Application security

NAPCO Security Technologies, Inc., one of the renowned manufacturers and designers of high-tech electronic security devices, wireless recurring communication services for intrusion and fire alarm systems, as well as a global provider of school safety solutions, has announced that it will be showcasing new products at the ISC West 2021 trade show, which is slated to take place in Las Vegas, Nevada, from July 19 to July 21, 2021, at the Sands Expo Center. During the ISC West show, NAPCO will be showcasing its new AirAccess cloud-based access control solution to dealers attending the show. AirAccess allows NAPCO and its dealers, and integrators to generate recurring revenue from access control jobs, which has not been possible previously with the security industry's access control products. AirAccess AirAccess is unique and ushers in a new generation of access control. AirAccess eliminates the need for expensive upfront hardware costs to end users and also uses cellular communications, bypassing the end users IT network, which has been a problem for dealers installing access control systems in the past. Mobile App, mobile credentials, text-notifications & real-time alarm monitoring option are other exciting features of the AirAccess system. NAPCO believes that the market for cloud-based access control could be in the billions of dollars. Lectra locks Lectra locks are electrified mortise & cylindrical locks, which offer dramatic savings in time Additional new products to be showcased include the new Lectra locks from NAPCO's Marks Division and E-Access from Continental Access. Lectra locks are electrified mortise & cylindrical locks, which offer dramatic savings in time and labor over electric strikes, and also allow for easy retrofit of standard locksets. Lectra locks are ideal for stairwell doors (w/ fire alarm integration), man-traps (w/enterprise access control) and receptionist buzz-in applications. Continental Access division's new E-Access embedded access control platform is a self-contained and ready out-of-the box solution, for a few doors and scalable to over 500. Top features include choice of 1-, 2- and 4-door expandable controllers, no-touch Bluetooth credentials & 1-Click issuing. E-Access is ideal for standalone retail stores and restaurants as examples. NAPCO believes that the market opportunity for both Lectra and E Access products are very large and could be well above a billion dollars. ISC West 2021 Richard Soloway, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NAPCO Security Technologies, said “We are excited to be back at ISC West this year to highlight the previously mentioned new products like AirAccess, which will generate more recurring revenue for NAPCO going forward.” Richard adds, “NAPCO prides itself as the only manufacturer of an integrated product line of security products encompassing alarms, locking products, and access control products. NAPCO will now generate recurring revenue from each of these categories and we believe the future remains bright for our company.”

BlueVoyant, a cybersecurity company, announces the launch of its BlueVoyant modern SOC for Splunk® cloud platform, designed to empower customers and maximize their investment in Splunk cloud platform. The service features white glove technical workshops, rapid onboarding into Splunk cloud platform, and 24/7 managed detection and response (MDR), powered by BlueVoyant’s 24/7 cloud-based managed security operations center (SOC). Providing ongoing maintenance Building upon its long-term strategic partnership as a Splunk premier partner, BlueVoyant’s fast and easy-to-manage integration with Splunk cloud platform serves as an extension to an organization’s security team. Through the rapid delivery of security outcomes and data within days, instead of weeks and months, existing Splunk and new Splunk cloud platform customers can seamlessly maximize their investment in Splunk’s technology, while benefiting from BlueVoyant’s turnkey offering that delivers security at scale. BlueVoyant modern SOC for Splunk cloud platform key features include: Splunk cloud platform accelerator – Security consulting workshops to build use-cases, dashboarding and rapid deployment of Splunk cloud platform. 24/7 security monitoring – Alerting, triage, threat indicator enrichment, and investigations. Splunk cloud platform concierge – In addition to MDR, BlueVoyant’s Splunk cloud platform concierge engineers provide ongoing maintenance and customization for Splunk cloud platform customers to maximize their investment. Through regular reviews with customers, BlueVoyant can help customers with: Identifying additional requirements. The development of additional insights for Splunk cloud platform customers. Changing their Splunk cloud platform configuration or recommending other applications or technical add-ons for Splunk cloud. Entire security operations CISOs continue to struggle with limited resources and budget to effectively manage core security technologies" “Although the consolidation of data into a SIEM has enabled organizations to gain visibility, CISOs continue to struggle with limited resources and budget to effectively manage core security technologies and scale security operations,” comments Milan Patel, Global Head of Managed Security Services at BlueVoyant. “The launch of the BlueVoyant modern SOC for Splunk cloud platform represents a turning point in the relationship; in managing the entire security operations suite for Splunk cloud platform customers within the customer’s Splunk cloud platform instance, BlueVoyant is the first of Splunk’s partners to apply a true remote Security Operations Center-as-a-Service (SOCaaS) approach to the management of customer data in their environment, instead of wholesale exporting data outside of the customer environment.” Modernizing security operations "Keeping raw data in the customer’s Splunk cloud platform instance while still providing all the benefits of SOCaaS, will allow customers to maintain full control over their data and how it’s accessed.” BlueVoyant achieves this through rethinking how technology, people, process, and data privacy are applied to modernizing security operations. BlueVoyant’s management of Splunk’s security operations suite delivers a secure time-to-value ratio BlueVoyant’s management of Splunk’s security operations suite through Modern SOC for Splunk cloud platform also reduces alert fatigue, delivers a faster and secure time-to-value ratio through rapid deployment, detection of advanced and zero-day threats, and reduces costs. It also mitigates the risk of severe business disruption in the event of a cyber-attack. Mission-Critical assets “BlueVoyant’s modern SOC for Splunk cloud platform brings together two best-of-breed solutions for our customers to securely manage their data, further strengthening the Splunk security cloud service that allows customers to securely embrace digital transformation programs,” said Bill Hustad, VP of Alliances and Channel Ecosystems, at Splunk. “Delivering modern SOC for Splunk cloud platform is the perfect next step for our current and future Splunk customers,” concludes Jim Rosenthal, CEO of BlueVoyant. “The layering of BlueVoyant’s tailored consulting and MDR services onto Splunk cloud platform helps organizations strengthen their overall security posture, and secure mission-critical assets against increasingly threatening adversaries.”

Camden Door Controls, a provider of innovative, high-quality door activation and locking products, has published a new application spec guide for specification writers designing a wireless barrier-free restroom control system. This application utilizes standard push plate ‘push to open’ switches and a mushroom ‘push to lock’ switch, with CM-TX9 battery-powered wireless transmitters, and CM-RX-91 and CM-RX92 receivers. Control of automatic doors ‘Occupied’ and ‘Locked’ annunciation is provided by hard-wired (narrow) LED annunciators that are mounted on the door frame, inside and outside the restroom. This application sheet is posted as a resource on Camden's restroom control product page. Camden offers a range of packages designed specifically for the control of automatic doors in restroom applications. These kits feature a number of innovative and exclusive products that are not available elsewhere.

According to the latest report, from research organization – Omdia, Genetec Inc, a globally renowned technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence solutions, has once again been recognized as the fastest-growing access control software provider in the world. The report shows Genetec displacing traditional access control vendors, and claiming the number two position globally (up from 4th in 2019). Access control software provider “While the global access control software market was hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and declined in 2020, Genetec grew by more than 30% globally, gaining ground in both the Americas region and becoming a top 10 vendor in EMEA,” said Bryan Montany, Physical Security Analyst at Omdia. Genetec credits its continued growth to the strength of its unified security platform, Security Center, which features access control solutions that easily tie in with video surveillance, ALPR, analytics, and more. Traditionally a proprietary market, the access control industry has now shifted to a more open one with customers looking to migrate to a cyber-secure open-architecture access control solution that allows them to choose hardware that is best suited to their needs. Security Center Synergis Security Center Synergis connects to a large and growing selection of third-party access control devices As a truly open system, Security Center Synergis, connects to a large and growing selection of third-party access control devices. This allows organizations to choose the hardware that addresses their security needs and objectives, while avoiding the long-term setbacks of closed solutions. Seamlessly unified with video and other security systems, Synergis delivers operational and security insights, there by leading to more informed decisions and improved operations. Upgrading to latest support technology  With Synergis, organizations can upgrade to the latest supported technology at any time, move at their own pace, and work within their available budget. Synergis is designed to evolve with a customer’s changing needs, simplifying their migration process, while providing a return on their investment. “While many traditional access control vendors have gone through mergers and acquisitions to maintain market share, Genetec has grown organically, taking a radically different approach with innovative, nonproprietary solutions that meet the needs of this rapidly transforming market,” said Guy Chenard, Chief Commercial Officer, Genetec, Inc. #1 in video surveillance software According to another recently published Omdia report (Video Surveillance & Analytics Market Share Database – 2021, Genetec was recognized as #1 in video surveillance software globally, outpacing market growth, in both VMS and Windows-based recorders categories. These figures coupled with the company’s global growth in access control software, underscore its market leadership and the benefits of a unified platform.

NAPCO Security Technologies is pleased to introduce its new Gemini Commercial Mobile App for its powerful, popular GEMP1632, GEMP1664, GEMP3200, GEMP9600 and GEMX255 Hybrid Control Panel Series. Customisable for dealers The all-new portrait-style, Gemini Commercial App provides smart multi-tier controls for business accounts of all sizes, on all NAPCO Gemini Security &/or Integrated Access Control Systems, 8 to 255 zones. And, it’s customizable for dealers to easily upload their own logo, contact, and instructional info to make it an App of their own, for a bigger company image. Available for IOS and Android phones/smart devices for universality, it’s free of charge, downloadable from Apple or Google. Highlights The Gemini Commercial App can be used by both dealers and their accounts, and features easy intuitive mobile control of security systems and/or their integrated access control systems, supporting multi-tier user/manager levels, including administrative control of Users and Groups, such as managers and employees, for example, and privileges on one or across multiple areas, as applicable. The user experience includes an easy graphical icon-based screen &/or traditional virtual 3D keypad (portrait), including dealer keypad programming mode, scheduling, zone description templates & address book utility. Also handy for all are distinct access and alarm logs, zone open lists, user codes, and access cards.

ONVIF, the renowned global standardization initiative for IP-based physical security products and solutions company, has released Profile D, a new profile that addresses interfaces for access control peripheral devices, providing the market with an additional tool for building modern and secure IP-based integrated video and access control systems, using ONVIF. Profile D Profile D is designed to provide ONVIF interoperability for peripheral devices such as locks, credential/biometric readers, PIN pads, license plate recognition cameras, door phones, sensors and displays. These types of peripherals commonly require specific integrations between products from different vendors, to be able to incorporate them into an access control management platform. “Users are increasingly looking to incorporate additional technologies into their access control systems for use in innovative ways, such as bar code reading cameras for visitor management or video door stations for intercom applications,” said Patrik Björling, Chair of the ONVIF Profile D Working Group. Meeting demand for interoperability Profile D provides a standardized way to satisfy this demand for interoperability" Patrik Björling adds, “Profile D provides a standardized way to satisfy this demand for interoperability, which can in turn drive additional opportunities for more use cases for peripheral devices.” Using Profile D, a peripheral device, such as a wireless lock or license plate recognition camera, can pass credential identifiers to a securely located Profile D conformant client, such as an access control unit or management software. Client or controller The client or controller, which stores access rules, schedules and credentials, can then take the access decision and send a command back to the peripheral device, to either grant or deny access, display a message or request additional input, such as a PIN code. Having sensitive information on a separate controller in a secured area enhances security. Communications between the device and client are secured using ONVIF security protocols, such as TLS. Profile D specification The Profile D specification enables a conformant client to configure a conformant device with the necessary data, such as which door and access point the device is responsible for, as well as to configure a list of allowed or blocked credential identifiers in a device that supports this capability. ONVIF Profile D complements Profile A and Profile C in enabling standardized communications in an IP-based electronic access control system. Profile D devices can also support video profiles, such as Profile T and Profile M to enable an integrated video and access control system using ONVIF interfaces. ONVIF-conformant devices Such devices include a door phone that combines a reader and lock with audio/video intercom, or an IP camera Such devices include a door phone that combines a reader and lock with audio/video intercom, or an IP camera with a relay output connected to a lock that can be used by a guard to visually identify a visitor and remotely unlock the door. Founded in 2008, ONVIF is a well-recognized industry forum driving interoperability for IP-based physical security products. The organization has a global member base of established camera, video management system and access control companies and more than 20,000 profile conformant products. ONVIF profiles In addition to Profile D, ONVIF offers Profile S for streaming video; Profile G for video recording and storage; Profile C for physical access control; Profile Q for improved out-of-the-box functionality, Profile A for broader access control configuration, Profile T for advanced video streaming, and Profile M for metadata and events for analytics applications. ONVIF continues to work with its members to expand the number of IP interoperability solutions that ONVIF-conformant products can provide.

It is a truism that in the physical security industry your workforce and your reputation are the business’s largest and most important assets. Managing your workforce with empathy to ensure happy, engaged employees can be a balancing act. However, providing flexible working practices that are still profitable for your business is achievable, and something that every security business should be aiming for. SmartTask CEO, Paul Ridden discusses the hidden benefits of an engaged workforce and the role that good workforce management has to play. The importance of an engaged workforce can’t be stressed enough because motivated employees are what makes a business successful. Highly engaged staff According to Gallup, disengaged employees are a drain on any business. On average, they have 37% higher absenteeism, 18% lower productivity and 15% lower profitability. When the impact to the bottom line is calculated, you're looking at the cost of 34% of a disengaged employee's annual salary. Conversely, highly engaged staff show a 40% reduction in absenteeism, and almost 60% less turnover. Engaged employees show up every day with enthusiasm and purpose Engaged employees show up every day with enthusiasm and purpose. They tend to work harder, treat customers well (leading to more business), and, are more likely to remain with the company. Employee engagement is determined by factors such as feeling clear about your role at work, and having the right tools to enable you to do your job to the best of your ability. Being recognized for your hard work and diligence is also a key factor. Enabling security businesses Workforce management, when done well, can make a significant difference to all of these factors, and therefore help to foster an engaged workforce, which is good for business. Traditionally, workforce management and time & attendance (clocking on and off) systems may have seemed a bit ‘big brother’, however, this is no longer the case. In a world where almost everyone carries a smartphone, people are quite used to the idea of constant connectivity. This can be harnessed to enable security businesses to run more smoothly and efficiently, benefitting everyone. Indeed, being able to prove that a contracted service has been delivered is not only good for customer service, and invoicing, it is also provides recognition for hardworking staff. Workforce management solution Staff that feel empowered in such a way are more likely to feel happy and engaged Providing Flexibility and Work/life Balance - While we all know that contracts are contracts, and security businesses must deliver, ditching paper based systems in favor of an electronic workforce management solution, can provide additional flexibility to workers, supporting work/life balance. For example, shifts and rosters, which can be designed in a fraction of the time with a purpose-built solution, can be published further in advance, giving employees enough notice of work patterns to plan their lives around their shifts. People are more easily able to swap shifts or sign up for additional work, and the control room still has oversight to see exactly who is working where and when. In addition, staff can see their accrued holiday entitlement more easily, and request leave from their smartphones. Staff feel more in control of their lives when they can discuss their work patterns and holidays with family while at home simply by referring to an app on their device. Staff that feel empowered in such a way are more likely to feel happy and engaged with the business. Delivering work schedules Task lists for completion while onsite sent directly to their mobile device is convenient for all Convenience and Duty of Care - Using an app to deliver work schedules and assignment instructions provides your employees with the tools and information they need to do their job while removing the stress of dealing with paper-based forms. Task lists for completion while onsite sent directly to their mobile device is convenient for all, and helps to prove compliance with any regulatory requirements, including Duty of Care. Check calls are part of daily life for security workers. Remembering to make them can be cumbersome, but with an app, they can be built into the employee’s Actions for the day/shift, with an automated prompt to make the call. Managing finances better Payroll Visibility and additional Services for Staff - With an online time & attendance solution where people clock in and out electronically, they are able to check their hours accrued and see what their salary will be. If a shift is missed, for example, they are able to query with the payroll department much sooner, leading to more accurate and timely pay. Additional services can be provided, such as ‘pay in advance’ schemes, where workers are able to draw down a percentage of their earned salary before payday. This enables staff to manage their finances better and avoid taking payday loans. Keeping electronic records The benefits to the business of a workforce management solution are many The benefits to the business of a workforce management solution are many. Saving time on back office processes such as designing rosters, managing shifts/attendance/service delivery, holidays and absence. Reducing reliance on manual systems, keeping electronic records provides audit trails, proves compliance and streamlines invoices for all work completed. Having detailed records also means better analysis of the business. Managing rosters and schedules is one thing, ensuring that every shift is profitable is much more complex. However, with electronic workforce management all the variables, fixed costs, recurring costs, salaried people, hourly people and the cost of equipment required, that go into costing a shift can be analyzed to ensure every shift is profitable. Providing better safeguards In a post-COVID world, people have embraced technology at a pace not previously imagined. Technology has enabled us to keep in contact with loved ones, enabled those that can to work remotely, and provides better safeguards to key workers that cannot work remotely. In a post-COVID world, people have embraced technology at a pace not previously imagined Providing people with the right tools to do their job is a major step forward in empowering your workforce to do well. Electronic systems that reduce paperwork, also reduce the drudgery of form filling. At head office that frees people up for more proactive, strategic and customer facing work, that really makes a difference to your business. Affordable software solutions Out in the field, electronic systems keep people safer, more informed and helps them to manage their work/life balance. A winning combination for everyone. Paul has spent most of his working life in the computer industry, with the last ten years spent focusing on software solutions for the security, cleaning, FM and logistics sectors. Part of Paul’s role is to use his passion and entrepreneurial approach to build a technology team that can develop and deliver affordable software solutions that take advantage of the latest technologies and help deliver value to all SmartTask users, large and small.

Whenever you say the word “security” in today’s world of digitalization and technology, minds immediately jump to online security. Encryption, passwords, and website security are all common areas of concern for today’s security teams – so much so that we often pass over physical security installations entirely. But we shouldn’t, because contrary to popular belief, security doors aren’t just for banks and safes. High-security doors are deployed and used across everything from home spaces to offices, venues, communal entrances, and more – offering an extra level of safety designed to keep unwanted guests out and keep the people inside safe. In this blog, we will be uncovering some of the benefits of installing high-security doors besides the obvious – offering a high level of security. Benefits of high-security doors When you start telling someone about high-security doors, they often immediately think of thick steel doors with unbreakable locks. But modern security doors are nothing like that, with the marketplace filled with different options including ventilated louvre doors, reinforced hammer glass doors, and classic metal doors. And with each style comes a different set of benefits. 1) High-security doors keep businesses and properties safe If anything is going to put burglars off and keep your inside space safe, it’s high-security doors. High-security doors not only help keep burglars away but also saves on the cost of investing in expensive home security systems With such a wide array of options on the market, from double or triple glazing through to top-level security doors for industrial properties and homes, customers can choose the weight of their door and its finish – meaning that they have a choice between making their high-security decision obvious or concealing it for the benefit of aesthetics. This not only helps keep burglars away from your home or office space and reduces the crime rate, but also saves on the cost of investing in expensive alarms and home security systems. 2) Dual purpose benefits from top-level manufacturers Modern high-security doors from retailers like Premier SSL not only provide industrial-strength but are also classed as fire doors – meaning that they keep people inside safe on two accounts. On top of that, high-security doors no longer look like the entrance to a bank – in fact, most manufacturers now work with materials that deliver an aesthetically pleasing finish that can complement your building or inside space. This means you can benefit from everything from a wood effect finish to a decorative trim and more. 3) Cut costs in Winter and Summer Managing bills at home often mean juggling the art of keeping the house cool enough in summer and warm enough in winter. On one hand, with high-security doors which are effective fire doors and are made to measure and tailored to your home, the heat and warm air inside your home are trapped inside during the winter to keep your home cozy. This helps to cut the cost of heating and ensures your family is protected during the winter months. Mesh layered security Meanwhile, for those who opt for the mesh layered security doors or Louvre doors, in summer you can keep your home or inside space cool and filled with fresh air even while the doors are closed and secured. This ensures adequate ventilation and is a popular choice with homeowners today as it cuts the cost of bills and expensive air conditioning and helps prevent issues like mold which can occur in damp spaces with little airflow. Louvre security doors also help to retain the same level of privacy as a solid door but with a high level of airflow – making them ideal for communal areas and spaces with a high footfall. 4) Keep pets and children safe A security door is enough to deter a burglar to keep your little ones and pets safe and contained inside the house A security door is enough to deter a burglar – so is certainly more than sufficient to keep your little ones and pets safe and contained inside the house. Preventing access to dangerous situations such as being outdoors on their own and entering the kitchen on their own is a benefit that many families revel in – with a range of options including the mesh-covered security doors to retain ventilation and natural light and create more of a homely feel. 5) Feeling safe and secure in your own space This one may seem obvious but it’s one of the biggest benefits – feeling safe even when on your own. Security doors mean that you can rest easy in your own space, in complete control of the locking mechanism and the entry of anyone besides yourself. Most of the security doors recognized by modern standards can withstand ballistics and crowbar tampering – even those with ventilation breaks. On top of that, they have a certain degree of water tightness and resistance to wind, meaning that they also keep you safe from home or building damage. 6) Versatility The vast array of security doors on the market right now means that versatility is possible – in the way that doors are locked, the way that they look, and the additional features they provide. Many of the high-security doors we and other retailers offer also provide complete sound ventilation and are ideally suited to everything from a modern new build to something more traditional in its feel and aesthetics. Uses of security doors High-security doors are a popular addition to modern homes and office spaces, as well as communal spaces and venues As previously touched on, security doors are no longer just for banks and high-security institutes. High-security doors are a popular addition to modern homes and office spaces, as well as communal spaces and venues. The versatility presented by the locking mechanism and access tools means that users can select everything from an entry fob to a code and a traditional key as a means of getting inside. The Takeaway High-security doors are an increasingly popular solution for nurturing safety both in commercial spaces and private homes. With options from solid steel doors to louver doors, triple and double glazed doors, and fire doors available on the market for every space and with made to measure manufacturing options, it has never been easier to equip your home against intruders and keep your family or work team safe and comfortable. Best of all for the modern homeowner, high-security doors no longer create an eyesore – instead, reflecting the same design aesthetic focus as you might expect from an interior company.

With the continued rolling back of COVID restrictions in the UK, there is a palpable sense of relief. A mixture of mass vaccinations, widespread testing, and track and tracing of the infection is helping to enable a healthy bounce back for businesses – with secure access control taking an important role in facilitating this. However, rather than just being a reaction to the wake of the pandemic, there is every sign that the economy, and consequently the security sector as well, are both rebuilding and reshaping for the long-term new normal. Prioritizing Safety Already deemed an essential service even during the first wave of the pandemic, the security industry has of course taken a vital role in protecting people and property throughout the crisis. Now that venues in the UK are starting to reopen again, our services are key to occupancy management and ensuring that disease transmission is limited as far as possible. Access control is also key in reassuring people that their safety is a priority. Making the upgrade It’s all been about choosing the most suitable components and technology that already existed with a few “tweaks”  Businesses and organizations have a duty of care to their employees and the safety of visitors – so controlling access, employing lateral flow testing, and deploying suitable Track & Trace mechanisms are all key components. I think those outside our industry are surprised to learn that most of the technology being deployed and used hasn’t just magically developed since COVID appeared – it’s all been about choosing the most suitable components and technology that already existed albeit with a few development “tweaks” or adjustments for the situation at hand. This includes using or installing facial recognition readers rather than using fingerprint or contact tokens, it is swapping to automatic request to exit sensors instead of buttons; it is using powered secure doors rather than having people all grab the same handle. Using cellphone credentials is also a key technology choice – why not use the highly secure, easy to manage, cost-effective, and of course contact-free benefits of this approach? Touchless solutions We have seen a clear shift in organizations looking to protect their staff and visitors. For instance, we have a big utility customer in Southeast Asia that has just replaced close to 200 sites using fingerprint readers with an additional facial recognition capability. We have also seen a big rise in demand for touchless request to exit sensors and Bluetooth Low Energy Readers for use with smartphone authentication. Working together Integration of security systems is of course nothing new, but in the post-pandemic or endemic age, it has perhaps never been more important. Installations need to be simple, straightforward, and rapid to help maintain safe distancing but also to ensure systems can be deployed as soon as they are needed. The world is changing and developing rapidly and there is simply no place for systems that don’t work with others or cause the end-user considerable cost and inconvenience to upgrade. This flexible delivery of security solutions perfectly matches the evolving and increasing demands of the market. It’s clear that end-users want systems that work well and can easily integrate with their existing systems – not only security but all the other business components which work in unison with each other over a shared network. Great opportunities ahead The recent work-from-home trend is also clearly changing the way organizations and businesses interact with the built environment. Lots of companies are downsizing, offices are being split up, there is lots of revitalization and reuse of existing office space – all of which creates considerable opportunities for security providers. UK inflation more than doubled in April 2021 with unemployment figures dropping and the Pound rising in value There are also, in the UK at least, clear signs that the construction industry is rapidly growing again -with a forecast of 8% rebound and growth this year. UK inflation more than doubled in April 2021 with unemployment figures dropping and the Pound rising in value – all positive signs for UK-based security providers. Undoubtedly the highly successful UK vaccination rollout has helped considerably, but there are signs that the Eurozone looks set to improve considerably over the next few months as well. Using integrated access control Undoubtedly the pandemic has made security markets around the world more aware of the benefits of integrated access control in managing the needs of the new normal COVID endemic environment. For example, as a business, we have always had keen interest from the UK healthcare sector, but over the last 12 months, we have seen a big growth in previously modest international markets including Morocco, Kuwait, Bahrain, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand – all of which are very keen to adopt improved access control solutions. Learning the lessons Nobody would deny the last year or so has been unprecedentedly tough on everyone, as a society we have had to make huge changes and sacrifices. Governments, organizations, and businesses all need to be better prepared in the future, to understand the things that went wrong and those that were successful. However, there is a world beyond the immediate pandemic and its effects. Flexible working practices and the changes these will have to the way we live and work will undoubtedly present great opportunities for the security sector in helping the world evolve. The pandemic has been a wake-up call for many organizations with regards to their duty of care to employees – particularly when it comes to mental health and providing a sensible work/life balance. Where we work and the safety of these facilities has received far more scrutiny than before. Flexible security systems Integrated security solutions have a vital role to play in not only protecting the safety of people during the post-lockdown return to work but also in the evolution of the built environment and move towards smart cities - which inevitably will now need to consider greater flexibility in securing home working spaces rather than just traditional places of work. Importantly, powerful access control and integrated security systems need to be flexible to the uncertainties ahead. The COVID pandemic has shown that nothing can be considered certain, except the need for greater flexibility and resilience in the way we operate our professional and personal interactions.

A new generation of video cameras is poised to boost capabilities dramatically at the edge of the IP network, including more powerful artificial intelligence (AI) and higher resolutions, and paving the way for new applications that would have previously been too expensive or complex. Technologies at the heart of the coming new generation of video cameras are Ambarella’s newest systems on chips (SoCs). Ambarella’s CV5S and CV52S product families are bringing a new level of on-camera AI performance and integration to multi-imager and single-imager IP cameras. Both of these SoCs are manufactured in the ‘5 nm’ manufacturing process, bringing performance improvements and power savings, compared to the previous generation of SoCs manufactured at ‘10nm’. CV5S and CV52S AI-powered SoCs The CV5S, designed for multi-imager cameras, is able to process, encode and perform advanced AI on up to four imagers at 4Kp30 resolution, simultaneously and at less than 5 watts. This enables multi-headed camera designs with up to four 4K imagers looking at different portions of a scene, as well as very high-resolution, single-imager cameras of up to 32 MP resolution and beyond. The CV52S, designed for single-imager cameras with very powerful onboard AI, is the next-generation of the company’s successful CV22S mainstream 4K camera AI chip. This new SoC family quadruples the AI processing performance, while keeping the same low power consumption of less than 3 watts for 4Kp60 encoding with advanced AI processing. Faster and ubiquitous AI capabilities Ambarella’s newest AI vision SoCs for security, the CV5S and CV52S, are competitive solutions" “Security system designers desire higher resolutions, increasing channel counts, and ever faster and more ubiquitous AI capabilities,” explains John Lorenz, Senior Technology and Market Analyst, Computing, at Yole Développement (Yole), a French market research firm. John Lorenz adds, “Ambarella’s newest AI vision SoCs for security, the CV5S and CV52S, are competitive solutions for meeting the growing demands of the security IC (integrated circuit) sector, which our latest report forecasts to exceed US$ 4 billion by 2025, with two-thirds of that being chips with AI capabilities.” Edge AI vision processors Ambarella’s new CV5S and CV52S edge AI vision processors enable new classes of cameras that would not have been possible in the past, with a single SoC architecture. For example, implementing a 4x 4K multi-imager with AI would have traditionally required at least two SoCs (at least one for encoding and one for AI), and the overall power consumption would have made those designs bulky and prohibitively expensive. By reducing the number of required SoCs, the CV5S enables advanced camera designs such as AI-enabled 4x 4K imagers at price points much lower than would have previously been possible. “What we are usually trying to do with our SoCs is to keep the price points similar to the previous generations, given that camera retail prices tend to be fairly fixed,” said Jerome Gigot, Ambarella's Senior Director of Marketing. 4K multi-imager cameras “However, higher-end 4K multi-imager cameras tend to retail for thousands of dollars, and so even though there will be a small premium on the SoC for the 2X improvement in performance, this will not make a significant impact to the final MSRP of the camera,” adds Jerome Gigot. In addition, the overall system cost might go down, Gigot notes, compared to what could be built today because there is no longer a need for external chips to perform AI, or extra components for power dissipation. The new chips will be available in the second half of 2021, and it typically takes about 12 to 18 months for Ambarella’s customers (camera manufacturers) to produce final cameras. Therefore, the first cameras, based on these new SoCs, should hit the market sometime in the second half of 2022. Reference boards for camera manufacturers The software on these new SoCs is an evolution of our unified Linux SDK" As with Ambarella’s previous generations of edge AI vision SoCs for security, the company will make available reference boards to camera manufacturers soon, allowing them to develop their cameras based on the new CV5S and CV52S SoC families. “The software on these new SoCs is an evolution of our unified Linux SDK that is already available on our previous generations SoCs, which makes the transition easy for our customers,” said Jerome Gigot. Better crime detection Detecting criminals in a crowd, using face recognition and/or license plate recognition, has been a daunting challenge for security, and one the new chips will help to address. “Actually, these applications are one of the main reasons why Ambarella is introducing these two new SoC families,” said Jerome Gigot. Typically, resolutions of 4K and higher have been a smaller portion of the security market, given that they came at a premium price tag for the high-end optics, image sensor and SoC. Also, the cost and extra bandwidth of storing and streaming 4K video were not always worth it for the benefit of just viewing video at higher resolution. 4K AI processing on-camera The advent of on-camera AI at 4K changes the paradigm. By enabling 4K AI processing on-camera, smaller objects at longer distances can now be detected and analyzed without having to go to a server, and with much higher detail and accuracy compared to what can be done on a 2 MP or 5 MP cameras. This means that fewer false alarms will be generated, and each camera will now be able to cover a longer distance and wider area, offering more meaningful insights without necessarily having to stream and store that 4K video to a back-end server. “This is valuable, for example, for traffic cameras mounted on top of high poles, which need to be able to see very far out and identify cars and license plates that are hundreds of meters away,” said Jerome Gigot. The advent of on-camera AI at 4K changes the paradigm Enhanced video analytics and wider coverage “Ambarella’s new CV5S and CV52S SoCs truly allow the industry to take advantage of higher resolution on-camera for better analytics and wider coverage, but without all the costs typically incurred by having to stream high-quality 4K video out 24/7 to a remote server for offline analytics,” said Jerome Gigot. He adds, “So, next-generation cameras will now be able to identify more criminals, faces and license plates, at longer distances, for an overall lower cost and with faster response times by doing it all locally on-camera.” Deployment in retail applications Retail environments can be some of the toughest, as the cameras may be looking at hundreds of people at once Retail applications are another big selling point. Retail environments can be some of the toughest, as the cameras may be looking at hundreds of people at once (e.g., in a mall), to provide not only security features, but also other business analytics, such as foot traffic and occupancy maps that can be used later to improve product placement. The higher resolution and higher AI performance, enabled by the new Ambarella SoCs, provide a leap forward in addressing those scenarios. In a store setup, a ceiling-mounted camera with four 4K imagers can simultaneously look at the cashier line on one side of the store, sending alerts when a line is getting too long and a new cashier needs to be deployed, while at the same time looking at the entrance on the other side of the store, to count the people coming in and out. This leaves two additional 4K imagers for monitoring specific product aisles and generating real-time business analytics. Use in cashier-less stores Another retail application is a cashier-less store. Here, a CV5S or CV52S-based camera mounted on the ceiling will have enough resolution and AI performance to track goods, while the customer grabs them and puts them in their cart, as well as to automatically track which customer is purchasing which item. In a warehouse scenario, items and boxes moving across the floor could also be followed locally, on a single ceiling-mounted camera that covers a wide area of the warehouse. Additionally, these items and boxes could be tracked across the different imagers in a multi-headed camera setup, without the video having to be sent to a server to perform the tracking. Updating on-camera AI networks Another feature of Ambarella’s SoCs is that their on-camera AI networks can be updated on-the-fly, without having to stop the video recording and without losing any video frames. So, for example in the case of a search for a missing vehicle, the characteristics of that missing vehicle (make, model, color, license plate) can be sent to a cluster of cameras in the general area, where the vehicle is thought to be missing, and all those cameras can be automatically updated to run a live search on that specific vehicle. If any of the cameras gets a match, a remote operator can be notified and receive a picture, or even a live video feed of the scene. Efficient traffic management With the CV52S edge AI vision SoC, those decisions can be made locally at each intersection by the camera itself Relating to traffic congestion, most big cities have thousands of intersections that they need to monitor and manage. Trying to do this from one central location is costly and difficult, as there is so much video data to process and analyze, in order to make those traffic decisions (to control the traffic lights, reverse lanes, etc.). With the CV52S edge AI vision SoC, those decisions can be made locally at each intersection by the camera itself. The camera would then take actions autonomously (for example, adjust traffic-light timing) and only report a status update to the main traffic control center. So now, instead of having one central location trying to manage 1,000 intersections, a city can have 1,000 smart AI cameras, each managing its own location and providing updates and metadata to a central server. Superior privacy Privacy is always a concern with video. In this case, doing AI on-camera is inherently more private than streaming the video to a server for analysis. Less data transmission means fewer points of entry for a hacker trying to access the video. On Ambarella’s CV5S and CV52S SoCs, the video can be analyzed locally and then discarded, with just a signature or metadata of the face being used to find a match. No actual video needs to be stored or transmitted, which ensures total privacy. In addition, the chips contain a very secure hardware cyber security block, including OTP memory, Arm TrustZones, DRAM scrambling and I/O virtualization. This makes it very difficult for a hacker to replace the firmware on the camera, providing another level of security and privacy at the system level. Privacy Masking Another privacy feature is the concept of privacy masking. This feature enables portions of the video (say a door or a window) to be blocked out, before being encoded in the video stream. The blocked portions of the scene are not present in the recorded video, thus providing a privacy option for cameras that are facing private areas. “With on-camera AI, each device becomes its own smart endpoint, and can be reconfigured at will to serve the specific physical security needs of its installation,” said Jerome Gigot, adding “The possibilities are endless, and our mission as an SoC maker is really to provide a powerful and easy-to-use platform, complete with computer-vision tools, that enable our customers and their partners to easily deploy their own AI software on-camera.” Physical security in parking lots With a CV5S or CV52S AI-enabled camera, the camera will be able to cover a much wider portion of the parking lot One example is physical security in a parking lot. A camera today might be used to just record part of the parking lot, so that an operator can go back and look at the video if a car were broken into or some other incident occurred. With a CV5S or CV52S AI-enabled camera, first of all, the camera will be able to cover a much wider portion of the parking lot. Additionally, it will be able to detect the license plates of all the cars going in and out, to automatically bill the owners. If there is a special event, the camera can be reprogrammed to identify VIP vehicles and automatically redirect them to the VIP portion of the lot, while reporting to the entrance station or sign how many parking spots are available. It can even tell the cars approaching the lot where to go. Advantages of using edge AI vision SoCs Jerome Gigot said, “The possibilities are endless and they span across many verticals. The market is primed to embrace these new capabilities. Recent advances in edge AI vision SoCs have brought about a period of change in the physical security space. Companies that would have, historically, only provided security cameras, are now getting into adjacent verticals such as smart retail, smart cities and smart buildings.” He adds, “These changes are providing a great opportunity for all the camera makers and software providers to really differentiate themselves by providing full systems that offer a new level of insights and efficiencies to, not only the physical security manager, but now also the store owner and the building manager.” He adds, “All of these new applications are extremely healthy for the industry, as they are growing the available market for cameras, while also increasing their value and the economies of scale they can provide. Ambarella is looking forward to seeing all the innovative products that our customers will build with this new generation of SoCs.”

The city of Baltimore has banned the use of facial recognition systems by residents, businesses and the city government (except for police). The criminalization in a major U.S. city of an important emerging technology in the physical security industry is an extreme example of the continuing backlash against facial recognition throughout the United States. Facial recognition technology ban Several localities – from Portland, Oregon, to San Francisco, from Oakland, California, to Boston – have moved to limit use of the technology, and privacy groups have even proposed a national moratorium on use of facial recognition. The physical security industry, led by the Security Industry Association (SIA), vigorously opposed the ban in Baltimore, urging a measured approach and ‘more rational policymaking’ that preserve the technology’s value while managing any privacy or other concerns. Physical security industry opposes ban In such cases, it is local businesses and residents who stand to lose the most" “Unfortunately, an outright ban on facial recognition continues a distressing pattern in which the clear value of this technology is ignored,” said SIA’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Don Erickson, adding “In such cases, it is local businesses and residents who stand to lose the most.” At the national level, a letter to US President Biden from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Coalition asserts the need for a national dialog over the appropriate use of facial recognition technology and expresses concern about ‘a blanket moratorium on federal government use and procurement of the technology’. (The coalition includes Security Industry Association (SIA) and other industry groups.) The negativity comes at a peak moment for facial recognition and other biometric technologies, which saw an increase of interest for a variety of public and business applications, during the COVID-19 pandemic’s prioritization to improve public health hygiene and to promote ‘contactless’ technologies. Prohibition on banks, retailers and online sellers The ordinance in Baltimore prohibits banks from using facial recognition to enhance consumer security in financial transactions. It prevents retailers from accelerating checkout lines with contactless payment and prohibits remote online identity document verification, which is needed by online sellers or gig economy workers, according to the Security Industry Association (SIA). At a human level, SIA points out that the prohibition of facial recognition undermines the use of customized accessibility tools for disabled persons, including those suffering with blindness, memory loss or prosopagnosia (face blindness). Ban out of line with current state of facial recognition Addressing the Baltimore prohibition, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation reacted to the measure as ‘shockingly out of line with the current state of facial recognition technology and its growing adoption in many sectors of the economy’. Before Baltimore’s decision to target facial recognition, Portland, Oregon, had perhaps the strictest ban, prohibiting city government agencies and private businesses from using the technology on the city’s grounds. San Francisco was the first U.S. city to ban the technology, with Boston, Oakland; Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Berkeley, California, among others, following suit. Police and federal units can use biometrics Unlike other bans, the Baltimore moratorium does not apply to police uses Unlike other bans, the Baltimore moratorium does not apply to police uses, but targets private uses of the technology. It also includes a one-year ‘sunset’ clause that requires city council approval for an extension. The measure carves out an exemption for use of biometrics in access control systems. However, violations of the measure are punishable by 12 months in jail. The law also establishes a task force to evaluate the cost and effectiveness of surveillance tools. Transparency in public sector use of facial recognition Currently, the state of Maryland controls the Baltimore Police Department, so the city council does not have authority to ban police use of facial recognition, which has been a human rights concern driving the bans in other jurisdictions. A measure to return local control of police to the city could pass before the year lapses. SIA advocates transparency in public-sector applications of facial recognition in identity verification, security and law enforcement investigative applications. SIA’s CEO, Don Erickson stated, “As public sector uses are more likely to be part of processes with consequential outcomes, it is especially important for transparency and sound policies to accompany government applications.”

An impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been to accelerate change. In 2020, the security industry was among many others that sought to adapt to shifting norms. In the process, we grabbed onto new opportunities for change and, in many cases, re-evaluated how we have done business for decades. If necessity is the mother of invention, perhaps crisis is the mother of acceleration. This article will reflect on how these themes impacted the physical security industry in 2020, based on content we published throughout the year, and with links back to the original articles. Sensitive data leakage Since the lockdown came into effect, organizations globally have undergone years' worth of transformations in a matter of months. Whether it has been to transition their operations online or moving their IT infrastructure to the cloud, there’s no denying that the face of business has changed permanently, experiencing a seismic shift, both operationally and culturally. As we enter the ‘next normal’ there remains a great deal of uncertainty around what the next 12 months holds and how organizations can navigate turbulence in the face of a possible recession. One of the most notable and widely reported trends has been the switch to remote methods of work, or home working. With so many employees logging on from residential networks, through personal devices that may be more easily compromised, the overall attack surface has greatly increased, raising the risk of potential corporate and sensitive data leakage in their new home office settings. Security and data protection are larger issues than ever. Good cybersecurity hygiene Criminals will use the crisis to scam people for money, account information and more" With a majority of the world working from home, businesses had to respond to this changing landscape. While it used to be that in-person networking events and sales pitches secured new projects or opportunities, the current landscape pushes businesses to be more creative in how they reach their customers. For example, with ISC West being postponed, many companies have turned to online resources to share new product demonstrations and other company news. Others are hosting webinars as a way to discuss the current climate and what it means for the industry. Without the proper precautions, working from home could become a cybersecurity nightmare, says Purdue University professor Marcus Rogers. “Criminals will use the crisis to scam people for money, account information and more,” he says. “With more people working from home, people need to make sure they are practicing good cybersecurity hygiene, just like they would at work. There is also a big risk that infrastructures will become overwhelmed, resulting in communication outages, both internet and cell.” Work-Life balance In a typical office with an on-premise data center, the IT department has complete control over network access, internal networks, data, and applications. The remote worker, on the other hand, is mobile. He or she can work from anywhere using a VPN. Until just recently this will have been from somewhere like a local coffee shop, possibly using a wireless network to access the company network and essential applications. There are many benefits of working remotely with productivity right up the top of the list There are many benefits of working remotely with productivity right up the top of the list. By reducing the unproductive time spent commuting and traveling to meetings, we are able to get much more done in a day. Add to this the reduction in stress and improved work-life balance and it makes for an impressive formula of happier, healthier and more motivated colleagues. And it’s still easy to measure results no matter where someone is working. Video conferencing platforms Trade shows have always been a basic element of how the security industry does business - until the year 2020, that is. This year has seen the total collapse of the trade show model as a means of bringing buyers and sellers face to face. The COVID-19 pandemic has effectively made the idea of a large trade show out of the question. The good news is that the industry has adapted well without the shows. A series of ‘on-line shows’ has emerged, driven by the business world’s increasing dependence on Zoom and other video conferencing platforms. The fact is, 2020 has provided plenty of opportunities for sellers to connect with buyers. Some of these sessions have been incredibly informative – and conveniently accessible from the comfort of a home office. Online training courses Online training has grown in popularity this year, and the change may become permanent Online training has grown in popularity this year, and the change may become permanent. “We have seen unprecedented international demand for our portfolio of online training courses ranging from small installation companies to the largest organizations, across a wide range of sectors,” says Jerry Alfandari, Group Marketing Manager of Linx International Group, a UK training firm. “More than ever, businesses are looking to ensure they have the skills in-house to coordinate their response to the changing situation. Individuals are also taking this time to upskill themselves for when we return to ‘normal’ by bringing something with them they didn’t have before. Perhaps unsurprisingly, people are still seeking to better themselves for what will be, eventually, a competitive market.” Virtual trade show ‘Crisis and the Everyday’ was part of Genetec’s Connect’DX virtual trade show last spring. The virtual conversation – emphasizing both in form and content the topsy-turvy state of the world – included interesting insights on the current pandemic and its near- and long-term impact on the industry. In the middle of this pandemic, there is an opportunity to help security reinvent itself “In the middle of this pandemic, there is an opportunity to help security reinvent itself,” said Brad Brekke, Principal, The Brekke Group, one of the panelists. “Amid the business disruption, we should ask ‘what’s the new playbook?’ It’s an opportunity for security to look at ourselves now and look at a business plan of what the future might look like. We need to align with the business model of the corporation and define our role more around business and not so much around security.” Cloud-Based platform As a cloud-based platform for service providers in the security, smart home and smart business markets, Alarm.com adapted quickly to changing conditions during the coronavirus pandemic. In the recent dynamic environment, Alarm.com has kept focus on supporting their service provider partners so they can keep local communities protected. “We moved quickly to establish work-from-home protocols to protect our employees and minimize impact on our partners,” says Anne Ferguson, VP of Marketing at Alarm.com. The Customer Operations and Reseller Education (CORE) team has operated without interruption to provide support to partners. Sales teams are utilizing webinars and training resources to inform and educate partners about the latest products, tools, and solutions. Alarm.com’s partner tools are essential for remote installations and support of partner accounts.

Swiss Arabian is the pioneer of Arabian perfumes that spans over 40 years. Over the years, the Swiss Arabian Perfumes Group has grown from strength to strength. It stands tall as the first perfume manufacturer in the UAE. They operate five modern manufacturing facilities spread across an area of 165,000 sq. ft., producing more than 35 million perfumes annually and export the same to over 80 countries. Centralized data management Swiss Arabian has a prominent presence across several cities in the UAE. Considering this, centralized data management of the employee attendance details, from all the units was critical. Besides, overtime calculation and managing rollover shifts were tedious tasks as well. Furthermore, verifying the attendance data with detailed reports, bifurcated by locations was a part of their key requirements. Matrix addressed these challenges by proposing a door controller at each location Matrix addressed these challenges by proposing a door controller at each location, connected via a centralized platform, COSEC CENTRA, to manage all the data, from one place. This Time-Attendance solution assists them in procuring accurate attendance details of an employee in no time! Through the web-based employee portal, the solution offers efficient leave and shift management. Furthermore, it helped the HR team to generate customized reports in the most efficient manner. Effortless attendance management Results obtained after the installation: Centralized and effortless attendance management of multiple locations. Streamlined shift allocation and automated shift correction. Customized attendance policy formation. Real-time alert on attendance event. Auto-scheduled reporting. Efficient employee database management. Improved productivity. Products offered for installation COSEC VEGA FAX - Fingerprint and card based door controller with Wi-Fi and internet connectivity options. COSEC DOOR FOT - Optical fingerprint and RFID card based door controller for time-attendance. COSEC PATH DCFM - Optical fingerprint and RFID card based door controller for time-attendance & access control. COSEC CENTRA PLT - Application software platform. COSEC CENTRA ESS - Employee self-service portal for attendance management. COSEC CENTRA TAM - Time-attendance and leave management module for COSEC software platform. COSEC CENTRA ACM - Access control application software for enterprises.

Dedrone, the globally renowned company in airspace security, has announced the successful implementation of Dedrone’s counter drone technology at Preakness 146. Dedrone worked with the security team from 1/ST (1/ST Group of Companies) and the Maryland Jockey Club, owners of Pimlico Race Course, home of the Preakness Stakes, in the weeks leading up to the event for a pre-event threat assessment. Unauthorized drones detection On multiple occasions before race day, unauthorized drone pilots were detected and located with Dedrone-enabling security teams, to respond to potential threats in real-time. In 2021, Preakness 146 returned on May 15 with standardized COVID-19 protocols in place, to welcome back 10,000 socially-distanced fans and stakeholders with a key exception – that aerial intruders and unauthorized drone activity would not be tolerated. Airspace security services The Maryland Jockey Club retained Dedrone to assess the airspace security and protect race day operations from potential drone interruptions. Dedrone provided complete airspace security services, including a pre-event threat assessment, utilizing Dedrone sensors and analytics software, to identify areas of higher drone activity. “The Preakness Stakes is a premier event for our company and the health and safety of horses, riders, stakeholders, guests, employees and the community is our highest priority. Prioritizing safety includes how we address airspace security to protect against drone threats,” said Robert (Rob) D’Amico, Chief Security Officer, 1/ST.  Detection, analytics, and protection Law enforcement issued warnings and educated the drone pilots about their violations “As the Chief Security Officer for 1/ST and as former Chief of Operations for the FBI’s Counter UAS Unit, I knew Dedrone was the ideal airspace security partner to provide detection, analytics, and protection for our event. Dedrone allowed our team to focus on executing the safe, stellar race day operations that 1/ST is known for.” Dedrone identified multiple drone incursions, allowing the Maryland Jockey Club and local law enforcement to locate and approach unauthorized pilots. Law enforcement issued warnings and educated the drone pilots about their violations. On race day, Preakness 146 did not experience any drone incursions.  Countering the threat of unauthorized drones Dedrone provides airspace security for government, military, critical infrastructure, and major public events, including the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, and the 2018 PGA Tour – Waste Management Phoenix Open. Shutdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic closed venue doors to spectators, however, aerial trespassers remained a persistent and escalating threat to event operations. As venues and stadiums welcome back spectators, Dedrone works with security teams to prevent drone threats to operations. True airspace protection “Despite airspace restrictions in place, public and sporting events remain vulnerable to unauthorized drone flights, and the only way to ensure true airspace protection is through Dedrone’s airspace security solution,” shares Aaditya Devarakonda, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Dedrone. He adds, “The coordination of security teams at Preakness Stakes leveraging Dedrone, demonstrate how venue security providers can stay ahead of airspace threats by easily integrating drone detection into their existing security ecosystem.”

As a small town in Belgium became one of the most important vaccine sites in the world, in the global fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19 virus), the G4S team in Puurs was ready to scale up rapidly, to meet the growing demand for security on site. At the beginning of 2020, nobody in the Belgian town of Puurs, located between Brussels and Antwerp, could have known how globally significant a role their small town would come to play in the year that followed. COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing facility Mostly known for producing the strong Belgian beer, Duvel, Puurs has also been the home of one of Pfizer’s largest production and packaging sites worldwide for over 50 years. In a normal year, before COVID-19 was a concern, the American pharmaceutical company produced more than 400 million doses of vaccines and medicines in Puurs every year. Now, with the global COVID-19 pandemic continuing to cause devastation across the world, Pfizer has become a household name, synonymous with one of the leading COVID-19 vaccines being distributed worldwide, in order to help countries emerge from the crisis. G4S security services For the last ten years, G4S has been a proud part of the team providing security services for the site in Puurs, Belgium For the last ten years, G4S has been a proud part of the team providing security services for the site in Puurs, Belgium. However, the security solutions provided have changed substantially since then. “There has definitely been a significant evolution over the years in G4S’s role for Pfizer at Puurs,” said Dirk Clauwaert, Senior Operations Coordinator for G4S Belgium, adding “When we started out we were only contracted to provide on-call security. Now, we have a fully integrated security solution at the site that gives Pfizer’s employees and assets a very high standard of security.” Site safety and security The high standard of security recently caught the attention of King Filip of Belgium’s personal security team, during a visit to the Puurs site, who congratulated the G4S team for the sophisticated security measures, keeping the site safe and secure. The solutions that G4S provides at all hours at the site include camera surveillance, access control, safety checks, security officer patrols and response, and personnel checks of anybody attending the site. Highly robust service and operational excellence “We’re especially proud to have played our part at a site that has become so globally significant due to the COVID-19 vaccine,” said Dirk Clauwaert, adding “The site has had to expand substantially, with many new buildings and car parks. We’ve ensured our security operations are flexible and can scale up as needed to meet any extra requirements.” The G4S Puurs team was also awarded the G4S Excellence Award for the Best Performing Security Site across Europe and the Middle East for 2020. “Pfizer demands a highly robust service with operational excellence,” said Ciaran Comiskey, G4S Director of Global Operations, adding “The G4S team has always strived to meet and exceed this expectation, in particular, during the ongoing COVID -19 pandemic.”

Aqua Security, the pure-play cloud native security solutions provider, has announced that Aqua Trivy is now the default scanner for GitLab Auto DevOps. Customers can now automatically scan the GitLab CI pipeline for OS package vulnerabilities. This change will take place as part of GitLab’s 14.0 release and is based on the results of a publicly available solution comparison and research process. Aqua Trivy open source scanner “One of the primary reasons behind the default scanner change was the ease of use with Trivy compared to alternative open source scanner options,” said Sam White, Sr. Product Manager at GitLab. Sam White adds, “Other scanners often require two services or more to be up and running, before they can even start a scan. Trivy is simple and efficient. Trivy bundles the vulnerability database together with the scanner, and that’s one less service that we then have to start up and maintain.”  Collaboration with the open source engineering team was also a critical factor. Sam White said, “The Trivy project lead has been great to work with. It's been night and day compared to some interactions that we've had with other security vendors. The close collaboration has been invaluable to us.”  GitLab integration with Aqua Trivy and Starboard With the integration of GitLab with Trivy and Starboard, we're aiming to provide an ‘on-by-default’ type of scenario" The partnership with Aqua Trivy will continue with roadmap plans to scan containers running in production using Trivy with Aqua Starboard, Aqua’s open source Kubernetes Security toolkit. Moving forward, both Aqua Trivy and Aqua Starboard will form a fundamental part of GitLab’s Auto DevOps roadmap, enabling users with best-in-class default security options.  “With the integration of GitLab with Trivy and Starboard, we're aiming to provide an ‘on-by-default’ type of scenario, where if you're using Auto DevOps to deploy into production, we're running those scans by default and giving you the results,” said Sam White.  He adds, “GitLab and Aqua Security can enable that as a default out-of-the-box configuration, rather than something that users have to stitch together on their own.” Open source vulnerability scanning Itay Shakury, Director of Open Source, Aqua Security, said “This partnership provides both Aqua and GitLab users, access to the comprehensive security tools that they need to successfully shift left.” Itay Shakury adds, “GitLab’s customers now have access to the best in open source vulnerability scanning, while the Aqua Trivy community can benefit from the powerful input and feedback from GitLab and its users. We’re looking forward to building the relationship further and allowing GitLab to leverage additional open source projects, like Aqua Starboard, to better schedule scan jobs in production environments.”

The legendary Big Red Camaro is a serious, open-road racing car that has been setting records at the highest level for over 30 years. Since they started on the project back in 1987, Richard Gottlieb and his father Dan Gottlieb have invested countless hours, as well as millions of dollars upgrading, refurbishing, restoring and improving the performance of the car. To protect their investment and ensure the continued success of the racing team, the Gottliebs have built a new 14,000 square foot facility, featuring a state-of-the-art video surveillance system with Hanwha Techwin cameras, in order to help keep this priceless piece of American racing history safe. Hanwha Techwin cameras deployed Richard Gottlieb hired Howard Levinson of Expert Security to design and implement the new security system It was clear from the beginning of the project that the site for the new facility would pose unique security challenges. Because of the kind of work being done on the car, which includes welding as well as working with toxic and highly volatile substances like racing fuels, the car had to be housed in an area zoned for light industry. These areas aren’t typically known for high security. To help solve these challenges, Richard Gottlieb hired Howard Levinson of Expert Security to design and implement the new security system. The camera selection was tailored to match the security requirements for each area. Wisenet PNM-9030V multi-sensor panoramic cameras For the back of the facility, which is isolated and has several dumpsters, the team installed Hanwha cameras with lowlight operability. They also deployed in-camera masking to prevent passing trains from triggering motion alerts. Out front, the team deployed Wisenet PNM-9030V multi-sensor panoramic cameras from Hanwha to provide a complete 180° view. In addition to protecting this priceless car, the team also wanted to open up live feeds if there was major maintenance or customization activity. The goal was to use the new video surveillance system for both security and entertainment. As Josh Oliver, Director of Marketing and PR for The Big Red Camaro, explains, “It is important to maintain The Big Red Camaro as a brand. This complicated the requirements because the system had to be flexible enough to ensure security as well as a high level of visibility for the car.” 180° cameras with enhanced video analytics Each camera records a set number of frames per second, regardless of the situation Each camera records a set number of frames per second, regardless of the situation. If the analytics in the camera detects movement or a possible threat, however, both the frame rate and image quality are automatically increased. This means that, when a potential incident starts, the security system immediately adjusts to improve the resolution of its video recordings. With ease-of-use in mind, Hanwha designed the chipset in the 180° cameras to allow analytics to be quickly and accurately set up for the entire field of view. As Levinson explains, “The Hanwha chipset made protecting the perimeter of the facility easy. All we needed to do to set up line crossing analytics around the site was to simply draw a line directly across the stitched together 180° view.” Wisenet bullet and dome cameras With any other multi-sensor, panoramic camera, users have to draw their lines on images from each individual sensor and then line them up afterwards to make sure everything is accurate. In addition to the three Wisenet PNM-9030V panoramic cameras, the site also includes five Wisenet XNO-8020R bullet cameras, nine XND-6010 dome cameras, two QND-7030R dome cameras, and one QNO-7080R bullet camera. The team is excited about their new home and the functionality of their new video surveillance system. “With Hanwha, you get exceptional performance and great quality. The technology does what Hanwha says it will do and does it perfectly. For me and my dad, the car has never been about compromise, and the peace of mind that we get from a cutting-edge security system allows us to rest easy at night - knowing that our investment and Big Red's legacy is protected.” concludes Gottlieb.

NSE IT Limited (NSEIT) is a global technology enterprise that focuses on delivering excellence in complex digital environment, primarily in banking, insurance, capital market ecosystem and online examination. NSE IT Limited The firm has three distinct business units - Digital Transformation, Digital Examinations and Cyber Security and is powered by a workforce of 1500+ professionals that are certified technology and business domain experts. With 20+ years of experience, the firm is renowned for its expertise across large scale complex digital implementations. Apart from providing seamless next-generation solutions to industries, the firm is running India’s largest network of 229 test centers. The firm has worked with more than 150 customers across India, the US and the Middle East. Central management of IP cameras NSE IT was in requirement of a video surveillance solution that could manage their 450 IP cameras centrally NSE IT was in requirement of a video surveillance solution that could manage their 450 IP cameras centrally. Also, they wanted a solution that could help them control all the devices through a single system and not multiple systems to control multiple devices. Next, a major challenge for them was the search for a system that could provide them with zero downtime. Furthermore, they wanted a system where multiple users could simultaneously log in to the system and monitor the premises, without the other one getting logged out. Matrix SATATYA SAMAS solution  Matrix delivered its proactive security solution, SATATYA SAMAS - developed on cutting-edge technologies that can monitor up to 65,535 cameras and can connect up to 1000 users in the system. The solution provided NSE with centralized control over all their surveillance devices. Also, it eliminated a major challenge of zero downtime. SATATYA SAMAS offers redundancy by switching to a redundancy server or failover server, where if the server or network fails, the redundant server will start recording the video footage automatically. The selected IP devices will be shifted to the redundant server in less than 60 seconds. Again, SAMAS provided them with the benefit of concurrent user login. With an additional user license, the client could add multiple users who could simultaneously log into the system and monitor the premises. Results: Centralized control and monitoring of all IP cameras Continuous monitoring without any server failure Increased transparency and productivity Storage optimization Products and solutions offered: SATATYA SAMAS LE - Video surveillance software for large enterprises SATATYA SAMAS CAM50 - Additional camera license for 50 cameras SATATYA SAMAS USER1 - Additional user license for smart client/mobile application SATATYA SAMAS AUP - Video surveillance software annual upgradation

Security systems are vital to any company. Nowadays, however, they can also provide additional benefits to any enterprise beyond protecting people, assets and facilities. Specifically, systems that were previously focused on security can now be leveraged in new ways to benefit the broader enterprise. When this happens, the security department transitions from a ‘cost center’ to a repository of data that can benefit the whole company, and even contribute to the bottom line. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How can ‘security’ systems benefit the larger mission of an enterprise? 

The topic of video analytics has been talked and written about for decades, and yet is still one of the cutting-edge themes in the physical security industry. Some say yesterday’s analytics systems tended to overpromise and underdeliver, and there are still some skeptics. However, newer technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) are reinvigorating the sector and enabling it to finally live up to its promise. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What new technologies and trends will shape video analytics in 2021?

When technology performs a required task effectively, there is little reason to upgrade to the ‘next big thing’. In this regard, the physical security market is notoriously slow to change. Much of yesterday’s most robust and dependable equipment is still in place at thousands of customer sites, still performing as well as the day it was installed. However, there comes a point when any technology becomes outdated. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: Which security technologies are becoming outdated or obsolete?