Security Integrators

Allegion US, a provider of security products and solutions, and Open Options, a global access control solutions company, integrated the ENGAGE IP Gateway with DNA Fusion software to expand their offering of scalable security solutions. Open Options is a longstanding Allegion software alliance member and is committed to offering the most up-to-date technology available. The integration of the ENGAGE IP Gateway with Open Options’ DNA Fusion access control platform offers users another cost-effective option in their access control solution. Simplify Installation The ENGAGE Gateway provides the ability to leverage existing IP-based infrastructure for maximum efficiency The ENGAGE Gateway provides the ability to leverage existing IP-based infrastructure for maximum efficiency. Ethernet connectivity provides the ability to connect to the network for real-time access control directly from an in- or out-of-network host to an edge device. To further simplify installation, the Gateway can be powered over ethernet (PoE), removing the need for separate power supplies or wiring. The ENGAGE Gateway performs regular, frequent communication between the Gateway and linked ENGAGE enabled devices. The Gateway is able to send commands such as lock, unlock and lock down from an IP host in real-time. Commands are executed in less than five seconds. As an Internet of Things (IoT) device, the Gateway leverages network security practices, including AES-256 bit and TLS encryption to provide customers with secure, dependable experiences. Real-Time Communication These secure communication protocols, in addition to real-time communication between devices, help to ensure the end user’s facility security is constantly monitored and allows access events to be addressed immediately. This solution also minimizes traditional hardware infrastructure, which provides the end user a smaller security footprint and cost savings. “Open Options is dedicated to providing open platform solutions, which is why we continually work with leading security providers to develop integrations that give end users a choice in their access control products,” said Ben Vestal, vice president of sales and business development at Open Options. “We’re excited to join with Allegion in offering our end users an opportunity to further enhance their security by utilizing real-time connectivity between their electronic lock and access control solution.” Access Control Software DNA Fusion is designed with valuable customer input to ensure it delivers a user-friendly and open access control platform DNA Fusion, Open Options’ award-winning open architecture access control software, seamlessly integrates with security systems like Schlage’s electronic locks, readers and credentials. Developed by experts with years of industry experience, DNA Fusion is designed with valuable customer input to ensure it delivers a user-friendly and open access control platform. Other supporting products—visitor management, photo ID and more—work together to provide a complete security solution. Numerous Allegion products have a deep integration developed by Open Options. The integration between DNA Fusion and the ENGAGE IP Gateway is the result of requests for additional solutions by the end user. Networked Access Control It can leverage an existing IP infrastructure to enable networked access control to doors traditionally ignored. “What’s great about Open Option’s DNA Fusion software is that it offers a full-scale access control solution that can be tailored to fit each customer’s unique security needs,” said Dewey VanVoorhis, electronics product manager at Allegion. “This integration offers end users yet another solution to expand security and convenience to more of their doors.”   

Exabeam, the smarter SIEM company, announces that it has closed $75 million in Series E funding to accelerate worldwide efforts to displace legacy security management vendors. The latest round is jointly led by new investor Sapphire Ventures and Lightspeed Venture Partners, which have collectively backed nearly 40 IPOs. Other existing investors also participated. The funds will be used for expanding sales reach and to expedite new product features and configurations. In the last 12 months, Exabeam’s market perception has shifted from a user and entity behavior analytics (UEBA) vendor to a leading SIEM provider. Recognizing this, Exabeam was recently named a leader in the 2018 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Security Information and Event Management. Unique Data Sources Exabeam has a 72 percent win rate in replacement deals against incumbents During the last fiscal year, 76 percent of the company’s replacement deals eliminated legacy vendors, including IBM, McAfee, RSA, LogRhythm, Micro Focus and Splunk. In addition, Exabeam has a 72 percent win rate in replacement deals against these incumbents. Technology and services giant NTT DATA is just one example of a global deployment where Exabeam displaced multiple legacy SIEMs and the company standardized on Exabeam going forward. Since its $50 million Series D funding round in August 2018, Exabeam has also seen increased sales of its cloud offerings, on the heels of the release of Exabeam SaaS Cloud, which was launched and purchased by its first customer within the first quarter of this year. The company also expanded its sales team and Technology Alliance Partnership Program, which has already attracted more than 350 software and services vendors, representing integrations with nearly 2,500 unique data sources and APIs. Collective Guidance “Over the last year, we’ve seen our strategic value increase, and our average deal size has grown by 100 percent from just two years ago. This is because we’re listening to our customers and delivering the innovative technologies they need, including, most recently, the ability to detect threats in the cloud. With the win rates we’re seeing and market opportunity in replacement business, we’re raising money to accelerate our go-to-market and enhance our products to bring additional innovation to modern SOC environments,” said Nir Polak, Exabeam CEO. Both Lightspeed and Sapphire have an incredible combined track record of spotting up-and-comers" He added, “Having recently backed groundbreaking public companies like Box, DocuSign, MuleSoft, Nutanix and Square, both Lightspeed and Sapphire have an incredible combined track record of spotting up-and-comers that will ultimately dominate their markets. Their collective guidance and support will only further our mission to keep our customers out of the breach headlines and take over the SIEM market along the way.” Streamlined Threat Detection Alongside the influx of big data driven by cloud applications and mobile devices, as well as increasingly sophisticated insider and external threats, Exabeam is scaling to meet the needs of the largest organizations globally. As a next generation security player founded in 2013, the company continues to disrupt the SIEM market with its flat, user-based pricing model and streamlined threat detection and machine learning-powered behavioral analytics—helping security operations centre (SOC) analysts work smarter. “We’ve chosen to back Exabeam because of the momentum the company has in a very large and important market. Nir and the team are solving the problems that legacy SIEM vendors don’t seem to realize they have, and to us, that demonstrated unmistakable value. Customers are consistently buying its full platform as a replacement for the offerings that once dominated the market to improve their security posture and conquer the hurdles of outdated technology and expensive, data-based pricing,” said Anders Ranum, managing director at Sapphire Ventures. Endpoint Protection Vendors Lightspeed is excited to double down on our investment in Exabeam" “As cyberattacks, cyberwarfare and corporate espionage are on the rise, Exabeam is enabling companies to analyze user behavior and spot even the most subtle anomalies in a way no other SIEM vendor has. They’re in an ideal position to be the next big security disruptor, and we’re excited to be joining in their journey.” “Lightspeed is excited to double down on our investment in Exabeam,” said Ravi Mhatre, partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners. “Looking broadly at the security market in recent years, there have been several big exits from companies replacing legacy authentication and endpoint protection vendors. Security management is next, and Exabeam is well positioned to be the leader.” Exabeam has recently been named to Business Insider’s 30 Cybersecurity Startups that Will Blow up in 2019 and Silicon Valley Business Journal’s Best Places to Work in the Bay Area lists. It has also ranked No. 12 overall and No. 1 in security on Inc. Magazine’s 37th annual Inc. 5000, as well as No. 8 on the Wall Street Journal’s Tech Companies to Watch in 2018.

AV collaboration and control pioneer Atlona, in partnership with new owners Panduit, will accentuate the importance of quality network infrastructure and connectivity in the AV over IP ecosystem at InfoComm 2019. Panduit, which acquired Atlona in January, will demonstrate its latest enterprise-level equipment racks, cabinets and connectivity solutions for AV environments in Atlona’s booth (3012), with a focus on helping integrators and end users streamline the installation and management of their core system architectures. Panduit Two-Post Rack System offers a reliable foundation for mounting AV and data center equipment“InfoComm provides us with an opportunity to close the knowledge gap around how to identify and choose the most appropriate Layer 1 infrastructure for each AV project,” said Amy Hacker, AV Commercial Strategy and Enablement Manager for Panduit. “We’re excited to speak with Atlona partners and customers about how Panduit can help them deploy Atlona products easier and faster with quality cable management, reliable infrastructure, and secure connectivity.” Solutions On Display At Infocomm  Panduit will emphasize three solutions at its dedicated station in the Atlona booth: Panduit Two-Post Rack System: This dual-column data rack offers a reliable foundation for mounting AV and data center equipment, and is ideal for installation in enterprise-wide IT distribution closets. Its modular design offers side access with plenty of space to efficiently install, manage and organize cables, patch panels and other accessories, reducing installation times by up to 15 percent compared to competitive solutions. Panduit Wall-Mount Cabinets: Offering the same foundational strength and systems integration efficiency as Panduit’s two-post racks, these compact cabinets provide a secure and reliable solution for facilities requiring infrastructure and patching solutions in open spaces, or in equipment rooms with limited real estate. Panduit Field-Terminable Plugs: These modular plugs allow contractors to run horizontal cable direct to equipment, eliminating the need for jacks, surface-mounted boxes and/or patch cords – reducing installation times and upfront costs by up to 40 percent, while eliminating multiple points of failure. OmniStream AV Over IP Devices Panduit will populate the two-post racks and wall-mounted cabinets with Atlona equipment, including OmniStream AV over IP devicesPanduit will populate the two-post racks and wall-mounted cabinets with Atlona equipment, including OmniStream AV over IP devices – a springboard for a broader conversation about how quality infrastructure and connectivity will ensure that video, audio and data signal integrity is maintained across the ecosystem. Panduit representatives will also be on hand to discuss other infrastructure concerns, including the benefits and ideal scenarios of applying unshielded cable versus shielded cable, for example. “Beyond offering a robust and reliable infrastructure, we look forward to demonstrating how our systems provide the generous headroom and bandwidth required to support the higher resolution of 4K/UHD and HDR signals moving across the enterprise,” said Hacker. “Quality infrastructure directly relates to the quality of the AV signals being deployed. The better the quality of the cable and connectivity you have, the less you need to worry about pixel drops, fuzzy images and other undesirable visual artifacts.” InfoComm takes place from June 12-14 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

Skybox Security, global provider of cyber risk management solutions, has announced its integration with Indegy, globally renowned industrial cybersecurity solutions firm, to help organizations better understand the security posture of hybrid IT and operational technology (OT) networks. Hybrid IT And OT Networks OT networks have been a mystery to IT security teams" “OT networks have been a mystery to IT security teams,” said Skybox Security VP of Products Amrit Williams. “But more and more, CISOs are being tasked with getting a handle on security in OT environments. That starts with literally being able to see and understand the connections between the corporate and production networks, visualizing how the two impact one another’s risk of attack. Our integration with Indegy further strengthens the visibility and insight we give customers with hybrid IT-OT networks, so they can accurately prioritize and respond to those risks.” With Skybox’s understanding of the hybrid network topology and security controls, it can simulate access between and within networks, and determine the reachability of vulnerable assets. Skybox also provides more context to Indegy’s vulnerability data, highlighting exposed and exploitable vulnerabilities, prioritizing their remediation and generating tickets to kick off the workflow. Skybox-Indegy Integration The integration between Skybox and Indegy provides customers with seamless visibility of their IT and OT networks. The combination of Indegy’s passive and active data collection from the OT network is relayed to Skybox where OT assets, services and vulnerabilities are modeled alongside those from the IT environment. “Having a bird’s eye view of a hybrid IT-OT network is hugely valuable,” said Indegy CTO Mille Gandelsman. “Where Skybox provides a high-level view and insight into the corporate network, Indegy allows users to maintain deep visibility into industrial control system networks and device-level changes and provides rich, reliable information. Rolling these capabilities into a single solution will help align IT security teams with OT engineers to ensure cyber risks are understood and remedied without undue disruption.”

The inaugural Tech Security Summit met at the Sheraton Grand Nashville last week. Combining DICE Corporation’s annual DICE User Group Conference with a series of educational sessions and panel discussions, the April 29-May 2 event provided a platform for leaders in security and alarm monitoring to meet and examine new technology and revenue growth opportunities in an evolving industry. DICE Corporation President and CEO Cliff Dice kicked off day one with an energizing keynote presentation, explaining his inspiration behind launching a new conference platform. “I had the idea for a tech security summit because a lot of people in the security industry were coming to us asking if we could contribute to more panels and be part of the discussion.” Security Technology Companies For almost 30 years, you have turned to us to provide the best solutions you trust to run your businesses" “We are the predominant infrastructure provider in the industry, so it made sense that we would explore new ways to bring those leaders together with our engineers and expand our annual summit to include everyone in the industry,” Dice said. The recent news of other security technology companies being sold and restructured was also discussed in the keynote, with Dice assuring attendees of the company’s commitment to remaining a family business focused on quality and customer satisfaction. “We are not selling,” Dice said before discussing some of the company’s highlights from the last year. “For almost 30 years, you have turned to us to provide the best solutions you trust to run your businesses. This is a family business and we have a long-term vision to keep operating the company from one generation to another,” he said. Alarm Automation Software Much of the week’s sessions focused on value and usability. The company’s new CloudEye cloud video recording product stood out as a prime example of the company’s ability to streamline an in-demand technology without compromising functionality and performance. Jerry Corrion, DICE Corporation’s chief software architect, addressed the growing need for off-premises surveillance storage and gave attendees and in-depth look at the technology’s simple setup, the CloudEye Connect mobile tool, and how dashboards and integrations with alarm automation software provide additional advantages.  DICE Corporation’s recently announced integrations with Microsoft’s Dynamics 365 financial management system DICE Corporation’s recently announced integrations with Microsoft’s Dynamics 365 financial management system was also a frequently discussed topic. As the first to bring integrated accounting to the security industry, the implementation of Dynamics 365 with the company’s Matrix web applications provides new opportunities for users, including fully automated reporting of RMR and attrition and reporting of industry metrics such as EBITA (earnings before interest taxes and amortization). Educational Opportunities Industry-specific dashboards and business intelligence tools were also showcased by the engineers behind the integrations. In addition to product information and educational opportunities, networking was a large component of the Tech Security Summit experience. Platinum sponsor ACKData sponsored outings at well-known Music City institutions like Famous Saloon, which offered a taste of Nashville to attendees. From sampling the city’s legendary barbecue to participating in line dancing, industry professionals were able to socialize with DICE staff and get to know the people behind the technology they use every day. “Downtown Nashville was the perfect backdrop for our evening networking events,” said Amy Augustin, director of marketing and communications for DICE Corporation. “Being able to get together outside of the summit setting gives us more opportunities to connect and grow as tech producers and users.”    Panel Discussion The final day of the Tech Security Summit focused on training opportunities and panel discussions The final day of the Tech Security Summit focused on training opportunities and panel discussions. Joshua Greko outlined new additions in UL, including the changes that will affect monitoring centers going forward. An introduction to level one operator training was offered by the Monitoring Association as part of their Five-Diamond designation program to certify monitoring centers. The event concluded with a panel discussion featuring David Sylvester and Stephen Rubin of Davis Mergers & Acquisitions Group and Barry Epstein of Vertex Capital discussing topics related to acquisitions and the effects of changing markets in the security industry. For Cliff Dice, the 2019 Tech Security Summit proved to be a worthwhile experience in providing another source of information about new technology available to the security industry. “I’m really pleased with the new Tech Security Summit format. By providing a user-focused platform for our customers, tech experts, and security professionals, we were able to do something that was truly different and beneficial for the industry.”

Digital Defense, Inc., a SaaS security technology provider, announces over 200% growth of their partner channel from the prior year by focusing on trends and challenges faced by MSSPs (managed security service providers). Digital Defense leverages AWS (Amazon Web Services) to provide its solution globally with many MSSPs leveraging the company’s SaaS platform to effectively and seamlessly deliver vulnerability and threat management services to their customers. “Perhaps the biggest challenge of all for MSSPs lies in finding the right technology infrastructure partners,” says Cybersecurity Ventures’ Steve Morgan. Security Management It’s not just about the technology though. It’s as much about the people" “It’s not just about the technology though. It’s as much about the people. We asked Larry Hurtado to join us, in part, because he’s been with Digital Defense since 2002, and CEO there for the past thirteen years. He’s steadily grown the company, which now has more than a hundred employees — with a focus on ensuring success for clients and partners.” Digital Defense has identified the trends as platform scalability, true multi-tenancy, solution accuracy, single pane of glass enablement, and service gap-fill. Challenges MSSPs will face in the years to come include, but are not limited, to threat volume and diversity, skilled labor shortage, brand awareness growth and protection, and complexity introduced with the security management of multiple technologies. Business Growth Strategies Emtec, an IT consultancy and solutions provider and Digital Defense partner, responds to MSSP challenges by helping clients drive transformation and growth by employing the latest technologies and processes to empower their employees, accelerate innovation and deliver amazing client experiences. Enterprise security is not something that is ‘bolted on’ to business processes and applications" “Enterprise security is not something that is ‘bolted on’ to business processes and applications — it MUST be woven into the fabric of the enterprise operations and business growth strategies,” says Doug Goodall, managing director for Emtec, an IT consultancy headquartered in Radnor, Pa., with offices throughout North America and India. Cyber Risk Assessment “The Digital Defense advanced cyber risk assessment and VMaaS solutions suite is a critical component of our overall Cyber Risk Management portfolio strategy.” “The breadth of the Digital Defense platform capabilities coupled with the incredible ease of management from their consolidated analyst reporting and multi-tenant architecture creates a powerful offering for our clients – and the ability for us to tightly integrate the Digital Defense platform into our complementary monitoring and IDR solution platforms as a comprehensive client solution results in a market leading enterprise IT/IOT cyber risk solution suite. Emtec is proud to be a partner with Digital Defense.”

There’s no question that the popularity of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) security and home automation products is on the rise. The reasons for the growth in DIY sales are numerous, including increased awareness of home automation products, fast set-up, limited (if any) installation costs, and interoperability with other smart security products. In fact, with the parallel rise of smart home hubs like Alexa and Google Home, many people are opting to attempt the set-up of smart home devices without any professional assistance. According to a 2018 Residential Security Market Report prepared by Parks Associates and Security Sales & Integration magazine, “More than 60% of installing dealers now report that DIY systems are biting into demand for their services.” But the rise in DIY is not entirely bad news for security and home automation installers and dealers. There are a number of ways to view this glass as half-full. Let’s look at a few of them. Increase In Revenue For Dealers With their lower cost and perceived ease of installation, DIY products have broken down barriers for additional purchaseThere are reasons for dealers and installers to be cheerful about the rise of DIY. For one thing, according to that same Residential Security Market Report from Parks Associates, residential security dealers are doing quite well. The report states, “In 2017, revenues were up an average 7.72% for security dealers.” What about installations? The report goes on to say, “For 2017, the average number of installs per dealer was 22 per month, compared to 17 per month in 2016.” So, revenues are up for security dealers, and at least part of the reason can be attributed to the fact that DIY products can raise overall awareness of and spur interest in other home automation and security products. With their lower cost and perceived ease of installation, DIY products have actually broken down barriers for the additional purchase, and installation, of complete, professionally installed systems. Wireless, Connected Smart Locks For example, the sale of wireless, connected smart locks (viewed by some consumers as DIY) can lead to opportunities for further home automation product sales and professional installations. Connected smart locks can actually act as an extension of a smart hub or controller. They can be used to wirelessly communicate with and control all the devices that make up a home automation system, including lighting, entertainment, thermostats, air, alarms, shades and more. With their lower cost and perceived ease of installation, DIY products have actually broken down barriers for new security installations And they can do all this from a prime, convenient location – the front door, as well as other points of entry like the side or back doors. Plus, smart lock conversion kits like Kwikset Convert let homeowners easily bring home automation capabilities to their door without altering the aesthetics of the entry. Connected smart locks can allow homeowners to set up their home with custom scenarios, right before they step inside. For example, residents can program their lock so that every time they unlock the door, a foyer light goes on, temperatures begin to rise to a set level – even connected coffee makers can begin to make a cup. Portfolio Of Home Automation Products One of the best ways to mitigate the ‘threat’ of DIY sales is for dealers and installers to become more versatileSmart locks are just one example of the potential of DIY products to spark a homeowner’s interest in a wide range of other home automation devices, many of which would benefit from professional installation. One of the best ways to mitigate the ‘threat’ of DIY sales is for dealers and installers to become more versatile and offer a complete portfolio of home automation products. The larger the home automation offering, the more devices there are to sell and install, the larger the installation required, the greater the need for professional installation. Many homeowners who feel like they have a certain level of handiness will start by trying to do it themselves with a DIY product. But things don’t always go as planned, especially if they are attempting to set up a robust home automation system. First off, just because a product is DIY doesn’t mean that the old products that are being replaced are going to easily make way for the new. A DIY thermostat or smart lock might require that the old equipment (and possibly wires) get tugged out of the wall. Messy holes might need to be filled. Advantages Of Professional Installation Even after the old system has been removed, homeowners planning on setting up a connected system may soon realize they don’t have the electrical skills or technological know-how to install and connect all devices, get a system programmed correctly, and get everything up and running smoothly. Professional installers have learned from experience; there’s very little that they haven’t seen before. With their years of experience, installers know the best way to automate a home and how to create a custom smart home experience Do-it-yourselfers might be able to solve problems by searching the internet and finding videos. But, then again, they might not. After going the DIY route once, many full-home automation system enthusiasts are beginning to realize that the best way to get things done right the first time is to leave the installation and set-up to a professional. Professional installers can and should bring an extra level of experience and guidance to the process. Their services should go beyond tech installation and also include interface design. With their years of experience, installers know the best way to automate a home – how to create a custom smart home experience that doesn’t make the user feel less than smart. Selling Additional Home Automation Products If a problem arises due to installation error, the DIYer does not have any recourse to correct these mistakesResidential security dealers who offer professional installation should be willing to embrace the DIYer who has attempted to do a self-install but has not been able to complete the process successfully. With an open mind to this scenario, they can save the day for the DIYer, as well as create an opportunity to sell additional home automation equipment that the DIYer may not have known to be available.  The disparity between DIY and professional installation also brings to light the fact that there are no ‘satisfaction guarantees’ and no ‘installation/labor warranty’ available when a home automation system is installed by a DIYer. If a problem arises with either the equipment connectivity due to installation error, or if a piece of equipment is installed incorrectly, the DIYer does not have any recourse to correct these mistakes. This may not be as critical if a DIYer installs a minor piece of equipment, but with something as critical as securing and protecting their home with a home automation and security system, most people want full peace of mind that everything has been installed correctly. Reduces Connection Instability According to a 2017 study by the analyst firm, IHS Markit, “The quality of the equipment is usually higher in professionally installed systems, and professional configuration and setup greatly reduces the potential for connection instability…” This is an issue that DIYers may come to realize over time. On the other hand, one issue DIYers may recognize right away, especially if they are attempting to connect multiple devices, is that the connectivity may be inconsistent. Professionally installed devices operating on a wireless protocol might deliver better, consistent, longer-range connectivity IHS Markit explains that, “DIY systems rely on open protocols and Wi-Fi connectivity that can sometimes be unreliable, creating connection issues. Some of the sensors can become unrecognizable to the system, requiring intervention from the user. In contrast, professional wireless systems rely on UL- or EN-certified equipment to operate on the basis of proprietary frequency, enabling them to work with the control panel much more seamlessly.” In other words, professionally installed devices operating on a wireless protocol, even an open-source protocol like Z-Wave, might deliver better, consistent, longer-range connectivity, and fewer headaches. Not Everyone Is A DIY Customer There are customers who want someone to install the devices correctly and help them learn how to use and maintain themThere’s no doubt that there’s a segment of the security and home automation market that loves to spend their free time doing their own home improvement. They are watching videos, reading how-to books and manuals, and enjoying every minute. There’s also a segment of the market whose top goal is to save money up front. For these customers, there’s no getting around the joy of saving money with the lower cost of many DIY products. But there are also a great number of prospective customers out there for whom DIY is of absolutely no interest. These consumers do not want to be their own IT department. They want expert help: they want someone to install the devices correctly and help them learn how to use and maintain them. The IHS Markit study points out what many home automation dealers already know: that the elder and aging-in-place markets are an ideal destination for the security and convenience of home automation products. The study says, “Many senior citizens are not tech savvy enough to install a DIY system by themselves, so they tend to rely on professionally installed systems that are usually maintained by a family member.” Along with the senior citizens market, there are many other market segments out there that still desire worry-free professional installation. Installers should offer a range of products that includes some DIY products, and some leave-it-to-a-pro products Producing Complete And Custom Solutions Perhaps the best way for dealers and installers to stave off that feeling of doom that they might have about DIY is to tackle the problem head on and be creative. Offer a range of products that includes some DIY products, and some leave-it-to-a-pro products – consider the DIY product a great entry point for a more comprehensive system. Play up the peace of mind that comes with professional installations and support that pitch with flexible monitoring contracts and service plans. Share what you do and why; relay your passion for producing complete and custom solutions and communicate how you add value to any and every sale. No one, not even the most tech-savvy consumer, wants to install their own products if the end result is that the product doesn’t work the way it should. That’s where the pros can, should and will always come into play.

Johnson Controls recently unveiled the findings of its 2018 Energy Efficiency Indicator (EEI) survey that examined the current and planned investments and key drivers to improve energy efficiency and building systems integration in facilities. Systems integration was identified as one of the top technologies expected to have the biggest impact on the implementation in smart buildings over the next five years, with respondents planning to invest in security, fire and life-safety integrations more so than any other systems integration in the next year. As advanced, connected technologies drive the evolution of smart buildings, security and safety technologies are at the center of more intelligent strategies as they attribute to overall building operations and efficiencies. SecurityInformed.com spoke with Johnson Controls, Building Solutions, North America, VP of Marketing, Hank Monaco, and Senior National Director of Municipal Infrastructure and Smart Cities, Lisa Brown, about the results of the study, smart technology investments and the benefits of a holistic building strategy that integrates security and fire and life-safety systems with core building systems. Q: What is the most striking result from the survey, and what does it mean in the context of a building’s safety and security systems? The results show an increased understanding about the value of integrating safety and security systems with other building systems Hank Monaco: Investment in building system integration increased 23 percent in 2019 compared to 2018, the largest increase of any measure in the survey. When respondents were asked more specifically what systems they we planning to invest in over the next year, fire and life safety integration (61%) and security system integration (58%) were the top two priorities for organizations. The results show an increased understanding about the value of integrating safety and security systems with other building systems to improve overall operations and bolster capabilities beyond the intended function of an individual system. Q: The survey covers integration of fire, life safety and security systems as part of "smart building" systems. How do smarter buildings increase the effectiveness of security and life safety systems? Hank Monaco: A true “smart building” integrates all building systems – security, fire and life-safety, HVAC, lighting etc. – to create a connected, digital infrastructure that enables individual technologies to be more intelligent and perform more advanced functions beyond what they can do on their own. For example, when sensors and video surveillance are integrated with lighting systems, if abnormal activity is detected on the building premise, key stakeholders can be automatically alerted to increase emergency response time. With integrated video surveillance, they also gain the ability to access surveillance footage remotely to assess the situation. When sensors and video surveillance are integrated with lighting systems abnormal activity on the premise can automatically be detected Q: How can integrated security and life safety systems contribute to greater energy efficiency in a smart building environment? Hank Monaco: Security, fire and life-safety systems can help to inform other building systems about how a facility is used, high-trafficked areas and the flow of occupants within a building. Integrated building solutions produce a myriad of data that can be leveraged to increase operational efficiencies. From an energy efficiency standpoint, actionable insights are particularly useful for areas that are not frequently occupied or off-peak hours as you wouldn’t want to heat or cool an entire building for just one person coming in on the weekend. When video surveillance is integrated with HVAC and lighting systems, it can monitor occupancy in a room or hallway. The video analytics can then control the dimming of lights and the temperature depending on occupant levels in a specific vicinity. Similarly, when access control systems are integrated with these same systems, once a card is presented to the reader, it can signal the lights or HVAC system to turn on. In this example, systems integration can ultimately help enable energy savings in the long run. Security and life safety systems contribute to help enable greater energy efficiency and energy savings in the long run Q: What other benefits of integration are there (beyond the core security and life safety functions)? Hank Monaco: Beyond increased security, fire and life-safety functions, the benefits of systems integration include: Increased data and analytics to garner a holistic, streamlined understanding of how systems function and how to improve productivity Ability to track usage to increase efficiency and reduce operational costs Enhanced occupant experience and comfort Increased productivity and workflow to support business objectives Smart-ready, connected environment that can support future technology advancements Q: What lesson or action point should a building owner/operator take from the survey? How can the owner of an existing building leverage the benefits of the smart building environment incrementally and absent a complete overhaul? Lisa Brown: Johnson Controls Energy Efficiency Indicator found that 77% of organizations plan to make investments in energy efficiency and smarter building technology this year. This percentage demonstrates an increased understanding of the benefits of smart buildings and highlights the proactive efforts building owners are taking to adopt advanced technologies. There is an increased understanding that buildings operate more effectively when different building systems are connected As smart buildings continue to evolve, more facilities are beginning to explore opportunities to advance their own spaces. A complete overhaul of legacy systems is not necessary as small investments today can help position a facility to more easily adopt technologies at scale in the future. As a first step, it’s important for building owners to conduct an assessment and establish a strategy that defines a comprehensive set of requirements and prioritizes use-cases and implementations. From there, incremental investments and updates can be made over a realistic timeline. Q: What is the ROI of smart buildings? Lisa Brown: As demonstrated by our survey, there is an increased understanding that buildings operate more effectively when different building systems are connected. The advanced analytics and more streamlined data that is gathered through systems integration can provide the building-performance metrics to help better understand the return on investment (ROI) of the building systems. This data is used to better understand the environment and make assessments and improvements overtime to increase efficiencies. Moreover, analytics and data provide valuable insights into where action is needed and what type of return can be expected from key investments.

Across the country, law enforcement officers are finding it increasingly difficult to respond to the near overwhelming number of calls coming from security alarms. Police departments commonly define a false alarm as a call, which upon investigation, shows no evidence of criminal activity, such as broken windows, forced doors, items missing, or people injured. While false alarms bog down police, they can also negatively impact customers and integrators. End users can expect hefty fines for false alarm responses, and when these customers receive large bills from the city, many turn to installers, dealers, and even manufacturers expecting them to accept the responsibility and pay the check. What First Brought The Issue Of Alarm Verification To Your Attention? It is crucial to both see a situation and concurrently listen to any corresponding sounds to gain full insight I’ve been aware of the problem of false alarms for about 5 years. I believed audio capture, through microphone deployment, could be an active part of the solution when used as a second source for indicating ‘out of the norm’ activity and as an equal component with the video surveillance technology. In 2015, I found similarly minded security professionals when introduced to the Partnership for Priority Verified Alarm Response. After reading PPVAR’s paper on ‘Audio Verified Alarms Best Practices; [April 2015],’ I knew that the Partnership was on to something important. In our lives, two of the five senses we count on day-in and day-out are sight and sound. It is crucial to both see a situation and concurrently listen to any corresponding sounds to gain full insight. What Is The False Alarm Rate? In 2016, the International Association of Chiefs of Police reported that over 98 percent of all alarm calls in the United States were false. This number is obviously staggering, and something we need to work towards correcting. Why Did This Issue Resonate So Strongly With You? When I first investigated this issue, I was sure that the security industry would have already recognized this and was acting to ensure improved alarm verification, preferably through a combination of audio and video technologies. However, I quickly saw that this was not the case, or even close to the norm. I have questioned the rationale behind the lack of adoption and found the deployment of audio is often hindered by the concern of privacy. I’ve spearheaded many initiatives to explain the monitoring policies surrounding audio As CEO of Louroe Electronics, I’ve spearheaded many initiatives to explain the monitoring policies surrounding audio. I’ve had to reassure many security personnel and customers how the law supports the use of audio in public places as long as there is no expectation of privacy. By dispelling fears with facts around deploying and implementing audio sensors, customers can confidently include audio in their surveillance systems and gain a more effective security solution. Who Is Affected By This? Truth be told, everyone from the end user to the manufacturer is affected by this issue. Not to mention the strain this puts on law enforcement who are tired of ‘wasting time’ and effort out in the field on these nuisance alerts. When an end user receives a check for their false alarm, many of them will immediately blame the integrator and or the monitoring center for a faulty set up and management and expect the integrator to remedy the situation, including carry the burden of paying the fines. The integrator, on the other hand, will turn to the manufacturer, assuming faulty equipment and installation instructions; therefore, looking for reimbursement for the cost. What Is The Average False Alarm Fee? It depends on many factors, and especially your first responder assigned location for responseIt depends on many factors, and especially your first responder assigned location for response. According to the Urban Institute, fees generally range from $25-$100 for the first offense, rising as high as a few thousand dollars per false alarm if a location has a large number in a single year. What’s worse, in extreme cases, alarm systems may even be blacklisted by the police dispatch center if they have raised too many false alarms in the past. Why Do You Believe Audio Is The Ideal Technology For Secondary Source Verification? Video surveillance has been the main option for security monitoring and alarm validation for decades, however industry professionals are realising that video alone is not enough. Video only tells half of the story, by adding audio capture, the responsible party gains a turnkey solution with the ability to gather additional evidence to verify alerts and expand overall awareness. In reality, audio’s range is greater than the field of view for a camera. Sound pickup is 360 degrees, capturing voices, gunshots, breaking glass, sirens, or other important details that a fixed camera many not see. How Would A Secondary Source Verification System Work With Audio? Using a video monitoring solution equipped with audio, the microphone will pick up the sounds at the time a visual alert or alarm is triggered. If embedded with classification analytics, the microphone will send alerts for specific detected sounds. The captured audio, and any notifications are immediately sent to the monitoring station, where trained personnel can listen to the sound clip, along with live audio and video from their station. When law enforcement receives a validated alarm, they can better prioritise the response From here, an informed decision can then be made about the validity of the alarm, along with what the current threat is at the location. If the alarm is in fact valid, the information is then passed along to the law enforcement within minutes. When law enforcement receives a validated alarm, they can better prioritise the response. It also provides more information in a forensic evaluation. Are There Any Additional Resources You Would Suggest Looking Into? Yes, we would suggest looking into the following to see a few different perspectives on the matter: NSA Support For 2018 Model Ordinance For Alarm Management and False Alarm Reduction Partnership for Priority Verified Alarm Response Support for the Term “Verified Alarm” and Prioritising Verified Alarm Responses Urban Institute Opportunities for Police Cost Savings without Sacrificing Service Quality: Reducing False Alarms

Managed services provided through the cloud offer multiple advantages for system integrators. These Include: Increased Recurring Monthly Revenue: Managed services are a new business model that generates more stable and predictable income streams for integrators. Stickier Customers: Managed services foster a more involved relationship between integrators and their customers, which can help boost customer retention.  High Gross Profit Margins: Cloud managed services create an opportunity for a service and technology to be purchased together, helping to generate a higher gross profit margin from the beginning of the customer relationship. They Are Easier To Provide: The cloud enables integrators to serve more sites without hiring additional technicians. Problems Can Be Fixed Proactively: When a problem occurs on a site that is managed by a cloud-based system, the integrator can receive a real-time notification regarding the issue - possibly before the customer even notices a disruption in service. Increased Valuation Of Business: According to a study by Dell, companies that utilize cloud, mobility, and security technologies are experiencing as much as 53 percent higher revenue growth rates compared to those who do not such technologies. Importance Of Cloud-Based Solutions The cloud also challenges integrators to educate customers on the value of the new approach The cloud also challenges integrators to educate customers on the value of the new approach. For example, the cloud changes the expense model of security systems. It allows customers to shift from a capital expenditure (CapEx) model, where large capital funding is required to purchase equipment, to an operational expenditure (OpEx) model, where the costs of the solution become an operating expense. Since the cameras, installation, storage, and software are packaged into the service, you don’t need a large capital outlay up front - you simply pay a predictable expense every month. Leveraging this difference opens new sales opportunities for integrators. The benefits of cloud services on how physical security equipment and software services can be monitored and maintained through a connected service is a particular benefit to integrators. Data Monitoring And Security “By having data describing the health of the system shared on the cloud, system integrators can observe data on demand and create proactive maintenance plans in coordination with the end user,” says Stuart Rawling, Director of Business Development, Pelco by Schneider Electri, and one of our Expert Panelists. A daily challenge for end users is balancing human resources used in the operation of a system “Such plans should result in increased system reliability and less downtime. If system performance data is aggregated and anonymized, it could also be used by manufacturers to analyze and form conclusions about maintenance schedules and system lifespan.” A benefit is happier customers. “A daily challenge for end users is balancing human resources used in the operation of a system and daily maintenance, with maintenance having shared responsibility with the system integrator,” says Rawling. The Cloud Software As A Service The SaaS model gives companies the resources to improve the deep learning model" The cloud also can help to make cutting edge technologies more affordable. Economies of scale provided by the Cloud (Software as a Service, or SaaS) are making the sophisticated capabilities of deep learning affordable to a wider audience. Meanwhile, deep learning augments cloud systems with capabilities that may not be available (or affordable) in on-premise systems, thus accelerating the broader move to cloud systems. “Having a SaaS model gives companies the resources to improve the deep learning model,” says Shawn Guan, CEO and co-founder of Umbo Computer Vision, a provider of deep learning video analytics. “We can make more accurate systems that scale better and faster. SaaS enables vendors to do something great with deep learning. You don’t have to redo it for everybody. One customer benefit from another customer and all the knowledge is aggregated together.”

Virtualization offers multiple benefits to video surveillance systems, but the technology has been slow to adapt to the needs of video. However, the tide is turning. At ISC West, BCDVideo introduced a hyperconverged infrastructure tailored to video surveillance (HCI-VS) that answers the demand for higher and more efficient operating performance while also lowering the total cost of ownership for the integrator and end user. Hyperconverged Infrastructure Solution “ISC West attendees were able to get their hands on our hyperconverged solution and immediately see how easy it is to use and the benefit of adding virtual machines,” says BCDVideo’s Chief Technology Officer Tom Larson. Security integrators were impressed that BCDVideo continues to adapt technologies" Virtualization was just one of the innovations in BCDVideo’s demo room. Many integrators and end users found their way to the conference room, located not far from the exhibition hall, and BCDVideo was also featured at partners’ booths on the show floor. “Security integrators were impressed that BCDVideo continues to adapt technologies to the video surveillance space,” says Larson. “BCDVideo ‘gets’ them, but often IT does not. The HCI solution is purpose-built for video, and it works.” Server, Storage And Networking BCDVideo’s HCI-VS is a virtualized, video-optimized and highly available infrastructure. It combines the server, storage and networking into one platform. Powered by Scale Computing’s HC3 software, BCDVideo’s HCI is a scalable, node/cluster-based infrastructure that enables integrators to virtualize their physical security appliances and software, meaning fewer devices need to be deployed and maintained. Physical security integrators can create an infrastructure that provides high availability to the VMS" “More importantly, our HCI makes it easier than ever before both to quickly create and deploy virtual machines, and to manage video surveillance infrastructure,” says Larson. Some of the unique needs that HCI-VS serves are those of multi-faceted projects involving video recording, access control, building management, etc. With HCI-VS, separate appliances are not needed for each of these tasks, which enables better use of hardware, reduces overall rack space and power/cooling costs. Essentially, this solution eliminates the “pizza box” model and serves the need in the marketplace where always-on video and high availability are necessary, and especially in situations where loss of video data cannot be tolerated, says Larson. Simplified graphical user interface (GUI) makes it easy for integrators to implement systems that use hyperconverged technology Tolerant To Hardware Failure “By leveraging the concepts of hyperconvergence, physical security integrators can create an infrastructure that provides high availability to the video management system,” he says. “When components within a video management system are tolerant to hardware failure, it results in less loss of data and continual access to the data from the failed component. You always have access to the video data even if the hard drive fails.” Defining Virtualization Virtualization is the act of creating virtual copies of physical resources, including, but not limited to, compute, memory, storage, and network resources. This is achieved by employing software to manage all physical resources, known as a hypervisor. As servers become more powerful, the discrepancy between software and hardware capabilities result in inefficient use of resources. “By partitioning the hardware resources into smaller virtual environments, we can create multiple virtualized servers that share a common set of resources,” says Larson. “By sharing this common set of resources, the virtualized servers utilize the resources more efficiently with less waste.” Integrators and end users flocked to BCDVideo's demo room at ISC West to try out the new hyperconverged solution Education And Physical Security Learning about the benefits of why to virtualize and applications will be a first step” A challenge to greater adoption of virtualization in the physical security industry is education. “Some security integrators will need to step out of their comfort zone,” says Larson. “Virtualization for video has been slow to adapt, and other solutions are complicated. IT technology applications traditionally have not worked in the space either. Learning about the benefits of why to virtualize and applications will be a first step.” HCI-VS In New Verticals While HCI-VS is vertical-market-agnostic, the solution is suitable for school districts looking to consolidate their hardware, for hospitals and the healthcare industry in general, for the rapidly growing cannabis industry, any mass transit system, as well as for Fortune 1000 companies, to name a few. “Our virtualized solution especially appeals to these verticals because of the number of cameras, the need for 24/7/365 video recording and extensive data retention requirements, and where loss of video data cannot be afforded,” says Larson. Purpose-Built Solutions BCDVideo’s HCI-VS is the latest example of products BCDVideo is creating for the physical security industry. “We purpose-build and engineer our solutions specifically for video surveillance with the ability to scale-out as needed,” says Kelly Kellen, BCDVideo’s Director of Marketing. “We engineer new products to address problems in the marketplace. Our CTO is really looking at the market and studying the security integrator’s pain points. Then we engineer solutions to best serve them.”

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, present a range of threats, from the careless and clueless to the criminal. While many incidents may seem harmless, the threat to any location at any time depends on a range of factors. Drones are inexpensive for criminals to buy or make, and there are continuously improving battery, airspeed, and payload capabilities. UAVs can also fly without an RF signal to jam or hack. Fortunately, sensor technologies including radar are available for security agencies and personnel to protect assets and the public. Radio-Wave Signals Radar works as a deterrent by sending out a radio-wave signal using a transmitter antenna, and a small portion of that signal reflects off objects in its path and returns to a receiver antenna. The highest performing radars use an antenna technology called Active Electronically Scanning Array (AESA), which enables all-electronic reconfiguration of the antennas. When an AESA radar detects an object, it can ‘focus’ its antennas to track the object, in much the same way as the zoom on a camera does. Multiple objects can be tracked while continuing to scan. Kirkland, WA-based Echodyne offers a radar product that brings these ESA capabilities to non-military security applications at commercial price points. Combining proprietary hardware with intelligent software, Echodyne produces a compact, solid-state, electronically scanning array Echodyne’s ESA Radar Echodyne says they are reinventing radar price-performance for security applications in the ground (people, vehicles) or air (counter-UAS) domains. Combining proprietary hardware with intelligent software, Echodyne produces a compact, solid-state, electronically scanning array (ESA) radar that is affordable for commercial, law enforcement, and governmental customers. The company is backed by high profile investors, including Bill Gates, Madrona Venture Group, Vulcan Capital, NEA, and Lux Capital. “Radar is a sensor,” says Leo McCloskey, Echodyne VP Marketing. “It is most applicable when security professionals can both understand its capabilities and define risk assessment and deployment requirements that call for those capabilities. Our customers are primarily security system integrators and consultancies, which integrate the performance of radar into a sensor array that meets mission requirements.” Radar Technology For Border Surveillance Echodyne was selected by the Science and Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for its Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP) to demonstrate the performance of its radar technology for border surveillance applications. The radar was deployed both in fixed remote surveillance towers and as a lightweight rapid deployment kit for field agents. Able to surveil ground and air domains, the radar combines versatility and commercial price with surveillance capabilities. “We set out to build the world’s best compact, solid-state ESA radar sensor, and we are demonstrating that we’ve reached that objective,” says McCloskey. “We’re excited to introduce these capabilities for other security applications.” Able to surveil ground and air domains, the radar combines versatility and commercial price with surveillance capabilities MESA Technology Echodyne’s proprietary technology provides a small true electronically scanning array (ESA) radar. Unlike expensive Active ESA (AESA) phased array radars, MESA requires no physical phase shifters, thus reducing the cost, size, weight, and power by several orders of magnitude while maintaining all the benefits of fast ESA radar. Echodyne combines its MESA technology with an intelligent software suite, Acuity, to produce a configurable, software-defined radar for commercial, law enforcement, and governmental security applications. The capability is also useful for temporary events such as rallies and marathons, and many other market applications “Technology seems to make everything more available to more people over time,” says McCloskey. “What is a retail product today will be a purchased self-assembly kit tomorrow and an improvised self-made drone the following day. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is diligently at work on creating rules for safe UAV operation, though any final rules remain some distance off. As drone volumes increase, delineating friend from foe in the airspace requires clear legal and regulatory frameworks, which are nascent but would help distinguish the threat of nuisance flyers from illegal overflight.” Radar Sensor For Security Applications “Detecting and tracking airspace objects of interest is imperative for airports, chemical plants, oil and gas installations, refineries, water and energy utilities, stadiums and other public spaces”, says McCloskey. The capability is also useful for temporary events such as rallies and marathons, and many other market applications. “As with any product, our applicability will depend on variables like location, terrain, risk assessment, and existing security technologies,” says McCloskey. “Our mission is to deliver the very best radar sensor for security applications.”

Responsible for the safety and security of a huge number of public facilities, including leisure centers, libraries and event spaces, local authorities are increasingly looking for ways to improve security, while also streamlining the security management process. With multiple requirements from a legislative, insurance and public safety perspective, local authorities need a simple and effective solution that provides flexibility through advanced technology. Security must be closely monitored and access restricted where necessary, while at the same time enabling easy access to public areas. Electronic Key Technology Advanced software suites can provide access to all operations performed by users Through innovative electronic key technology, local authorities can simply and cost-effectively replace existing mechanical locks, with a solution that provides integrated intelligence in the key, with permissions stored within it. If your key has authorization for that lock, it will open. If you don’t, you won’t be allowed to enter and all of the activity carried out by your key will be recorded. With high volumes of people entering and exiting local authority facilities, it is important to be able to trace who has been where, when and for how long. Advanced software suites can provide access to all operations performed by users, including a complete audit trail. This information is often used by local authorities for audits, improvements or compliance. Utilising the latest contactless technology further enhances the electronic key solution, enabling multiple access options and deeper levels of access rights. Manage Access Operations The most innovative system is compatible with badges and cards, and the keys are equipped with a radio-frequency identification (RFID) module. Combining the solutions enables local authorities to manage access operations in great detail, with access rights granted depending on specific conditions. For example, the members of an orchestra may only be able to access the music conservatory, using their membership card or badge, if a music professor has already entered the premises using his electronic key. Permissions can be added or updated from a computer or, even more conveniently, using an app on a smartphone at any time, which will update your key's permissions via Bluetooth. This allows shortened validity periods, constrains movements to be in line with local authority access policies and removes travel and fixed authoriser costs. Public Safety And Security Saint-Avertin's access points are now managed by the new LOCKEN solution In turn, this delivers increased flexibility and higher levels of security. With public safety and security high on the government’s agenda, local authorities are increasingly required to adopt the most technologically advanced access control solutions and LOCKEN, the leader in cable free access control solutions is on hand to help with their solution based on advanced software LOCKEN Smart Access. Equipped with LOCKEN electronic cylinders since 2010, Saint-Avertin's access points are now managed by the new LOCKEN solution. More efficient and communicative, this makes it possible to adapt to even more varied types of access. Laurent Lacour, head of the municipal police, highlighted the benefits of this decision: “It is a very positive step for us. Firstly, because the new contactless key is much faster than the previous one. It is impressive and very important for our day-to-day work: as soon as the key is entered into the lock, the cylinder opens. It opens regardless of whether any dust or foreign bodies have built up." New-Generation Keys “Above all, the MyLocken app significantly enhances the system’s security by allowing rights to be allocated anywhere and at any time.” Christophe Fort, deputy head of the police, added: “The new-generation keys offer another vital advantage for our town. The system is compatible with the use of badges and the keys are equipped with an RFID module, which acts as a badge.” While an electronic key cannot be given to every member of a sports association, it is possible to give the members a badge. This means that, eventually, several thousand people will have access to the facilities while respecting the security of the premises as a whole. Access Control Solution Combining the solutions does not stop the management system from remaining perfectly effective" “Combining the solutions does not stop the management system from remaining perfectly effective. On the one hand, because the program manages access operations in great detail. And on the other, the badge reader specific to a building is only triggered if access to the site has previously been unlocked by an electronic key belonging to a manager. For example, the members of a swimming association will only be able to access the building if a swimming pool manager is already on the premises.” The future prospects mentioned by the two police officials - installation in a new gymnasium, fitting electronic padlocks to the mobile barriers around the château, etc.- demonstrate the extent to which the solution meets the municipality's needs across the board. Saint-Avertin, is a dynamic town with a population of 15,000, which forms part of the university town of Tours, twenty times larger. LOCKEN hopes to extend its access control solution to other areas of this historic city.

Decades of experience, innovative ideas, a strong commitment to quality, and a full range of first-class offset printing services: Mohn Media Mohndruck GmbH, a company of the Bertelsmann Printing Group, is one of Europe’s providers of printing and media services. At its facility in Gütersloh, Germany, some 2,000 employees are involved in professionally creating and executing tailored solutions for customers across a variety of industries. To avoid endangering staff and production, the company also has extremely high standards where the plant’s safety and security are concerned. And Bosch has supported the print specialists with advanced technology and services through multiple system generations. Cutting-Edge Solution The latest new project involved implementing a networked solution to improve fire safety “Again and again, we’ve been impressed by the innovative solutions that Bosch comes up with for us,” says Jörg Naumann, who heads the company’s fire brigade. “Bertelsmann has been partnering with Bosch for over 35 years, and for good reason.” The latest new project involved implementing a networked solution to improve fire safety in the eight-meter-high waste paper warehouses. On average, around 300 tons of paper are stored there at any given time. Problems in waste paper removal would directly impact production. To enable prompt responses to any fire events in these sensitive areas, the Bosch experts planned and implemented a cutting-edge solution. Fire Detection System AVIOTEC, the first video-based fire detection system to be certified by VdS Schadenverhütung GmbH (the VdS is an independent, renowned institution for enterprise safety and security, and harmonized body for international safety standards) plays a key role in it. Intelligent algorithms directly integrated in cameras reliably detect the first signs of any smoke or flame. This technology detects fires at their source much more reliably than conventional detectors Particularly in challenging large-volume buildings, this technology detects fires at their source much more reliably than conventional detectors, which are not triggered until smoke reaches them. The data generated by the new fire protection solution come together in the Bosch Video Management System. If AVIOTEC identifies a potentially dangerous situation in any of the waste paper warehouses, it immediately alerts the continuously staffed emergency service desk of the plant fire brigade. Building Integration System The situation can then be checked on a video screen and appropriate steps will be initiated. The use of this innovative technology permits very early detection of any fires. This prevents major damage and resulting production downtimes, thus saving the company a great deal of time and money. To additionally enhance security and efficiency, all of the integrated on-site systems for fire protection and video security are managed by the Building Integration System from Bosch. As required, the security systems can be centrally or locally monitored and controlled by staff as appropriate. Not only Mohn Media benefits from this, but also all of the other companies of the Bertelsmann Printing Group operating at the same site.

Prama Hikvision partnered with the Sanjivani Group of Institutes to offer latest surveillance and security solutions. For the first time that Artificial Intelligence was offered, and enabled face recognition terminals in India’s education sector. Sanjivani Group of Institutes situated at Kopargaon, Ahmednagar is a premier institute for Engineering, Pharmacy, Nursing and Diploma in Ahmednagar District. Sanjivani took its names and inspiration from the famous epic of Ramayana where ‘Sanjivani buty’ was brought for revival of life. The Sanjivani Rural Education Society (SRES), was established by Honorable Shri. Shankarrao Genuji Kolhe in 1983, at Kopargaon, rural domain in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra, India. Identify Unauthorized Person The entire campus of the Sanjivani Group of Institutes is spread out in more than 100 acres land As the educational scenario changed with time, SRES understood the need and added a number of courses under the umbrella of the Sanjivani Rural Education Society (SRES) and consequently it gave birth of the Sanjivani College of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Sanjivani Senior and Junior College, Sanjivani Academy, a CBSE school and Sanjivani International school. The entire campus of the Sanjivani Group of Institutes is spread out in more than 100 acres land. There are different departments in various buildings, playgrounds, hostels and staff quarters. Due to vast area and huge numbers of students, it’s very difficult for management to identify unauthorized person inside the campus. In the past, many instances of bullying, robbery, theft, ragging and pick-pocketing were reported. Up-To-Date Surveillance Solution With the expansion of the Sanjivani Group, there were many challenges faced by students and staff in terms of safety and security. “Consequently, we took our first step towards it by installing Hikvision IP CCTV surveillance in all our campus areas for monitoring. The clarity and the quality of the camera is appreciable and satisfying,” said Amit N Kolhe, Managing Trustee, Sanjivani Rural Education Society (SRES). He further added, “Presently the security technology has changed a lot. While understanding the need of safety and security of the students, we decided to go for an up-to-date surveillance solution. We contacted Prama Hikvision team and their system integration partner Om Agency for an advanced solution. After understanding our requirements, they introduced some of the latest technologies related to security surveillance.” Facial Recognition Devices The same software can be used by seamless integration for time attendance, access control and surveillance" He further elaborated, “After this we finalized the key areas by conducting the security survey in the campus. We got many advanced solutions implemented with help of SI partner and Prama Hikvision team. The solutions included, ANPR cameras for number plate recognition of cars and bikes at entry and exit gates, facial recognition devices for time attendance and access control of students & staff members.” “The advantage of Hikvision security and surveillance products is that things can be monitored through a single software platform, i.e. IVMS 5200E, which comes as all in one software. The same software can be used by seamless integration for time attendance, access control and surveillance,” concluded Amit N. Kolhe. Access Control Systems By visiting Sanjivani Group of Institutes along with System Integration Partner Om agency, the following solutions based on the latest technology and products were adopted: Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras Tripod turnstile integrated with face recognition panels HD IP cameras A broadcasting solution for the seminar rooms Face recognition based access control systems Hikvision solutions delivered results: ANPR Cameras helped the institute to identify unauthorized vehicles at entry gates, through which they stopped many outsiders in getting entry into campus area. Face recognition panels and access control panels helped institute in getting entry and exit record of students as well as visitors. Through the large number of cameras installed at various locations, the management is able to keep an eye on the entire campus. One-Stop Solution We are proud to execute this project with support of Prama Hikvision" “Implementing IP Surveillance project for Sanjivani Group of Institutes, Kopargaon was a great learning experience. We have built a strong relationship with Prama Hikvision over the past 10 years. They work with vendor partners to deliver solutions that suit the requirements. The efficient professionals and quality of service is appreciated.” said Mr. Hemant Rokade – Director Sales, OM Agency. “We are proud to execute this project with support of Prama Hikvision. It was a huge challenge to execute the project of such gigantic proportions. While implementing the project, Prama Hikvision helped us through the project at every step. We appreciate the level of details and accountability, which Prama Hikvision has demonstrated in this project. This reaffirms our faith that Hikvision is the one stop solution for all security and surveillance solutions,” said Mr. Pravin Rokade – Director Operations, OM Agency.

Brian Ishikawa has always kept tight control over his video surveillance system, allowing only authorized personnel within his corporate security division to access video footage. So it was a change for Ishikawa, Senior Vice President and Director of Corporate Security for the Bank of Hawaii, to get used to the idea of authorized staff from the bank’s branch division being able to review video for operational, compliance and marketing-related purposes. The insights collected from the video are helping the bank make more strategic decisions about staffing, customer service and even future branch design. Business Intelligence Our March Networks surveillance platform is providing us with some significant business and non-security-related uses" “Our March Networks surveillance platform is providing us with some significant business and non-security-related uses,” Ishikawa explained. Bank of Hawaii, which operates 69 branches and 373 ATMs across Hawaii, American Samoa and the West Pacific, is currently using March Networks Searchlight for Banking software to gather business intelligence at its branches. Searchlight’s mix of surveillance video, teller/ATM transaction data and analytics delivers valuable insights into the bank’s operations, as well as helping to enhance security and uncover fraud. “Our branch division folks look at the data to get ideas on how we should do our branch operations or staffing differently,” he said. People counting data — collected by FLIR Brickstream3D sensors integrated with the Searchlight software — tells them which entrances and exits are most used so they can place marketing materials in high-traffic areas. Video Surveillance Products The information is also being used to help determine future branch layouts. Queue length and dwell time data, meanwhile, help them understand their busiest time of day, and day of the week, so they can staff branches appropriately. “It’s a huge plus for us,” said Ishikawa. “Our executive management team can see the benefits of the video solution, and the future possibilities for this data.” A forward-thinking bank that’s keen to try new technology, Bank of Hawaii began exploring Searchlight after its success with March Networks’ other video surveillance products. The bank first started using March Networks systems in 2015, when it was time to upgrade its legacy DVRs. At the time, Bank of Hawaii was relying on two different video platforms, and it wasn’t happy with their performance. After enlisting the help of a consultant, and doing his own research at security tradeshows, Ishikawa says the decision to go with March Networks was clear. Network Video Recorders 'March Networks’ products are really engineered for the banking environment" “I remember asking some of my banking counterparts, ‘Hey what are you guys using?’ And they strongly recommended March Networks,” he recalled. The consultant came to a similar conclusion. He said, "March Networks’ products are really engineered for the banking environment,’ so that helped us make the decision.” Bank of Hawaii is currently using March Networks 8000 Series Hybrid Network Video Recorders (NVRs) in about half of its banking branches. The Linux-based devices provide reliable video surveillance recording and management, and are also easy to service, which is a huge bonus for Ishikawa and his team. In addition, the 8000 Series rack mount units feature an innovative ‘dock and lock’ station that allows technicians to easily remove and service the recorder while leaving all rear connections clean and organized in place. Existing Analog Cameras “With other companies, you have to power down the recorder for several minutes to service it, and that means unplugging and re-plugging all the inputs. You miss a number of minutes of recording during that time. With March Networks, we’re able to just pull out the hard drive and pop in another one without taking the NVR offline,” he said. “That’s huge for us.” According to Ishikawa, Bank of Hawaii also appreciates the 8000 Series’ hybrid support, which allowed the bank to continue using its existing analog cameras, and the motion histograms in March Networks Command video management software, which show Ishikawa and his team where motion occurred and helps them rapidly locate video evidence. “Command’s modern interface is really user-friendly, and it’s very easy to find video,” said Ishikawa. Dynamic Range Technology Bank of Hawaii has installed MegaPX ATM Cameras, which are purpose-built for ATMs “When someone is telling you, ‘Hey we had a problem at this branch this morning, I don’t know what happened, but it must have been around this time’, we’re able to find that video much more quickly on a March Networks platform.” The bank’s high resolution cameras also make it easy to discern important details. In its newer branches, Bank of Hawaii is using March Networks ME4 Series IP cameras, which capture 4MP images and feature high dynamic range technology to optimize image quality in both low and bright light. The bank is also using Oncam 360° cameras for high-resolution panoramic views. For security at its bank machines, Bank of Hawaii has installed MegaPX ATM Cameras, which are purpose-built for ATMs. Video is integrated with the bank’s ATM transaction data in the Searchlight software for rapid investigations into customer complaints and potential fraud. More Comprehensive Oversight “It’s so easy to search,” said Ishikawa. “It takes us exactly to that transaction and the associated video so we can figure out what transpired.” The bank is also integrating its teller transaction data with video in Searchlight for more comprehensive oversight of its branches. The combination of video, transactions and analytics helps it get a more holistic view of its services. “Transaction data is not always indicative of how busy a branch is,” Ishikawa said, noting that lengthier conversations at the teller counter often create value because the customer returns later to access another bank product or service. Having video and analytics is an added layer of information. Being able to remotely access video also helps Ishikawa’s security team conduct virtual patrols. This saves them both time and money. Uniformed Security Member Capturing video of the incident helped underscore the serious nature of the situation “In the past, whenever there was an issue, we had a uniformed security member head out and physically check the branch. But with virtual patrols, we can do fewer physical visits and, when we do visit, it’s a more meaningful visit.” The security team, for example, can keep an eye on issues with vagrancy and loitering by simply logging into the Command software. March Networks video has helped the bank successfully address some of these issues. In one case, a person was routinely visiting a branch and causing disruptions by yelling and throwing deposit slips on the floor. “We don’t always know the situation, but if a person is yelling or displaying erratic behavior, they pose a risk,” said Ishikawa. Capturing video of the incident helped underscore the serious nature of the situation. Investigating A Fraud “We were able to show police that this was not a minor disruptive party. It was a very concerning issue for us. And it wasn’t just our bank, it was occurring in other banks, too.” Going forward, Bank of Hawaii is planning to migrate its remaining retail branches to March Networks. Given the widespread benefits of intelligent video, Ishikawa predicts that, like him, more bank security managers will receive requests to share their video surveillance securely with other departments. “In the future, it won’t just be security that’s asking for a video upgrade,” he said. “It’s going to be other parts of the business saying, ‘We want a piece of the pie too.’ Because surveillance is more than just investigating a fraud or robbery incident. Now, video surveillance is a lot more than that.”

HENSOLDT, the independent sensor solutions house, will deliver its IFF interrogator (IFF = Identification-friend-or-foe) for very short range and short range air defense applications to the French Ministry for the Armed Forces. The contract awarded to Hensoldt France SAS covers the delivery of 134 MSR1000I (monopulse secondary radar) destined for integration on the French Army’s MISTRAL missile launchers and MARTHA air defense command and control stations. The MSR1000I IFF interrogator has been successfully qualified by the French Defense Procurement Agency DGA in December 2018 and will perform NATO IFF interrogation together with the mini crypto-computer QRTK6NG, also manufactured by Hensoldt France. Following this, the first tranche has been notified and 41 MSR1000I compliant with the STANAG 4193 Edition 3 will be delivered in 2020. Precise Identification Of Ships And Aircraft IFF systems precisely identify ships and aircraft by automatically sending interrogation signalsThe French very short range and short range air defense platforms wiIl then be able to perform mode 4 and mode 5 interrogations. IFF systems precisely identify ships and aircraft by automatically sending interrogation signals which are answered by so-called transponders on-board friendly aircraft or ships. Thus, IFF enables field commanders to quickly distinguish friendly from hostile forces. Unlike Mode 4 used hitherto, Mode 5 employs sophisticated encryption techniques to avoid hostile signal manipulation, thus ensuring that the identification process is absolutely reliable and secure. With the decommissioning of 'Mode 4', ‘Mode 5’ needs to be introduced in all western armies, then being a precondition of joint operations of NATO and allied forces. IFF Systems For Ground And Naval Platforms HENSOLDT supplies customers all over the world with IFF equipment. Based on the experience of predecessor companies like Matra, Airbus and Siemens, the company is under contract to upgrade German, French, UK, US and other armed forces’ platforms with IFF systems using the latest ‘Mode 5’ standard. It has already delivered IFF systems – including crypto devices - to ground and naval platforms of 42 NATO and NATO-allied nations. HENSOLDT has already delivered IFF systems to ground and naval platforms of 42 NATO and NATO-allied nations In France, the company’s equipment is deployed on the ‘Charles de Gaulle’ aircraft carrier, the Rafale and Mirage 2000 combat aircraft, the NH90 helicopters and several air defense platforms. In Germany, the company has established the air traffic control/IFF network of the German Air Force and delivers interrogators and transponders to a number of airborne and naval platforms. In total, HENSOLDT has about 450 IFF systems under contract for more than 80 platform types.

Mobile-device and application-security technology company Trustonic announces that Hyundai Motor America will demonstrate its new Digital Key app, secured by Trustonic Application Protection, at the New York International Auto Show 2019. The Digital Key will launch with the all-new 2020 Hyundai Sonata in the fall. Hyundai’s Digital Key is a downloadable smartphone app that can replace a traditional car key by leveraging Near Field Communication (NFC) to detect an authorized smartphone. An NFC antenna is located in the driver’s door handle for locking and unlocking while a second antenna for starting the engine is located in the wireless charging pad in the center console. Seamless Vehicle Sharing The Digital Key allows a smartphone to control select vehicle systems remotely using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication Once authorized, the Digital Key allows a smartphone to control select vehicle systems remotely using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication. A user can lock and unlock the vehicle, activate panic alert and start the engine within a range of about 30 feet of the car. The new Digital Key can be utilised by up to four authorized users, facilitating seamless vehicle sharing. Users’ preferred settings are also stored in the car, meaning that when a user is recognized, the vehicle automatically adjusts settings for side mirrors, radio presets, sound settings, and seat positioning. Hyundai is using Trustonic Application Protection (TAP) to secure the Digital Key. TAP ensures that Digital Key transfer requests are securely displayed to and approved by a real, authenticated user on a trusted device. Cybersecurity Approach TAP utilizes a multilayered industry-recognized security approach for communication to and from the customer’s phone. “Hyundai has been a leader in connected car technology for a long time now, with new features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Smartwatch and Smart-speaker integration into our vehicles,” said Manish Mehrotra, director of digital business planning and connected operations, Hyundai Motor America. “Digital Key adds convenience for 2020 Sonata owners and allows us to be ready for future shifts in the mobility space, such as car sharing. We chose Trustonic because of their multilayered, industry recognized cybersecurity approach.” Vehicle-Function Permissions Hyundai’s Digital Key will enable easy car sharing and improved user experiences" Car owners have a deeper level of access than other authenticated users, enabling them to set vehicle-function permissions and the duration of access for each shared user. This enables uses beyond car sharing, such as enabling couriers to access the trunk within a pre-agreed window of time to deliver a package. Future uses that the app could enable include car rentals, triggering an alarm when a vehicle travels outside a designated area and remote control of features, such as autonomous parking. Ben Cade, CEO, Trustonic, adds, “Consumers expect to be able to manage their lives on their smartphones, and this includes their vehicles. Hyundai’s Digital Key will enable easy car sharing and improved user experiences for drivers—and as international leaders in app security, it’s up to us to ensure this can happen in a scalable and secure way.”

What is a business, or an industry, but a collection of people and the results of their work? People make all the difference in the destiny of a business or industry. And the people involved in a business reflect the impact of demographic changes – and the passage of time. The security industry has been largely built by Baby Boomers, who are getting older and increasingly stepping aside to make way for younger folks. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: Is there a “new generation” of employees and managers entering the physical security marketplace, and what will be the impact?

ISC West 2019 is in the industry’s rear-view mirror, and what a show it was! The busy three days in April offered a preview of exciting technologies and industry trends for the coming year. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What was the big news at ISC West 2019?

When security topics become a part of current events, it is usually in a negative light. Security generally only becomes news when it fails, sometimes in a dramatic, high profile and tragic way. However, security failures can also shed light on lessons learned and opportunities to improve. Working toward better security can translate into the purchase of more goods and equipment supplied by our market. For additional insights into the intersection of security and current events, we asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: Good news or bad news? How do news reports and/or current events influence the general public’s opinion of physical security?