Library security systems

Dragos, Inc., a pioneer in cybersecurity for operational technology (OT) environments, announces the release of EmberAI, an OT-native AI built on the Dragos Intelligence Fabric, the world's largest OT cybersecurity data set. EmberAI gives every analyst immediate access to Dragos’s OT-specific intelligence gained from over a decade of OT actions, activity, and knowledge. Putting historical and real-time intel in the hands of every security analyst, EmberAI enables teams to gain detailed visibility into assets, vulnerabilities, and network activity across their OT environment. They can prioritise threats by operational impact and act on findings specific to their environment. EmberAI empowers every analyst, regardless of experience, to move from alert to informed action faster, and make defensible decisions grounded in real adversary data. Extended operational technology Threat activity against critical infrastructure is accelerating.  The OT cybersecurity skills needed to address these complex tactics and techniques continue to grow, and the shortage of professionals who can meet that demand continues to widen. Existing tools prioritise visibility over understanding, and general-purpose AI lacks the operational context to distinguish a critical exposure from background noise or to prioritise threats by their actual impact on operations. In OT, any delayed or incorrect decision can have direct consequences for operational safety, resilience, and control. Organizations responsible for securing extended operational technology (xOT) environments, including power grids, manufacturing plants, water systems, pipelines, and data centers, need AI that is built on the right intelligence and grounded in operational reality. EmberAI helps analysts across the full range of experience—from IT practitioners and plant engineers operating in OT environments to seasoned OT professionals—to see, understand, and act with the confidence of an OT expert. They can prioritise what matters operationally, and act effectively on findings that threaten safe operations. Frontline operations for OT environments “We built EmberAI to harness Dragos’s decade-plus of experience in threat intelligence, incident response, adversary tracking, and frontline operations for OT environments,” said Robert M. Lee, CEO and Co-Founder, Dragos. “It is hard to reproduce this depth of OT-specific expertise and build AI that understands and can action OT specific findings." In our opinion, Gartner® guidance on AI for cyber-physical system (CPS) security supports this approach: "Favour solutions that use a highly tuned, CPS-specific intelligence engine, instead of risking intellectual property and data sovereignty by feeding sensitive operational telemetry into an opaque, cloud-based global model." Critical infrastructure environments The Dragos Intelligence Fabric is built on over five petabytes of daily OT telemetry, 10-plus years of adversary tracking across named OT threat groups, proprietary OT vulnerability research as a CVE Numbering Authority, asset and protocol research spanning more than 600 OT protocols, and frontline incident response experience from critical infrastructure environments. The Dragos Intelligence Fabric continuously learns as new intelligence surfaces, field insights accumulate, and threat groups adopt new behaviours. This foundation enables EmberAI to operate on a principle that distinguishes it from generic AI: OT specific intelligence applied in context. EmberAI is central to Dragos's xOT security strategy to secure the full extended operational technology environment that influences critical operational processes. As Dragos’s xOT integrations expand the Intelligence Fabric with new data sources, EmberAI's intelligence and capabilities will grow with it. Irrelevant technical signals Intelligence-Driven Query Engine: Analysts ask questions in plain language and receive precise, OT-contextual answers grounded in the Dragos Intelligence Fabric. This eliminates the need to manually pivot across disconnected tools or correlate data from multiple sources. Contextual Correlation Across the Environment: EmberAI connects assets, vulnerabilities, threat intelligence, and network activity into a unified, real-time understanding. Decisions are based on full operational context, not isolated or irrelevant technical signals. Adversary-Informed Guidance: Detections and alerts are mapped to known OT threat groups, observed attack patterns, and real behaviors drawn from the Dragos Intelligence Fabric. Analysts understand not just what is happening, but what it means for their environment and how to prioritise their response. Workflow Acceleration and Automation Support: From alert triage to incident summaries and reporting, EmberAI reduces hours of friction laden and often error-prone manual work. Analysts spend less time gathering data and more time making informed decisions. Expert-Built OT Skills: Dragos analysts are building and validating a rich library of guided, repeatable workflows that encode the same expertise they apply during proactive services, investigations, and incident response. This library will be available soon. Continuous Learning Through the Intelligence Fabric: As new intelligence and field insights surface, the Dragos Intelligence Fabric evolves and EmberAI becomes more efficient and effective. Enabling defensible workflows The analyst remains in control at every step. Every recommendation that EmberAI surfaces is transparent and auditable, enabling defensible workflows. Customer data never leaves the customer's environment. EmberAI operates inside the Dragos Platform deployment the organization already controls. These design choices reflect a foundational ‘human in the loop’ principle for OT: the person responsible for protecting an environment must own the final decision. EmberAI is generally available today inside the Dragos Platform.

Deepfakes, synthetic identities, and document fraud are creating new risks for mobile onboarding across banking and digital services. Regula, a global developer of identity verification solutions, has partnered with V-Key, a provider of mobile-first digital identity and app security technologies, to help organizations strengthen identity verification and authentication across mobile customer journeys in Asia-Pacific. Through the partnership, Regula’s document authentication, facial biometrics, and liveness detection — Regula Document Reader SDK and Regula Face SDK — will be integrated into V-Key ID, the company’s digital identity platform for banks, telecoms, government services, and digital businesses. Maintaining secure authentication The integration combines Regula’s technologies with V-Key’s patented Virtual Secure Element (V-OS), multi-factor authentication, and mobile app protection technologies. Together, the companies aim to help organizations onboard verified users directly inside mobile apps while maintaining secure authentication across logins, sessions, and transactions. The combined offering is designed for regulated industries with strict security, compliance, and digital onboarding requirements. Mobile security infrastructure The partnership brings together two complementary parts of the mobile identity stack. At onboarding, Regula helps organizations authenticate identity documents from around the world, perform facial biometrics and liveness checks, and detect fraud attempts involving manipulated, forged, or synthetic identities. Once a user is verified, V-Key’s mobile security infrastructure helps protect that trusted identity across future logins, transactions, and interactions inside the app through continuous authentication, adaptive threat detection, and zero-trust security controls. The combined solution is designed to help organizations: strengthen protection against AI-generated identity fraud; reduce onboarding friction and user drop-off; support eKYC and regulatory compliance requirements; maintain trusted authentication throughout the customer lifecycle. Facing growing pressure Mobile platforms have become central to digital identity interactions — and an increasingly attractive target for fraud. As digital services continue to scale across Asia-Pacific, organizations are facing growing pressure to strengthen: digital onboarding security, liveness detection, fraud prevention, continuous identity assurance, mobile authentication infrastructure. The partnership reflects a broader industry shift toward connected identity systems that combine document verification, biometrics, device trust, and authentication into a single mobile identity journey. Identity lifecycle management Regula IDV solutions deliver end-to-end document verification, biometric authentication, and identity lifecycle management. It enables organizations to prevent fraud by ensuring the integrity of every signal behind each decision. Backed by more than 30 years of forensic research, Regula maintains the world’s largest document template library with 16,000+ document templates from 254 countries and territories. Regula’s technologies are used by financial institutions, 2000+ enterprises, 80+ border control authorities, and 100+ forensic laboratories worldwide. The company was also recognized in the 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Identity Verification. V-Key’s Virtual Secure Element (V-OS) technology is deployed in more than 600 million mobile installations globally across banking, telecommunications, and government applications. V-Key’s technologies are certified to Common Criteria, FIPS 140-2, IMDA, and SOC 2 standards. Mobile identity ecosystems “Mobile platforms are now at the centre of identity interactions, which makes them both a key growth channel and a primary target for fraud,” said Ihar Kliashchou, Chief Technology Officer at Regula. “As threats become more sophisticated — including deepfakes and synthetic identities — businesses need stronger, integrated approaches to verification and authentication. Together with V-Key, we are helping organizations build more secure and resilient mobile identity ecosystems.” “Our partnership with Regula reflects growing customer demand for stronger identity verification across digital ecosystems,” said Raymond Lee, Chief Operating Officer at V-Key. “Organizations want integrated platforms that can improve security while maintaining a seamless mobile user experience.” The integrated solution is available immediately to V-Key customers across the region.

At its annual Rev conference today, Domino Data Lab announced new capabilities that let the world's most regulated enterprises build, scale, and govern AI-powered applications. The Domino Enterprise AI Platform now spans the full application lifecycle, from the first line of code to applications in the hands of business users, and works with models and agents whether they are hosted in Domino or sourced externally. Mission-critical tool AI is moving into the most consequential work an enterprise does: discovering drugs, pricing risk, underwriting loans, and protecting national security. Coding assistants now let teams build the applications that put AI in expert hands. But to build a mission-critical tool, not merely a toy, those applications have to do more than impress in a demo. They must be governed, auditable, secured, scalable, and integrated with an enterprise’s complex technology ecosystem. The gap between something that works in a demo and something that runs the business is where most AI projects stall. Delivering AI transformation “Applications define the next era of delivering AI transformation in the enterprise, but as coding assistants make it easier to build the new tools, organizations must find ways to unlock innovation without making a mess,” said Nick Elprin, co-founder and CEO of Domino Data Lab. “Domino is the best platform for enterprises to build, deliver, and govern the coming wave of AI applications, and we can’t wait to see what our customers create.” Domino is already the proven platform for building, operating, and governing AI models and agents in regulated environments. Powerful platform services This release extends that foundation to the applications built on top of them, with the following new capabilities: App Hub unifies development, deployment, and governance of AI applications at scale. New capabilities include rapid previews to accelerate development; version control and staged deployment; plus approval gating to govern application deployment and review. Domino Knowledge Manager, a customisable taxonomical organization system, makes it easy for business stakeholders to find relevant apps at enterprise scale. Integrated Coding Assistants, including GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, and OpenAI Codex, run inside Domino as first-class tools. Because they operate natively on the platform, builders can use them to develop, deploy, and govern AI work. A built-in library of skills equips the preferred assistant to perform actions using Domino's powerful platform services, driving the data science lifecycle. High Performance Computing (HPC) Workload Support via Slurm integration. Applications and other workloads in Domino can now leverage Slurm, ensuring seamless integration with a critical technology interface common in financial services and life sciences organizations. Domino’s new extensions framework allows customers and partners to embed their own tools and workflows directly into the Domino interface, tailoring the platform to an organization’s unique workflows and requirements. Partners are already building on it — including Appsilon, whose Axon.R extension validates R packages for life sciences. Unique workflows and requirements When applications are built this way, the impact shows up in the work itself: better drugs in life sciences, sharper risk management in financial services, and greater safety in the public sector. Together, governance and speed are what turns AI from a research project into the way the business runs. Domino's new capabilities are currently in private preview and will be generally available by Q3 2026.

Boss Door Controls, a trusted global provider of mechanical and automatic door control solutions and part of the Allegion family of brands, has released its new cam-action door closer catalog, offering a comprehensive product selection guide to architects, specifiers and trade professionals. The new 44-page catalog showcases an extensive range of cam-action hardware, designed to meet the demands of high-traffic commercial and residential applications. To support accurate product selection in these environments, the catalog provides practical and detailed specification information for the latest series of overhead and concealed cam-action closers, including EN performance ratings, product features, dimensional drawings, power sizes and adjustment details. Life safety compliance There is also a first look at the new Boss Door Controls electromagnetic cam action closer range. Available in both surface-mounted and concealed configurations, these units are designed to be hardwired into the alarm system of modern buildings to provide effortless accessibility, ease of movement and life safety compliance. Featuring intuitive cam-action technology, the TS6.SA-EMF track reliably holds doors open during normal operation and automatically releases them upon activation of the fire alarm. The complete range is Certifire approved, ensuring suitable performance for fire door applications operating on low voltage circuits. More streamlined appearance This enhancement is referenced within the new catalog and reduces overall installation costs Guiderail channels have been redesigned and re-tested across the new TS6.SA-EMF range, eliminating the need for the additional L-bracket, typically required for push-side door mount installations. This enhancement is referenced within the new catalog and reduces overall installation costs whilst delivering a cleaner, more streamlined appearance. The catalog also highlights the wide variety of finish options that Boss Door Controls is renowned for, ensuring its range of precision-engineered, slim-profile door control solutions integrate seamlessly into the vision of any architectural design project. Electromagnetic overhead closer Lee Piper, sales and marketing director at Boss Door Controls comments on the launch: “Boss Door Controls collaborates with architects and specifiers worldwide to deliver reliable, innovative and aesthetically appealing hardware solutions for projects where long-term performance is essential. Our latest cam-action product catalog is an extension of this expertise and reflects our ongoing commitment to raising specification confidence across the industry.” “Our growing range of cam-action door closers offers an ideal balance of mechanical efficiency and ease of use, and the launch of our TS6.SA-EMF electromagnetic overhead closer - which is detailed in the new catalog - further strengthens our offering, as we continue to promote safe and inclusive design principles.” Product selection process “This is our most comprehensive and carefully curated product catalog to date. We’re proud to expand our library with a clear, dependable and supportive specification resource that further streamlines the product selection process whilst supporting compliance and design flexibility.” The new cam-action door closer catalog is available for download on the Boss Door Controls website, with hard copies also available upon request.

Group-IB, a creator of cybersecurity technologies to investigate, prevent, and fight digital crime, announces it is an initial data contributor to the newly released MITRE Fight Fraud Framework™ (F3) developed by MITRE Corporation. The company also confirmed plans to integrate the standard into its Fraud Intelligence platform, enabling organizations to apply the new standard alongside real-time, adversary-driven fraud intelligence. Major financial institutions As one of a strategic group of global contributors - spanning major financial institutions, payment providers, and fraud prevention leaders - Group-IB provides its proprietary library of fraud tactics, techniques, and classification methodologies derived from active investigations and long-standing collaboration with major banks and financial institutions worldwide. Group-IB's contribution draws on its longstanding operational collaboration with INTERPOL, Europol, and other international law enforcement agencies across dozens of joint cybercrime investigations. The MITRE F3™ establishes a common taxonomy for financial fraud, enabling organizations to classify and communicate threats using a shared language. Group-Ib’s contribution reflects its adversary-centric approach, grounded in continuous analysis of how fraud actors operate, adapt, and scale across regions and industries. Effective fraud prevention Through direct collaboration with banks and enterprise customers, Group-IB maintains visibility into emerging fraud schemes, infrastructure, and attacker behaviours. This intelligence informs both the development of Fraud Matrix and its contribution to industry frameworks, ensuring alignment with real-world threat activity rather than theoretical models. While MITRE F3™ provides a foundational classification model, effective fraud prevention depends on the ability to anticipate and detect evolving threats. Continuously analyzing patterns Group-IB’s Fraud Matrix delivers predictive threat and fraud intelligence by continuously analyzing patterns across fraud campaigns, identifying how techniques evolve and migrate between sectors such as financial services, e-commerce, telecommunications, gaming, and cryptocurrency. This enables organizations to move beyond reactive controls and anticipate emerging attack vectors. The integration of MITRE F3™ into Fraud Matrix will allow users to map standardized fraud classifications to live detection methodologies, mitigation strategies, and investigative reporting - strengthening the connection between industry standards and operational defense. Collective fraud disruption Standardized frameworks enable stronger coordination between private organizations, financial institutions, and law enforcement agencies. By contributing to MITRE F3™, combined with its ongoing work with global banks and public-sector partners, Group-IB supports more effective information sharing and collective fraud disruption. “Fraud doesn't start with a transaction — it starts with an attacker. That's the lens we brought to F3: real visibility into how fraudsters operate, how their tactics evolve, and how they move across borders. We're proud to have contributed that perspective to MITRE's initiative — and we're committed to making sure it translates into operational detection, not just classification.” - Pavel Krylov, Head of Fraud & Financial Crime Solutions.

Milestone Systems, a pioneer in data-driven video technology, continued to grow in 2025, increasing net revenue by 10% to EUR 298 million (DKK 2.2 billion) Nearly a third was reinvested in innovation fueling new advances in video analytics, responsible AI and cloud technology. The year was also marked by collaboration with NVIDIA and the launch of Project Hafnia. 2025 was a year with major milestones and innovations: Collaboration with tech giant NVIDIA on artificial intelligence and video, launch of Project Hafnia and the world’s first compliant data library for AI-training, and not least, the integration of AI-driven analytics and cloud solutions in Milestone Systems product portfolio. Future-ready technology Milestone’s financial performance in 2025 reflects steady growth and the impact of the recent strategic acquisitions. Over the past five years, Milestone has more than doubled net revenue to now €298 million in 2025. Operating income reached EUR 14 million (DKK 104 million), compared with EUR 14,3 (DKK 107 million) in 2024, and Research and Development investments grew to EUR 85 million (DKK 633 million), reflecting the company’s acquisitions and continued focus on building future-ready technology. R&D expenses corresponded to 28.8% of net revenue, compared with 24.8% in 2024. Next‑generation software “2025 was a strong year for Milestone,” said Lars Larsen, Chief Financial Officer. “We saw continued revenue growth and formally integrated BriefCam video analytics and Arcules Cloud video surveillance as a service into Milestone. We also acquired anonymisation technology provider brighter AI and launched Project Hafnia for developing future AI solutions. These achievements allow us to continuously innovate and invest in next‑generation software.” Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the world, and video technology is no exception. Intelligent Video will play an increasingly important role across society and business — from law enforcement, airports, and manufacturing to retail, asset protection, critical infrastructure, smart cities, and traffic management. Milestone Systems is ready for that. Video management software CEO Jeppe Frandsen highlighted that Milestone’s 27th year in business marked a significant transformation for the company. “For nearly three decades, our open platform has been the heart of Milestone and remains so. In addition to XProtect video management software, we now have an expanded portfolio to offer to our partners and the world,” said Jeppe Frandsen. “Our focus at Milestone is on building solutions that help customers get the most out of video. We will continue to accelerate our work in video management, analytics and cloud solutions so customers can gain easier and deeper insights from their video data,” added Jeppe Frandsen. Vision‑language model In 2025, Milestone introduced Project Hafnia – a collaboration with NVIDIA – which aims to address a significant challenge for AI developers across the globe: the ability to find sufficient high-quality, accurate and reliable video data to train visual AI models. Milestone launched pilot programs with Genoa, Italy, and Dubuque, Iowa. As part of the NVIDIA collaboration, Milestone launched a vision‑language model (VLM) and a Video Summarisation tool for XProtect. Powered by NVIDIA Cosmos Reason, the tool uses AI to rapidly review and summarise video into text — helping emergency teams respond faster and enabling cities to improve traffic management. Looking ahead to 2026 The progress made in 2025 gives Milestone a strong foundation for the current year. In 2026, Milestone expects significant opportunities, with a strong focus on advancing cloud, analytics and responsible AI to help customers gain more value from their video data. “Looking ahead, we will continue to innovate in 2026 – both in terms of our products and in the ways in which we create value for our customers and partners,” said CEO Jeppe Frandsen.

As a digital transformation continues to sweep across the industry, Daniel May of Consort Architectural Hardware examines the growing demand for Building Information Modelling (BIM) and how its use is influencing modern design projects. The future of construction is digital. What was once considered a gradual shift toward greater information management has now become a basic requirement for so many. From early-stage design through to compliance, maintenance and product lifecycle management, digital product data is no longer considered added-value - it is mandatory. Digital information management Since 2016, UK central government clients have required collaborative digital information management on centrally procured projects, commonly known as ‘BIM Level 2’. Today, these requirements are specified through the UK BIM Framework and BS EN ISO 19650 standards, setting a clear expectation that construction partners must provide accurate, structured and accessible digital information across their products. With this in mind, conscious manufacturers throughout the supply chain are enhancing their BIM capabilities, as they look to support architects, specifiers and contractors with detailed product information. Architectural hardware - traditionally overlooked in digital planning - is rapidly entering the spotlight too, with 3D models, certification and performance data now offered across a growing library of products. But how is this movement to enhanced digital resources impacting projects? Optional to operationally clinical Digital Product Passports (DPP), soon to be mainstream and mandated by the EUOnly a decade ago, building specifications relied heavily on paper resources, where professionals were limited to product brochures, PDF catalogues and basic CAD line drawings. Today, the sector is converging around fully integrated digital workflows, with teams relying on platforms such as Revit and NBS as a way of connecting design, specification, compliance and facilities management. Digital Product Passports (DPP), soon to be mainstream and mandated by the EU, will only accelerate this trend. Though, it’s important to recognize this evolution isn’t driven by convenience alone. In fact, BIM product data now plays a central role in meeting: UK Government mandates for digital construction and the ‘Golden Thread of Information’ Fire safety regulations, which increasingly require accurate, up-to-date, verifiable data Sustainability reporting, where Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and lifecycle data must be accessible at the design stage Consequently, if a product can’t be conceptualised accurately in a digital model, it risks being excluded from a project’s specifications entirely. BIM in Architectural Hardware For some, door hardware may seem like a minor component in the grand scheme of building design and as a result, it is often overlooked as a small percentage of the project’s value. In reality, its role in safety, performance, accessibility and compliance is critical. In BIM, even a small element like a door closer contains data to verify fire ratings, accessibility, and clashes Fire doorsets for example, are only as effective as the hardware components that secure them. Within BIM, even a single component such as a door closer carries parametric data that can validate fire ratings, confirm accessibility and even identify potential clashes with ceiling details or door frames - helping design teams ensure both functionality and compliance are met early in the coordination process. When it comes to architectural hardware, access to reliable BIM objects enables teams to: Fulfill accurate design – using models with correct Level of Detail (LOD) to ensure they integrate accurately into project drawings Reach faster specification – architects and contractors can drag-and-drop products/objects into designs, saving hours of manual work Assure compliance – with product certifications, fire ratings, testing evidence and sustainability data embedded into product models Reduce on-site errors – accurate digital models also decrease the risk of incorrect products being installed As digital coordination becomes routine, hardware that isn’t modelled is considered a specification risk. Responding to new standards and digital realities Where the tragic events of Grenfell Tower reshaped the regulatory and cultural expectations of the construction industry, the sector now faces an accelerated demand for traceable, verified product information. As new legislations continue to form, such as Martyn’s Law for example, updated guidelines will influence how public spaces are designed and secured, with each new standard placing an integral focus on resilience, traceability and responsibility in the process. These shifts underscore a clear reality that every hardware component, no matter how small, must be backed by verifiable data and performance credentials. Conscious hardware manufacturers play a crucial role then, in supporting building safety and security by providing architects, specifiers and contractors with the confidence to select hardware that meets the standards of today and tomorrow. And so, as we arrive in a data-driven era where compliance, traceability and efficiency are key, BIM objects have evolved from beneficial to indispensable. Whether delivering a residential high-rise, healthcare facility or a commercial development, professionals must be able to call upon trusted suppliers and their digital files as tools that help them design with confidence.

The average business owner or investor has some kind of security precaution in place, especially in the after-hours when there are fewer deterrents to inhibit criminal activity. Security guards, video surveillance systems, motion sensor lights, or even just fake cameras placed around the property are some of the common options people choose.  Future of overnight security Smart business owners are starting to realize, however, that some of these traditional security measures are becoming antiquated and no longer cutting. The now and future of overnight security is in remote guarding. Pioneered by companies like Los Angeles-based Elite Interactive Solutions, which was founded back in 2007, remote guarding is revolutionizing the overnight security business. Minimizing criminal activity Remote guarding is fast becoming the most popular choice among commercial end-user property owners Remote guarding utilizes a combination of cutting-edge technology, “digital guards,” highly trained security agents, and local law enforcement if and when necessary to minimize the potential of criminal activity. For those adequately enlightened to its overwhelmingly impressive crime prevention capabilities, remote guarding is fast becoming the most popular choice among commercial end-user property owners to secure and protect their investments. What Is Remote Guarding?  Remote guarding is a revolutionary concept and increasing trend in security systems that utilize a combination of methods to effectively analyze potential threats to property. Cameras and/or other monitoring devices running highly advanced algorithmic software are installed in strategic areas or vulnerable places onsite and remotely located security agents are immediately notified of any activity within a designated perimeter of the property. A blend of AI, cybersecurity, and video analytics When properly deployed by an expert provider, the technology stack includes a proprietary blend of video analytics, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and more. Done right, “noise” is effectively filtered out, allowing agents to act on legitimate alerts and achieve zero false alarms communicated to first responders. Today, there are a lot of terms and descriptions tossed around about remote guarding, remote video, virtual guarding, etc., but those attributes must be present to represent the true definition of the offering and its many virtues. Realtime situational awareness Many systems have a two-way speaker that allows the security agent to give a verbal warning When specially trained security agents are alerted to trespassers, possible intruders, or other suspicious activity, they analyze the situation in real time and determine the necessary level of action. Many systems have a two-way speaker that allows the security agent to give a verbal warning, known as a voice-down, to the individual(s) that they are being watched. Most perpetrators, often believing the response is emanating directly from security personnel on the property itself rather than from a remote command center, flee immediately. However, if the threat persists, the security agent enlists local law enforcement to get on the scene.  Customized remote guarding When properly deployed, remote guarding systems are also customized to specific properties. A team of consultants visits the client’s property to evaluate its vulnerabilities and where to best place cameras and/or other monitoring devices for system efficacy. Traditional Security Shortfalls  According to Keith Bushey, a retired commander for the Los Angeles Police Department, there is much frustration between law enforcement officers and potential victims of crime due to the historically unreliable performance of traditional burglar alarm systems and central monitoring stations. He states about 90% of security-related calls are false alarms, a problem that has been well-documented through the years. Onsite challenges When a legitimate emergency does occur, the perpetrators have often already done their damage When a legitimate emergency does occur, the perpetrators have often already done their damage and/or escaped by the time law enforcement arrives.  Onsite security guards are not the remedy either as they bring their own set of issues and challenges.  Unexpected costs Traditional security systems can also have unexpected costs. The cost is not only in the security guards’ paycheck or the cost of the equipment itself. The cost comes when an actual incident occurs. In worst-case scenarios, the security guard(s) are injured, the business suffers inventory loss, and/or damage is sustained to the property.  The medical and other costs for the security guard(s), the loss of inventory, property damage, deployment of law enforcement resources, and possible fallout of legal expenses all add up. Even in the best-case scenario, false alarm expenses incur if law enforcement is dispatched. These, among many others, are some of the primary issues that remote guarding resoundingly answers as a superior alternative. A Bounty of Benefits Remote guarding systems have been proven to cut costs and be more effective than traditional security systems. Even though the monthly monitoring costs of remote guarding are significantly higher than traditional intrusion detection system monitoring, the much higher effectiveness in crime reduction, elimination of false alarms, and augmenting or replacement of manned guards result in a substantially higher return on investment (ROI) to the end user. Easy tracking of threats The security cameras already have their image captured on record, making them easier to track down For example, case studies have demonstrated reduced security costs for clients by 60%, on average. These reductions have come from the costs of security staff, inventory, or property loss, plus saving money on insurance premiums and deductibles. The nature of remote guarding reduces the risk and costs of false alarms, with professional security agents able to determine an actual threat before law enforcement is called. In a rare instance when a perpetrator escapes before law enforcement arrives or can detain the individual(s), the security cameras already have their image captured on record, making them easier to track down and identify. Reduction of false alarms The significant reduction in false alarms is greatly appreciated by law enforcement, as it allows them to focus on real emergencies or crises. Better relationships are also developed between clients and law enforcement, as remote guarding systems are highly reliable in providing accurate and real-time information to officers as they approach the scene. In short, it assists law enforcement in doing their job more effectively, as well as more safely thanks to having eyewitness information before engaging in an active crime scene.  Partnership When you combine the decreased cost with the increased efficiency and success rate, it is easy to see why many commercial end-user property owners across the country are making the shift to remote guarding. It’s also an outstanding opportunity for professional security dealers and integrators to partner with a remote guarding services provider to bring a superior solution to their end customers and pick up a recurring monthly revenue stream in the process.

It’s no secret that the data security sector is constantly changing. It has an annual CGR of about 12.3%. Future trends in data security Much of this has to do with the rise of cybercrime in recent years, with reports showing that cyberattacks happen as often as every 39 seconds. To combat the growing rate of cybercrime, data security has been on the rise. As we journey further into this era, it becomes evident that a spectrum of significant trends is molding the future of data security. This exploration delves into a selection of these trends, unraveling their importance and the potential implications they carry  1. AI security tools will increase  Artificial Intelligence is also being used in the development of smart attacks and malware The introduction of Artificial Intelligence in the data security industry brought significant changes, especially in cybersecurity. AI has been the golden standard for face detection, natural language processing, automated threat detection, and automated security systems. Additionally, Artificial Intelligence is also being used in the development of smart attacks and malware, bypassing even the latest security protocols in data control. And as time progresses, AI security tools will flourish and dominate the scene. Let’s take a more in-depth look at three of the top AI security tools. Targeted attack analysis tool  Manufacturers utilize targeted attack analysis tools to uncover targeted and stealthy attacks. Artificial Intelligence can be applied to the program’s capabilities, processes, and knowledge. For instance, Symantec launched this tool to combat the Dragon 2.0 attack in 2022. The phishing attack reprimanded multiple energy companies while trying to gain access to their operational networks. Targeted Attack Analysis Tools can analyze incidents and look for similarities from previous situations. They also help detect suspicious activities and collect all the necessary data to determine whether a specific action is malicious. Intercept X tool  Results from the Intercept X Tool feature high accuracy and a low false positive rate Sophos, a British security hardware and software company, launched the Intercept X Tool. It engages a neural network that records and analyses data like a human brain. Sophos’ Intercept X Tool can extract features from a single file and perform a deep analysis. It detects malicious activities within 20 milliseconds. Plus, it’s also trained to work on bi-directional sharing and real-world feedback of threat intelligence. Results from the Intercept X Tool feature high accuracy and a low false positive rate.  IBM Watson Technology  IBM’s QRadar Advisor uses IBM Watson Technology, a unique AI tool for fighting cyber attacks. Artificial Intelligence can auto-investigate activities and indicators for potential exploitation or compromise. With cognitive reasoning, IBM Watson Technology can present critical insights to accelerate the response cycle. Security analysts can utilize this technology to search for threat incidents, reducing the risk of letting them fly under the radar. 2. Blockchain as a security solution  It guarantees no points of failure or hackable entrances that can expose datasets inside the system Blockchain is a type of distributed ledger technology (DLT) that aims to establish trust within an untrusting ecosystem. Today it’s one of the most robust cybersecurity technologies in the industry. Blockchain utilizes a decentralized ledger system, but your team members can still gain access to transparent information in the cloud. Members can also record, pass along, and view necessary transactional data in the blockchain. The entire blockchain process maintains data integrity within the system while establishing trust among team members. It guarantees no points of failure or hackable entrances that can expose datasets inside the system. Cybersecurity, biometrics Cybersecurity primarily benefits from these features because blockchain can create a secure and robust wall between data and hackers. On top of that, blockchain ledgers can include biometrics like fingerprints and retina scans. These prevent hackers from accessing any private data. Because blockchain is decentralized, it also limits hackable data. Together with the technology’s record-keeping system, each node is provided insight into data manipulation exposing real-time cybercrime attempts.  3. Increased and widened access control  Without access control, expect your company to be open to security issues, including theft, data loss, and breach of data Access control is critical in data security. More than a valuable security tool, business leaders can use access control to regulate people accessing any given resource. A company with an IT security setting can control who has the liberty to edit certain files. One of the primary goals of access control is to minimize threats or attacks to organizations and businesses to keep people and data secure. Without access control, expect your company to be open to security issues, including theft, data loss, and breach of data protection laws. Benefits The benefits of increased and widened access control include: Identifying who can access and control your data at specific time intervals. Protecting data from overwriting, accidental deletion, and malicious intent. User permissions that can be readily changed. Compliance and regulation with data privacy laws. Central management of access to data through a reporting portal or a dashboard.  Multi-factor authentication Access control comes in various types and systems, so it’s critical to know the features of what you’re looking for. The most common type is multi-factor authentication or MFA. It involves multiple steps before logging in, requiring the user to enter other relevant information besides the password. Some other examples of information include biometrics, answering a security question, or entering a code sent to the user’s email address. Two-factor authentication, role-based access control Two-factor authentication further prevents unauthorized entries that can result in unnecessary data possession Two-factor authentication further prevents unauthorized entries that can result in unnecessary data possession.  Another type of access control is role-based access control. In this setup, only one individual can set up access guidelines and grant permissions to specific team members within an organization. 4. Greater use of the zero-trust security model  The zero-trust security model is a framework that requires every user within and outside the organization to undergo authentication, authorization, and validation. These are all essential to ensure proper security configuration before access is granted to the company’s applications and data. A zero-trust model assumes that anyone can cause data breaches and that a traditional network edge is not taken into effect. Moreover, it addresses the following modern-day challenges: Hybrid cloud environments. Security of remote workers. Ransomware threats.  This framework utilizes the combination of multiple advanced technologies, including:  A risk-based multi-factor authentication. Endpoint security.  Identity protection.  Cloud workload technology.  The zero-trust model uses all these innovative tools for system identification, user verification, access consideration, and system security maintenance. Constant validation and monitoring Enforcing strict policies and compliance with data privacy laws are also essential Additionally, it also considers data encryption, email security, and asset verification before establishing connections with applications. The architecture of a zero-trust framework requires constant validation and monitoring of the users and the devices they are using. Enforcing strict policies and compliance with data privacy laws are also essential. More importantly, the zero trust architecture requires all organizations to be aware of all their available services and accounts to gain complete control of data handling and manipulation. 5. Increased privacy regulations  Privacy regulations and policies guide organizations in proper data control, handling, and security. These policies guide organizations in proper data control, handling, and security. As a responsible business owner, you must comply with these regulations to avoid legal issues. With cybersecurity attacks becoming common, expect increased and stricter privacy regulations to be released in the next few years. While current policies are still taken into effect, various modifications and adjustments will occur to compete with the rising numbers of data breaches, thefts, data loss, and more.  California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) Currently, the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) is the most comprehensive legislation on state data privacy. It only started to take effect on January 1, 2023. The CPRA introduces the following principles: Broad individual consumer rights. Significant duties of people who need to collect sensitive and personal information. Additional definitions of data privacy and security. An individual’s duties include releasing information about data collection to concerned data subjects and proper access, correction, and deletion of information. Final thoughts  2023 is a big year for data security. Trends such as increased adoption of zero-trust policies, a greater reliance on AI security tools, and the implementation of blockchain as a security solution are all things we expect to see shortly.  Staying up-to-date with these trends is important for keeping your business current and ensuring that you’re adhering to new and changing regulations. Doing so can give you an edge over the competition and keep you out of legal hot water.

After a major refurbishment, Benghazi Children's Hospital in Libya is preparing to deliver a safer, more connected, and more efficient healthcare experience. By adopting Hikvision's AIoT (AI-powered Internet of Things) technologies, the hospital is enhancing patient care, strengthening communication, supporting medical education, and improving operational efficiency throughout the facility. For more than four decades, Benghazi Children's Hospital has served local communities and families. Covering approximately 11,300 m², the hospital supports a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services. Its recent refurbishment—the first in over 40 years—was more than a maintenance project. The hospital set ambitious goals to modernise the environment, aiming for an 80% improvement in patient satisfaction, response times, and interdepartmental communication. Smart healthcare solution To support these objectives, the hospital has been working with the national distributor Al Motaheda to deploy an integrated Hikvision smart healthcare solution spanning patient communication, medical education, and fire protection. When a patient needs help, every second matters. To help caregivers respond quickly and efficiently, Benghazi Children's Hospital has deployed Hikvision's Nurse Call System across its two inpatient departments: the Observation Department and the Gastroenteritis Department. At 11 ward entrances, Doorway Terminals and LED indicators have been installed. Now, when a patient calls, room number and bed information will immediately appear in the corridor, helping nursing staff identify where assistance is needed. Delivering routine announcements A Nurse Station has been located between the two departments. From a single point, staff will be able to receive, prioritise, and respond to requests from all 11 wards, helping improve efficiency while ensuring patients receive timely attention. Beyond the nurse call system, the hospital also wants to strengthen communication between departments. 40 SIP Phones have been installed across examination rooms, operating rooms, labs, and offices, to keep every department connected for day-to-day coordination. 37 Ceiling Speakers will deliver routine announcements, visitor guidance, and emergency notifications. 26 Ceiling Access Points will provide hospital-wide wireless connectivity, supporting staff communications, connected devices, and future digital healthcare applications. Improving patient satisfaction Together, these systems have are creating a more connected healthcare environment where information reaches the right people at the right time. Hospital management expects the solution to play a key role in improving patient satisfaction while significantly reducing response times once the facility becomes fully operational. As a teaching hospital, Benghazi Children's Hospital also places strong emphasis on clinical education. However, limited space inside operating rooms can make it difficult for large groups of students to observe procedures firsthand. To address this challenge, the hospital has deployed a Live Surgery Broadcasting System built around the Hikvision Video Cart. Dedicated training hall This is a mobile unit that can be moved between all four operating rooms as needed. With appropriate patient consent and in accordance with hospital policies, it captures high-quality video and audio that can be transmitted live to a dedicated training hall. This will allow more medical students to observe operations without disrupting clinical activities or overcrowding operating rooms. In addition to live viewing, surgical procedures can – again, with consent – be recorded and stored for future training purposes. This will enable educators to build a growing library of teaching materials while giving more students access to practical clinical learning experiences. Centralized emergency management Fire safety has also been addressed by installing a comprehensive Hikvision fire protection solution. The system enables early fire detection, rapid alert distribution, and centralized emergency management. 203 Smoke Detectors cover every area of the building, from operating rooms to waiting areas to staff rooms. 24 Audible and Visual Alarms, and Manual Call Points have been placed at the ends of corridors and near all exits, where people moving toward evacuation routes will find them. A Fire Alarm Control Panel at the main reception provides centralized monitoring and control. A microphone at the same location will allow staff to broadcast live evacuation instructions to the entire hospital should it be needed. Effective medical education Together, these capabilities help ensure faster response during emergencies while supporting a safer environment for patients, visitors, and staff. Although the hospital has not yet officially opened following its refurbishment, feedback from hospital management and medical staff has been highly positive. As Taha Grgom, Project Manager at the Hospital put it: "The nurse call system will help us respond to patients more quickly, while the live surgery broadcasting system will open new possibilities for medical education. Together, these technologies are helping us build a more connected and efficient hospital." As Benghazi Children's Hospital prepares to welcome its first patients, it stands as a powerful example of how AIoT technologies can support better care, stronger collaboration, safer operations, and more effective medical education. More importantly, it shows what Tech for Good can mean in practice—using technology to make a meaningful difference where it matters most and help every child receive the care they deserve.

PPLD serves El Paso County across multiple branches — from busy urban libraries to new rural buildings. Its security program, built on systems dating back to the late 1980s, had to keep pace with a fast-growing footprint. “I don’t know that we would have been able to get to the point where we had everything we wanted deployed if we didn’t have tech like this,” said Michael Brantner, Chief Facilities & Security Officer, Pikes Peak Library District. Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) is one of Colorado Springs’ most-used public institutions, serving the El Paso County community across multiple branches with 780 cameras and more than 150 doors under active monitoring. Their physical security program had been trying to keep pace. Legacy systems dating back to the late 1980s. Cameras and access control systems that didn’t talk to each other. A small team buried under too many alarms. The model was reactive, and it was overdue for a rethink. Legacy security technology The challenge - PPLD’s footprint was growing in a few ways, through new construction and the addition of more rural buildings under its umbrella – and Chief Facilities & Security Officer Michael Brantner needed more visibility across all of the buildings. Combining the systems in place to protect these locations, plus the new ones, required a new approach: bring decades of legacy security technology into a unified, modern operation that could scale alongside the district’s growth. PPLD wanted to centralize the management of the district’s security function, which led Michael to explore the creation of a new security operations center (SOC). “We had a lot of technology that didn’t talk to each other,” Michael said. “We wanted to be able to consolidate it into one place where we can manage what’s happening across our sites.” Consolidate disconnected systems When he started building PPLD’s SOC, the mandate was clear: bring decades of legacy security technology into a unified, modern operation that could scale alongside the district’s growth. But he also needed to consolidate disconnected systems, prove ROI to the C-suite, and staff and train a team that could actually move the program forward. At the time, PPLD’s setup was a patchwork: Cloud-based cameras and access control sitting next to legacy equipment, with no shared view across them Operators who were refreshing screens to see new alarms Panic alerts, door alarms, and intercom calls each requiring a different screen, a different workflow, and a different response Notifications were inconsistent Response times couldn’t be measured No centralized SOC to manage alarms cohesively Residents experiencing homelessness Most incoming alarms generated by PPLD’s ACS were false: held-open doors, cleaning crews, and after-hours trip alarms. But every single alarm still demanded a response from someone on the team, even if there was no safety issue. The complexity was real. PPLD’s branches serve a diverse community that includes families, students, and residents experiencing homelessness across locations with very different security profiles. Some deal with routine access events. Others face behavioral incidents, policy enforcement issues, and higher alarm volumes. Across all of them, public spaces had to stay public, and private staff areas had to stay private. Those boundaries need to be enforced, all day, every day. Access control systems The solution - As Michael stood up PPLD’s new SOC, HiveWatch stood out as a way to centralize the security program and allowed the growing team a single, active view of every incident across every system. The platform connected directly to PPLD’s existing cameras and access control systems. This meant operators were able to view door alarms, access events, video clips, panic alerts, and environmental sensors (including vape and smoke detection) in one single incident list in a web-based browser. Instead of refreshing screens and guessing at what they might have missed, operators could see every active incident and incoming alarm the moment it surfaced and respond from the same place. Killing redundant alerts Alarm deduplication cut volume on day one, killing redundant alerts before they hit an operator. Noisy doors became easy to spot and fix. When specific issues surfaced, like a flood of DHO alarms, for instance, the system helped the SOC adjust alarm timing. That adaptability, tuned to actual door and user behavior without loosening security, kept the program compliant and cut the alarm load the SOC had to manage. Operators, along with field officers, made use of the mobile app, too. The team’s ability to acknowledge, investigate, and resolve incidents from anywhere in the building was a huge benefit. Security triage stopped being tied to a desk. Response became coordinated, in real time, across every location. Standard operating procedure But the shift went beyond operations. For the first time, PPLD’s leadership had detailed data on its security program: response times, alarm volumes, and incident trends. Michael could walk into a leadership meeting with numbers that proved the program’s value. He could spot which operators were hitting targets, which branches were generating outliers, and where more operator or officer training was needed. “We aren’t just operators staring at cameras anymore. HiveWatch lets us cut through the noise, focus on what matters, and actually expand what our team can do,” said Joe Vickous, SOC Supervisor, Pikes Peak Library District. Single active queue Every shift, PPLD’s operators manage a single active queue. Door forced at a branch. Vape detection in a restroom. Held-open back door after a cleaning crew shift change. An intercom call from a side entrance. All surfaced in one view without screen-refreshing or system-hopping. When an access control alert comes in, the response is immediate. The operator sees the alert with the connected camera feed in the same view, follows the built-in standard operating procedure (SOP), and, if warranted, dispatches the field officer with full context from within the platform. Audible alerts mean the SOC can run HiveWatch in a single tab without sacrificing a full monitor, freeing operators to handle more important work like footage pulls, door testing, and badge creation between incidents. Badge creation between incidents “HiveWatch makes the operators more flexible and makes them more versatile, as well,” Michael said. “They’re able to focus on something else and it will prompt them and say, hey, pay attention. We have to interact. They can check it out, dispatch somebody, and then go back to what they’re doing.” And when something crosses the public-private line, such as a patron drifting into a staff-only corridor, the platform surfaces it in real time. The operator sees it, the field officer responds, and the boundary holds. Public stays public. Private stays private. No guessing. No discovery after the fact. Incidents are caught early, handled according to protocol, and documented with a full record attached. “The biggest benefit for us is having the tool that sorts through the noise and focuses the operators on the notifications that are actually coming in that need attention,” Branter said. Standard operating procedure The results: Median time to acknowledge incidents of 21 seconds and median time to resolve of 28 seconds using HiveWatch. Scaled the SOC from 2 operators to 6 plus a manager, with the platform absorbing the workload increase. Extended the SOC beyond the control room with mobile triage and response for field officers and operators. Equipped leadership with real-time data on acknowledgement and response times, and alarm trends, turning a reactive program into a proactive, measurable one. Positioned the program to absorb 800 additional cameras and access points without proportional headcount growth.

The University of West London (UWL) is benefitting from enhanced fire safety visibility and streamlined system management thanks to the integration of AdvancedLive across multiple campuses. Over the past three years, the University has undertaken a significant investment program to upgrade its fire protection infrastructure. This included systematically replacing legacy MxPro 4 and Kentec systems with next-generation MxPro 5 panels, ensuring consistency across six campuses in West London and Oxford. Faster incident response Most recently, Ruskin College, now part of the University of West London, underwent a seamless upgrade across its historic Oxford estate, which includes five main buildings such as the Rookery, first constructed in 1913. Despite the complexity of integrating newer extensions like the Callaghan Library, the project was completed without disruption, thanks to the adaptability and flexibility of the MxPro 5 platform. With more than 27 Advanced panels installed across education, office, and residential buildings, the University has now connected three of its main campuses to AdvancedLive, with plans to extend the platform further. Using map-based views, facilities teams and security staff gain a real-time overview of their fire system estate, enabling faster incident response and more efficient day-to-day management. Remote access capability For a large and dispersed organization like UWL, the ability to locate alarms or faults quickly across complex buildings has been transformational. AdvancedLive’s intuitive dashboard and remote access capability allow fire isolations, enablements and weekly testing to be managed digitally, eliminating unnecessary site visits and reducing both costs and carbon footprint. The system configuration reflects the unique requirements of each campus: St Mary’s Road Campus operates 13 panels, with Apollo REACH wireless devices deployed within library pods and coincidence detection programmed across third-party systems. Ruskin College Campus features six panels, each building configured with bespoke cause-and-effect strategies, all reporting to central security points. Paragon House integrates four panels with phased evacuation and delays across its 12-storey tower block. Unified management interface Additional campuses, including Cavendish & Century and Drama Studio London, benefit from tailored programming for linked buildings and theatre operations respectively. In every case, AdvancedLive provides a unified management interface for system status, alarms, faults, and disablements. Jason Bennett, Division Manager at Alarm Communication Limited, who led the installation, said: “From both an admin and engineering perspective, AdvancedLive has been extremely positive. The live system view and detailed log make daily management much simpler, while remote access means the facilities team can react quickly and efficiently to any issue. The installation was straightforward, and Advanced’s support throughout the process was excellent.” Sustainable fire system management Salvy Vittozzi, Sales Manager for UK South East at Advanced, added: “The University of West London is a great example of how AdvancedLive can transform fire system oversight across a complex estate. By combining the proven reliability of the MxPro 5 panels with the real-time visibility of AdvancedLive, the University now benefits from a solution that’s not only robust today but also scalable for the future. It’s fantastic to see how this investment is already saving time, reducing unnecessary travel, and strengthening fire safety management.” Looking ahead, UWL plans to expand AdvancedLive connectivity to the remainder of its estate, ensuring consistent oversight and centralized control across all sites. For universities and multi-site organizations, the combination of MxPro 5 and AdvancedLive provides a powerful foundation for safe, efficient and sustainable fire system management.

The Musée du Quai Branly known in English as the Quai Branly Museum and nicknamed MQB, is a museum in Paris, France that features indigenous art, cultures and civilisations from Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. Situated close to the Eiffel Tower, the museum is located at 37, Quai Branly – Portail Debilly in Paris. The location and the museum are named for the physicist Édouard Branly. Encompasses several buildings Technology objective - The museum complex encompasses several buildings, as well as a multimedia library and a garden. It is open 6 days a week with occasional evening hours. The museum’s valuable collection is watched over by security officers, who utilize many sets of keys as part of their jobs. Challenge - Approximately 1000 keys needed to be kept secure and accessible 24/7; most of these keys give access to rooms in several buildings where valuable objects are displayed. To select a vendor, the museum wrote a competitive bidding process that included security and management reporting and the use of differing key management systems for keys depending on the level of priority. Proper authorization code KeyWatcher key control system helps guard against stolen or misplaced keys by only releasing assigned keys to users with the proper authorization code. When a key is missing or overdue, an alarm alerts the security personnel of the situation. Simple and elegant in design, the wall-mounted key storage cabinet eliminates outdated lock boxes, unreliable manual logs and messy key identification tags. KeyWatcher records the access history of each key, including user, date and time of checkout/return. The Results - The museum installed Morse Watchmans KeyWatcher for the high level priority keys (safe, ticketing) and Morse Watchmans KeyBank for less sensitive keys (duplicate keys). The software generates a report which provides accurate and detailed information, such as which employees accessed which keys, who has taken out any given key and how long each key was out.

Managing the public safety concerns for a major university with an average daily population of roughly 60,000 is challenging enough. Add the needs of an on-site hospital and state-wide healthcare network, and the surveillance requirements can become burdensome, highlighting the importance of the right security infrastructure. The University of Kentucky (UK) recently completed a campus-wide security system upgrade to Hanwha Vision cameras. The UK police and security team, including Police Chief Joseph Monroe, Deputy Chief Nathan Brown and Security Technology Group leader Stephen Cornett, oversees the surveillance infrastructure, covering security for the University, a major hospital and healthcare system (UK HealthCare, located on-campus and under the police department’s responsibility), and other UK Health hospitals and healthcare facilities across the state. Right security infrastructure Monroe described the University of Kentucky Police Department as a growing organization. “When I started 30 years ago, we had 35 officers,” he said. “Now we’re nearly 90, plus campus police, hospital police, crisis management teams, and a security technology group. But our mission hasn’t changed: provide a safe and secure environment for students, faculty, and staff to learn and work.” UK’s previous surveillance system was a fragmented collection of more than 60 disparate, mostly analog, systems across various colleges and departments. This patchwork resulted in significant gaps in security coverage with no firm foundation for centralization or standardization. “Investigating an incident meant logging into multiple platforms,” said Brown. “It was slow and inefficient.” Real-time information Now, the school’s network boasts nearly 5,000 cameras, including Hanwha Vision’s advanced multi-sensor, 8K, and edge-based analytics models deployed across campus, remote sites, the football stadium, and classroom buildings. The team also built a new Security Operations Center (SOC) to monitor and manage its new camera network. The SOC also uses the Fusus platform for real-time information sharing with city cameras and the City of Lexington’s Real-Time Crime Center. Full situational awareness “We can respond to incidents faster and more accurately,” Brown said. “We recently received a swatting call (a false report of a dangerous situation) claiming an active shooter in the library. Our operators pulled up live video immediately, saw normal activity, confirmed it was false, and adjusted our response procedures accordingly, still deploying officers but with full situational awareness.” The University previously used single-sensor cameras, which limited their coverage and also required more labor-intensive configurations. Multi-sensor cameras “We could only cover a small area,” Cornett said. “To get full coverage, we’d need 10-plus cameras, which also meant multiple cable runs, licenses, and mounts. Now, with our new Hanwha Vision multi-sensor cameras, one device, one cable, and one license gives us 360° situational awareness, especially at building corners and hard-to-mount locations. It’s expanded our view dramatically.” Brown added, “A single-image camera often loses context when a subject moves off-screen. The Hanwha Vision multi-sensor cameras provide 360° wide-area coverage from one unit, eliminating blind spots without relying on an operator. They deliver continuous, comprehensive visibility, critical for tracking incidents from start to finish.” Metal detector lines The University police and security teams can now also share video data with other departments, which has proven useful especially during sporting events and other large gatherings. They use the cameras’ onboard analytics to conduct people counting, object recognition to support operational efficiency, crowd management, and real-time oversight of metal detector lines. On football gamedays, the University’s population doubles, which means the surveillance challenges increase accordingly. “That requires special event planning, more views of parking lots, and extended coverage beyond the stadium,” Monroe said. High-resolution images The team installed a Hanwha Vision 4K camera at the stadium, describing the improvements in coverage as a “game-changer.” “The 8K camera captures the entire footprint,” Cornett said. “We can digitally zoom in on any incident and still get high-resolution images. We pair it with surrounding cameras to track suspects, identify perpetrators, and build a complete picture with no blind spots and no missed moments. It ensures patron safety, smooth operations, and the best possible fan experience during games, concerts, and events.” Comprehensive public safety The UK team plans to add more cameras as their security and surveillance requirements expand. They are confident that the Hanwha Vision camera network can easily scale with their needs, accomplishing their mission of comprehensive public safety and more efficient operations. Brown said, “We’re giving our community a tangible sense of protection by demonstrating that safety is a priority, every day.”

Wire bonding is a key process in semiconductor production. Extremely fine wires with diameters of 15 to 75 micrometers create tiny electrical connections between a semiconductor chip and other components. The distances between the bond wires are often less than 100 micrometers.  Wire bonding Any deviation, however small, can lead to connection errors. Wire bonding therefore requires the highest precision and forms the basis for producing high-performance electronics, which are used in many different applications. F&S BONDTEC Semiconductor GmbH from Braunau, Austria, relies on image processing technology with industrial cameras from IDS Imaging Development Systems GmbH to precisely determine wire positions and for quality assurance. Application The operator only has to change the wire or tool on the bonder occasionally and take care of loading and unloading Wire bonders are available with various degrees of automation. With manual devices, each bond position must be approached manually before the corresponding connections can be made. Semi-automatic machines automatically position the wire after the first bond to create a wire bridge. Fully automatic machines use a structure recognition system to determine the position of the chips. Here, the production of all wire bridges is completely automatic. The operator only has to change the wire or tool on the bonder occasionally and take care of loading and unloading. Image processing F&S Bondtec uses image processing with IDS industrial cameras for various tasks in the production process, especially in the semi-automatic machines of the 56i series and the automatic wire bonders of the 86 series. "Our wire bonds connect previously placed microchips or other components with different contact points on printed circuit boards and breathe life into the chips," explains Johann Enthammer, Managing Director and CTO at F&S Bondtec. Bonding parameters Ultrasonic amplitude, force, time, or the movement sequence for setting up the bonding bridges must be programmed "However, positional inaccuracies of the components can occur during the upstream processes. Our machines have to determine these positional inaccuracies using the IDS camera image and our image recognition software and update the wire bond positions accordingly." For each bonding process, parameters such as ultrasonic amplitude, force, time, or the movement sequence for setting up the bonding bridges must also be programmed in advance. The camera's image feed is also used when creating these programs. Image recognition library For example, you can drag a wire in the live image and change its position. The axes can also be adjusted by clicking on the image. On the software side, the Austrian company relies on a specially developed image recognition library that works with position/pixel mapping, greyscale recognition, and edge detection, for example. Visual assessments of bond connections Once the bonding process is complete, the camera is used again, as Johann Enthammer explains, "After welding, the wire bonds are visually checked by the operator via the camera image." "Among other things, the position and shape of the bond bridges are assessed. The camera image therefore has more than just one function during the bonding process." uEye XCP models At just 29 x 29 x 17 millimeters, they are the smallest housed IDS cameras with C-mount Between one and seven industrial cameras are used per system. Depending on the type, these can be particularly compact and cost-effective uEye XCP models. At just 29 x 29 x 17 millimeters, they are the smallest housed IDS cameras with C-mount and have a completely enclosed die-cast zinc housing. Their screw-type USB micro-B connection and compatibility with the Vision Standard (U3V / GenICam) simplify integration. uEye CP cameras F&S Bondtec also uses uEye CP cameras. These tiny powerhouses offer maximum functionality with extensive pixel pre-processing and are also perfect for multi-camera systems thanks to the internal 120 MB image memory for buffering image sequences. Users can choose from a large number of modern CMOS sensors. They also score points with a compact housing measuring just 29 x 29 x 29 millimeters. Camera selection The small design of the models and the large number of different sensors were important criteria when selecting the camera, as was the low thermal expansion. However, the free IDS peak software development kit with all the programming interfaces and software tools required for operating and programming the cameras was also crucial. Easy-to-understand convenience functions ensure an intuitive programming experience and quick and simple commissioning of the industrial cameras. Plug-and-play functions Johann Enthammer confirmed, "The driver shows very stable runtime behavior. The easy-to-program API and the plug-and-play functions with running software convinced us." "This is because there are many different use cases for our systems that can be implemented with the API without any problems. Our machines can be equipped with up to seven different bond heads. A different IDS camera can be integrated into each one." Outlook In addition to standard products, the company develops special machines and customized software solutions The wire bonders from F&S Bondtec ensure stable connections in semiconductor production. With the help of integrated image processing, the manufacturing quality and productivity of the systems can be further increased and rejects avoided. At the same time, the cameras make work easier for the operators. In addition to standard products, the company develops special machines and customized software solutions that also use AI models.  Efficiency, precision, and quality "We see a lot of potential for the use of artificial intelligence in our applications in the future," says Johann Enthammer. Image processing opens up completely new potential, especially in conjunction with AI, particularly in terms of efficiency, precision, and quality. And thanks to IDS's broad portfolio, the right "eye" can be found for every application - for micrometre-precise results. Camera F&S Bondtec uses various uEye industrial cameras, for example: uEye XCP - the industry's smallest housing camera with a C-mount Model used: U3-3680XCP Rev.1.2 Camera family: uEye XCP uEye CP - incredibly fast, powerful, future-proof Modell used: U3-3040CP Rev.2.2 Camera family: uEye CP Customer F&S Bondtec covers the desktop bonder and tester segment worldwide and offers a wide range of production and test equipment. It extends to the desktop micro-factory, which combines all wire bonding processes and all test methods in one machine base. Since the company was founded in 1994, several thousand wire bonders and bond testers have left the factory and are in use in many laboratories, development departments, pilot production lines, and production facilities around the world.

In the United States, they are called license plate recognition (LPR) systems. In Europe, the more common term is automated license number-plate recognition (ANPR). In either case, the systems provide capabilities that can benefit a range of applications from schools to municipalities to parking lots. Newer technologies can even identify vehicle color, type, make, and model. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What's new with license plate recognition (LPR) and/or automated number-plate recognition (ANPR) systems?

Headlines of violence in our schools are a reminder of the need to keep educational institutions safe. In fact, if there is a positive aspect to the constant bombardment of headlines, it is that it keeps our attention perpetually focused on how to improve school security. But what is the role of physical security systems? As the new school year begins, we asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: Are schools safer because of physical security systems? Why or why not? 

As physical security technologies become more complex, it is incumbent on the dealer/integrator to have the skills and expertise needed to ensure that a system operates smoothly. The value of integrators increasingly rests on the skill sets they bring to bear when installing a system. If the skills are missing, there is a problem. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What missing skills among security integrators can cause problems for customers?