Radio frequency Identification

Allegion US, a provider of security solutions, technology and services, announces its Campus-to-Community Student Living solutions, designed to help off-campus student housing operators meet student expectations, enhance security and streamline operations. “For years, off-campus student housing has been viewed as multifamily with younger residents, but the reality is much more complex,” said Tyler Webb, Mobile Ambassador at Allegion. “Operators are navigating compressed turnover cycles, rising demand for connected living experiences and disconnected tech systems. Campus‑to‑Community Student Living creates a unified, mobile‑first ecosystem that eliminates fragmentation and seamlessly links the student experience from campus to couch.” Off-campus environments At the core of Campus-to-Community Student Living is the ability to deliver a unified and seamless mobile credential experience across both on-campus and off-campus environments. Schlage’s Resident Key, available in Apple Wallet® and Google Wallet™, provides users with high levels of convenience, enhanced security and seamless access. Students can use their mobile credentials in iPhone® and Apple Watch® as well as Android™ phones and Wear OS smartwatches to access their residence, amenities and campus facilities. Campus‑to‑Community solutions are designed to deliver: Measurable operational and financial benefits for off‑campus operators including streamlined turnover, reduced rekeying costs and lockouts, and integrated property management workflows A seamless, mobile-first resident experience that aligns with modern expectations for connected, on‑the‑go student living Enhanced safety and confidence for parents, with greater visibility, reliability and control across the access experience Robust ecosystem of software Earlier this year, Allegion partnered with Preiss, IRIS Technologies and Quext to deliver the nation’s first off-campus student housing mobile wallet experience at The Collective at Norman serving University of Oklahoma students. Following the launch, residents and property staff alike shared their experience first-hand highlighting convenience, optimized operations and reduced after-hours lockouts.  Backed by Allegion’s century of trust and robust ecosystem of software and integration partners, Campus‑to‑Community Student Living solutions are designed to equip off‑campus student housing operators with a connected, future‑ready platform that simplifies operations and elevates the resident experience.

ODVA is pleased to announce that CIP Security™ has been formally certified by TÜV Rheinland to meet the applicable requirements of IEC 62443-4-2 at Security Level Capability 3 (SL-C 3). Security Level 3 protects against intentional violation using sophisticated means from attackers with moderate resources, IACS specific skills, and moderate motivation. Achieving formal certification that the CIP Security Specification complies with the IEC 62443 standard reinforces the position of the technology as the definitive security framework for EtherNet/IP™ products, simplifying the compliance path for product manufacturers incorporating CIP Security. Definitive security framework IEC 62443-4-2, part of the IEC 62443 series, defines the technical cybersecurity requirements for components used in an industrial automation and control system (IACS). CIP Security is an application layer network extension of EtherNet/IP that provides data integrity (rejecting altered data), authentication (verifying trusted identities), authorization (blocking unauthorized commands), and confidentiality/encryption via TLS and DTLS for automation devices. Certification of CIP Security, and use of this technology in products, significantly lowers the barrier for product manufacturers seeking to achieve their own IEC 62443-4-2 certification. This certification also firmly establishes CIP Security as the natural compliance tool to meet requirements imposed by the European Union (EU) Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) by satisfying core technical and secure-by-design requirements related to confidentiality, integrity, and authentication. Industrial network technology The CRA was created to strengthen cybersecurity in a broad range of products with digital elements and connectivity, and it therefore pertains to many products used in all types of operational technology (OT) applications. “Achieving this certification is a significant accomplishment and further strengthens the position of EtherNet/IP as a leading secure industrial network technology,” said Dr. Al Beydoun, President and Executive Director of ODVA. “This represents an important milestone for EtherNet/IP technology and further demonstrates ODVA's commitment to advancing secure industrial communications and supporting the cybersecurity needs of our members and the broader industrial automation community.”

CREST, the global non-profit accreditation body for the cybersecurity industry, today published new guidance urging the financial services sector to unify its cybersecurity posture across the entire market ecosystem. The new whitepaper, titled ‘Cyber Resilience in Financial Services: A whole ecosystem approach,’ looks at the interconnected roles of financial institutions, financial supervisors and cyber service providers, and sets out a practical maturity pathway to help build collective resilience across the industry. Strength of individual institutions As the adoption of Artificial Intelligence for cyber security expands both within the financial institutions and their service providers, the importance of a coordinated approach to responsible use and testing increases too. The paper highlights that cyber resilience in financial services depends on more than the strength of individual institutions. Financial institutions operate within a wider system that includes shared infrastructure, technology and data providers, specialist cyber firms and public authorities. A weakness in one critical part of that system can affect the resilience of the whole. It sets out three core areas of responsibility: financial institutions building and maintaining resilience across critical business services; supervisors establishing proportionate expectations and understanding risk across the wider financial system; and cyber service providers supplying trusted specialist expertise, independent assurance, testing and response capability. Wider financial system Nick Benson, CEO of CREST, said: “Financial services are among the most interconnected and systemically important parts of any economy, so cyber resilience has to be developed across the whole ecosystem. Financial institutions, supervisors and cyber service providers each have a distinct role, and the strength of the system depends on their capability developing together.” “This is particularly important as countries strengthen their cyber resilience and build local capability. International standards can provide a common foundation, while investment in local providers, practitioners and supervisory expertise creates sustainable capacity within the market. This paper provides a practical model that jurisdictions can adapt to their own starting point and use to plan that development over time.” Capability developing together Josh Magri, CEO, Cyber Risk Institute, said: “Financial sector cyber resilience depends on how well institutions, supervisors, and specialist providers coalesce around a common view of risk and maturity. At CRI, our work on harmonised frameworks, like the CRI Profile and Maturity Model, and proportionate, evidence-based risk management approaches reflects this principle.” “This paper offers a practical model for assessing those interdependencies and sequencing improvement across the wider ecosystem. Non-profits like CREST and CRI, working in partnership with the rest of the ecosystem, are key enablers in this complex and critical effort.” Developing sufficient local capacity A key focus of the whitepaper is how the model can support countries and markets at different stages of cyber maturity. Many jurisdictions face challenges in developing sufficient local capacity for more complex cyber security services. Experienced providers and practitioners may be concentrated in a small number of markets, while local firms may have more limited access to specialist experience, training, recognized qualifications and complex engagements. The paper sets out practical ways to address this, including mentoring, partnerships between international and local providers, knowledge transfer, access to recognized training and examinations, capacity-building programmes and structured pathways towards independent accreditation. Local financial institutions CREST’s Cyber Accelerated Maturity Programme, CREST CAMP, is included as one example of this approach. It combines standards, training, mentorship and progression through the CREST Pathway to support the development of local financial institutions and providers, and help build sustainable, high-quality provision within the financial sector. The whitepaper also proposes maturity pathways for each of the three groups, helping jurisdictions assess their current position, identify gaps and plan development over a multi-year period. The model progresses from baseline mapping, cyber hygiene and initial standards through to independent assurance, advanced testing, stronger supervisory capability and intelligence-led testing and resilience. Independent quality assurance It identifies three priorities for strengthening cyber resilience across the financial ecosystem: measuring maturity across the whole ecosystem and its shared dependencies, adopting a common language across institutions, supervisors and providers, and providing targeted development support where capability needs to accelerate. The paper also highlights the role of international and non-governmental organizations in supporting this work through standards, frameworks, technical assistance, independent quality assurance and capacity-building.

Veracode, the pioneer in application risk management, announces a jump from 56 percent to 62 percent in overall AI-generated code security, alongside a drop in vulnerabilities from 44 percent to 38 percent — the most significant improvement since the GenAI Code Security Report series began in July 2025. Anthropic's Claude Opus 5.5 and OpenAI's GPT-6-Sol co-lead the rankings at 73 percent, surpassing the previous high of 68 percent set by GPT-5.5 in July 2026. “We’ve been analyzing code generated by multiple LLMs for more than a year. Until now, we have not seen a marked improvement in AI code security, despite consistently near-perfect functionality,” said Chris Wysopal, Co-founder & Chief Security Evangelist at Veracode. “This is the first time since running our study that we’ve been able to report a meaningful move on the security dial. Ten models now clear 60 percent, up from four in the last report, and the overall average has jumped six percentage points. With around half of code now generated by AI, today’s results are truly encouraging.”  Meaning vulnerability volume Veracode tested 18 models across four languages (Python, C#, JavaScript, Java) and four Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) categories (CWE-89, CWE-327, CWE-80, CWE-117). Claude Opus 5.5 and GPT-6-Sol tied at 73 percent, dethroning GPT-5.5, which led the summer 2026 snapshot at 68 percent. Anthropic and OpenAI each have models in the top seven. In July, six of 11 models sat between 50 and 53 percent; today only two remain in that band, while 10 clear 60 percent. The floor hasn't moved, however, with the bottom still at 44–50 percent, meaning vulnerability volume still depends on model selection. Data-flow reasoning Vulnerability type CWE-80, cross-site scripting (XSS), was the main driver of the overall gain. Despite being one of the weaker categories, XSS rose to 18 percent, in contrast to its modest uptick demonstrated in July’s analysis. This represents the single biggest shift in the dataset. Meanwhile, crypto (CWE-327) held at 87 percent, Structured Query Language (SQL) injection (CWE-89) held at 84 percent, and log injection (CWE-117) remained flat at 13 percent. The reason is structural: XSS is the easiest vulnerability to fix through pattern recognition, which is exactly how LLMs improve. Log injection requires data-flow reasoning across multiple functions, where LLMs continue to stall. Highest security outcome The top-performing models carry premium compute costs. Performance also correlates with model size: large models average 55 percent versus 51 percent for small models, which reverses last year's finding that size had "essentially no effect" on security.  “The models that produce the most secure code are the ones that cost the most to run at scale, yet they still fail on more than one in four security tasks,” Wysopal said. “The answer should never be to use the most expensive model and hope for the best. A mid-tier model at a 60 percent pass rate plus Veracode scanning is more accurate, more cost-effective, and more scalable than a frontier model at 73 percent with no verification. Organizations must look for a combination of coding model, security testing, and remediation to get the highest security outcome.” Coding-specialized models General models pull further ahead of coding models. General-purpose models average 54 percent on security tasks versus 51 percent for coding-specialized models — a gap that has widened from one to three points since July.  Nearly four in 10 AI code tasks still produce vulnerable code. The rate of vulnerabilities dropped from 44 to 38 percent. This is meaningful but still means roughly four in 10 tasks produced vulnerable code without security-specific guidance. Java is still stuck. Java remains the dramatic outlier at 31 percent, barely up from 30 percent in July. The gap between Java and the other three languages (Python at 64 percent, C# at 60 percent, and JavaScript at 57 percent) is still 26–33 percentage points. Long-lived vulnerabilities The improvement is real but mends a small part of a larger wound. According to Veracode's 2026 State of Software Security report, 82 percent of organizations now carry security debt (vulnerabilities unresolved for more than a year). Moreover, 66 percent of the most dangerous, long-lived vulnerabilities come from third-party code, taking 358 days to fix on average. “Newer LLMs are producing more code that’s both functional and secure, but that does not mean we can start blindly trusting AI-generated code,” Wysopal closed. “The most effective strategy isn't chasing the most expensive model for marginal gains; it's combining AI code generation with continuous, independent security verification that catches what the models miss. That approach covers the full risk surface, from first-party code to third-party dependencies."

Atos, a pioneer in AI-powered digital transformation, announces a UK partnership with Palo Alto Networks to help organizations understand and address their exposure to frontier AI-enabled threats. The identifies mission-critical vulnerabilities, prioritizes the actions needed to address them and combines advanced platforms and technologies with sovereign engineering capabilities to proactively mitigate threats at machine speed. Exposure assessment capabilities The offering delivers an outcome-based approach focusing on three key areas: Proactive identification of mission-critical exposure to frontier AI threats, powered by Palo Alto Networks exposure assessment capabilities. This gives customers a clear understanding of how and where they may be targeted, together with practical steps to mitigate risks to their critical systems and services. Atos’ advanced vulnerability management approach prioritises the absolute business-relevant fix first needs, using AI enrichment that cross-references every finding against asset criticality, real-world exploitability, ownership, and organizational context. A frontier AI-ready SOC, SOAR and MXDR capability, hosted in Atos’ sovereign UK data centres and delivered exclusively from the UK. Combining Atos expertise with the Palo Alto Networks and adjacent capabilities, it provides customers with market-pioneer managed detection and response, delivering continuous, real-time protection against AI-enabled threats at machine speed. Data exfiltration collapsing Patricia Murphy, vice president of EMEA Ecosystems, Strategic Alliances and Channel, Palo Alto, said, “The attack cycle has compressed with the time from initial access to data exfiltration collapsing to. Machine-speed meantime to respond is no longer an ambitious goal, it is a requirement. To outsmart AI-based exploits, enterprises must decisively address vulnerabilities across their code and stand up the right security stack to enable real-time, automated defences. This is a moment that calls for radical collaboration across the entire security ecosystem, so we’re pleased to work alongside Atos who will join us in delivering AI readiness at scale.” Atos operationalises these capabilities from sovereign UK infrastructure, with security-cleared personnel and human-in-the-loop governance. AI handles detection and triage at machine speed; human analysts retain governance, escalation authority, and strategic risk assessment. Strategic risk assessment Terry Bebbington, head of cyber, Atos UK&I, said, "UK organizations have a real challenge in front of them to address the new risks and opportunities AI frontier models bring to them. Our unique set of frontier AI enabled offerings provide any organization with a way forward that has been tried and tested.” “Our partnership with Palo Alto combines decades of UK security experience with AI-powered modeling and threat detection alongside truly sovereign delivered cyber services. This enables organizations to confidently defend against evolving threats whilst meeting their sovereignty and compliance obligations.” With sovereignty now a boardroom issue, organizations must demonstrate to regulators, shareholders, and government that their security operations are sovereign. Customer data remains in their environment, monitored by cleared UK personnel using AI-powered security orchestration, with no offshore dependencies.

Allient Inc., a global designer and manufacturer of advanced specialty motor, Motion, Controls, and Power products and solutions for targeted industries and applications, has announced the appointment of Dave Larcenaire as General Manager of Allient Denver (ALIO Industries). Dave brings more than 30 years of experience in precision motion, automation and advanced technology markets. His background includes engineering, business development and marketing, with experience building OEM relationships and growing engineered solutions businesses. He holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Merrimack College. Precision motion solutions In his new role, Dave will lead engineering, manufacturing and commercial operations at Allient Denver, focusing on strengthening customer relationships, expanding market opportunities and developing integrated precision motion solutions. Allient Denver combines specialized precision positioning expertise with Allient’s broader technology, engineering resources and manufacturing capabilities to support demanding OEM applications in semiconductor, life sciences, photonics, metrology and advanced manufacturing markets. “Dave brings a strong combination of technical knowledge and commercial experience to Allient,” said Robert Mastromattei, Chief Commercial Officer & Group President at Allient. “His track record of developing customer relationships and growing engineered solutions businesses will be valuable as we continue to support our customers’ evolving needs.”

One of the best business lessons I learned didn’t come from business journals or the boardroom. It came from a biography: Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson. If you haven’t read it, you should! The book covers the full arc of Jobs’ career, and while many of the most talked about lessons center on his entrepreneurship, perfectionism, and brand building, the one that has stayed with me is his philosophy of design. Digital music player market I don’t mean design in the sense of aesthetics, although Apple certainly became famous for that. I mean design as an understanding of how people interact with technology. Examples of Jobs’ design philosophy appear throughout the book, but the chapters about the birth of the iPod are particularly compelling. If you’re too young to remember the era of downloading songs from Napster and loading them onto MP3 players, here’s the context. By the early 2000s, Apple was entering a crowded digital music player market. Companies like Sony, Creative and Rio had already introduced devices that were packed with technical innovation, and they were growing in popularity among college students, commuters, and early adopters who preferred the solid state devices over larger, glitchy portable CD players. Yet Jobs believed the entire MP3 player category possessed a fundamental flaw: all the products were too complicated. More intuitive experience In envisioning the iPod, Jobs became obsessed with creating a more intuitive experience Actually, Jobs used more blunt language. He said they all “were deeply flawed.” They held only a handful of songs, and users struggled with frustrating menu trees to access their most basic functions. As for the software managing the devices’ music libraries? To quote the book, “Only a genius could figure out half of their features.” Jobs saw something the existing manufacturers didn’t. Their MP3 players weren’t offering the one thing that consumers wanted the most, an easier way to listen to music. In envisioning the iPod, Jobs became obsessed with creating a more intuitive experience. He challenged his team to eliminate unnecessary complexity and established a simple rule for the user interface: if a person wanted a song or a function, they should be able to get there in no more than three clicks. Incredibly sophisticated technology The result was a product that felt completely different to use. Apple took an incredibly sophisticated technology and made it approachable. The complexity didn’t disappear; it was just moved behind the curtain where the user didn’t have to think about it. Despite being a late entrant to the MP3 industry, Apple quickly became the dominant manufacturer in the category because of the iPod’s unmatched usability. Plenty of successful companies cared about usability, but Jobs made simplicity a strategic priority. While competitors were adding features and complexity, Apple was asking, “How do we make this easier?” Twenty years later, I still think that’s one of the most important questions any technology company can ask, and one that is shaping the next generation of security technology. Stronger security practices Making a system more secure meant adding steps, procedures, and user responsibilities Which brings me to where I spend most of my time these days: Identity verification. For years, the security industry viewed convenience and security as competing priorities. Making a system more secure meant adding steps, procedures, and user responsibilities. What’s exciting about modern biometrics is that we’re increasingly able to improve both simultaneously. In many ways, we’re applying Jobs’ three click philosophy to identity verification, reducing the interaction required from the user without compromising the strength of the underlying security. And by reducing friction, organizations can implement more frequent identity verification that supports stronger security practices. Biometric authentication experience The simplicity of the biometric authentication experience can make people underestimate the sophistication of the technology behind it. Just as iPod users didn’t have to think about file formats, manually transferring songs to their device, or navigating cumbersome menus, users of modern biometric systems don’t have to think about how their faces, palms, or fingerprints are converted into encrypted, mathematical templates that cannot be reverse engineered. Or how the system verifies that a live person, not a photo, is standing in front of it. Or how AI quietly adjusts for the naturally occurring, gradual changes in a person’s appearance, whether from age, lifestyle, or a few extra pounds. Interacting with a biometric identity solution is like listening to music on an iPod or today, an iPhone. You don’t even think about the incredible technology working in the background that makes the experience possible. For example, with facial authentication, the most frictionless form of identity verification, you look at a reader without even stopping. In a fraction of a second, the system accurately matches you to your digital identity with a false match rate as low as 1 in 10 billion! I consider that more like a ‘zero click’ solution. Providing better protection The challenge for manufacturers will be resisting the temptation to make them more complicated As our industry embraces AI, we can expect to see a new generation of products that can automate more tasks, synthesise more data, and deliver more functionality than ever before. The challenge for manufacturers will be resisting the temptation to make them more complicated. Product teams should take a page from Jobs’ playbook. Instead of focusing on what the latest technology makes possible, they should be asking, “What do our customers genuinely want? And how can we use technology to make that experience better? Easier? Simpler? As effortless as using your face to access your phone?” That’s the lesson of the iPod, and why a guy who never developed a security product has provided one of the most important lessons for our industry. Companies that build products people want to use will also be creating solutions that are adopted more broadly, used more consistently, and ultimately provide better protection.

When news broke that a Renoir painting had been stolen from an exhibition in the south of France, days after 600 diamonds were taken from a museum in Vienna, few in the art or security worlds would have been surprised. Europol had recently published “Changing Tactics, Changing Targets: The Evolving Nature of Museum Heists,” highlighting criminals’ growing focus on high-value objects and their increasing use of force. The latest theft also echoes the Louvre heist almost a year ago, both in how quickly it unfolded and in the security lessons it exposes. When every second counts Both French museum thefts happened in broad daylight. Both were fast. CCTV from the Renoir museum shows the perpetrators cutting through the perimeter fence early in the morning. Police were reportedly on site within five minutes of the alarm being raised. It still wasn’t fast enough. That matters. For many museums and galleries, simply building higher walls or stronger fences isn’t an option As criminals become bolder, custodians of national treasures and high-value objects need to rethink where protection begins. For many museums and galleries, simply building higher walls or stronger fences isn’t an option. These buildings are often architectural landmarks and public spaces. Turning them into fortresses defeats the point. But there is another lever security teams can pull: earlier detection. A few extra seconds of warning could give on-site security or nearby police the time they need to intervene before a work of art disappears. Forget the Hollywood lasers The cover of Europol’s museum heist report shows a criminal wielding a mallet in front of artefacts protected by red laser beams. It is the kind of security system made famous by films including “Entrapment,” “Ocean’s Twelve” and “The Thomas Crown Affair.” Virtual perimeters aren’t science fiction. But the technology available today looks very different. Museums and galleries need stronger protection without compromising their architecture or the visitor experience. One technology attracting attention is LiDAR, a spatial sensing system that uses lasers to understand what is happening within a physical environment An invisible perimeter The technology sends out laser pulses and takes millions of spatial measurements every second LiDAR is already used in environments ranging from railway stations and prisons to electricity substations. Its appeal lies in its accuracy and flexibility. It can operate indoors and outdoors, integrate with existing cameras, alarms and sensors and strengthen security without major physical alterations to a site. The technology sends out laser pulses and takes millions of spatial measurements every second, building a three-dimensional picture of its surroundings. Security teams can use that data to create virtual zones around a building, room or individual exhibit. Those zones can be changed as the site changes. Three-dimensional picture A museum perimeter, for example, might remain protected around the clock. A gallery being prepared for a new exhibition could be temporarily excluded while authorized staff work inside it. Once the zone becomes active again, an intrusion can trigger an immediate alert. The same principle can work while a museum is open. If someone gets too close to an exhibit, crowds begin to form or a person remains in a sensitive area, the system can alert staff or bring up feeds from relevant cameras. That means security teams can focus their attention where it is needed instead of relying on someone to spot every incident across banks of CCTV screens. Seeing what cameras can miss During an attempted robbery, LiDAR can identify the location and movement of people and vehicles During an attempted robbery, LiDAR can identify the location and movement of people and vehicles, including their direction and speed. It also has a significant advantage over conventional CCTV: it does not depend on external light. Detection can continue in bright daylight or complete darkness. That makes the perimeter less about a physical barrier and more about knowing, instantly, when someone crosses a line they shouldn’t. Security before the doors even open The technology can do more than detect intruders. Walk-through simulations allow teams to move through a virtual version of a site much as they would navigate an open-world computer game. Before an exhibition changes, teams can test how a new layout could affect visitor movement, identify blind spots and bottlenecks and assess evacuation routes. That gives security teams the chance to find problems before visitors arrive, not after something goes wrong. Protect the art, not the fortress Museums and galleries face a fundamental tension: make art and culture accessible while protecting objects that can be culturally irreplaceable and financially priceless. The answer cannot simply be more barriers. The next generation of museum security needs to detect threats sooner without getting between visitors and the works they came to see. The strongest perimeter may be the one nobody notices.

Across many sectors, AI is transitioning from an experimental process to a trusted tool, but how will construction - and architectural ironmongery specifically - balance this technological opportunity with traditional practice? Artificial intelligence was once considered the trend of tomorrow, but it’s now here, and already it’s impacting the design, specification and management of the built environment. Following a period of refined development, the technology is emerging as a valuable tool for architectural professionals, with its growing role signifying far more than a passing industry trend. Passing industry trend According to the Royal Institute of British Architects’ (RIBA) Artificial Intelligence Report 2025, 59% of architectural practices now use AI on at least some projects, an increase from 41% in 2024. Furthermore, a global survey led by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 2025 found that 56% of investors planned to increase AI investment, suggesting that the rate of adoption will continue to accelerate over the coming years. However, whilst innovation typically creates opportunity, there are challenges to address These findings represent a cultural shift, one where AI is firmly embedding itself into workflows and influencing the decision making process. However, whilst innovation typically creates opportunity, there are challenges to address. As more professionals equip themselves with an arsenal of AI-driven tools, are we in danger of becoming overly reliant on technology? Or are those reluctant to adapt likely to be left behind? Daniel May, Director at Consort Architectural Hardware, shares insight: Repetitive administration tasks “The development of the built environment has always relied on technical precision. Specifications naturally contain large volumes of product information and technical data, with professionals managing document-heavy tasks in the form of specification writing, door scheduling and BIM coordination in order to meet project requirements and compliance obligations. All of this data must be analyzed and processed accurately - often in line with demanding timescales - and it is here where AI can offer the greatest value.” “Where time was once consumed by repetitive administration tasks and information processing, professionals are now embracing AI as a means of working more efficiently. For architectural ironmongery specifically, where specification accuracy is critical, AI has the potential to support architects and specification professionals as they navigate the product selection process. As a tool, AI can streamline documentation by rapidly processing performance data and certification requirements, whilst also identifying inconsistencies and absent compliance information within schedules.” Complex project requirements “AI systems are helping professionals navigate increasingly complex project requirements quickly, accurately and consistently. As machine learning and autonomous models continue to advance, these tools may further reduce the administrative burden associated with architectural work models whilst improving accuracy and minimizing the risk of human error in the process. With that said, the effectiveness of AI software is very much reliant on the quality of the information it receives.” “With the sector so deeply tied to fire safety, accessibility, security and regulatory standards, the caution around adopting AI as common practice is of course justified. Historically, much of the construction industry has been measured in its adoption of new technology, partly due to the critical nature of compliance and the significant consequences of error. Though, AI feels somewhat different because of its pace and potential, and as such, organizations must be measured in their approach to it, ensuring that professional knowledge remains central to delivering safe, efficient and compliant building projects.” The human element As industry standards and the legislation surrounding the built environment continues to evolve, so too will the methods used to achieve high level design and compliance. Seemingly, AI looks set to have an increasingly prominent role, but it should be viewed as a collaborative partner capable of enhancing professional expertise as opposed to a system that can, or should, do it all. Daniel continues: “At this stage, AI alone simply can’t understand the nuances of individual projects and that has implications for both design and compliance. This is particularly relevant in the post-Grenfell regulatory landscape, where accountability, traceability and evidence-based decision-making have become fundamental to product specification and delivery.” Building greater trust “Although AI can assist with information processing, the technology is not ultimately responsible for the decisions being made. Accountability has rightly become a major focus point in construction, and as AI continues to disrupt practices, the industry must ensure that responsibility remains clearly defined. AI-driven errors could lead to serious penalties in relation to compliance, safety and project delivery, proving human expertise remains critical.” “Moving forward, greater transparency within AI systems will be key. If professionals are able to understand how or why AI recommendations have been generated, they can assess them with confidence, building greater trust in the technology.” Architectural design solutions “When it comes to architectural design, the emotional intelligence, contextual understanding and creative balance offered by a team of professionals far outweighs the speed that AI can offer. Already, AI is being used to support visualization and concept development for multi-layered projects in hospitality, healthcare and commercial environments to name a few, helping teams to explore ideas and communicate concepts at a quicker rate.” “However, can AI effectively develop architectural design solutions based on the bespoke requirements of a project, the operational needs of its users or even the general character of the building? Most would argue that it’s not conceivable, because AI lacks the lived experience and contextual understanding that comes from being present in the project itself.” Architectural ironmongery products “For architectural ironmongery products, professionals must regularly assess how products will function in real environments. Human intuition is impossible to replace and those informed design decisions, made by human professionals, will always be essential. Whilst some question whether AI could one day plan and deliver a project from concept to completion, perhaps the more important question should be whether future generations of professionals could lose the critical design and specification skills that are needed, should the industry become too dependent on AI.” “There is a growing sense of inevitability surrounding AI’s influence on architectural ironmongery and the wider built environment. As the industry continues to embrace this new wave of technological development, it is important to remember that innovation must complement the knowledge, judgement and accountability of the professionals who create safe and functional buildings, not replace it.”

Combining VIVOTEK’s branded video security business with March Networks paves the way for the combined brands to meet customers’ increasing appetite for integrated solutions rather than individual components. The merger brings VIVOTEK's branded video security business together under one operating structure with March Networks’ enterprise-grade video surveillance, AI analytics, and cloud-managed security solutions. Customers now have access to a broader, more integrated portfolio spanning enterprise video management, advanced cameras, edge artificial intelligence (AI), cloud services, recording platforms, and business intelligence, says Net Payne, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer at March Networks and VIVOTEK. Distinct product strategies Given the combined companies, product development, sales, marketing, and customer support can move in step rather than in parallel. March Networks and VIVOTEK were already both part of the Delta Electronics family, but they previously operated as separate businesses with distinct product strategies, teams, and routes to market. March Networks and VIVOTEK announced the merger of their branded video security businesses last spring following Delta Electronics' acquisition of remaining VIVOTEK shares. “Aligning our complementary capabilities lets us innovate faster, simplify engagement, and respond more quickly to a market moving toward AI, cloud and intelligent video,” says Payne. This merger reflects a broader shift across the physical security industry, adds Payne. “Customers no longer see video purely as a tool for reviewing incidents after the fact,” he says. “They expect it to help identify risks earlier, simplify investigations, improve operations, and support better decisions across the organization.” Cloud video management Meeting customer expectations requires more than bolting AI features onto existing systems Meeting customer expectations requires more than bolting AI features onto existing systems. Rather, it requires cameras, edge intelligence, recording, software, cloud services, and business data working together as one coordinated platform. “By bringing March Networks and VIVOTEK together, we combine deep expertise across the full video technology stack while preserving the relationships, sector knowledge and customer focus both companies have built over many years,” says Payne. “Our goal is to make intelligent video more integrated, scalable, and practical for customers and partners worldwide.” Both entities bring strengths to the combined companies. March Networks brings experience in enterprise software, cloud video management and large-scale deployments; while VIVOTEK brings strength in imaging, camera technology and edge intelligence. Together they seek to ensure more choice when designing systems, a clearer path for future expansion, and technologies that work together more effectively without compromising the reliability, cybersecurity, and support customers expect from both companies. Advantages for channel partners Channel partners gain a broader portfolio to address a wider range of customer requirements, combining components as each deployment demands. Channel partners also benefit from expanded geographic reach, deeper technical expertise, and greater investment in training and enablement. “Importantly, this is designed to be a seamless transition,” says Payne. “Partners keep working with the teams and relationships they already know, while gaining access to new capabilities and certification opportunities. Over time, that alignment should make it easier to design, deploy and support complete solutions.” Because they are established and respected brands, March Networks and VIVOTEK branding will continue to be used. Rebranding is not a goal, and neither identity is being replaced by the other. Coordinated decision-making “The immediate priority is organizational alignment by making it easier for customers and partners to benefit from the combined portfolio,” says Payne. Product branding will continue to reflect the relevant portfolio and market context. As product roadmaps become more closely coordinated, customers can expect greater interoperability and a more cohesive experience, says Payne. Any future branding changes will be managed carefully and communicated clearly. Combining the businesses reduces duplication and enables coordinated decision-making across product strategy, engineering, sales, marketing, operations, and customer support. “Instead of developing capabilities independently, teams can share their expertise, align roadmaps, and direct investment to where it has the greatest customer impact,” says Payne. Combining specialized knowledge globally The combined organization operates across six continents and more than 75 countries The combined organization includes more than 300 research and development (R&D) engineers across four Centres of Excellence in Canada, Taiwan, Italy and Poland, thus bringing together a substantial base of specialist knowledge. The unified network also sharpens the ability to prioritise global opportunities, respond to regional needs and bring innovations to market faster. The combined organization operates across six continents and more than 75 countries, supported by more than 1,100 certified channel partners. That footprint provides greater capacity to support multinational customers while staying responsive to local market needs. Looking ahead, future growth will increasingly come from helping customers turn video into useful, actionable intelligence. “The market is moving beyond conventional surveillance toward solutions combining AI, cloud services, edge processing, video management and operational data — and our new structure brings these together as one connected solution rather than several isolated technologies,” says Payne. Broader technical expertise There will also be closer collaboration among specialists in imaging, hardware, software, analytics, and cloud, which is important given how much customer infrastructure, regulatory, and deployment requirements vary. The companies can support cloud, hybrid, and on-premise environments, giving organizations a practical path toward more intelligent video. More choice comes from bringing together complementary technologies across product groups. Greater scale is achieved through a larger engineering organization, broader technical expertise and more capacity to invest in innovation. Challenges for the industry at large Looking to the future for the industry at large, the greatest challenge will be managing the rapid growth of AI Looking to the future for the industry at large, the greatest challenge will be managing the rapid growth of AI responsibly, securely and at scale, says Payne. Video systems will generate more data and automate more decisions, but organizations must be able to trust how that intelligence is created, protected, and applied, he adds. “Cybersecurity, privacy, data sovereignty, system interoperability and AI accuracy are more important than ever,” says Payne. Addressing these elements requires expertise across the entire technology stack: from camera and edge processing to recording, cloud infrastructure, video management and analytics. “Together, March Networks and VIVOTEK can coordinate development across all these layers, giving customers flexible architectures that balance innovation with security, transparency and operational control,” says Payne.

IQSIGHT seeks to bring visual intelligence to environments where clarity, reliability, and trust matter the most, says CEO Sabrina Stainburn. Formerly Bosch Video Systems, IQSIGHT is an intelligence-first video security company, combining more than 60 years of engineering expertise with real-time intelligence to help organizations see clearly, act confidently, and improve outcomes in environments when every second matters. While the brand is new, the technology, reliability, and trust behind it are familiar— the products still carry the Bosch name, and the engineering teams remain the same to ensure the continuation of the Bosch legacy. As a result, customers can expect the same standards they rely on today. Embracing emerging technologies IQSIGHT is embracing emerging technologies. “We are applying AI where it delivers value by helping systems understand what is happening and surface the events and patterns that matter most—so customers can detect risk earlier, make faster decisions, and operate with confidence,” says Stainburn. With intelligence at the edge, the cameras act as sensors to secure premises, make buildings safer, and monitor perimeters — without requiring a cloud connection. Edge-based AI also supports integration into existing systems to add visual intelligence without a rip-and-replace — such as adding cameras with visual gun detection outside of entrances or supplementing systems with the ability to detect clothing color and other attributes. IQSIGHT combines the Bosch video portfolio with new AI-enabled capabilities AI-enabled capabilities IQSIGHT combines the Bosch video portfolio with new AI-enabled capabilities designed to remove blind spots IQSIGHT combines the Bosch video portfolio with new AI-enabled capabilities designed to remove blind spots and support earlier, better-informed decisions. The portfolio continues to include intelligent cameras, such as the FLEXIDOME, AUTODOME, DINION, and MIC models, AI-enabled Intelligent Video Analytics Pro (IVA Pro) offerings, and recording and video management solutions, such as BVMS software. This year, the portfolio will also expand with technologies and solutions built on IQSIGHT’s new intelligence-first platform. Vertical markets that are core to the strategy include government, critical infrastructure, education, and smart cities, all industries closely connected with safety, continuity, and operational performance. In these environments, visual intelligence helps organizations address practical challenges — securing perimeters, enhancing safety, and improving traffic flow — so they can operate securely and efficiently. Visual intelligence helps organizations address practical challenges Operating securely and efficiently “Reliability is essential in these industries, and our cameras are engineered to Bosch quality standards and designed to perform in demanding conditions, including extreme weather, while delivering dependable video and accurate analytics where it matters most,” says Stainburn. “These strengths make our video solutions ideal for any industry where security must be uncompromised.”   IQSIGHT evolves from the sale of Bosch’s security and communications technology product business to European investment firm Triton on June 30, 2025. The product brands for video systems, access control, intrusion systems, and communications systems united under the roof of the new company Keenfinity Group. New organizational structure The Keenfinity Group now operates as a holding company consisting of four businesses In late 2025, Keenfinity Group introduced a new organizational structure designed to unlock the next chapter of growth and innovation. The Keenfinity Group now operates as a holding company consisting of four businesses, including the video systems business now called IQSIGHT. Bosch has a long history of partnerships and integrations, and partnerships will remain essential to how IQSIGHT delivers value and flexibility for customers. “We work closely with technology partners to ensure customers can use visual intelligence within the platforms and architectures that best fit their operations,” says Stainburn. Secure-by-design approach Deep integrations include VMS platforms, such as Genetec and Milestone, thus enabling real-time insights across on-premise and cloud environments. This approach gives customers choice — without compromising performance, security, or reliability, according to IQSIGHT. “Continually strengthening our existing partnerships is vital, and we regularly add capabilities to these integrations to deliver new features to enhance security and safety for customers,” says Stainburn. “Cybersecurity is not a feature for us — it’s a foundation,” Stainburn emphasises. “As video systems become more connected and intelligence moves closer to the edge, trust must be designed in from the start. We take a secure-by-design approach across our hardware, software, and integrations. That means protecting data at every stage — from capture to analysis to delivery.” Combining sight and intelligence Just as important, the company works closely with partners and customers to ensure systems fit into their broader security and IT strategies. “When organizations rely on video to make critical decisions, security and reliability must be non-negotiable,” says Stainburn. Stainburn sees video as evolving from traditional surveillance into “visual intelligence” — moving from simply recording events to understanding what is happening in real time. By combining sight and intelligence, organizations can see patterns, giving them the power to predict events that may happen. Proactively addressing risks Stainburn sees video as evolving from traditional surveillance into “visual intelligence” Traditionally, video security was based on video surveillance — an investigative tool for users to review what has already happened. With AI, users can take a different approach — looking at patterns to better secure their premises and have the foresight to intervene before incidents escalate. AI helps systems understand what is happening in a scene, enabling them to discern between a person standing at a train platform and an individual vandalising a train platform, someone holding a power drill versus someone holding a gun. “This level of visual intelligence brings clarity to unfolding events to assist users in proactively addressing risks,” says Stainburn. AI-enabled video systems With foresight, end users can prevent those events from occurring or other issues from escalating. The ability to discern patterns can also influence decisions around safety, resource use, and the customer experience, says Stainburn. “While security will always remain core, we expect visual intelligence to play an increasingly important role in improving operational efficiency across many environments over the next five years.” Not all AI-enabled video systems are equal. Edge, cloud, and GenAI-based tools have different strengths and selecting one approach over another depends on the application or the problem customers need to solve. IQSIGHT works closely with integrators and end users to understand the challenges they are addressing and to provide guidance on the best AI approach to reduce risks, lower response times, and improve operations. Proof of concept projects are important to demonstrating performance in the real world. That’s where IQSIGHT gains an advantage with solutions that deliver reliable results even in challenging conditions, says Stainburn.

Security professionals are recognizing the intelligence value of leveraging publicly and commercially available information. This information can now be accessed more effectively from typically hard-to-reach regions. Also, the technological capabilities have matured in our age of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science. Intelligence has historically been based on classified data. However, today’s unclassified data, including open-source intelligence (OSINT), is increasingly being used to provide context and queuing for other types of intelligence. Advanced identity intelligence Babel Street is a technology company providing advanced identity intelligence and risk operations using an AI-enabled data-to-knowledge platform to unlock insights from a flood of data. The company provides advanced data analytics and intelligence for the world’s most trusted government and commercial organizations. Experts have predicted that by 2025 over 463 exabytes of data will be generated each day globally The sheer volume of data is growing exponentially. Experts have predicted that by 2025 over 463 exabytes of data will be generated each day globally. Not only are we seeing exponential growth in the volume of data, but there is also disparity in the veracity and the variety of data. This is being compounded by the ‘app economy’ in which data is created in a new format for every app added around the globe. Human language technology “The problem is that the data ‘junk’ and the ‘crown jewels’ are in the same bucket, and government and commercial entities need better and faster ways to extract intelligence from these torrents of data,” says Farid Moussa, VP, Strategy & Public Sector, Babel Street. Prior to joining Babel Street, Farid retired from the National Security Agency (NSA). He has guided video, image, speech, and text analytics (VISTA) and developed an appreciation for human language technology. An elusive source of data is the Dark Web, where every user, by design, is attempting to obfuscate their identity, and bad actors are hiding much better. “This presents a cat and mouse game – the cat must be smarter than the mouse, but the mouse is continually getting smarter,” says Moussa. Intelligence tools for data analysis SIGINT and HUMINT – while both vital – are also the most expensive forms of intelligence There are several intelligence tools for analyzing data. One of them is signals intelligence (SIGINT), which refers to electronic transmissions collected by ships, planes, ground sites, or satellites. Another is human intelligence (HUMINT), which is collected in a human-to-human fashion. Open-source intelligence (OSINT) is obtained by searching on topics or entities of interest that are publicly available on the Internet at large. Today, these various categories are often done in ‘silos of excellence.’  However, the best practice is using all forms together in a holistic fashion. SIGINT and HUMINT – while both vital – are also the most expensive forms of intelligence, while OSINT, which is growing in importance, is most cost-effective. All are vital forms of intelligence; OSINT is complementary and crucial to holistic intelligence practices. Holistic intelligence practices When it comes to physical security of people and places, OSINT has become a critical source of actionable information. Security directors leverage Publicly Available Information (PAI) to safeguard against threats to individuals, property, travel routes, and event sites. By monitoring PAI, security teams can detect and respond to potential dangers, including during and after events where thorough preparation is vital. Online information can contain warning signs of impending threats. It informs security professionals in uncovering digital traces, confirming intentions, and addressing risks across language barriers, ensuring proactive risk management for the protection of people and property. Role of Natural Language Processing (NLP) The Internet and social media were mostly English language by default, but that has changed exponentially Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a crucial capability that has evolved to recognize the richness and variety of words and names in multiple languages and scripts, and their use across cultures. Using machine learning and linguistics algorithms, the technology simultaneously considers numerous types of name variations. At one time, the Internet and social media were mostly English language by default, but that has changed exponentially.  Babel Street’s world-class entity matching technology measures over 100 features to calculate the similarity of entities across multiple languages. Despite advances in data management and the cloud, there are still multiple challenges and complexities with integration of these data elements. Challenges include spelling variances/phonetics, language translation issues, criminal evasion, human error upon input, typos, etc. Accessing data from a scattered landscape While there have been advancements in cloud technologies, agencies utilizing open-source data are typically working within a highly scattered data landscape and must use a wide array of tools to get at the relevant pieces. This fragmentation makes it difficult to run analytics and apply AI and machine learning at scale in order to derive actionable insights.  Unstructured and relationship data are visualised through advanced link analysis As with many disciplines, artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the game when it comes to intelligence. NLP and AI algorithms are employed to enhance datasets for greater quality, usability, and completeness. Unstructured and relationship data are visualized through advanced link analysis, geographic heat maps, influential entity carousels, topic clouds, and patterns by time and day. Geographic heat maps The advanced algorithms accurately score and prioritize critical entities within the relationship network while providing the citations from which an AI/ML-based decision was made. “With the democratization of AI, the world is becoming flat,” says Moussa. “Just like the most prosperous countries, even the poorest countries have the most advanced capabilities to do damage. Third-world economies often present a scenario where the financial gain of nefarious schemes and low-to-no regulation combine to incentivize bad actors.” The Challenges of Name Matching Identity has been an ongoing challenge for intelligence analysis due to the vast complexity of linguistics, spelling and cultural variances, human error, as well as human evasion. Technology and data science approaches are maturing, however machine translation can still struggle with meaning. The best-of-breed natural language processing capabilities run against the data while it still is in its native language. This minimizes the occurrence of analytic errors caused by inaccurate machine translations. This minimizes the occurrence of analytic errors caused by inaccurate machine translations It’s tempting to think that name matching is like doing a keyword search. The complexity of language makes it more challenging. New names are constantly created, with multiple spellings and no set of rules to encompass how names are formed. They are variable across languages, scripts, cultures, and ethnicities. Culturally specific nicknames and aliases add to the complexity. Replacing human involvement The investigation of the Boston Marathon Bombing in 2013 spotlighted an example of the significance of intelligence analysis. Even though the FBI had issued a detain alert for Tamerlan Tsarnaev back in 2011, Tsarnaev managed to travel to Russia in January 2012; and in July 2012, he returned to Boston. He was not detained on either occasion because there were too many names on the lists, and Tsarnaev’s last name had been spelled differently from the way it was on travel documents, thus enabling him to get through security. With the Internet, social media, and the dark web, there’s been an exponential increase in public communications in various languages, adding significantly to the amount of analysis required to keep societies safe. Name matching, using AI, analyses multiple contextual data points across languages to arrive at matches. Name matching, using AI, analyzes multiple contextual data points across languages to arrive at matches A common misconception is that this technology will replace human intelligence. “It’s more accurate to recognize its role as a force-multiplier, allowing humans to focus on the on the harder problems and/or vetting the results of AI,” says Moussa. “The technology can efficiently analyze massive volumes of data and distill it into actionable information in a timely manner. It augments human capabilities, enabling analysis at speed and scale beyond human capacity, without replacing human involvement.” Commercial Technology to the rescue “When it comes to threat and identity intelligence, we face a risk-confidence gap, underscored by the challenge of integrating traditional tactics with the modern digital landscape,” adds Moussa. “We cannot ‘hire’ our way out of this problem. Instead, it is imperative that we adopt technology to scale our efforts and free humans to solve the harder problems that machines cannot solve yet.” The public sector loves to build things, but there are time-to-value and return-on-investment considerations to the ‘build or buy’ decision. When commercial technology can be leveraged by government, it frees resources up to work on problems that the commercial world hasn’t yet figured out, says Moussa. “The public and private sectors need to come together – one team, one nation, working together with mutual trust and collaboration,” he says.

Dubai Parks and Resorts, the Middle East’s largest integrated theme park destination, has introduced Gunnebo Entrance Control’s SpeedStile FLs gates to strengthen safety, security and the overall guest experience across its attractions. Since opening in 2016, Dubai Parks and Resorts has become one of the region’s most popular leisure destinations, welcoming guests from across the world to enjoy more than 100 rides and experiences across its 232-hectare site. Single-person detection technology The resort brings together four award-winning theme parks, a water park, Riverland Dubai as a themed leisure and dining district and the Lapita Hotel Dubai, a Polynesian-style resort designed for families. With its scale and variety, the resort faces the challenge of ensuring guests experience a smooth entry without compromising on safety or security. To meet these requirements, Dubai Parks and Resorts selected Gunnebo Entrance Control’s SpeedStile FLs. Designed for high-traffic environments, the gates combine a sleek design with advanced single-person detection technology to ensure only authorized visitors are granted entry. High level of security Since implementation, visitor entry has become more efficient across the resort, helping guests move smoothly through access points, even during the busiest times of day, while maintaining high security standards. The solution supports both the guest experience and the operational requirements of a large and complex destination, balancing efficient throughput with robust entrance control. The SpeedStile FLs provides valuable data insights on visitor flow, giving management greater visibility into how people move around the site. Gates can also be configured remotely, offering flexibility to adapt to different visitor types and operational requirements. Integrating with the resort’s existing ticketing and validation systems helps the resort optimize staffing and streamline operations, while maintaining a high level of security. Robust entrance control Clear visual indicators and audio signals make them intuitive to use, reducing the need for staff assistance. The gates are also engineered to handle high visitor throughput, coping easily with the surges in footfall that theme parks experience at different times of day. Fadi Yakoub, Project Director for Gunnebo Entrance Control, added: “Dubai Parks and Resorts is a destination recognized worldwide for its scale and ambition. We are proud to see our SpeedStile FLs supporting such a landmark site, helping the team deliver a safe, secure and seamless experience for every guest. It demonstrates how entrance control can go beyond security to add value in both operational efficiency and a seamless visitor experience.”

Premier Inn, Ilford, has completed a major upgrade to its fire alarm infrastructure with the installation of Advanced MxPro 5 fire panels, providing comprehensive Category L1 protection throughout the nine‑storey hotel. As a busy hospitality environment accommodating guests around the clock, the hotel required a robust and reliable fire detection system capable of delivering early warning across all areas of the building. The project involved a full system upgrade, with new detection installed throughout communal spaces, guest bedrooms, kitchen and dining areas, and roof spaces, ensuring maximum protection for both guests and staff. Effective occupant warning The new fire system comprises three Advanced MxPro 5 panels, including two four‑loop panels and one single‑loop panel, networked to cover all nine floors of the hotel. Detection has been installed throughout communal areas and bedrooms, with sounder beacons provided within each bathroom and accessible room to support effective occupant warning. The system is also connected to a pager system to assist hard‑of‑hearing guests, enhancing inclusivity and safety. Haskell Fire & Security Ltd was responsible for the full design, installation, and commissioning of the fire alarm system. The team worked on site to complete the final stages of installation and commissioning as part of the hotel’s refurbishment program, delivering a modern fire system designed to meet the operational demands of a live hospitality setting. Live hospitality setting Lee Haskell, Managing Director at Haskell Fire & Security Ltd, said: “This project was all about delivering maximum protection without compromise. The MxPro 5 is a fantastic product, and it’s one we specify wherever possible. It gives us the flexibility, reliability and ease of commissioning we need, while providing the client with a system that’s simple to manage and built for the long term.” Advanced’s MxPro 5 was recommended as a replacement for the originally installed system, offering greater flexibility through its open‑protocol design and consistency with fire systems installed across other Premier Inn sites. With powerful processing, intuitive configuration software and extensive cause‑and‑effect capabilities, the panel is well-suited to complex, multi‑storey hospitality buildings. Robust fire protection Salvy Vittozzi, Advanced’s Regional Sales Manager for the South East, added: “Hotels place unique demands on fire systems, with high occupancy, varied risk areas and the need for clear, reliable protection at all times. The MxPro 5 is designed for exactly these environments, combining powerful performance with ease of use for installers and end users alike. The Premier Inn, Ilford installation is a great example of how the system can deliver Category L1 protection across a busy, multi‑floor site.” With the upgrade now complete, Premier Inn, Ilford, benefits from a modern, high‑performance fire alarm system that supports early detection, clear occupant warning and long‑term reliability. The installation demonstrates how Advanced’s MxPro 5 can be successfully deployed in hospitality settings to deliver robust fire protection and peace of mind.

Genetec Inc., the pioneer in enterprise physical security software, announces that Newark Central School District (NCSD) in New York has expanded its deployment of Genetec Security Center across seven buildings. The district has connected video surveillance, access control, emergency communications, and sensors to help staff assess incidents and coordinate their response. NCSD serves approximately 1,800 students and nearly 600 staff. Its security environment had grown over time, and administrators were managing several technologies separately. The district needed a clearer view of activity across its buildings and a more coordinated way to respond when incidents occurred. Managing several technologies “It was a multi-year project, but we can confidently say it was worth it. With the help of Convergint and Genetec, we’ve improved our processes and have a clearer picture of what’s happening across our district,” said Mike Ishler, Co-Director of Technology at NCSD. “Our students and staff feel safer, and our community has greater confidence in what we’re doing to keep it that way.” Working with Convergint, NCSD expanded its existing Security Center deployment to connect video surveillance, access control, emergency communications, and other sensors through a single platform. By retaining its existing camera infrastructure and deploying upgrades in phases, the district was able to enhance its security capabilities while managing costs. Existing camera infrastructure Today, NCSD manages more than 400 cameras, 200 doors, 500 cardholders, 30 vape sensors, and several automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras through Security Center. By bringing these technologies into one platform, the district has improved security operations in several key areas: Faster incident response: Automated alerts provide designated personnel with linked video to quickly assess incidents, while centralized monitoring and lockdown procedures help coordinate emergency response. Simplified access management: Integration with Microsoft Active Directory automatically assigns building access based on employee roles, reducing manual tasks and keeping permissions up to date. Reduced vaping incidents: When a vape sensor is triggered, Security Center bookmarks the event and notifies school administrators and the school resource officer for further investigation. Vaping incidents decreased by approximately 93%. Security Center’s open architecture gives NCSD the flexibility to introduce additional technologies as its needs change. Through an ongoing service agreement with Convergint, the district has access to remote support, maintenance, and on-site help when needed.

Gonzaga University enhanced its campus security with OpenEye Web Services (OWS), providing a safer environment for students, faculty, and staff. Learn about the benefits of using OWS for school campuses, including scalability, remote access, simplified video management, high-definition cameras, and secure, reliable systems. Gonzaga University, located in Spokane, Washington, is home to a diverse community of students, faculty, and staff. With over 7,800 students enrolled and a sprawling 152-acre campus, ensuring the safety and security of everyone on campus is a top priority. The university’s security needs are complex, with a focus on maintaining a secure environment, preventing incidents, and providing quick and effective responses when necessary. Reducing maintenance costs To achieve these objectives, Gonzaga University turned to OpenEye to utilize powerful cloud-managed video surveillance, with benefits including: Scalability: Seamless integration with Gonzaga’s existing infrastructure and easy expansion as the University’s needs change. Remote Access: Real-time monitoring of multiple locations across campus, leading to faster response times. Simplified Video Management: Cloud-based platform streamlines video management and reduces maintenance costs.

Discover how Wheatland Bank enhanced its security operations and increased efficiency by implementing OpenEye video surveillance solutions and OpenEye Web Services, leading to faster video retrieval, streamlined security, and improved productivity. Wheatland Bank, a community bank in the Pacific Northwest, significantly improved its security operations by implementing OpenEye video surveillance solutions and OpenEye Web Services (OWS). Facing challenges with their existing video surveillance system, Wheatland Bank decided to upgrade to OWS to improve their security infrastructure and overall efficiency. Video management platform By adopting OpenEye’s cloud-based video management platform, Wheatland Bank has experienced numerous benefits: Faster video retrieval Reduced investigation times Enhanced security Simultaneous monitoring of multiple branches Streamlined security operations Time savings on video management tasks These improvements have not only allowed employees to focus on more critical functions but also upgraded the bank’s security infrastructure to better serve its customers and communities. With OpenEye’s reliable and efficient solutions, Wheatland Bank has successfully transformed its security operations and increased overall productivity.

Genetec Inc, the pioneer in enterprise physical security software, announces Cairo Bank has successfully deployed the Genetec Security Center platform transforming how the financial institution monitors, manages, and optimizes operations across one of Egypt’s largest branch networks. Cairo Bank is one of the largest and oldest financial institutions in Egypt, serving over three million customers through more than 230 branches. The security advancement was driven by new regulatory requirements from the Central Bank of Egypt, alongside Cairo Bank’s broader digital transformation agenda aligned with Egypt Vision 2030. Beyond compliance, the bank needed a scalable operational intelligence foundation to strengthen oversight, improve customer experience, and support long-term expansion and financial inclusion. Necessary operational foundation The implementation unifies video surveillance, access control, and intrusion detection into a single platform, allowing operators to centrally manage more than 6,000 cameras across 122 active branches, with deployment across the full network nearing completion. The platform provides the necessary operational foundation for a centralized Command and Control Room, where operators can monitor branch activity, coordinate response, and support decision-making across the institution. The system also separates operational responsibilities. IT and security teams can monitor device health and system status without accessing sensitive video feeds, supporting strict data governance and privacy requirements. “Unification and scalability were just the starting points. From day one, I knew we wanted functionalities that add value to all aspects of our operations. Security Center delivered everything we wanted in one easy-to-use solution,” said Major General Hesham Tawfiq, Head of Security at Cairo Bank. Enhancing operational consistency Beyond traditional surveillance, the platform introduces automation and analytics capabilities that support both security and operational decision-making across its branch network. These capabilities are now embedded across the entire branch network, helping Cairo Bank strengthen compliance reporting, improve risk detection, and enhance operational consistency at scale. The platform also provides insights into branch activity patterns, customer flow, and operational trends, extending the value of security data beyond incident monitoring while keeping governance and operational control central to the deployment. Existing infrastructure investments Security Center’s open architecture allowed Cairo Bank to integrate best-of-breed hardware while preserving existing infrastructure investments. It also enables the bank to add technologies and expand the deployment over time without standardising on a single hardware provider. “We are honored to work with a forward-thinking institution like Cairo Bank that continuously seeks new ways to leverage technology,” said Firas Jadalla, Regional Director, Middle East & Africa at Genetec Inc. “By unifying systems, the bank is building a consistent operational foundation for its branch network, allowing it to respond to changing regulatory and operational requirements while retaining control over how its environment evolves.” Providing technical support Integrated Technics, the systems integrator responsible for delivering the project, led the proof of concept, system design and implementation. The company continues to provide technical support and system optimization as the deployment expands. “The Command and Control Room gives Cairo Bank a real-time operational hub built on Security Center, bringing video surveillance, access control and intrusion detection into a single interface. This enables operators to monitor activity across the branch network, coordinate responses and make faster, more informed decisions,” said Walid Alagamy, CEO of Integrated Technics.

Inflation surged dramatically because of supply disruptions and high energy costs following the COVID pandemic and given the Russia-Ukraine conflict. More recently, inflation has cooled significantly, although it still has not achieved the historically targeted rate of 2%. Factors such as tariffs and the Iran war continue to drive broader inflation. The physical security market faces its own multiple trends that continue to drive inflation of the industry's products and services. We asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: What is the current state of price inflation in the security market, and what is the outlook for the near future?

Passwords originated in ancient times, used by Roman military forces around the first century BC. Since then, passwords have evolved from physical words to the computer access control tools used today. Passwords are easy to implement, widely supported, and familiar to users. However, they are easily forgotten, stolen through phishing, prone to reuse, and vulnerable to credential-harvesting or brute-force attacks. We asked our Expert Panel: What is the role of passwords in physical security?

Biometrics today provide better security and frictionless user experiences. Biometric identifiers like fingerprints, facial recognition, and iris scans are unique and difficult to forge. They eliminate the vulnerabilities of traditional authentication and streamline secure access control. Identity verification reliably protects sensitive digital information and physical entry. We asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: How is the role of biometrics evolving in physical access control?