Network / IP security - Expert commentary

  Taking time to evaluate some do's and don'ts before buying an IP network camera IP network-based surveillance cameras offer enticing possibilities. However, you need to evaluate several factors before deciding on the type of IP camera installation you'd like to go for.  For example, do you want full or partial IP? How much bandwidth? Simon Nash, Senior Marketing Manager at Sony Europe explains the entire process. Transition to IP surveillance Network cameras f...

 H.264 has become the compression standard of choice in the security industry The rising popularity of the H.264 video compression standard has established H.264 as ‘the buzzword' within the video surveillance industry. With all this talk of the possible enhancements brought to the fore by H.264, Kate Huber, Peter de konik and Piet Nieuwets of Optelecom-NKF present the true benefits and shortcomings of this popular standard in the first of a three-part review.H.264...

Environmental implications are important considerations in surveillance system designs Rising energy costs are compelling many organizations to optimize their computing environments. In fact, energy costs have quickly become the fastest growing operating cost, propelling many corporations to embark on new conservation and "green" initiatives. Marc Holtenhoff, CEO of Aimetis, explores ways to reduce energy consumption within video surveillance applications, that could pave the...

Thermal surveillance cameras have numerous security benefits All network cameras have a basic physical limitation: they need light to work. Phil Doyle, Regional Director, Northern Europe at Axis Communications examines the key benefits of thermal imaging cameras in surveillance.  Some network cameras have night and day vision capability that allows them to operate in very poor lighting conditions, down to fractions of a lux. And of course, if natural light is not availab...

  Going back to the blueprint - assessing the challenges of designing an IP CCTV The world of IP CCTV design is continuously progressing. Security system designers and installers have to frequently evaluate customers' needs when running an IP-surveillance system on a company's network. It is up to the CCTV sales manager to eradicate any concerns regarding IP-based CCTV systems and look at the requirements of each customer, subsequently offering bespoke networks to suit the...

Image quality is affected by more than just zoom Surveillance cameras are only as useful as the quality of images they produce.  Therefore when selecting cameras for a security system, it is imperative to select one with features that will provide the best results possible.  It is often thought that the higher the zoom, the better the quality of the images produced.  However, this is not always necessarily the case. Phil Doyle, Regional Director, Northern Europe...

  Globalisation and new technologies have led to increased threats for financial organizations The banking and financial sector needs to be constantly prepared to manage an increasing range of security risks, from fraud and anti-social behavior to data mismanagement. Organizations must anticipate such potential risks and have well-established plans in place to address them.  Honeywell, with more than 50 years of experience in the security industry, is helping...

  Cutting costs on security investments puts small businesses at the risk of criminal activity During tough economic times, many small businesses can be found guilty of neglecting investment in their on-going security protection.  Naturally, this can prove to be problematic as the impact of break-ins and criminal activity greatly affect the accounts and day-to-day running of the business. Luke Martyn, SMB specialist at ADT Fire and Security provides practical, cost-ef...

High Definition technology - leading the way for new video security innovations With new technological developments and innovations constantly being made, consumers are able to enjoy the benefits of higher quality products. Better technology means better gadgets and appliances for entertainment such as televisions but more importantly, it also means better security.  Simon Nash, Senior European Marketing Manager, Video Security for Sony Professional presents the case for...

  Resolution quality must be considered when assessing surveillance effectiveness Surveillance cameras are becoming more and more commonplace, especially in busy metropolitan locales. Police and detectives hope to reduce crime rates by keeping a watchful eye on civilians but CCTV has only been helpful in solving a small percentage of crimes. Mike Lewis, Country Manager UK for CCTV manufacturer MOBOTIX AG, highlights key considerations for improving the efficiency of ex...

  Bandwidth is an important consideration for CCTV systems to reach their full potential Most surveillance systems today transmit data over IP networks. As manufacturers continue to improve the capabilities of CCTV systems, the amount of traffic traveling on a network becomes increasingly large. Bandwidth is a key consideration in managing surveillance systems and ensuring their full potential is reached. In this article, Bosch discusses the importance of bandwidth and how...

  Integration of security systems is a priority for retail sector managers With the assumed digitalisation happening on the end-user side, progressive security systems integrators stress the importance of changing the business concept from being installers to being service and solution providers. However, less is known about the details of this process on the end-user side, Markus Lahtinen of LUSAX project explains. An online survey of loss prevention managers in...

Hoteliers don't give security a high enough priority Security is not as high on the hotel agenda as it should be according to Michael Hartmann, Senior Vice President for Hospitality Solutions with Siemens Building Technologies.  Here he looks at the reluctance to invest in the latest security systems, the different levels of security typically employed and the benefits of an integrated approach. The contribution to profit, or the perceived lack of it, is one of the major...

Examining the road to convergence The use of Internet Protocol (IP) in the security industry is increasing but little is known about the relationship between end users and the merger of traditional physical security and IT otherwise referred to as convergence in the security trade press. Markus Lahtinen of the LUSAX project examines the growth of convergence in the security industry and discusses complexities of this relationship. The LUSAX project at Lund Universit...

PoE technology allows for safer environments through better security systems Power over Ethernet is both convenient and affordable, says Jonas Rehnberg of ASSA ABLOY Future Labs. The benefits to network security are immense, be it in powering security cameras with added features or enabling better access control systems and intruder deterrents. Hailed as a watershed innovation when first standardized in 2003, Power over Ethernet (PoE) offers a way of supplying electricity to n...

  HID and Abloy UK are creating the future of intelligent doors At IFSEC 2009, ASSA Abloy launched Hi-O, a new concept for electronic door solutions that improves and simplifies the installation, service and upgrade of access control systems and allows end users to create the first truly "intelligent doors". SourceSecurity.com spoke with Matt Thomas, Managing Director of Abloy UK, and Ian Compton, Director of Sales for UK, IE and Nordics for HID Global, to find out more ab...

  Metadata saves on resources required to store large amounts of data Yu Kitamura, Product Manager, Network Video Monitoring, Sony Europe explains the facts about metadata, and their benefits.All organizations have to face the costly challenge of the storage and management of their valuable data. In the sphere of security, where visual data is indispensable, any avenues that make the capture, storage and retrieval of that information more efficient will command budget...

   Key to stability during economic downturn is investment in partners and product innovation  If we are to believe the words of the Bank of England's Mervyn King, the recession may be coming to an end. No longer are we to fear the shouts of the dreaded "credit crunch" resonating from our TV screens. While green shoots of economic recovery spring up around the world, there is still enough uncertainty to warrant the question: How is the security industry...

  Mobile Wimax drives business  For around 15 years, Alvarion has been at the forefront of the development and deployment of radio technologies and advance antenna systems for broadband wireless networks including mobile WiMAX. Ashish Sharma, Vice-President of Corporate Communications, explains the merits of Mobile WiMAX radio technologies and advance antenna systems. In addition to being a leading-edge technology, Mobile WiMAX™ has also emerged as a business driver addressi...

   Megapixel and HDTV resolutions produce higher quality images What are the benefits of Megapixel and HDTV resolutions? In part 2 of this article, Phil Doyle, Managing Director (UK & Ireland) of Axis Communications continues with an in depth explanation of their key advantages. (Read part 1 of this article on standard video resolutions)Megapixel resolutionsA network camera that offers megapixel resolution uses a megapixel sensor to delive...

Can intelligent technology really deliver a high return on investment and what can it offer government and local authorities today? Yvonne Pritchard of Sony Professional Security details the advantages of intelligent solutions within security installations. Surveillance has long been an essential focus for governments and local authorities at all levels, from traffic and hospital  IP security - the intelligent choice monitoring to large-scale security operations for one-off e...

  Integrated access control solutions have become easier to apply Leading integrated security solutions provider Honeywell explains the importance and benefits of implementing an integrated access control solution for businesses. An access control solution can be as simple as the use of electronic or magnetic swipe cards instead of keys to unlock a front door. This limited functionality still retains a considerable level of value. In most cases, businesses can limit...

   IP connectivity featured in the latest access control products provides extra flexibility If it's been a while since you last looked at access control systems, be prepared for a surprise, says Matt Haynes of Siemens Building Technologies. For very little extra cost, the latest systems deliver a whole lot more functionality than their older counterparts. Let's be honest, even the most basic of access control systems are likely to perform some useful functions,...

Axis Communications is seeing strong demand for its network video products in the retail sector following an extended period of engagement with a range of retail solutions providers.  Phil Doyle, managing director of Axis Communications (UK), points out some of   Network video provides ideal solution for retailers faced with rising shrinkage the more successful and practical applications of network video in the sector. The natural focus of any discus...

Milestone Systems' Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Eric Fullerton, outlines clear advantages of choosing an open platform IP video solution to deliver a video surveillance system that has room to grow and expand in any direction with the lowest cost of ownership. Choosing surveillance camera management solutions It is no surprise that  A camera management application limited to one camera vendor is high in risks, low in rewards   security camera vend...

Simon Nash, European Product Manager, Network Video Monitoring, Sony Europe, explains the key benefits and potential impact of the new generation of groundbreaking intelligent cameras. It has long been known that there are inherent weaknesses in the process of manually scrutinising security  Intelligent cameras offer proactive network video monitoring monitors hour after hour, in the hope of pinpointing all possible risks.  The challenge has been to find a robust te...

Jeremy Kimber, Honeywell's EMEA Marketing Leader, analyses the rising phenomenon of video analytics in the security industry. Like the pharmaceutical industry, CCTV is always unveiling a new wonder cure.  Given the rapid pace of technology development, it is inevitable that new  Rapid growth predicted for analytic software market within the next two to three years solutions are constantly being brought to market.  However, in many cases these new solu...

SourceSecurity.com recently caught up with Jonas Andersson, business development director at Axis Communications, to talk in more detail about Axis' ground-breaking co-operative agreement to work collectively with Bosch and Sony on the development of a standard network interface for network video products.  The resulting collaboration, now called Open Network Video Interface Forum (ONVIF), will strive to develop an open industry standard and is inviting would-be participants to register via...

FLIR Systems' Christiaan Maras highlights the benefits between cooled and uncooled thermal imaging systems. The demand for thermal imaging to enhance the CCTV environment is increasing markedly.  Thermal imaging provides 24-hour, all-year-round, long-range asset and personnel protection.  Unlike other cameras thermal imaging cameras require no lighting that may draw unwanted attention to a facility or site.  They provide vivid, high-contrast images of intruders even whe...

When it comes to the application of sophisticated security techniques in the banking environment - to keep assets, staff and customers safe and secure - financial institutions are looking carefully at how they can seamlessly integrate advances, such as High Definition CCTV and the monitoring of their cash machines, into their existing infrastructure.  Pauline Norstrom, Director of Worldwide Marketing at Dedicated Micros, discusses the challenges. A key issue for banks is to ensure that the...