Nortech Access Control Accessories

The physical security market continues to experience growth as users look to capitalise on the promises of emerging technologies and because of this, 2017 proved to be a great year for Oncam. In fact, this year was the best year in Oncam's history in terms of sales, as 360-degree fisheye cameras have gone from being a “specialty” camera used only in certain applications to a primary device for enabling total situational awareness. Today, many of our customers leverage 360-degree cameras exclusively to provide extensive coverage inside a facility or in a large outdoor area, with traditional narrow field-of-view cameras used only at “choke” points. Increase in cybersecurity threats and breaches At the end of 2016, we predicted a major trend this year would be an increase in cybersecurity concerns for users of physical security systems, and we were right. An increase in cybersecurity threats and breaches have put organisations on watch. Based on this and the adoption of more IT-centric infrastructure and protocols, there is significant collaboration between IT and physical security, and true “convergence” is finally starting to happen. The adoption of video analytics also continued to increase this year, as most video surveillance projects involved the use of some form of analytics and data analysis. Demand for safeguards As we move into 2018, the trends of 2017 will roll over, and cybersecurity will continue to be a major issue. Suppliers of hardware and software will put an even greater emphasis being cyber secure and end users will increasingly demand safeguards. Additionally, the deployment and use of advanced analytics based on newer artificial intelligence-based technologies will continue to increase. It will be the technology providers that find ways to allow users to capture additional value from the information collected by security systems that will accelerate growth. Oncam made significant investments in new products that leverage analytics and cloud technologies. In 2018, we will continue to invest in the development of new products, with a focus on solutions for particular applications across industry segments. Beyond our technology advancements, we've invested significantly in boosting our sales force in the Americas and adding industry experts to ensure sustained customer and partner success with our solutions. From our vantage point, Oncam is well positioned to capitalise on opportunities for growth in the coming year.

2017 was quite an interesting and eventful year for the physical security industry. The economy has been robust and technology has become progressively sophisticated—with interactive services, cloud computing and network-based solutions taking charge to provide new insights to installers and their end-user customers. The Internet of Things is creating increasingly integrated solutions, with a heightened emphasis on total connectivity. Changing security expectations World events have also put the spotlight on the need for comprehensive security at public events, tourist attractions and schools and campuses. Security is an expectation and systems integrators are becoming trusted advisors to their customers, who are looking to them to solve problems or issues. Residential systems are more robust and now, are migrating to the commercial side of the business. There’s a blurring of the lines of technology—many of the products that come to the security industry originate from the consumer side. This proposition is also changing expectations by both residential and commercial customers, who want common, easy operation from their smartphone or user interface. Unexpected was some of the biggest deals in the industry, including acquisitions by dominant companies who grew even larger and continued ongoing consolidation on the manufacturing side. Those who remain will need to be progressive and step up their game with the latest proven technologies. Selling hardware isn’t the end game any longer. It’s providing solutions that generate revenue for security dealers and offer a solid return on investment for the end-user. In addition, solutions need to be easier for the user, and integrate many different systems and components across the enterprise. Cybersecurity safeguards End users want to get the most out of their solutions—and they want to be able to have more than safety and security. They are looking for the types of products that yield insights into system performance and give them the data the need for greater control and to proactively address any challenges or problems before they occur. Downtime is not an option and therefore, there’s an increased emphasis on consistent power so solutions are always on and running reliably. For security dealers and integrators, physical security and cybersecurity services will be part of their offerings and no longer separate disciplines Cybersecurity is a dominant conversation in the security industry these days and that buzz will continue into 2018. Because solutions are increasingly network connected, they have vulnerabilities that will have to be addressed by service providers and manufacturers. Manufacturers will need to take the upper hand in providing hardened products—testing and certifying for cybersecurity safeguards. That is not an easy task and can be expensive, but it needs to be done. Because cybersecurity is in constant evolution, many will go the route of outsourcing this component of their manufacturing to third parties well-versed in threat detection and hardening. Hardened products will also need to evolve with new emerging attacks. For security dealers and integrators, physical security and cybersecurity services will be part of their offerings and no longer separate disciplines. Intelligent access control solutions Manufacturers no longer operate in silos. They are working with systems integrators to more fully understand their needs and those of the end-user. Manufacturers are also partnering with technology providers—bringing in the expertise of others so their solutions are comprehensive and holistic. We will continue to see integration of formerly disparate components, open systems and open APIs. There will also be strong migration to access control systems with edge intelligence and power over Ethernet, leveraging existing cabling for network connectivity. The winners will be those who take the lead in providing cyber secured and hardened products, as well as companies who partner with others to bring best of breed solutions to market. The losers will be those who continue to develop proprietary, closed systems and fail to recognise the importance of network connectivity for real-time, proactive reporting. Without networked power, the facility cannot yield the proper insights it needs to stay reliably connected 24/7 Ongoing partner success LifeSafety Power® has been working consistently and diligently on elevating the status of power from unintelligent hardware device to network-connected component that yields rich data for the user and allows the installer to provide remote monitoring and managed power services. We have changed the paradigm of power but there’s additional work to do to get people to understand the new, critical role power plays in comprehensive enterprise and campus security. Now, security installers can help the end user know what’s happening with locks, access control, gates or other connected solutions and fix problems before they happen. Without networked power, the facility cannot yield the proper insights it needs to stay reliably connected 24/7. We have also had continued, ongoing successes with our many partners in the access control community and that’s where we will further focus our efforts in 2018—working with leading security solution providers to present the best technologies and solutions that are reliable, certified and present the types of insights security dealers need to offer customers to provide the highest levels of service. This will also help security dealers and integrators differentiate themselves and compete more effectively in the crowded marketplace.

Part 1 in our Intercoms in Security Series Lambert-St. Louis International Airport uses Code Blue intercoms Organisations are demanding a new level of interoperability among mission-critical security systems. Intelligible audio, the ability to hear, be heard and be understood, is critical to communication, which is essential to the core security processes within an organisation, as well as to emergency situations. Intelligible audio provides a platform to optimise various processes, including the use of security officers. “Our main thrust is to ensure our clients see intelligible and interoperable audio, not as an option, but as instrumental to their budget optimisation, stakeholder communication and risk mitigation efforts,” says Jim Hoffpauir, President of Zenitel North America, a manufacturer of intercoms and other communications solutions. Iintercoms in building safety and security  The role of intercoms in building safety and security is a given across many markets, and that use is growing. Intercoms are used in campus call boxes, elevators, muster locations, and for emergency notification. The trend is toward video, audio and access control, all tied together. There is also an emphasis on providing intelligible audio in any environment, even demanding ones. The education market has historically been a large sector for intercoms. Emergency phones and intercoms traditionally have been found throughout education settings, including colleges and universities, where they remain quite popular. Expanding markets for two-way communication In recent years, however, their popularity has also grown within the healthcare and mass transit sectors, where their versatility allows authorities to react to emergency situations while also providing a wide range of applications for non-emergency situations, such as car trouble or requests for directions. Intercoms can fulfill a variety of emergency and non-emergency needs in places like downtown Santa Ana, California (Photo courtesy Code Blue) “Markets of all sizes and shapes can benefit from a two-way communication solution that can help individuals place calls for assistance with first responders, police departments or customer service representatives,” says David Fleming, Chief Design Officer for Code Blue Corp. Intercoms for public and private sectors Aiphone is another intercom manufacturer for which education is a big market. Bruce Czerwinski, U.S. General Sales Manager, Aiphone Corp., says about 80 percent of both public and private K-12 and higher education campuses are using at least one intercom in some form. That percentage grows to nearly 100 percent for hospitals, which are using intercoms as nurse-call stations and at parking facilities, exterior door entries, nurseries and pharmacies, he says. "About 40 percent of commercial units – from strip malls to large, multi-tenant campus settings – are using intercoms" Up to 70 percent of larger multi-family facilities are also using intercoms. And that percentage is even higher in older, heavily populated Eastern cities. Many locales have laws mandating the use of audio and video intercoms on buildings beyond a threshold number of units. About 40 percent of commercial units – from strip malls to large, multi-tenant campus settings – are using intercoms, says Czerwinski. In the past year, Aiphone’s emergency stations have become very popular, particularly in campus settings; both commercial and higher education. Also, a growing number of unmanned parking garages are using the stations to allow patrons to immediately reach first responders or security personnel. Each of these markets still has growth potential, but by its sheer size, the commercial market offers the greatest opportunities, according to Aiphone. Video-enabled IP intercoms Intercom usage differs widely in various global markets, according to Craig Szmania, CEO of 2N USA, a manufacturer of IP intercoms. In the North American market, intercom usage is relatively low compared to the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region, where intercoms are a more mature market. Security, convenience, systems integration and IP-versus-analogue adoption are driving usage and growth to more than 20 percent year-over-year. More and more video-enabled IP intercoms are seen as an integral part of a system wide security and video solution, according to Szmania. “Our intercom portfolio targets all the major verticals, but we have had particular success in the education sector – K-12 and universities,” says Szmania. “These end users are looking for specific features in securing their campuses, providing convenience to their administrators, employing programmability for differing use scenarios throughout the campus, and integration to their telephony or other systems.” More and more video-enabled IP intercoms are seen as an integral part of a system wide security and video solution Szmania says the latter point is becoming a particular need in light of a requirement for campus-wide communication and coordination in emergency situations. “Our intercoms integrate seamlessly with third party solutions such as Cisco’s telephone systems that are the communication backbones of many schools and campuses,” he adds. IP-based solutions in residential verticals Considering near-term growth potential, single family and multi-tenant residential verticals have fantastic opportunities for increased usage of door stations/intercoms in the United States, according to Szmania. The company has entered this space over the last several years and has grown to be a market leader in IP-based integrated solutions, especially in the home automation space. The adoption of IP networked solutions for condominiums and apartments is just taking off, driven in part by consumer demand for mobile-anywhere video, audio and door control. The service is also a driver for integrator/dealer adoption of the technology to provide recurring monthly revenue (RMR). 2N has also achieved triple-digit growth in commercial building installations over the past two years. Building owners, IT departments and security managers want and need a networked solution for control and security. 2N’s open platforms are a good fit, says Szmania. Read part 2 of our Security Intercoms series here

The Norpass access control system from Nortech using its Norpass3 software is providing secure access control at the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) building in central London. Norpass3 software solution Chosen for its ability to provide a secure access control solution, Nortech’s Norpass system was installed on 16 doors around the Soho Square offices to support a range of access levels according to staff responsibilities and include a management system with a user-friendly interface. This allows staff movements to be monitored, ID cards to be issued and access rights to be changed according to ongoing requirements. Nortech’s Norpass system was installed on 16 doors around the Soho Square offices  The BBFC is independent and not-for-profit and is in place to help everyone in the UK choose age appropriate films, videos and websites, wherever and however they watch or use them. Founded in 1912, they have been responsible for classifying films released in UK cinemas and on DVD and Blu-ray, and classifying content for Video on Demand services, such as Netflix and Amazon, as well as helping mobile phone operators set parental controls at the right level. Norpass access control modules Bradley Thomas, Facilities Manager at the British Board of Film Certification (BBFC) commented, “We have had the Nortech system in place for many years, we find it reliable and easy to use and their customer service team has always been helpful and informative to any queries.” The flexibility of Norpass access control modules and the user-friendly PC-based Norpass3 software together with Nortech’s elegant card readers made the Norpass access control system the ideal choice for BBFC. Since the installation, the system has provided secure access control throughout the building and, with Nortech’s support, BBFC has been able to keep the system up with changing requirements. Easy-to-use access control system Benefits of using the Norpass system include easy to use software offering a range of access levels Benefits of using the Norpass system include easy to use software offering a range of access levels, security that can be matched to an organisation’s needs, a flexible structure for easy expansion and a system that has been developed in the UK and is supported by a UK based team. Nortech has supplied products and solutions to the security industry for over 25 years as an independent British company. The company uses extensive experience and expertise to create new security products to fit their clients’ needs and designs everything with the customer in mind.      

People and vehicle access control specialist Nortech has launched its NanoQuest, a secure, single door self-contained access control system. This proximity card reader/access controller combination is small, powerful and supports up to 500 users. The NanoQuest is a compact standalone proximity card reader and access controller that is easy to install and operate, and houses both the access control electronics and the 125kHz proximity reader. Its slender and elegant compact design suits most architectural and interior design settings, while the robust construction allows it to be used in most working environments. A NanoQuest unit controls access through a single door for up to 500 authorised users and can also be used as a secure method of controlling devices such as intruder alarm panels, lighting and heating. Accessing restricting areas The unit can be armed by an external device and allows door monitoring and alarm output to external alarm devicesThe configuration of its many features and the addition/removal of user cards are made simple with a ‘Master’ card. Special ‘User’ and ‘Auxiliary’ cards can also be added to control auxiliary devices and access restricted areas and free exit input is included. The unit can also output card data in RS232 format when in 'NanoQuest' mode, and in both RS232 and 26-bit Wiegand format when in 'Reader' mode, so that it can be used as a standard card reader as part of a future migration to a larger system. The unit can also be armed by an external device and allows door monitoring and alarm output to external alarm devices. Duplicate administration card option Nortech offers a flexible range of card and fob packs. Cards and fobs can be purchased as necessary, and individually enrolled into the NanoQuest when needed. For installations with many users, card packs are supplied in filing wallets, where each card comes with a duplicate administration/shadow card option. A batch enrolment card is also supplied to enable the enrolment of a whole batch of cards in a single procedure. If a card is lost or stolen, then the corresponding administration card can be used to remove that card from the NanoQuest. Key fobs are also available with a corresponding batch enrolment card and administration cards. Nortech has supplied products and solutions to the security industry for over 25 years as an independent British company. The company uses extensive experience and expertise to create new security products to fit their clients’ needs and designs everything with the customer in mind. 

People and vehicle access control specialist Nortech will be exhibiting at Elevate 2019, the meeting place for UK’s growing physical activity sectors at London’s ExCel on the 8-9 May to introduce its innovative products to the market. 2019 is Nortech’s first time at the show and they will be demonstrating the flexibility of the Norpass access control solution, which provides a wide range of features that are ideally suited to the leisure sector. Access control sector With Norpass, access control can be provided at all access points to gyms, fitness studios, health clubs and more to ensure that only authorised members and staff can enter the premises. Nortech recommends the use of its Mifare readers and smartcards that have a dedicated secure access control sector. Norpass3, the licence free software at the heart of the access control system, can run on any standard specification PC The benefits of using smartcards with a dedicated access control sector is greatly improved security plus the ability to issue sequentially numbered cards to members, facilitating easier card management. In addition, the same cards can be used for other Mifare enabled facilities such as vending machines and fitness management systems. Norpass3, the licence free software at the heart of the access control system, can run on any standard specification PC (Windows 7 onwards) and is quick and easy to set up using the built-in setup wizard. Time limited access It includes many features that are ideal for leisure centre membership access control including - Picture Pop-up - This enables staff to monitor people entering through a turnstile to ensure that the person entering is the valid cardholder. When an ID card is presented to the reader, the cardholder’s photo automatically appears on the screen of the operator/administration terminal. Time Limited Access - A feature that automatically enforces time limited access to certain areas (for example where a member is allowed the use of the facility for a fixed number of hours each week). Once a member has used up their weekly allocated time, they will not be allowed access until the start of the next week or until a staff member has granted an extension. Count Groups and Reporting - This feature can be used to ensure that the number of members of a particular category present within a restricted area does not exceed a preassigned limit (e.g.for health and safety reasons), and to make sure that the appropriate level of supervision is available. Whenever the numbers exceed the limit, an alarm will be raised to alert staff to take action. Automatic Digital Video Recorder Activation - Individual ID cards can be registered on the system so their use can be monitored in real time. For example, if a card has been reported as lost or stolen, its record can be set to automatically activate a video recording of the person using that card when it is used to gain access through a certain turnstile. Vehicle access management Nortech will also be demonstrating the Nedap ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) solution for vehicle access management. The ANPR is fully compatible with Norpass so that it can provide a fully integrated vehicle access management system for staff and members. Nortech has supplied products and solutions to the security industry for over 25 years as an independent British company. The company uses extensive experience and expertise to create new security products to fit their clients’ needs and designs everything with the customer in mind. Visit Nortech at Elevate 2019 on 8-9 May at London‘s ExCel to find out more about the many systems available and how they can benefit the future of people and vehicle control solutions.