Biometric Security - Round table discussions
Transportation systems need robust physical security to protect human life, to ensure economic stability, and to maintain national security. Because transportation involves moving large numbers of people and critical goods across vast, often interconnected infrastructure, it presents a highly attractive target for various threats. More threats equate to a greater need for security. We asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the emerging applications of physical security in the transportation...
Installing physical security systems requires integrating diverse technologies (e.g., cameras, access control, alarms) that often use different protocols and must be adapted to a building's unique physical layout and legacy infrastructure. Specialized technical expertise is required for seamless networking and proper configuration. Hopefully, no important factors are overlooked in the installation process. We asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: What is the most overlooked factor when inst...
The healthcare industry faces unique and significant security challenges. Healthcare security professionals must balance an open, welcoming environment for patients and visitors with the need to protect valuable assets and personnel in a high-stress, 24/7 setting. These requirements direct the physical security technologies deployed in medical facilities. We asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the unique aspects of the healthcare market, and how should the physical security industry ad...
Data overload is real. Sometimes it seems we are bombarded by the sheer volume, velocity, and variety of data available in our personal lives, and in our work lives. The solution is to figure out how to make sense of the data and transform it into real information we can use. In the case of physical security systems, new opportunities are emerging every day to utilize data to make our businesses safer and better managed. We asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: What is the expanding role of...
Students deserve a safe and positive environment where they can learn and thrive. Teachers and administrators should be able to focus on their primary role of educating students because they feel supported and protected by a comprehensive security plan. Staff require a clear protocol for responding to emergencies. And parents deserve peace of mind that their children are safe during the school day. One of the tools for safer schools is physical security technology. We asked our Expert Panel Roun...
Access control, video surveillance, and intrusion detection systems evolved largely independently in the physical security industry. Integrating those systems to the benefit of an enterprise's overall security has traditionally fallen on security integrators working in cooperation with manufacturers. However, today's market has also evolved to include companies that provide "unified platforms,” bringing together various disparate security systems and functions under a single, centralized...
New technology advancements significantly increase efficiency and productivity in any industry, including physical security. Enhanced innovation both creates new products and services and improves existing products, all for the benefit of security manufacturers, integrators, and end users. Companies that embrace new technology stay ahead of the curve and gain a significant competitive advantage. In addition, they can differentiate themselves in the marketplace. We asked this week's Expert Panel...
Port forwarding is a networking technique that allows incoming traffic on a specific port number to be redirected to a particular device or application on a local network. Open ports on the network expose an IP video system to the internet. This makes it a potential target for malicious cyberattacks. In the physical security industry, the elimination of port forwarding is seen as a basic and manageable precaution to shore up cybersecurity. We asked this week's Expert Panel Roundtable: What are t...
A software platform designed to centralize and manage various physical security systems within an organization used to be called a PSIM (physical security information management) system. Generally speaking, however, the PSIM term has fallen out of favor because the systems were seen as expensive and difficult to manage. The phrase has been replaced by command-and-control, referring to software that combines access control, video surveillance, intrusion detection, and other systems into a unified...
There is no shortage of threats facing security professionals, including some that are new and emerging. Understanding various new threats allows individuals and organizations to take proactive steps to protect themselves, but the first step is to identify what those threats are. Early detection of threats can minimize the impact of a successful attack, whatever the vulnerability at issue. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What new and emerging threats will physical securi...
Suddenly, artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere. The smart technology brings a range of benefits to our lives, from streamlining everyday tasks to making scientific breakthroughs. The advantages of AI and machine learning (ML) also include automating repetitive tasks, analyzing vast amounts of data, and minimizing human error. But how do these benefits apply to the physical security industry, and is there a downside? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the benefits,...
The design of buildings encompasses many elements, from the practical to the aesthetic. Well-designed buildings should be functional, and they can also be beautiful and inspiring. But can security systems and building design coexist and complement each other? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How does building design impact physical security systems -- and vice versa?
The economic fallout of the COVID-19 epidemic was felt in supply chain disruptions, higher prices, and shortages of certain goods. The physical security industry was not spared, although the epidemic also presented opportunities for security companies. Changing access control trends triggered by the pandemic are still reverberating throughout the industry, for example. Four years later, the impact of the pandemic is still being felt in the security market, lingering like the symptoms of "long CO...
When it comes to preventing theft and ensuring overall safety, technology offers a robust toolkit for retail stores to enhance security in several ways. From intelligent surveillance systems to RFID tags used to avoid shoplifting, today’s retail and loss prevention strategies are more effective than ever. Beyond security, the newer technologies can also provide benefits related to merchandising, inventory control, customer service, and the list goes on. The combination of abundant data and...
The security industry offers a vast array of technologies and vendors. This can be overwhelming for end users, who depend on security integrators for guidance and service. But how well do security integrators provide end users with what they need? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the biggest challenges that end users face when working with integrators?
Technology offers a range of tools to bolster security at public events, including before, during, and after. This year, the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris will draw the attention of the world, requiring the best protection available for the venues, the athletes, and the attendees. Other happenings such as the FIFA World Cup, the Super Bowl, the Tour de France, and the U.S. NBA Finals are momentous events that challenge security and law enforcement personnel to keep them safe. We asked this...
There is a bright outlook for trade shows in 2024. In particular, ISC West has recently become the must-see event in the security marketplace. ISC West will take place April 9-12 at the Venetian Expo in Las Vegas. In addition to providing access to a wide range of technological innovations, the show also serves as a platform to introduce new products and services. As the industry counts down to the big exhibition, we asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What will be the big news...
By all reports we have heard, 2024 is rushing by at a rapid pace. Many of us are just now catching our breaths after the busy holiday season, even though spring is practically here. Having had a healthy taste of 2024 already, our Expert Panel Roundtable is eager to weigh in on what lies ahead for the rest of the year to come. We asked this week’s panel: What large trends are driving growth in the physical security industry in the year ahead?
Protecting access control data is a core concept when it comes to safeguarding information assets, maintaining trust, and ensuring smooth operations. Guarding access to data also ensures compliance with regulations, prevents accidental misuse, and streamlines workflows. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What safeguards are in place to avoid unauthorized retrieval of access control data?
In the complex world of physical security systems, standards can enable disparate systems to be combined to function together as a cohesive whole. Standards help to ensure that all the “pieces” fit together to create a clear, unified picture. More broadly speaking, standards also play a role in ensuring best practices are deployed in a range of security-related situations. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: Which standards have had the greatest positive impact...
Machine learning (ML) is a field within Artificial Intelligence (AI) and one of the more common buzzwords in the physical security market. ML focuses on building computer systems that can learn and improve on their own, without being explicitly programmed for every scenario. Machine learning is poised to revolutionize physical security by offering a more proactive, data-driven approach to securing people and assets. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What is Machine Learning (ML...
Every day, the physical security industry succeeds in applying technologies that make the world a safer place. Manufacturers, integrators, and end users are eager to share their success stories, and their successes can inspire others to implement the same technology solutions. But, occasionally, technology does not live up to expectations and, in fact, fails to perform as promised. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How has the physical security industry failed to meet customer...
Ideally, every new product or technology serves a need in the market, but not all new products are created equal. The impact of some new technologies is so profound that they make us rethink our preconceptions and may create a total transition in the broader market. These are the technologies we call “game changers” because they prompt a significant shift in the current manner of doing or thinking about security. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What current techno...
Video surveillance has been a dominant factor in the casino market since the 1950s when video replaced the use of elevated walkways that allowed casino security personnel to monitor the gaming floor from above. As technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see more innovative uses of video in the casino market. Beyond video, other technologies are also transforming the casino experience. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How are new technologies impacting the casino surve...
Security systems are often seen as an investment, but usually not one that pays dividends. However, newer technologies are enabling end users to extend their efforts to cost-justify a security system beyond the mirage of “measuring what didn’t happen.” Nowadays, security systems provide quantifiable benefits that yield a return on customers’ investments. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How can security systems maximize return on investment (ROI)?
For many years, security systems produced their share of "data exhaust." Every access control action and each video image became a data point to be stored in perpetuity, with no practical way to use the data. More recently, systems have been developed to enable organizations to analyze data from sensors and other connected devices to gain valuable insights into how their systems are being used, to identify potential vulnerabilities; and even to provide insights into broader enterprise operations...
Physical security is a large market overall, encompassing a range of diverse vertical markets, each with its own set of challenges and opportunities. The success of the security industry overall depends on the ability of companies and technologies to meet the specific needs of each vertical market. Some markets offer more lucrative opportunities than others. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: Which vertical markets have the greatest potential for growth for physical security sys...
There is safety in numbers, or so the expression goes. Generally speaking, several employees working together tend to be safer than a single employee working alone. Even so, some environments require that workers complete their jobs alone, thus presenting a unique combination of security vulnerabilities. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defines a lone worker as “an employee working alone, such as in a confined space or isolated location.” We asked this we...
In the United States, they are called license plate recognition (LPR) systems. In Europe, the more common term is automated license number-plate recognition (ANPR). In either case, the systems provide capabilities that can benefit a range of applications from schools to municipalities to parking lots. Newer technologies can even identify vehicle color, type, make, and model. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What's new with license plate recognition (LPR) and/or automated numbe...
Video storage has come a long way since rooms full of VCRs stored video from an entire system of cameras. Video storage equates to data storage, and there are multiple options ranging from hard disk storage to the cloud to storage on each individual camera using SD cards. Increasingly, cloud-based storage is an attractive option to store video footage conveniently and safely. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How is expansion of video storage capabilities impacting the security...
