HID Global hails the renewed promise of mobile access

It’s been almost exactly a decade since HID Global launched the world's first university pilot of smartphones carrying secure mobile IDs. A lot has changed in the following 10 years. Today’s technology has matured, advanced, and proliferated across a variety of high-value use cases.

To catch up on the latest developments in mobile access, we contacted Luc Merredew, Product Marketing Director, Physical Access Control, at HID Global.

Q: What has changed since the first pilot implementation of smartphones used for secure mobile identification?

Merredew: One of the biggest milestones several years ago was when mobile access solutions achieved certification to the ISO 27001:2013 Information Security Management System (ISMS) standard. With increasing awareness of cloud-based security threats and resulting high expectations from a solution, today’s system owners, operators, and users insist on companies being able to demonstrate that they have had their services vetted by independent laboratories and/or agencies. When adopting mobile access solutions that maximise convenience and efficiency, and deliver dramatically improved user experiences, it is neither necessary nor acceptable to compromise security in either the physical or digital domains.

Q: Do universities continue to be the biggest users?

Mobile IDs on devices eliminate person-to-person credentials when accessing secured areas

Merredew: The use cases have grown dramatically, spread evenly across all types of organisations in locations ranging from high-rise buildings to multi-campus global enterprises. But yes, universities continue to be big adopters, and they were among those most eager to leverage the technology so they could bring people back to campus in person during the pandemic. In this environment, mobile IDs on smartphones and other devices eliminate person-to-person credential (e.g., badge or ID card) issuance or revocation, as well as the need to physically touch cards, readers, or keypads when accessing secured areas.

Q: How were mobile IDs employed by your customers as they brought people back to physical locations after the pandemic shutdown?

Merredew: One example is Vanderbilt University, where the challenges of COVID-19 brought renewed attention to the importance of a modern system for identity management and access control that was compatible with Near Field Communication (NFC) and Bluetooth technologies. Members of the campus community could more conveniently access buildings and services with their mobile devices, and the university could efficiently provision and de-provision credentials remotely without person-to-person contact. More recently, Vanderbilt leveraged HID Mobile Access® to deploy campus IDs on iPhone and Apple Watch through Apple Wallet.

Q: Is there another example outside the university vertical?

Merredew: Another example is the iconic tower Arcos Bosques Torre 1 in Mexico City, where the owners and tenants enjoy the simplicity of using their trusted mobile devices to seamlessly access their spaces. As with the Vanderbilt deployment, the drive for operational efficiency and convenience in the tower was combined with a desire to minimise the need for users to come in physical contact with the system. Having a solution like HID Mobile Access that delivers touchless entry and increased safety and security is important.

Q: What have been the biggest mobile access advancements?

The mobile credential provides contactless, seamless access to a wide range of devices and services

Merredew: One of the most important advancements was simplifying upgrade paths to mobile access. In the Vanderbilt example, our HID Reader Manager was used to upgrade the firmware on the university’s physical access control readers and extend support for NFC-based credentials in Apple Wallet. The university uses the HID Origo™ Mobile Identities API integrated with CS Gold®, a higher education transaction system from CBORD, for credential lifecycle management. Another significant enhancement has been the expanded range of uses cases for the mobile credential, going beyond simply opening doors to include providing contactless, seamless access to a wide range of devices and services such as time-and-attendance terminals, cashless vending machines, printers, computers, workstations, and many other applications.

Q: Wearables are also having an impact.

Merredew: Contactless mobile experiences are also delivered through wearable wristbands. One example is the Nymi band which, once authenticated, continuously authenticates the identity of the user until it’s removed from the wrist. This delivers zero-trust security principles and access control using convenient fingerprint and heartbeat biometrics to users seeking touchless authentication.

Q: What is the impact of the cloud?

Merredew: The move to a cloud-based system to issue and manage mobile identity credentials has unified, automated, and simplified identity issuance at a single facility or across any number of distributed office or remote work locations.

Q: What should end users look for in a mobile access solution?

Look for solutions that use a secure element in the reader as well as cloud certificates, to ensure security and data privacy

Merredew: Solutions should support the largest possible number of popular mobile devices – in HID’s case, this includes more than 250. Look for solutions that use a secure element in the reader, and a secure key management process, as well as cloud certificates, to ensure both security and data privacy. Make sure the solution supports Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Near Field Communication (NFC), and both iOS and Android operating systems. Solutions that provide Application Programming Interface (API) and Software Development Kit (SDK) support offer direct access to the solution’s access control hardware, speeding deployment while enabling integration partners to continue innovating products that deliver even better user experiences.

Q: Wonder what this market will look like in 10 more years. What’s next for mobile access?

Merredew: Future innovations are on the horizon with technologies such as Ultra-Wideband (UWB) wireless connectivity, which HID expects will become ubiquitous on mobile devices. It provides unprecedented accuracy and security when measuring the distance or determining the relative position of a target. It is not HID’s expectation that UWB will replace Near Field Communication (NFC) or Bluetooth, but rather supplement Bluetooth and other technologies to provide the assurance, reliability, and granularity of device position that enables truly seamless experiences.

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Larry Anderson Editor, SecurityInformed.com & SourceSecurity.com

An experienced journalist and long-time presence in the US security industry, Larry is SourceSecurity.com's eyes and ears in the fast-changing security marketplace, attending industry and corporate events, interviewing security leaders and contributing original editorial content to the site. He leads SourceSecurity.com's team of dedicated editorial and content professionals, guiding the "editorial roadmap" to ensure the site provides the most relevant content for security professionals.

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AlertMedia, the globally renowned emergency communication solutions provider, announced that the company has hired Laura Woolford as the Chief People Officer. Laura Woolford, who joined in June 2021, brings more than two decades of experience in HR leadership roles, at large and public companies. Guiding AlertMedia’s growth As Chief People Officer, she will play a strategic role in guiding AlertMedia’s growth, both domestically and internationally, while leading all aspects of People Operations, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) programmes. “AlertMedia and the leadership team have done an incredible job at finding people, who are passionate about the organisation and believe in its bigger vision,” said Laura Woolford, the Chief People Officer at AlertMedia. Human Resources (HR) expert As an HR leader, I’m responsible for guiding employees toward success" Laura Woolford adds, “I’m looking forward to helping the company to continue to recruit top talent, who are purpose-driven and will contribute to its next phase of growth. As an HR leader, I’m responsible for guiding employees toward success and I’m thrilled to help the AlertMedia team continue to recognise their future potential.” Prior to joining AlertMedia, Laura Woolford served as Vice President of Human Resources at GoDaddy, where she overhauled and expanded the HR function, to focus on organisational design and effectiveness, and strategic talent management. Before GoDaddy, Woolford was a Senior Director of HR at Tesla, where she supported the company’s Chief Technology Officer and all of U.S. manufacturing. During her time at the company, she grew Gigafactory 1 from 2,000 employees to over 8,000, in less than two years, while also creating an integrated talent strategy for the company. Aid the company in attracting top talent Laura Woolford has also held roles at Shell Oil, Corning, and four separate divisions of GE, including GE Aviation and GE Transportation. The role of Chief People Officer is critical to any company’s ability to attract and retain top talent" “The role of Chief People Officer is critical to any company’s ability to attract and retain top talent, and achieve long-term success,” said Brian Cruver, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founder at AlertMedia. Brian Cruver adds, “Laura brings deep HR expertise to our leadership team and she shares the same values, and culture that make AlertMedia a great place to work. I’m confident she’ll continue to build on our strong foundation, to find and retain the best and most diverse team of employees.” AlertMedia, recognised by major publications One of Austin’s fastest-growing employers, AlertMedia has consistently been recognised as a great place to work, by national and local business publications, including earning recognition on Inc. Magazine’s Best Workplaces for 2021 and Forbes, Inc.’s America’s Best Startup Employers for 2021. Most recently, the company was named to Austin Business Journal’s 2021 Best Places to Work list for the sixth consecutive year, ranking #3. The company is currently hiring for numerous roles, across marketing, engineering, sales, and more.

Impinj advances IoT connectivity for all everyday things, shipping 50 billion endpoint ICs and 3 million connectivity devices

Impinj, Inc., a globally renowned provider and pioneer of RAIN RFID solutions, has announced that it has shipped more than 50 billion endpoint integrated circuits (ICs) and three million connectivity ICs and devices, extending IoT to everyday ‘things’, such as apparel, pallets, cases, pharmaceuticals, automotive parts, and luggage. This achievement reflects the adoption of the Impinj platform for digital transformation, across diverse markets, including retail, supply chain and logistics, healthcare, automotive, and air transportation. Founded in 2000, Impinj, Inc. has announced the shipment of its first 25 billion endpoint ICs in 2018. Since then, the company has focused on expanding its product line and partner base, reaching the 50 billion milestone, in just over 2 years, highlighting the opportunity available for RAIN RFID and IoT expansion. RAIN RFID and IoT expansion “We believe the opportunity for RAIN RFID is vast and largely untapped,” said David Krebs, the Executive Vice President for Enterprise Mobility and the Connected Worker at VDC Research. David Krebs adds, “We expect volumes to increase significantly for the next few years, with increasing demand in retail hard goods, in logistics for cross-docking workflows and dock-door visibility, in food traceability and automation, and in the postal/courier sector, to support parcel logistics applications.” Total inventory accuracy By enabling total inventory accuracy, RAIN RFID unlocks a host of benefits, including labour efficiency" “By enabling total inventory accuracy, RAIN RFID unlocks a host of benefits, including labour efficiency, inventory maximisation, transportation cost reductions, and improved omni-channel functionality,” said Marshall Kay, the Founder of the prominent consultancy, RFID Sherpas. Marhsall Kay adds, “Retailers who made early investments in RAIN RFID are more agile than their peers. Having benefited greatly from that agility during the COVID-19 pandemic, I fully expect they will now extend the value of RAIN RFID to self-checkout, loss analytics, and simplified returns processing.” Reaping the benefits of digital transformation “Together with our partners, we’re building a boundless Internet of Things (IoT), helping businesses reap the benefits of digital transformation,” said Chris Diorio, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Impinj, Inc. Chris Diorio adds, “We envision a future, where people engage a connected thing from its point of manufacture, across the supply chain, and ultimately to your home. We will continue to make RAIN RFID easier to access and use, as we enable connectivity for trillions of everyday things, ultimately improving people’s lives.” Impinj’s endpoint ICs Impinj’s endpoint ICs provide item identifiers, require no batteries, and enable smart, wirelessly connected things. Impinj connectivity devices include reader chips, readers, and gateways that identify and locate connected things, providing real-time data about tagged items that inform business decisions. Together, as part of the Impinj platform, they enable the company’s global partner ecosystem to develop a broad set of RAIN RFID products, including tags, readers, printers and IoT solutions, such as inventory management, asset management, and shipment verification. These solutions allow touch-free automation, real-time visibility, and virtualising systems, or workflows. Meeting high demand for item connectivity The new endpoint ICs leverage Moore’s Law to improve performance and increase functionality In 2019, Impinj, Inc. had announced two new endpoint ICs, to meet the increasing demand for item connectivity, in the retail, grocery, consumer packaged goods, and logistics markets. The new endpoint ICs leverage Moore’s Law to improve performance and increase functionality, while simultaneously reducing the overall size of the ICs. New enterprise-grade reader These new ICs are so small that roughly 30 million of them will fit in a single coffee cup. In 2020, Impinj introduced a new enterprise-grade reader, which is specifically designed to simplify global RAIN deployments. As an IoT edge device, this new reader provides industry-renowned performance, enterprise-grade reliability and security, and support for next-gen RAIN tags, in order to meet the demands of businesses that seek to connect everything to the IoT.

Impinj, Inc. announces proposed settlement of stockholder derivative action lawsuit

Impinj, Inc., a globally renowned provider and pioneer of RAIN RFID solutions has announced that on February 26, 2021, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware (the ‘Court’) issued an order (the ‘Preliminary Order’), providing for preliminary approval of the proposed settlement of the claims, asserted nominally on behalf of the company, against the individual defendants, named in the previously disclosed stockholder derivative action, entitled ‘In re Impinj, Inc. Derivative Litigation’ (C.A. No. 18-cv-01686-RGA), pending before the Court, in accordance with the Stipulation of Settlement, dated July 10, 2020 (the ‘Stipulation of Settlement’). The Stipulation of Settlement The Stipulation of Settlement calls for the company to adopt certain governance changes and for the insurer to pay the plaintiff’s counsel up to US$ 900,000 in attorneys’ fees. The Preliminary Order set a final settlement approval hearing for May 11, 2021. As required by the Preliminary Order, the Stipulation of Settlement and the Notice of Proposed Settlement of Derivative Action (the ‘Notice’) have been posted on the Investor Relations section of the company’s official website.

Vectra AI raises $130 million led by Blackstone Growth (BXG)

Vectra AI, a pioneer in threat detection and response announced a $130 million round of funding led by funds managed by Blackstone Growth (BXG, “Blackstone Growth”). The investment will help fuel Vectra’s continued growth through platform innovation and expansion into new markets and geographies, solidifying its Cognito platform as a market-pioneering solution for artificial intelligence (AI)-driven cloud security for threat detection and response. Existing investors also participated in the funding round, increasing the company’s total funding to more than $350 million at a post-money $1.2 billion valuations. Product innovation As recent high-profile incidents impacting SolarWinds and Microsoft Exchange (Hafnium) illustrate, breaches are becoming commonplace and hard to detect because state actors and cybercriminals use multi-stage attacks that exploit supply chain weaknesses, legitimate tools, and impersonate users to steal data. Security leaders must commit themselves to enhance research and development, innovation As the threat landscape continues to become more complex, security pioneers must commit themselves to enhance research and development, innovation, and strategic implementation of resource-relieving technology, such as AI. This product innovation is necessary to provide the contextual awareness security teams need to combat the expanding attack surface, created by the increased use of cloud resources and SaaS applications, mobile devices, work-from-home access, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Cybersecurity “Over the past year, we have witnessed a continuous series of the most impactful and widespread cyberattacks in history. To protect their employees and digital assets, our customers require security solutions that are smarter than today’s adversaries and provide coverage for cloud, data centres, and SaaS applications” said Hitesh Sheth, president, and chief executive officer at Vectra. “As we look to the future, Blackstone’s global presence, operational resources, and in-house technical expertise will help us achieve our mission to become one of the dominant cybersecurity companies in the world.” Innovative AI technology Vectra has a proven ability to stop in-progress attacks in the cloud, on corporate networks" Viral Patel, a Senior Managing Director at Blackstone, said, “Vectra has a proven ability to stop in-progress attacks in the cloud, on corporate networks, and in private data centres for some of the top organisations in the world.” “The company has experienced extraordinary success through its commitment to combining innovative AI technology, first-class customer service, and top talent, and Blackstone is excited to become part of the Vectra team.” Threat detection and response Customer demand for threat detection and response in the private and public clouds, and the immediate value Vectra’s AI-driven Cognito platform delivers to customers, are major forces driving the company’s global growth. Cognito detects attacker behaviors and protects its users from being compromised, regardless of location. The platform works across the complex enterprise IT infrastructure to continuously learn and deploy advanced AI, threat intelligence feeds, and known attack profiles to identify breaches as they are being executed. This approach provides security teams with invaluable time to respond to threats and seamlessly integrates with existing security tools to automatically remediate threats. Solutions to prevent cyberattacks Vectra is providing a critical solution that levels the playing field against the most damaging cyber threats" John Stecher, Chief Technology Officer at Blackstone, said, “Through our experience as a client of Vectra, we’ve been highly impressed by their world-class technology and exceptional team. They have exactly the types of tools that technology leaders need to separate the signal from the noise in defending their organisations from increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. We’re excited to back Vectra and Hitesh as a strategic partner in the years ahead supporting their continued growth.” “As organisations around the world increasingly focus on cybersecurity, we believe Vectra is providing a critical solution that levels the playing field against the sophisticated actors that generate the most damaging cyber threats,” said James Socas, a Managing Director at Blackstone. “Vectra is exactly the kind of fast-growing leader we help back and build at Blackstone.” Research and development In 2020, the company continued to experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) exceeding 100 percent, while sales of Cognito Detect™ for Microsoft Office 365 have grown at a rate of over 700 percent. Vectra also has a rich history of investing in research and development (R&D) projects, which has been key to the sustained growth of the organisation. Vectra continues to invest in R&D well over the industry average of pioneering security companies.

Go touchless with the Anviz FaceDeep series

The COVID remains a considerable threat but businesses are slowly returning to work. C.D.C have confirmed the importance of access controls as people return to work and list access controls as key mitigation measures in allowing workers to return to the workplace. As a security solution provider, Anviz delivers high-end security hardware that connects to an intuitive, cloud-based software platform, enabling modern enterprises to run safer, smarter buildings across all locations. FaceDeep series As global demand for hygiene safety and protection is increasing, Anviz FaceDeep Series provides the best solution to reduce the worries of returning to office and school during the post-pandemic age.The FaceDeep 5 Series for public area personnel control solution FaceDeep 5 with IP65 outdoor design Support maximum 50,000 users capacity and verify speed <0.3 s Enhanced AI face recognition algorithm, the mask detection accurate claims 98% Long-distance and multi-point temperature measurement technology provide fast, accurate human body temperature detection. The FaceDeep 3 Series for SMB personnel management solution Employee time attendance and access control all in one device The mask detection AI face recognition algorithm Support maximum 6,000 user capacity AI face recognition algorithm, The mask detection accurate claims 98% Combined with CrossChex Cloud software to reduce the management costs Infrared temperature measurement technology provides accurate human body temperature detection Besides, Anviz provides value-added integrations with SDK and API and offers support services to developers and channel partners. The users can integrate the hardware with third-party or proprietary software.

Anviz gives 5 reasons to choose a cloud-based time attendance system

Staff is the most important and expensive resource for most businesses. Business owners are aware that they should manage their workforce more effectively to get the most out of their investment as the price increases of labor. Today, sophisticated time and attendance solutions can manage everything you need remotely. The cloud-based solution can secure data and provide advanced control and access to rota planning and time management. In this article, Anviz talks about 5 reasons why a user should choose a cloud-based time attendance system. Save hours of communication and eliminate spreadsheets Cloud-based time attendance systems eliminate spreadsheets by providing a browser base website for users to manage the plan. The user can create a shift for staffs’ absents and their duty time within a screen instead of paperwork. CrossChex Cloud will post new features in the future that enable monitors to set holidays and vacations for employees, and staff and use them by creating a shift on their own. It will save more time on communication and paperwork. The cloud-based time and attendance solution make sure that no users can edit or view these data besides the user Protect sensitive data Employees get their money paid mostly based on how many hours they worked, and this data is sensitive as it connects to individual pay rates. The cloud-based time and attendance solution make sure that no users can edit or view these data besides the user. Prevent time fraud or payroll abuse Manual processes such as timesheets or manager-approved overtime are open to abuse, fraud, or honest mistakes. Buddy punching is also a big problem that decreases productivity. CrossChex Cloud eliminates these problems by connecting with biometric solutions, employees can no longer buddy punching for others after their employer choose a face recognition time attendance system. Get reports on fingertips One of the key benefits of a time and attendance solution is the ability to be able to generate a report in one touch. In CrossChex Cloud, users can generate a report that includes users and their attendance records: duty time, actual work time, and their attendance status. Employees have demanded the use of a time attendance system to protect employees from being exploited Increase employee trust in the organisation It has been perceived, historically, that time and attendance systems were used only to reduce the cost of payroll. But in recent years, many employees and trade unions have not only accepted the use of such systems but demanded the use of a time attendance system to protect employees from being exploited. About CrossChex Cloud CrossChex Cloud is a world-pioneering time and attendance solution. It can cooperate with most biometric products from Anviz to provide and meet any requirements of any organisation. Whether a small business that wishes to record the time and attendance of its employees, or a global enterprise that wants to centrally and remotely manage its complex workforce, CrossChex Cloud offers all the features.

Anviz launches Secu365, a cloud-based intuitive security platform built to protect business

Business is more than just a livelihood–it's the culmination of years spent dreaming and planning. With that in mind, it only makes sense to protect the business with the smartest security system on the market. Reported by security market analysts from Omdia have highlighted the potential growth of integrated physical security as a service (PsaaS) system. Omdia forecasts that the world PsaaS market was estimated to be worth $1.5 billion in 2020. The market for integrated PSaaS solutions will grow at an impressive 24.6% CAGR over the next five years. An intuitive cloud-based physical security solution Regardless of what type of service users provide, a well-rounded and easy-to-use security system is essential Anviz, the smart security solution pioneer has launched Secu365 as an intuitive platform into a cloud-based physical security solution. Regardless of what type of service users provide, if they have a brick-and-mortar business, a well-rounded and easy-to-use security system is not just important—it's essential. Just take a look at a few of the benefits that users might be concerned about and get from the business security system. Monitor customers and employees with video surveillance in case of any accidents that happen Help prevent theft, vandalism, and other crimes With a mobile device, remotely control your business from anywhere 24/7 video monitoring Furthermore, as businesses continue to maintain a mostly remote workforce, the drive towards adopting cloud-based and hybrid solutions has grown as well. Thus, with 24/7 video monitoring, indoor and outdoor cameras, integrated with biometric or mobile access, the secu365 system is the perfect way to protect small businesses. Migrating to cloud Small business, owners often take their work home with them to ensure their business is as successful as possible" “We've seen people that are more and more interested in moving to cloud services, specifically small business, owners. They work very hard, arriving first and leaving last. They often take their work home with them to ensure their business is as successful as possible.” “Because of this, many business owners spend a lot of time worrying about how things are running in their absence, specifically when they’re out-of-site or taking vacations,” said David Huang, Director of Secu365 in North America. Integrated security solution A top concern for small businesses is theft, as it can have devastating effects. Therefore, first and foremost, Anviz helps SMB owners to be proactive instead of reactive -- alerting them to issues before they become problems. An integrated security solution that combines access control and video surveillance functions in a single platform is a worthwhile investment for peace of mind and control.

AlertMedia raises US$ 15 million via Series C funding to accelerate product innovation and support growth

AlertMedia, an emergency communication software provider, has announced that it has raised US$ 15 million in Series C funding. The round was led by existing investors, including JMI Equity, Next Coast Ventures, and Silverton Partners. AlertMedia has quickly emerged as one of the major providers of emergency communications technology and solutions. As a result of their product’s ease of use, reliability, and mobility, the company has doubled its business, five years in a row, while maintaining an extraordinary +84 NPS score. AlertMedia supports global enterprises AlertMedia now supports more than 2,000 enterprise customers, including Walmart, DHL, Greyhound, Healthgrades, as well as prominent organisations in all industries, across more than 100 countries. AlertMedia continues to grow in response to the market’s unwavering need, to help organisations easily and effectively communicate with their employees, during critical events, including severe weather, workplace violence, and the current COVID-19 pandemic. The company recently added nearly 250 enterprise customers, during the month of March 2020. Products help companies navigate critical events Our products are made to help organisations navigate critical events" “Our products are made to help organisations navigate critical events, from approaching hurricanes to pandemics, to disruptions in supply chain and operations. Our mission is to save lives and minimise loss, by facilitating timely communications, when an emergency threatens personal safety,” said AlertMedia’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Brian Cruver. Brian Cruver adds, “Right now, the AlertMedia team is working harder than ever to support companies around the world, in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. We are extremely grateful that our software can help organisations and their people during this pandemic.” In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, AlertMedia customers are using the platform to send and receive two-way messages, manage operational changes, perform wellness checks, and dispatch critical communications to their employees, keeping them safe, informed, and connected. Series C funding to accelerate product innovation As a customer-first organisation, AlertMedia plans to use this new round of funding to accelerate product innovation, continue to support existing customers, and help meet growing market demand by expanding its team. “It’s refreshing to see a company like AlertMedia thrive financially while also helping millions of people every day,” said Bob Nye, General Partner at JMI Equity, adding “From an investment standpoint, that’s exactly what we want to accomplish, to support an organisation that not only has huge potential for growth and a product that is in high demand, but also one that makes it their every day mission, to keep people safe and informed, and to save lives.”

AlertMedia announces the appointment of Sara Pratley as the company’s Vice President of Global Intelligence

AlertMedia, the globally renowned threat monitoring and emergency communication solutions provider, has announced that Sara Pratley joined the company as Vice President of Global Intelligence. Vice President of Global Intelligence In her new role as Vice President of Global Intelligence at AlertMedia, Sara Pratley will lead the team responsible for monitoring emerging threats and incidents worldwide, providing actionable intelligence to help keep millions of AlertMedia users safe and informed. She joins AlertMedia from CNN, the global news organisation with a multi-platform reach of two billion people, where she was Vice President of National News for CNN’s domestic newsgathering unit. During her decade-long role in leadership at CNN, she oversaw the network’s multi-platform coverage and was known for her outstanding leadership in breaking news. Strong leadership and process skills Sara Pratley led the network’s coverage of major events, including the Boston Marathon bombings Sara Pratley led the network’s coverage of major events, including the Boston Marathon bombings, Orlando Pulse Nightclub shooting, riots, destructive hurricanes, and more. Her strong leadership skills and ability to introduce new processes, and products helped her team successfully reach and expand storytelling, to a fast-growing digital audience. Prior to CNN, Sara Pratley was an Assignment Editor at local television stations in New York and Florida. She is a graduate of Syracuse University. Situational awareness and fast incident response Currently, companies face a growing number of threats that pose a significant risk to employee safety. From health crises with a global impact to localised events, such as wildfires or transportation disruptions, maintaining situational awareness, around the clock and mobilising an immediate response is crucial for reducing an event’s impact. AlertMedia enables organisations to drastically reduce their time-to-action, by fully automating threat intelligence monitoring, impact assessment, and multi-channel communication to impacted employees. Fully integrated threat intelligence monitoring Thousands of organisations, including Walmart, DHL, Samsung, Coca-Cola Bottling Company, and Healthgrades, use AlertMedia to monitor threats and rapidly communicate with their people. Sara Pratley joins AlertMedia, as the company is experiencing significant growth Sara Pratley joins AlertMedia, as the company is experiencing significant growth, which it credits to the product’s ease of use and its fully integrated threat intelligence solution, all critical components to a customer’s ability to respond faster, under the pressures of a real emergency. Faster communications and enhanced safety “Dangerous threats and catastrophic incidents are continuously emerging around the world. Our team helps companies sort through the noise, so they can quickly understand the risk to their employees and proactively communicate to improve safety,” explained Brian Cruver, CEO of AlertMedia. Brian Cruver adds, “As a journalist and news leader, Sara excels at bringing fast and accurate information to a global audience. Her extensive experience in curating and communicating information will play a major role in expanding AlertMedia’s ability to provide actionable intelligence to our customers.” AlertMedia, one of the fastest growing US companies AlertMedia was recently named to the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing companies for the second consecutive year, ranking as the fastest-growing software company in Austin. In May, Inc. named AlertMedia as one of the Best Workplaces of 2020. The company has been named ‘One of the Best Places to Work’ in Austin, by the Austin Business Journal for four consecutive years.

Valsoft Corporation expands education sector portfolio with the acquisition of ScholarChip

Valsoft Corporation (Valsoft), a Canadian company that specialises in the acquisition and development of vertical market software businesses, is pleased to announce the successful acquisition of ScholarChip (ScholarChip Card LLC), a global provider of identity management, visitor management and behavioural software for the K-12 vertical. Acquisition of ScholarChip ScholarChip was founded in 2003, by Dr. Maged Atiya and his wife, Monica Sibillia Atiya, with a mission to help make schools safer, more engaging, and more supportive of student success. Since then, the company has continued to innovate and remained at the forefront in school safety. We are thrilled to have found a partner with a shared vision and a long-term view" Craig Lockwood, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and President at ScholarChip, stated “Valsoft’s considerable experience and expertise in building great software companies will help ScholarChip further its mission of promoting safe and supportive school climates. We are thrilled to have found a partner with a shared vision and a long-term view.” Seamless transition to help drive growth The ScholarChip team will remain in the company’s base in the USA, with Craig Lockwood and the senior leadership team remaining at the helm of the business, ensuring a seamless transition that helps drive the product and company forward. Sam Youssef, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Valsoft Corporation, said “We’re extremely excited to partner with ScholarChip and help them achieve their growth strategy. We’re confident that with their strong market positioning and solutions, along with our best practices, and M&A expertise, ScholarChip and its customers will benefit from this relationship for years to come.”

4 smart ways to use security to power the business of the future

In the new era of work, our relationship with the workplace is defined by flexibility and mobility. Employees are working across the home, office, and blended spaces more than ever before, as well as working varied hours to suit the modern work schedule. This new hybrid workforce model holds the potential for more diverse talent and better productivity, but it also comes with its challenges – one being how to ensure security, health, and safety in the workplace. Strong and smart security ecosystem While nearly one-third of companies report that they’ve implemented a hybrid model, according to a recent survey by STANLEY Security, many still have much to do to prepare their office for the future. Building a strong – and smart – security ecosystem is crucial in preparing for the future. As such, businesses should consider technologies that help protect their people, as well as safeguard their assets, optimise their operations, and secure their network. 1)Protect your people Implementation of a security ecosystem combines health, safety, and security hardware and software solutions seamlessly Nearly 60% of mid-market and enterprise businesses across the UK and US report that the health and safety of their employees and customers are a primary concern when implementing modern and hybrid working models. This begs the question: How can businesses create a safe and healthy work environment when 59% are planning to bring employees back on-site in some capacity within the next 18 months? The answer lies, in part, in the implementation of a security ecosystem that combines various health, safety, and security hardware and software solutions seamlessly. Integrating platform Nearly half (46%) of business decision-makers say they are interested in adopting an integrated platform such as this. This means integrating traditional and digital security solutions, then leveraging the data and insights they produce to further enhance the workplace experience. Take this example: With employees and visitors moving in and out of the office at different times, a business may lack oversight of occupancy or density levels, people flow, workspace scheduling, visitor check-in processes, and more. However, with visitor management, access control, and other building/business systems integrated, employees can reserve a workspace for a specific date and time and be granted access to the building. Leveraging AI and machine learning Visitors can pre-register, answer a health screening questionnaire, and receive a mobile credential before arriving. Once the visitor arrives on-site, the system can alert the respective department – all without the close contact typically required for traditional visitor check-in processes. When layering artificial intelligence and machine learning on top of the data, a business may identify trends in people flow and opportunities to optimise congested areas. They may also see that certain rooms within the building get more use than others and leverage these insights to manage their space more effectively. All of this is powered by a security ecosystem that can help a business better protect its people while realising other benefits in the process. 2) Safeguard your assets Businesses are concerned about the security of their assets when it comes to the hybrid workforce model Even more, businesses are concerned about the security of their assets when it comes to the hybrid workforce model. About 72% of leaders say this is, in fact, their primary concern with the hybrid approach. This figure isn’t surprising when you consider the impact of the pandemic, which left many businesses closed either temporarily or permanently, with few people allowed on-site to manage facility operations. As a result of the pandemic, we saw tech adoption accelerate at an astonishing rate – simply because businesses had to implement cloud and remote technologies to survive during a time when buildings were closed indefinitely. Remote management and visibility This was particularly true for security solutions, such as cloud video surveillance and cloud access control solutions like wireless IoT-connected locks. Nine out of 10 businesses (91%) report that they have already implemented cloud security technology; of those, nearly half (48%) stated that this was due to the pandemic. These technologies allow for remote management and provide visibility into business operations at the same time. In a retail setting, for example, cloud video surveillance allows businesses to identify and track not only criminal activity, but also foot traffic patterns, peak operating hours, staff shortages, and more. Loss prevention strategy When integrated with the retailer’s point-of-sale (POS) system, businesses can gain greater insights into their traffic counts, end cap effectiveness, loyalty card activity, and a variety of POS exceptions, such as high-dollar transactions, repeated transactions, excessive returns, employee discounts, and more. For retailers especially, a security ecosystem means a more efficient loss prevention strategy that helps safeguard assets and profits. 3) Optimise your operations The “future of work” is still very much a work in progress, but one thing is clear: Businesses are looking for ways to increase efficiencies, drive cost savings, and, ultimately, optimise their operations – especially now with the challenges posed by price inflation. A relatively untapped opportunity for businesses to achieve these goals lies within their security infrastructure. Security technology and solutions gather incredibly rich data which, when unlocked, can help businesses understand how their buildings are being used, when the busiest times are, where there are highly trafficked areas, and more. Leveraging cloud video surveillance systems, businesses could identify emerging staff training needs Cloud video surveillance systems For example, by leveraging the insights produced by cloud video surveillance systems, businesses could identify emerging staff training needs, which could ultimately result in improved employee satisfaction and reduced attrition. However, much of this data sits untouched within the infrastructure, leaving businesses unaware of the opportunities in front of them. 44% of businesses that currently use a cloud security system for its primary use say they want to know how else this technology can be utilised, and an additional 20% aren’t even aware that it could be used in other ways. AI and analytics The interest in adoption is promising for the office of the future, especially when we see that the majority of businesses (78%) would consider using AI and analytics technologies to optimise their operations, helping their business to operate more effectively and efficiently. The increase in adoption of cloud technology – paired with the rise in interest in AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics – could make it possible for businesses to uncover invaluable insights from their security infrastructure and leverage them to adapt and build business resilience. 4) Secure your network Advanced technology help businesses improve their cybersecurity, making it harder for hackers to gain entry With cyber threats becoming more prevalent, businesses are increasingly looking to secure their networks and protect their data. More than half (54%) of those surveyed expressed interest in using AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics to secure their network by identifying and eliminating cybersecurity threats. Advanced and automated technology can help businesses improve their cybersecurity, making it harder for hackers to gain entry to the larger corporate network. Modern cybersecurity tools that use AI and machine learning can detect anomalies in network traffic or alert and act on suspicious behaviour. Cybersecurity software For example, if an IoT device suddenly begins broadcasting and establishing connections with multiple devices, cybersecurity software could detect this abnormal behaviour, send an alert, and suspend traffic or quarantine an endpoint immediately – saving precious time during a potential breach. A single data breach could result in widespread distrust from workers and customers, potentially leading to decreased business as well as litigation issues. As such, businesses need to take action to update and strengthen their defences so that they can avoid downtime and continue to operate with peace of mind. Prepare your business for the future Businesses will continue to look for more ways to extract value out of their existing infrastructure, including their security technology. For many, the tools to do so are already in place, it’s just a matter of unlocking the insights with a security ecosystem. With such an ecosystem – one that helps protect a business’ people, assets, and network, while optimising operations – companies can better safeguard the future of their workspaces and usher in the new era of work with confidence.

Security Executive Council’s SLRI unveils 2021 Corporate Security Organisational Structure, Cost of Services and Staffing Benchmark

The Security Leadership Research Institute (SLRI), part of the Security Executive Council (SEC), has released the results of its 2021 Corporate Security Organisational Structure, Cost of Services and Staffing Benchmark. A few highlights of the new benchmark include: 41% of respondents operated at the Director level Average security budget reported was US$ 13,254,850 On average, respondents reported one security employee, for every 93 employees Results on SLRI's new benchmark Security leaders have used the budget, title and reporting data, provided by this benchmark, to avoid budget reductions Security leaders have used the budget, title and reporting data, provided by this benchmark, to avoid budget reductions and secure job title changes, so as to better reflect their level of responsibility. The 2021 Corporate Security Organisational Structure, Cost of Services and Staffing Benchmark results include more detailed data breakdown and more comparison data than previous versions of the benchmark. The full report includes: Report-to level by organisation revenue Domains managed compared to security budget Report-to function vs. reporting level Budget by square footage Budget as a percentage of revenue Budget by sites covered Budget per employee Uniformed security vs organisational employees Personnel cost as a percentage of budget Responses and respondents vetted for data accuracy The report also details security’s responsibility and accountability by programme (e.g., supply chain security, IT forensic investigation, business continuity, asset protection), broken down by revenue, the number of employees, budget, and more. The Security Leadership Research Institute (SLRI) carefully vets responses and respondents, in order to ensure a high level of confidence in the reliability and accuracy of benchmark data. No other organisation focuses exclusively on quality, meaningful research specific to the corporate security function.