CCTV surveillance

Vicon Industries, Inc., a subsidiary of Cemtrex Inc., designer, and manufacturer of video surveillance and access control software, hardware, and components fills the supply gap caused by NDAA compliance and the emerging FCC ban on certain Chinese surveillance cameras and components with a sophisticated portfolio of compliant solutions. Since Congress passed the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) more than two years ago, many U.S. businesses have been faced with the adversity of removing and replacing numerous components of their security system. National security risks Recently, the Federal Communications Commission proposed a ban on the use of certain telecommunications products and other electronics made by Chinese companies. The order, which cites alleged national security risks, also seeks to forbid future U.S. sales and could revoke prior authorizations. Many companies in the industry kept moving forward selling banned technology" “Prior to the recent FCC ruling, many companies in the industry kept moving forward selling banned technology because it only impacted Federal opportunities. This new FCC ruling is an upheaval event bound to once again cause a major transformation in the industry impacting every space in the market” explained Bret McGowan, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing for Vicon. Competitive surveillance technology The ban’s enactment will create many challenges for integrators, specifiers, and end-users. The first, finding compliant and competitive surveillance technology that does not utilize any SoC (System on Chip) components from these now-banned Chinese companies. Once dealers, integrators, and specifiers identify compliant technologies, then price, quality, and time to implement them add to the complexities. As new and stricter laws began taking effect, the engineers at Vicon worked diligently to create a camera line specifically dedicated to solving the issues their government customers and prospective clients were facing. Moreover, they wanted to ensure delivering premium quality cameras at value price points. Delivering exceptional quality Vicon’s NDAA-compliant Roughneck Camera Series is designed to deliver exceptional qualityTo overcome this challenge, Vicon developed the Roughneck Series. Vicon’s NDAA-compliant Roughneck Camera Series is designed to deliver exceptional quality and performance at competitive pricing. Vicon recognized that to become a potential alternative to these value brands, a new pricing strategy was needed and that’s what Vicon implemented. “Vicon is pleased to have the ability to solve the challenge of compliance with our fully NDAA-compliant Roughneck Camera Series. From vandal-proof micro-domes to robust outdoor domes, these Roughneck cameras include a variety of form factors, making them an ideal solution for any market,” shared Bob Germain, Director, Hardware Product Management, Vicon. Time-Consuming installations All Roughneck cameras boast a range of distinctive features, including smart IR, durable IP67/IK10 construction, and smart H.265 encoding to reduce bandwidth and storage costs. For more cutting-edge capabilities, the Pro series adds advanced AI-driven analytics, adaptive IR for clearer images in darkness, and Starlight low-light color imaging in the 2, 5, and 8MP dome and bullets. Vicon understands the urgency in finding solutions that integrate without stressful time-consuming installations regardless of the VMS. In addition to being certified with most major VMS systems, the Roughneck Camera Series is also ONVIF certified and seamlessly transitions into any video surveillance security operation.

Panasonic announces the i-PRO multi-AI system designed to harness the power of its latest AI cameras and applications by integrating them seamlessly into existing CCTV infrastructures. Available free-of-charge, the plug-in software allows users to easily manage the AI analytics from multiple i-PRO cameras, alongside their Video Management System. It creates a faster, more efficient, and accurate AI-powered security solution without compromising on image quality or network performance. AI security applications Introduced at the joint Panasonic and Genetec LinkedIn Live online event, the i-PRO multi-AI system is already fully integrated with the latest version of Genetec Security Center (V5.10.1), as well as the in-house VMS Video Insight. Paired with the latest i-PRO S and X Series of AI-capable cameras and its free-to-use AI security applications, it creates a new AI-driven security ecosystem. The system works by using i-PRO AI-capable cameras with edge analytics, and plug-ins on the Video Management System (VMS) server and client-side. The i-PRO multi-AI system captures and filters the best shot images and metadata based on deep learning from the AI camera to enable highly accurate analysis. The powerful data can be used for AI-based detection and alarms, watch-list monitoring, and also time-saving post-event searches in order to enhance the capabilities of the CCTV infrastructure. Accurate face detection AI people can detect and classify characteristics of the human face and clothing into useful categories The multi-AI system can be used with existing i-PRO in-house AI applications, which include AI-VMD and AI privacy guard, as well as the three new AI applications which are AI face, AI people, and AI vehicle detection. All enable quick and easy search of footage based on metadata. These applications are perfectly suited to city surveillance and for public safety. AI face detection enables highly accurate face detection. The application is even effective in low lighting environments, places with backlight conditions, and with faces obscured by masks - especially relevant in the current pandemic. AI people can detect and classify characteristics of the human face and clothing into useful categories such as gender, age, and clothing color. This detailed information can then be searched to easily identify an individual. AI capable cameras AI vehicle detection can detect and classify characteristics of vehicles, such as vehicle type and color. In addition, sound classification picked up by external microphones, such as vehicle horns, gunshots, yelling or glass breaking has been added as a default feature into the range to lift AI beyond the purely visual. “The introduction of i-PRO multi-AI system, alongside our AI capable cameras and applications has created a powerful new AI-driven security eco-system that allows businesses to take their CCTV infrastructure to the next level,” said Gerard Figols, Head of Security Solutions at Panasonic Business Europe. “And because these systems are already compatible for use with market-leading 3rd party VMS providers like Genetec, it is cost-efficient and simple to move to the AI-fication of the security market.”

Snap One, an industry source of A/V surveillance, control, networking, and remote management products for pros announced that it will demo a range of new products for security partners and conduct two high-value giveaways at ISC West Stand #10053. “The Snap One team is eager to physically meet with our Partners to demo the newest surveillance, smart home security control, power management, networking, and mounting solutions that can help them tackle more installs,” said Clint Choate, Snap One Security Market Director. “We also look forward to physically debuting the company’s new name – Snap One – at ISC West. Our brand reflects our ever-growing commitment to the security channel and our unique position as a premier partner for security dealers.”  While at the show, security dealers can expect: Product giveaways Any dealer that signs up to be a new Snap One partner will receive a free security starter package complete with a ClareOne 2:1 Kit, a 4MP Smart ClareVision camera, an OvrC Pro Hub for remote system access, and control, and a three-outlet WattBox IP Power Conditioner. Snap One will also award 100 lucky attendees with a ClareVision CameraIn coordination with a timed product demo, Snap One will also award 100 lucky attendees with a ClareVision Camera. At a secret scheduled time, show attendees will receive a push notification via the ISC West app notifying them that the first 100 people to arrive at the Snap One stand will get the free surveillance camera, which will be mailed after the show concludes. Clare controls For the first time since its introduction in mid-2020, Snap One will physically demo the award-winning ClareOne Wireless Security and Smart Home Panel, the world’s first professionally installed controller that unifies full-featured home automation and security monitoring in a single touch screen panel. The solution offers a simple integrated solution that also allows partners to leverage the FusionPro platform to manage user data and provision and test customer systems with the click of a button. Delivering maximum installation flexibility, Snap One is also showcasing its ClareVision line of NDAA-compliant surveillance cameras and NVRs that can be used as a standalone system or integrated with a ClareOne or Control4 system. Snap One staff will also highlight the new software update to Clare SmartHome Security 2.0 OS which offers a host of new features for the platform. Control4 Debuting for the first time together since the merger in 2019, the Snap One stand will feature several new Control4 automation and security solutions. Control4 Chime video doorbell and T4 Series touch screen delivers professional-grade smart home performance ISC West attendees can learn about the powerful new Control4 Chime video doorbell and new T4 Series touch screen that deliver true professional-grade smart home performance. The Chime video doorbell delivers crystal clear video with a 5MP camera and 180-degree field of view and allows users to answer the doorbell by disarming the alarm, unlocking an electronic lock, opening a garage door, and more. The T4 Series touch screen features an upgraded screen, microphones, and speakers, making it the perfect companion for the Chime video doorbell. A solution for every need Snap One will also showcase Episode’s Core Series architectural speakers, Araknis networking equipment, WattBox IP power control products, the OvrC remote equipment management, and monitoring platform, and Strong racks and mounting solutions – providing partners with the technology they need to succeed.

According to the latest report from research organization Omdia, Genetec Inc, a technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence solutions, continued to increase its global markets share, outpacing market growth in both VMS and Windows-based recorders categories. The report also revealed that Genetec retained its position as the global market share pioneer, recording the highest growth amongst the top five worldwide software manufacturers. Video surveillance software According to its Video Surveillance & Analytics Market Share Database – 2021 report, Omdia recognized Genetec as a pioneer (excluding China) in VMS with a 17.4% market share, up from 16.0% last year. The company credits its continued growth to the strength of its unified security platform, Security Center, recurring revenue from its enterprise cloud solutions, as well as a resolute focus on cybersecurity and privacy. Genetec was once again ranked as the number one developer in the video surveillance software market" “While the global market for video surveillance software was flat in 2020, Genetec demonstrated a continued and sustained upward growth trend," said Oliver Philippou, Research Manager, Physical Security Technologies, Omdia. "Genetec was once again ranked as the number one developer in the video surveillance software market, as well as achieving top-two rank in worldwide Windows-based recorders sales.” Unified security platform In the Windows-based recorders category, Genetec demonstrated the highest market growth globally. This reflects the company’s leadership in ready-to-deploy security infrastructure, fueled by an ever-strengthening demand for hardened appliances that address growing requirements of privacy and cybersecurity concerns. “Throughout the pandemic, when organizations needed to reinvent themselves and adapt to the new reality very quickly, businesses became creative about how they used, redeployed and expanded their security systems across their organizations. With a unified security platform that ties in video surveillance with access control, ALPR, analytics and more, our customers were able to expand the role of physical security to go beyond traditional applications to deliver more value and improve business operations, without requiring massive investments,” said Guy Chenard, Chief Commercial Officer, Genetec, Inc.

Hanwha Techwin, a global supplier of IP and analog video surveillance solutions, has expanded and updated its line-up of P series AI cameras with five new 2 MP HD models. A follow-up to the premium 4K P series AI cameras announced in 2020, the new cameras present a cost-effective entry point into the powerful world of AI-based camera technology. Hanwha P series AI cameras Hanwha P series AI cameras include license-free video analytics based on deep learning that can detect various object types, such as people, vehicles, faces and license plates, as well as identify unique object attributes, such as a person’s age group, gender and clothing color, or a vehicle’s type and color. The cameras offer enhanced people counting, que management and heat-map functionality, with no requirement for overhead mounting, making sure faces are seen and footage is always useful for identifying persons of interest or delivering business intelligence. Digital auto-tracking provides a second video stream, which features close-up detail on objects being tracked. AI-based Preferred Shutter technology Wisenet AI cameras can significantly reduce the false alarms generated from irrelevant movement Wisenet AI cameras can significantly reduce the false alarms generated from irrelevant movement, such as moving trees, shadows and animals. Additionally, new enhancements to the line include WiseNR II noise reduction, which utilizes AI (Artificial Intelligence) to identify object movement and reduce blur in noisy and low light or dark environments. AI-based Preferred Shutter technology automatically adjusts the shutter speed, based on classified objects in motion and the lighting condition in a scene, in order to reduce motion blur and deliver the clearest images. AI-based bandwidth reduction with WiseStream III As the size of video data continues to increase, it’s important to develop technologies to minimize network bandwidth. By utilizing the results of AI-based object detection, WiseStream III technology adjusts the video encoder to focus maximum video quality on the detected objects in a scene, while at the same time, scaling back encoding on the rest of the scene. Adjustable by the end user, this technology can provide data reduction of up to 80% depending on the environment. Further data reduction is achieved with the BestShot feature, which ensures that only the most suitable image of a detected object is sent back to the server. VMS Metadata Compatibility AI object and attribute metadata (color, type, age, gender) is stored alongside the video image data for use during forensic search. VMS systems from Genetec and Milestone, as well as Wisenet WAVE and Wisenet X NVRs enable users to filter and search using this enhanced metadata. The new P series line of HD AI cameras include: PNO-A6081R - Network 2M AI IR Bullet Camera PND-A6081RV - Network 2M AI IR Dome Camera PND-A6081RF - Network 2M AI IR Dome Camera PNV-A6081R - Network 2M AI IR Vandal Dome Camera PNB-A6001 - Network 2M AI Box Camera Harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence “These new P series AI cameras provide an affordable entry point into the powerful world of AI,” said Ray Cooke, Vice President, Products, Solutions and Integration, Hanwha Techwin America. Ray Cooke adds, “The impact of AI on both security and business intelligence is quickly transforming the way organizations think about and deploy these influential new sensors. There’s never been a better time to invest in this future-proof technology.”

SALTO Systems North America is excited to announce the appointment of Preston Grutzmacher to Vertical Business Leader - Residential and Rob Wengrzyn as Business Leader for Distribution. “As SALTO focuses more on vertical markets and expands our distribution partnerships, we have sought seasoned professionals who know the SALTO hardware and software suite of innovative electronic access control products and bring the expertise to deliver real world solutions,” said Steve Burk, SALTO North America Director of Marketing and Vertical Business. CCTV system design “We’re thrilled that Preston will be leading our residential efforts and we welcome Rob to the SALTO family. Rob has extensive security and distribution experience, and we are excited he will be leading our distribution efforts.” Prior to taking this new role, Grutzmacher served as SALTO’s distribution lead and as a Regional Sales Manager. He has previously served as a Branch Manager for security sales for Anixter and has an extensive background in access control, CCTV system design, and infrastructure design. He has a Bachelor’s in business from the University of Florida. Mechanical key management Wengrzyn joins SALTO from WESCO Distribution, where he served as General Manager “During my time with SALTO, I've helped reseller partners grow, technicians commission systems, and end-users specify various SALTO solutions. I'm passionate about helping customers deploy access control while solving the problem of mechanical key management,” said Grutzmacher. “I'm thrilled to apply my experience and enthusiasm to the new residential vertical position.” Wengrzyn joins SALTO from WESCO Distribution, where he served as General Manager. He has also been Director of learning and development for Mobile Mini, Inc., and Area Sales Manager for Datacom Products. He has held positions as Director of sales, operations, and training for Audio Video Resources and as Director of sales and employee development of Electric Supply, Inc. Advancing access systems For the last 11 years, Wengrzyn has served as an Adjunct Instructor for Grand Canyon University, Northern Arizona University, and Southern New Hampshire University, teaching leadership, marketing, and business courses. Wengrzyn is a doctoral candidate in organizational leadership with Grand Canyon University, has an MBA from Western International University, and a Bachelor’s in marketing from the University of Phoenix. “The focus that SALTO has on continuously improving and advancing access systems is unmatched. SALTO leadership allows their employees to own their role and results, and that is so refreshing in the modern business world,” said Wengrzyn. “SALTO is positioned to grow this year – and beyond – and I look forward to my new role and spreading the word and technology of SALTO.”

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.

The 2020s will be a wireless decade in access control, says Russell Wagstaff from ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions EMEA. He examines the trends data, and looks beyond mobile keys to brand new security roles for the smartphone. The benefits of wire-free electronic access control are well rehearsed. They are also more relevant than ever. A wireless solution gives facility managers deeper, more flexible control over who should have access, where and when, because installing, operating and integrating them is easier and less expensive than wiring more doors. Battery powered locks Many procurement teams are now aware of these cost advantages, but perhaps not their scale. Research for an ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions (AAOS) benchmarking exercise found installation stage to be the largest contributor to cost reduction. Comparing a typical installation of battery-powered Aperio locks versus wired locks at the same scale, the research projected an 80% saving in installers’ labor costs for customers who go cable-free. Battery powered locks all consume much less energy than traditional wired locks Operating costs are also lower for wireless: Battery powered locks all consume much less energy than traditional wired locks, which normally work via magnets connected permanently to electricity. Wireless locks only ‘wake up’ when presented with a credential for which they must make an access decision. AAOS estimated a 70% saving in energy use over a comparable lock’s lifetime. Find out more about wireless access control at ASSA ABLOY's upcoming June webinar Deploying wireless locks In short, every time a business chooses a wireless lock rather than a wired door, they benefit from both installation and operating cost savings. A recent report from IFSEC Global, AAOS and Omdia reveals the extent to which the advantages of wireless are cutting through. Responses to a large survey of security professionals — end-users, installers, integrators and consultants serving large corporations and small- to medium-sized organizations in education, healthcare, industrial, commercial, infrastructure, retail, banking and other sectors — suggest almost four locations in ten (38%) have now deployed wireless locks as a part or the whole of their access solution. The corresponding data point from AAOS’s 2014 Report was 23%. Electronic access control Electronic access control is less dependent than ever on cabling Without doubt, electronic access control is less dependent than ever on cabling: Even after a year when many investments have been deferred or curtailed, the data reveals fast-growing adoption of wireless locks, technologies and systems. Is mobile access control — based on digital credentials or ‘virtual keys’ stored on a smartphone — an ideal security technology for this wire-free future? In fact, the same report finds mobile access is growing fast right now. Among those surveyed, 26% of end-users already offer mobile compatibility; 39% plan to roll out mobile access within two years. Before the mid-2020s, around two-thirds of access systems will employ the smartphone in some way. The smartphone is also convenient for gathering system insights Driving rapid adoption What is driving such rapid adoption? The convenience benefits for everyday users are obvious — witness the mobile boom in banking and payments, travel or event ticketing, transport, food delivery and countless more areas of modern life. Access control is a natural fit. If you have your phone, you are already carrying your keys: What could be easier? IBM forecasts that 1.87 billion people globally will be mobile workers by 2022 Less often discussed are the ways mobile management makes life easier for facility and security managers, too. Among those polled for the new Wireless Access Control Report, almost half (47%) agreed that ‘Mobile was more flexible than physical credentials, and 36% believe that mobile credentials make it easier to upgrade employee access rights at any time.’ IBM forecasts that 1.87 billion people globally will be mobile workers by 2022. Workers in every impacted sector require solutions which can get the job done from anywhere: Access management via smartphone offers this. Site management device The smartphone is also convenient for gathering system insights. For example, one new reporting and analytics tool for CLIQ key-based access control systems uses an app to collect, visualise and evaluate access data. Security system data could contribute to business success. The app’s clear, visual layout helps managers to instantly spot relevant trends, anomalies or patterns. It’s simple to export, to share insights across the business. Reinvented for learning — not just as a ‘key’ or site management device — the phone will help businesses make smarter, data-informed decisions. The smartphone will also play a major role in security — and everything else — for an exciting new generation of smart buildings. These buildings will derive their intelligence from interoperability. Over 90% of the report’s survey respondents highlighted the importance of integration across building functions including access control, CCTV, alarm and visitor management systems. Genuinely seamless integration They offer greater peace of mind than proprietary solutions which ‘lock you in’ for the long term Yet in practise, stumbling blocks remain on the road to deeper, genuinely seamless integration. More than a quarter of those polled felt held back by a lack of solutions developed to open standards. ‘Open standards are key for the momentum behind the shift towards system integration,’ notes the Report. As well as being more flexible, open solutions are better futureproofed. Shared standards ensure investments can be made today with confidence that hardware and firmware may be built on seamlessly in the future. They offer greater peace of mind than proprietary solutions which ‘lock you in’ for the long term. Open solutions and mobile management are critical to achieving the goals which end-users in every vertical are chasing: scalability, flexibility, sustainability, cost-efficiency and convenience.

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.

Imagine a world where video cameras are not just watching and reporting for security, but have an even wider positive impact on our lives. Imagine that cameras control street and building lights, as people come and go, that traffic jams are predicted and vehicles are automatically rerouted, and more tills are opened, just before a queue starts to form. Cameras with AI capabilities Cameras in stores can show us how we might look in the latest outfit as we browse. That’s the vision from Panasonic about current and future uses for their cameras that provide artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities at the edge. Panasonic feels that these types of intelligent camera applications are also the basis for automation and introduction of Industry 4.0, in which processes are automated, monitored and controlled by AI-driven systems. 4K network security cameras The company’s i-PRO AI-capable camera line can install and run up to three AI-driven video analytic applications Panasonic’s 4K network security cameras have built-in AI capabilities suitable for this next generation of intelligent applications in business and society. The company’s i-PRO AI-capable camera line can install and run up to three AI-driven video analytic applications. The AI engine is directly embedded into the camera, thus reducing costs and Panasonic’s image quality ensures the accuracy of the analytics outcome. FacePRO facial recognition technology Panasonic began advancing AI technology on the server side with FacePRO, the in-house facial recognition application, which uses AI deep learning capabilities. Moving ahead, they transitioned their knowledge of AI from the server side to the edge, introducing i-PRO security cameras with built-in AI capabilities last summer, alongside their own in-house analytics. Moreover, in line with the Panasonic approach to focus more on collaboration with specialist AI software developers, a partnership with Italian software company, A.I. Tech followed in September, with a range of intelligent applications, partially based on deep learning. Additional collaborations are already in place with more than 10 other developers, across the European Union, working on more future applications. i-PRO AI-capable security cameras Open systems are an important part of Panasonic’s current approach. The company’s i-PRO AI-capable cameras are an open platform and designed for third-party application development, therefore, applications can be built or tailored to the needs of an individual customer. Panasonic use to be a company that developed everything in-house, including all the analytics and applications. “However, now we have turned around our strategy by making our i-PRO security cameras open to integrate applications and analytics from third-party companies,” says Gerard Figols, Head of Security Solutions at Panasonic Business Europe. Flexible and adapting to specific customer needs This new approach allows the company to be more flexible and adaptable to customers’ needs. “At the same time, we can be quicker and much more tailored to the market trend,” said Gerard Figols. He adds, “For example, in the retail space, enabling retailers to enhance the customer experience, in smart cities for traffic monitoring and smart parking, and by event organizers and transport hubs to monitor and ensure safety.” Edge-based analytics offer multiple benefits over server-based systems Edge-based analytics Edge-based analytics offer multiple benefits over server-based systems. On one hand, there are monetary benefits - a cost reduction results from the decreased amount of more powerful hardware required on the server side to process the data, on top of reduction in the infrastructure costs, as not all the full video stream needs to be sent for analysis, we can work solely with the metadata. On the other hand, there are also advantages of flexibility, as well as reliability. Each camera can have its own individual analytic setup and in case of any issue on the communication or server side, the camera can keep running the analysis at the edge, thereby making sure the CCTV system is still fully operational. Most importantly, systems can keep the same high level of accuracy. Explosion of AI camera applications We can compare the explosion of AI camera applications to the way we experienced it for smartphone applications" “We can compare the explosion of AI camera applications to the way we experienced it for smartphone applications,” said Gerard Figols, adding “However, it doesn’t mean the hardware is not important anymore, as I believe it’s more important than ever. Working with poor picture quality or if the hardware is not reliable, and works 24/7, software cannot run or deliver the outcome it has been designed for.” As hardware specialists, Figols believes that Panasonic seeks to focus on what they do best - Building long-lasting, open network cameras, which are capable of capturing the highest quality images that are required for the latest AI applications, while software developers can concentrate on bringing specialist applications to the market. Same as for smartphones, AI applications will proliferate based on market demand and succeed or fail, based on the value that they deliver. Facial recognition, privacy protection and cross line technologies Panasonic has been in the forefront in developing essential AI applications for CCTV, such as facial recognition, privacy protection and cross line. However, with the market developing so rapidly and the potential applications of AI-driven camera systems being so varied and widespread, Panasonic quickly realized that the future of their network cameras was going to be in open systems, which allow specialist developers and their customers to use their sector expertise to develop their own applications for specific vertical market applications, while using i-PRO hardware. Metadata for detection and recognition Regarding privacy, consider that the use of AI in cameras is about generating metadata for the detection and recognition of patterns, rather than identifying individual identities. “However, there are legitimate privacy concerns, but I firmly believe that attitudes will change quickly when people see the incredible benefits that this technology can deliver,” said Gerard Figols, adding “I hope that we will be able to redefine our view of cameras and AI, not just as insurance, but as life advancing and enhancing.” i-PRO AI Privacy Guard One of the AI applications that Panasonic developed was i-PRO AI Privacy Guard Seeking to understand and appreciate privacy concerns, one of the AI applications that Panasonic developed was i-PRO AI Privacy Guard that generates data without capturing individual identities, following European privacy regulations that are among the strictest in the world. Gerard Fogils said, “The combination of artificial intelligence and the latest generation open camera technology will change the world’s perceptions from Big Brother to Big Benefits. New applications will emerge as the existing generation of cameras is updated to the new open and intelligent next generation devices, and the existing role of the security camera will also continue.” Future scope of AI and cameras He adds, “Not just relying on the security cameras for evidence when things have gone wrong, end users will increasingly be able to use AI and the cameras with much higher accuracy to prevent false alarms and in a proactive way to prevent incidents." Gerard Figols concludes, “That could be monitoring and alerting when health and safety guidelines are being breached or spotting and flagging patterns of suspicious behavior before incidents occur.”

When 150,000 video surveillance cameras get hacked, it’s big news. Even if the main reason for the hack was to make a point. Even if the major consequence is bad publicity for a video company (and, by extension, the entire video surveillance industry). The target of the hack was Silicon Valley startup Verkada, which has collected a massive trove of security-camera data from its 150,000 surveillance cameras inside hospitals, companies, police departments, prisons and schools. Previously, Verkada has been known for an aggressive sales approach and its intent to disrupt the traditional video market. The data breach was accomplished by an international hacker collective and was first reported by Bloomberg. The reported reasons for the hack were “lots of curiosity, fighting for freedom of information and against intellectual property, a huge dose of anti-capitalism, a hint of anarchism – and it’s also just too much fun not to do it,” according to Bloomberg. Tesla amongst those impacted The “fun” included access to a video showing the inside of a Florida hospital, where eight hospital staffers tackled a man and pinned him to the bed. Inside a Massachusetts police station, officers are seen questioning a man in handcuffsA view inside a Tesla warehouse in Shanghai, China, showed workers on an assembly line. Inside a Massachusetts police station, officers are seen questioning a man in handcuffs. There are even views from Verkada security cameras inside Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, where a gunman killed more than 20 people in 2012. In a “security update” statement, Verkada reports: “Our internal security experts are actively investigating the matter. Out of an abundance of caution, we have implemented additional security measures to restrict account access and further protect our customers.” Hacking was possible due to built-in feature The hacker group was able to obtain “root” access on the cameras, meaning they could use the cameras to execute their own code, reports Bloomberg. Obtaining this degree of access to the camera did not require any additional hackingUsing that access, they could pivot and obtain access to the broader corporate network of Verkada’s customers or hijack the cameras and use them as a platform to launch future hacks, the hackers told Bloomberg. Obtaining this degree of access to the camera did not require any additional hacking, as it was a built-in feature. Elisa Costante, VP of research for cybersecurity firm Forescout, calls the Verkada security camera hack "shocking." "Connected cameras are supposed to provide an additional layer of security to organizations that install them,” she says. “Yet, as the Verkada security camera breach has shown, the exact opposite is often true. [It is worrisome that] the attack wasn't even very sophisticated and didn't involve exploiting a known or unknown vulnerability. The bad actors simply used valid credentials to access the data stored on a cloud server.” Super Admin account had access to all cameras Hackers gained access to Verkada through a “Super Admin” account, allowing them to peer into the cameras of all of its customers. They found a username and password for an administrator account publicly exposed on the internet, according to Bloomberg. The hackers lost access to the video feeds and archives after Bloomberg contacted Verkada.Hackers lost access to the video feeds and archives after Bloomberg contacted Verkada The results could have been worse, says Costante. "In this case, the bad actors have seemingly only resorted to viewing the footage these cameras have captured. But they are likely able to cause a lot more damage if they choose to do so, as our own research team has discovered. We were able to intercept, record and replace real-time footage from smart cameras by exploiting unencrypted video streaming protocols and performing a man-in-the-middle attack. This effectively gives criminals a virtual invisibility cloak to physically access premises and wreak havoc in the real world.” Impact on broader video surveillance industry The impact of a well-publicised cyber-attack on the broader video surveillance industry is also a concern. “As an industry, and as manufacturers in physical security, we cannot take these hacks lightly,” says Christian Morin, CSO & Vice-President of Integrations & Cloud Services, Genetec. “The potential broad-reaching impact of these hacks on physical security systems, including providing a beachhead to facilitate lateral movement onto networks, resulting in data and privacy breaches or access to critical assets and infrastructure, cannot be overstated. It is our responsibility and duty to users of our technology to prioritise data privacy and cybersecurity in the development, distribution, and deployment of video surveillance systems.” Widespread government and healthcare use The Verkada cameras are in widespread use within government and healthcare, which are by far the company’s most dominant verticals. Lesser verticals for them are manufacturing, financial and retail.The Verkada website pledges to take privacy seriously Verkada’s line of hybrid cloud security cameras combines edge-based processing with the capabilities of cloud computing. Cameras analyse events in real-time, while simultaneously leveraging computer vision technology for insights that bring speed and efficiency to incidents and investigations. Command, Verakda’s centralised web-based platform, provides users with access to footage they need. Motion detection, people analytics, and vehicle analytics enable searches across an organization to find relevant footage. The Verkada website pledges to take privacy seriously: “We are passionate about developing products that enhance the security and privacy of organizations and individuals. We believe that well-built, user-friendly systems make it easier to manage and secure physical environments in ways that respect the privacy of individuals while simultaneously keeping them safe.”

The cloud is here to stay. Its resilience and ability to connect the world during the COVID-19 pandemic has proved its worth, even to the uninitiated who have now witnessed first-hand the value of connected systems. Video and access control as a service provides a flexible and fluid security and business solution to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving industry, where the changing threat landscape means investing in the cloud is an investment towards success. This article will look back at our articles in 2020 about the growing popularity of cloud solutions for physical security, with links to the original content. Product offering While most people agree on the definition of “cloud,” there are several points about the terminology that may require clarification. Private cloud or public cloud? VSaaS or unlimited storage for video? Beyond the basics, the terms become foggy, reflecting a variety of notions about how cloud services fit into the broader physical security marketplace. As cloud usage becomes more popular, it’s important that marketers be precise in their terminology, and that integrators and end users be diligent in understanding the specifics of available product offerings. Different meanings “The cloud has many different possible connotations, depending on the context,” says Yu Hao Lin of Rasilient Systems, one of our Expert Roundtable panelists. For example, corporate CIOs will more likely understand the cloud to be a private cloud platform. As such, the public cloud is a ubiquitous term while the private cloud is more specified. Cloud system security Security of cloud systems is an ongoing discussion in the industry, especially how cloud system cybersecurity compares to that of on-premise systems. Our Expert Panel Roundtable weighed in on this question. “While both kinds of security systems serve their purpose, it can be argued that the streamlined updates that are commonplace with cloud-based solutions may put them at more of an advantage when it comes to data security,” says panelist Eric Widlitz of Vanderbilt Industries. “Also, most reputable cloud-based solutions are running in secured data centers by companies such as Google, Microsoft, or Amazon, so you also get to take advantage of all the security layers they have protecting your data.” Hybrid cloud video security solution A growing list of cloud players reinforces the importance of the cloud in the future of physical security There are several relatively new companies pushing cloud in a big way. Verkada is fast-growing company currently currently focusing to deliver an all-in-one hybrid cloud video security solution powered by edge processing inside the camera. The growing list of cloud players reinforces the importance of the cloud in the future of physical security. Combining AI and cloud video One company investing in the cloud is Eagle Eye Networks, which has raised $40 million of Series E funding from venture capital firm Accel to finance the realization of their vision to combine AI and cloud video. The money will allow Eagle Eye to continue its steep growth curve and leverage AI on its true cloud platform to reshape video surveillance. “The investment will make video surveillance smarter and safer for end-users,” says Ken Francis, President. Eagle Eye offers an application programming interface (API) to enable the integration of best-in-breed third-party AI and analytics systems to leverage the video. Eagle Eye is also investing in its own AI development and hiring additional development and customer service personnel. Hirsch Velocity Cirrus and MobilisID Identiv introduced the Hirsch Velocity Cirrus cloud-based Access Control as a Service (ACaaS) solution and MobilisID smart mobile physical access control solution. Hirsch Velocity Cirrus is an optimal solution for both end-users and integrators, with lower upfront costs, reduced maintenance, enhanced portability, and the future-proof assurance of automatic security updates and feature sets.  MobilisID is a smart mobile physical access control solution that uses Bluetooth and capacitive technologies to allow frictionless access to a controlled environment without the need to present a credential. Advantages and disadvantages Advantages of cloud-based physical security technologies are many, when supporting staffThe advantages of cloud-based physical security technologies are many, and have wide-ranging applications for all areas of the transport sector; across stations, transport hubs, and vehicles. When used to support staff and complement existing processes, such systems can prove invaluable for transport professionals in helping to create a safer working environment, promoting confidence among personnel and passengers, and assuring passengers who are fearful about the current pandemic that all possible precautions are being taken during their journey. 5G supporting cloud-based applications 5G is the first communication environment that is cloud-native. As such, 5G networks will support cloud-based applications in a way that 4G, 3G and 2G can’t support. For instance, sensors (e.g. in a manufacturing plant) often have small internal storage and rely on synced devices (e.g. gateways) to interact with the cloud. Soon, these sensors will be able to work more efficiently, interacting with the cloud via the ultra-low latency and the edge computing capabilities supported by 5G networks. Increasing use of IoT Unlike current IoT services that make performance trade-offs to get the best from these existing wireless technologies, 5G networks will be designed to bring the high levels of performance needed for the increasing use of IoT. It will enable a perceived fully ubiquitous connected world, with the boosted capacity offered by 5G networks transferring exponentially more data at a much quicker rate.

In an increasingly sophisticated business environment, clients need law firms that have the experience and depth to handle significant matters. This law firm in California is staffed by attorneys who offer diverse legal, business and governmental backgrounds. Its practice areas are focused on specific legal disciplines, but the firm also has teams that are equipped to address the needs of particular industries, including healthcare, banking and finance, gaming, environmental, manufacturing, governmental, and pharmaceutical and telecommunications. Ensuring continued protection When the law firm relocated its corporate headquarters to a new building three years ago, founding partners knew they would need to invest in technology, education, and services to ensure top-tier security and security measures. It had previously worked in a space in which security was managed centrally across the building but now it had to develop its own program. The management team quickly realized that they were not interested in building their own security team Stakeholders were not only interested in managing access to the facility, it also wanted to ensure that alarms, video, and security operations were managed by experts to ensure continued protection across physical and network infrastructure. As they were evaluating options, the management team quickly realized that they were not interested in building their own security team from scratch. Rather, they wanted to work with an expert team that could quickly bring their security efforts up to par. Security systems monitoring The law firm connected with Ryan Schonfeld, Founder, and CEO of risk management services and operations firm RAS Watch. After speaking with Schonfeld and he provided an overview of what a robust security effort should entail, the firm quickly identified a plan. “RAS Watch provided us with the expertise we needed to quickly determine what our security efforts should entail,” the founding partner said. “The entire team are experts in what they do, they understand the changing risk landscape, are experienced and proactive, and therefore, were the ideal choice to support our efforts.” The corporation contracted with RAS Watch to deliver a managed service security program that provides training, risk assessments, security systems monitoring, alarm management, and more. Managed service operations RAS Watch is a unique managed service operations and risk mitigation center RAS Watch is a unique managed service operations and risk mitigation center, offering companies the opportunity to benefit from a mission-critical security program without investing significant capital, allocating real estate, administering technology, or managing a comprehensive operation. The RAS Watch suite of services uses state-of-the-art tools to protect a company's people, assets, and brand, providing actionable intelligence in real-time through a service-based security program model. While RAS Watch offers a wide range of services and solutions, the organization opted for a layered approach to security — one that incorporated monitoring services, crisis training, and remote SOC support. The training was rolled out in stages, first to the law firm’s leadership team and then to managers and employees. Employees continuously learn how to deal with potential security issues, de-escalation techniques, and how to respond in an active shooter incident. Emergency mass communications RAS Watch also operates as the legal team’s security operations center from a separate facility along with educating and training staff. The SOC is online 24/7, allowing operators to coordinate with the alarm company, provide information and assistance for any security concerns or questions, and handle emergency mass communications and responses for the firm. In early 2020, as the coronavirus pandemic began to impact California, RAS Watch was also able to help address concerns about COVID-19. It offered the company ideas on integrating wellness protocols with existing security plans and taking advantage of technology to simplify processes. "RAS Watch has gone above and beyond to help us ensure the safety and security of our facility," the partner said. "We value their insight, ideas, and suggestions, and they have become an integral part of our business."

Long John Silver’s, the largest quick-service seafood restaurant chain in the United States, has chosen Interface Security Systems, a service provider delivering business security, managed network, UCaaS, and business intelligence solutions to distributed enterprises, to enhance network connectivity across 430 of its restaurants. To build this “network of the future,” Long John Silver’s implemented Interface’s fully managed, restaurant-in-a-box solution that includes prefabricated network equipment ready for SD-WAN expansion, wireless WAN backup, and VoIP connectivity. Need of a high-speed network The IT team at Long John Silver’s needed a reliable, high-speed network for their restaurants To continue offering consistent and satisfactory customer service, the IT team at Long John Silver’s needed a reliable, high-speed network for their restaurants. Accompanied by a robust backup network, the system supports additional services like guest Wi-Fi, cellphone devices, and tablets for their staff. After a rigorous evaluation of managed services vendors, Long John Silver’s chose to partner with Interface. Innovative and cost-effective  “Interface’s solution stood out as the most innovative and cost-effective option on the market,” says Brad Gardone, vice president of information technology services at Long John Silver’s. “The company’s “restaurant-in-box” model came with preconfigured network cabinets and accessories outfitted specifically for Long John Silver’s, allowing for installation to occur with no disruption to restaurant operations. No other service provider offered us this model.” Employing voice connectivity Interface helped Long John Silver completely replace the legacy switches and myriad connectivity solutions with a secure, scalable LAN and WAN with LTE failover, 24X7 remote monitoring, along a business VoIP voice connectivity. Long John Silver’s was able to go live across 430 restaurants in a matter of a few months. With the new solution in place, restaurant staff was able to focus solely on the customer experience, rather than dealing with connectivity issues or outages. Not to mention, revenue leakages due to offline credit card transactions came down drastically and operational reports are now generated in real-time, giving management better visibility on restaurant performance. Voice communication system The revamped network and VoIP solution bundle allowed the seafood chain to pivot to an online-order-first model When the pandemic hit and Long John Silver’s customers shifted their preferences to online ordering, the revamped network and VoIP solution bundle allowed the seafood chain to pivot to an online-order-first model. “During the pandemic, about 90 percent of the business shifted to online/drive-through. While dine-ins will steadily make a comeback in the future, we are proud of what we accomplished with help from Interface,” says Gardone. “We now have a top-of-the-line network and voice solution that’s robust, scalable, secure, and will become the foundation for everything we plan to build in the coming years.” The partnership between Long John Silver’s and Interface is just picking up steam. In addition to offering an expanded voice communication system to support remote teams and work from home employees, Interface will continue to play a key role in Long John Silver’s mission to maintain top-tier security and drive growth.

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.

Videoloft is bolstering its presence in the United States by hiring new U.S.-based sales staff and integrating with established brands in the US market, including Digital Watchdog, exacqVision, Vivotek, and Lorex.  Cloud surveillance systems Videoloft focuses on transforming traditional professional surveillance systems into cloud-connected solutions via the Videoloft Cloud Adapter. The company was born from the innovative technology created for the Manything app in 2012, which turned old smartphones and tablets into ad-hoc DIY home-monitoring cloud cameras, and now boasts over 1 million+ user. Cost-effective cloud solution The versatile and highly cost-effective Videoloft cloud solution can serve either as a backup to local recorders or as a primary recording method, sending video footage direct to the cloud at up to 8MP resolution. Videoloft end-users have remote access to its cloud video surveillance system via the Videoloft cellphone app or web-based VMS The solution employs rigid security protocols to ensure all video is transmitted and stored securely in the Videoloft cloud, which is hosted on Amazon's AWS. Videoloft end-users have remote access to their cloud video surveillance system from anywhere and at any time via the Videoloft cellphone app or web-based VMS. It makes security systems highly proactive and personalized and instantly upgrades legacy systems with new features.  Remotely installed Videoloft’s partner pricing is extremely competitive and is approximately 8 to 10 times less expensive than other cloud providers. The platform is compatible with leading brands, has an impressive feature set including video analytics and remote installation, as well as a proven ability to send video to the cloud over real-world uplink speeds. VSaaS solution Selling predominantly via the channel, Videoloft’s cloud-based VSaaS solution is rapidly being adopted by professional security dealers and systems integrators who add the Videoloft cloud to their customers’ surveillance systems. The solution is being used with exceptional results by a wide variety of users ranging from homeowners to restaurant chains, and healthcare facilities to cannabis growers and dispensaries.   Available versions Videoloft offers two white label versions of their platform, with over 150+ white label solutions already deployed by national distributors and integrators. Videoloft users span 160+ countries and generate the equivalent of 25 years of video monitored by the Videoloft cloud every day.

Situated at an altitude of 5500 feet above sea level, Namchi (means Sky High) is one of the famous and biggest tourist destinations in Sikkim, a state of northeast India. Surrounded by the spectacular view of the mountains, emerald, and green forest, Namchi is well-known for its old monasteries, sacred temples, and annual festivals such as Namchi Mahotsav. Smart Cities Mission Namchi was selected to be part of the Smart Cities Mission, an ambitious program of Govt. of India. Under this program, the city aspires to be a ‘world-class’ tourist destination and simultaneously maintain ecological balance with a vibrant community, offering an enriched quality of life supported by a robust local economy. In recent years, the city infrastructure has also shown rapid growth and welcoming thousands of tourists each year, hence, making the city vulnerable to threats driven by overcrowding, chaotic traffic, haphazard parking in addition to other law & order issues. In the first phase of the project, Namchi Smart City Limited wanted to cover its citizens as well as tourists with a robust surveillance system with proper traffic management without disrupting the normal day-to-day activities. The solution Videonetics designed a modular and scalable unified solution, based on its Intelligent VMS and AI & DL powered Video Analytics After a thorough assessment of the requirements and consequent discussions with the officials of Namchi Smart City Limited, Videonetics designed a modular and scalable unified solution, based on its Intelligent VMS and AI & DL powered Video Analytics, aimed to ensure continuous monitoring, efficient traffic monitoring, quicker response times and faster access to evidence in case of investigations and law & order management.  Eyeing on every corner of the city A group of over 120 IP Cameras has been installed at the important locations to monitor the entry and exit points connecting to the city, public ways, transport hubs, tourist attractions, markets, streets, traffic junctions to name a few. Now, security operators can easily view and manage citywide deployed IP cameras with the intuitive interface of Videonetics Intelligent VMS, having complete situational awareness, and can respond smartly to critical situations. Moreover, the smart navigation feature of Intelligent VMS allows simultaneous viewing of the life and the recorded videos in the same interface, which helps in prompt investigation of past activities without taking their eye off from the current incidents. Parking and directional analytics Namchi being a hilly terrain has narrow roads with the limited scope of turning it into broader ones, the authorities used to manage the traffic by declaring some of the roads as a one-way carriage. Frequently, the city faced chaotic traffic congestion and accidents, due to unauthorized parking and wrong-way driving. The unified solution empowers command control operators to receive real-time insights and predict unusual behavior To address such concerns, Videonetics Artificial Intelligence-powered video analytics including No Parking Detection and Wrong-Way Movement Detection were deployed to detect such situations. Operators are notified as soon as any vehicle is parked in a restricted zone and if any vehicle moves in the wrong direction. The Videonetics unified solution empowers command control operators to receive real-time insights from the city and upon recognition or prediction of unusual behavior, they receive an immediate alert and notify the authorities. Centralized view of the city Videonetics Intelligent VMS and Video Analytics application are seamlessly integrated with Namchi Operations Center (NOC), an Integrated Command Control Center (ICCC), to simplify the response coordination between stakeholders and speeding up incident resolution. Working in conjunction with city administration, control room operators can switch from camera to camera using dynamic maps, which empowers them to obtain critical event information as well as manage emergencies by alerting respective stakeholders for quick action. And when necessary, Videonetics's unified solution makes it possible to share forensic videos across departments, facilitating more collaborative and successful response efforts. Open architecture solution The sagacious collaboration between Videonetics, Astrikos Consulting, and Namchi Smart City Ltd, has become an exemplary model for other cities. AI-Unified Solution has exceeded the city administration’s expectations in terms of its intuitive functionalities Videonetics Unified Solution has exceeded city administration’s expectations in terms of its intuitive functionalities, identifying suspicious activities, and ensuring smooth traffic movements. And the solution’s open architecture allows the seamless addition of more cameras and integration with other security systems as the city continues to grow and identify more needs. It signifies future development potential with maximum impact on people. Situational awareness Furthermore, the integrated solution has been extremely helpful for the city authority in aggregating and visualizing the video data collected over time, to deliver critical statistical information such as directional traffic data, traffic flow insights, hotspots of public gathering, etc. Eventually, increasing the situational awareness, standardizing response protocol and implementing SOPs at the city level, and enhancing collaboration across various departments/bodies emphasizing “the citizens come first” mindset of Namchi city.

ISONAS Inc., a globally renowned IP access control and hardware solution provider, and part of the Allegion family of brands, has announced that the ISONAS Pure IP access control solution has been deployed at a school district in the southwest suburb of Chicago. With six buildings within the district, they wanted to be able to manage access at all buildings on one unified platform.  Remote access The school district had three main priorities for the upgrade, which included controlling the flow of traffic during after-hour events, eliminating the need for keys to manually lock and unlock doors, and finally have the ability to utilize remote access.  Safety was a huge priority at the school district, which included keeping students and staff safe and secure in all six buildings. Without being able to control unauthorized visitors at all entrance ways, there was no way to effectively protect everyone district-wide. ISONAS Pure IP access control solution Upon a strong recommendation from the school IT Director, ISONAS was awarded the project after the school put the project out for bid. The school district believed in the power of the ISONAS Pure IP solution and knew it was the right cloud-based technology to overcome all their current challenges. With the recommendation from the IT Director and a strong relationship with Advanced Wiring Solutions, the school district was ready to move forward with the security upgrade at high speed.  Advanced Wiring Solutions is a Chicago-based premier low-voltage electrical contractor, who has handled structured cabling, security, access control, AV, and CCTV camera installations for over 20 years. ISONAS RC-04 reader controllers installed It’s been a pleasure working with ISONAS from the onset of this project to completion" The project was on a tight timeframe and included installing 188 ISONAS RC-04 reader controllers, in under three months, on every access point within the six buildings that made up the school district. “It’s been a pleasure working with ISONAS from the onset of this project to completion,” stated Michael Sanfratello, President at Advanced Wiring Solutions. Michael adds, “From when we were in the bidding stage to deploying the access control system, ISONAS worked closely with the architects, engineers and the school district to develop specifications for the design and installation in order to make it a perfect deployment.” Remote monitoring of controlled doors “We are extremely happy that the school district selected the ISONAS solution to successfully secure each entrance way and no longer had to rely on keys for access, making it a safer environment for everyone,” said Jonathan Mooney, ISONAS Sales Leader. The school district can now easily monitor all controlled doors remotely and set access schedules for regular school hours and after hours when special events and activities were taking place. With cloud-based access control systems in place, schools across the country can get a clearer picture of who is actually entering their grounds day and night, while not having to physically be on the premises.

Many of us take critical infrastructure for granted in our everyday lives. We turn on a tap, flip a switch, push a button, and water, light, and heat are all readily available. But it is important to remember that computerized systems manage critical infrastructure facilities, making them vulnerable to cyber-attacks. The recent ransomware attack on the Colonial Pipeline is an example of the new types of threats. In addition, any number of physical attacks is also possibilities. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the security challenges of protecting critical infrastructure?

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? 

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?