness gives the team – based at the customer’s state-of-the-art Alarm Receiving Center (ARC) – complete oversight and control of security, safety, and site-management systems at each facility. Electrified perimeter-fence systems As part of the contract, Synectics will also provide a redundant ARC solution for failover scenarios. The core integrations included as part of the project ensure alerts and responses are linked to, and can implement direct control of, door-access systems, intrusion-detection systems, intercom technology, and the electrified perimeter-fence systems deployed at each location. Synectics will conduct a complete system FAT, which includes all specified third-party software and hardware, at its dedicated UK testing facilities. Given the high-risk, high-security nature of the project, the provider’s ability to system-test at such scale was a crucial factor in the contract being awarded. The five locations to be monitored from the ARC are government-authorized to trigger armed response units to deal with imminent or actual threats. Command and control system In addition to meeting technical resiliency specifications, Synectics will be providing cybersecurity consultation The solution will, therefore, employ customized workflows to support incident (alarm) validation and protocol-compliant responsive action. The solution will also see each site equipped with its localised command and control system for on-site management, with the ability to manually and automatically escalate incidents to the ARC team as required. Cybersecurity was a specific focus of the brief. In addition to meeting technical resiliency specifications with authentication and encryption solutions, Synectics will be providing ongoing cybersecurity consultation, working in partnership with in-house specialists to ensure the continuous development of protective measures. Third-Party system Martin Bonfield, UK Sales Manager at Synectics, commented: “The perfect alignment between customer requirements and Synectics’ track record in CNI meant the lead integrator came directly to us with this exciting project. Our credentials and expert team, coupled with Synergy 3’s ability to remotely integrate and interoperate with any third-party system vital to effective operations, meant we ticked multiple boxes." "We are regarded in the industry as a safe pair of hands with the relevant experience, and an innovator with the forward-focused technology required to meet all aspects of the brief.”

3xLOGIC, Inc., a provider of integrated, intelligent security solutions, announced Harvest Health & Recreation Inc. (“Harvest”) continues to roll out 3xLOGIC infinias access control to its growing number of locations across the United States. Dem360, LLC has been an integral partner for this project, providing their managed IT, network engineering, and security system design expertise. Headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, Harvest is a multi-state cannabis operator (MSO) and vertically integrated cannabis company. Subject to completion of announced acquisitions, Harvest will have one of the larger footprints in the US. Since 2011, the company has been committed to expanding its Harvest House of Cannabis retail and wholesale presence throughout the U.S., acquiring, creating, and growing brands for patients and consumers nationally and continuing toward a path of profitable growth. Access control for employees “We want to be able to control who goes where, regardless of the facility,” explained T.J. Buskirk, National Security Director for Harvest Health & Recreation. “For example, why might an employee be in an area they shouldn’t? Our access control allows us to track who, when, and where. I like the fact that the system grants access to someone for a particular door, and then after hours, that access is shut down—that level of control.” Eventually, Harvest’s Security Operations Center will have full visibility across every facility 24/7/365" Gary House is an IT Architect with Dem360, who has been on the project working closely with Harvest since the beginning. “Harvest is pioneering this industry and looking to scale into an enterprise environment. Harvest has been studying and standardising on various technologies. I did my own research of access control systems, and I love the infinias IDC controllers.” Harvest has standardized on 3xLOGIC infinias access control and has separate video surveillance and alarm systems. Buskirk again, “In this business, we have to be sensitive to all the different state rules and regulations. I’ve got to have system interoperability from state to state, as well as personnel trackability and clear audit trails for the regulators.” Aim to migrate to scalable data center Dem360 has installed infinias access control in 30 facilities, controlling over 400 doors. The next big milestones in this system rollout is to convert all current facilities to the infinias Corporate Edition, install Corporate going forward, and migrate all managed doors to a scalable data center with a single database built on redundant, fault-tolerant architecture. It’s meeting all our needs, and we are able to manage our facilities remotely" Harvest has also adopted the badge making feature within the infinias platform to print and manage company ID cards. With a growth trajectory like Harvest’s, reliability and scalability are key. Eventually, Harvest’s Security Operations Center will have full visibility across every facility 24/7/365. Accordance with state guidelines “We have a great working relationship with Gary and Dem360, and that makes everybody’s job a lot easier,” said Buskirk. “We have an incredible magnitude of the different directions we can go with this business. However, at the end of the day, we have to design our access management for our employees, patients, and customers. Whatever the facility and the need, we must ensure highly productive workflows, while staying firmly within each state’s guidelines.” “Infinias gives us what we need without impediments. We’ve never had to ‘fork lift’ anything. This system adapts and it gives us flexibility and scalability, we have one door at this facility and hundreds of doors at another. From the beginning, the infinias system has been able to react to the Harvest environment of change and fast-paced growth. We can manage access for different groups in completely different ways, and I love that I can turn off a badge at a moment’s notice.” “The system is very user-friendly, that was one of our key demands. It’s meeting all our needs, and we are able to manage our facilities remotely. Its robust features and benefits meet the varying demands of the dynamic, high-growth Harvest environment and our vision for the future,” concluded Buskirk.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the independent regulator of higher education in England, responsible for ensuring that all undergraduate and postgraduate students, whatever their backgrounds, have a fulfilling experience of higher education which enriches their lives and careers and delivers value for money. They are headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom with a workforce of around 450 people. GDPR Data Privacy Management Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), Office for Students’ predecessor, became a client of SureCloud back in 2017, implementing the GDPR Data Privacy Management Suite to support and enhance their GDPR program. As a new organization and a successor of HEFCE, Office for Students has been looking to mature its approach to risk management. The focus of this for the team was initially to improve risk policies and procedures, to develop internal capability, enhance reporting to show transparency and allow challenge, and to identify and manage risks enterprise-wide systematically. Effective Risk Management approach Office for Students needed a single, seamless, enterprise-wide solution to manage all aspects of risk management These improvements established a highly effective risk management approach, but the organization soon hit the ceiling in terms of their process supporting risk systems, with technology being a limiting factor rather than an enabler. The organization was relying on numerous disparate spreadsheets to assess and monitor different types of risk, these were inconsistent, time-consuming and error-prone. Office for Students needed a single, seamless, enterprise-wide solution to manage and monitor all aspects of risk management. Data privacy Risk Management solution Office for Students has been a SureCloud client for cybersecurity services since March 2017 and began deploying SureCloud’s governance, risk and compliance (GRC) solution in July 2017 to assist with their responsibilities under GDPR. Knowing that SureCloud also offered a comprehensive risk management solution (recognized on Gartner’s IRM Magic Quadrant), which could be tailored to their precise needs, Office for Students opened a conversation with SureCloud about how best to configure their existing SureCloud Data Privacy Risk Management solution to enable enterprise risk management. SureCloud’s Risk Management solution delivers: A central view of risk across the organization via a single intuitive dashboard Risks organized across divisions, legal entities, business functions, and geographies The ability to provide a central repository for enterprise risk, allow the organization to show the entirety of the risk environment and consider overlaps and interdependences A range of risk management methodologies to understand the likelihood, impact and overall risk rating Configurable drillable dashboards and reports to provide a real-time snapshot of risk at any time Centralized, cloud-based platform SureCloud’s centralized, cloud-based platform underpins the Risk Management product SureCloud’s centralized, cloud-based platform underpins the Risk Management product, allowing anyone from across an organization deploying the application to add information at any time, from anywhere. Office for Students worked with SureCloud to configure the Risk Management application to their precise needs and was ready for rollout ahead of schedule. Rapid implementation services “SureCloud got to grips with our requirements incredibly quickly,” said Ben Whitestone, Head of Governance at the Office for Students, adding “As the only independent regulator for higher education in England, we regulate in the interests of hundreds of thousands of students, and we take that responsibility very seriously.” Ben adds, “Managing the risks we face is an important part of our governance. But with our legacy systems, we were focused more on updating spreadsheets than actually managing risk. SureCloud’s platform is enabling us to take a far more agile approach to risk management, focusing on taking action to mitigate threats and exploit opportunities, with substantial time and cost savings as a result.” Streamlined, centralized Risk Management “SureCloud’s Platform has moved us away from using a series of disparate spreadsheets and countless emails for recording risk, with all of the potentials for errors that entails, to a single, centralized source of risk information for every member of staff,” said Whitestone. He further adds, “It’s dynamic and agile, if we want to get a snapshot of risk for a particular department or function, we can.” Intuitive, user-friendly platform We are very pleased with how quickly staff can get to grips with the SureCloud Platform" “Despite us being at the start of our risk management journey, we are very pleased with how quickly staff can get to grips with the SureCloud Platform, this was a key factor for us” commented Whitestone. Whitestone adds, “They can more or less log on and go – it’s extremely intuitive and easy-to-use. In turn, this means that it frees up a huge amount of time spent manually inputting or transferring information, which is a great advantage for us.” Systems and culture working in-sync “We undertook a great deal of work to evolve our culture of risk management, to one that was far more consistent and proactive.” stated Whitestone He adds, “With SureCloud’s Risk Management solution in place, we have the systems to underpin that culture, and enable us to take a far more streamlined, agile and accurate approach to help manage risk across the organization.”

3xLOGIC, Inc., a globally renowned provider of integrated, intelligent security solutions, has announced that Harvest Health & Recreation Inc. (“Harvest”) continues to roll out 3xLOGIC infinias access control to its fast-growing number of locations across the United States. Dem360, LLC has been an integral partner for this project, providing their managed IT, network engineering, and security system design expertise. Multi-state cannabis operator Headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, USA, Harvest Health & Recreation Inc. is a multi-state cannabis operator (MSO) and vertically integrated cannabis company. Subject to completion of announced acquisitions, Harvest will have one of the largest footprints in the US. Since 2011, the company has been committed to expanding its Harvest House of Cannabis retail and wholesale presence throughout the U.S., acquiring, creating, and growing brands for patients and consumers nationally and continuing toward a path of profitable growth. Enterprise access control solution Harvest is pioneering this industry and looking to scale into an enterprise environment" “We want to be able to control who goes where, regardless of the facility,” explained T.J. Buskirk, National Security Director for Harvest Health & Recreation. He adds, “For example, why might an employee be in an area they shouldn’t? Our access control allows us to track who, when, and where. I like the fact that the system grants access to someone for a particular door, and then after hours, that access is shut down—that level of control.” Gary House is an IT Architect with Dem360, who has been on the project working closely with Harvest since the beginning. “Harvest is pioneering this industry and looking to scale into an enterprise environment. Harvest has been studying and standardizing on various technologies. I did my own research of access control systems, and I love the infinias IDC controllers.” 3xLOGIC infinias access control Harvest has standardized on 3xLOGIC infinias access control and has separate video surveillance and alarm systems. Buskirk said, “In this business, we have to be sensitive to all the different state rules and regulations. I’ve got to have system interoperability from state to state, as well as personnel trackability and clear audit trails for the regulators.” Upgrade to infinias Corporate Edition To date, Dem360 has installed infinias access control in 30 facilities, controlling over 400 doors. The next big milestones in this system rollout is to convert all current facilities to the infinias Corporate Edition, install Corporate going forward, and migrate all managed doors to a scalable data center with a single database built on redundant, fault-tolerant architecture. Harvest has also adopted the badge making feature within the infinias platform to print and manage company ID cards. Security Operations Center With a growth trajectory like Harvest’s, reliability and scalability are considered as key With a growth trajectory like Harvest’s, reliability and scalability are considered as key. Eventually, Harvest’s Security Operations Center will have full visibility across every facility 24/7 throughout the year. “We have a great working relationship with Gary and Dem360, and that makes everybody’s job a lot easier,” said Buskirk. Efficient access management system He adds, “We have an incredible magnitude of the different directions we can go with this business. However, at the end of the day, we have to design our access management for our employees, patients, and customers. Whatever the facility and the need, we must ensure highly productive workflows, while staying firmly within each state’s guidelines.” He further said, “Infinias gives us what we need without impediments. We’ve never had to ‘fork lift’ anything. This system adapts and it gives us flexibility and scalability, we have one door at this facility and hundreds of doors at another.” Flexible, scalable access control Buskirk said, “From the beginning, the infinias access control system has been able to react to the Harvest environment of change and fast-paced growth. We can manage access for different groups in completely different ways, and I love that I can turn off a badge at a moment’s notice.” He concludes, “The infinias system is very user-friendly, that was one of our key demands. It’s meeting all our needs, and we are able to manage our facilities remotely. Its robust features and benefits meet the varying demands of the dynamic, high-growth Harvest environment and our vision for the future.”

A British university has overhauled its dated suite of security cameras to prepare for expansion and better protect its students and staff. Newman University in Birmingham called in systems specialist Unison Integrated Technology after a major power-surge disabled more than 30 cameras in its ageing system. Newman wanted comprehensive video coverage that was more robust and easier to use as part of its development plan for a safe learning environment for almost 3,000 students and staff. Facilities manager Lewis Palin said: “We contract out our security services, so it’s important for newly arrived officers to be able to use all of the system’s key features with minimal training.” Digital image stabilization Unison proposed an IDIS end-to-end solution that had already performed excellently at a number of nearby schools, colleges and commercial sites. Total cost of ownership was also a factor as Newman needed more than 150 new internal and external cameras, so Palin wanted to integrate its existing cameras and infrastructure with the new kit. It also meant minimal maintenance charges, no license fees and the option to adapt or scale the system as the campus grew or requirements changed. The Unison team delivered an IDIS DirectIP solution with more than 160 cameras, including five advanced 2MP Lightmaster IR PTZ models delivering 36x zoom and pin-sharp images in all lighting thanks to their 350 meter IR, true wide dynamic range and digital image stabilization. Network video recorders Unrivalled storage capability is assured by four powerful 64-channel network video recorders Unison also installed 55 full-HD IR vandal-resistant dome cameras to secure entrances and internal areas, and 40 IR bullet cameras to give HD coverage of key external areas. All the new cameras incorporate IDIS Smart Failover technology, which ensures automatic protection against video data loss, eliminating the risk of gaps in recordings in the event of power failure or network instability. Unrivalled storage capability is assured by four powerful 64-channel network video recorders with built-in failover and RAID 1, 5 and 10 support, plus a further three 32-channel recorders with IDIS Intelligent Codec to deliver storage efficiency. easily monitor live Security officers can now easily monitor live internal and external areas, and quickly search and retrieve recorded footage to find events of interest. Palin concluded: “Unison got the entire job done in three weeks – with swift stock delivery from IDIS – working around us to deliver our new system exactly as promised. We will definitely stick with IDIS technology as we expand our estate.”

Redline, an Air Partner company and a renowned provider of global security solutions, announces it has secured a four-year contract to provide Align JV ("Align") with security consultancy support on the delivery of a key section of the High Speed 2 (HS2) rail line between London and Birmingham, known as the C1 package. Align, a joint venture of three international and privately-owned infrastructure companies, was awarded the C1 package of HS2, worth £1.6bn, in July 2017. C1 consists of 21.6km of high-speed rail infrastructure in a rural environment, including a 3.37km viaduct across the Colne Valley, a 16.04km twin-bored tunnel beneath the Chiltern Hills, and five vent shafts. Facilities management company Align engaged Redline in 2017 to support on this project and a dedicated Security Consultant has worked in-house with the Align team ever since as it has progressed the design and started important pre-construction activities. A Notice to Proceed was issued in April 2020 and Align has extended its contract with Redline for a further four years to ensure security measures are fully considered in the next phase of the rail infrastructure project. Redline will increase its consultancy support, with a Security Manager now joining the Security Consultant already in place. This contract extension follows on from the recent announcement that Redline has also won long-term quality assurance contracts with Aéroport Nice Côte d'Azur and the international facilities management company OCS Group UK. Improve quality and visibility The acquisition of Redline was the highlight of our last financial year and we are very pleased with its performance" In addition to the aviation sector, Redline has a well-established footprint within Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) and locations of special importance, as well as government buildings. Mark Briffa, CEO of Air Partner, said: "The acquisition of Redline was the highlight of our last financial year and we are very pleased with its performance since joining Air Partner. One of the reasons we acquired the business was its long-term contracted revenues with global blue-chip customers, which in turn will serve to improve the quality and visibility of the Group's overall earnings." Security consultancy services "This contract extension is a fantastic example of this, and we look forward to continuing to play an important role in this high-profile project." Paul Mason, Managing Director of Air Partner's Safety & Security division, added: "We are delighted to be continuing our work with Align as it embarks upon this next exciting stage of the C1 route. Redline has been working closely with the rail and CNI sectors for over nine years now and will continue to draw on this extensive experience and expertise to provide Align with the highest standard security consultancy services."

Every day, the 13 hagebaumarkt stores serve thousands of customers and process tens of thousands of products. The Schneider Group, based in Grabenstätt/Erlstätt, has the mammoth task of providing security for its customers and employees as well as monitoring and protecting its DIY stores against theft on a daily basis. It was therefore a top priority that the Group update its security and surveillance system as part of its digitalisation strategy. "Introducing digital solutions into our locations is one of our biggest challenges," explains Martin Wohlmayer, Head of IT and Organization at Jos. Schneider GmbH. Security and monitoring system "We're well on our way to bringing our retail and wholesale stores into a digitalized future, focusing exclusively on reliable, future-proof solutions that are cyber-safe and 100% GDPR-compliant," says Wohlmayer. This was the starting point going into initial consultations with IT service provider CN H&D GmbH, in which they discussed a new security and monitoring system for hagebaumarkt stores. It became clear that the existing system would need to be replaced with a solution that included MOBOTIX cameras It quickly became clear that the existing system would need to be replaced with a solution that included MOBOTIX cameras. "We were completely won over by the 'Made in Germany' MOBOTIX cameras and solutions. This was thanks to their decentralized solution, the outstanding quality of both the hardware and software, the flexibility of the system, their compliance with the GDPR and the high level of cybersecurity," says Wohlmayer. Secure outdoor facilities "Our forward-looking approach involves checking all our current investments to see whether the new systems are flexible, open, expandable and secure with regard to future challenges. It quickly became clear that a MOBOTIX system would be the best way to meet our requirements," explains Matthias Ziegleder, Managing Director of CN H&D GmbH. The focus of the ongoing project in Traunstein is on installing MOBOTIX systems in the ninth hagebaumarkt store in the Schneider Group. There are currently 134 MOBOTIX cameras already in use, all of which are integrated into the MxManagementCenter. A total of 19 MOBOTIX cameras have been installed in Traunstein, as well as the MxThinClient for communicating with customers. This system has been connected to the central MxManagementCenter. Nine cameras have been installed to monitor and secure outdoor facilities, including parking lots. Specialized outdoor cameras The specialized outdoor cameras provide crystal clear images day or night throughout the year These specialized outdoor cameras provide crystal clear images day or night throughout the year, meaning that any incidents in the hagebaumarkt parking lots can easily be traced. Inside the store, ten MOBOTIX cameras monitor the sales floor. This helps determine the cause of any discrepancies in stock levels, which are usually due to theft. The MxManagementCenter (MxMC) is MOBOTIX's powerful, intuitive video management system for Windows and MacOS and is installed on a total of five computers in the store with different user profiles and access rights. The system is fully GDPR-compliant, with each user only having access to the video footage assigned to their profile. The data is remotely secured on the MOBOTIX cameras, providing highly effective protection against even the most complex and sophisticated cyber attacks. PoE-powered network device The MxThinClient completes the solution in the Schneider Group's hagebaumarkt stores. The PoE-powered network device is the intelligent, easy-to-use MOBOTIX solution for viewing the live feed from the cameras on a monitor or TV equipped with an HDMI port. This makes it possible to display content such as welcome messages, inform customers that surveillance equipment is being used in the store and show them the current products on offer in store. "We plan to equip the remaining four hagebaumarkt stores with the MOBOTIX solution and are working to develop and implement a mobile solution for targeted surveillance in known 'theft hotspots.' These cameras will be connected to their own company-wide MOBOTIX Wi-Fi network and can be moved at any time to monitor specific hotspots in the store," says Ziegleder, explaining the plans for the project. Interface to POS system "The support provided by CN H&D GmbH throughout the whole design and installation process, including follow-up support and training, has been excellent. The MOBOTIX system ensures security for us and our customers, and we'll gradually be starting to implement the other capabilities offered by the system. We've already set up the interface to the POS system," says Matthias Ziegleder. This means that any POS discrepancies can be prevented or immediately resolved in the hagebaumarkt store This means that any POS discrepancies can be prevented or immediately resolved in the hagebaumarkt store. A customer count and footfall analysis will also be integrated to further optimize customer service and customer satisfaction - not least through coordinated staff scheduling. Intelligent solutions Christian Heller, Sales Director of MOBOTIX DACH, explains: "Our solutions are used in many industries, and retail is an important market for us. Together with our technology partners, we have developed bespoke and intelligent solutions specifically for the retail and wholesale sector that make work easier and more secure." "We're pleased that the Schneider Group is using our solutions in all 13 of its hagebaumarkt stores in Germany and Austria to improve the security of its stores and to benefit its customers and employees."

The education sector is a gateway to the future for young people all over the world. But to assure this passage, schools must guarantee their students' safety as well as their education. In today's world, educators, administrators, and parents can all agree on one thing: the need to provide safe and secure learning environments for students is of paramount importance. When any type or size of threat has been made evident to an educational institution, immediate security protocol nowadays typically involves securing the entire facility and taking all measures necessary to keep intruders out. But this is not always as easy as it sounds, as reaching all doors during the event promptly can prove to be challenging. Multiple buildings, community spaces, and the logistics of personnel having to physically lock doors increases the risk for both students and staff. Intrusion detection platforms The integration between both systems means security managers can have access to a single user interface to monitor When determining which access control platforms to invest in, several factors have to be considered. This can include whether intrusion systems are also a critical component of the school’s security makeup. This is where Vanderbilt has the edge as the company possesses two award-winning products that also integrate with each other. These are the access control software ACT Enterprise and the intrusion detection system, SPC. The integration between both systems means security managers can have access to a single user interface to monitor both their access control and intrusion detection platforms. This includes a real-time of their SPC zone status from within ACT Enterprise, as well as the ability to view SPC events within ACT Enterprise, and more importantly, send commands such as “set” or “unset” to SPC from within ACT Enterprise. Access control fob Overall, this is an excellent added layer of security for school managers who get the benefit of two award-winning security systems all from one interface. Of course, a standout feature of ACT Enterprise is the software’s intuitive rules mapping engine that can trigger pre-defined outcomes based on specific event outcomes. Therefore, this feature is a particularly useful and creative tool to have at the disposal of a security or facility manager. Through the rules mapping feature, they can ensure not only the safety of the schools’ students and staff, but the smooth running of the building as well. For instance, an example of a rule that a security manager could create in the system, would be to receive an email notification anytime someone used their access control fob to enter into the school after hours. Audio and video verification Additionally, the integration between ACT Enterprise and SPC comes back into play here as the system user can also monitor their sites remotely through the SPC Connect app, which allows audio and video verification of any events that may take place on site. So, in essence, any security alerts can be immediately investigated and verified through video confirmation before taking the next appropriate steps to correct the situation. Libraries are often open late or even 24/7 to accommodate student learning for assignments and exams In addition to schools in general, when it comes to higher education, many universities are spread across a wide radius and contain popular student destinations such as bars, restaurants, gyms, and sporting facilities. One such popular student destination, the library, is a key example of the problematic issues that face the education sector. Libraries are often open late or even 24/7 to accommodate student learning for assignments and exams. Recording fob activity Libraries also house an abundance of valuable equipment such as state-of-the-art computers and printers. However, their opening hours and equipment makes them sensitive to theft, while the fact that they are focal gathering points for many students makes them a significant priority in securing students’ safety in the event of an active shooter on campus. Thanks to ACT Enterprise’s muster reporting feature, security managers can, for example, keep an audit trail of who is in the library by monitoring and recording fob activity. The ACT Enterprise muster report gives security a real-time list of all students in the library, and when students exit the library and swipe out, the muster report will automatically update. Access control systems These are just some of the advantages that access control systems such as Vanderbilt’s ACT Enterprise can have in an educational environment. Vanderbilt understands that security in education is an essential issue, one that requires thoughtful attention and procedure while allowing room for agility, adaptability, and dependability. Vanderbilt’s ACT Enterprise respond to these expectations and enable practical safeguarding foundations to be laid.

Rishikul Vidyapeeth is a reputed residential school built across 43 acres of land located in Sonepat, Haryana with separate hostels facilities. It is one of the best CBSE boarding schools in Delhi/NCR with international faculty and tie-ups. Rishikul Vidyapeeth is an eco-friendly residential school, housed in well-defined infrastructure rich with architectural extras including well-furnished and well-ventilated modern buildings, smart classrooms and sophisticated labs to suffice the needs of 21st-century learners and educators. The school is big on quality teaching and on helping the students to reach their full potential. Managing attendance data Rishikul Vidyapeeth has its presence in three places - Sonepat, Jagos Bhaghpat and Alipur. Managing the attendance data of various locations from a central place was a major challenge for the organization. The system they used was inefficient to address their challenges. The officials were looking for a comprehensive time-attendance solution for efficiently tracking the movement of its staff situated at different locations from a central place. Moreover, they required an effective solution that would notify on exceptions - missing in/out punch, attendance summary, etc. Fingerprint-based time-attendance solution Matrix has installed a total of 10 fingerprint-based time-attendance terminals at three different locations After a comprehensive discussion with their team, Matrix has proposed a comprehensive time-attendance solution for managing their attendance and tracking their staff movement from a centralized location. Matrix has installed a total of 10 fingerprint-based time-attendance terminals at three different locations. These devices are connected via LAN with the COSEC CENTRA server installed at Rishikul Vidyapeeth, Sonepat. COSEC CENTRA server integrated with SMS web server Moreover, with the help of the solution, they could generate customized reports in different file formats. Matrix has integrated COSEC CENTRA server with an SMS web server for instant notification on exceptions. With that, the users were instantly updated on occurrences of such events. Results include: Efficient time-attendance management Improved accuracy in attendance calculation with SMS notification Proper user database management Centralized monitoring and control Increased productivity Customized reports as and when required Products and solutions offered: COSEC DOOR FOT - Optical fingerprint and card-based time-attendance terminal COSEC LE PLATFORM - COSEC software platform for up to 1000 users COSEC LE TAM - Time-attendance and leave management module for COSEC software platform

Jeff Hubbard is the owner of Constellation Cannabis, one of the largest cannabis grow facilities in Washington state. The Arlington facility is 42,000 square feet, of which 30,000 square feet is grow space. Because of the heavily regulated nature of the industry, the company would have to meet strict requirements before it began production and that meant developing a camera design with 100 cameras that would exceed regulatory requirements. In a new industry with strict regulatory requirements, the video surveillance system is everything but ordinary. First, it had to be a modular system to allow the company to scale it through the multi-phase project. Also, it had to take into account the unique nature of the project. Before Constellation could even begin growing cannabis, it had to have a license for the property, then develop an operating plan- essentially an operational blueprint of the building for the Liquor Control Board (LCB). Captured on camera From seed to sale, everything that would occur must be captured on camera at all times The plan clearly delineates where in the building seeds would be stored, where vegetative growth would take place, where the flower room and waste quarantine would be, and where concentrates production and processing would take place. From seed to sale, everything that would occur must be captured on camera at all times, and every recorded interaction of an employee with a plant must include visibility of the employee's head, hands, and feet at all times- and the footage must be maintained for at least 45 days. Even plant waste and dead plants must be on camera at all times. “If we have a plant that dies, we can't just take that plant and throw it in the compost pile; the plant is tagged, so we scan the plant, we notify the LCB that the plant has died, and we remove the plant from our gardens,"  Hubbard said. Video surveillance system "But it needs to sit in our quarantine space for 72 hours because that gives the LCB three days to come out to our farm and do a spot check inspection if they are so inclined and say, 'Yep, you had one plant die- here it is.' And then we could go into the camera system, and we need to maintain footage of all our plants for 45 days." Until all of this and more could be demonstrated to the LCB, Constellation could not grow a single plant, and therefore could not generate revenue. Clearly, the last thing they needed was for the video surveillance system to hold the process up. In phase one of the project, Constellation was using about a 50/50 mix of Dahua and other cameras. Features and capabilities It is often difficult for company owners to know who has the skill set necessary to follow through with meeting They originally contracted for 80 cameras, but, due to some blind spots and some expansion during the initial phase, Hubbard says, they needed to upgrade to 100 and a partner to help them scale. Hubbard met with Blake Albertsen, Regional Sales Manager - Pacific Northwest/Western Canada, Salient Systems, who walked those at Constellation through the features and capabilities of the Salient system. In an industry as new as the cannabis industry, it is often difficult for company owners to know who has the skill set necessary to deliver and follow through with meeting their unique needs. However, after meeting with Albertsen, Hubbard knew he had found the right partner. Modular system "Based on the strength of that presentation and of Blake himself as a person," Hubbard said. "We felt comfortable in engaging in a contract with Salient.” With the Salient server, they were able to seamlessly upgrade, get licenses in place and meet their phase one footprint. Unfortunately, however, because of the size and scope of the project, the need for a modular system and the burdensome regulations, the integrator Constellation had initially been working with was unable to meet its needs, and so Constellation now found itself in search of a new integrator. Hubbard said he called Albertsen and expressed his frustration of having a capable Salient system but being unable to use it. Although Salient was not obligated to, Albertsen agreed to help Constellation find an integrator suited for the task. Camera inspections There is a steep learning curve, and that is why we decided to go with professionals" "It was a very stressful time in the business," Hubbard said. "I am eternally grateful for the help in finding us a new integrator, lending us engineering time to get our system operational and get us past our camera inspections to allow us to activate our cannabis license." And so, what had begun to look like a disaster was now back on track and humming along smoothly. Hubbard said Constellation plans to continue its relationship through the second and third phase of building out the facility. "Cannabis is a new industry, and a lot of people are trying to make a quick buck," Hubbard said. "There is a steep learning curve, and that is why we decided to go with professionals." Clean Green Certified Part of what makes Salient so successful is its commitment to being "Clean Green Certified”. Because the USDA does not recognize cannabis as a legitimate agricultural crop, cannabis cannot be legally called “organic.” Therefore, the Clean Green cannabis processor/ handler certification was established in 2004 as a way to regulate legal cannabis products that would otherwise have called their products organic. Indeed, 40 percent of the cannabis licenses in Washington are inactive, Hubbard explains, because many people don't realize the regulatory burden placed on the industry and the capital costs required to navigate those burdens.

Mayflex, the distributor of converged IP solutions, has installed Thermal Elevated Temperature Screening solution from Hikvision to improve the health and safety of their employees and visitors during the Covid-19 pandemic. Elevated Temperature Screening The system works by automatically checking the forehead skin temperature in real time as employees pass by, maintaining a 2 meter gap in accordance with the UK Government’s social distancing advice. If a person is over a normal temperature threshold, an audible and visual alarm is given and they will be asked to verify their body temperature using a medical thermometer. If in the future face masks become mandatory, the system can also verify if a visitor or employee is wearing a mask. Hikvision Thermographic Bullet and Turret Cameras The system includes the Hikvision Thermographic Bullet and Turret Cameras" James Vian, Technical and Training Manager at Mayflex said, “The temperature screening solution has been installed in our main reception as well as the warehouse entrances at both the Head Office and our Environ House warehouse. The system includes the Hikvision Thermographic Bullet and Turret Cameras with the addition of the Hikvision Blackbody Calibrator that increases the accuracy of the readings from ±0.5 degrees Celsius to ±0.3 degrees Celsius.” Andy Cooper, Supply Chain Director at Mayflex said, “It’s a non-contact means of quickly and consistently measuring the skin temperature of a person’s forehead, while maintaining social distancing in line with current Government guidelines”. Enhanced staff security in COVID-19 period He adds, “In doing so, we can reduce the likelihood of someone with an elevated temperature coming into contact with other building occupants. This also reduces the possibility of losing an entire shift for 14 days, ensuring that we can deliver on our customers’ needs even in these challenging times.” Andy concluded, “It gives me confidence that we are doing everything we can to ensure the wellbeing of staff and protecting the business during the Coronavirus Pandemic.” Hikvision are highly regarded as one of the major manufacturer of security products, which are distributed by Mayflex in the United Kingdom.

Haier Group, China’s renowned home appliance manufacturer, has built a new industrial park in Russia to cope with the growing demand in Europe. Covering a total area of about 124.9 hectares, the new site is located in Naberezhnye Chelny, an important industrial city in Tatarstan, Russia. Intelligent system With the gradual completion of its factories in the industrial park, Haier is looking for an intelligent system to realize multiple tasks within the whole industrial park. Firstly, the smart system should be able to prevent theft and timely detect people climbing over the perimeter fence. Secondly, the intelligent security system should provide comprehensive monitoring in the whole industrial park and inside the factory unit, which includes, monitoring of production line and employees’ smoking behavior during working hours at office areas, efficient employee attendance management, vehicle identification at the entrance and exit areas of the park, and the overall management of all the devices, data report outputs, and other facilities at the industrial park. Total smart solution The Dahua Russia team designed a complete smart solution incorporating AI cameras, perimeter cameras, ANPR system The Dahua Russia team designed a complete smart solution incorporating AI cameras, perimeter cameras, ANPR system, access control, time attendance system, face recognition barrier, DSS PRO platform and EVS storage for Haier’s industrial park. Notably, all of the devices were integrated in one central management platform, making it easier for operators to control and manage the system. In addition, the intelligent system also supports further device upgrade based on customer’s future plan for the next several years. Dahua 5MP WDR IR Bullet AI Network Cameras To help Haier solve the first problem, Dahua 5MP WDR IR Bullet AI Network Cameras were chosen to safeguard the perimeter of the Haier industrial park. Featuring active deterrence, the cameras are able to proactively warn intruders to leave before users take action. Once an intrusion is detected, a white light will turn on, accompanied by a buzzer to warn off the intruder. Additionally, its AI-powered perimeter protection function can greatly reduce false alarms caused by irrelevant objects. AI-powered perimeter protection The combination of advanced AI analytics and real-time alerts to desktop or mobile clients reduces system requirements and resources, thereby improving the efficiency of the surveillance system. The office areas and the interior of the washing machine factory are covered with Dahua 4MP WDR IR Dome Network Cameras, while public areas are monitored by 2MP 25x Starlight IR PTZ Network Cameras. As a member of Dahua Eco-savvy product family, the Dahua 4MP WDR IR Dome Network Cameras adopt upgraded H.265 encoding technology to provide starlight, Smart IR technology, as well as intelligent image analysis techniques. It saves bandwidth and storage, with energy-saving design to enhance monitoring performance of the system. Intelligent Video System analytic algorithm As for public areas, Dahua 2MP 25x Starlight IR PTZ Network Cameras have powerful optical zoom With built-in Intelligent Video System (IVS) analytic algorithm, these dome cameras also support intelligent functions to monitor a scene for tripwire violations, intrusion detection, and abandoned or missing objects. In the future, it can respond quickly and accurately to events in the monitored areas. As for public areas, Dahua 2MP 25x Starlight IR PTZ Network Cameras have powerful optical zoom and accurate pan/tilt/zoom performance that can provide a large monitoring range and rich details. Through the latest Starlight technology, the cameras can achieve excellent low-light performance. In addition, these cameras are equipped with smooth control, high quality image and good protection, which meet the requirements of most industrial parks. Dahua face recognition barriers Dahua face recognition barriers were deployed at the entrance of the Haier industrial park and its office building, allowing quick and touchless passage of registered Haier employees without using employee cards or other identification documents. The system is based on a deep learning algorithm powered by AI, which compares facial images captured by the camera with those stored in the library to verify a person’s identity and grant permission. Access will be denied for unregistered people. 2 Megapixel Full HD AI Access ANPR cameras The industrial park’s entrance and exit use 2 Megapixel Full HD AI Access ANPR cameras to identify entering and exiting vehicles. Boasting a capture rate of over 99%, the cameras can automatically recognize the number plate of a vehicle in low speed less than 40 kmph, and capture vehicle data such as vehicle direction, vehicle size and vehicle color detection (in daytime) based on deep learning algorithm. Aside from these capabilities, the cameras can also control the barrier according to the whitelist set by users and let registered vehicles pass without stopping. Dahua DSS PRO management platform The Dahua DSS PRO management platform integrates all cameras and the stated devices At the management center, all the information collected by font-end cameras will be transferred to a 16-HDD Enterprise Video Storage. With Seagate HDD, the device offers unparalleled capacity performance for users to store massive videos and obtain evidence when needed. The Dahua DSS PRO management platform integrates all cameras and the aforementioned devices, allowing operators to easily control and manage the system. Smart industrial park solution Dahua Technology’s smart industrial park solution has assisted Haier in creating a modern intelligent industrial park in Russia. The up-to-date Dahua AI equipment provides Haier a long-term smart security system with upgraded security level and enhanced management efficiency. “The traditional personnel management system requires manual registering of employee information and cards to enter and exit office areas, which is inefficient and difficult to manage, and often high in cost,” said Zhao Shengbo, Regional Director of Dahua CIS. Upgrading access verification system Zhao adds, “Upgrading the access verification system is crucial for modern companies like Haier in order to increase the security level of its industrial park and office building. We look forward to our future cooperation.” “During the requirement discussion, solution design, and engineering survey, Dahua shows professionalism and excellent communication skills. Haier is satisfied with the first step cooperation and looking forward to the second step of the project,” said Liu Wei, Overseas Regional Project Manager of Haier Group.

ExcelRedstone is implementing an ambitious integration project, using Maxxess eFusion technology, at the first high-rise residential and hospitality development in the City of London for many years. Currently under construction, the £300m 43-story One Bishopsgate Plaza development will see security and building management technology operating seamlessly together in a setting that includes both new-build and listed conservation area structures. As well as having 160 new private apartments, when completed the development will include a 237-bed five star Pan Pacific Hotel, a public plaza and a Pacific Ballroom, promoted as the Square Mile’s first dedicated banqueting venue. ExcelRedstone selected eFusion for the project because of the flexibility it allows, enabling rapid integration, off-the-shelf, with a wide choice of security, safety and business-critical technologies. Umbrella management system “The customer wanted a seamless, single interface that allows front of house guest services to be linked to back of house functions and give the highest operator efficiency and enhanced customer experience,” says Matt Salter, Director, ExcelRedstone. eFusion provides an umbrella management system for an expanding choice of preferred technologies With its modular, building block approach, eFusion provides an umbrella management system for an expanding choice of preferred technologies for commercial, hospitality and mixed-use settings, including guest check-in, reservation & visitor management, access control, surveillance, and building systems. In use, eFusion drives efficiency and eliminates gaps in security by removing the need for operators to continually switch between systems. Video management system Two of the most important technologies being integrated by eFusion at One Bishopsgate Plaza are the full-featured, Oracle Hospitality Opera property management & guest service system, and a 266 door ASSA ABLOY wireless electronic locking solution. ExcelRedstone is also using eFusion to integrate Zenitel IP intercoms, a KONE elevator system, and the building management (BMS) system using the BACnet protocol, which will enable estate managers to optimize energy efficiency based on usage and occupancy. The eFusion integration also allows a more flexible approach with the surveillance system - for example, making it easy to use a choice of Axis cameras, with specialist mounts, in the listed conservation areas of the site, integrating them with over 350 Mobotix fixed lens and panoramic cameras through the highly-secure Wavestore video management system (VMS). Networking and AV systems ExcelRedstone is also responsible for networking and AV systems at the development The surveillance and other security systems will be monitored live from two separate control rooms, one for the hotel and one for the wider estate. As well as integrating these and fitting out the control rooms, ExcelRedstone is also responsible for networking and AV systems at the development. “Our engineers are pre-staging the entire system off-site,” explains Salter. “This is allowing us to test everything in advance and to reduce packaging waste and environmental impact on site. It also lets us work more efficiently, in step with the ongoing construction schedule, floor by floor.” Providing secure solutions One Bishopsgate is the latest of a growing number of mixed-use developments - including hotels, retail, office and residential complexes - to use eFusion to streamline security, safety and facilities management. “We are seeing a growing trend towards automation and centralized management, and the solutions being deployed at these locations are increasingly sophisticated – but that doesn’t mean they have to be complex,” says Lee Copland, Managing Director EMEA, Maxxess. “Quite the opposite in fact. By keeping things simple and integrating off-the-shelf with the widest choice of technologies, Maxxess is providing secure solutions that are easier to install and to use than traditional alternatives.”