Retail security systems

Dahua Technology, a video-centric smart IoT solution and service provider, recently launches its Cooper-I Series XVR. As the first entry-level XVR to offer AI functions, this series allows customers to avail AI-enabled XVRs without spending a fortune. AI has been a common feature in the monitoring industry, which paved the way for the AI era. With its continuous innovation and development, AI has become part of Dahua's standard configuration, even for entry-level products. With the combination of HDCVI 6.0 PLUS innovation and cutting-edge AI technology, Dahua has realized the AI upgrade of its complete HDCVI recorder product line, continuously making breakthroughs to lead the industry’s HD-over-Coax development. Bringing great convenience "AI has penetrated into every aspect of our lives. Its value in improving efficiency and saving time and manpower costs has gradually been acknowledged, especially in terms of alarm accuracy and quick target search. However, the price of AI products might not be economical for budget-conscious customers. That is the major reason why we released the Cooper-I Series – to equip all HDCVI recorders with AI capabilities, making AI accessible to everyone," said Nicole Liu, XVR Product Manager of Dahua Technology. The Cooper-I Series XVR brings great convenience and value to both installers and users The Cooper-I Series XVR brings great convenience and value to both installers and users, especially with its AI functions that include SMD Plus and AI coding. These intelligent features are enabled by default and do not require extra configuration, making the whole installation process significantly easier and faster. Accurately identifying people The Smart Motion Detection Plus, or simply SMD Plus, can accurately identify people and vehicles and filter out false alarms triggered by irrelevant objects such as leaves, animals, light, etc., eliminating the hassle caused by repeated false alarms. During evidence collection, instead of manually screening a massive amount of videos after an event, users can search the target using target types (human and vehicle), which helps improve investigation efficiency and accelerate case closure. The SMD Plus function of Cooper-I Series XVR works smoothly with an HDCVI TiOC camera in preventing possible crime thanks to its active deterrence feature. The camera’s built-in siren together with its Smart LED lights can effectively warn off and deter intruders. This device is also integrated with the Dahua DMSS mobile application that users can use to monitor their surveillance operation anytime, anywhere. Customizing alarm ringtones Users can record their own voices based on different scenarios and upload it to the camera Moreover, it also supports customization of alarm ringtones that can be played by the front-end camera when the target is detected. Users can record their own voices based on different scenarios and upload it to the camera through the DMSS app. For example, a greeting like ‘Welcome!’ can be set at the entrance of a supermarket, while warning prompts such as ‘No trespassing’ and ‘No parking’ can be set respectively in private villas and areas where parking is forbidden. Another advantage of the latest Cooper-I Series XVR is its AI coding function. Compared to conventional H.264/H.265 coding, it saves more than 50% of bandwidth and storage space while maintaining complete images of people and vehicles and without compromising image quality. Other technological advantages Thanks to CBR (Constant Bit Rate), AI coding ensures compatible integration with third-party devices and platforms, as well as stable operation of the system. Overall, the Dahua Cooper-I Series XVR is indeed an intelligent recorder and storage device that offers convenience, ease of use, cost-effectiveness and other technological advantages. It is suitable to a wide array of application scenarios such as retail shops, parking lots and private villas. Equipped with amazing AI features including SMD Plus and AI coding, this series makes AI inclusive and available for everyone without breaking their budget. With its mission of ‘Enabling a safer society and smarter living’, Dahua Technology will continue to focus on ‘Innovation, Quality and Service’ to serve its partners and customers around the world.

Security and commercial real estate companies have long searched for solutions to safely monitor private areas where cameras, as well as other technologies, cannot be used. This includes conference rooms, bathrooms, sensitive intellectual property areas, and many others. Competitive people counters have notorious accuracy weaknesses which is why Orion Entrance Control, Inc. sought out a better solution featuring radar because it identifies presence detection through micro movements such as heart rate and breathing. Improving customer experience Additionally, increases in employees working remotely means businesses need to re-evaluate traditional office space needs. Constellation™ provides data analytics in real-time and historical statistics for companies to make data driven decisions. Their occupancy sensors feature customizable alerts which uncover when certain areas should be cleaned due to usage, which conference rooms are empty, create energy sustainability saving opportunities when connected to lighting/HVAC systems, as well as which virtual office desks are available as more people work within flexible office spaces. Retailers see significant benefits as the real-time data can be an indicator of where additional staff should be deployed, when restrooms should be cleaned or may need toilet paper replaced, and improve customer experience by more effectively and efficiently allocating staff based on live data. Remote health monitoring Historic foot traffic patterns can provide insights into marketing effectiveness Historic foot traffic patterns can provide insights into marketing effectiveness. In fact, the ability to combine foot traffic, dwell time, sales transactions, and other metrics means retail businesses can effectively use Constellation™ to create a formula to analyze the value of various marketing tactics down to a conversion level. Powerful, actionable data. Remote health monitoring is a critical need when it comes to telehealth and patient care because people struggle with a variety of health ailments. Constellation™ features patented Xandar Kardian technology. Xandar Kardian is the world’s first and only commercially available FDA 510(k) cleared Class II medical device for non-invasive contact-free monitoring of motion, resting heart rate, respiratory rate, and even presence detection of a patient using radar technology. Entrance control systems Xandar Kardian is cleared for use in general hospitals, nursing homes (all categories including SNF, AL, IL, AAL, Memory Care) and also in residential homes for home health monitoring (qualifies for CPT CODE 99454, Medicare/Medicaid Reimbursement). Orion Entrance Control, Inc. is excited to be participating at ISC West 2021. As one of the pioneers in turnstile and advanced entrance control systems, they believe that the new sensor technology offerings create the most comprehensive, converged systems to maximize safety, security, and operational controls. From the entrance to the back office, Orion Entrance Control, Inc. has brought intelligent and effective technologies to help drive greater data and metrics to maximize business efficiencies and a higher level of safety and security practices. Orion Entrance Control, Inc. looks forward to seeing visitors at their booth to learn more about 100% private Constellation™ and discussing the future of the converged technology experience.

ADI Global Distribution (ADI), a globally renowned wholesale distributor of security, AV and low-voltage products, has announced that it has released a new mobile app, to provide dealers with a fast and easy way to shop at ADI, from their mobile devices. Dealers can use the mobile app to search for products, check pricing and availability, place orders and manage their ADI account on-the-go. ADI App with facial and fingerprint recognition The new ADI App presents a modern design and offers advanced features to make it easy to access the industry's one of the largest selection of security, AV, and other low voltage products. With facial and fingerprint recognition, users can log into the ADI App in seconds and can expect faster loading times, improved navigation with clear messaging and product organization, and an updated navigation bar with visible links to products and services. Barcode scanning functionality Using barcode scanning functionality, customers can scan items to find detailed product information Using barcode scanning functionality, customers can scan items to find detailed product information and instantly check pricing and inventory levels. The simple checkout process allows users to choose local branch pickup or select the shipping option that fits their project timeline and budgets. The app makes it easy for customers to manage their ADI account and can take advantage of time-saving features to check order status, easily reorder past shipments and make product lists by project or customer. Transforming digital experience for customers “The release of our new app is the next step in our strategy to transform the customer's digital experience at ADI. And to help us get it right, we incorporated feedback from customers across the entire design and testing process, in order to improve the connected customer journey,” said Laura Phelan, Global Vice President of Digital Experience and Digital Branch at ADI Global Distribution. Laura Phelan adds, “The ADI App gives our customers a fast and convenient way to access the products, support and services they rely on from ADI.” New features and functionality  In addition to ADI's complete product portfolio, the mobile app provides access to ADI's deals centers, monthly sales flyers, training and events, value-added services, and more. ADI will continue to add new features and functionality to the app and make it easier for dealers to shop at ADI. The new app is currently available for U.S. customers and can be searched as ADI US Mobile in the App Store and Google Play Store.

A research report has revealed the innovative new ways that retailers are using RFID technology in-store, in order to improve profitability. Authored by Emeritus Professor, Adrian Beck from the University of Leicester and the ECR Retail Loss Group and supported by Checkpoint Systems, ‘Utilising RFID in Retailing: Insights on Innovation’ research report highlights how companies are employing the technology for a broader range of purposes. Benefits of RFID in retail The research report demonstrates the value that technology is bringing to their businesses and ultimately, the impact it is delivering to their bottom line. Crucially, it also shows that more retailers now more than ever are recognizing the benefits of RFID and driving uptake within their organizations. The report claims that as businesses are becoming more established in their use of RFID-generated data, they are gradually incorporating more use cases into their business-as-usual practices. Rising use of RFID technology It also found that using RFID technology was having a significant impact on store processes In particular, more and more retailers reported using RFID to streamline the audit process (as an alternative to infrequent organizational stock takes), which not only delivers considerable cost savings, but also provides more regular insights into the status of inventories. It also found that using RFID technology was having a significant impact on store processes. While RFID has always been the key to inventory accuracy, some companies are now using this data to further improve business activities, such as reducing phantom out of stocks, improving rapid stock search and find tasks and developing an efficient ship from store (SFS) capability. Delivering omni-channel retailing Beyond the more traditional retail model, RFID was seen as a key facilitator in delivering omni-channel retailing, by all those questioned. Without the inventory accuracy offered by RFID, few retailers believed that they could reliably use their stores as fulfillment centers to output online orders. Indeed, one retailer admitted to only making RFID-enabled store stock available for this purpose. The use of RFID to improve online order accuracy is also becoming more common place, to reduce errors in the picking and packing process, and therefore, improving customer satisfaction. One retailer reported a 90% reduction in incorrect orders and customer complaints, since introducing RFID into the process. Tested in self-checkouts (SCO) Looking to the future, one area where the benefits of RFID are starting to be tested is self-checkouts (SCO). While currently limited due to the need to have a 100% SKU tagging strategy in place, retailers are starting to recognize the benefits that the technology could offer, including increased speed of checkout, reduced likelihood of double scanning and thereby, improved customer service. Another area where retailers also reported reaping the benefits of RFID was loss prevention. While none of those interviewed argued that reducing loss was the primary reason for investing in RFID technology, many acknowledged that they were benefiting from it, by using the technology to tackle refund frauds, enable dynamic loss product profiling, manage e-frauds and identify stolen products. Inventory accuracy and provision of valuable data RFID technologies can deliver clear-cut benefits in terms of inventory accuracy and the provision of valuable data" Commenting on the report, report author Adrian Beck stated, “Previous research has shown that in the appropriate retail context, RFID technologies can deliver clear-cut benefits in terms of inventory accuracy and the provision of valuable data.” Adrian adds, “In this study, we wanted to find out how its use evolved over time, understand what innovation looks like, as well as delve into the benefits and limitations of the technology. While some retailers are certainly pushing the boundaries, when it comes to RFID usage, others have adopted a much more incremental and gradual approach to its application.” RFID key to deploying omni-channel strategy success Mariano Tudela, Vice President of Europe Sales, from Checkpoint Systems, said “It is great to hear that companies are looking beyond the traditional benefits of RFID, to find new and innovative ways to use the technology and it will be very interesting to see how this develops over the coming years. One of the key evolutions for RFID recently has been in omni-channel retailing, and particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic, it is an area that we expect to see taking off in the future.” Mariano adds, “RFID technology is the only way to ensure a successful omni-channel strategy, and retailers that don’t adapt their offering are likely to be left behind. With decades of expertise, Checkpoint Systems is market leader in RFID technology making it any business’ strategic partner of choice.”

Eagle Eye Networks, the globally renowned company in cloud video surveillance solutions, has introduced the first-of-its-kind 4G, direct-to-cloud body camera, designed specifically for commercial use. This new offering provides commercial customers with affordable access to feature-rich, professional-grade body camera services, which improve staff safety and accountability, triggers an immediate response, and provides valuable evidence, all while protecting assets and keeping communities safe. Eagle Eye Body Cameras are now available for order with delivery in Q3. 4G, direct-to-cloud body cameras Body cameras dissuade aggression, improve accountability, and reduce false accusations Body cameras dissuade aggression, improve accountability, and reduce false accusations. Employees from private security guards to retail staff, in-home service providers, and delivery workers feel safer and more valued, when wearing body cameras. Global research organization, Omdia has identified body cameras in non-law enforcement applications as a top trend in 2021, saying the potential addressable market for commercial body-worn cameras dwarfs that of law enforcement. In the U.S. alone, Omdia estimates private security guards outnumber police officers 2-to-1 and says new commercial body camera users, in retail, for example, are rapidly emerging. Commercial body-worn cameras “The commercial body-worn camera market is ripe for new entrants,” said Paul Bremner, Principal Analyst in Omdia's critical communications group, adding “Features such as cloud connectivity, 4G, live streaming, GPS, and price, are important to retailers, delivery services, guards, and others in the commercial sector.” Paul Bremner adds, “New body cam providers who can break the old law enforcement body camera mold with reasonably priced, feature-rich, professional-grade body cameras are positioning themselves to fill a growing need the commercial market is searching for,” Eagle Eye CameraManager platform Fixed IP cameras integrated with 4G-enabled body cameras represent the extension of video cloud services" Resellers are welcoming the arrival of body cameras that meet their needs. Jaime Abad Valdenebro, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at OmniCloud, said he is excited that Eagle Eye Networks is launching commercial body camera support to its Eagle Eye CameraManager platform. Jaime Abad Valdenebro said, “Fixed IP cameras integrated with 4G-enabled body cameras represent the extension of video cloud services in a real mobile environment, providing a new disruptive video surveillance solution.” Enhanced protection for security guards Valdenebro adds, “In a smart city application, Eagle Eye's new 4G, direct-to-cloud body cams will provide extra protection for security guards and ensure patrols are completed on time. The 4G is important, because it gives the user live access to body camera video. It will make a high performance true cloud video surveillance system even more powerful.” With Eagle Eye body cameras, users can: Use 4G or Wi-Fi for live streaming, real-time remote viewing, and direct-to-cloud recording. Blend fixed, mobile, and body-worn cameras, making it easier for your entire surveillance system to work together. Stream to a monitoring or security operations center and use geo-tagging for immediate response and support. Experience a larger viewing area with fish-eye capabilities that are dewarped in the Eagle Eye Cloud Management Application. Manage a large number of cameras in the Cloud and watch from a control room. Use two-way audio to clearly communicate. Protect people at work and in the community. Future-proof investment with hardened cameras that offer ‘law enforcement-level’ durability and quality at an affordable price. Gain flexibility for live streaming and video retrieval during docking with rapid recharge capabilities. Body cameras connecting to the Cloud “The demand for high-quality body cameras that connect to the Cloud has been growing for several years, accelerating even more with the pandemic, social unrest, and the shift to providing more in-home, curbside, and remote services,” said Dean Drako, Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Eagle Eye Networks. Dean adds, “Traditional law enforcement body cameras use a high-dollar subscription model, which is too steeply priced for commercial customers. Eagle Eye Networks will support the new Eagle Eye Body Cameras at the same low subscription cost of fixed cameras, making the solution affordable for commercial customers accustomed to paying up front for advanced cameras with affordable long-term subscriptions.” Rapid replacement service Body cameras are initially available on the Eagle Eye Networks CameraManager platform, with availability on the Eagle Eye Cloud Video Management System (VMS) in 2022. The Eagle Eye body cams can also be protected with Eagle Eye Networks industry-renowned rapid replacement service.

Securitas, an intelligent protective services partner, is awarded a net impact rating of AAA (Prime level) by the Upright Project. The Upright net impact model uses artificial intelligence to go through a database of millions of scientific articles and public statistical databases measuring the net impact of companies on the world. The AAA rating is the highest rating possible and puts Securitas within the top 3% of rated companies. Upright net impact model The Upright net impact model relies on AI-driven data and integration algorithms that consolidate information from millions of accumulated scientific and public sources. It provides a net impact by considering comprehensive costs and benefits within comparable industries. In addition, the model captures the entire value chain of a company, not just what happens inside the company. AI-driven "We are excited and pleased with these results. Unlike models that do not consider factors that lie outside a traditional box, Upright looks at much of the same categories other ESG ratings do, but they go a step further and calculate an objective net impact based on millions of scientific papers and background data.” “ Then they use AI to pull it all together to provide a more comprehensive evaluation," says Cecilia Alenius, Group Sustainability Officer at Securitas. Calculates overall net impact Securitas received a rating of 81%, indicating the company's positive impacts overperform its negatives with 81% Upright's net impact rating summarises a company's usage of resources and benefits created into an overall net impact, i.e. the net sum of the positive and negative impacts a company has on the surrounding world. Securitas received a rating of 81%, indicating the company's positive impacts overperform its negatives with 81%. The rating is higher than 96.9% of all measured companies and is largely driven by Securitas’ contributions to society, including providing a significant number of jobs and keeping societies safe, which adds to societal infrastructure. Sustainable protective solutions "This report reflects our position as leaders within the industry. It demonstrates that we have an important role in society and we matter to people’s lives as we provide stability, jobs, and sustainable protective solutions across the world.” “We see this as a strong incentive to continue to work with our sustainability values and goals, a journey where we continuously work on improving our positive impact," says Cecilia Alenius.

Whenever you say the word “security” in today’s world of digitalization and technology, minds immediately jump to online security. Encryption, passwords, and website security are all common areas of concern for today’s security teams – so much so that we often pass over physical security installations entirely. But we shouldn’t, because contrary to popular belief, security doors aren’t just for banks and safes. High-security doors are deployed and used across everything from home spaces to offices, venues, communal entrances, and more – offering an extra level of safety designed to keep unwanted guests out and keep the people inside safe. In this blog, we will be uncovering some of the benefits of installing high-security doors besides the obvious – offering a high level of security. Benefits of high-security doors When you start telling someone about high-security doors, they often immediately think of thick steel doors with unbreakable locks. But modern security doors are nothing like that, with the marketplace filled with different options including ventilated louvre doors, reinforced hammer glass doors, and classic metal doors. And with each style comes a different set of benefits. 1) High-security doors keep businesses and properties safe If anything is going to put burglars off and keep your inside space safe, it’s high-security doors. High-security doors not only help keep burglars away but also saves on the cost of investing in expensive home security systems With such a wide array of options on the market, from double or triple glazing through to top-level security doors for industrial properties and homes, customers can choose the weight of their door and its finish – meaning that they have a choice between making their high-security decision obvious or concealing it for the benefit of aesthetics. This not only helps keep burglars away from your home or office space and reduces the crime rate, but also saves on the cost of investing in expensive alarms and home security systems. 2) Dual purpose benefits from top-level manufacturers Modern high-security doors from retailers like Premier SSL not only provide industrial-strength but are also classed as fire doors – meaning that they keep people inside safe on two accounts. On top of that, high-security doors no longer look like the entrance to a bank – in fact, most manufacturers now work with materials that deliver an aesthetically pleasing finish that can complement your building or inside space. This means you can benefit from everything from a wood effect finish to a decorative trim and more. 3) Cut costs in Winter and Summer Managing bills at home often mean juggling the art of keeping the house cool enough in summer and warm enough in winter. On one hand, with high-security doors which are effective fire doors and are made to measure and tailored to your home, the heat and warm air inside your home are trapped inside during the winter to keep your home cozy. This helps to cut the cost of heating and ensures your family is protected during the winter months. Mesh layered security Meanwhile, for those who opt for the mesh layered security doors or Louvre doors, in summer you can keep your home or inside space cool and filled with fresh air even while the doors are closed and secured. This ensures adequate ventilation and is a popular choice with homeowners today as it cuts the cost of bills and expensive air conditioning and helps prevent issues like mold which can occur in damp spaces with little airflow. Louvre security doors also help to retain the same level of privacy as a solid door but with a high level of airflow – making them ideal for communal areas and spaces with a high footfall. 4) Keep pets and children safe A security door is enough to deter a burglar to keep your little ones and pets safe and contained inside the house A security door is enough to deter a burglar – so is certainly more than sufficient to keep your little ones and pets safe and contained inside the house. Preventing access to dangerous situations such as being outdoors on their own and entering the kitchen on their own is a benefit that many families revel in – with a range of options including the mesh-covered security doors to retain ventilation and natural light and create more of a homely feel. 5) Feeling safe and secure in your own space This one may seem obvious but it’s one of the biggest benefits – feeling safe even when on your own. Security doors mean that you can rest easy in your own space, in complete control of the locking mechanism and the entry of anyone besides yourself. Most of the security doors recognized by modern standards can withstand ballistics and crowbar tampering – even those with ventilation breaks. On top of that, they have a certain degree of water tightness and resistance to wind, meaning that they also keep you safe from home or building damage. 6) Versatility The vast array of security doors on the market right now means that versatility is possible – in the way that doors are locked, the way that they look, and the additional features they provide. Many of the high-security doors we and other retailers offer also provide complete sound ventilation and are ideally suited to everything from a modern new build to something more traditional in its feel and aesthetics. Uses of security doors High-security doors are a popular addition to modern homes and office spaces, as well as communal spaces and venues As previously touched on, security doors are no longer just for banks and high-security institutes. High-security doors are a popular addition to modern homes and office spaces, as well as communal spaces and venues. The versatility presented by the locking mechanism and access tools means that users can select everything from an entry fob to a code and a traditional key as a means of getting inside. The Takeaway High-security doors are an increasingly popular solution for nurturing safety both in commercial spaces and private homes. With options from solid steel doors to louver doors, triple and double glazed doors, and fire doors available on the market for every space and with made to measure manufacturing options, it has never been easier to equip your home against intruders and keep your family or work team safe and comfortable. Best of all for the modern homeowner, high-security doors no longer create an eyesore – instead, reflecting the same design aesthetic focus as you might expect from an interior company.

Supermarket employees have been the hidden key workers of the past year, keeping shelves stocked and queues under control as panic buying gripped the nation. As a result of being expected to enforce face covering and social distancing regulations, they also been asked to act as de-facto security guards alongside their existing duties. This is problematic as many employees have never had to deal with this kind of responsibility before, let alone received any conflict de-escalation training. In order to maintain the safety and security of their staff retailers must take additional steps to uphold their duty of care, with the NPCC recently specifying that it is the responsibility of retailers ‘to manage entry to their stores and compliance with the law while customers are inside’. Supermarkets in particular need to be aware of this requirement, as the big four recently announced that their employees would now be challenging customers shopping in groups and those not wearing masks. Verbal abuse from the public Crime against retail employees has already been a major issue over the course of the pandemic, confirmed by research from the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers that found 90% of retail staff in the UK experienced verbal abuse last year. The Co-op has recently been vocal about the effects of the pandemic and lockdown-related frustrations on its employees.90% of retail staff in the UK experienced verbal abuse last year The supermarket reported a 140% increase in crime within its stores over the past year, with many of the 200,000 cases related to verbal and physical abuse experienced by employees. Jo Whitfield, Co-op Food chief executive, confirmed that the number of issues has already increased drastically as a result of staff enforcing COVID-secure guidelines. So, what steps must retailers take to ensure their duty of care remains intact as employees take on new enforcement responsibilities? Introducing real-time surveillance technology to support security guards and shop floor employees alike is vital. Bolstering front line defences Security guards posted at supermarket entrances are the first line of defense against shoppers determined to break the rules. However, they are now being pulled in multiple directions with queues to monitor and occupancy to manually keep track of, along with the usual security alarms to respond to. With one person usually posted at the entrance at any one time it’s simply impossible to have eyes everywhere, which is where automated video surveillance comes in. COVID-specific technologies, such as mask detection and occupancy management systems, are now the golden bullet to retail safety and security.Mask detection and occupancy management surveillance tools can automatically alert a shopper Mask detection and occupancy management surveillance tools can automatically alert a shopper whether or not they are allowed to enter the store on their approach to the door. The system surveys the person and a screen will automatically display different instructions depending on the situation: whether they must put a mask on before they enter, wait until capacity is low enough to enable social distancing or, if the previous criteria are fulfilled, that they are free to enter. COVID-secure safety This stand-off technology minimizes the need for contact between security personnel and shoppers, allowing security guards to complete their usual duties, safe in the knowledge that the store is being managed in a COVID-secure way. With a hands-off approach enabled by surveillance technology, the potential for tense confrontation is greatly diminished as customers will usually comply to the reminder shown to them and put on a mask or wait without further prompting from staff. With security personnel able to better focus their attention on the stubborn rule-breakers,It is crucial that retailers choose a solution embedded in real-time connectivity this responsibility will no longer land with staff on the shop floor who are often ill-equipped to deal with this situation. It is crucial that retailers choose a solution embedded in real-time connectivity that will allow all store entrances to be screened simultaneously. Nobody can be in multiple places at once, but this connectivity allows alerts to be streamed instantly to any connected device that can be monitored by just one employee, meaning they can review the alerts that require their attention without needing to be physically present or re-tasked away from their day-to-day duties. Instant reassurance with body worn tech As a customer-facing role, there can be no guarantee that shop workers will never experience a potentially violent confrontation with a customer, which is where the presence of live streaming body worn cameras can help. While they may not always be trained to de-escalate a risky situation, being able to discreetly call for assistance can provide the reassurance employees need to feel safe and supported at all times. If an employee asks a customer to put a mask on while they’re in the store or step back from another shopper and the situation turns abusive – verbally or physically – a live streaming-enabled body worn camera can be triggered to stream a live audio and video feed back to a central control room manned by trained security personnel.A live streaming-enabled body worn camera can be triggered This real-time footage gives security staff exceptional situational awareness, allowing them to fully assess the situation and decide on the best course of action to support the employee in distress, whether that is going to the scene to diffuse the situation or contacting the police in more serious circumstances. Bolstering front line security This goes one step further than record-only body worn cameras, the capabilities of which these next generation devices match and exceed. Record-only cameras are well-suited to provide after-the-fact evidence if a customer interaction turns sour, but they do little to provide reassurance to out of depth employees in the moment. The duty of care grocery retailers must provide to their employees has never been more important, with staff taking on new mask and social distancing enforcement responsibilities and managing interactions with frustrated customers. Bolstering front line security and giving staff extra reassurances with the introduction of real-time video surveillance technology is a crucial step for retailers striving to keep employees and shoppers safe during these challenging times.

Urban populations are expanding rapidly around the globe, with an expected growth of 1.56 billion by 2040. As the number of people living and working in cities continues to grow, the ability to keep everyone safe is an increasing challenge. However, technology companies are developing products and solutions with these futuristic cities in mind, as the reality is closer than you may think. Solutions that can help to watch over public places and share data insights with city workers and officials are increasingly enabling smart cities to improve the experience and safety of the people who reside there. Rising scope of 5G, AI, IoT and the Cloud The main foundations that underpin smart cities are 5G, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT) and the Cloud. Each is equally important, and together, these technologies enable city officials to gather and analyze more detailed insights than ever before. For public safety in particular, having IoT and cloud systems in place will be one of the biggest factors to improving the quality of life for citizens. Smart cities have come a long way in the last few decades, but to truly make a smart city safe, real-time situational awareness and cross-agency collaboration are key areas which must be developed as a priority. Innovative surveillance cameras with integrated IoT Public places need to be safe, whether that is an open park, shopping center, or the main roads through towns Public places need to be safe, whether that is an open park, shopping center, or the main roads through towns. From dangerous drivers to terrorist attacks, petty crime on the streets to high profile bank robberies, innovative surveillance cameras with integrated IoT and cloud technologies can go some way to helping respond quickly to, and in some cases even prevent, the most serious incidents. Many existing safety systems in cities rely on aging and in some places legacy technology, such as video surveillance cameras. Many of these also use on-premises systems rather than utilising the benefits of the cloud. Smart programming to deliver greater insights These issues, though not creating a major problem today, do make it more challenging for governments and councils to update their security. Changing every camera in a city is a huge undertaking, but in turn, doing so would enable all cameras to be connected to the cloud, and provide more detailed information which can be analyzed by smart programming to deliver greater insights. The physical technologies that are currently present in most urban areas lack the intelligent connectivity, interoperability and integration interfaces that smart cities need. Adopting digital technologies isn’t a luxury, but a necessity. Smart surveillance systems It enables teams to gather data from multiple sources throughout the city in real-time, and be alerted to incidents as soon as they occur. Increased connectivity and collaboration ensures that all teams that need to be aware of a situation are informed instantly. For example, a smart surveillance system can identify when a road accident has occurred. It can not only alert the nearest ambulance to attend the scene, but also the local police force to dispatch officers. An advanced system that can implement road diversions could also close roads around the incident immediately and divert traffic to other routes, keeping everyone moving and avoiding a build-up of vehicles. This is just one example: without digital systems, analyzing patterns of vehicle movements to address congestion issues could be compromised, as would the ability to build real-time crime maps and deploy data analytics which make predictive policing and more effective crowd management possible. Cloud-based technologies Cloud-based technologies provide the interoperability, scalability and automation Cloud-based technologies provide the interoperability, scalability and automation that is needed to overcome the limitations of traditional security systems. Using these, smart cities can develop a fully open systems architecture that delivers interoperation with both local and other remote open systems. The intelligence of cloud systems can not only continue to allow for greater insights as technology develops over time, but it can do so with minimal additional infrastructure investment. Smart surveillance in the real world Mexico City has a population of almost 9 million people, but if you include the whole metropolitan area, this number rises sharply to over 21 million in total, making it one of the largest cities on the planet. Seven years ago, the city first introduced its Safe City initiative, and ever since has been developing newer and smarter ways to keep its citizens safe. In particular, its cloud-based security initiative is making a huge impact. Over the past three years, Mexico City has installed 58,000 new video surveillance cameras throughout the city, in public spaces and on transport, all of which are connected to the City’s C5 (Command, Control, Computers, Communications and Citizen Contact) facility. Smart Cities operations The solution enables officers as well as the general public to upload videos via a mobile app to share information quickly, fixed, body-worn and vehicle cameras can also be integrated to provide exceptional insight into the city’s operations. The cloud-based platform can easily be upgraded to include the latest technology innovations such as license plate reading, behavioral analysis software, video analytics and facial recognition software, which will all continue to bring down crime rates and boost response times to incidents. The right cloud approach Making the shift to cloud-based systems enables smart cities to eliminate dependence on fiber-optic connectivity and take advantage of a variety of Internet and wireless connectivity options that can significantly reduce application and communication infrastructure costs. Smart cities need to be effective in years to come, not just in the present day, or else officials have missed one of the key aspects of a truly smart city. System designers must build technology foundations now that can be easily adapted in the future to support new infrastructure as it becomes available. Open system architecture An open system architecture will also be vital for smart cities to enhance their operations For example, this could include opting for a true cloud application that can support cloud-managed local devices and automate their management. An open system architecture will also be vital for smart cities to enhance their operations and deliver additional value-add services to citizens as greater capabilities become possible in the years to come. The advances today in cloud and IoT technologies are rapid, and city officials and authorities have more options now to develop their smart cities than ever before and crucially, to use these innovations to improve public safety. New safety features Though implementing these cloud-based systems now requires investment, as new safety features are designed, there will be lower costs and challenges associated with introducing these because the basic infrastructure will already exist. Whether that’s gunshot detection or enabling the sharing of video infrastructure and data across multiple agencies in real time, smart video surveillance on cloud-based systems can bring a wealth of the new opportunities.

A new generation of video cameras is poised to boost capabilities dramatically at the edge of the IP network, including more powerful artificial intelligence (AI) and higher resolutions, and paving the way for new applications that would have previously been too expensive or complex. Technologies at the heart of the coming new generation of video cameras are Ambarella’s newest systems on chips (SoCs). Ambarella’s CV5S and CV52S product families are bringing a new level of on-camera AI performance and integration to multi-imager and single-imager IP cameras. Both of these SoCs are manufactured in the ‘5 nm’ manufacturing process, bringing performance improvements and power savings, compared to the previous generation of SoCs manufactured at ‘10nm’. CV5S and CV52S AI-powered SoCs The CV5S, designed for multi-imager cameras, is able to process, encode and perform advanced AI on up to four imagers at 4Kp30 resolution, simultaneously and at less than 5 watts. This enables multi-headed camera designs with up to four 4K imagers looking at different portions of a scene, as well as very high-resolution, single-imager cameras of up to 32 MP resolution and beyond. The CV52S, designed for single-imager cameras with very powerful onboard AI, is the next-generation of the company’s successful CV22S mainstream 4K camera AI chip. This new SoC family quadruples the AI processing performance, while keeping the same low power consumption of less than 3 watts for 4Kp60 encoding with advanced AI processing. Faster and ubiquitous AI capabilities Ambarella’s newest AI vision SoCs for security, the CV5S and CV52S, are competitive solutions" “Security system designers desire higher resolutions, increasing channel counts, and ever faster and more ubiquitous AI capabilities,” explains John Lorenz, Senior Technology and Market Analyst, Computing, at Yole Développement (Yole), a French market research firm. John Lorenz adds, “Ambarella’s newest AI vision SoCs for security, the CV5S and CV52S, are competitive solutions for meeting the growing demands of the security IC (integrated circuit) sector, which our latest report forecasts to exceed US$ 4 billion by 2025, with two-thirds of that being chips with AI capabilities.” Edge AI vision processors Ambarella’s new CV5S and CV52S edge AI vision processors enable new classes of cameras that would not have been possible in the past, with a single SoC architecture. For example, implementing a 4x 4K multi-imager with AI would have traditionally required at least two SoCs (at least one for encoding and one for AI), and the overall power consumption would have made those designs bulky and prohibitively expensive. By reducing the number of required SoCs, the CV5S enables advanced camera designs such as AI-enabled 4x 4K imagers at price points much lower than would have previously been possible. “What we are usually trying to do with our SoCs is to keep the price points similar to the previous generations, given that camera retail prices tend to be fairly fixed,” said Jerome Gigot, Ambarella's Senior Director of Marketing. 4K multi-imager cameras “However, higher-end 4K multi-imager cameras tend to retail for thousands of dollars, and so even though there will be a small premium on the SoC for the 2X improvement in performance, this will not make a significant impact to the final MSRP of the camera,” adds Jerome Gigot. In addition, the overall system cost might go down, Gigot notes, compared to what could be built today because there is no longer a need for external chips to perform AI, or extra components for power dissipation. The new chips will be available in the second half of 2021, and it typically takes about 12 to 18 months for Ambarella’s customers (camera manufacturers) to produce final cameras. Therefore, the first cameras, based on these new SoCs, should hit the market sometime in the second half of 2022. Reference boards for camera manufacturers The software on these new SoCs is an evolution of our unified Linux SDK" As with Ambarella’s previous generations of edge AI vision SoCs for security, the company will make available reference boards to camera manufacturers soon, allowing them to develop their cameras based on the new CV5S and CV52S SoC families. “The software on these new SoCs is an evolution of our unified Linux SDK that is already available on our previous generations SoCs, which makes the transition easy for our customers,” said Jerome Gigot. Better crime detection Detecting criminals in a crowd, using face recognition and/or license plate recognition, has been a daunting challenge for security, and one the new chips will help to address. “Actually, these applications are one of the main reasons why Ambarella is introducing these two new SoC families,” said Jerome Gigot. Typically, resolutions of 4K and higher have been a smaller portion of the security market, given that they came at a premium price tag for the high-end optics, image sensor and SoC. Also, the cost and extra bandwidth of storing and streaming 4K video were not always worth it for the benefit of just viewing video at higher resolution. 4K AI processing on-camera The advent of on-camera AI at 4K changes the paradigm. By enabling 4K AI processing on-camera, smaller objects at longer distances can now be detected and analyzed without having to go to a server, and with much higher detail and accuracy compared to what can be done on a 2 MP or 5 MP cameras. This means that fewer false alarms will be generated, and each camera will now be able to cover a longer distance and wider area, offering more meaningful insights without necessarily having to stream and store that 4K video to a back-end server. “This is valuable, for example, for traffic cameras mounted on top of high poles, which need to be able to see very far out and identify cars and license plates that are hundreds of meters away,” said Jerome Gigot. The advent of on-camera AI at 4K changes the paradigm Enhanced video analytics and wider coverage “Ambarella’s new CV5S and CV52S SoCs truly allow the industry to take advantage of higher resolution on-camera for better analytics and wider coverage, but without all the costs typically incurred by having to stream high-quality 4K video out 24/7 to a remote server for offline analytics,” said Jerome Gigot. He adds, “So, next-generation cameras will now be able to identify more criminals, faces and license plates, at longer distances, for an overall lower cost and with faster response times by doing it all locally on-camera.” Deployment in retail applications Retail environments can be some of the toughest, as the cameras may be looking at hundreds of people at once Retail applications are another big selling point. Retail environments can be some of the toughest, as the cameras may be looking at hundreds of people at once (e.g., in a mall), to provide not only security features, but also other business analytics, such as foot traffic and occupancy maps that can be used later to improve product placement. The higher resolution and higher AI performance, enabled by the new Ambarella SoCs, provide a leap forward in addressing those scenarios. In a store setup, a ceiling-mounted camera with four 4K imagers can simultaneously look at the cashier line on one side of the store, sending alerts when a line is getting too long and a new cashier needs to be deployed, while at the same time looking at the entrance on the other side of the store, to count the people coming in and out. This leaves two additional 4K imagers for monitoring specific product aisles and generating real-time business analytics. Use in cashier-less stores Another retail application is a cashier-less store. Here, a CV5S or CV52S-based camera mounted on the ceiling will have enough resolution and AI performance to track goods, while the customer grabs them and puts them in their cart, as well as to automatically track which customer is purchasing which item. In a warehouse scenario, items and boxes moving across the floor could also be followed locally, on a single ceiling-mounted camera that covers a wide area of the warehouse. Additionally, these items and boxes could be tracked across the different imagers in a multi-headed camera setup, without the video having to be sent to a server to perform the tracking. Updating on-camera AI networks Another feature of Ambarella’s SoCs is that their on-camera AI networks can be updated on-the-fly, without having to stop the video recording and without losing any video frames. So, for example in the case of a search for a missing vehicle, the characteristics of that missing vehicle (make, model, color, license plate) can be sent to a cluster of cameras in the general area, where the vehicle is thought to be missing, and all those cameras can be automatically updated to run a live search on that specific vehicle. If any of the cameras gets a match, a remote operator can be notified and receive a picture, or even a live video feed of the scene. Efficient traffic management With the CV52S edge AI vision SoC, those decisions can be made locally at each intersection by the camera itself Relating to traffic congestion, most big cities have thousands of intersections that they need to monitor and manage. Trying to do this from one central location is costly and difficult, as there is so much video data to process and analyze, in order to make those traffic decisions (to control the traffic lights, reverse lanes, etc.). With the CV52S edge AI vision SoC, those decisions can be made locally at each intersection by the camera itself. The camera would then take actions autonomously (for example, adjust traffic-light timing) and only report a status update to the main traffic control center. So now, instead of having one central location trying to manage 1,000 intersections, a city can have 1,000 smart AI cameras, each managing its own location and providing updates and metadata to a central server. Superior privacy Privacy is always a concern with video. In this case, doing AI on-camera is inherently more private than streaming the video to a server for analysis. Less data transmission means fewer points of entry for a hacker trying to access the video. On Ambarella’s CV5S and CV52S SoCs, the video can be analyzed locally and then discarded, with just a signature or metadata of the face being used to find a match. No actual video needs to be stored or transmitted, which ensures total privacy. In addition, the chips contain a very secure hardware cyber security block, including OTP memory, Arm TrustZones, DRAM scrambling and I/O virtualization. This makes it very difficult for a hacker to replace the firmware on the camera, providing another level of security and privacy at the system level. Privacy Masking Another privacy feature is the concept of privacy masking. This feature enables portions of the video (say a door or a window) to be blocked out, before being encoded in the video stream. The blocked portions of the scene are not present in the recorded video, thus providing a privacy option for cameras that are facing private areas. “With on-camera AI, each device becomes its own smart endpoint, and can be reconfigured at will to serve the specific physical security needs of its installation,” said Jerome Gigot, adding “The possibilities are endless, and our mission as an SoC maker is really to provide a powerful and easy-to-use platform, complete with computer-vision tools, that enable our customers and their partners to easily deploy their own AI software on-camera.” Physical security in parking lots With a CV5S or CV52S AI-enabled camera, the camera will be able to cover a much wider portion of the parking lot One example is physical security in a parking lot. A camera today might be used to just record part of the parking lot, so that an operator can go back and look at the video if a car were broken into or some other incident occurred. With a CV5S or CV52S AI-enabled camera, first of all, the camera will be able to cover a much wider portion of the parking lot. Additionally, it will be able to detect the license plates of all the cars going in and out, to automatically bill the owners. If there is a special event, the camera can be reprogrammed to identify VIP vehicles and automatically redirect them to the VIP portion of the lot, while reporting to the entrance station or sign how many parking spots are available. It can even tell the cars approaching the lot where to go. Advantages of using edge AI vision SoCs Jerome Gigot said, “The possibilities are endless and they span across many verticals. The market is primed to embrace these new capabilities. Recent advances in edge AI vision SoCs have brought about a period of change in the physical security space. Companies that would have, historically, only provided security cameras, are now getting into adjacent verticals such as smart retail, smart cities and smart buildings.” He adds, “These changes are providing a great opportunity for all the camera makers and software providers to really differentiate themselves by providing full systems that offer a new level of insights and efficiencies to, not only the physical security manager, but now also the store owner and the building manager.” He adds, “All of these new applications are extremely healthy for the industry, as they are growing the available market for cameras, while also increasing their value and the economies of scale they can provide. Ambarella is looking forward to seeing all the innovative products that our customers will build with this new generation of SoCs.”

Combining artificial intelligence (AI) with cloud video creates systems that are smarter, safer and more cost-effective. Furthermore, adding AI capabilities can widen the advantage gap of cloud video systems compared to on-premise systems, especially for cost-conscious end users. “We strongly believe the total cost of ownership (TCO) for cloud systems is more affordable,” says Ken Francis, President of cloud video surveillance company Eagle Eye Networks. “And introducing really powerful AI will expand the cost differences.” Combining AI and cloud video To finance realization of their vision to combine AI and cloud video, Eagle Eye Networks has raised $40 million of Series E funding from venture capital firm Accel. The money will allow Eagle Eye to continue its steep growth curve and leverage AI on its true cloud platform to reshape video surveillance. “The investment will make video surveillance smarter and safer for end users,” says Francis. In effect, end users have maximum flexibility to manage and analyze their video data however they wish The system sends captured video to the cloud, where a variety of AI or video analytics systems can extract valuable data from the captured video. Eagle Eye offers an application programing interface (API) to enable integration of best-in-breed third-party AI and analytics systems to leverage the video. In effect, end users have maximum flexibility to manage and analyze their video data however they wish. Delivering lower costs In addition to offering integration with third-party systems, Eagle Eye is investing in its own AI development, and hiring additional development and customer service personnel. As new technologies become part of the Eagle Eye platform, customers benefit from lower costs because of economies of scale. Keeping the emphasis on development of cloud systems, Eagle Eye also offers customers maximum flexibility in choosing their cameras. Eagle Eye’s on-premise cyber-hardened “bridge” can connect to almost any camera from thousands of manufacturers, including those connecting with HD-over-coax. The COVID-19 pandemic has expanded the need for end users to view their premises remotely, and in the process has highlighted shortcomings of their existing video systems. As a result, video manufacturers - including Eagle Eye Networks - are seeing a surge in end users updating their systems. Cloud video surveillance Given the costs of installing and maintaining hard drives for local storage (and additional challenges during a pandemic lockdown), more end users are opting to use cloud systems. In effect, the COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating installation of cloud video surveillance. “Our industry is the most resilient in the world,” says Francis. Eagle Eye Networks was on track to double their growth in the first quarter, and then COVID slowed everything down As a whole, 2020 has been a successful year for the cloud system provider. Eagle Eye Networks was on track to double their growth in the first quarter, and then the COVID lockdown slowed everything down. During the second quarter, their revenue from setup fees and appliances fell by 35% or so, but subscriptions increased slightly including customers looking to keep watch over their shuttered businesses. Temperature alerting solutions The third quarter saw another big uptick in business; August and September were booming, and not just from projects that were delayed from Q2. There has also been a spike in customers looking to apply temperature alerting solutions, says Francis. In uncertain economic times, cloud systems require around 40% less up-front costs, and provide flexibility to eliminate the system (and the expense) at any time without losing a large financial investment.  Cloud video has reached a tipping point in the United States, Mexico, and the United Kingdom, among other locales, but the technology lags in some other geographic areas such as France. Driving adoption is availability and cost of sufficient upload speed and bandwidth. In addition to Eagle Eye’s branded growth, the company also provides the OEM engine behind a half dozen or so cloud systems offered by other manufacturers. Backing multi-site enteprises About eight years old, Eagle Eye Networks has focused squarely on the small- and middle-sized business (SMB) market, especially multi-site businesses such as retail, banking and healthcare. They also work with local governments and K-12 schools. Moving forward, the company will seek to expand more into multi-site enterprise customers, some of which have 1,000 locations around the world and need to store their video locally to meet regulatory requirements. Multi-site businesses, benefit from the cloud by eliminating the need for local IT equipment and expensive staff Multi-site businesses, especially, benefit from the cloud by eliminating the need for local IT equipment and expensive staff. As Internet connectivity becomes less expensive than installing new cable infrastructure, cloud systems will become more attractive to large campus environments such as colleges and airports, says Francis. The advent of 5G connectivity will also be a plus. All Eagle Eye products are NDAA compliant. Premium support services Further expanding its services, Eagle Eye Networks is poised to launch “Premium Support Services,” in which the cloud provider’s employees will proactively monitor and service customer sites for a minimum additional monthly fee. The cloud structure enables most problems to be addressed and solved remotely without needing to send personnel to a site. The new investment from Accel, a funding partner of top-tier tech companies such as Facebook, Dropbox and Spotify, is Accel's first investment in the security industry. In addition to investing in AI, Eagle Eye also plans to leverage the funding to expand into new regional markets with new data centers and additional staff in business development, sales and support roles.

Delivering on high expectations, the first day of ISC West 2019 kicked off with a crowded Sands Expo Center and exhibitors putting forward their best new technologies. Developments seemed more evolutionary than revolutionary, but attendees quickly found plenty of interest. Thermal cameras Hanwha Techwin also showed off a new Android camera that can deploy new apps The largest booth at ISC West, Hanwha Techwin, remained crowded throughout the first day as attendees checked out the company’s eight new thermal cameras offering features such as pan-tilt-zoom, H.265 encoding to minimize storage needs, VGA resolution and detection of temperature changes, all built on Hanwha Techwin’s Wisenet chip. There is also a new 5-megapixel version of Hanwha’s popular 2-megapixel multi-sensor camera, and a new panoramic camera; multi-sensor panoramic cameras ‘stitch’ the images together rather than just aligning them. Hanwha Techwin also showed off a new Android camera that can deploy new apps developed as part of the Korean company’s role as a founding member of Open Security & Safety Alliance (OSSA). Avigilon's H5 series Avigilon is introducing a new line of cameras — the H5 series — with improved imaging and designed to provide deep learning/neural network processing at the edge. Improvements to video analytics will enable the cameras to track multiple moving objects simultaneously in a field of view and to track objects more accurately. More granularity enables better differentiation among types of vehicles, and the cameras enable more detailed data to be pulled from video. The improved analytics engine will also support better face detection and recognition. Operators can view the dashboard and react to information provided in a more digestible format The new version of Avigilon Control Center 7 (ACC7) software will apply principles of AI to enhance an operator’s ‘Focus of Attention’ when monitoring live video. Video is fed into an AI engine that determines which events in the live footage are most worthy of an operator’s attention. Monitoring live video can be a challenge for human operators, whose short attention spans undermine the best surveillance systems. Automation helps to direct that limited attention span to events most worthy of attention. A ‘dashboard’ displays clusters of cameras that are color-coded to reflect the types of activity that are detected. Rather than watching video, operators can view the dashboard and react to information provided in a more digestible format. Clicking brings up the live video. Quantum Cloud Storage Platform Video storage is another area of innovation at ISC West. The Quantum Cloud Storage Platform is flexible for video surveillance and industrial IoT applications. The architecture is built from the ground up for video surveillance applications and can scale from five cameras to millions of cameras in a simple deployment model — no settings or configurations needed. Products range from a small ‘mini-tower’ configuration for a retail store or gas station up to rack-mount servers that can accommodate thousands of cameras. We make the storage piece so simple that you don’t have to think about it" Quantum introduced the VS-Series in a range of server choices at ISC West. The hyperconverged and software-defined environment will support a combination of video management systems (VMS), along with access control, HVAC and lighting controls. Quantum worked with Johnson Controls to develop the products. “It’s designed for an installer, not for an IT guru,” says Jamie Lerner, Quantum’s CEO, President and Chairman of the Board. “We make the storage piece so simple that you don’t have to think about it.” Quantum is showing its VS-Series publicly for the risk time at ISC West. S2’s Magic Monitor LenelS2 is a newly coined name in the industry — resulting from a recent acquisition. The combination of Lenel and the acquired S2 is playing out to the benefit of both product lines. For example, Lenel’s Blue Diamond mobile credentialing system can now be used along with the S2 Netbox hardware. Lenel’s OnGuard is being combined into S2’s Magic Monitor unified solution that combines video, access control, and digital messaging. OnGuard is also benefitting from Magic Monitor’s graphics maps. The S2 Cumulus cloud-based service, focused on system health monitoring, is being applied to OnGuard. LenelS2 is also developing a full commercial access control as a service (ACaaS) offering The combined LenelS2 is stepping up with new solutions for frictionless access control, too. A ‘phone as a badge’ approach enables a door to be unlocked by a smart phone, even if it is in a pocket, locked and/or the app has not been opened. Another alternative is a ‘shake to open’ action that sends the credential to the nearest reader. LenelS2 is also developing a full commercial access control as a service (ACaaS) offering, which is being previewed at ISC Show and will be released commercially later in the year. Video surveillance product line Mobotix is expanding its MOVE video surveillance product line with six new models announced at the show and broadening its reach into new vertical markets. A solutions approach offers both end-to-end Mobotix systems and other systems offered in conjunction with technology partnerships displayed in the Mobotix booth. Top of the list of new verticals is education, and Mobotix’s edge-based approach includes programmable logic built in so that ‘technology can take over when the human element is the weakest.’ Automated response is faster and ‘seconds equal lives’ during an emergency. In an education scenario, the Mobotix system acts as an Internet of Things (IoT) device that offers more functionality than other manufacturers’ ‘cameras.’ There are 22 steps involved to ensure the cybersecurity of Mobotix products, reflecting a higher level of cybersecurity commitment Mobotix has thermal products that are also finding uses in a variety of verticals, from oil and gas to manufacturing process control. Mobotix systems that can detect defects in products in the manufacturing process are expanding usage in applications beyond the traditional ‘security’ industry. Cybersecurity Commitment Mobotix is looking at the market in a completely different way, redefining how their products can fit into a variety of scenarios, and with a focus on cybersecurity. There are 22 steps involved to ensure the cybersecurity of Mobotix products, reflecting a higher level of cybersecurity commitment than some other manufacturers. “There are so many features within our solutions, and we want to get the word out to the end users, so they understand the features,” says Thomas Lausten, Mobotix CEO. “There is untapped potential.”

Custom Consoles announces the completion of a six-bay security control room desk from its SteelBase range for one of the most prestigious museums in the Middle East. The project also includes a large MediaWall multiscreen video display mounting system and Ergotron desk-mounted monitor arms. “SteelBase and MediaWall continue to be a popular choice for security and process control applications in Europe and around the world,” says Custom Consoles’ sales manager Gary Fuller. “The desk we have provided in this case is a 4.25 meter wide rectangular unit configured for use by two or three operators.” MediaWall Each of its six bays holds computers and related devices which can be reached easily via front or rear access doors" “It faces straight on to the MediaWall with sufficient space between the two to allow access for routine maintenance of installed equipment. Each of its six bays holds computers and related devices which can be reached easily via front or rear access doors. The installed MediaWall supports eight large display screens in a four wide by two high configuration.” “It is augmented by Ergotron monitor support arms mounted to the rear of bays one, two, five, and six. Each arm is capable of holding a flat panel display of typically 24 inches diagonal screen size. These can be used to view the output from the remote cameras.” “The desk surface above bays three and four is left clear to accommodate additional equipment. Worktop facilities along the desk include camera controllers plus communications panels.” Efficient monitoring "SteelBase was developed to withstand round-the-clock use, every day of the year,” adds Custom Consoles’ managing director Neil Reed. “It also offers high ergonomic efficiency, meaning it is comfortable to use during long duty sessions. When installed alongside MediaWall, it allows efficient monitoring of activity across a very wide area, including multiple rooms and multiple sites. The combination has proved a popular and effective choice for security, defense and process control applications in many countries.” Custom Consoles’ SteelBase is a high-strength desking system to withstand the demands of heavy-industry Custom Consoles’ SteelBase is a high-strength desking system developed to withstand the demands of heavy-industry. Built around steel frames with hinged lockable front and rear doors, SteelBase can be configured for use by individual operators or teams of practically any number without the cost and long delivery time usually associated with project-specific furniture. Cable management Each bay includes a sliding shelf which gives easy access to internally stowed PCs. Predrilled monitor arm mounting points are positioned at the rear upper edge of each bay. Cable management features include a removable worktop section with dual brush strips providing an uninterrupted cable exit for telephones, monitor cables, and computer peripherals. Integral cableways allow heavy-duty wiring to be fully concealed within the desk structure while retaining easy access for routine maintenance or adjustment. Cables can be routed laterally across and between bays as well as vertically to floor level. Internal 19-inch racking is available as a standard feature. Desktop equipment pods can be specified if required. Careful attention has also been paid to styling with a choice of front, side, and desktop finishes. SteelBase desktops are available in a choice of 120 cm (standard) or 100 cm (SteelBase Lite) front-to-back sizes with a choice of hard-wearing Marmoleum or laminate work surfaces. All elements are guaranteed against component failure for five years of normal use. Continuous horizontal display Individual or multiple frames can be used in fully self-supporting configurations or coupled directly to a wall Developed for use in technical control rooms, Custom Consoles’ MediaWall allows flat-screen monitor displays of practically any size to be constructed from standard horizontal and vertical support elements. Individual or multiple frames can be used in fully self-supporting configurations or coupled directly to a wall. Screens can be positioned so that the edges meet exactly to form a continuous horizontal display limited only by the boundary of the monitor panel. All wiring is fully concealed and can enter or leave the structure at any desired point. MediaWall is available in any required element widths. All Custom Consoles desks can optionally be fitted with Ergotron monitor arms. The LX Arm is available in single-monitor, vertically stacked dual-monitor, and side-by-side dual monitor versions. The lateral and tilt angle of all Ergotron arms can be separately adjusted to match each operator’s preference. A proprietary support mechanism allows the mounted display to be lifted, tilted, or horizontally swung. All LX arms are supplied with clamp and through-fixing options. Each arm is constructed from durable polished aluminum. Longevity is a key feature, typically 10 times the expected life-cycle of competing brands.

Dutch franchisee Leussink Retail Groep operates 7 Jumbo supermarkets in its portfolio. They tackled the thorny issue of hygiene and social distancing with a solution made up of Hikvision cameras, SmartPole sanitizing stations, and the SmartPole platform for safe shopping. Hikvision’s comprehensive solution SmartPole Solutions, a Dutch member of Hikvision’s Technology Partner Program, stepped up to the plate, delivering a comprehensive solution based on Hikvision Dual-Lens People Counting Network Cameras (DS-2CD6825G0/C-IS), their SmartPole Sanitizers, and LeftClick software. The solution operates based on a calculation that no more than a certain number should be in a shop, depending on its size. This means that there are few enough people inside to make social distancing possible. In this way, everyone can shop for their essentials more safely.

A large US grocery store chain needed to stop paying costly service charges to maintain its outdated TDM PBX voice system. The organization wanted to implement a new IP-based communication solution across all locations. However, the customer was very concerned with the potential disruption and high costs to rip-and-replace the existing CAT3 voice network. Limitation of standard switches  The customer was relying on an aging, analog phone system and wanted to upgrade to a Unified Communications platform across all new and existing stores. However, like most businesses, the analog phones were supported with CAT3 wiring infrastructure, with many cable runs going well beyond the 328ft (100m) reach limitations of standard Ethernet switches. The customer was experiencing several challenges and was concerned with high costs & time requirements  The customer was experiencing several challenges and was concerned with: The extremely high cost and time requirements needed to remove and replace the existing, yet reliable CAT3 infrastructure Loss of revenue and business disruption during the modernisation process IDF closet requirements to support the new IP phones in all areas of the grocery stores, given the limited reach of standard Ethernet switches The grocery store chain was unsatisfied with traditional LAN design and delayed the project to search for an alternative solution. NVT Phybridge PoLRE® switch The customer learned about the award-winning NVT Phybridge PoLRE® (Power over Long Reach Ethernet) managed switch and engaged with one of their digital transformation experts to learn more. The PoLRE switch delivers Ethernet and PoE over a single-pair UTP wire with up to 1,200ft (365m) reach – that’s four times the reach of standard Ethernet switches. The customer was excited to see the solution in action and organized a no-obligation proof-of-concept to test the solution in their environment. IP infrastructure changes In just a few simple setup steps, the PoLRE switch transformed the customer’s existing voice infrastructure into an IP backbone with more than enough bandwidth to support the new IP phones. PoLRE’s extended reach capabilities ensured that the new IP phones were deployed exactly where the customer needed them without the need for multiple IDF closets along the way. “The customer was impressed with the switch’s ability to deliver PoE over the existing single-pair UTP cable at distances up to 1,200ft instead of the usual 328ft. The customer also found the security features and intuitive web GUI of the switch very attractive,” said Darragh Hogan, Product Support Manager at NVT Phybridge. Reduced costs and complexity  With NVT Phybridge PoLRE switch innovation, the customer was able to reduce network readiness costs  By leveraging the NVT Phybridge PoLRE switch innovation, the customer was able to reduce network readiness costs, deployment time, and complexity associated with infrastructure requirements. After the successful implementation at the first location, the customer modernised the remaining locations using the PoLRE switch to achieve incredible results. Achieved over $5 million in infrastructure cost savings Leveraged the existing and proven voice infrastructure to create a physically separate and secure IP voice network Significantly reduced the deployment time, accelerating the return on investment Eliminated business disruption as no construction was required Repeatable, predictable, and scalable  The existing voice infrastructure topology at every store is the same, point-to-point. By leveraging this proven and reliable infrastructure, the customer was able to simplify its modernisation with a repeatable, predictable, and scalable deployment experience across every location. The customer was able to significantly reduce the deployment time and save over $5 million, thanks to the NVT Phybridge PoLRE switch.

One of the largest department store groups in Europe was relying on outdated analog security cameras and needed to strengthen its physical security measures. The retailer decided to modernize to an IP-based surveillance system in each of its retail locations to deter theft and provide better recognition capabilities. Modernization phases  Given the number and immense size of each store, the project was going to be massive. The organization decided to modernize its security system in two phases. The first phase would involve upgrading the existing analog devices with IP cameras at each location. Phase two would include expanding the security system with additional IP cameras to provide complete surveillance coverage. The organization was specifically interested in having IP cameras at each check-out terminal to ensure the safety of its employees. To successfully achieve the project’s objectives, the organization determined it would need to deploy and support over 90,000 IP cameras across the organization’s retail facilities. Setting up an IP infrastructure The organization was uncertain about how to proceed and searched for a solution that would allow for modernization of IP Before the retailer could move forward with the project, it needed to establish the necessary infrastructure to support the new IP solution. A Coax-based infrastructure was supporting the existing analog cameras, and the organization was not interested in the traditional rip-and-replace upgrade method, as they were concerned with: Extremely high costs and time requirements to retrofit hundreds of locations with new cabling and equipment Loss of revenue and a poor customer experience due to the business disruption caused by the renovations Losing valuable retail floor space from the IDF closets required to connect the IP cameras exactly where they were needed Ensuring a smooth and efficient modernization across every location The organization was uncertain about how to proceed and searched for a solution that would allow for a more graceful modernization of IP. Power over Ethernet technology The Spanish retailer discovered NVT Phybridge and engaged with a digital transformation specialist to learn more. NVT Phybridge worked closely with the customer to understand their objectives and challenges and recommended Modern LAN design and the CLEER24 (Ethernet over Coax) managed switch solution. CLEER24 switch CLEER24 switch transformed the existing Coax-based infrastructure into a robust and secure IP backbone The award-winning CLEER24 switch delivers power and data over any new or existing Coax-based infrastructure with reach capabilities up to 6,000ft (1,830m) – that’s 18 times farther than standard Ethernet switches. The customer was impressed with the proposal and wanted to see the solution in action. A no-obligation proof of concept was arranged at one of the retail locations to test the technology in the customer’s environment. In just a few simple setup steps, the enterprise-grade CLEER24 switch transformed the existing Coax-based infrastructure into a robust and secure IP backbone. Due to the success of the proof of concept, the retailer was completely confident in the CLEER24 solution and was finally able to move forward with its IP modernization initiative. Scalable surveillance system By leveraging Modern LAN Principles and the CLEER24 innovation, the retailer was able to deploy over 90,000 IP cameras across the organization. The Ethernet over Coax innovation allowed the customer to reuse its existing Coax-based infrastructure; eliminating the high cost, risk, complexity, and disruption that would have been caused by the traditional rip-and-replace model. Additionally, the NVT Phybridge EC4 Adaptor was used to easily expand the surveillance system, providing the freedom to connect up to 4 IP cameras using a single long-run Coax cable. IP modernisation objectives The customer took a proactive approach to find new and better ways to support its IP modernization objectives in a financially and socially responsible manner. The organization changed the conversation to improve their outcome; using Modern LAN Principles and Power over Ethernet innovations to: Reduce infrastructure costs by more than $20 million; allowing more budget to be allocated to applications and better application adoption Simplify network requirements and significantly reduce the total deployment time Eliminate business disruption to maintain optimal customer experience and avoid loss-of-revenue Maintain a physically separate network path for the security devices and applications to ensure the security and performance of the overall business network Increase safety and security by increasing the number of cameras deployed in a single location using the EC4 Adaptor Save precious retail space by eliminating the need to install additional IDF closets Prevent over 3,000 tons of cabling e-waste from ending up in a landfill The rackmount capabilities helped the customer stack and configure the switches in multiple configurations to fit their unique needs. The CLEER24 switch comes standard with PowerWISE® technology, allowing four switches to be stacked together for power-sharing, load balancing, and power redundancy.

The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) advises the world on the latest information and data regarding cancer prevention. The organization funds research on the relationship of nutrition, physical activity, and weight management to cancer risk. AICR then educates people worldwide about choices they can make to reduce their chances of developing cancer. Challenge to install IP voice solution Forward-thinking puts the American Institute for Cancer Research on the leading edge of cancer prevention. By applying that same forward-thinking, the AICR realized it needed to modernize its phone system to improve communication capabilities. AICR wanted to replace its existing analog phone system with a new, modern-day IP voice solution. The current phone system was supported by a CAT3 wiring infrastructure. Project partners suggested a rip-and-replace strategy in which the CAT3 wiring infrastructure would be replaced. However, the American Institute for Cancer Research operates in a heritage building in Washington, D.C., and any building modifications or additions would be subject to severe restrictions. Cable installers estimated that 96 new cable runs would need to be added to the five-floor building, an option that proved to be too expensive for this non-profit organization. NVT’s PoLRE switch NVT Phybridge long reach PoE switch delivers fast Ethernet and PoE over single-pair UTP cable with up to 1,200ft reach The AICR’s telecom provider (VAR), McEnroe Voice & Data, suggested the use of new Power over Ethernet (PoE) innovations and introduced the customer to NVT Phybridge. The NVT Phybridge long reach PoE switch delivers fast Ethernet and PoE over single-pair UTP cable with up to 1,200ft (365m) reach – that’s four times the reach of standard Ethernet switches. Using the NVT Phybridge switch, the organization could avoid the costly and disruptive rip-and-replace process by leveraging the existing CAT3 cabling infrastructure for the new IP phone system. Easy installation “The installation was absolutely painless,” according to Michael McCarn, Director of Information Technology at AICR. “Our VAR sent four cabling techs on the day of our cutover. Two techs moved from desk to desk identifying the lines to be moved, while two more stayed in the phone closet and moved the connectors for each phone from the old analog system to the new NVT Phybridge switch. The switchboards were done within minutes, with the rest completed within two hours.” “I was skeptical at first; I didn’t think the switch could deliver the smooth and painless installation promised by our VAR. I wasn’t even convinced the devices would work at all,” said McCarn. “However, having worked with the same VAR for more than 15 years, I decided to trust them – and I’m glad I did.” Robust IP solution The organization created a secure, robust, and reliable voice network without risk or compromise, due to the switch  The modernization from analog to IP was completed within just 2 hours without high costs, complexity, or building modifications. The AICR now has a robust and reliable IP backbone to support its current and future communication needs. The American Institute for Cancer Research took a proactive approach to find new and better ways to achieve its IP modernization objectives in a financially and socially responsible manner. The organization created a secure, robust, and reliable voice network without risk or compromise, due to the simplicity of the NVT Phybridge switch solution. Advantages The customer was beyond satisfied, leveraging NVT Phybridge innovation to: Enhance communication capabilities throughout the facility Reduce infrastructure costs, allocating more budget to ROI-driving IP devices and applications Quickly and easily deploy hundreds of IP phones thanks to the PoLRE switch’s repeatable, predictable, and scalable deployment methodology Simplify network requirements to reduce the deployment time significantly Avoid business disruption during implementation

One of the world’s largest food companies was relying on an analog communication system that could no longer keep up with the company’s needs. The organization wanted to modernize to IP. However, the company needed to overcome critical network readiness challenges to support a new IP voice solution. Changing the traditional LAN design  A CAT3 network infrastructure supported the existing analog phone system. Based on traditional LAN design thinking, the food company believed it needed to rip-and-replace the network infrastructure and install new Ethernet to support IP. The network requirements appeared to be too costly, complicated, and disruptive to the business Additionally, the organization was uncertain how to support the IP phones in all areas of the manufacturing facilities, given the 328ft (100m) reach limitation of standard Ethernet switches. The customer was not interested in the IDF closets required to extend connectivity to all areas of the buildings. The project was critical for business growth – but the network requirements appeared to be too costly, complicated, and disruptive to the business. The customer needed a modern solution to overcome its challenges. NVT Phybridge PoLRE® switch Given the customer’s digital transformation challenges, JT Global Enterprise, the reseller partner, introduced the food company to the NVT Phybridge PoLRE® switch. The PoLRE switch delivers Power over Ethernet over any new or existing single-pair UTP (CAT3) infrastructure with up to 1,200ft (365m) reach. That’s four times farther than a standard PoE switch. The customer was satisfied, as the innovation would eliminate rip-and-replace requirements and allow for a smoother modernization experience. In just a few simple setup steps, the PoLRE switch transformed the customer’s existing CAT3 infrastructure into a robust IP/PoE backbone with more than enough reach to support the new IP phones exactly where the customer needed them. IP voice solution The food company leveraged the NVT Phybridge PoLRE switch to deploy over 4,000 IP phones across 47 locations. JT Global Enterprise was able to leverage the existing and proven voice infrastructure to maintain a physically separate network for the new IP voice solution. Its simplicity, stability, and ease of deployment quickly provided the IP and PoE needed to support the new system The customer was also pleased with the simplicity of the solution. “Achieving IP connectivity first to support our new solution was where we exhausted most of our planning time. When we learned about the NVT Phybridge PoLRE product, we were able to move straight into implementation,” said the Sr. Telecommunications Manager for the food company. “The PoLRE switch solved every concern we had, especially around costs and complexity. Its simplicity, stability, and ease of deployment quickly provided the IP and PoE we needed to support our new system and features for all of our users.” Modernization objectives The food company took a pro-active approach to find new and better ways to support its IP modernization objectives in a financially and socially responsible manner. The customer leveraged Modern LAN design and NVT Phybridge PoE innovations to: Create a secure and robust point-to-point network topology for the new IP phones to improve application performance and quality of service Reduce infrastructure costs by more than $1.2 million Deploy the PoLRE solution in just four months; compared the original 18-month forecast Avoid rip-and-replace requirements to eliminate any potential business disruption Leverage the existing infrastructure to prevent over 12 tons of e-waste

In the past few weeks, the light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel has brightened, providing new levels of hope that the worst of the pandemic is behind us. Dare we now consider what life will be like after the pandemic is over? Considering the possible impact on our industry, we asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: Which security technologies will be most useful in a post-pandemic world?

We are several weeks into 2021, and it is already shaping up to be an eventful year. The happenings and trends from 2020 will likely carry over into the new year, but in a fast-moving industry such as ours, there will also be additional trends to watch. Looking toward the year ahead, we asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What will be the biggest security trends in 2021?

As a subset of the larger economy, the security industry is bound to feel the effects of an economic downturn. Such was the case in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic undermined economic growth and presented a brand new set of challenges to business. The security industry has been able to pivot toward emerging opportunities, but that success has been offset by broader economic challenges. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What impact, positive or negative, has the larger economy had on the security marketplace in 2020?