Intrusion detection

St Albans based Sandringham School has recently spent nearly £8m in new build and renovation of existing accommodation to create a world class learning campus. As an outstanding rated school, its aim is to become a world class educational facility where students receive the best possible education. Amthal partners Sandringham school to maintain its high profile intruder alarm systems and secure the entire campus site. Former pupil Luke Allam, is now responsible for his old school to carry out necessary testing, while ensuring no disruption to learning timetables. Develop and enhance campus site Says Paul Chandler, Campus Manager at Sandringham School: “We are very proud of our learning environment and are constantly looking at ways to develop and enhance our campus site. At all times, we are very conscious of our duty of care in safeguarding our students, and staff to ensure they can learn and teach in a safe environment.” “Site security is constantly under review and firmly based on the principles of risk assessment. Here, Amthal has proven themselves as an ideal partner, always available to offer advice and proactive in arranging work and maintenance schedules around school learning. Of course, we were delighted to welcome back Luke and to see his career progression.” Intruder alarm systems Our long-term relationship with Sandringham School demonstrates our preferred approach to working with clients" Luke Allam, Apprentice Engineer at Amthal Fire & Security added: “It was great to be back at Sandringham, a school that I enjoyed attending and provided me with so many critical skills to take into my adult life. Now working there as an Apprentice and putting into practice all that I have learned as an Engineer to maintain the intruder alarm systems, means so much, knowing I am helping to protect what’s precious to so many students and staff on site.” Paul Rosenthal, Amthal Sales Director added: “What our long-term relationship with Sandringham School demonstrates is our preferred approach to working with our clients, in true partnership. Nowhere is this more important than in the education sector, where security is critical to maintain as a duty of care to all who attend, whether to teach, learn or visit.” Electronic fire & security solutions “As a special factor for Sandringham, is our ability to showcase our core belief in Apprenticeship schemes, to nurture talent and allow each individual the responsibility to develop their own job-specific skills. Luke has settled into his role and works alongside our more experienced staff, out on sites such as his old school, as often as possible to put his learning skills into practice.”  Independently owned, Amthal Fire & Security is dedicated to satisfying end user needs for security safety and convenience offering design, installation, service and remote monitoring of advanced electronic fire & security solutions, including intruder, fire, access and CCTV systems. Amthal Fire & Security is accredited by the Security Systems and Alarm Inspection Board (SSAIB) United Kingdom Accreditation Services (UKAS) and British Approvals for Fire Equipment (BAFE).

Everbridge, Inc., the globally renowned company in critical event management (CEM), has announced that the company has unveiled new CEM capabilities across the Internet of Things (IoT) for corporate, government and healthcare organizations to protect their people, assets, operations, supply chain and brand from critical events such as coronavirus (COVID-19). Everbridge CEM platform Everbridge’s industry renowned CEM platform will feature a new IoT extension module that will also leverage the intellectual property from recent technology acquisitions of Connexient and CNL Software. As a result, organizations will be able to gather a broader range of situational intelligence and automate targeted responses throughout their entire safety, security, and operational continuum – from across a global footprint to within campuses and facilities. Everbridge CEM platform enables organizations to utilize vast amounts of electronic data, including IoT sensors With the number of IoT devices expected to approach 75 billion by 2025, the Everbridge CEM platform enables organizations to utilize vast amounts of electronic data, including IoT sensors, to digitally transform how they manage the safety and security of their employees, customers, patients, first responders, residents, and visitors, as well as the resiliency of their operations and supply chain. Critical Event Management (CEM) for IoT CEM for IoT extends the number of use cases for the Everbridge platform within the broader critical event management market, complementing the company’s existing offerings for supply chain and wearable devices. Companies, governments and healthcare organizations utilize CEM to mitigate risks from coronavirus with several million COVID-19 related communications deployed by Everbridge in recent weeks. The expansion of CEM for IoT enhances coronavirus-related use cases to better protect people, operations, supply chain and brand. Coordination between first responders, healthcare units For example, the Everbridge ecosystem supports over 1,500 healthcare entities including the top pharmaceutical, biomedical and medical device and manufacturing companies, as well as the largest healthcare systems (overseeing more than 25 percent of all hospital beds in the U.S.), managed care organizations, pharmacies, and statewide health alert networks (HANs), including the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). CEM for IoT improves the ability to coordinate first responders and other critical healthcare resources such as intensive care unit (ICU) beds, respirators, expert medical staff, etc., based on real-time data on the broader impact of COVID-19. Data security and threat identification The Everbridge CEM framework includes aggregating tens of thousands of data sources to identify threats Everbridge’s IoT initiative employs the same CEM framework currently being used by global industry firms involved in aircraft manufacturing, financial services, entertainment & media, high tech, healthcare, hospitality, retail, pharmaceuticals, the federal government, and other sectors. The Everbridge CEM framework includes aggregating tens of thousands of data sources to identify threats; determining the relevance of a threat to an organization’s people, facilities, assets, supply chain and reputation based on their dynamic locations; automatically initiating and orchestrating an enterprise-wide response plan using the organization’s policies and procedures and monitoring execution of that plan; while analyzing cycle times and results to identify bottlenecks and improve future performance. The acquisitions of Connexient and CNL Software augment the IoT capabilities of the Everbridge CEM Platform bringing the total number of out-of-the-box integrations to over 225. Integrations include numerous healthcare systems, indoor positioning, digital wayfinding, building management, access control, intruder detection, video management, and many more. Safe City and Smart Building programs Everbridge solutions secure major events, cities, states, military installations, government buildings, universities, airports, corporate campuses, and healthcare facilities, providing instrumental functionality to Safe City and Smart Building use cases across multiple critical events including coronavirus. The CEM platform monitors threat data streams continuously, alerts stakeholders" “The CEM platform monitors threat data streams continuously, alerts stakeholders when there is a relevant issue, and automatically orchestrates a coordinated response—it is always on,” said Imad Mouline, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Everbridge Inc. Connected, IoT devices Everbridge has experience with early implementations of Safe City and Smart Building programs in both the public safety and corporate space. According to IHS Markit, the global Safe City market will reach $35.8 billion in 2024. Brand Essence Market Research forecasts the overall Smart Building market will grow to $59 billion in 2025. The utilization of a network of connected devices, or IoT, will make up a portion of both markets.

ExtraHop, the provider of cloud-native network detection and response, accelerates its market leadership with new capabilities that provide 360-degree threat visibility, detection, and response across multi-cloud, data center, and IoT deployments in a single hosted solution. With ExtraHop® Reveal(x) Cloud™, security operations teams can harness the power of the cloud to eliminate friction in finding and addressing threats across workloads, reduce tool sprawl associated with multi-cloud and hybrid cloud deployments, and accelerate adoption of network detection and response (NDR) within their organizations. Proliferation of IoT devices More than 85 percent of organizations have workloads running in multiple cloud environments Today, more than 85 percent of organizations have workloads running in multiple cloud environments. By next year, it will be 98 percent. At the same time, the proliferation of IoT devices and the deployment of IT infrastructure across remote sites has vastly expanded the enterprise attack surface beyond cloud and data center deployments. Those challenges are compounded by the exponential increase in tooling and agents required to monitor and manage these deployments, particularly cloud workloads and IoT. Security operations teams have long viewed the cloud as part of the problem; with its latest features, ExtraHop is turning cloud into the solution. Reveal(x) Cloud is the first and only cloud-delivered, cloud-agnostic, and cloud-intelligent NDR platform providing immediate value and continuous protection across the entire attack surface. Integrated workflow with a SaaS-Based solution For the first time, SecOps teams can manage detection, investigation, and response via an integrated workflow with a SaaS-based solution that scales to the demands of the business. This cloud-native model removes points of friction for security operations itself, helps to break down silos between security, IT, and cloud infrastructure teams, and gives them the tools they need to move with the speed and agility the business demands. Reveal(x) Cloud reduces friction and accelerates time to value with a fully hosted NDR solution Reveal(x) Cloud reduces friction and accelerates time to value with a fully hosted NDR solution. The SaaS offering aggregates and analyses data from sensors deployed across networks in data centers, remote offices, and multi-cloud environments, and it surfaces information in a single UI for seamless management across workloads. ExtraHop automatically updates detectors, threat intelligence feeds, and IoT profiles via the cloud, eliminating the need for manual intervention to ensure that policies or software on sensors are up to date. Cloud-Based machine learning Reveal(x) Cloud integrates with AWS Traffic Mirroring, Google Cloud Packet Mirroring, and Microsoft Azure to deliver visibility, threat detection, and response capabilities across major cloud providers – as well as data centers and remote sites – in a single, SaaS-based management pane. This cloud-agnostic approach supports collaboration between security, IT, and cloud teams for better threat response across multi-cloud and hybrid deployments. A cloud record store provides streamlined investigation with index record search and query of data Reveal(x) Cloud leverages the scale and scope of the cloud to provide 360-degree visibility and situational awareness across data center, remote site, multi-cloud, and IoT environments to monitor and respond to threats. Real-time intelligence derived from petabytes of anonymized threat telemetry collected daily makes our cloud-based machine learning uniquely reliable – all without impacting sensor performance. Cloud-scale ML provides more than 1 million predictive models for a typical enterprise deployment to identify suspicious behaviors and potential threats. A cloud record store provides streamlined investigation with index record search and query of data from every segment of the hybrid environment. Delivering global intelligence “Organizations should be able to easily secure their workloads across public, private, and hybrid clouds without requiring multiple tools or creating a management headache,” said Jesse Rothstein, ExtraHop co-founder and CTO. “ExtraHop takes advantage of the virtually unlimited compute resources of the cloud to perform machine learning at scale across more than 15 million devices – and over four petabytes of threat telemetry per day – across our customer base to deliver global intelligence to prepare every security team, from the large enterprise to the midmarket, to handle both present and future threats.” Reveal(x) Cloud for multi-cloud and hybrid cloud environments will be available in May 2020.

At ISC West 2020 Arteco is launching Arteco VCA, the video analytics set that involves the digitalization of video footage and the employment of sophisticated algorithms to classify object types and identify behavior in real time, providing alerts and events to its users. Video analytics allows cameras to be used in a wide range of markets providing a great return on investment, with applications such as: perimeter detection, vehicle classification, crowd control, abandoned object and parking management to name just a few. Accurate false alarm minimization Arteco VCA has a whole set of algorithms that make it an incredible solution The Arteco Video Content Analytics solution was designed to be easily set up and immediately employed by companies and users. Following Arteco’s motto ‘Security at First Sight’, security professionals can rely on a more effective detection procedure due to a made-to-measure approach that gives them the chance to apply multiple logical rules to create unique scenario for a single camera view and video streaming. As a consequence, the user can count on an accurate false alarm minimization and a feeling of extreme control over the scene. Arteco VCA has a whole set of algorithms that make it an incredible solution for an extremely wide range of applications. This is the list of the applicable filters, and much more is about to come: Intrusion detection Loitering Counting Object Classification Deep Learning Filter Speed Filter Appear & Disappear Filter Stopping Object Filter Dwell Filter Enter & Exit Filter Direction Wrong direction Tail Gating Abandoned Object Tamper Detection Simplifying the forensic research Arteco VCA allows the classification of static and moving objects on the basis of size and speed. In addition to the distinction between cars and larger vehicles, individuals and moving groups can be distinguished. The detection of moving subjects generates metadata that appears in real time in the video streaming and allows user to simplify the forensic research: Data and time Channel Type and name of the event Bounding box Classification, speed and size of the object Classification and reliability of Deep Learning Object color Providing specific and powerful algorithms Arteco’s mission is making the companies’ life easy when it comes to security" “Arteco’s mission is making the companies’ life easy when it comes to security. We developed Arteco VCA to be applicable to a wide range of markets, since it provides specific and powerful algorithms that make the security job the most accurate possible.” Said Giampaolo Sabbatani, CEO of Arteco. “And that is not all: we keep on working for interoperability, focusing on integrations, because we know the importance of approaching the customers with customized offers that meet their specific needs of security”.  There are several methods to design a security system using Arteco. In the past they had to have a server on each site that linked back to the control room or client PC’s. With the drive of Asian manufactures to reduce the price of surveillance equipment, the company found that clients, convinced by such offering, had to find out that they do not have the full flexibility of being hardware agnostic. Unlimited freedom and flexibility As a consequence, they have been requesting that Arteco developed a solution to integrate with the existing equipment. The company is pleased to say that they have such solution! Now a client can use the lower cost hardware, but still have the ability to use a solution such as Arteco NEXT which now gives them almost unlimited freedom and flexibility. The events can be generated either by the NVR/DVR itself or may be generated on the edge by the camera itself This is the most common scenario: The HikVision and/or Dahua DVR/NVR can be deployed on the remote site and communicate with a local and/or remote control-room. The events can be generated either by the NVR/DVR itself or may be generated on the edge by the camera itself. The control room may be on the local LAN or situated remotely. Events and/or live video will be received in the control room by the operators. Normal IP camera channels Employing the RTSP steam, two paths can be taken: In the state of good internet connection speed, Arteco Next interface can centralize and receive 24/7 video and provide a redundant storage as if the video stream was provided by normal IP camera In state of low internet connection speed, Arteco Next interface can centralize and receive only events in the form of a snapshot from NVR/DVR devices on the field, and finally access to recorded video on the NVR/DVR.

Being in the physical security industry for almost two decades has been an exciting journey, with significant changes that have impacted the world of security. Companies today must be proactive when it comes to securing their facility and are lucky to have so many choices when it comes to security technology. From the beginning, the ISC West show was always at the forefront of new technology and brought together the very best technology and industry professionals in the “City of Lights”. Back in 2001 when I first entered the security world, video surveillance was the key driver, and transitioning from analog cameras to IP video cameras was the talk of the town. In the early 2000s, the ISC West show was filled with video manufacturers showcasing their new IP cameras and the IT folks were just starting to get involved with the security decisions.  Back then the ISC West show consisted of a myriad of video manufacturers exhibiting their camera lines. Where now in 2020 the high-profile enterprise-level camera manufacturers dominate the show floor. Over the last two decades, keeping up with the technology advancements of IP cameras was a difficult feat for most camera manufacturers and the high-profile manufacturers who had the funds to invest in R & D were the only ones that survived. Changing the game in video surveillance and access control  In the early 2000s, the ISC West show was filled with video manufacturers showcasing their new IP cameras Another huge change that our industry has seen over the years was the increase in the number of acquisitions. Smaller security manufacturers started being acquired by the larger ones, which changed the game in video surveillance and access control. In addition to manufacturers, large security integrators like Convergint Technologies & Anixter were also buying smaller commercial integrators and dominating the market. At ISC West today, you will see predominately high profile – big name manufacturers and integrators where the smaller companies were either acquired or went out of business.    Revolutions in the industry The security industry also faced a huge revolution with three major technologies driving growth in the security market – Network-based technologies (IoT enabled solutions), Access Control as a Service (ACaaS) and Mobile Credentials. ISC West saw this evolution coming and created specific educational seminars dedicated to these topics. Another big push that came into play in the last few years was being able to integrate a host of technologies like video and access control by using an open architecture platform. Many partnerships were formed in the security industry due to this massive push for integration. At ISC West, we now see many companies having their partners sharing booth space. This helps reduce costs for exhibitors in addition to giving smaller companies credibility by being recognized with the bigger players in the industry. In addition, ISC West makes it easy for attendees to plan out their show schedule in advance with the mobile app; creating a convenient way to access show information from mobile devices.  From the beginning, the ISC West show was always at the forefront of new technology Emerging excitement  Today, ISC West continues to be an exciting show that is jammed packed with educational sessions, networking events, and new pavilions that help segment the security industry into different sectors. An example of some new technology pavilions includes drones & robotics, loss prevention & supply chains, and emerging tech. All new start-up companies that are 5 years old or less can be part of the emerging tech section of the show. Here entrepreneurs can unveil new and upcoming security technologies; creating a win win situation for any size business looking to make its name known in the industry. New technology, innovations and rising trends Another huge focus at the ISC West show is public safety. A full range of solutions are offered at the Public Safety Pavilion including barriers/bollards/gates/perimeter security, surveillance, access control, and alarms - along with innovative technologies for gunshot and drug detection, license plate recognition, acoustics, facial recognition and AI, connected vehicles, communication systems and devices, alerts and monitoring, and active shooter solutions Today, ISC West continues to be an exciting show that is jammed packed with educational sessions, networking events, and new pavilions and training. Virtual reality demonstrations have also been available at the show to help attendees with preventative measures when it comes to school and public safety. Some new vape and metal detection technology built on the IoT concept will be featured at ISC West 2020 to help combat the vaping epidemic in our country. With active shooter incidents on the rise, metal detection and perimeter protection at schools will be an important part of the show. Awards and showcases When it comes to show press, we have also seen an influx of awards for security manufacturers that are exhibiting at the show. The major security publications have been offering manufacturers the opportunity to submit a product in distinct categories and win a prestigious award at the show. This creates “buzz” about your product and great for social media postings. Live video interviews at an exhibitors’ booth has also become a very popular tool to increase brand awareness and thought leadership for exhibitors. The ISC West show offers numerous ways to drive traffic to your booth and promote new product launches seamlessly. Over the years, the show has created a conduit The ISC West show offers numerous ways to drive traffic to your booth and promote new product launches seamlesslyfor manufactures and integrators to showcase new products and technologies to end users across multiple vertical markets.      At the top of the game  While the security industry continues to evolve, the one thing that stays constant is the wealth of information that ISC West offers to its attendees.  The show always brings together the latest technologies and thought leaders that will continue to change the game in security for years to come.

Security managers, installers and integrators look into a wide variety of factors when selecting a remote video monitoring receiving center to provide continued real-time surveillance of their sites. But there’s one factor which isn’t often taken into consideration, when it really should be. That’s the welfare of the video surveillance operators who are tasked with responding to alarms and ensuring on-site incidents are dealt with appropriately. The fact is, in most UK monitoring center those operators are working extremely long hours: typically 12-hour shifts, often four days in a row. The cumulative effect of that regular extreme shift pattern can be a level of fatigue which is detrimental to the performance of the operators, as well as to their own physical health and mental wellbeing. The result is a reduction in effectiveness of client video security systems. If the operators are compromised when it comes to clear decision-making, the entire monitoring operation suffers. The central aspects of concentration and alertness I’ve worked in monitoring centers for most of my adult life, starting just out of school. When I had the opportunity to begin my own video surveillance and security alarm most In UK monitoring centers, those operators are working extremely long hours: typically 12-hour shifts, often four days in a rowmonitoring center with my business partner Andy Saile, we were clear that operator welfare was a priority. After all, the operator’s job is literally to be alert and responsive, so why would we want to do anything to detract from that? That’s certainly not the case at all remote monitoring centers, though. The vast majority follow the 12-hour shift template, usually in four days on, four off patterns. Anyone who has done any job knows that at the end of a 12-hour shift, fatigue kicks in, and the ability to focus diminishes. That’s particularly the case in roles where concentration and alertness are central to the job. For a video surveillance operator in a monitoring center, fatigue starts to affect the ability to work effectively during the stretch between 9 and 12 hours. That’s the danger period. If an operator misses a criminal incident because of fatigue, that means the security system the client is relying on is not working. The operator is the link between the technology and the police. They are a key component of the whole system.   If an operator misses a criminal incident because of fatigue, that means the security system the client is relying on is not working Government guidance After working in remote video monitoring centers and experiencing what we considered both good and bad practice, when Andy and I established our business, we were clear that our operators would work in shifts that were no longer than nine hours at most. This delivers the best results for our customers and our staff. Our feeling was backed up by UK government guidance on designing video surveillance control rooms. The Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure has produced a detailed publication called 'Human factors in video surveillance control rooms: A best practice guide'. This publication says: “12-hour shifts, although common in many settings, rIf the operators are compromised when it comes to clear decision-making, the entire monitoring operation suffersepresent a greater risk to health and performance than 8 hour shifts in terms of higher perceptions of workload, fatigue and stress, risk of more errors and accidents, and higher health risks.” Negative impacts on health and wellbeing It further says: “Research confirms that the interruption of circadian rhythms (the 24 hour natural bodily cycle) by shift work can have a negative impact on both general wellbeing and physical health (short and long term), as well as on performance due to general fatigue (i.e. an increased likelihood of errors). Shift-patterns are often designed to meet commercial and operational requirements, but serious consideration should be given to minimizing negative effects on health and well-being by the use of appropriate shift patterns.” The majority of our shifts cover seven or eight hours, and our operators never work more than four in a row. That allows for an average of three or four days between each batch of shifts. The idea is to avoid running staff into the ground, and that in turn makes our company more efficient and effective in the service of our clients. We’ve seen the results in practice: our operators only took four sick days in the past year. That’s four sick days in total, not per operator. It’s a Video surveillance operators have intense jobs, responsible for monitoring and responding to video surveillance and intruder alarm events from commercial and domestic propertiesremarkably low figure in the remote video monitoring industry. Full readiness Video surveillance operators have intense jobs, responsible for monitoring and responding to video surveillance and intruder alarm events from commercial and domestic properties. They liaise with the police, the customer keyholder, end users and any relevant authorities as required. Our customers are equipped with both cameras and motion sensors, which generate alarms on movement. When a movement in a specified zone occurs, the alarm is raised directly with the operator responsible for that site. The response differs from customer to customer depending on their own protocols. If there are dome cameras in place, for instance, they can be utilised to provide additional situational awareness. Escalating risks Traditional intruder alarm monitoring centers required the operator to react to an alarm by calling a keyholder, who would then respond to the incident. But remote monitoring requires concentration, focus, and deductive skills. The information required to make an informed decision isn’t immediately obvious – the The operator must be able to snap to full focus at any point over the course of their shift, and it’s tiringoperator must work out what has moved and establish its cause. There’s no one to provide extra detail. The operator’s art is in working out for themselves what is relevant information in a scene and what isn’t. That requires their full attention. When operators work four days of 12-hour shifts in a row, risks escalate as a result. The risk that the wrong decision can be made. The risk that customers or police are not notified when they should be. There is a real-world cost associated with those decisions. The operator must be able to snap to full focus at any point over the course of their shift, and it’s tiring, whether there’s an incident to respond to or whether the operator is simply prepared to act. Operator skills are diluted if their shift patterns are not considered. Why would you hire someone based on their skillset, and then work them into the ground until they’re too tired to execute those skills? Choosing a monitoring center Security systems and modern technology are crucial ingredients in protecting people and property, but they also require interpretation. A video surveillance operator is an Security systems and modern technology are crucial ingredients in protecting people and property, but they also require interpretationinvestigator and a conduit, bridging the divide between images, alarms and authorities, be they police, security guarding operations or keyholders. To run them into the ground is to diminish their ability to make intelligent decisions. It makes sense, then, to opt to work with a monitoring center which puts the welfare of its operators at the forefront of its business. Start by asking your prospective RVRC about their shift patterns. A monitoring center with respected and happy staff is a monitoring center best able to provide a fully effective service, optimising your security systems and maximizing your investment.

On November 2019 in Stockton, California, surveillance footage found that vandals shot out glass windows and doors in many places in a small business complex (FOX40). The intruders broke in only to leave with nothing, proving their intent was solely to vandalize the property. Meanwhile, it was reported that a trio of ATM thieves struck around 9 times across many different locations inside Brooklyn and Queens within just over a month in fall 2019 (ATM Marketplace). On average, the cost of vandalism to SMB is around $3,370 per incident (US Small Business Administration), including a staggering 692 vehicle vandalism claims per day. Likewise, the average cost of theft to SMB is about $300 per shoplifting incident and $1,500 per employee theft incident, which accounts for 38% and 34.5% of all theft instances, respectively (National Retail Security Survey). High-performance artificial intelligent systems can automate the monitoring tasks Vandalism and theft have proven time and time again to be inconvenient and deconstructively harmful towards SMB. However, these financial burdens can be prevented with the use of the right security system. AI-based security systems with Deep Learning contain many features that many SMB owners find advantageous in their pursuit to stop unwarranted and unwanted money loss.   Intrusion and loitering detection The first of many features that can help with vandalism and theft prevention is Intrusion Detection. High-performance artificial intelligent systems can automate the monitoring tasks for high-risk sites to provide a high level of security and security personnel monitoring efficiency. Traditional intrusion detection systems detect objects based on size and location, but they do not recognize the type of objects. Now, Intrusion Detection (Perimeter Protection) systems with cutting-edge, built-in AI algorithms to recognize a plethora of different object types, can distinguish objects of interest, thus significantly decreases the false-positive intrusion rate. The more advanced AI-based systems, like those we offered at IronYun, enable the users to draw ROIs based on break-in points, areas of high-valuables, and any other preference to where alerts may be beneficial. Similarly, AI Loitering Detection can be used to receive alerts on suspicious activity outside any given store. The loitering time and region of interest are customizable in particular systems, which allows for a range of detection options. Advanced loitering detection software as such can detect and trigger real-time alerts for both people loitering and/or vehicles that are illegally parked in certain areas of interest. A benefit, which only certain advanced systems contain, is the ability to send trigger actions to 3rd-party systems in reaction to receiving an alert of loitering and/or intrusion detection. These trigger actions can be set to contact authorities immediately and/or trigger a scare tactic alarm or announcement to intruder/loiterer. Certain Face Recognition and License Plate Recognition software can record individual people/vehicles Face and license plate recognition In addition to the activity detection solutions, certain Face Recognition and License Plate Recognition software can record individual people/vehicles and use pre-configured lists to identify particular faces or plates that may be of interest, such as those in watchlists. These systems can also enable the users to upload images of faces not in the lists and search for them in the camera recording. For instance, if a person is detected several times loitering outside a store, one may save one of the detection photos into the watchlist, and set up an alert when said face is recognized again outside the building in the future. The alerts will help to deter and prevent vandalism or theft, and notify the authorities to the scene before the troublemaker completes the act. The main attributes of high-performance Face Recognition systems which maximize assistance with vandalism and theft management include: Face match rate > 90% with good camera angles and lighting. Processing multiple streams and multiple faces per image. Live face extraction and matching to databases of thousands of faces within 3 seconds.                                                                                                                State-of-the-art AI security software with Deep Learning allows the user to no longer need to install special LPR cameras     If the watchlist individual is wearing a mask or their face is not in view of the camera, their license plate may be a good indicator. If a particular car is detected several times loitering in the parking lot or street outside a store, the user can set the alerts for such car to get notified in the future. With an AI solution like this, common street cameras should be equipped with LPR capabilities. So, state-of-the-art AI security software with Deep Learning allows the user to no longer need to install special LPR cameras. high-performance alert mechanisms A high-performance AI solution, in addition to having high accuracy, should be able to: Easily integrate with 3rd-party systems Work well with all ONVIF IP cameras including infrared and thermal ones (for Intrusion detection) Analyzes video streams in real time and trigger alerts within a few seconds Send alerts to multiple VMSs, connect with signaling devices such as loud speakers or flashing lights Send email notifications to security staff and police departments Send notification on mobile device using AI NVR mobile app Maintains a record of all alerts to provide evidence of intrusion and loitering instances for police and insurance agencies. To assist in theft and vandalism prevention, AI-based security systems with deep learning will do all of the tedious work for you. Their low cost and high performance also make them the most accessible security solutions in the market with large return on investment. Stopping crimes is a difficult, ongoing challenge, but with the right AI software, business vendors and police departments can do so with more ease.

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.”

Across the security industry, power supplies are too often an afterthought and the first item in an access control system to be value-engineered. However, when the power supply fails on a high-end access control device, the system becomes a very expensive paperweight. Fortunately, there are now power supply units available that can enhance system reliability by providing remote diagnostics and real-time reporting and analytics. There is also a mistaken perception that all power supplies are the same, says David Corbin, Director of ASSA ABLOY’S Power Management Strategic Business Unit. Access control and security applications Power supplies today are more important than ever for access control and security applications The fact is, a properly designed unit for today’s market must have a wide input range, a myriad of features, interface to network, have adequate transient protection, good surge capability and a demonstrated quality level for mission critical reliability, he says. “Power supplies today are more important than ever for access control and security applications,” says Corbin. “From heavy snowstorms in the Midwest and East Coast to the two million Californians that experienced unprecedented power outages, extreme weather conditions have created chaos for millions over the past few months. These events have resulted in students being locked out of schools, hospitals darkening and electronic keypads or card readers shutting down. With events like these on the rise, and an increased reliance on the technology we use to get in and out of the spaces we occupy, power supplies are critical for keeping systems up and running and people safe and secure.” ASSA ABLOY's LifeSafety Power’s FPO Intelligent Power Supplies and Helix Redundant Power Systems Installing right power supplies ASSA ABLOY has a range of products within the power supplies category, including LifeSafety Power’s FPO Intelligent Power Supplies and Helix Redundant Power Systems. ASSA ABLOY’s acquisition of LifeSafety Power in September expanded the company’s offering of smart integrated access control power solutions for OEMs, integrators and end-users. Other ASSA ABLOY power supply products include Securitron AQ Series Switching Power Supplies, and eco-friendly, linear, plug-in and solar power supplies, as well as Power over Ethernet (PoE). Access control is crucial to security and life safety, says Corbin. And without power, any protective system is useless. When the right power supplies are installed correctly, the system will have built-in backup power that will be triggered during an outage. Dependable power supplies, with regularly replaced and appropriately sized backup batteries, are critical to keeping occupants safe in an emergency event. Other ASSA ABLOY power supply products include Securitron AQ Series Switching Power Supplies Periodic testing of the battery When it comes to extreme weather conditions, the result of a power outage can lead to hazardous situations for employees, patients, residents and students, he says. Buildings that require power to gain access can leave people stranded outside or locked inside. “When access controls are disabled, intruders can easily enter buildings without notice, affording the opportunity for interruptions to power distribution, water supplies and other necessary public utilities,” says Corbin. Preparation for the next big power outage should include the sizing of power supplies to the system requirement with a reasonable safety factor for foreseeable system expansion and a battery set that is sized for operating the system for a period of time greater than the planned requirement, he says. Using a ‘smart’ power supply provides early warning of an impending failure; and consistent, periodic testing of the battery set keeps the system in peak operating condition. Predictive maintenance of access control Predictive analytics and data harvesting can help with predictive maintenance of access control Redundancy ensures that power remains available in the event of a failure, regardless of whether it is a blackout situation or a failure of the power supply itself, says Corbin. “In critical power installations where redundancy is vital, the system must have a properly sized and maintained backup battery,” says Corbin. “Additionally, further redundancy can be achieved via products like our Helix systems that provide for seamless switching between two different power supplies in the event of an electrical failure of one of the power supplies.” Corbin also notes there is a growing want and need for more data and analytics in the access control field. End users increasingly expect access control systems to be able to integrate with building information systems. Predictive analytics and data harvesting can help with predictive maintenance of access control and building systems. For example, intelligent power supplies can identify problems before they happen – such as performing periodic, automated battery tests and then notifying a central monitoring location and/or a facility manager of a battery that needs replacement. Lock operation can also be monitored on a real-time basis for failure or impending failure of a secured door opening, he says.

Gallagher Security, a division of Gallagher Group, a privately-owned New Zealand company, is a global presence in integrated access control, intruder alarm and perimeter security solutions. Gallagher entered the global security industry in the 1990s with the purchase of security access control business Cardax. In the last several decades, the company has leveraged its experience in electric fence technology to develop a variety of innovative solutions used to protect some of the world's most high-consequence assets and locations. Solving business problems Among Gallagher’s recent innovations is the Security Health Check, a software utility that enables customers to run an automated check on their Gallagher Command Centre security system. To get an update on the company, we interviewed Richard Huison, Gallagher’s Regional Manager for the U.K. and Europe, who says he has a passion for technology and solving business problems. Huison says working in the industry for more than 20 years has shown him you can never stop evolving and adapting. Q: What are Gallagher's points of differentiation versus competitors? Huison: Gallagher’s strengths are in solving business problems outside of the normal access control and intrusion detection solutions. Enforcing company policy through compliance and competency is what really matters to business continuity. Using Gallagher Command Centre to oversee the security, health and safety and compliance brings true business value to the client who benefits from reduced costs and risk to the success of their growth and strategy. Q: What is the biggest challenge for customers in the security market, and how does Gallagher help to meet that challenge? Huison: A great solution fit is key. Where most fail is choosing a solution that does not meet the needs of the client in 10 to even 20 years’ time. As businesses evolve and grow, so must the security solution. In a recent conversation, a client had to replace a 300-door access control system that was no longer supported. ‘Why Gallagher?’ they asked. The answer: ‘If you had chosen Gallagher 10 years ago, we would not be having this conversation.’ Ensuing the system you choose is legacy-compliant is king. Gallagher’s brand is well known for protecting Critical National Infrastructure Q: Please describe Gallagher's geographic presence in the UK and Europe. Huison: Gallagher’s brand is well known for protecting Critical National Infrastructure. They choose to adopt our solutions because we meet the highest levels of resilience against cyber-attacks. Our ability to modernize legacy systems ensures the maximum return on investment with minimal disruption to business continuity. Gallagher solutions cover a broad mix of verticals, with strengths in high security, education and large corporate entities. Our Channel Partner network is continually growing so more clients can benefit from the diverse and powerful Gallagher Command Centre software. Q: Describe how Gallagher is typically integrated into larger systems. Huison: Our systems offer the flexibility of being standalone or globally networked via our Multi-Server environment. Most integration happens logically where data is pushing into our Command Centre database. The single point of truth allows for minimal data errors and efficiencies around manual input. The total cost of ownership is greatly reduced in allowing the system to work for the client and not the other way round. Over and above this, Integration into other solutions brings that rich data back to one software front end. Q: What is Gallagher's biggest challenge and how will the company seek to meet that challenge? Huison: Our biggest and continual opportunity is being a relentless innovator. We are not short of ideas and how we are bucking the trends with our solutions. Broadcasting these messages is not always easy in the digital age. This is why Gallagher is investing heavily in more shows, publications and specific vertical conferences globally. Q: What is the market's biggest misconception about Gallagher? Huison: Our brand is known for perimeter solutions with our monitored Pulse Fence. What many forget is we have a very powerful access control and integrated intrusion detection solution that meets Government standards around the world. We are unique in that all three can be controlled via one software platform that is cyber-resilient and infinitely configurable to suit many verticals. Q: What is your message to the security market? Huison: Many see Gallagher as only suitable for large and complex sites. I openly challenge our audience, speak to us and you may find we can provide an Enterprise Level solution that is delivered on budget and provide an outstanding return on investment for the client. Our pedigree of 80 years shows we never stop innovating and building that trusted advisor status with many lifelong clients.

Intelligent LiDAR sensor technology from OPTEX, a globally renowned sensor manufacturer, is helping to protect the Belfast Call Centre premises and employees of a Fortune 500 company. Redscan laser sensor The Redscan laser sensor, which was installed by ZEST Fire & Security, a fire and security systems specialist, was required by the company to increase security in private areas of the facility only accessible to authorized personnel. This area, however, is only separated from the rest of the office space by partition walls which leave a gap between the wall and ceiling. OPTEX LiDAR creates a ‘virtual’ detection area that cannot be seen by the naked eye and that can be easily adjusted to the site requirement using the configuration software. In this instance, the REDSCAN RLS-2020S creates a virtual wall between the top of the partition wall and the ceiling of the building, and monitors movement or objects being thrown from one side to the other. OPTEX LiDAR technology OPTEX LiDARs work by analyzing the speed, size and distance of the objects detected OPTEX LiDARs work by analyzing the speed, size and distance of the objects detected, meaning they track the objects within the detection area and understand the ratio size/distance of the object. This provides the ability to accurately detect a specific size of object either at a distance or close up. In the event of any movement being detected, a security alarm is raised, and alerts are immediately sent to the 24-hour on-site security team. Masaya Kida, Managing Director of OPTEX EMEA, says “OPTEX’s LiDAR technology delivers the greatest accuracy of detection. We are constantly working to improve our technology to provide the highest quality sensing solutions.” REDSCAN RLS-2020 series  Masaya adds, “Thanks to the high sensitivity and high-speed detection of the Redscan LiDAR sensor, it is able to detect a thrown object as small as a USB stick. The exact point of detection can also be mapped and associated with the cameras monitoring this area.” Justin Doherty, Director at Zest Fire & Security, said, “OPTEX provided us with great support and service throughout. The client was very pleased with the speed and simplicity of the installation, and is very happy with the performance of this new solution.” REDSCAN RLS-2020 series provides 95° detection and either 20x20m or 30m radius detection range and PoE connectivity.

Oman Airports manages and operates all civil airports in the Sultanate of Oman. As a result of the growing aviation sector in the Middle East, Salalah, Duqm and Muscat International airports were all recently redeveloped with new state-of-the-art terminal facilities and technologies. Access control solution To protect Oman Airport’s growing number of passengers and new hi-tech terminal buildings, Oman Airports required an advanced access control solution that not only incorporated the latest advances in technology but also had proven resilience within the aviation industry. With 30 years’ experience of securing airports around the world, the CEM Systems’ AC2000 Airport security management system was the ideal match. As the largest airport in Oman, Muscat International’s upgrade was a landmark $1.8 billion expansion project. Phase one involved the construction of a new state-of-the-art 580,000 sqm Terminal 1 building, which was officially inaugurated for operations in March 2018. CEM intelligent card readers additionally feature a large internal database for offline card validation" Airport edition access control system “Oman Airports required a proven, fully integrated security solution to secure Muscat Airport’s new hi-tech Terminal 1 building, as well as a number of its external peripheral buildings. At the same time we were also awarded the contract to secure the new Salalah and Duqm Airports in Oman. “This allowed all three airports to use the CEM Systems’ AC2000 Airport Edition access control system and share a commonality of security infrastructure for operational excellence. We congratulate Oman Airports in their achievement and are delighted to be part of such an important leading infrastructure project for the development of Oman.” said Philip Verner Regional Sales Director, Security Products, Johnson Controls. Intelligent IP card readers CEM Systems’ range of intelligent IP card readers with integrated controllers (S610e, S700 readers) were installed throughout Oman Airports to provide the highest possible level of on-board smart card technology. CEM intelligent card readers additionally feature a large internal database for offline card validation and can store up to 200,000 cardholder records and 50,000 transactions offline. This ensures zero system downtime, prevents any loss of transaction data and delivers the highest possible level of system reliability within airports. Over 3,000 CEM IP card readers were installed throughout Muscat Airport’s new Terminal 1 to protect airside and landside locations, including 45 arrival and departure gates, 29 jet-bridges and 82 immigration counters. Emerald touchscreen terminals CEM Systems’ emerald touchscreen terminals have also recently been chosen by Duqm airport A large number of outlying annex buildings (spread out over 30,000 m2) were also secured with CEM intelligent card readers. These included a new 97m high Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower, aircraft hangars, cargo and crew facility buildings and the new pivotal headquarters building for the Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA). CEM Systems’ emerald touchscreen terminals have also recently been chosen by Duqm airport for heightened security. Emerald is a combined access control card reader and controller featuring fully integrated Voice over IP (VoIP) intercom, onboard Power over Ethernet technology and a range of smart airport applications and operational modes, all in one single, powerful terminal. Integrated biometric and access control solution For areas of heightened security, over 1,300 CEM fingerprint card readers (S610f & emerald fingerprint terminals) have also been installed throughout all three Oman airports. As an all-in-one advanced IP card reader, controller and integrated biometric solution combined, CEM fingerprint readers uniquely provides three layers of security (card, PIN and biometric verification) via one hardware device and one integrated software enrolment process. This eradicates the need for a separate biometric enrolment solution, provides a quick and accurate biometric read time and ultimately creates less biometric verification errors at the door/gate. Intelligent IP readers critically provide Oman Airports with aviation specific door modes Gate room management CEM Systems’ intelligent IP readers also go beyond security by helping airport operations. Intelligent readers are used to enable air-bridge monitoring, provide check-in-desk enabling, control baggage belts and assist with airport passenger flow and gate room management. Intelligent IP readers critically provide Oman Airports with aviation specific door modes such as ‘Passenger mode’ which enables the efficient management of gate rooms for departing and arriving passengers. Passenger mode controls the open times of single or interlocking doors, ensuring Gate Room doors are opened or closed depending on the configuration set for a specific flight. The user-friendly LCD screen on CEM card readers effectively acts as a smart information point for ID staff and flight agents and allows staff to easily manage the Gate Arrivals process on the ground. S3040 portable hand-held readers Oman Airports now utilise portable card readers to enable random ID checks on personnelCEM Systems’ S3040 portable hand-held readers uniquely protected Muscat International Airport during its initial construction phase in December 2014. Portable readers enabled ID card validation at temporary airport site entrances and gates, which at the time of construction had no power or comms. Oman Airports now utilise portable card readers to enable random ID checks on personnel throughout all three airports. Designed specifically for airports, CEM Systems’ AC2000 Airport security management system provides powerful aviation-specific access control throughout airside and landside areas. Using a range of powerful AC2000 Airport software applications, Oman Airports benefit from sophisticated ID badging, airport visitor management and high levels of airport systems integration. Open architecture integration tools CEM Systems’ open architecture integration tools successfully enabled the AC2000 access control system to be seamlessly linked with other airport security systems including video, perimeter detection and Oman Airport’s central ‘Airport Operating System’ for the resolution of maintenance faults. This ensures that system maintenance faults and alarms are dealt with promptly, efficiently and with full accountability. Oman Airports use the CEM Systems’ AC2000 VIPPS application to manage airport pass applications and biometrics To provide the highest possible level of smart card security to over 30,000 authorised card holders, all three Oman Airports utilise highly secure CEM DESFire smart card technology with multiple layers of encryption. Oman Airports use the CEM Systems’ AC2000 VIPPS (Visual Imaging Pass Production) application to successfully manage airport pass applications and biometrics. AC2000 Visitors application The AC2000 Visitors application also provides a powerful tool for Oman Airports to monitor and control ID card access for visitors and temporary airport staff. Information such as ‘name of airport sponsor’ can be recorded and once visits have been completed, cards can then be recycled, creating efficiency savings within the airport ID centre. Moving forward, CEM Systems will continue to work together in partnership with Oman Airports and their chosen system integrators as all three airports move into their next development phases. It is understood that airport security needs and legislation requirements change over time and thus CEM Systems will remain flexible to help meet their evolving project needs.

HID Global, globally renowned company in trusted identity solutions, has announced that the traffic branch of the Singapore Police Force has deployed an electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) system that uses HID Lumidigmâ V-series Fingerprint Sensors to verify the identities of driver’s license applicants.  Lumidigmâ V-series Sensors The HID Lumidigm sensor’s patented multispectral imaging technology has helped improve identity-verification speed and efficiency as compared to their previous paper-based process, and its proven liveness-detection capabilities significantly diminish the risk of fraudsters compromising the eKYC system. The new eKYC system improves security by using fingerprints to verify the “true identity” of driver’s license applicants Deployed by HID partner Secur Solutions Group at Singapore’s three driving schools, the new eKYC system improves security by using fingerprints to verify the “true identity” of driver’s license applicants. The speed and reliability of the Lumidigm sensors has enabled the entire enrollment process to be performed at kiosks in seconds, from fingerprint capture through matching against the actual identity documents (NRIC/Work Permit). Fingerprint sensors The Singapore Police Force is now enrolling 500 to 700 individuals a day at the kiosks since deployment and has cut almost 1,500 man-hours of labor per month since eliminating its staffed counters and manual workflow. “The HID Lumidigm sensors have outperformed all alternatives with respect to speed, accuracy and consistency of image acquisition regardless of finger or environmental conditions,” said Tseng Wun Hsiung, CEO of Secur Solutions Group. “New opportunities are being considered for service enhancement and parts of the eKYC system are being evaluated for integration.” Integrated with multispectral imaging technology HID’s V-Series Lumidigm sensors were the first fingerprint products certified to the ISO standard HID Global’s patented multispectral fingerprint imaging technology captures unique characteristics from the finger’s surface and subsurface, which is particularly important for the Singapore Police Force’s eKYC system because it serves a large population spanning many ages, ethnicities and skin types. The Tseng Wun Hsiung technology works reliably with normal, wet, dirty, dry or damaged fingers, and in sunlight or wet or cold conditions. Field-updatable liveness detection is employed to distinguish between the captured biometric data from a real living person versus a plastic, fake or other artificial fingerprint copies. HID’s V-Series Lumidigm sensors were the first fingerprint products certified to the International Standards Organization (ISO) standard focused on anti-spoofing and liveness detection. Fingerprint recognition  “HID Global is delighted that our Lumidigm V-series sensors are delivering unparalleled accuracy in fingerprint data capture for the Singapore Traffic Police’s new eKYC system,” said Sujan Parthasaradhi, Director, APAC, Extended Access Technologies Business Area, HID Global. “We have no doubt our solutions will continue to give the Singapore Traffic Police the confidence of standards-validated spoof protection at their driving schools while helping them sustain the highest levels of efficiency and customer service.”

PACOM Systems, which designs, develops, and manufactures state-of-the-art security platforms for enterprise multi-site and campus environments, has announced that Delta Community Credit Union has deployed PACOM’s GMS security platform to its growing network of 29 branches. The value-added reseller (VAR) for this on-going project is Southern Bank Equipment & ATMs of Duluth, Georgia. The $6 billion Delta Community is Georgia’s largest credit union with more than 400,000 members, 26 metro Atlanta branches and three out-of-state branch locations. Approximately five years ago, its access management system was moved in-house. Now, Southern Bank Equipment & ATMs handles hardware needs; system alarm monitoring is performed by a third-party; and PACOM provides the GMS security platform to Delta Community branches nationwide. GMS security platform GMS is a multi-site security management platform, providing integration between access control, intrusion, video GMS is a robust multi-site security management platform, providing integration between access control, intrusion, video, intercom, and virtually any building management or security solution. It is designed to manage thousands of locations simultaneously through a single interface, while providing efficient availability and redundancy. GMS meets end-user demands for a multi-site security system with multiple integrations. System alarms PACOM staff oversaw the transition of Delta Community branches from the old system, and provided training for Delta Community employees to administer the new GMS system. “It was important for us to be able to make changes on the fly and change access privileges quickly,” said Kim Hodgkin, Corporate Security Manager for Delta Community. “With PACOM, our team can complete system updates in-house and manage the system from our corporate headquarters, so we are covered 24/7/365.” False motion detection alarms System alarms are a big part of Hodgkin’s management of the system. He estimates receiving 12 to 36 alarms per week, and he reviews each incident to determine the cause and resolve the problem. The platform is set up for ease of use and less IT involvement" “Sometimes we have false motion detection alarms,” he explained. “The PACOM system sends an immediate alert which enables us to easily access video surveillance so we can understand the problem and resolve it quickly.” Efficient access management Hodgkin says Delta Community, which has more than 1,100 employees and vendors under access management, requires a robust, multi-capability system, as well as dependable vendor support from PACOM. “The platform is set up for ease of use and less IT involvement,” added Hodgkin. “We appreciate being able to control functionality when needed, and look forward to continuing to optimize system management and results.”

Ten years is a long time, but it seems to pass in an instant in the world of security. In terms of technology, 2010 is ages ago. Changes in the market have been transformative during that decade, and we called on our Expert Panel Roundtable to highlight some of those changes. We asked this week’s panelists: What was the biggest change in the security industry in the 2010-2019 decade?  

Along with the integration of security and other systems in an enterprise environment comes a need to centralize monitoring and control of the unified network. A control room is at the center of managing integrated systems, providing the focal point to collect information from a variety of sensors, analyze the data, and then respond appropriately. The technologies that drive these functions are changing and evolving, thus increasing the efficiency and efficacy of systems. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What’s new in command-and-control systems, and what is the impact?

The high cost of thermal imaging cameras historically made their use more likely in specialized law enforcement and military applications. However, lower pricing of thermal imaging technologies has opened up a new and expanding market for thermal cameras in the mainstream. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the new opportunities for thermal cameras in mainstream physical security?