Bluffton Self Help, a non-profit organization providing food, clothing and financial assistance to low-income residents of Bluffton, S.C., has gone high tech with an Iris ID iris recognition system tracking the hours of paid staff and volunteers. An Iris ID iCAM R100 camera replaces mag stripe cards, said Tony O’Brien, president of Sourcecode LLC, a South Carolina-based software development firm. He designed the iris system, as well as a computer network and telephone system for Bluffton Self Help. Saving The Cost Of Purchasing ID Cards “When I started working with the group it was still using sign-in sheets for its patrons to receive benefits,” he said. “I helped move them to a swipe card system about seven years ago. Then last summer I suggested to the executive director we could use iris identification to eliminate the cards.” The iris-based system saved Bluffton Self Help from purchasing and printing new and replacement ID cardsAccording to O’Brien, the iris-based system saved Bluffton Self Help from purchasing and printing new and replacement ID cards for the five paid staff members and more than 250 volunteers who regularly use the system. The Iris ID system paid for itself in about five months, O’Brien said. After staff inputs a new volunteer’s data, it takes seconds to enroll the person in the system. The person stands in front of a camera which takes a picture of both eyes (irises). Software turns the photo into a digital template stored on the organization’s computers network. The same camera is later used to identify volunteers arrive and leave in a process that takes less than two seconds. Monitoring Volunteers’ Working Hours Kimberly Hall, executive director, Bluffton Self Help, said the volunteers, many of them senior citizens, tell her the system is easy and fun to use. “Our volunteers love it,” she said. “And with the touch of a button on our computer we can see how many hours our volunteers have worked.” With the touch of a button on our computer we can see how many hours our volunteers have worked"Hall estimated volunteers annually provide about $1.2 million worth of services. That’s important to know when the privately funded group seeks contributions from donors who often want to make sure the organization has the manpower to ensure those in need are receiving services. Hall said patrons still use the swipe card system as many are undocumented residents and fearful of new technologies. She hopes education will change that as Iris ID’s stored digital templates cannot be reconstructed to identify a person. Accurate And Easy To Use Systems Mohammed Murad, vice president global sales and business development, Iris ID, said the Bluffton Self Help system shows how iris recognition technology is appropriate for virtually any organization needing identity verification for security or time and attendance. “Systems from Iris ID are affordable, accurate and easy to use,” he said. “They’re no longer just for government organizations or Fortune 500 companies. The company is excited to be a technology provider to many non-profit organizations around the world.”

Ping Identity, the pioneer in Identity Defined Security, announced that its Ping Intelligent Identity Platform powers the engine behind HP Identity (HP ID), an enterprise-wide unified identity management ecosystem. The HP ID initiative is designed to up level customer and partner experiences by providing them with a single identity across all of their HP applications, whether in the cloud or on-premises.  With a focus on driving customer experiences, HP selected the Ping Identity platform deployed in Amazon Web Services (AWS). This achieved its goal of instituting a single and highly secure identity and access management (IAM) platform across its entire global customer and partner-facing platform. Single Sign-on For 150 Million Customers Ping’s customer IAM platform provides performance and scalability that can keep pace with HP’s continued innovation and growth"The HP ID platform is used by more than 100 business applications and enables single sign-on for over 150 million customer and partner identities across the world, plus thousands more being added each day. Before HP ID, the company was managing more than a dozen separate legacy IAM and authentication systems. User identities were previously housed across disparate data silos, creating a disjointed customer experience. Reinventing Customer Experiences HP Product Manager Jared Meier sums up the success of HP ID, “Ping’s customer IAM platform provides performance and scalability that can keep pace with HP’s continued innovation and growth. Now, customers have a seamless experience when they authenticate across our digital properties.” “Ping and HP share a common vision of innovation, great customer experiences and technology that makes life better for everyone, everywhere,” added Andre Durand, CEO, Ping Identity. “We’re proud to support HP in reinventing customer experiences through identity.”

Last week, the Schedule 84 Suppliers Research Panel participated in reviewing the 2018 contracting year with the GSA Schedule 84 leadership team. Our panel group consists of experienced contractors and consultants meeting for a monthly conference call. Schedule 84 is the GSA Schedules Contract for Total Solutions for Law Enforcement, Security, Facilities Management, Fire and Rescue. Our opinions are part of a research program to provide valuable feedback to the GSA Schedule 84 program and on to the GSA central office. The director of GSA Region 7 Schedules Program, the Schedule 84 Branch Chief and the Category Manager Subject Matter Expert who manages our suppliers' panel gave us their full attention as we discussed the successes of the program, hot topics, problems and the future. We determined 2018 under the Schedule 84 team to be a year of innovative thoughts, cooperative effort and renewed enthusiasm Innovative Review Team We determined 2018 under the Schedule 84 team to be a year of innovative thoughts, cooperative effort, renewed enthusiasm and productive changes building upon the successes of 2017. There was high praise for the accessibility to the Schedule 84 staff. Their consistent quick response to questions and concerns, thinking outside the box and supporting the program by partnering with their contractors was much appreciated. There has been a renewed spirit of partnering to cooperatively bring the best to agency customers. It seems to be working as per the Center Director sales are growing for GSA Schedule 84. Advocating For The Security Industry In my experience, business development starts with the Administrator from Region 7 in Ft. Worth, TX. As the annual Schedule 84 Industry Day at the SSAC begins he is shaking every hand and passing out his cards looking folks right in the eye asking, “how can I help you?” They have the best practices and most organized paperwork. The SSAC director has chosen well in her staff and is hands-on in every endeavor to direct things along when challenges occur or to improve the program. The new 84 Branch Chief is knowledgeable, innovative, tireless and has been heavily involved in advocating for the security industry It continues with the center’s CASE Manager encouraging the contractors at events, visiting agency customers and promoting the GSA Schedules Program by helping coordinate the partnering. The new 84 Branch Chief is knowledgeable, innovative, tireless and has been heavily involved in advocating for the security industry for adding new technology, meeting with industry associations, understanding the complexity and challenges of Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD12) and advocating for the purchasing Physical Access Control Systems (PACS) utilizing the appropriate standards and the GSA Program among other innovations. As far as the supplier panel, we gave our GSA Schedule 84 team and leaders high praise for 2018.   GSA also added new categories or SINs for clearly identifying Physical Access Control Products that appear on GSA’s Approved Product List Changes In The GSA Program Some changes this year in certain GSA programmes included the creation of a new category of products/services Special Item Number (SIN) for Order Level Materials (OLM) developed to assist with solution procurements. This new SIN was added to Schedules 03FAC, 56, 70, 71, 00Corp, 738X and 84. Under Schedule 84 it is SIN 84-500. GSA Schedule 84 consolidated many Special Items Numbers (SINs) to make finding products and services less complex Essentially this SIN allows agencies procuring under the aforementioned GSA Schedules’ programmes to purchase and the contractor to add items and services not known prior to the task as a Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) not to exceed 33% of the order. For more information and FAQs on OLMs go to www.gsa.gov/olm. This is not to take the place of “Open Market” items for adding products only that are not listed on a company’s GSA Contract. Physical Access Control Products Previously, GSA Schedule 84 consolidated many Special Items Numbers (SINs) to make finding products and services less complex for the agencies. GSA also added new categories or SINs for clearly identifying Physical Access Control Products that appear on GSA’s Approved Product List according to the standards created under FIPS201. These products appear under SIN 246 35-7 after being tested and approved by GSA. To be qualified to install these products under the GSA Program at least one individual from the GSA Contractor company must complete the class and be CSEIP certified before applying for labor SIN 246 60-5. Additionally, the company must demonstrate certain qualifications and have past performance for this type of work. The Security Technology Alliance offers the training class and certification. Certified individuals and approved products are listed at www.idmanagement.gov. Companies listed with SIN 246-35 7 and SIN 246-60 5 may be found by searching at www.gsaelibrary.gsa.gov. Updates To Guidance For Procurement Updates to guidance for procurement of PACS will continue to be posted to the GSA PACS Ordering Guide Updates to guidance for procurement of PACS will continue to be posted to the GSA PACS Ordering Guide. The ordering guide posted at www.gsa.gov/firesecurity is a valuable support tool created to assist agencies with understanding the requirements of FIPS201 and procuring a PACS. The guide includes relevant regulations, FAQs, sample systems designs, sample statements of work, a list of key points of contract for additional help and questions. In partnership with GSA and guided by the GSA Ombudsman group, the Security Industry Association and the Security Technology Alliance members and their contractor companies participated in a GSA Reverse Industry PACS Training Day on September 17, 2018. We presented from an industry perspective important fact on PACS system requirements, procurement planning, providing information on resources and further educating with panel discussions, individual presentations and amusing skits to over 300 Government agency staff and acquisition specialists. You can find some of the unedited recording of the PACS Reverse Industry Day Training on YouTube. Some changes included the creation of a new category of products/services Special Item Number (SIN) for Order Level Materials (OLM) GSA Schedules Program A hot topic about the GSA program for 2018 was also an issue for the prior year. The GSA Schedules Program is a streamlined contracting vehicle incorporating specific Federal Acquisition Regulations for more efficiently purchasing commercial items. Companies may apply per a continuous open season for a 5-year contract with three 5-year options to renew. Contractors are vetted for past performance, corporate experience and financial capability. Products and services are considered for offering to Federal, State and Local customers (for Schedule 84) with pricing that is determined to be fair and reasonable through negotiations with GSA. To make the determination for fair and reasonable pricing GSA carefully reviews the commercial practices of the contractor To make the determination for fair and reasonable pricing GSA carefully reviews the commercial practices of the contractor as well as the competition of identical or similar item pricing. The most vocal complaint of concern from the contractors was regarding the consideration of competitor contractors offering identical items with out-of-date pricing or holding a Letter of Supply not authorized by the manufacturer. GSA Pricing Tool Since the GSA utilizes a pricing tool to determine if the pricing offered is competitive, a rogue competitor can cause a pricing action to possibly be rejected due to out of date information even as the manufacturer offers an update of the product. This is an issue on all GSA Contracts that the supplier panel hopes will be reconsidered by GSA policymakers at the central office. Most of us believe the Letters of Supply should only be issued by the manufacturer or with documented specific permission of the manufacturer to a reseller. Manufacturers may want to have a better understanding of the Letter of Supply, how it is considered by GSA and more carefully choose their Government partners for experience and compliance. Another challenge for the security community is regarding the lack of accessibility of participating dealers to GSA eBuy Overcoming Challenges For The Security Community Contractors may only see RFQs which are posted under the Special items Number(s) that were awarded to their GSA Contract Another challenge for the security community is regarding the lack of accessibility of participating dealers to GSA eBuy. GSA eBuy is an online Request for Quotation (RFQ) program that is for GSA Contract holders only. Agencies will post their requirements by Special Item Number for at a minimum 48 hours. Contractors may only see RFQs which are posted under the Special items Number(s) that were awarded to their GSA Contract. GSA Participating Dealers may take orders on behalf of a manufacturer if they are authorized under the manufacturer’s GSA Contract. They may also have an online PO Portal to receive orders. But they have no access to GSA eBuy to response to RFQs. Usually, under these arrangements, the manufacturers do not respond directly, so there is a problem using GSA eBuy for opportunities as their GSA Participating Dealers have no access to respond. GSA Schedule 84 Leadership In some instances, a contracting officer may allow an emailed quotation. However, with the use of the electronic ordering system, this has become a common problem we hope to bring to the attention of policymakers. Some changes to the programmes may make the presentation of documentation more effective going forward The GSA Schedule 84 leadership has been helpful to explain the challenges to the agencies to try and resolve such issues. So, what’s up for 2019? GSA modernization is coming. There will be improvements to their tools and more consolidations of SINs and more. There have been discussions of a revival of the GSA Expo. The Expo offered training for contracting staff both Government and private industry. Valuable Tools For Vendor Training Equally important is the networking, meetings and the exhibits of the contractors. Expos have been discontinued since 2012 but smaller events have been growing as well as online webinar training. Webinars are valuable tools for GSA and vendor training, but they do not take the place of being able to meet your customers face-to-face. GSA online eOffer and eMod program have made processing actions more efficient. Some changes to the programmes may make the presentation of documentation more effective going forward. The GSA online website for viewing the items on the GSA Contract and for purchasing items, GSA Advantage could definitely use an update as it has been basically the same for 20 years. Keep an eye on GSA Interact for the latest happenings with GSA.

Asnet Technologies and AVT recently installed an AMX by HARMAN SVSI Networked AV Solution to provide Maritime NZ’s new Risk Coordination Center with a scalable, flexible AV system capable of carrying out military-grade operations. AMX By HARMAN SVSI Networked AV Solution Maritime NZ has a vital role in national security Maritime NZ has a vital role in national security. Their purpose is to ensure that all maritime activities are carried out safely, with minimal impact on the environment and the nation's security. The Risk Coordination Center in New Zealand (RCCNZ) provides search and rescue services to the 3rd largest area in the world, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. While planning the construction of a new Risk Coordination Center, Maritime NZ reached out to Asnet Technologies for help relocating their existing AV system to the new facility. However, after evaluating the risks involved with moving an aged system, they quickly decided to upgrade to a more modern, flexible technology solution that could adapt to their unique needs. Asnet Technologies selected an AMX SVSI Networked AV solution—one of the first of its type to be deployed in New Zealand. AMX SVSI Solution "Looking at the current Risk Coordination Center, we realized that we needed a new system that could adapt to the future developments of Maritime NZ, and the AMX SVSI system was the best possible solution for our needs,” said Paul Thompson, Account Manager, Asnet Technologies. “We needed the ability to switch any input to any output across their environment. The AMX SVSI solution was able to provide us with the flexibility, functionality, and scalability we needed to get the job done." Maritime NZ is responsible for land, air and sea rescue coordination—which meant the installation of the new AV system needed to be completed quickly to prevent disruption in operations. Leveraging SVSI's simple installation the Asnet team took only three days to deploy the solution. This worked within the tight timeframe, ensuring that the risk coordination center was never offline. AMX N1000 Video Over IP Encoder/Decoders With the new AMX SVSI solution, we can now work faster, smarter and safer" “Our 10-year old video solution was obsolete—and an AV solution is critical for us,” said Aaron Mikoz, CIO Maritime NZ. “With the new AMX SVSI solution, we can now work faster, smarter and safer. During search-and-rescue operations, we can see key information displayed on the screen, providing us with a better understanding of the situation without having to depend on complicated briefings." Asnet Technologies installed AMX touch panels with integrated controllers to integrate the audio system with other AV devices and the AMX N1000 Video Over IP Encoder/Decoders as part of a full AV solution. To be able to address larger groups of people, JBL surface mount and pendant speakers were positioned to reduce audio spill into other areas. The system allows the new and improved RCCNZ to distribute media leveraging common network switches in any size and configuration. "To be associated with Maritime NZ and to provide effective technologies in AV and control products is a privilege for HARMAN Professional Solutions," said Ramesh Jayaraman, VP & GM HARMAN Professional Solutions, APAC. "We would like to thank our country partner, AVT and Asnet Technologies for successfully completing this project within a tight schedule of three days, ensuring zero downtime. To be able to implement mission-critical AV applications for a defense agency is an absolute honor."

Maxxess, the innovative security management and communications solutions, partnered with the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) to deploy a powerful new security and operations solution that leverages the power of smart mobile devices to maintain comprehensive communications and emergency management operations. Maxxess Ambit, which provides private, two-way, managed messaging and intel on a more personal and intuitive level, received its first wide-scale test during the SAUSD’s annual earthquake preparedness drill called the Great Southern California ShakeOut. SAUSD used Maxxess Ambit as their primary communications solution during the Great Southern California ShakeOut drill “The 2018 Great Shakeout drill was more realistic than in years past,” said Camille Boden, Executive Director or Risk Management for the Santa Ana Unified School District. She further added, “With Maxxess Ambit, our Emergency Operation Center (EOC) was able to receive simulated eyewitness accounts and requests for assistance from multiple staff members at schools across the District. The information with GPS locations provided by Maxxess Ambit came into the EOC rapidly, providing first responders with the specific details they would need if we really had experienced a disaster. The drill tempo was accelerated and provided real-world insight as to what the District could possibly experience in the event of a massive earthquake.” Maxxess Ambit’s “see it, say it”  SAUSD used Maxxess Ambit as their primary communications solution during the Great Southern California ShakeOut drill. Maxxess Ambit’s “see it, say it” application kept SAUSD’s EOC fully informed of missing people, dangerous situations, property damage and more during the emergency simulation. This allowed the EOC’s staff to instantly generate various reports and assign the appropriate personnel to respond. One report that came in during the drill was from a school needing to be evacuated, which was immediately assigned to SAUSD’s logistics personnel. Logistics then called the school transportation service and directed them to the correct pick-up spots. The EOC at SAUSD not only took action on reports that came in but was able to anticipate issues resulting from the information collected with Maxxess Ambit. All EOC’s actions were captured for reporting and future audits within Maxxess Ambit. Mass Notification During an earthquake scenario, Maxxess Ambit can broadcast a mass notification that will be sent to all users of the organization During an earthquake scenario, Maxxess Ambit can broadcast a mass notification that will be sent to all users of the organization, by site, by department or even by selected user groups. This allows emergency personnel to quickly monitor staff status, communicate with staff members using an organized interface, and help first responders act efficiently. As end users respond to the mass alert broadcast, a geo-tag is placed on a map to correspond with each mobile user’s location. Unlike systems that handle only one aspect of communications like a mass texting tool, Maxxess Ambit also addresses longstanding security challenges by transforming the way organizations operate on a daily basis. In a school environment, for example, a staff member can activate a duress report via Maxxess Ambit in the event a meeting is becoming emotional or tense. Real-time Chat Session The report would appear on the mobile devices of the school’s security team, enabling a real-time chat session while continuously tracking the staff member’s location. This unique combination of features empowers total awareness by making administrators, teachers, staff and students an integral part of the security solution. Maxxess Ambit is a cloud-based solution that does not require a capital investment in any hardware or servers and is deployed like a mobile app with all information logged into the system for compliance and audit purposes.

3xLOGIC, Inc., a provider of integrated, intelligent security solutions, and a three-time Deloitte Technology Fast 500 winner, announced Estill County Emergency Medical Services, located in Irvine, KY, is successfully using infinias access control from 3xLOGIC to improve security and give hard-working staff needed peace of mind to focus on their important work. Bates Security, Lexington, Kentucky, designed, installed, and oversees the system. Shelia Wise, in charge of accounting and training for Estill EMS, oversaw the process to upgrade security at the County’s EMS facility. “We were looking to secure a building that is in operation 24/7/365.” Working on behalf of the County EMS’s Board of Directors, Wise and her team assembled three bids and in the process got a real education on access control, what different systems can do, and what their real security needs were. Securing The Medical Room Our main goals were to secure our medical room, per DEA regulations, and to make our facility safe when staff are here"“Our main goals were to secure our medical room, per DEA regulations, and to make our facility safe when staff are here, but also when they need to clear out at a moment’s notice,” explained Wise. Ultimately, the Board of Directors choose inifinias access control because it met the wide-ranging needs of the County EMS. “We chose the best system for the price and the feature set,” said Wise. Installation was completed about two years ago and the infinias system manages a total of six doors at the main EMS building, two of which are internal, including the medical room where drugs are stored. Later, two more doors were added at a sub-station location. “A top concern is the medical room,” said Wise, “I have to be notified when someone is accessing that door. Now, I get an alert anytime someone is attempting to access that secure room anywhere I am, I don’t need to be onsite. Wise and other staff manage their eight doors from a single interface, by any computer with an Internet connection—anytime, anywhere. Access Management For Employees “It was important that I could easily operate the system software without help from anyone else. And Sean Moberly from Bates is always available for questions and any maintenance that’s needed. It’s a great feeling to know that when we’re away doing our jobs all our worldly possessions back at the facility are protected and we don’t have to worry,” said Wise. The infinias system manages access for all employees, some outside contractors, and the Chairman of the Board of DirectorsEstill County EMS has 35-40 employees and at any given time upwards to 15 people are at the main station on a daily basis. The infinias system manages access for all employees, some outside contractors, who do radio and computer maintenance, and the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Ms. Wise also grants temporary access to hospital staff who use the facility for training. User-Friendly Access Control System As the main administrator, Ms. Wise has created five different sub-groups among all employees and visitors, providing each group with the access privileges they need to do their jobs, while ensuring that only a few individuals have full access to all doors and areas. “I think the system works really well. There was a short learning curve, but it’s quite user-friendly and we’ve not had any problems. From what I was told at our original meeting with Bates through operations today, we got exactly what we user-friendly, and we’re very satisfied,” Wise concluded.

To combat robbery and multiple incidences of employee theft and improve profitability, the Subway in Hokes Bluff, Alabama decided it was time to install a high-quality video surveillance camera. After evaluating a number of manufacturers, Kim Jordan, president of operations, for Poore and Company Inc. DBA Subway, chose Hanwha solutions from Hanwha Techwin America. For the Hokes Bluff restaurant, Matt Evans, Jerrett Pearson and Justin Miller of LST handled system design and installation, which included SNV6013 2 Megapixel Full HD Vandal-Resistant Microdome Cameras and SNDL6013R 2 Megapixel Full HD IP WiseNet Lite Dome Cameras. Local, Central And Mobile monitoring The flexible design of the video system enables local, central and mobile monitoring LST downloads the video and provides long-term storage at its hosting facility. For greater reliability and redundancy, recording is also performed on site using SD card capability integrated into the cameras. The remote viewing capability has proven to be a major benefit by putting even more ‘eyes’ on multiple locations to watch what goes on and in some cases take action to address issues. The flexible design of the video system enables local, central and mobile monitoring, allowing authorized users to view live and recorded video at any time. This monitoring setup makes it more convenient for authorized users to view video from each of the four locations where systems have been installed to date and with plans to install systems at the remaining locations.

Schools are continuing to upgrade security measures for pupil safety. However, on top of all the fundamental challenges schools face, implementing well-rounded and effective security solutions can seem a great difficulty. Andrew Shaw, architectural consultant for Allegion UK, discusses the advantages of electro-mechanical solutions. Schools can equate to some of the most complex security challenges for architects, specifiers and school officials alike. This is because choosing the right solution requires a comprehensive analysis of a building’s design and layout and the different requirements of each perimeter, alongside specific uses, user groups and opening hours. Different areas and spaces, such as reception areas, entry points or classrooms, each need to be approached differently in terms of safety and security measures. Precautionary Lockdown Strategy Adequate training also means all staff know how to support an effective lockdown and facilitate a safe escape in the event of an emergency What’s more, if the building is used for out-of-hours purposes, or if contractors are on-site, these issues will also need to be addressed. Simply put, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for schools. Security hardware and a precautionary lockdown strategy are necessities, as they are integral to the safety of teachers, students and visitors. Adequate measures need to be implemented so that schools are prepared for, and safeguarded against, external threats or unauthorized access. While a lot of the responsibility falls on the shoulders of facility managers, it’s also important for teachers and administrators to be aware of, and educated on, solutions and training. This means knowing how certain hardware works and how to spot a faulty product. Adequate training also means all staff know how to support an effective lockdown and facilitate a safe escape in the event of an emergency. Unique Building Requirements This is becoming increasingly important with newer systems too, especially as the Internet of Things (IoT) becomes more commonplace within the industry. Integrating electro-mechanical solutions into existing school security systems is now more commonly viewed as an achievable and viable option. Because an off-the-shelf security solution to fit all doesn’t exist, the benefits of integrating both electronic and mechanical solutions into systems are quickly becoming realized. As such, schools are growing more accustomed to tailored solutions based on their own unique building requirements and budgets. Each school layout is unique and, therefore, must address a range of security factors specific to different areas. Many areas within a school’s building design must accommodate for high capacity, especially in places that may be part of a fire escape route. Mechanical Door Hardware Schools need to consider the amount of exit and entry points, which will be dependent on the size and layout of the school grounds All schools need to address three different levels of security. The first level is the least vulnerable of the three and concerns the perimeter entry and exit points. The second level is more vulnerable than the first and relates to the point at which people are screened before entering the interior of the school. Finally, the third level - and the most vulnerable - refers to the core of the school that both pupils and staff occupy. The first level of security is the perimeter, and these areas become more important depending on the time of day. Schools need to consider the amount of exit and entry points, which will be dependent on the size and layout of the school grounds. Incorporating some level of electronic access control should be a consideration, whether that is a combination of electronic and mechanical door hardware, or a complete electronic solution. Greater Visitor Management An electromechanical solution, such as electric strikes, can be beneficial in the effectiveness of perimeter security as they provide greater visitor management and traffic control. Electric strikes are able to control access via keypads, cards and proximity readers. When combined with mechanical locks, they provide the benefits of unrestricted egress. This option also allows integration with central security systems, which can be automatically activated and pre-programmed for regular scheduled control. These solutions help lower the risk of potential unauthorized entry, which can lead to theft of equipment, and compromising people’s safety. They also aid facility and site managers in knowing where potential weak points are in the school perimeter. Because schools will most likely have multiple access points, the combination of mechanical hardware and access control systems allows for both security and convenience, providing greater control and monitoring. Efficient Access Control A well-designed school with a single-entry point allows for such monitoring, but should also cater to the efficient movement in and out of the building The second level of security is the administration or reception area. As this area will be designed primarily to facilitate visitor entry, it will require adequate monitoring of access control. This area should be able to restrict visitors from freely accessing the rest of the school. A well-designed school with a single-entry point allows for such monitoring, but should also cater to the efficient movement in and out of the building. To do this, the latches used on access-controlled egress doors can be electronically controlled from the reception area or school office. Exit or entry doors can be opened by a push from the inside and, if the entry area is also an emergency exit, electronically-powered panic bars can also provide an effective solution. When using access control solutions, schools are provided with information on who entered a part of the premises and when, are able to restrict or limit access to specific times of the day, and easily add and delete users, allowing them to manage access to the building more efficiently. Integrated Centralized Systems The areas most susceptible to vulnerability are the internal hallways, corridors, stairwells, entry points and restricted areas (such as staff lounges and science laboratories). These are the areas where a school must foster the safest environments for pupils, while also providing protection as they often contain confidential information, expensive equipment or chemicals. For these areas, there are a number of different solutions that will be beneficial, whether electronic, mechanical or a combination of the two. For electronic solutions, there are two options available: remote or centralized systems. With remote lockdown systems, individual locks are activated by remote control within proximity to the door. With integrated centralized systems, the access control system is linked to all doors within the school building and locked at the touch of a button.  Mechanical solutions, which include a cylinder lock and key, are also ideal for places such as classrooms, as doors can be locked externally with a key or internally with a thumbturn, to prevent unauthorized persons from entering. When paired with electronic access control systems, mechanical hardware can provide simplified yet improved security levels. Electromagnetic Door Closers Electromechanically exit devices allow for monitored and safe access, while also allowing for an immediate exit In schools, it is often the case that entrance doors will also be fire exits. Electromechanically exit devices allow for monitored and safe access, while also allowing for an immediate exit. When integrated with electronic access control systems, emergency exit points become safer and more secure as access control measures can be added, whether for teachers, pupils or visitors.  In the interest of fire safety, and to eliminate the illegal practice of propping fire doors open as well as aid free passage in busy areas, electromagnetic door closers can be linked with the building’s fire alarm system. When the fire alarm sounds (or in the event of a power outage), the electromagnet deactivates, bringing the door to a close in a normal manner, preventing the spread of fire and smoke. Building Design Requirements By design, electronic access control systems are also easy to use and maintain. The reliability and durability of such systems also means that there will be less need for excess time and money spent on maintenance, and there’s peace of mind in knowing the systems are code-compliant. Their flexibility additionally allows for the implementation of a highly-effective bespoke solution. Electronic access control and electronic devices are able to be integrated with or into a variety of other electronic and mechanical systems. This means schools are able to successfully tailor solutions to their own budgets and building design requirements. Fully integrated security solutions and biometrics are becoming increasingly affordable and accessible, giving school officials and managing teams greater control over their buildings. These solutions also give them scalability for the future, meaning systems are both future-proof and easily upgradable.

Johnson Controls has announced that the Dr. P. Phillips YMCA has installed Software House’s C-CURE 9000 security and event management platform as part of a comprehensive visitor management system designed to increase security by verifying member identity and restricting access of non-members. Dr. P. Phillips’ YMCA, located in Doctor Phillips, Fla., is the largest of 27 facilities that are part of The YMCA of Central Florida. This single location serves 11,000 active members. The facility recently completed an $11 million renovation and expansion project, which also included an upgrade to the physical access control system to incorporate biometric technology to improve the member check-in process. Biometric Fingerprint Access The turnstiles help to manage the flow of visitors and identify when a person does not have membership privileges to gain accessThe comprehensive system integrates Software House C-CURE 9000 with biometric readers from iDentytech and swing glass optical turnstiles from Automatic Systems. Together, the systems manage the flow of visitors into the facility by enabling members to gain access using a biometric fingerprint reader instead of swiping an access control card. The turnstiles help manage the flow of visitors and identify when a person does not have membership privileges to gain access. Membership enrollment information resides in C-CURE 9000, which serves as the central component of the overall access control system. Johnson Controls' integration arm served as the systems integrator on the project. Accurate Accounting Of Membership Status “With the old system,” said Dan Humbert, director of IT for the YMCA of Central Florida, “the only way to tell which family center membership someone held was by the color of the barcode. With the C-CURE 9000 system that’s all automated. We can now capture the information on where they can work out directly in the system.” A major benefit of the new access control system and membership program is that it provides more accurate accounting of membership status. The system can flag out-of-date memberships, so when a person is denied access can be directed to the desk where they can pay on-site and be reinstated.

Vega Systems Inc. has announced that their Redundancy Management Framework (RMF) software has begun operations at a prominent airport in the Middle East. The airport surveillance software plugin for Milestone XProtect enhances video security. Typically, without the software system, video surveillance down-times at critical infrastructure locations have the potential to create security loopholes. Vega Systems' RMF reduces live video disruption to milliseconds during server failure episodes while simultaneously providing uninterrupted access to all archived footage. This, along with other beneficial features, mitigates the impact of server failures on security overall. Vega Systems' RMF RMF is a novel, few-to-all approach towards enhancing XProtect Recording Server Redundancy through dual recording. A few redundant servers can handle concurrent failures of all primary servers. Offering a live view recovery almost instantaneously following the recording server failure, the system works two orders of magnitude faster than fail-over recording. RMF is a result of collaboration between Vega Systems Inc in San Jose, California, Sunjin Infotech based in Seoul, South Korea, and Milestone Systems' Middle East offices. The product is a plug-in framework for the Canon subsidiary Milestone Systems' XProtect software.

Opening up new possibilities for competitive video surveillance deployments in retail, restaurant and small business applications, IDIS has launched a compact range of robust, high performance cameras and recorders. The IDIS Compact Solutions series is designed for rapid installations and both single and multi-site roll outs, allowing for the mixing and matching of analog and IP technologies, making upgrades and system extensions more affordable than ever. IDIS Compact Solutions The new line includes a choice of network and HD-TVI cameras and recorders, all of which are easy to install through one-click network configuration. A highly competitive price point comes without any compromise on IDIS’s signature reliability and performance, while hardened network security protocols provide complete reassurance against hacking risks. The new Compact Solutions line features 4-channel compact recorders that can be conveniently desktop or wall mounted, and for end-users and operators - including branch managers, small business owners and security personnel – the line combines high performance features with simple operation and a choice of client software. The IDIS Compact Solutions range is hard-wearing, making it particularly durable and perfectly suited for busy environments where reliable capture of high definition video images is important. IDIS Dome And Bullet PoE Cameras IDIS’s DC-D4212R dome and DC-E4212WR bullet PoE cameras are perfect for confined spaces yet deliver full-HD performance IDIS’s DC-D4212R dome and DC-E4212WR bullet PoE cameras are perfect for confined spaces yet deliver full-HD performance in live view and playback (including on remote devices such as smartphones) and come with motion detection, tamper alarms, zoned privacy masking, day and night ICR and IR LED up to 20m. A choice of four and eight channel IP or HD-TVI recorders allows fast and trouble-free installation and lets installers take advantage of existing coax cabling. The IP recorders also benefit from H.264 live view which eliminates the need to upgrade hardware peripherals. For highest performance streaming capacity, H.265 and IDIS Intelligent Codec compression deliver bandwidth savings of up to 90 percent, ensuring smoother real-time viewing and full evidence retention. “The new IDIS Compact Solutions line continues our longstanding tradition of market-responsive offerings, designed and developed in house to meet the real-world needs of our industry partners and end-users. This new line of fills an important need in the market, for high value, high performance technology from proven market leaders able to reliably meet highly specific requirements in vertical spaces, such as retail, and smaller business operations,” noted Keith Drummond, Senior Director, IDIS America. IDIS Total Solution As with all IDIS products the Compact Solutions range is backed by industry-lauded technical support and service, including the company’s global technical support operation, co-located with IDIS America’s regional headquarters near Dallas, Texas. The new IDIS Compact Solutions line is the latest offering in the powerful and award-winning IDIS Total Solution—an end-to-end, single sourced offering that delivers unrivaled plug-and-play simplicity (combined with highest-quality performance, compatibility, now featuring the longest recorder warranty in the industry), with a low total cost of ownership.

Dahua Technology, a world-leading manufacturer and supplier of video surveillance products headquartered in Hangzhou, China up secured ultra modern shopping mall in Mwanza . The construction of ultra modern shopping mall complex has taken off in Mwanza city. Mwanza is Tanzania's second largest town and the economic heart of the Lake Region. With the continuous development of the economy, the city needs a better business environment to meet the needs of its residents. Therefore, the Mwanza Municipal Council commissioned K&M Archplans (T) Ltd to undertake the design and supervision of the proposed ultra-modern Mwanza shopping mall that covers about 50,000 m2 of shopping space. Mwanza is Tanzania's second largest town and the economic heart of the Lake Region Challenge Of Shopping Mall Security Shopping mall has unique challenges that must be taken into consideration when designing an effective security program. Dahua provides the security system for the ultra modern shopping mall considering all factors at the beginning of the construction, including plenty of network dome cameras, PTZ dome cameras and zoom cameras, bits of NVRs and LCD monitors as well. The cameras cover the whole shopping mall, especially the entrances and exits, halls, corridors and the parking lots. The mall will have a four story market structure developed; Dahua puts the network dome cameras and PTZ dome cameras mainly inside the mall and installs the zoom cameras on the outside to security the whole building. Dome Camera Specification  Dahua's 2-megapixel full HD water-proof & vandal-proof network dome camera (HDBW5200), was used. This camera, with a dedicated-design, a 2.7-12mm fixed lens and a 1/2.8" 2-Megapixel progressive scan Sony Exmor CMOS was the best fit for the interior of the mall. Its IK10-rated vandal-proof can effectively prevent violent destruction. HDBW5200 is able to help to deter theft and respond to active criminal incidents.Dahua's security systems ensure every person in the centre feels secure and welcome Outside, the SD6A230-HN 2Megapixel full HD 30x ultra-smart network IR PTZ dome camera protects the mall's exterior and parking 24/7 with recording high resolution images. Other than its high image quality, the PTZ camera provides a wide pan and tilt range, 0°~360°horizontally and -10 ° ~90 ° vertically, delivering broad images of each scene and a complete picture of ongoing events. Moreover, the domes support 255 presets setup and the go-to speed of pan is 240°/s and tilt 200°/s. With an IR range of up to 150 meters, it can features great day/night performance in any lighting conditions. It is able to monitor every corner of the shopping mall. Protection Of Shoppers And Employees Dahua's security systems ensure every person in the mall feels secure and welcome no matter if it's shoppers or employees. With Dahua's security systems, the mall can respond and control appropriately when certain events happened. The ultra modern shopping mall has a modern and alluring design. Dahua is very much looking forward to the results of its products in the ultra modern shopping mall.

Princeton Identity Inc., a provider of secure biometric security systems, has announced the deployment of its Biometric Conex, designed to assist customers with quick and accurate personnel authentication for campuses and facilities. The Conex is a 20-foot long standard shipping container outfitted with on-the-move facial, iris and fingerprint biometric capture technology, which can be operational in less than 24 hours. Biometric Conex Princeton Identity is showcasing the Biometric Conex at the 2018 AUSA Annual Meeting & Exposition in Washington, DC The first two containers will be shipped in October to government facilities. Princeton Identity is showcasing the Biometric Conex at the 2018 AUSA Annual Meeting & Exposition in Washington, DC. The Conex’s combination of patented authentication technology and portable configuration give organizations the flexibility to deploy these high throughput, accurate authentication units anytime, anywhere. Biometric High-Throughput System The multi-modal, biometric high-throughput system offers more secure rapid personnel authentication and the following features: Face, dual iris, and 8 fingerprint rapid enrollment of personnel and on-the move multi-modal personnel identification Throughputs of over 15 people per minute Self-contained or networked configurations Allow list and watch list capable Can support large personnel database configurations Climate controlled, air conditioned and weatherproof Can be powered by a generator and comes with UPS backup Facility Entry Control The Biometric Conex eliminates these issues and provides a more accurate, seamless entry process Current facility entry control procedures generally rely on credentials or limited biometric information to allow entry. In many cases, these procedures can cause excessive queuing, require extensive manpower, and are limited in their identification accuracy. The Biometric Conex eliminates these issues and provides a more accurate, seamless entry process. It contains a rapid enrollment station to simultaneously register subjects’ biometric signatures – fingerprints, face and irises – which takes less than a minute to process. The fusing of these three separate biometric modalities ensures the highest level of identification accuracy and eliminates potential spoofing attacks. When subjects enter the Conex, they walk through at a normal pace without stopping or touching any sensors, gain clearance, and are granted access to the facility. Contactless Iris Authentication “The government engaged with Princeton Identity to provide these units because we are the only identification firm with patented walkthrough, contactless iris authentication capabilities to support large groups of people,” said Mark Clifton, CEO of Princeton Identity. “Our software and physical hardware provide versatile identity authentication solutions designed to verify and manage individuals’ identities for a wide range of physical security and access applications, and we are already exploring other commercial uses for the Biometric Conex.”

Dayton Public Schools (DPS) covers about 53 square miles in Dayton, Ohio. The school system is comprised of 30 school buildings and special centers with approximately 15,000 students in pre-kindergarten through high school. An urban district, DPS brings innovative students and teachers together to develop productive citizens ready to serve their communities. Core to achieving their mission is ensuring first, that students arrive at their school and at their classes, on time and ready to learn. DPS had a wide variety of, and in some cases a lack of, ID system capabilities throughout the district. This made it difficult to implement standard process improvements that would speed the creation of new IDs at the beginning of each school year. Additionally, DPS needed to expedite the check-in of tardy students thus allowing them to arrive at their classes faster. For managing tardy students, the schools traditionally used manual processes with handwritten passes which were inefficient and caused unnecessary delays if multiple students came to school late. Seeking to streamline processes, the school district realised that it needed to institute a universal, mandatory student ID system that allowed them to improve student attendance across the district while enhancing the security of its students and visitors. PlascoID Card-based Management System PlascoID showed DPS HID’s FARGO desktop card printers and their automated student management system, PlascoTrac, as a possible solution to the challenges the school system was facing While attending the Ohio eTech conference in early 2011, DPS learned about PlascoID, an authorized HID Global FARGO integrator and global provider of card-based ID systems. PlascoID showed DPS HID’s FARGO desktop card printers and their automated student management system, PlascoTrac, as a possible solution to the challenges the school system was facing. Because the printers and software integrated seamlessly with eSchoolPlus, the school system’s existing Web-based student-information system, DPS selected PlascoID to help streamline its attendance processes. Genuine HID products including the DTC4500 card printer/encoder, non-technology cards and Asure ID Enterprise card personalisation software were recommended by PlascoID to support the creation of efficient, multipurpose IDs. HID Global’s Asure ID software would enable the school system to create customized student ID cards while the DTC4500 printers would allow campus officials at each school location to instantly issue all student IDs. The printer’s modular design and small footprint were also ideal features for the school environment where space is at a premium. Asure ID Enterprise Software Prior to the start of the 2012 school year DPS implemented the solution over the course of just two weeks, installing the PlascoTrac system with 31 DTC4500 printers and Asure ID Enterprise software so it could be used on the first day of the new academic year. With the new DTC4500 printers and Asure ID software, DPS can now: Print a high volume of cards at fast print speeds: Every year, 15,000 IDs are needed by DPS in just the first week of school. The DTC4500 meets this challenge by quickly and reliably producing large quantities of cards with high-quality images. Able to withstand the day-to-day wear and tear by students these new IDs are now also uniform in image quality, design and durability. Save money and training time: The modestly priced DTC4500 has an intuitive set up and is easy to use. Already optimized for organizations like DPS, the printer is a high-security, high-performance ID issuance system that doesn’t require large capital investments or extensive training by system operators. Prepare for future ID card needs: The DTC4500 is field upgradeable. As their student ID system changes and evolves, DPS can modify their printers to fit new requirements. Achieve multiple uses with a single software application: With Asure ID Enterprise software, DPS is able to easily design card templates, enter student data and create photo ID badges. Additionally, Asure ID’s LiveLink capability enables the schools to sync student ID badge data with attendance data in PlascoTrac, and with student records in eSchoolPLUS. PlascoTrac Card ID System The newly designed DPS student ID is a white card featuring the district’s logo and mission statement With this combined solution from PlascoID and HID Global, DPS can now easily and quickly provide all students with IDs during the first week of the new school year. And when a student loses his or her badge, or is newly enrolled in school, a new ID can be created and issued that same day. The newly designed DPS student ID is a white card featuring the district’s logo and mission statement. New visual security elements include a large color photo of the student and his/her name printed in large font on the front of the card, so school personnel can easily identify individuals. Additionally, the ID now includes a barcode that is used in conjunction with the PlascoTrac system. So, when a student arrives late to school or is tardy to a class, they are scanned into PlascoTrac and a tardy pass is printed automatically. HID's Plasco ID Cards With this brand-new student ID system, processing tardy students now takes 25 to 35 percent less time than before, enabling DPS students to spend more time in class while reducing the administrative burden of its staff. Some schools have even tied the new ID cards to their media center In addition to addressing their original challenges, DPS has now found that the new HID and Plasco ID card solution gives them even greater functionality and versatility. Some schools have even tied the new ID cards to their media center for checking out books or documenting lunches purchased in the cafeteria. Elementary schools are even exploring ways to use the IDs to encourage positive reinforcement of good behaviors. HID Global Card Issuance/PlascoTrac Solution “We are extremely satisfied with how adaptable the solution is on a per-school basis,” said Richard Melson, director of The Office of Information Technology at Dayton Public Schools. “Initially the principals had one vision of how things were going to work and now that they have the technology in their possession, they each use it a little differently based on specific needs of their school.” In the near future, DPS expects to expand its use of the HID Global card issuance/PlascoTrac solution to keep track of visitors. Currently the district provides printed temporary ID passes, but it plans to eventually incorporate scanning of government IDs, such as a driver’s license, before granting visitors entry.

A total of 2,700 Sony network security cameras are the dependable choice to watch over passengers’ safety for Catalonia’s biggest transport operator. Public transit operator Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) runs one of Europe’s most technologically advanced and accessible metro system that comprises nine lines and 150 stations. TMB’s metro and local bus lines carry over 550 million citizens, commuters and travellers annually across the Catalan capital and surrounding areas, making safety and operational efficiency high priority topics. Round-The-Clock Reliability In recent years, TMB elected to update its analog infrastructure, replacing older cameras and extending coverage to create a metro-wide IP video surveillance system. Sony cameras has made them an optimal choice for the recent upgrade to monitor train tracks, station platforms and other public areas The relationship between TMB and Sony dates back more than fifteen years, when the operator installed its first 150 Sony cameras at several metropolitan bus depots to protect perimeters, parking areas, workshops and office spaces. The proven reliability of Sony cameras has made them an optimal choice for the recent upgrade to monitor train tracks, station platforms and other public areas where reliable 24/7 performance is essential. As well as round-the-clock reliability, Sony cameras provide excellent HD image resolution, which was another key requirement for the project. Support for open protocols, including the widely used ONVIF standard, simplifies integration with other security and monitoring systems. Reduced Operating Costs By standardising on a small number of camera models, TMB has further benefited from simplified maintenance and reduced operating costs. To date, TMB has installed a total of 2,700 Sony IP network cameras across its transportation network with more than 700 of them being Sony SNC-EB630 box-type models. A custom housing protects the cameras from dust, dirt and physical tampering while allowing easy cleaning of the front lens window. The SNC-EB630 offers excellent Full HD image quality with wide dynamic range, even in dim or harshly-lit environments where other cameras often struggle to see clearly. Built-in image stabilisation assures crisp images, even when the camera is being shaken by mechanical vibration from nearby trains. Effective Visual Deterrent Picture quality and sensitivity are major assets when monitoring the movement of passengers in congested station areas The SNC-EB630 also scores in station areas where harsh fluorescent lighting can be strongly reflected by platform surfaces, making identification of people and objects difficult. Here, Sony’s View-DR technology boosts the cameras’ dynamic range to accommodate a wide range of light levels in the same scene. The cameras’ widespread presence serves as an effective visual deterrent, and as a useful tool to clearly identify and resolve incidents involving passengers and staff. What’s more, picture quality and sensitivity are major assets when monitoring the movement of passengers in congested station areas, or directing station staff and first-responders to help passengers requiring assistance in the event of accidents or personal injury. Increase In The Security “Apart from superb picture quality, a key factor for us in choosing Sony cameras is their dependability” says Victor Ribera, Responsible of Telecommunication Systems in the Technology Area at Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona. "Remote surveillance is extremely important for us. We have evolved from a complete decentralized surveillance system started at our garages and workshops to a fully centralized system – based on security control centers for the operation and management of all security cameras. Image quality has improved exponentially in a short time. Together with the functions incorporated into the cameras themselves, this has resulted in an increase in the security offered to our passengers.”