Counter Terror

RealNetworks Inc.’s SAFR, globally renowned company in the field of facial recognition technology and computer vision platform for live video, has announced the appointment of Eric Hess as Senior Director of Product Management. In this new position, Hess will lead the product strategy and will be responsible for expanding and accelerating the core SAFR application globally, with a particular emphasis on the public safety and gaming markets. Video analytics and facial recognition  Eric Hess is a well-known expert in the use of video analytics and facial recognition technologies Eric Hess is a well-known expert in the use of video analytics and facial recognition technologies for expedient resolution of criminal investigations, surveillance, loss prevention, and identity solutions. Prior to joining SAFR, Hess served as the Senior Director of Video Analytics for IDEMIA, globally renowned company in biometric solutions. He also held senior sales and product management positions at MorphoTrak, and NEC’s Global Center of Excellence for Face Recognition. As a former Port of Seattle police officer, Hess has a unique appreciation for the mission and challenges of law enforcement and public safety customers. Commercial and public safety “We are very pleased to welcome Eric to the SAFR team,” said Dan Grimm, Vice President and General Manager of Computer Vision at RealNetworks. “He brings a unique mix of operational experience, technical background, and business acumen to ensure the successful adoption of facial recognition and video analytics across wide-ranging commercial and public safety projects.” “I am excited to join SAFR at a time when computer vision solutions are truly gaining momentum,” Hess said. “Advances in machine learning and cost reductions in computing power enable SAFR to bring solutions to public safety and commercial markets not previously served — improving school safety, enhancing security for public transportation and air travel, and reducing risk and liability for commercial venues where society gathers. Facial recognition can be a force for good and can be applied to help make life safer and more convenient.” Crime-prevention tactics expert As a recognized industry expert, Hess has been a speaker at numerous law enforcement and industry events, including INTERPOL, the Law Enforcement Video Association International (LEVA), the International Association for Identification (IAI), King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and, most recently, at the U.S. Secret Service’s Electronic Crimes Task Force in Oakland, California, USA.

Sepura has been shortlisted for “Large Business of the Year” at the Cambridge News Business Excellence Awards 2020, a reward for achieving record revenues through significant sales around the world, including in the UK, the Netherlands, USA, Canada and Oman. The decision to recognize Sepura’s success is a milestone in their recovery from a challenging financial position, resulting in Hytera Communications purchasing them in 2017. Since then, the company has succeeded in bringing state-of-the-art technologies and products to the market, achieving outstanding commercial success and recording year-on-year revenue growth. TETRA radio fleet Highlights of 2019 include – a new TETRA radio fleet for London’s Metropolitan Police Service Highlights of 2019 include – a new TETRA radio fleet for London’s Metropolitan Police Service – also Sepura’s largest ever European order; delivering new radios to their local force Cambridgeshire Police; winning 100% market share for police TETRA radios in the Netherlands; supplying a communications system into Heathrow Airport; and winning global business in Nepal, Singapore, Brazil and Australia, amongst others. In the UK, Sepura have increased their market share to 65% of police radios, with over 85,000 radios recently ordered by UK police forces as they refresh their current radio fleets. The company’s radios are also used in NHS ambulances and regional air ambulance forces around the country. SC Series TETRA radios In total, Sepura shipped a record number of their SC Series TETRA radios worldwide in 2019. To complement the radios they developed innovative software products to help drive customers’ efficiencies and an applications environment to enhance this capability. Steve Barber, CEO at Sepura, outlined the reasons for Sepura’s success in the past 18 months, “By ensuring that we have an outstanding team in place around the world, we can engage with each customer on a personal level, ensuring that we understand their needs before proposing solutions that match these requirements. In this manner we have been able to deliver world class solutions that our competition has not been able to match.” Cambridge News Business Excellence Awards 2020 HR Director at Sepura, Joe McHugh said, “Sepura is a Cambridge success story again; an SME dominating the European market and winning significant business at home and overseas against the competition of multi-billion dollar global technology companies, delivering more than 30% worldwide market share. Joe adds, “Our dynamic, focused teams have provided creative support to our customers, resulting in Sepura winning significant new business, substantially growing the business and cementing our customer base.” The Cambridge News Business Excellence Awards winners are announced at the Awards Dinner at Kings College in the United Kingdom on March 19th.

Counter Terror Expo (CTX), UK’s networking event for security professionals from industry, infrastructure, government and policing, has released its inaugural Counter Terror Industry Survey report, summarizing the conclusions of the counter-terror survey conducted by the CTX team in November 2019. The report compiles findings obtained from public and private sector security professionals on the current state of counter-terrorism in the UK. Issues facing the counter-terror industry Survey respondents from police and law enforcement, ambulance, fire and rescue, military and industry were asked questions across a range of issues facing the counter-terror industry. Issues addressed include how successful respondents feel that UK stakeholders are in countering terrorist threats; levels of concern regarding the threat from state and non-state actors; awareness of government counter-terror strategies and their effectiveness; and preparedness levels for attacks among the UK government, business and industry. In the UK we face an evolving terror threat which is changing beyond expectations" The report’s findings provide insight into the views of security professionals, and offer an opportunity for all stakeholders to further understand the current perceptions of counter-terrorism issues, and where partnerships need to focus their efforts. Evolving terror threat “In the UK we face an evolving terror threat which, as the tragic events of 2017 illustrated, is changing beyond expectations,” Scott Fyfe Wilson, Director Crisis Management Solutions (Formerly, National Co-ordinator Protect and Prepare, National Counter Terrorism Policing), commented in the report foreword. “It involves more individuals, including the vulnerable and volatile, in less coherent, more atomized structures connected across the world.” “This larger scale operation utilizes ever more simplistic tactics to attack increasingly soft targets. Although the UK threat level has recently been lowered from “Severe” to “Substantial”, the risk of a terrorist attack remains high. We can only keep our communities safe by working together. A change of mindset is underway: protecting our communities is not a task only for the police, it’s one for all to embrace, businesses, security professionals and the general public.”

The Security Industry Association (SIA) has announced that – as part of its efforts to build presence and relationships internationally on issues related to perimeter security – it will partner with the Perimeter Security Suppliers Association (PSSA) to produce a two-day InterAct workshop. SIA CEO Don Erickson will lead a contingent of SIA members, representatives from U.S. government agencies and researchers to join with the United Kingdom-based PSSA in hosting this workshop Jan. 29-30 in Birmingham, England. Hostile vehicle mitigation, blast protection On Wednesday, Jan. 29, presenters from the UK will address topics including hostile vehicle mitigation, blast protection and international trade opportunities. The event is SIA’s initiative to foster international cooperation and addresses the threat of vehicle-based attacks On Thursday, Jan. 30, presenters from the United States will address topics including the size and composition of the American barrier market, IWA versus ASTM test standards, the requirements of the Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies Act (SAFETY Act) for offshore manufacturers and anti-terrorist measures on government campuses. Two-day InterAct workshop “This collaborative event is part of SIA’s initiatives to foster international cooperation and addresses the serious threat of vehicle-based attacks,” said Don Erickson, SIA CEO. He adds, “The idea for this event was surfaced during our October 2019 Capitol Hill Symposium on Vehicular Terrorism, so my thanks to Paul Jeffrey, chairman of the PSSA, and Rob Reiter, chairman of SIA’s Perimeter Security Subcommittee, for their many months of work to help develop this partnership event.”

Insider threat programs started with counter-espionage cases in the government. Today, insider threat programs have become a more common practice in all industries, as companies understand the risks associated with not having one. To build a program, you must first understand what an insider threat is. An insider threat is an employee, contractor, visitor or other insider who have been granted physical or logical access to a company that can cause extensive damage. Damage ranges from emotional or physical injury, to personnel, financial and reputational loss to data loss/manipulation or destruction of assets. Financial and confidential information While malicious insiders only make up 22% of the threats, they have the most impact on an organization Most threats are derived from the accidental insider. For example, it’s the person who is working on a competitive sales pitch on an airplane and is plugging in financial and confidential information. They are working hard, yet their company’s information is exposed to everyone around them. Another type of insider, the compromised insider, is the person who accidentally downloaded malware when clicking on a fake, urgent email, exposing their information. Malicious insiders cause the greatest concerns. These are the rogue employees who may feel threatened. They may turn violent or take action to damage the company. Or you have the criminal actor employees who are truly malicious and have been hired or bribed by another company to gather intel. Their goal is to gather data and assets to cause damage for a specific purpose. While malicious insiders only make up 22% of the threats, they have the most impact on an organization. They can cause brand and financial damage, along with physical and mental damage. Insider threat program Once you determine you need an insider threat program, you need to build a business case and support it with requirements. Depending on your industry, you can start with regulatory requirements such as HIPAA, NERC CIP, PCI, etc. Talk to your regulator and get their input. Everyone needs to be onboard, understand the intricacies of enacting a program Next, get a top to bottom risk assessment to learn your organization’s risks. A risk assessment will help you prioritize your risks and provide recommendations about what you need to include in your program. Begin by meeting with senior leadership, including your CEO to discuss expectations. Creating an insider threat program will change the company culture, and the CEO must understand the gravity of his/her decision before moving forward. Everyone needs to be onboard, understand the intricacies of enacting a program and support it before its implemented. Determining the level of monitoring The size and complexity of your company will determine the type of program needed. One size does not fit all. It will determine what technologies are required and how much personnel is needed to execute the program. The company must determine what level of monitoring is needed to meet their goals. After the leadership team decides, form a steering committee that includes someone from legal, HR and IT. Other departments can join as necessary. This team sets up the structure, lays out the plan, determines the budget and what type of technologies are needed. For small companies, the best value is education. Educate your employees about the program, build the culture and promote awareness. Teach employees about the behaviors you are looking for and how to report them. Behavioral analysis software Every company is different and you need to determine what will gain employee support The steering committee will need to decide what is out of scope. Every company is different and you need to determine what will gain employee support. The tools put in place cannot monitor employee productivity (web surfing). That is out of scope and will disrupt the company culture. What technology does your organization need to detect insider threats? Organizations need software solutions that monitor, aggregate and analyze data to identify potential threats. Behavioral analysis software looks at patterns of behavior and identifies anomalies. Use business intelligence/data analytics solutions to solve this challenge. This solution learns the normal behavior of people and notifies security staff when behavior changes. This is done by setting a set risk score. Once the score crosses a determined threshold, an alert is triggered. Case and incident management tools Predictive analytics technology reviews behaviors and identifies sensitive areas of companies (pharmacies, server rooms) or files (HR, finance, development). If it sees anomalous behavior, it can predict behaviours. It can determine if someone is going to take data. It helps companies take steps to get ahead of bad behavior. If an employee sends hostile emails, they are picked up and an alert is triggered User sentiment detection software can work in real time. If an employee sends hostile emails, they are picked up and an alert is triggered. The SOC and HR are notified and security dispatched. Depending on how a company has this process set-up, it could potentially save lives. Now that your organization has all this data, how do you pull it together? Case and incident management tools can pool data points and create threat dashboards. Cyber detection system with access control An integrated security system is recommended to be successful. It will eliminate bubbles and share data to see real-time patterns. If HR, security and compliance departments are doing investigations, they can consolidate systems into the same tool to have better data aggregation. Companies can link their IT/cyber detection system with access control. Deploying a true, integrated, open system provides a better insider threat program. Big companies should invest in trained counterintelligence investigators to operate the program. They can help identify the sensitive areas, identify who the people are that have the most access to them, or are in a position to do the greatest amount of harm to the company and who to put mitigation plans around to protect them. They also run the investigations. Potential risky behavior Using the right technology along with thorough processes will result in a successful program You need to detect which individuals are interacting with information systems that pose the greatest potential risk. You need to rapidly and thoroughly understand the user’s potential risky behavior and the context around it. Context is important. You need to decide what to investigate and make it clear to employees. Otherwise you will create a negative culture at your company. Develop a security-aware culture. Involve the crowd. Get an app so if someone sees something they can say something. IT should not run the insider threat program. IT is the most privileged department in an organization. If something goes wrong with an IT person, they have the most ability to do harm and cover their tracks. They need to be an important partner, but don’t let them have ownership and don’t let their administrators have access. Educating your employees and creating a positive culture around an insider threat program takes time and patience. Using the right technology along with thorough processes will result in a successful program. It’s okay to start small and build.

Global and domestic threats have highlighted the need for tighter security across all verticals. One of the technologies that has redefined situational awareness and intrusion detection is thermal imaging. Once a technology exclusively manufactured for the military operations, thermal cameras today are deployed across hundreds of security applications and continue to see strong demand in existing and emerging commercial markets. With thermal technology, security personnel can see in complete darkness as well as in light fog, smoke and rain Technology Overview And Early Adoption What distinguishes thermal cameras from optical sensors is their ability to produce images based on infrared energy, or heat, rather than light. By measuring the heat signatures of all objects and capturing minute differences between them, thermal cameras produce clear, sharp video despite unfavorable environmental conditions. With thermal technology, security personnel can see in complete darkness as well as in light fog, smoke and rain. Originally a military developed, commercially qualified technology, the first thermal cameras for military and aircraft use appeared in the 1950s. By the 1960s, the technology had been declassified and the first thermal camera for commercial use was introduced. However, it wasn’t until the late 1990s - when FLIR Systems introduced a camera with an uncooled thermal detector - when the technology began to see substantial adoption beyond government defense deployments. Installations At Critical Infrastructure Sites In the 2000s, industrial companies were some of the first adopters of thermal, using the technology for predictive maintenance to monitor overheating and machine malfunctions. In the years following the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001, there was an increase in thermal camera installations across critical infrastructure sites. Stricter security requirements drove the deployment of thermal cameras for perimeter protection, especially in the nuclear power sector. Thermal cameras produce clear video in daylight, low light or no light scenarios and their sharp images result in higher performing analytics In 2010, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Committee released its 73.55 policy, which states nuclear facilities must “provide continuous surveillance, observation and monitoring” as a means to enhance threat detection and deterrence efforts onsite. Because thermal cameras produce clear video in daylight, low light or no light scenarios and because their sharp images result in higher performing analytics, thermal cameras quickly became the preferred option for nuclear facilities. Likewise, following the 2013 sniper attack on PG&E Corporation’s Metcalf transmission substation, the Federal Energy Regulation Commission introduced the Critical Infrastructure Protection Standard 014 (CIP-014). The policy requires utilities to identify threats to mission critical assets and implement a security system to mitigate those risks. This statute also led to more thermal installations in the utility sector as thermal cameras’ long-range capabilities are ideal for detection of approaching targets beyond the fence line. The demand from both industrial and critical infrastructure entities, as well as other factors, helped drive volume production and price reduction for thermal, making the technology more accessible to the commercial security marketplace. Commercial Applications In recent years, the increasing affordability of thermal cameras along with the introduction of new thermal offerings has opened the door to new commercial applications for the technology. In the past, thermal cameras were designed for applications with enormous perimeters, where the camera needed to detect a human from 700 meters away. Locations like car dealerships, marinas and construction supply facilities can be protected by precise target detection, thermal analytic cameras providing an early warning to security personnel Today, there are thermal cameras specifically designed for short- to mid-range applications. Developed for small to medium enterprises, these thermal cameras ensure property size and security funds are no longer barriers to adoption. Lumber yards, recreation fields and sports arenas are some of the commercial applications now able to implement thermal cameras for 24-hour monitoring and intrusion detection. Affordable thermal cameras with onboard analytics have become attractive options for commercial businesses Innovation And Advancements Innovation and advancements in the core technology have also spurred growth in thermal camera deployment, providing faster image processing, higher resolution, greater video analytic capabilities and better camera performance. In particular, affordable thermal cameras with onboard analytics have become attractive options for commercial businesses that need outdoor, wide area protection. Car dealerships, marinas and construction supply locations all store valuable merchandise and materials outside. Without protection, these assets are vulnerable to vandalism and theft. However, by providing precise target detection, thermal analytic cameras provide an early warning to security personnel so that they can intervene before a crime is committed. By helping to deter just one incident, the thermal solution delivers a clear ROI. New Market Opportunities Not only are there more thermal cameras in use today than ever before, but there are also more thermal sensors being integrated with other multi-sensor systems, driving the adoption of thermal in new markets. For large perimeter surveillance applications, thermal is repeatedly being integrated with radar and drones to expand situational awareness beyond the point of fixed cameras. Users get immediate, accurate alerts of approaching targets and evidentiary class video for target assessment In the commercial market, thermal imagers are combined with optical sensors, analytics and LED illuminators into one solution that integrates with central monitoring station platforms. By bringing these technologies together, users get immediate, accurate alerts of approaching targets and evidentiary class video for target assessment. The result is a lower number of false positives, reducing the total cost of ownership for the solution. These multi-sensor solutions also feature two-way audio capabilities, which enable remote security officers to act as “virtual guards” and speak to intruders in real-time to dissuade them from illegal activity. The introduction of solutions that integrate all these state-of-the-art technologies under one unit reduces the amount of capital and infrastructure needed for deployment. Consequently, more small businesses and alarm monitoring companies can implement advanced perimeter security technologies like thermal sensors, some for the very first time. Thermal cameras have gone from military defense devices to widespread commercial security cameras Multi-Sensor Thermal Solutions Multi-sensor solutions featuring thermal are quickly gaining traction and opening the door to new business opportunities for the security channel. One of the primary reasons for the strong market interest in these systems is they enable integrators to increase their recurring monthly revenue (RMR). With intense price competition and eroding margins on CCTV equipment, integrators have to rely on RMR to grow their businesses. Offering remote video monitoring services and virtual guarding technologies is one of the best ways to do so.  Additionally, there is a clear demand for it. Central stations are continually looking for new technologies to offer their customers and businesses are interested in economical alternatives to physical guards. In conclusion, thermal cameras have gone from military defense devices to widespread commercial security cameras that are a substantial segment of the outdoor security protection market. From nuclear power plants to construction locations, thermal technology is being implemented to secure sites around the globe.

Governments and corporations face crisis events every day. An active shooter terrorizes a campus. A cyber extortionist holds a city for ransom. A hurricane washes away a key manufacturing facility. Not all critical events rise to the level of these catastrophic emergencies, but a late or inadequate response to even a minor incident can put people, operations and reputations at risk. Effective Response Plan In 2015, for example, the City of Boston experienced several record-breaking snowstorms that forced the city to close the subway system for three days. The extreme decision cost the state $265 million per day and was largely attributed to a lack of preparation and an inadequate response plan by the transportation department. The reputation of the head of the transportation department was so damaged by the decision she was forced to resign. Being able to better predict how the storms would impact the subway system’s aging infrastructure – and having a more effective response plan in place – could have saved the state hundreds of millions of dollars (not to mention the transit chief’s job). A comprehensive critical event management strategy begins before the impact of an event is felt and continues after the immediate crisis has ended. This full lifecycle strategy can be broken into four distinct phases – Assess, Locate, Act and Analyze. Assessing Threats For Prevention Security teams might have complained about not having enough intelligence data to make accurate predictionsIdentifying a threat before it reaches critical mass and understanding how it might impact vital assets is the most difficult challenge facing security professionals. In the past, security teams might have complained about not having enough intelligence data to make accurate predictions. Today, the exact opposite might be true – there is too much data! With crime and incident data coming from law enforcement agencies, photos and videos coming from people on the front line, topics trending on social media and logistical information originating from internal systems it can be almost impossible to locate a real signal among all the noise and chatter. Being able to easily visualize all this intelligence data within the context of an organization’s assets is vital to understand the relationship between threat data and the individuals or facilities in harm’s way. Social Media Monitoring Free tools like Google Maps or satellite imagery from organizations like AccuWeather, for example, can help understand how fast a storm is closing in on a manufacturing facility, or how close an active shooter is to a school. Their usefulness, however, is limited to a few event types and they provide only a very macro view of the crisis. Data from building access systems, wifi hotspots, corporate travel systems, among others, can be used to create a profile Critical event management (CEM) platforms, however, are designed specifically to manage critical events of all types and provide much greater visibility. Internal and external data sources (weather, local and national emergency management, social media monitoring software, security cameras, etc.) are integrated into these platforms and their data is visualised on a threat map. Security teams can quickly see if there are actual threats to the organizations or communities they are protecting and don’t lose time trying to make sense of intelligence reports. The more they can see on a ‘single pane of glass,’ the faster they can initiate the appropriate response. Locating A Threat Once a threat has been deemed a critical event, the next step is to find the people who might be impacted – employees/residents in danger, first responders and key stakeholders (e.g., senior executives or elected officials who need status updates). Often, this requires someone on the security team to access an HR contact database and initiate a call tree to contact each person individually, in a specific hierarchical order. This can be a time-consuming and opaque process. There is no information on the proximity of that person to the critical event, or if a person has skills such as CPR that could aid in the response. Ensuring ahead of time that certifications, skill sets, or on-call availability is included with contact information can save valuable time in the middle of a crisis response. Going even further, data from building access systems, wifi hotspots, corporate travel systems, among others, can be used to create a profile of where a person just was and where he or she might be going in a CEM platform. This information can be visualized on the threat map and help determine who is actually in danger and who can respond the fastest. The emergency response then becomes targeted and more effective. Security teams can quickly see if there are actual threats to the organizations or communities they are protecting Acting And Automating The third step is to act and automate processes. If there is a tornado closing in on a town, for example, residents should not have to wait for manual intervention before a siren is activated or a message sent out. Organizations can build and execute their standing operating procedures (SOPs) fully within a CEM platform. Sirens, alarms, digital signs and messages can all be automatically activated based on event type, severity and location. Using the tornado example, an integration with a weather forecasting service could trigger the command to issue a tornado warning for a specific community if it is in the path of the storm. Summon Security Guards Warning messages can be prepared in advance based on event type so there is no chance of issuing a misleading or unclear alert Warning messages can be prepared in advance based on event type so there is no chance of issuing a misleading or unclear alert. All communications with impacted individuals can be centralized within the platform and automated based on SOP protocols. This also includes inbound communications from first responders and impacted individuals. An employee confronted by an assailant in a parking garage could initiate an SOS alert from his or her mobile phone that would automatically summon security guards to the scene. Conference lines can also be instantly created to enable collaboration and speed response time. Additionally, escalation policies are automatically engaged if a protocol is broken. For example, during an IT outage, if the primary network engineer does not respond in two minutes, a designated backup is automatically summoned. Eliminating manual steps from SOPs reduces the chance for human error and increases the speed and effectiveness of critical event responses. Analysis Of A Threat Looking for ways to better prepare and respond to critical events will not only improve performance when similar events occur again It’s not uncommon for security and response teams to think that a critical event is over once the immediate crisis has ended. After all, they are often the ones pushing themselves to exhaustion and sometimes risking life and limb to protect their neighbours, colleagues, community reputations and company brands. They need and deserve a rest. In the aftermath of a critical event, however, it’s important to review the effectiveness of the response and look for ways to drive improvements. Which tasks took too long? What resources were missing? How many times did people respond quickly? With a CEM platform, team performance, operational response, benchmarking data and notification analysis are all captured within the system and are available in a configurable dashboard or in after-action reports for analysis. Continuously looking for ways to better prepare and respond to critical events will not only improve performance when similar events occur again, but it will also improve response effectiveness when unforeseen events strike. Coordinate Emergency Response Virtually every organization has some form of response plan to triage a critical event and restore community order or business operations. While many of these plans are highly effective in providing a structure to command and coordinate emergency response, they are reactive in nature and don’t account for the full lifecycle of a critical event – Assess, Locate, Act and Analyze. Whether it’s a large-scale regional emergency or a daily operational issue such as an IT outage, a comprehensive critical event management strategy will minimize the impact by improving visibility, collaboration and response.

Security’s intersection with consumer electronics is on view at CES 2020, the world’s largest technology event, Jan. 7-10 in Las Vegas. The giant show features more than 170,000 attendees, 4,500 exhibitors and 1,100 industry thought-leaders featured on the CES stage. A range of technologies will be on display, from artificial intelligence (AI) to 5G, vehicle technology to AR/VR (augmented and virtual reality), robotics to home automation. Security plays a prominent role, too.The impact of this event for the smart home could be about delivering home analytics and enhancing privacy" Smart home market on the forefront The smart home market is a major focus. “For the smart home market at CES this year, we expect to see numerous announcements regarding home awareness,” says Blake Kozak, Senior Principal Analyst at IHS Markit. “This will include brands offering up additional analytics for consumer security cameras with a focus on edge-based solutions.” “The impact of this [event] for the smart home could be about delivering home analytics and enhancing privacy through cloudless architectures and new electronic door lock approaches,” he adds. An example of cloud analytics is the Resideo Home app, introduced in December, which will make whole-home monitoring possible for four critical networks of the home – water, air, energy and security. Resideo promises a “simplified and integrated smart home experience.” Video is also prominent at the show. “For cameras, we can expect to see more cameras focused on the outdoor space and possibly new form factors for video doorbells,” says Kozak. Familiar security industry brands exhibiting at CES 2020 include ADT, Ring, August Home and Yale (both part of ASSA ABLOY), Bosch and Alarm.com. Focus on Cybersecurity In 2020, companies will continue to focus on solutions for protecting consumer data" Cybersecurity is an aspect of many of the devices on display at CES. “Device security and data privacy play a key role in the adoption of connected devices,” says Elizabeth Parks, President, Parks Associates. “Consumer security concerns for smart home products will continue to be a barrier to adoption in the U.S. and Europe, and these concerns can actually intensify with device adoption-71% of U.S. smart home households are concerned about cybersecurity. In 2020, companies will continue to focus on solutions for protecting consumer data. One big area of interest is protection on the network router, providing whole home solutions, which are very appealing to consumers.” “At CES we will see the traditional players introducing new DIY (do-it-yourself) products, as well as new players announcing new product features, services, and partnerships,” Parks adds. Smart access control Smart locks will be among the security products at CES 2020. For example, PassiveBolt, a lock company, will show the Shepherd Lock, a touch-enabled smart lock with enhanced security through sensors and AI. The add-on lock converts existing locksets into touch-activated devices. Another lock manufacturer is Kwikset, whose door locks and door hardware include Wi-Fi-enabled smart locks, Bluetooth-enabled smart locks, keyless and keyway-less locks and connected home technology. Video doorbells, including industry-innovator Ring, have been a hit in the consumer market. At CES, Ring will expand the mission to make neighborhoods safer by creating a “Ring of Security” around homes and communities with a suite of home security products and services. The “Neighbors by Ring” app enables affordable, complete, proactive home and neighborhood security. Homeguard offers a range of affordable CCTV solutions for home and small business DIY CCTV demonstrations DIY security systems are another market. Homeguard is a leading DIY consumer brand offering a range of affordable CCTV solutions for home and small business, including wired and wireless CCTV kits, smart cameras, home alarm systems and wire-free HD CCTV kits. Swann Communications is also at the forefront of surveillance and monitoring with new products developments including wire-free HD cameras and doorbells, professional CCTV video surveillance systems, and 1080p full HD systems with “True Detect” heat and motion sensing. AVTECH, and subsidiary YesGo Tech, will demonstrate a compact Wi-Fi home security set, a series of special cameras with face recognition, thermal detection and license plate recognition, customized central management software and a university ID tag that is compatible with access control, OEM and ODM opportunities. Security and automation solutions D-Link’s home networking, security and automation solutions will help consumers connect, view, share, entertain, work and play. SECO-LARM, manufacturer of a Room Occupancy Monitor that shows whether a room is in use, has a line of keypads and proximity readers with built-in Bluetooth for convenient access. Another smart home security solutions provider, Climax Technology, integrates wireless security, home automation, energy management, home emergency monitoring and live visual monitoring. Personal safety mobile application Manufacturers are positioning outdoor cameras as deterrents to theft before a burglary happens" WaryMe designs and develops a personal safety mobile application to improve a user’s security in public places, schools, transports and companies by addressing major risks such as terrorism attacks, intrusion, fire and even industrial accidents. An all-in-one mobile application integrates alerting, crisis management and mass notification features. “Market players are looking to expand beyond established smart home devices like smart thermostats and networked cameras to products like smart water leak detectors, smart pet feeders, and smart air purifiers,” says Elizabeth Parks. “Manufacturers are positioning outdoor cameras as deterrents to theft before a burglary happens. This trend is part of a broader security marketing effort to extend the perimeter of home security beyond traditional home access points.” “Familiarity with smart home devices lags behind familiarity with smart entertainment products; it even lags that of smart speakers, which are quite new in the market,” adds Parks. “In 2020, we will see players working to advance the visibility and marketing around device integration, and specifically focus on use case scenarios around safety, security, and convenience, which have always been the primary drivers of adoption of these types of products.”

The UK Government has been working to reduce the risks associated with illegal drone use since a high-profile incident at UK’s Gatwick Airport in December 2018, when a drone sighting triggered a three-day shutdown of the UK’s second busiest airport, disrupting the travel plans of 140,000 people and affecting 1,000 flights. To address growing security threats by drones, the UK Government has released its ‘Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Strategy’. ‘Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Strategy’ This strategy sets out our approach to countering the threat the malicious or negligent use of drones can bring" “This strategy sets out our approach to countering the threat the malicious or negligent use of drones can bring,” says Brandon Lewis, the U.K. Minister of State for Security. “It will provide the security the public and drone users require to continue to enjoy the benefits of leisure and commercial drone use and facilitate the growth of the drone industry.” “Given the challenge posed by rapid advances in drone technology and the potential threat, the strategy will provide overarching direction to our efforts,” says Lewis. The strategy focuses on ‘small drones’, those weighing less than 20 kg (44 pounds). Countering malicious use of aerial drones The UK Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Strategy centers on mitigating the highest-harm domestic risks resulting from malicious use of aerial drones. They are: Facilitating terrorist attacks, such as modifying commercially-available drones to conduct reconnaissance or attacks. Facilitating crime, especially in prisons, where drones are currently used to deliver contraband. Disrupting critical national infrastructure, such as airports, where a malicious incursion using a drone can have serious safety, security and economic consequences. Potential use by hostile state actors. Maximizing benefits of drone technology The initiative will also look to build strong relationships with industry to ensure high security standards Over the next three years, the strategy will seek to reduce the risks posed by the highest-harm use of drones while maximizing the benefits of drone technology. It will develop a comprehensive understanding of evolving risks and take a “full spectrum” approach to deter, detect and disrupt the misuse of drones. The initiative will also look to build strong relationships with industry to ensure high security standards. Further, promoting access to counter-drone capabilities and effective legislation, training and guidance will empower the police and other operational responders. Tactical response to drone-based threats Because technology is rapidly evolving, the response needs to keep pace, according to the strategy document. Lewis adds, “We will therefore work to understand how drone-based threats might evolve in the future, both at the tactical and strategic levels.”  The strategy will be to build an end-to-end approach to tackling the highest-harm criminal use of drones. It will also work to make it easier to identify malicious drone use against a backdrop of increased legitimate use. Legal drone operators will be required to register with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and to pass an online competency test before flying a drone. Retailers who follow a specific set of safety guidelines when selling drones will be designated ‘DroneSafe’. Unmanned traffic management system The government is working toward future implementation of an unmanned traffic management (UTM) system, which provides a means of preventing collisions between unmanned aircraft and other manned or unmanned aircraft. The current strategy includes early planning for the system. An Industry Action Group will ensure a continuing relationship with the drone industry and help to improve existing counter-drone measures and identify new opportunities, such as use of ‘Geo-Fencing’ to restrict drones from flying in certain areas. Regulating commercial and domestic drones The UK Department of Transport is responsible for safe and lawful use of drones within the UK airspace The strategy will seek to communicate the UK’s security requirements to the counter-drone industry and to encourage a thriving sector that is aware of, and responsive to, the needs of government. Regulating drones is the responsibility of two UK government departments. The UK Department of Transport is responsible for safe and lawful use of drones within the UK airspace, while the Home Office has overall responsibility for domestic counter-drone activity. Fast-evolving drone and counter-drone technology Also, the Center for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) has been involved in reducing the vulnerability of sensitive sites, including airports. New performance measures will track the strategy’s success. Due to the fast-evolving nature of drone and counter-drone technology, the intent is to review and, if necessary, refresh the strategy in three years.

As the deal/no deal prospects of Brexit are tossed in a whirlwind of UK and EU politics, the uncertainty of the back-and-forth has broadly impacted general economic trends, and by extension, the physical security market. The new deadline for a Brexit agreement is October 31, already postponed six months from the scheduled April 12 departure date. Numbers show that Britain’s GDP shrank in the second quarter, possibly reflecting fewer exports because of Brexit uncertainty. And beyond the current indecision lies the long-term impact of a possible change in trading status between the United Kingdom and continental Europe. Other issues include capital flow and labor mobility. Brexit uncertainty leading to security concerns Loss of shared information with the EU will make the UK less safe “Companies … are unclear about their future,” comments Martin Warren of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. “Companies are making decisions now about jobs, supply chains, headquarters and asset locations, incurring significant, and possibly unnecessary, cost and upheaval.” Warren fears the destructive effects of a ‘no deal’ outcome and hopes politicians will break the deadlock and restore business confidence. Security implications of Brexit extend beyond economics. Loss of shared information with the EU will make the UK less safe. Extradition across EU borders will be more difficult, and exchange of data such as fingerprints and vehicle registrations is at risk. The Irish border after Brexit is of particular concern to security professionals. Countering threat of international terrorism Robert Hall of London First and Alison Wakefield of Security Institute say the security impact of departing the EU will be long lasting and profound. “In security terms, the UK will still have to contend with international terrorism, transnational crime and the global movement of people, all challenges that require wide scale cooperation.” They add that leaving the EU will require “a significant investment in people, resources and databases to cope with the anticipated volumes of traffic through ports, airports and tunnels.” Analyst company IHS Markit earlier commented about the impact on the security industry of Brexit’s drag on the UK economy, “Access control, intruder and fire alarm markets typically track construction rates closely and are forecast to be affected most. However, a large cut to infrastructure spending would be just as damaging to the video surveillance market.” UK security companies Prefer ‘soft exit’ from EU If a ‘soft exit’ trade deal is not negotiated, the UK would have to revert to WTO trade rules If a ‘soft exit’ trade deal is not negotiated, the UK would have to revert to World Trade Organization (WTO) trade rules, which means tariffs on trade between the UK and the EU, says IHS Markit. There are five British-based access-control and intruder-alarm vendors supplying the European market in significant quantity – each with revenue exceeding $10 million. IHS Markit estimates these companies combined account for less than 10 percent of total European, Middle-Eastern and African (EMEA) market revenues for both industries.  Uncertain future of UK security marketplace Asset protection specialist VPS Security Services has warned that the ongoing Brexit saga will likely lead to a rise in vacant commercial and residential properties as developers and investors are more reluctant to move forward with their UK real estate strategies. Seemingly endless machinations and shifting proposals are making the eventual outcome of Brexit very much a guessing game. Uncertainty translates into a volatile and changing outlook, and the eventual impact on the broader economy is an open question. As a reflection of that economy, the security marketplace will inevitably feel the economic impact, too, not to mention the new security challenges likely to ensue.

Videalert, one of the UK’s renowned suppliers of intelligent traffic enforcement and management solutions, has supplied Wiltshire Council with a new mobile enforcement vehicle (MEV) which is initially being used to enforce residential permit parking in Salisbury. The vehicle is equipped with a complete suite of Videalert software giving it the ability to be used in future for a wide range of safety-related parking applications including bus stops and the enforcement of keep clears outside schools. The council is also deploying Videalert cameras to enforce two bus gates in Devizes. According to Joanne Pattison, Parking Manager at Wiltshire Council, “Videalert has provided the council with a flexible, hosted solution that will help us to significantly increase the productivity of the whole parking team. It will also enable us to cost effectively extend enforcement to other safety-related applications as required and provide a more efficient service.” Peugeot 108 equipped with ANPR cameras Videalert supplied a Peugeot 108 equipped with two roof-mounted ANPR cameras and two color cameras Videalert supplied a Peugeot 108 equipped with two roof-mounted ANPR cameras and two color cameras to capture contextual video evidence. The ONVIF-compliant cameras accurately capture reflective number plates at distances of up to 40 metres with capture rates of up to 98%. Importantly, this can be achieved with just a single pass at normal road speeds. Used in conjunction with the latest video analytics, the system delivers the highest productivity at the lowest operating cost in any traffic environment. Wiltshire Council is also installing Videalert cameras to enforce bus gates located at two housing developments in Devizes. These locations, situated next to main arterial routes into the market town, have previously been controlled using rising bollards, which have proved to be increasingly unreliable due to water damage. The first cameras have been installed at the Newman Road bus gate and will provide uninterrupted enforcement around the clock while delivering cost savings by eliminating the ongoing maintenance liability of the rising bollards.  Hosted digital video platform Images of contraventions are transmitted to Videalert’s hosted digital video platform where evidence packs can be viewed and validated prior to sending to the council’s back office system for the issuance of penalty charge notices (PCN). Videalert’s flexible hosted platform makes it a quick and cost effective process to deploy enforcement as it does not require the installation of any IT at the council’s offices. To reduce the number of appeals, PCN recipients can view still photographs and video footage of the alleged offense over the internet. Tim Daniels, Sales and Marketing Director at Videalert added, “Videalert MEVs have proved to deliver industry-leading capture rates while consistently outperforming vehicles from other suppliers. These multi-purpose MEVs give councils greater flexibility to enforce a wide range of moving traffic and parking contraventions.”

Patriot One, developer of the PATSCAN Multi-Sensor Covert Threat Detection platform, is pleased to announce a collaboration partnership with Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), part of Major League Soccer (MLS), to pilot its PATSCAN platform at Banc of California Stadium. Threat and intrusion detection “We are excited to announce this PATSCAN pilot deployment project with another U.S. major sport franchise,” said Martin Cronin, Patriot One CEO and president, adding “In the New Year, our installation team will begin work with the Los Angeles Football Club and Banc of California Stadium on this important game safety initiative. MLS fans will enjoy an added layer of security while attending their favorite team’s home games in Southern California”. Martin further said, “Our vision is to not only to create a world safe from acts of violence, but also to help save a way of life people have come to expect in their normal everyday lives, and that includes participating in professional sports and entertainment activities with their fellow fans.” PATSCAN Multi-Sensor Covert Threat Detection The PATSCAN Multi-Sensor Covert Threat Detection platform will ship in January 2020 to the security team at LAFC The PATSCAN Multi-Sensor Covert Threat Detection platform will ship in January 2020 to the security team at Los Angeles Football Club, where they will be joined by Banc of California Stadium security and Patriot One implementation engineers to begin the integration and pilot deployment project.  Specific location of the Platform’s deployment will not be disclosed. “Customer safety is our number one priority at Banc of California Stadium,” said LAFC Vice President of Information Technology Christian Lau. “We are excited to work with Patriot One to give customers an extra layer of security while attending events at our world-class venue in the heart of Los Angeles.” Stadium security Following the initial pilot deployment of the PATSCAN platform with LAFC at an undisclosed location within Banc of California Stadium, Patriot One will work with the team and stadium management to broaden deployment throughout the complex.

Sitting on the banks of the river Niger in West Africa is Niamey, Niger’s capital city. The capital city faces some unique challenges to the safety of its local residents and visitors. To help tackle these issues, the government of Niger is working with Hikvision’s West Africa team to install a state-of-the-art, cutting-edge video surveillance solution across the region. Niamey has a history of trade and commerce. Its large and bustling open air market – the Grand Marché – sells everything from clothes, to jewelry, to food, and attracts an estimated 20,000 tourists a year. But while the city has long been known as one of the more relaxed capitals of West Africa, in recent years Niamey has received high profile attention due to criminal incidents in and around the capital city. African Union Summit The city would also receive high profile guests from around the world, including key personnel from the UN and WTO When it was announced that Niamey would host the 33rd Session of the African Union (AU) Summit for the very first time, the Government of Niger decided to seize the opportunity to establish a complete urban video surveillance network. It was vital that this high profile event could run for the full five days without any disruption or untoward incidents, as Niamey would attract visitors and heads of states from across the continent. The city would also receive high profile guests from around the world, including key personnel from the United Nations and World Trade Organization. Complete video surveillance solution Vincent Wang, Technical Support Engineer for Hikvision West Africa, says, “The AU Summit is a key event in Africa’s diary, and always requires a high security presence. It gave us the ideal springboard for launching a complete surveillance solution that would provide security to those in attendance, while giving the city a robust set of tools to help prevent and manage security incidents long into the future.” When seeking out the ideal surveillance solution for this project, the Government of Niger learned about several similar projects that Hikvision had already completed in African cities and was impressed how well the solution is running. “They wanted to emulate a project, so that’s what we set about doing.” says Vincent. Hikvision high resolution cameras Vincent and the team worked with technology partners, ITS Solutions to design a complete urban surveillance network in Niamey, which would protect residents and visitors across the whole city during the summit and beyond. Central to the solution was the installation of more than 100 Hikvision high resolution cameras for 24-hour monitoring of the city. Along the 12 main roads, and at key intersections throughout the city, the government’s security team installed the Hikvision DarkFighter 2 MP Speed Dome Cameras (DS-2DF8225IX-AEL). These cameras are designed to deliver high quality images in low light or dark environments. They are also equipped with license plate recognition technology so as to effectively identify vehicle violations, such as over speeding or other traffic rules violations, even at midnight with no light. Hikvision PanoVu Series 180° Panoramic + PTZ Cameras Security personnel can also know close-up details of the scene with the 180 degree panoramic PTZ cameras Meanwhile, Hikvision PanoVu Series 180° Panoramic + PTZ Cameras (DS-2DP0818ZIX-D/236) were installed at the entrances and exits of the main government offices and hotels, for reliable surveillance and overall protection of all visitors with panoramic view at the time of the summit event. Security personnel can also know close-up details of the scene with the 180 degree panoramic PTZ cameras. And the high speed PTZ also offers the function of fast detail positioning over the panoramic area. In the control center, security teams were given Hikvision iVMS-8600 video management software (VMS) in conjunction with large LCD monitor screens, to display a live stream from all the city’s surveillance cameras. Hikvision’s urban video security solution also includes mobile surveillance, allowing law enforcement or government officials to use a mobile device to see a live stream from any Hikvision camera installed in the city, even while on the move. Enhancing network infrastructure The installation was thoroughly planned. “The existing local infrastructure provided some challenges,” says Vincent. “But we investigated it fully during our test phase, so we could design a surveillance network to suit”. “For instance, we found a few potential issues with the local power supply, but to remedy this we installed a UPS network to guarantee power to the cameras for at least 2 hours should the grid fail. We also assessed the local network infrastructure, and the ambient lighting at night. This work was fully completed during our proof of concept several months before the summit.” Hikvision surveillance solution for smart city The African Union Summit was well received and passed without event. The Hikvision surveillance solution undoubtedly played a key role. “The people of Niger feel a certain confidence when talking about the summit,” says S.E Brigi Rafini, the Premier Ministre, at the government of Niger. “It couldn’t have happened without the support of Hikvision technology. The comprehensive security solution was central to the event’s success.” Counseil de Bureau de Securité at the Government of Niger kept positive attitude towards the future potential of this solution. “Thanks to Hikvision technology, Niamey now has a comprehensive city safety solution that will help us to both prevent crime, and respond in real time when incidents do occur. It’s a landmark project for our country and the region as a whole, and we are very interested to see how this innovative technology can help our city and our people to be safer.”

King’s College London, based in the center of London in UK, is a world-leading university and a founding college of the renowned University of London. One of the oldest universities in England, it was established by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, receiving its Royal Charter in the same year. Campus security, access control King’s College London had been using a variety of access control products to control and manage security across its multiple campuses. Its key requirement was a standardized access control system that could operate college-wide and be scaled to include new buildings and establishments. Also, considering the college campus is based in the heart of London, the threat of terrorism and active shooter incidents is a major concern for KCL, especially in more recent times where attacks have taken place extremely close to college buildings and campus. With thousands of students and employees to protect, the need to adopt the latest security features is essential in order for the college to keep all areas secure, in particular student accommodation, high security labs and research facilities. Gallagher access control solution Gallagher’s access control products were easily integrated with King’s College’s existing systems With Gallagher technology already successfully deployed in isolation at the university’s Guy’s and Strand campuses, it made sense to select Gallagher as the access control platform of choice for the entire college. Gallagher’s access control products were easily integrated with King’s College’s existing systems, including staff and student databases, and sources for cardholder information. This included the college’s enterprise Identity Management system, called FIM, which provides daily updates on joiners, movers and leavers to allow accurate decision-making by the security team. Additionally, Gallagher products were integrated to work alongside SITS, the college’s student management system, providing rapid updates of new students so that individual ID cards can be issued once the registration process is complete. Gallagher Mobile Connect app KCL has also invested in new mobile technology, with Gallagher readers that can be accessed via a mobile phone using the Gallagher Mobile Connect app. This will allow students and staff to conveniently access designated areas, control lighting, visitor access, and more. While it is still early days for the college using this technology, the system is adaptable and provides the ability to add features that meet future requirements. The overall benefits of the Gallagher security solution deployed at King’s have proved significant. Nick O’Donnell, Director of Estates and Facilities at King’s College London, says the Gallagher solution “improves service to King’s College’s facility users, especially its students, and reduces the college’s reputational risk by removing technical barriers to comprehensive security management.” Streamlining multiple security systems Streamlining the differing security systems used by individual campuses by introducing a college-wide standardized system has highlighted many additional advantages, including a considerable reduction in costs for training, special projects and operator skills. Gallagher integrations allow extra security features to connect to Gallagher Command Center Gallagher integrations allow extra security features to connect to Gallagher Command Center, creating a central administration system that keeps things simple to manage. Integrating with Aperio, for example, ensures doors are locked when people leave the room – providing peace of mind that rooms won’t be accidentally left open over night or during the weekend. Student and staff ID management Gallagher’s proven technology has boosted King’s College’s confidence in its electronic system. When there are alerts, the university’s security services can consult a single system and react quickly. Card holders are also now registered on one system, allowing tighter management of passes. Overall, the college reports fewer system failures, with better decision-making between its numerous estates and libraries, while multi-site students, staff and visitors have experienced easier card management.

The new year is several weeks old, so it is safe to say that many of our New Year resolutions have fallen by the wayside. Despite the limited success of our personal resolutions, the new year is a great time to take stock, look ahead, and plan to make 2020 the best year yet. Thinking about our industry as a whole, we asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What should be the security industry’s “New Year’s resolution?” 

Public spaces provide soft targets and are often the sites of terrorist or active shooter attacks. Public spaces, by definition, require easy accessibility and unrestricted movement. Given that openness, what security technologies can provide real results? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How is technology innovation impacting the security of public spaces?

Statistically speaking, incidents of terrorism are unlikely to impact most businesses and institutions. However, the mere possibility of worst-case-scenario attacks is enough to keep security professionals awake at night. Compounding the collective anxiety is the minute-by-minute media coverage when an attack does occur. The immediacy of the shared experience of global tragedy impacts us all – including security system decision-makers. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How is the rise in terrorism impacting the physical security market?