Counter surveillance

Everbridge, Inc., global supplier in critical event management and enterprise safety software applications to help keep people safe and businesses running, has announced that it has achieved a FedRAMP Agency Authorization for its Everbridge Suite solution. FedRAMP (Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program) is a government-wide program that provides a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization and continuous monitoring for cloud products and services. Federal Risk And Authorization Management Program Authorized by the FedRAMP Program Management Office (PMO), Everbridge is now officially listed on the FedRAMP Marketplace “Our FedRAMP initiative has been a multi-year, strategic project with the goal of expanding our overall addressable market for our broad Critical Event Management suite,” said Jaime Ellertson, chairman and CEO of Everbridge. “Meeting the stringent security and reliability standards for FedRAMP Authorization not only demonstrates our commitment to the Federal market but will also benefit commercial organizations that require the highest levels of security.” Authorized by the FedRAMP Program Management Office (PMO), Everbridge is now officially listed on the FedRAMP Marketplace – the central, online portal of approved cloud service offerings available for federal government use. Everbridge’s sponsoring agency, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), and Third-Party Assessment Organization (3PAO), Coalfire, have determined that Everbridge has met the standards for the 325 controls in the FedRAMP Moderate baseline. FedRAMP Authorization certifies that Everbridge has passed the rigorous security and risk management review process required to offer its Everbridge Suite solution to federal agencies, a mandate by OMB for any cloud service provider that serves the federal government. Everbridge’s Cloud Services Everbridge currently supports the operational resilience needs of more than 40 federal agencies including the Department of Defense, the Department of Justice, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Social Security Administration. Everbridge’s FedRAMP Authorization broadens the company’s ability to further proliferate its cloud-based platform for the management of critical events in the federal sector. In addition to joining an elite group of cloud and SaaS providers that have achieved FedRAMP Authorization, Everbridge helps ensure its customers operate in a secure environment that complies with a wide array of industry standards and regulations including SSAE 18/ISAE-3402 SOC 2 and SOC3, GDPR and Privacy Shield. Everbridge has also been certified and designated as an approved technology by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under the SAFETY Act (Support Anti-terrorism by Fostering Effective Technology). Critical Event Management FedRAMP is designed to save time and costs associated with security assessments of cloud service providers among federal government organizations “With this important milestone, we are focused on extending our leadership in critical event management, providing government agencies with the industry’s most scalable and reliable platform to rapidly respond to – and even avoid – sudden, unexpected disruptions, while protecting those who serve our nation each and every day,” continued Ellertson. FedRAMP is designed to save time and costs associated with security assessments of cloud service providers among federal government organizations. Taking a “do once, use many” approach, FedRAMP enables rapid and cost-effective procurement of information systems and services, eliminates duplicate assessment efforts, and ensures consistent application of information security standards across all government organizations.

Total Recall Corporation, a Convergint Technologies Company, will showcase its portable CrimeEye LPR License Plate Recognition unit at the 32nd annual Police Security Expo to be held June 26-27 at the Atlantic City Convention Center in New Jersey. “Our exclusive CrimeEye video surveillance products have offered law enforcement portable, high-quality video surveillance solutions for years. This year we’re excited to showcase the latest configuration that will benefit the law enforcement community immensely: license plate recognition that can be moved as needed,” said Total Recall Corporation’s President of Sales Jordan Heilweil. “We’re excited to demo how it’s possible to have a high-quality portable LPR solution with the thousands of law enforcement industry professionals that attend PSE.” CrimeEye LPR is a unique solution for law enforcement in that it is a portable, self-contained LPR system CrimeEye License Plate Recognition Unit CrimeEye LPR is a unique solution for law enforcement in that it is a portable, self-contained LPR system. It includes an Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) camera, emergency battery backup, WiFi and pole mount. Thanks to its all-inclusive design, CrimeEye LPR unit can be quickly attached to a street pole in an area of interest and instantly stream captured data to a command center. With such portability, police departments are able to have an audit trail of passing traffic, alarm on BOLO’s and use this CrimeEye solution to help reduce crime in different areas of interest at various times. The CrimeEye LPR joins the deep product lineup of video surveillance solutions that Total Recall Corporation pioneered with the original CrimeEye video surveillance unit. Used by law enforcement, cities and municipalities across the United States to protect millions of American citizens each day, the CrimeEye line of public safety video surveillance solutions include fixed location units for permanent deployment, as well as smaller and lighter rapid deployment (RD) units that can be easily installed and quickly moved to enable video monitoring at a new location on as-needed basis. Police Security Expo 2018 PSE is the law enforcement industry’s longest-running and most well-known product showcase. There are over 7,000 in attendance, 750 exhibits on display, seminar programs, product demonstrations and new product updates. Show attendees are encouraged to visit Total Recall Corporation at PSE Booth 1643 to demo the latest in video surveillance security solutions which include the CrimeEye LPR.

The Chertoff Group, a global security advisory firm that provides risk management, business strategy and merchant banking advisory services, today announced that its Security Risk Management Consulting Methodology has been approved as a designated SAFETY Act “qualified anti-terrorism technology.” The Chertoff Group is one of the only professional services companies in the world to have achieved SAFETY Act designation across all industries for its proven Security Risk Management Consulting Methodology. The Chertoff Group developed its SAFETY Act-approved methodology to enable organizations to assess, mitigate and monitor physical and cyber security risks Security risk management According to the Global Terrorism Database, there were 5,367 terrorist attacks directly targeting businesses between 2001 and 2016. The Chertoff Group developed its SAFETY Act-approved methodology to enable organizations to assess, mitigate and monitor physical and cyber security risks to their people, facilities and technology assets as well as to the business operations they support. The service helps clients assess current security measures and, as appropriate, build out a security risk management program to deter, protect against, respond to and recover from key threat scenarios, as appropriate. Additionally, the firm provides a risk monitoring service to evaluate the effectiveness of controls being implemented. The methodology is flexible and modular, allowing it to be applied to address risks specific to an organization’s unique operating environment. “Achieving SAFETY Act designation is a key milestone in the continued advancement of our firm’s thought leadership and advisory services capabilities,” said Chad Sweet, co-founder and CEO of The Chertoff Group. “It puts us in a unique position to help our clients buy down security risk while also addressing liability protection.” To obtain SAFETY Act-approval, The Chertoff Group had to prove that its methodology demonstrated substantial utility and effectiveness Effective anti-terrorism capabilities In 2002, the U.S. Congress enacted the Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies (SAFETY) Act to foster development of effective anti-terrorism capabilities by providing important legal liability protections to sellers of capabilities that could save lives in a terrorist attack. The SAFETY Act creates liability limitations for claims arising out of, relating to, or resulting from an act of terrorism where Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technologies (QATTs) have been deployed. The statute has been interpreted to apply to a broad range or combination of technologies, including both products (hardware and software), services and programs. To obtain SAFETY Act-approval, The Chertoff Group had to prove that its methodology demonstrated substantial utility and effectiveness, as well as availability for immediate deployment, among other factors.

The Chertoff Group, a global security advisory firm that enables clients to navigate changes in security risk, technology and policy, today announced the appointment of Robert Anderson as a principal in its Strategic Advisory Services practice. As a recognized expert in cybersecurity, incident response, cyber hacking, counterintelligence and economic espionage, Anderson will advise C-suite clients on strategies to help them grow, manage security risks and protect their commercial businesses.  “We enthusiastically welcome Robert Anderson to our award-winning Strategic Advisory Services team,” said Chad Sweet, co-founder and CEO of The Chertoff Group. “Robert possesses unique expertise in industry-leading cyber security threats and incident response strategies. He served as executive assistant director of the FBI in a very distinguished public career. In addition to his more than 20 years of honorable service to our nation, Robert has a successful track record collaborating with clients to tackle their most critical security issues, making him the ideal executive for this leadership role at our firm. Anderson held several senior level positions at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, where he spent more than 20 years rising through the ranks Information Security Expert Prior to joining The Chertoff Group, Anderson served as managing director and practice leader at Navigant Consulting Inc., where he led the initiative to build out their information security practice, exponentially growing the business and offering new services such as “CISO-as-a service.” Before Navigant, Anderson held several senior level positions at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, where he spent more than 20 years rising through the ranks from a special agent in charge to executive assistant director of the criminal, cyber, response and services branch. His top achievements include upgrading the FBI’s technology infrastructure - positioning the bureau as a global leader in complex national security, criminal and cyber investigations - as well as establishing a new, second branch within the international operations division which focuses on intelligence driven international operations, to name a few. “The Chertoff Group is a globally respected advisory services firm that brings unparalleled industry expertise to help clients understand the implications of changes in security risk, technology and policy,” said Anderson. “It is an honor to be a part of this elite team of security experts who are helping clients build resilient organizations, gain competitive advantage and accelerate growth.” The Chertoff Group applies industry insights around security technology, global threats, strategy and public policy to enable a more secure world Cyber Security Solutions An internationally recognized leader in security and risk management advisory services, The Chertoff Group applies industry insights around security technology, global threats, strategy and public policy to enable a more secure world. Through its Strategic Advisory Services practice, The Chertoff Group leverages a trusted approach, proven methodology and deep understanding for security effectiveness to enable clients to reduce cyber and physical risk, protect critical assets and position their enterprise for growth.

Eagle Eye Networks, Inc. announced the enhancement of the Eagle Eye Cloud Security Camera VMS to include the integration of Hikvision body worn cameras. The new Eagle Eye solution provides ease, reliability, and cybersecurity to body worn camera users seeking to synchronize and store video for extended periods in the cloud.  The Eagle Eye Cloud Security Camera VMS will retrieve video and GPS data through a docking station connected to any Eagle Eye Bridge or Cloud Managed Video Recorder (CMVR) and securely transmit the video to the Eagle Eye Cloud Data Center. The body worn camera and its video appears in the Eagle Eye Customer Dashboard along with any fixed cameras attached to the system and can be reviewed, managed and analyzed. Integration With Mobile Cameras Eagle Eye Networks’ customers have requested the integration of mobile cameras in to the Eagle Eye interface to enable the combination of fixed position cameras with mobile cameras to better serve specific applications. Eagle Eye's customers are using mobile video for optimisation in robotics, manufacturing, emergency room management and home care services Law enforcement, guarding services, health care, retail management, training, warehouse management, and other service-oriented verticals create considerable value and reduce risk through the reliable and secure management of surveillance video in the cloud. Several of Eagle Eye Networks’ high-tech customers are using mobile video for business optimization in robotics, manufacturing, emergency room management and home care medical services. The challenge surrounding body worn and other types of mobile cameras has always been the lack of scalable, cost-effective, redundant storage. The Eagle Eye Cloud Security Camera VMS offers subscription-based storage for any period. Body Worn Cameras Lieutenant Kevin Francis, Head of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Division stated, “We are excited to see Eagle Eye Networks adding body worn cameras to its system. The management of body worn video is cumbersome and unreliable from a storage perspective. The cloud makes it so much easier to store and retrieve evidentiary video.” The use cases for body worn cameras are endless. Body worn cameras began gaining momentum in law enforcement and private security, but there are other business optimization benefits that these cameras provide.Body worn camera users in retail are witnessing a decrease in customer standoffs and reduced claims against stores Businesses using body worn cameras have been able to improve profitability, communication, and customer service by using the footage to provide scenario-based training to employees. In the retail industry, for example, body worn camera users are witnessing a decrease in customer standoffs and reduced claims against stores based upon readily available visual evidence.  Cloud-Powered Video Surveillance According to Dean Drako, CEO of Eagle Eye Networks, “Eagle Eye Networks is the industry’s go-to supplier of cloud video surveillance." "One of the many advantages of a cloud-based video management system is the ability to coalesce a wide variety of video collecting devices within a single user experience. Eagle Eye Networks will remain the leader in offering innovative solutions to combine connected, remote and mobile based camera technologies.”

Friday marked the closing day of ISC West 2018. ISC West, sponsored by the Security Industry Association (SIA), the largest converged security event of the year, experienced its biggest and most successful year to date. On the heels of ISC West being named to Trade Show Executive’s Next 50 List for Attendance Growth in 2017, this year included a larger show floor with more exhibits than ever before (an additional 4K square feet from last year), growth in featured areas (Unmanned Security & Safety Expo sponsored by Knightscope, Connected Security Expo, Public Security & Safety Expo, and Connected Home sponsored by Alarm.com, plus the addition of the brand new Emerging Technology Zone that had 40 companies participate), 120+ new products displayed in SIA’s New Products Showcase, six percent growth in overall attendees and 10 percent growth of the coveted ISC Executive’s Club.   Security Education Program This year, ISC West had the pleasure of offering over 85 sessions throughout the SIA Education@ISC program, spanning a range of topics that impact security professionals across physical, IT and IoT security – from biometrics to drones to leadership skills.The enthusiasm of our attendees, loyal returning exhibiting companies and the 250 new exhibiting companies inspire us to put on the best show" Some of the most highly-attended sessions were Access Control and Video in the Cloud, The Evolution of Credentials and their Use in the IT, OT, and Physical Security Environment, Connected Home – The Future is Now, and The Future of Physical Security: The Decade Ahead. Providing comprehensive education is one of the cornerstones of ISC West, and more attendees are leveraging these offerings each year, learning from one another and networking with their peers. “Another successful year in the books,” said Sherida Sessa, Industry Vice President of ISC Security Events at Reed Exhibitions. “The enthusiasm of our attendees, loyal returning exhibiting companies and the 250 new exhibiting companies continue to inspire us to put on the best show we can. We’re so pleased with the turnout and want to formally thank everyone – attendees, exhibitors, speakers, our media partners and sponsors, and most importantly, SIA, for helping to make this year the biggest and best show we’ve had yet.” Re-Inventing Cybersecurity This year’s keynotes were unparalleled. Each one had a packed house, with Dr. Douglas Maughan of the Department of Homeland Security explaining how the DHS Science and Technology (S&T) is re-inventing cybersecurity, and Jeff Crume, Distinguished Engineer and Master Inventor, IT Security Architect at IBM talking about the dark side of the IoT.ISC West 2018 featured the SIA Women in Security Forum to mentor and empower other females to enter the industry ISC West 2018 also had several special events on the agenda, including the 23rd SAMMY Awards hosted by Security Sales & Integration, honouring dealers and integrators for their sales, marketing, business and installation excellence; tours of the new Emerging Technology Zone to showcase next-generation products on the market; SIA’s New Products Showcase awards ceremony, where over 120 product entries were pitched to leading industry experts and winners were selected in nearly 30 categories; the Security 5K Run/2K Walk, where all proceeds were donated to Mission 500, a non-profit charitable organization focused on the security industry and dedicated to serving children and families in need across the U.S.; the SIA RISE Happy Hour and SIA Autonomous Security Robotics Reception where security industry professionals had the chance to network with each other; and the inaugural committee meeting of the SIA Women in Security Forum, a place for women to engage, mentor and empower other females to enter the industry.  Business Impact “There’s nothing better than hearing someone on the show floor say, ‘ISC West is like the Super Bowl of security events',” said Will Wise, group vice president of the ISC security portfolio. “At the end of the day, it’s so rewarding knowing that exhibitors and attendees – from end-users to integrators to dealers/installers to consultants and engineers – feel that ISC West made a measurable business impact for them. We’re looking forward to the Cyber: Secured Forum in Denver in June and are already setting our sights on ISC East in New York City in November!”

While there is much hype around drone technology today, initial successful drone usage for security can be dated back to the 1960s, when the US utilized the Lightning Bug 147, a camera-equipped unmanned aerial vehicle that could travel 600 miles for surveillance in Vietnam, China and Korea. Drones For Effective Surveillance Since this initial deployment, drones have been used for a variety of security and surveillance applications. However, as professional-grade commercial drones incorporate newer, more advanced features and technologies, their capabilities will allow for many new scenarios and applications within fully-integrated security systems. The security industry, in addition to first response and law enforcement, will be among the first to truly experience the benefits of the most current drone technologies. And, these industries have already started to utilize drones in new ways—the most recent example being the use of commercial drones to save lives during hurricanes Irma and Harvey. For these reasons, UAVs are becoming an integral tool in multiple industries and according to PwC, will have an expected total value of $127 billion by 2020, $10.5 billion of which will be in security applications of drones.There is room to improve on cost, efficiency and safety, so the opportunity for commercial drone technologies is large Drones In Fire, Border And Perimeter Security Current drone users in the security arena are comprised of law enforcement, fire departments, border security and first responders, who primarily use UAVs for border control, perimeter surveillance and monitoring, anti-terror operations and searching for missing persons. These tasks generally require manned teams and can even include helicopters, the results being costly, time-consuming and potentially dangerous. Alternatively, these teams use consumer-grade drones, which simply lack the capabilities and levels of security necessary to be used safely for such operations. This makes the opportunity for commercial drone technologies large, as there is room to significantly improve on cost, efficiency and safety. By adding autonomous drones to their arsenals, security forces are able to accomplish their objectives more easily and effectively by removing the need for a security team member to operate the drone—as it works on its own—and instead, focus on responding to the security situation at hand. Employing fully autonomous systems, especially in surveillance, is a critical feature most drone systems currently don't allow UAVs can also enter narrow spaces, produce minimal noise, and can be equipped with night vision cameras and thermal sensors, allowing them to see beyond what the human eye can detect. They can also quickly cover large expanses of ground and access hard to reach places. However, most drones today have not reached the pinnacle of what is possible for advanced commercial UAVs. Drawbacks Of Current Drone Solutions Despite how far drone technology has come, drones used in security settings are still riddled with shortcomings. This is apparent in the build quality of current drones, most of which are made from hardened plastic, which falters when faced with rough weather conditions or after experiencing tough falls and crashes. Closed-system integration is another key element current UAVs lack. Not being able to integrate drones into wider closed-security systems creates major gaps in the efficacy of security operations. The use of carbon fibre in the build of drone hulls will increase drones' weather durability - and ultimately make them more valuable Lastly, employing fully autonomous systems, especially in surveillance, is a critical feature most drone systems currently don't allow - both due to shortcomings in the technology and due to the need for regulations to catch up to the advancements and capabilities of drone technologies. The combination of these drawbacks can create lacklustre drone results, and when lives are on the line, these results simply aren't enough. Why Commercial Drones Can Make A Difference That being said, 2018 is the year where the security sector will experience increased drone adoption. That’s because there are some drone technologies being developed today that overcome many of the shortcomings outlined above. These are the technologies we will see having the greatest impact within the security industry. Here are some of the drivers of change, both in the industry and technology that will allow drones to effectively integrate into the security market: Increased processing power: This will allow autonomous drones, powered by AI technology, to track objects in real time, and adjust their courses and actions as needed. This allows for greater drone operational efficiency while simultaneously drawing less power from the battery, thereby lengthening the drone’s flying time. These improved processors will also make way for increased broadcast range capabilities, allowing for longer distance drone operations. Regulations will catch up to the technology: This is a trend we began to see at the tail end of 2017. Governments in both the United States and Europe have realized that drone regulations must keep up to gain the most from UAV technologies, as well as to counter the use of drones for terror or other nefarious tasks. To that end, the US government began talks with drone developers to discuss the expansion of commercial drone operations, and the UK government introduced tougher regulations to crackdown on dangerous flying and criminal drone use. Drone regulation will move in favor of autonomous drone operation: As governments increase regulations in favor of the commercial drone industry, commercial players will increase pressure to allow for fully autonomous operation. Full autonomy means Beyond Visual Line Of Sight (BVLOS) drone functionality. This enables drone operators to fly a UAV with the drone out of their line of sight, maximizing the capabilities of the UAV, and in the case of security missions, keeping the pilot out of harm’s way. New materials will increase drone hull durability: As drone makers will have learned from their drones’ lack of weather resistance following the tumultuous hurricanes the U.S. experienced this past year, the use of carbon fiber in the build of drone hulls will increase their weather durability. Better capabilities will encourage adoption among security: New commercial drones will have longer flight times, longer battery lives, will carry heavier payloads, and will integrate advanced computer vision technologies and real-time connectivity. This will enable drones on security missions in remote areas to send a live stream of their field of vision to drone operators at a central command station. Full integration of security systems: The interoperability of a variety of technologies will make drones another sensor in fully integrated and closed security systems that may include smart fences, security cameras and other infrastructure elements. Full integration also means that these elements will be controlled from the same central command center, whether for securing a specific facility, or as part of surveillance system on a military base, or other closed location. This will allow security personnel to use drones more effectively, saving time, money, and increasing the safety of security professionals in the field. This year is going to be huge for the drone security market, as it is about to experience a significant improvement in drone performance, which will lead to a widespread escalation in drone adoption. The results will be prolific for both drone makers and security force users.

The use of drones has increased dramatically in the last few years. Indeed, by 2021, the FAA says the number of small hobbyist drones in the U.S. will triple to about 3.55 million. With that growth, drone capabilities have increased while costs have decreased. For example, the DJI Phantom 4 can deliver a 2-pound payload to a target with 1.5m accuracy from 20 miles away for the less than $1000.00. This is an unprecedented capability accessible to anyone. This new technology has created an entirely new security risk for businesses and governments. Drone Security Risks Already, rogue groups such as ISIS have used low cost drones to carry explosives in targeted attacks. Using this same method, targeting high profile locations within our borders to create terror and panic is very possible. Security professionals and technologists are working furiously to address the gaps in drone defense. Currently, the most common technologies in use for drone detection are video, acoustic sensors, radio, and air surveillance radar. Each of these has advantages, but they also have flaws that make it difficult to detect drones in all conditions. Both optical and thermal cameras, as well as acoustic sensors, do not operate in severe weather such as fog and snow. And while radio and air surveillance radar cover a wide area of detection, they suffer from high installation costs and limiting technical challenges, such as being unable to detect low flying drones on autopilot. Compact Surveillance Radar (CSR) Compact Surveillance Radar (CSR) is a security technology addressing the problems with other types of detection. CSR, like traditional radar, has the benefit of being able to detect and track foreign objects in all weather conditions, but at a fraction of the size and cost. The compact size allows the radar to be mounted on existing structures or even trees, providing extensive perimeter defense almost anywhere that you can imagine. CSR can also filter out clutter such as birds by using an advanced algorithm reducing the number of false alarms. While the use of CSR and the other detection technologies are legal in the US and in most locations throughout the world, the response mechanisms are generally not. Current regulations in the US prohibit the use of jamming or GPS spoofing in all cases except for a few federal agencies Regulations Limiting Drones Current regulations in the US prohibit the use of jamming or GPS spoofing in all cases except for a few federal agencies. This makes it difficult to stop the damage that drones can cause. The FAA has put into place new regulations that limit some uses of drones. However, in most cases it is still illegal for even state or local governments to stop or interfere with drones other than to locate the operator and have them land the drone. In 2016 the first law to neutralize a drone in the United States was passed in Utah to respond to drones in wildfire areas because of their interference with airborne firefighting. This law may very well provide a model for other states dealing with drones in situations where people’s lives are being put at risk by drones. At the federal level, much effort is being put into evaluating the regulations and technology surrounding the misuse of drones. In the 2016 reauthorization bill for the FAA, Section 2135 included a pilot program for the investigation of methods to mitigate the threat of unmanned aircraft around airports and other critical infrastructure. There are many federal agencies that are evaluating the use of a variety of technologies to respond to this threat. Both optical and thermal cameras, as well as acoustic sensors, do not operate in severe weather such as fog and snow   Effective Countermeasure Technologies The most effective countermeasure for drones is jamming, currently off-limits to the private sector. This includes stadiums, convention centers, and other large gathering areas. A number of companies are developing new response technologies that do not require the use of jammers or hacking. Several companies have developed net guns that shoot a net at an approaching drone. These are only effective at less than 100m and frequently miss the target, especially when the drone is approaching at high speed. Several other companies have taken this method a step further, with drones that capture other drones. Once a radar detects a drone, another defense drone is launched and flies to the point of detection. Then, using video analytics it homes in on the drone and fires a net to disable the drone and take it to a safe location. While this drone capturing technique is still in its infancy, it shows a great deal of promise and will not be restricted in the same fashion as jamming. However, even this solution is difficult under current regulations, as all commercial drones in the US must be under direct control of a human operator within their line of sight. This effectively means that a drone operator is required to be on-site at all times to protect a facility, event, or persons. One thing is for certain, technology will continue to adapt and security companies will continue to invent new methods to protect their facilities and the people they are sworn to protect.

Hoverfly Technologies Inc., global supplier of tether-powered aerial drone systems, is pleased to announce it has engaged retired Deputy Chief of Los Angeles Police Department Mike Hillmann to consult and provide expertise to Hoverfly and public safety officials of cities, counties and special law enforcement agencies who are considering the use of Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) to assist in keeping their cities safe. Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) When incidents and/or events happen, having ‘real-time, situational awareness’ from above the scene is critical to managing risk and upholding public safety “With 24-hour news cycles, a never-ending stream of social media posts, mid-term elections and potential threats to the public at large, getting fast, accurate situational awareness from the air during an incident has never been more important when it comes to keeping the public safe. We are thrilled to have Chief Hillmann advising on use cases and how best to implement and integrate this new technology,” says Hoverfly SVP of Systems, Lew Pincus.  When incidents and/or events happen, having ‘real-time, situational awareness’ from above the scene is critical to managing risk and upholding public safety and the safety of those who serve our communities. Aerial/Drone Surveillance He adds, “We typically have relied on manned aircraft to provide aerial coverage over a variety of incidents. On occasion, those assets have not always been available, deemed too disruptive or too expensive to deploy in certain situations where an aerial view clearly could have helped an incident commander better understand the situation. Deploying small tether-powered, highly portable, unobtrusive persistent cameras positioned high above the scene can now be used as either a standalone capability or integrated system with existing networks, security infrastructure and even manned aircraft.” Hoverfly tether-powered sUAV (Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) systems solve short battery-life problems associated with free-flying dronesToday, Mr. Hillmann is helping chiefs of police, local city and county officials and other public safety personnel understand how Hoverfly’s tether-powered LiveSky systems can be deployed from police or EMS vehicles providing incident commanders with actionable intelligence from high above the scene within minutes of arrival. “Tactically, having the ability to stay in the air monitoring the situation from above for hours, days, even weeks at a time represents an amazing capability we never had before. During my career, I can think of hundreds of situations where having a drone in the air to provide real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance would have helped keep my officers and the community much safer. It’s a force multiplier that should be exploited by public safety,” says Hillmann. Hoverfly’s LiveSky Systems Hoverfly tether-powered sUAV (Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) systems solve short battery-life problems associated with free-flying drones because they operate using a standard 120VAC power source or vehicle inverter. The power, command and control information and video are transmitted over the tether making the entire system completely secure from jamming, hacking or spoofing, ensuring the privacy of the data and improving safety. Perhaps the biggest benefit of Hoverfly systems is they are autonomous and require no piloting skills. The CEO of Hoverfly likes to say, “if you can operate an elevator, you can operate our LiveSky system.” 

Located one hour outside of London, the borough of Runnymede is a local government district with over 80,000 residents in the county of Surrey. It is one of the most prosperous parts of the London commuter belt and home to some of the UK’s most expensive real estate. In order to enhance public safety, the borough council contracted service provider Safer Runnymede. Working with Nottinghamshire-based systems integrator Central Security Systems, the experts installed a platform combining public safety technology with personal safety services such as care solutions for the elderly. Bosch Video Security System Today, Safer Runnymede coordinates all connected solutions in a Control Room in the town of Addlestone, where a staff of three operators monitor security feeds from over 500 security cameras deployed around various boroughs within Surrey. Next to public streets in the area, the flexible system also monitors schools, hospitals and other public buildings around the clock. Every year, the team responds to 20,000 incidents from cameras, and the video security system has proven an asset in monitoring traffic, preventing crime, as well as providing evidence and following suspects after incidents. But achieving this level of integration was a challenge. Connecting the solutions via the BVMS allowed Runnymede to become one of the first councils to invest in a fully IP-based infrastructure Initially, the video security system consisted of hardware from several different manufacturers including Bosch – making updates or replacements a time-consuming process – that was networked on a Bosch Video Recording Management (VRM) solution. Looking for a future-proof and scalable system built on an integrated software platform, the officials in Runnymede tasked Bosch to design a fully IP-based security camera architecture. IP Video Surveillance System Since the Safer Runnymede system already included a Bosch monitor wall plus encoders, cameras, VRM and storage devices, system integrators could leverage the initial investment into a full suite of Bosch solutions. The system now combines new high-resolution AUTODOME IP 4000, AUTODOME IP 7000, MIC IP 7000 moving cameras, and FLEXIDOME IP 7000 fixed cameras, plus older Bosch and third-party analog cameras paired with encoders, decoders, and DIVAR IP 3000, 5000, 6000, and 7000 recorders. Connecting these solutions via the Bosch Video Management System (BVMS) allowed Runnymede to become one of the first councils to invest in a fully IP-based infrastructure. The flexible system design and management has provided an integrated approach to our business delivery" As a result, Safer Runnymede has benefitted from superior image quality delivered by the added network video security cameras, without the need of replacing the complete existing analog video security infrastructure; all in a resilient, easily expandable system at a reduced total cost of ownership (TCO). What’s more, the customer has used the flexibility of Bosch solutions in a deployable video surveillance camera at remote locations. Installed in a custom-built enclosure provided by Central Security Systems, it streams video data from an AUTODOME IP 4000 camera via 4G and sends alerts via SMS to the Control Room upon detecting activity such as illegal waste dumping.  Bosch Video Management System Migrating from a fragmented, analog system to an integrated IP network managed via BVMS (Bosch Video Management System) has proven a forward-facing decision. “The flexible system design and management has provided an integrated approach to our business delivery, allowing us to make better operational decisions and become more dynamic and competitive in the video surveillance marketplace, “says Les Bygrave at Safer Runnymede.

The saying goes that “business is business,” but many experienced executives in this industry have come to learn that a few ounces of compassion and understanding can sometimes be both necessary and appreciated. Operations don't always go as planned; we know that uncontrollable, tragic incidents may occur, and we want to be sure we're there for our customers and partners when they need it the most. This time of need often presents itself during a significant crisis, such as the one Puerto Rico experienced and continues to face from the devastation of two major hurricanes in September 2017. Hurricane Maria, which made landfall on Sept. 20, and was considered a “catastrophic event,” brought intense rain and wind to the island for longer than 30 hours, leaving residents without power, communication and water. TimeQuest Reconfigures Access Control Solutions Vanderbilt dealer TimeQuest Technologies, located in San Juan, was forced to suspend active projects and focus all resources on recovery The destruction and damage to roads, communities and businesses changed the lives of almost everyone involved — with the inability to access supermarkets, banks and gas stations, daily tasks were severely interrupted, and so too were security activities. Vanderbilt dealer TimeQuest Technologies, located in San Juan, was forced to suspend active projects and focus all resources on recovery. With its customers' having lost everything and their buildings destroyed, TimeQuest Technologies Vice President Alberto Cupeles took his team to visit each in person, surveying the need for basic necessities and offering their assistance. As its customers started to begin construction in the aftermath, TimeQuest Technologies was forced to reconfigure and reconstruct its access control systems, software and solutions, while trying to adjust to a shift in electricity and combatting inconsistent power from day to day. Vanderbilt-TimeQuest Collaborate On Disaster Relief Having known Vanderbilt for more than 20 years, Cupeles was grateful for the trustworthy and sympathetic relationship that had developed over time, extending far beyond daily business operations. Both companies worked together to ensure overarching support and commitment to restoration, allowing TimeQuest Technologies to spend its time and effort where it was needed most. “The help we received helped not just our customers but also our families,” Cupeles said. “This wasn't just a business-only situation. There were people in the middle.” Collaborations in the security industry often run deeper than what's seen on the surface; when dealing with an unexpected occurrence, at the end of the day, providing comfort and consideration should always take precedence.

With increased security a priority for school districts across the country, administrators are taking a close look at their technology to ensure it can deliver in an emergency. Concerns over active shooters and other violent scenarios have districts paying attention and putting heightened security measures in place. Christopher Lordi, Director of Administrative Services at Delaware Valley School District in rural, northeast Pennsylvania, knew it was time to upgrade his district’s surveillance technology, so he turned to the integration expertise of Guyette Communications to get the job done. Analog DVR System The outdoor PTZ cameras that panned back and forth were causing them to miss a lot of activity The DVR system that covered Delaware Valley’s seven schools and nine buildings was state-of-the-art when it was installed a decade ago, but it was no longer meeting the district’s needs. Administrators complained that is was difficult to view and manage video from all of the cameras as a unified system. The analog video made it hard to identify faces and see other important details. And the outdoor PTZ cameras that panned back and forth were causing them to miss a lot of activity. “We had a lot of blind spots,” says Chris. Guyette Communications, of Plymouth, PA, has worked with the district for over a decade supporting its technology needs, so Chris looked to them for guidance. Scott Surochak and Rick Scalzo, both of Guyette, recommended a new-to-market VMS, Vicon’s Valerus, that they felt would provide all the features and performance the district sought in a very cost-effective manner. They also recommended that the district abandon their analog cameras and standardize district-wide on higher performance, megapixel IP models. Valerus VMS The significant expense of replacing not just the VMS system, but hundreds of cameras district-wide, required buy-in from the school board. Rick and Scott, along with Vicon’s regional sales manager, Doug Stadler, provided an in-depth demonstration of the capabilities of Vicon’s new Valerus VMS, along with its line of IQeye Alliance cameras, to the school board. The new system would allow them to clearly identify the faces of visitors, read license plates within the school parking lots, eliminate current blind spots throughout the campuses, and easily search video to quickly find evidence of crime or vandalism. Convinced of the long-term value of the investment, the school board gave a green light to proceed. Vicon Fixed And Cruiser Cameras Approximately 400 cameras were installed throughout the district’s nine buildings, almost all of which are Vicon 3MP IQeye Alliance fixed domes Installation began in March 2017 and continued throughout the summer. Approximately 400 cameras were installed throughout the district’s nine buildings, almost all of which are Vicon 3MP IQeye Alliance fixed domes. These provide coverage of all entrances to buildings, busy hallways, and spaces like lunchrooms, auditoriums, playgrounds, parking lots and athletic fields. In addition, Vicon Cruiser domes with 30X optical zoom were installed in each parking lot to capture license plates. To support so many high-resolution cameras transmitting at full frame rates, Guyette installed a dedicated security network capable of handling the bandwidth. All cameras are hard wired with new CAT-6 cabling, which feeds back to CISCO switches and a fiber backbone that runs through each building. Installing Security Network To minimize bandwidth transmission between buildings, Guyette recommended that each school locally record video from its respective cameras. The five lower schools have each been equipped with a single Valerus server that both runs VMS application software and performs as an NVR. The middle school and high school, which share a building, have an application server plus four NVRs to support the higher number of cameras. Because the Valerus VMS software makes exclusive use of a thin-client, there was no need to install software on any workstations. Complete user and administrative functionality is available through a standard web browser interface. Rick says that “Installation went very smoothly. The system works well and it’s easy to navigate and program. I’m used to systems where we have to do everything manually, but with Valerus, it does a lot of things for you. For example, you can copy programming to multiple cameras. Setting up one camera and then copying it to 50 others is a huge time saver.”  “The system is also really easy to update,” he says. “Two new Valerus versions were released during the months we were doing the installation, and we just had to download it once each time to an application server, and then it was automatically pushed out to all the other servers on the network.” Efficient Crime DetectionTwo new Valerus versions were released during the months we were doing the installation, and we just had to download it once each time to an application server" There isn’t a lot of criminal activity in the Delaware Valley School District, thanks to outreach programs that create a collaborative relationship between the school police force, administrators, students and parents. However, sometimes issues do occur, and Valerus has already helped the district solve a theft. Chris describes an incident that occurred while the system was still being installed in the spring of 2017. “There was a theft from one of the administrative offices. The employee thought the office had been locked, but our surveillance video was able to show that it was not and displayed the comings and goings of everyone who entered the office during the time in question. The video quality was so clear that the thief’s face could be identified. The footage was turned over to the local police who were able to apprehend the thief and recover the stolen property. With our old VMS system, the video wouldn’t have provided enough detail for us to identify the culprit.” High-End Video Surveillance Chris says he’d love to say that Valerus’ “museum search” made it possible to find the incriminating video in minutes. However, because the system was just getting installed, not all features were operational yet and his police force had to manually look through hours of video. “The officers are really looking forward to being able to use the search function in the future, now that we’re all up and running. They love how you can draw a box over an area of the video where you know something has happened, and Valerus will do all the work for you,” he says. In speaking about response to crimes and emergencies, Rick adds that because Valerus uses a thin client, the school district has the luxury of easily providing outside law enforcement with access to their system. If they ever needed help from local or state police, like in an active shooter situation, administrators can provide them with a link to the district’s network so that they can better coordinate a response. This would have been impossible with their old system. Ensuring Valerus System’s Functionality The VMS thin-client interface allows the officers to view video from anywhere, including on their phones or tablets Unusual for a district of its size, Delaware Valley has its own, full-time, six-person police force. Among other responsibilities, this force is tasked with monitoring the new Valerus system. Each officer has been equipped with his or her own workstation from which they can monitor the cameras physically located at their assigned schools. Administrators at each building also have access to view local cameras. In addition, a centrally located, district-wide monitoring station has been set up to make it easy for officers and school officials to keep an eye on the district as a whole. Rick Scalzo explains that while the VMS thin-client interface allows the officers to view video from anywhere, including on their phones or tablets, his team recommended the purchase of high-performance, manufacturer-certified PC workstations for each officer’s monitoring station. This was to ensure that these computers would have the necessary processing power to display large numbers of high-resolution camera feeds simultaneously. These workstations are hard wired to the network to provide the fastest and most reliable connectivity to the application server. Chris Lordi says that the district has also provided all officers with iPhone 6s, which they use regularly to monitor what’s happening at their buildings. License Plate Recognition And PTZ Cameras One of the capabilities that the district required of the new system is the ability to read license plates of vehicles entering or exiting school grounds. Officers are able to take control of the PTZ cameras in each parking lot and zoom in on the plates of any vehicles of interest. This can even be done via the iPhone interface. Chris explains that it has not been necessary to integrate Valerus with any special license plate recognition (LPR) software because his team of police officers has immediate access to databases where they can look up plates as needed. However, this integration is currently available for Valerus customers and can help automate the process for those who need it.  Intruder Detection  They want top-notch safety, and Valerus delivers that" Chris says that “Our school board takes safety and security very seriously, so for them, this significant investment was justified as soon as we showed them what it can do. They want top-notch safety, and Valerus delivers that. Buy-in from teachers, and the union, who have expressed reservations over the placement of many new cameras that didn’t previously exist, has required additional communication and education. Both Chris and Rick have made it very clear that the upgraded system is not for the purpose of intimidating or keeping closer watch on employees as they perform their daily jobs. Our main concern is thwarting security threats and keeping everybody safe. The additional cameras and new software might help us break up a fight or address bullying issues, but it’s also important for much more serious situations, like dealing with an active shooter or act of terrorism. Now we can use cameras to follow an intruder throughout our buildings, and that can help us keep everyone safe while we apprehend him.” Chris says that “When we put it like that, everyone gets on board.” Counter Terror Chris is extremely appreciative of the support Guyette Communications has provided throughout this project, including individually training each school principal as their building was completed. “I can’t stress how well Guyette has delivered for us. They’re flexible, reliable and compassionate, and they’ve been a true partner at every step of the way. I’d recommend Guyette to anybody.” With school back in session, and the district’s police force busy implementing its many safety programs, Chris looks forward to another school year without any major security incidents. However, with a new Valerus system and high-resolution cameras in place, he knows he now has not only the right people but the right technology to handle any crisis.

With a number of terrorist attacks having taken place around the world in the past days, city surveillance has become a crucial issue with top priority for the local and central governments. Surveon city solutions provide product lines including high reliability cameras with excellent image quality, feature-rich VMS with video analytics function, and RAID NVR with large storage capacity for 365+ days non-stopping recording. These comprehensive solutions help governments to build good foundations to improve social order, crack down on crimes, and protect citizens from horrible attacks. High Reliability Cameras Generally speaking, the governments might encounter some major challenges when designing a suitable surveillance system, such as heat, humidity, and temperature changes in outdoor environment. Under such circumstances, Surveon provides cameras with excellent image quality and lowest RMA rate to handle all kinds of outdoor condition. "Surveon’s industrial designed and 100% own manufactured cameras have made us feel confident about this project. The cameras are now being used for a few years with an average failure rate of less than 0.03% which is really impressive." said Chan, the surveillance project manager of Kaohsiung. Surveon NVRs provide large capacities for 365+ days non-stopping recording, extended IP storage, and RAID function for zero video loss RAID NVRs The data retention of recorded video is particularly important to the planning and acceptance of city projects. Surveon NVRs provide large capacities for 365+ days non-stopping recording, extended IP storage, and RAID function for zero video loss. Enterprise VMS In addition, Surveon intuitive VMS offers features such as video analytics, offering police units powerful yet easy to use solutions for city surveillance. By paired with Surveon enterprise VMS, the solutions provide robust prevention, preparedness, detection, and quick response measures. Surveon city solutions have been successfully applied in some major cities in Taiwan and Mongolia. “With Surveon’s E2E solutions, from 3-megapixel IP66 cameras, hardware RAID NVR, clustered storage, to enterprise VMS, we are now better equipped to monitor the entire district and protect the community against illegal activities.” said the Sükhbaatar district police officer in Mongolia.

Gatwick Airport is the UK’s second largest airport and the most efficient single-runway airport in the world. It serves more than 228 destinations in 74 countries for 45 million passengers a year on short and long-haul point-to-point services. It is also a major economic driver for the UK, contributing £5.3 billion to national GDP and generating 85,000 jobs nationally. As a key national infrastructure and major transport hub, Gatwick Airport takes the challenge of maintaining the safety and security of its passengers, visitors and employees seriously. It delivers on this challenge through people and process change, combined with powerful technology enablement and a standardized set of operational procedures and ways of working. This brings together the airport security and operations teams, Sussex Police, Border Force and many more interested parties. Qognify Situator is the technology enabler at the heart of the Gatwick Airport Integrated Security project Gatwick Airport Integrated Security The aim of the Gatwick Airport Integrated Security project was to use all available security elements to deliver a fully automated and rapid response solution for this state-of-the-art facility. Qognify Situator is the technology enabler at the heart of the Gatwick Airport Integrated Security project. It provides a consolidated view and full management of any situation or emergency. The additional integration of Qognify’s Suspect Search real-time video analytics proprietary software to this closely integrated network of security systems, means Gatwick Airport is now able to rapidly identify and pinpoint a suspected criminal/terrorist, or find a lost person in real-time.  Suspect Search Real-time Video Analytics A key aim of the project was the standardization of operations and management across the airport. Security teams throughout the terminals and facilities collaborate effectively, ensuring the full safety of people and assets, along with full compliance and auditing abilities. The whole project helps to support smooth operations and minimize downtime in an intensely busy environment. The power of the CCTV solution is that it gives Gatwick Airport superior situational awareness" By using a combination of Qognify’s situational management and real-time video analytics solutions, the airport has the most powerful, automated and rapid response security system. From fighting terrorism, to combatting crime, or locating misplaced items and even finding a lost child, the security team at Gatwick Airport can now identify any issue and mobilize to wherever it is needed faster than ever before. Robin Lomax, IT Project Manager, CCTV Refresh Project Gatwick Airport explains: “The power of the CCTV solution is that it gives Gatwick Airport superior situational awareness and allows us to command, adapt and respond to any security event, before, during and after it occurs. It enables a quicker speed of response; a more appropriate size of response and it allows us to play back and learn lessons from the incident after the fact.”