Videx 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

Videx, a manufacturer and supplier in access control and door entry kits, has added new features and functionality to its GSMPRO intercom system that provides users with much greater freedom and security. The GSMPRO, which is now expandable to an eight-door access control system, enables people to answer calls to their front door or gate from their mobile phone or landline, so they never have to miss that important visitor and are made aware of who has visited even when they are not there. The GSMPRO is now available with an integrated back lit coded keypad, with up to 400 access codes and 32 temporary codes, which can be programmed to expire after a number of hours, to meet all your access control needs. Codes can also be programmed via PC software and remotely via SMS, enabling greater flexibility. A new app is also available for both Android and iOS which simplifies the process of sending SMS messages. Optimum access control for organisations It's an eight-door access control system, with the ability to add up to seven extra keypad or proximity access entrances"Commenting on the new features, Neil Thomas, National Sales Manager at Videx UK, said: “Our new generation GSMPRO now boasts many more features which makes it an ideal access control choice for a greater range of businesses and organisations. “For example, it now has free access time bands enabling users to set up to 10 time periods where the entrance is held open, for specific hours of the day and on specific days of the week, which makes it perfect for housing associations, warehouses and offices. It’s also now an eight-door access control system, with the ability to add up to seven extra keypad or proximity access entrances. Additional entrances connect back to the GSMPRO via an RS485 bus using standard CAT5 cable.” Many of the new features have been the result of special requests from customers which have been found to be good additions to the system and have allowed the GSM range to be used on installations with complex requirements. Viewing events in real time What’s also useful is that alerts can be programmed, where an email will be sent should that alert be triggered"Neil continued: “A great new feature is that the system now carries a new remote event log that can be accessed online, allowing events to be viewed in real time, on the move via a phone, tablet/laptop. It's a great security feature because it’s where a record is kept of calls, gate/door openings and much more. “What’s also useful is that alerts can be programmed, where an email will be sent should that alert be triggered. For example, if the gate or door is opened out of normal hours – any unusual activity is flagged.” There are several new programming commands too, included to make the system very easy to set up and simple to use. For example, it is now possible to program all telephone numbers (primary and divert numbers) of an apartment in a single SMS message and program up to five dial to open numbers in a single SMS.

Videx Security has appointed a new Regional Sales Manager for the London and South East region. Mabs Alam has vast sales and management experience and understands the access control and door entry market well. He takes on the role to help drive business opportunity and growth specifically in the South East region including London. Mabs will be focused on generating new business opportunities as well as maintaining positive relationships with existing customers. Improving relationships with distributors A key focus of my role is to maintain and improve existing relationships with security distributors, wholesalers and security installers" Talking about his new role, Mabs said: “A key focus of my role is to maintain and improve existing relationships with security distributors, wholesalers and security installers as well as bring in new clients and business opportunities. I am also concentrating on offering ongoing support to customers including site visits and surveys in partnership with customers so that the most appropriate systems are installed and used to meet specific and relevant entry needs. “It’s great to join Videx as they have an outstanding reputation in the industry and are highly regarded as a leading door entry and access control manufacturer in the UK.” Experience and knowledge of access control Mabs’ role is heavily proactive and sales focused where a lot of time will be spent cultivating new and existing relationships with a wide range of installers, consultants, surveyors, developers and architects across key sectors for Videx including local authorities, housing associations, schools, hospitals and universities. Neil Thomas, National Sales Manager at Videx, added: “Mabs is a great addition to our sales team and has fitted in really well with the rest of the team. His experience and knowledge both of the access control market and from a sales and business development perspective is second to none and we can’t wait to see the impact of his hard work and skill set throughout the new year. “As well as generating new business, it’s vital Mabs develops a good relationship with our existing clients and that’s something that’s already got off to a positive start which is great to see.”

Videx, an expert in door entry and access control, has expanded its GSM range, introducing a new device compatible with its flagship VX2200 system, both 2 wire audio and 6 wire video versions, that enables audio calls to be made from any of the VX2200 entrances to a mobile phone or land line. Strengthening Videx’s presence in the GSM entry market, the 2270 is a 2G/3G device which is suitable for new and existing systems within residential apartments. It has the ability to call up to 180 apartments with the facility to release the door after verifying the caller. Additional security Neil Thomas, National Sales Manager at Videx, said: “The 2270 offers residents the facility to answer calls from their VX2200 system even when they’re not at home, offering additional security to their property. The device diverts a call directly to the resident’s mobile or alternative land line, so that they’re always aware of who is visiting, even when they’re away.” A caller can ring the 2270 and if their number is stored in the dial to open list it will activate one or more of the relays" “A key feature is the facility to connect multiple entrances (up to 15) using only a single SIM card. Also featured within the device is a dial to open facility for up to 3,000 telephone numbers with 3 relay output. A caller can ring the 2270 and if their number is stored in the dial to open list it will activate one or more of the relays.” Designing out crime Further features include three auxiliary inputs which are fully programmable for a number of functions such as sending text messages and activating relays for different functions. The three relay outputs are also programmable for a number of functions such as remote relays for Secured by Design requirements, the official UK Police flagship initiative combining the principles of 'designing out crime' with physical security. Neil added: “Alarms triggered by an apartment can also be handled by the 2270, either by sending an SMS to a number or by activating a relay. What’s more, an event log, that can store up to 8,000 events, is maintained within the GSM module and can be integrated via the USB port and the PC software which includes many features to simplify the installation and programming process. Programming can be carried out using either text messages or with a PC using the USB connection or RS485 link.”