Banking & finance security applications

Market dynamics are changing the U.S. residential security market, creating new business models that better appeal to the approximately 70% of households without a security system. Smart home adjacencies have helped revitalise the traditional security industry, and alternative approaches to systems and monitoring for the security industry are emerging, including a new batch of DIY systems. Growth in the residential security market and its position as the channel for smart home solutions have attracted numerous new entrants. Telecoms, cable operators, and CE (consumer electronics) manufacturers are joining traditional security players as they compete to fulfill consumer demand for safety and security. Connected products also provide a layer of competition as consumers must decide whether having category devices such as doorbell video cameras, networked cameras, and other products suffice for their security. Increasingly competitive landscape Smart home services can provide additional revenue streams for the security industry For instance, IP cameras are a highly popular smart home device rooted in security, and Parks Associates estimates 7.7 million standalone and all-in-one networked/IP cameras will be sold in the U.S. in 2018, with $889M in revenues. Product owners may feel their security needs are fulfilled with this single purchase, as such dealers and service providers are under increasing pressure to communicate their value proposition to consumers. Categorically, each type of player is facing competition uniquely—national, regional, and local dealers all have a different strategy for overcoming the increasingly competitive landscape. Smart home services can provide additional revenue streams for the security industry. In Parks Associates’ 2017 survey of U.S. security dealers, 58% report that smart home service capabilities enable extra monthly revenue. Almost half of dealers also note they have to offer smart home devices and services in order to keep up with their competition. While white-label devices are acceptable in some instances, dealers need to integrate with hero products whenever possible when those exist for a category. For dealers who have added smart home devices and services are all potential benefits and good for business Improved customer engagement That 2017 survey also revealed 36% of security dealers that offer interactive services report security system sales with a networked camera and 16% report sales with a smart thermostat. For dealers who have added smart home devices and services, enhanced system utility, increased daily value, and improved customer engagement with the system are all potential benefits and good for business. Security has served as the most productive channel for smart home solutions, mainly because the products create natural extensions of a security system’s functions and benefits, but as smart home devices, subsystems, and controllers expand their functionality, availability, and DIY capabilities, many standalone devices constitute competition to classical security. Particularly viable substitute devices include IP cameras, smart door locks, smart garage doors, or a combination of these devices. Products that are self-installed offer both convenience and cost savings, and these drivers are significant among DIY consumers—among the 6% of broadband households that installed a security system themselves, 39% did it to save money. Enhance traditional security Self-installable smart home devices may resonate with a segment of the market who want security While many security dealers believe substitute offerings are a threat, some dealers do not find such devices an existential threat but instead view them as another path to consumer awareness. They argue that the difference between smart product substitutes and traditional security is that of a solution that provides knowledge versus a system that gives one the ability to act on that knowledge. A common theme among professional monitoring providers is that a homeowner who is aware of events happening in the home does not necessarily have a secure and protected household. For example, a Nest camera, a DIY product, notifies a consumer via smartphone about events in the home when it detects motion, but only when the notification is opened and identified will a consumer be able to act on the related event. Self-installable smart home devices may resonate with a segment of the market who want security but are unwilling to adopt professional monitoring; however, providers can leverage these devices to enhance traditional security features and communicate the value of professional monitoring. Smart home devices and features, while posing a threat to some security companies, are a potential way forward to increased market growth Increased market growth A key counterstrategy for security dealers and companies is to leverage their current, powerful role as the prime channel for smart home devices. Many security dealers now include smart home devices with their security systems to complement their offerings and increase system engagement. For example, as of Q4 2017, nearly 70% of U.S. broadband households that were very likely to purchase a security system in the next 12 months reported that they want a camera to be included as part of their security system purchase. In response, many security system providers now offer IP cameras as optional enhancements for their systems. Smart home devices and features, while posing a threat to some security companies, are a potential way forward to increased market growth. Security dealers have an opportunity to become more than a security provider but a smart home solutions provider rooted in safety. Provide status updates Comcast has entered both the professionally monitored security market and the market for smart home services The alternative is to position as a provider of basic security with low price as the key differentiator. Comcast has entered both the professionally monitored security market and the market for smart home services independent of security. It has discovered that monetising smart home value propositions through recurring revenue becomes increasingly challenging as the value extends further away from life safety. Since the security industry remains the main channel for smart home services, security dealers are in a unique position to leverage that strength. Value propositions must shift from the traditional arming and disarming of a system to peace-of-mind experiences that builds off the benefits of smart devices in the home to provide status updates (e.g., if the kids arrived home safely) and monitoring at will (e.g., checking home status at any time to see a pet or monitor a package delivery). These types of clear value propositions and compelling use cases, which resonate with consumer and motivate them to expand beyond standalone products, will help expand the home security market.

One of the biggest recent security divestitures in the news was the sale of Mercury Security to HID Global, which occurred around a year ago. The seller in that transaction was ACRE (Access Control Related Enterprises), also the parent company of Vanderbilt and ComNet. We recently spoke to founder and CEO Joe Grillo, a 30-year industry veteran, about the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market, ACRE’s future, and new opportunities opened up by the Mercury sale. Q: What’s new with ACRE? Grillo: We have an opportunity to have organic growth and to have some scale on a global basis to be a decent size player" ACRE is a company I founded in 2012, and since then we have had six acquisitions and one divestiture. We’ll never focus on ACRE as a brand, but we currently have more visibility of ACRE as a parent company with our two strong brands, ComNet and Vanderbilt. Last year was a very busy year [with the sale of Mercury Security to HID Global] because it takes as long to sell a brand as to buy one, maybe more so. Q: What’s next? Grillo: What you are seeing from us this year is that we are again in a buying mode. No announcement yet, but we expect one by the end of the year. We are well-funded, have great partners, and see an opportunity to continue to grow acquisitively as our highly fragmented space of access control continues to consolidate. From the standpoint of ACRE, with the ComNet and Vanderbilt brands, we are also doing more integration on the backside – not what the customer sees. We will continue to grow toward a $200 million business. We were there when we owned Mercury, and we will get there again. We have an opportunity to have organic growth and to have some scale on a global basis to be a decent size player. Because ACRE are owned by a private equity company, we are brought into every opportunity: ComNet is a good example" Q: Do you see the M&A market being more competitive – more companies looking to acquire? Grillo: There’s a lot of money chasing not-so-many deals, so evaluations can get expanded. But as interest rates creep up, it is definitely a challenge to find the right valuation, the right financing and the right strategic fit. It is a very strategic market. Q: There have been some big acquisitions lately. Were you guys involved at all in evaluating those opportunities? Grillo: Because we are owned by a private equity company, we are brought into every opportunity. An example of that was ComNet. I would not have been aware that the founder passed away two years ago and that there was this opportunity to own the business. So we look at everything; anything that’s out there we look at. The biggest recent announcement in our world was S2 (being sold to UTC/Lenel), and, yeah, we looked at that. It didn’t fit our profile – it was too expensive. Great business, and it’ll be interesting to see how it fits into the UTC environment. There was also Isonas [which was recently sold to Allegion], but the size didn’t add enough scale, but I like the technology. ComNet sells communication networking solutions and products, which is more attractive than video systems for ACRE Q: So what are you looking for in an acquisition? Grillo: It’s hard for us to find something that moves the needle, and you have to find that right balance. Is it something we can digest and have the financing for, and also is there room on the back end? We are private equity-owned, so we know there will be an exit for our investors, too. So we have to find the right balance, good valuations, the right size and digestible. If you look at our acquisitions, we have done two “carve outs.” The Vanderbilt name didn’t exist until we bought the business from Ingersoll Rand, and then we bought the [intruder] business from Siemens. That’s how Vanderbilt came about. You get a lot of value when you carve out a business, but there’s a lot of work. In the case of Mercury or Access Control Technology (ACT) that we acquired; they were growing and profitable but they stretch your finances a lot more. So you have to find the right mix in there. Q: Does video interest ACRE at all? Grillo: We have to find the right balance, good valuations, the right size and digestible"ComNet is our video play. ComNet sells communication networking solutions and products, and 70 to 80 percent of that is used for video systems. But unlike cameras, which don’t interest us, it’s actually good margins, highly specialised repeat business and with good channel partners. So where are we going to play? Cameras – no (because of commoditisation). We have some recorder technology (from the Siemens acquisition) and we have the communication networking technology (with ComNet). On the software side, we have looked at a lot of the VMS companies, and a lot of them have been on the market. But the valuation expectations can be high because they are software companies. And we really believe in partnering as a good thing, too. If we integrate to Milestone or Salient or some of these companies, we will never lose an access control client because they chose a particular VMS. Q: ACRE is also looking to grow organically, isn’t it? Grillo: From a technology perspective, we are a product company and we are continuing to bring new products to the market with the ComNet communication networking business and the access control business. And in Europe, we have a third leg of the stool, which is the very successful intrusion and burgular alarm business we acquired from Siemens (SPC products now sold under the Vanderbilt brand). That business continues to do well and is now one of the highest performing segments in our portfolio.The intrusion and burgular alarm continues to do well and is now one of the highest performing segments in our portfolio" Q: But you don’t have to own a company to make it part of your solution. Grillo: An important word is integration. We have to integrate to all the wireless locks. We have to integrate to the VMS systems. But we don’t have to own them. Q: How has the Mercury Security divestiture impacted the rest of your business? Grillo: It has opened up the opportunity for us to look at Mercury partners as possible acquisition targets without worrying about conflicts with the very good business of Mercury. We have more flexibility now compared to the Mercury era. Q: How will the economic cycle impact the security market? Grillo: Interest rates are a much bigger issue than the overall economic cycle. We talk a lot about it with our owners – clearly interest rates are tightening up. If you go out to do acquisitions or to borrow money to do something with your business, it will be tougher than it was two years ago, and it may get worse in the next two years. Security is less impacted by the economic cycle than some industries.

In the simplest terms, video systems capture and record video. But supporting these basic operations are a growing number of other functions that expand usefulness and the ability to interact with related elements in a larger system. As video system functionality expands, we asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What is the most important function of a CCTV system and why?

In 1901 New York state made a pioneering regulation move and became the first US state to require automobile owners to register their vehicles. This marked the beginning of regulation on modern traffic, which - following decades of development - resulted in a multi-layer concept of regulation relating to vehicles and driver’s licenses, traffic signs and insurance mechanisms that we are all familiar with nowadays. While certain parallels can be drawn between the early days of cars and our contemporary experience with quadcopters, we are facing a new challenging era that is far more complex to organise and regulate. Integrating drones in existing regulatory ecosystem Similar to other pioneering technologies in the past, drones need to integrate into a long existing and well-balanced ecosystem, the rules of which have first been drafted some one hundred years ago and have evolved without taking vehicles such as drones into account. Yet the safety risks related to aviation hinder the quick integration of drones into that ecosystem, broadening the gap between existing regulatory landscape and the exponentially growing popularity and ever-advancing technology of drones. The safety risks related to aviation hinder the quick integration of drones into the legislative ecosystem For the past several years, governments and legislators have been trying to tackle this problem by trying to answer two questions: how to properly integrate drones into the airspace without creating a hazardous impact on existing airborne operations, and how to enforce regulations in order to prevent the side-effects related to careless or malicious drone flights, taking into consideration public safety and physical security. Counter-UAS measures and regulations Up until 2018, legislators tried to tackle these two questions as a whole by introducing bundled legislation drafts covering the entire landscape of gaps they needed to address, which resulted in multi-parliamentary committee efforts both in the US and abroad to review and approve each bill - a process that is very slow by design. It was only in the beginning of this year that the issues were starting to be addressed separately: legislation related to limitations and counter-drone measures on the one hand, and legislation related to integration into airspace on the other. Let’s take a closer look at Counter-UAS (unmanned aerial systems) measures and what makes them challenging in terms of regulation. Over the past years, various counter-drone technologies have been introduced to enable control over rogue drones in order to either stop them from achieving their flight purpose or prevent them from creating safety hazards to people or property. These measures can be grouped into 3 types of technologies: Military grade solutions - including lasers and surface-air missiles Kinetic solutions - including net-guns and autonomous drones set out to catch the rogue drone and disable it airborne Non-kinetic RF-based solutions - aimed at either disabling, disrupting or accessing the drone’s communications channels in order to trigger a return-to-home function, or guide the drone into a safe landing route Aside from combat military operations, the legality of using the above technologies is questionable as they tamper with an airborne aircraft, might be considered as wiretapping and/or violate computer fraud laws. Therefore, one can conclude that unless changes to regulation are made, non-military facilities will continue to be defenceless from and vulnerable to rogue drones.  One can conclude that unless changes to regulation are made, non-military facilities will continue to be defenceless from and vulnerable to rogue drones European c-UAS legislation Next, let’s look at the state of c-UAS legislation in both Europe and US to better understand different legislative ecosystems and how they affect the possibilities of using counter drone measures. In the European Union, there is currently no uniform legislation, and the member countries rely on their own existing legal infrastructures. Roughly speaking, most countries use a method of exemptions to the communications and aviation laws to allow the use of counter drone measures after a close examination by the relevant authorities. Such exemptions are approved under scrutiny to particular sites, which provide some relief, but they do not allow broad use of countermeasures. Further discussion regarding a broader regulation change, on a country level or EU-wide, is only preliminary. US c-UAS legislation Preventing Emerging Threats - provides an initial infrastructure for counter drone measures to be used by various DoJ and DHS agenciesUnlike the EU, in the US exemptions are not possible within the existing legal framework, and the possible violation of US code title 18 means that the hands of both the government or private entities are tied when attempting to protect mass public gatherings, sports venues, or critical infrastructure. Therefore, it was more urgent to introduce legislation that would allow countermeasures to some extent. In September, US Congress approved the FAA-reauthorisation act for the next 5 years (H.R. 302), which was shortly after signed by the President and came into effect. Division H of the act - Preventing Emerging Threats - provides an initial infrastructure for counter drone measures to be used by various DoJ (Department of Justice) and DHS (Department of Homeland Security) agencies under strict limitations. However, the act avoids determining which technology the agencies should use, yet it requires minimal impact on privacy and overall safety in order to strike the necessary balance. This is the first profound counter-drone legislation and is expected to be followed by additional measures both in the US and in other countries. Updating counter-drone legal infrastructure In summary, 2018 has been a pioneering year for counter-drone legislation, and while technology already allows taking action when necessary, legal infrastructure needs further updates in order to close the existing gaps: covering additional federal assets, state-level governments, and private facilities of high importance, such as critical infrastructure sites. Legislators in the US and around the world need to continue working in a rapid tempo to keep up with the growing threat of drones. As with cars a century ago, the number of accidents will rise with the increase in time taken to regulate.

Whether you are a veteran in the access control world or have never installed a card reader before, there are always ways to increase profits in the ever-evolving world of access control. The hope is that by considering a few key focal points, you can find ways to increase market share. Whether we are releasing an electronic lock through a simple intercom button or using biometric and multi-authentication based on a database; the tactics for bringing on more revenue is the same. Learning to focus on a few key items can help open up opportunities. Business access controls Understanding vertical markets is a strong strategy for success in increasing your profits with access controlIf you are new to access control, it’s important to determine the right product offerings for your business model and experience level of your team. Mistakes in estimating or installing can be costly and complex. Take advantage of manufacturer training both online and in the classroom for both your sales team and installation department. It’s important to understand the fire and building codes in your area to make sure you design the proper solution for your customers. Furthermore, understanding the products, components and proper wiring can save you money in labour and materials.  Today we will look at four focus points: vertical markets, cloud-based access control, technology upgrades, and preventative maintenance and service agreements. These four focal points are simple to implement and can be easily added to your current operation. Vertical markets Understanding vertical markets is a strong strategy for success in increasing your profits with access control. The concept is that understanding a certain vertical and their security needs can increase your sales team’s marketability. If you spend your time focusing on the healthcare industry, for instance, you will see that HIPA requirements open doors for selling access control. Getting to know the regulatory concerns of different verticals is a great strategy for more effective sales Having logs of who entered your HR files room or patient records storage is a crucial part of addressing privacy concerns. Getting to know the regulatory concerns of different verticals is a great strategy for more effective sales.  Another example could be apartment communities or other multifamily dwellings. In this competitive marketplace, these complexes are looking for ways to stand out in their market. Knowing this and being able to offer amenities like secured locks with Bluetooth credentials that tenants can open with their smartphones is a selling point for you and for your customer. Building on each customer you contact within a vertical is like free sales and marketing training. The more you learn from each potential client, the more you increase your conversation starters for the next potential client. Cloud-based access control With the growing cloud-based access control market, integrators can find more opportunities in small businesses and vertical markets that typically wouldn’t be on the radar of your sales team. A typical card access system often makes the move from the traditional lock and key systems to electronic card access cost prohibitive. This is due to the large upfront costs for a server, software and annual licensing. With cloud access, integrators can offer less expensive upfront costs with low monthly subscription fees that cover all software updates, database backups, security patches and more. The real benefit for the integrator is the reoccurring revenue. By helping our clients save money on server, software and IT infrastructure costs, we are securing reoccurring revenue for our companies that increase our profitability. Building reoccurring revenue not only provides cash flow but also keeps your name on the top of the minds of your customer and that leads to additional sales. By helping clients save money on server, software and IT infrastructure costs, we are securing reoccurring revenue for companies that increase profitability Technology upgrades Another often overlooked opportunity is technology upgrades. Training your sales staff and even service technicians to watch out for clients with older technology can reap major benefits. When you bring new technology to your clients, you show another value that you bring to the table. Even if your client isn’t ready to make an upgrade, you can easily plant a seed that will get their minds and budgets rolling. An easy example is a customer with an older intercom door access system An easy example is a customer with an older intercom door access system. This may have met their needs 10 years ago when it was installed, but the office has grown and perhaps an integrated card access intercom system is a great technology upgrade. Bringing this to the customer will once again show that you are the “subject matter expert” and your customer will be more apt to refer you to their friends and colleagues. Another easy way to find technology upgrades is to dig through your ageing client list and build a list of potential targets that you have not visited lately. If you keep records of what was installed previously, it will make it easier to plan ahead and bring solutions to your next visit, saving your sales staff time and again building confidence with your clients. Preventive maintenance and service agreements One thing that sales teams often miss is the opportunity to add service agreements and preventative maintenance agreements. Even if a customer already has an access control system, they may not have a service provider and may be interested in securing a service agreement. Typically, a service agreement can be written to cover all parts and labour or just labour for an annual feeShowing the value of a service agreement is paramount, adding annual or semi-annual preventative maintenance to your service agreement is one way to add value. Inspecting locking mechanisms, request to exit motions and buttons, door status switches, headend equipment, batteries and power supplies, can save your customer from a costly after-hours service call or the inconvenience of a non-functioning access control system during business hours. Additionally, checking computer hardware and software logs for errors can save a customer from a catastrophic failure.  Typically, a service agreement can be written to cover all parts and labour or just labour for an annual fee. It is helpful to come up with a percentage of the install value that makes sense so that your sales team can easily quote a service agreement for your customer. Offering several levels of service also opens the table for negotiations. You can offer an “all parts and labour 24/7” or a “parts and labour M-F 8AM-4PM”, as an example. Offering guaranteed response times can also be a marketing strategy. Critical area access management Checking computer hardware and software logs for errors can save a customer from a catastrophic failureA 24-7 facility that has 200 employees moving in and out of critical areas may be a great potential customer for a high-level service agreement with semi-annual preventative maintenance and a guaranteed 4-hour response time. Where a small office that is only open during standard business hours may be better suited for a labour only M-F with annual preventative maintenance inspection. The point is that a creative, intentional, and focused approach to access control can yield the fruit that brings long-term success to your team. Building a plan and learning from each prospect, sale, and installation will develop a process that brings results. Attending a trade specific expo like ESX will give you the opportunity to meet with manufacturers and other integrators that can help you implement a product offering and strategy for success.

ISC East is making a name for itself as a must-attend regional conference and trade show in New York City that brings together the large community of law enforcement and private sector security professionals from the Tri-State area. ISC East, being held Nov. 14-15 at New York’s Javits Center, is emerging from the long shadow of its sister show – ISC West in Las Vegas in the spring – and making its own mark on the industry. ISC East is 20% larger than last year, and exhibitors have swelled from 230 to more than 300. Familiar names at ISC East this year (who were absent in 2017) include Allegion, Arecont Vision Costar, Bosch Security Systems, and Seagate Technology. In all, there are 115 new exhibitors compared to 2017.Familiar names at ISC East this year (who were absent in 2017) include Allegion, Arecont Vision Costar and Bosch Security Systems “We purposefully make sure we reflect the region we are in,” says Will Wise, Group Vice President, Security Portfolio, Reed Exhibitions. “It’s not a mistake that both our keynote speakers have New York-centric backgrounds and have topics to reach a larger market. We want to tap into the strengths of the region.”  ISC East (International Security Conference & Exposition) has come a long way in the last five years. In 2014, the show was a mere 28,000 square feet, and this year it has grown to 44,000 square feet of exhibit space. One factor driving growth has been improvements in the educational session, powered largely by show partner Security Industry Association (SIA). The two-day event is characterised by “good energy” on both days, says Wise. There is less than 10% duplication of attendance with ISC West. Liability issues of event security A big topic for New York and surrounding areas is event security, and one session covers “Confined Space Protection & Risk Mitigation for Today’s Industry Leaders.” The session will focus on safeguarding event organisers’ brands, protecting them from liability, and balancing the need for security that doesn’t negatively impact the “guest experience.” One factor driving growth has been improvements in the educational session, powered largely by show partner Security Industry Association (SIA) Liability issues of event security are especially timely now, given MGM Resorts' recent lawsuit asking the courts to protect it from legal liability in the wake of the Las Vegas massacre last October.  “Event security is integration of physical security with smart technology and not being overzealous,” says James DeMeo, Founder, President and CEO of Unified Sports & Entertainment Security Consulting LLC. DeMeo’s presentation on event security is one of the “back by popular demand” sessions at ISC East – there was a big turnout for his previous sessions at last year’s ISC East and at ISC West.  “A big part of event security is integrating technology, but we also need the human element,” says DeMeo. “Good guest security and harmonious relationships require a level of training that includes escalation, behavioral analysis, and communicating more harmoniously.” ISC East is 20% larger than last year, and exhibitors have swelled from 230 to more than 300 Holistic approach and technology integrations From the session, DeMeo hopes attendees will take away awareness of the need for responsible social media monitoring, integration of technology, threat behaviour analysis and early attack indicators, proactive risk mitigation, and staff training. The emphasis is on a holistic approach “from the top down and the bottom up,” says DeMeo. “It’s a sophisticated niche based on potential liability, and we must do everything possible to protect fans and patrons.” Crowd security is another ISC East topic that is tailor-made to the New York location of the show Crowd security is another ISC East topic that is tailor-made to the New York location of the show. A session on installation of safety and security barriers to protect pedestrians and crowds is another session that is “back by popular demand.” Rob Reiter, co-founder of the Storefront Safety Council, will present the session on protecting urban environments.   Another return session is about drone security and regulations. It will provide an overview of current policy and regulatory framework and provide understanding of how to get involved in the discussion to enable drone use in security applications. Converged security and smart cities A new session at ISC East this year will be “Smart Cities, Smart Buildings and the Evolution of the Converged Security Approach.” Pierre Bourgeix, president of ESI Convergent, will help attendees understand converged security and how it relates to the smart cities and smart buildings movement. Located on the ISC East exhibit floor, Unmanned Security Expo will include exhibits and demos of UAVs, UGVs and autonomous systems SIA and ASIS International will present findings from a study on how successful individuals can gain experience and skills they need to advance their security careers.  Co-locating with ISC East will be the Unmanned Security Expo, which focuses on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Unmanned Ground Robotics & Vehicles (UGVs), counter-drone solutions and software applications to support them. Located on the ISC East exhibit floor, Unmanned Security Expo will include exhibits and demos of UAVs, UGVs and autonomous systems. Also co-locating with ISC East will be Infosecurity North America, which includes a conference program with well-respected industry speakers, an expo floor and networking opportunities.

Financial institutions of all sizes demand simple, reliable solutions to protect against fraud, theft, and accidents in the workplace. Advancements in camera resolution and storage capabilities have put pressure on banks and credit unions to upgrade their video surveillance systems. Upgrading to a modern, economical NVR server will greatly increase system performance and scalability for small-budget projects with benefits seen across both loss prevention and business insights. Reliable high performance However, not all banks have the same security budget as large institutions. This makes high-power, custom-built solutions seem unrealistic; however, small projects featuring bandwidth limitations need to retain the ability to scale up depending on future surveillance demands. Before any system expansion can occur, reliable high-performance must be established. White-box solutions compromise quality and underperform when exposed to the tough requirements of the financial security market. Fortunately, custom-built, video-optimised solutions are not exclusive to large multinational financial institutions. Network architecture When upgrading an ineffective digital security system, a new network architecture needs to be created. Usually, this means switching from DVR to NVR servers. As a result, network switches attach to the camera allowing for easier future system expansion. Along with the newly gained scalability, throughput performance on servers can achieve significantly higher levels.BCDVideo offers servers, networking and workstations that provide enterprise-quality performance for all financial projects, regardless of size Implementing a complete video solution with high-performance servers, modern networking protocols and powerful workstations in financial institutions is now possible, even for small projects. BCDVideo offers servers, networking and workstations that provide enterprise-quality performance for all financial projects, regardless of size. The Benchmark Magazine 2016 Infrastructure award winner Aurora Server Series earns its name by marking the dawn of a new era in DVR replacement. Small-budget projects that have previously succumbed to the pressure of sacrificing quality for short-term savings now have access to servers with redundant power, 12Gbps RAID controller with 2GB of Flash Based Write Cache, hot-pluggable helium hard drive, and 10,000 PassMark rated CPUs. These big project features fit price-conscious budgets while maintaining the high-performance found in enterprise surveillance. BCDVideo Titan Networking The Titan Networking Series is priced well below standard to ensure project size and scope does not prevent an integrator from deploying a complete networking solution. Without the added cost of a networking engineer, savings reach into the thousands. Additionally, by using cutting-edge technology like Shortest Path Bridging, Titan switches, backed by a five-year, on-site warranty, will run at a high-level for years. The Gamma Series workstations fill the void in commercial and enterprise environments. Ideal for access control and IP video surveillance, they are powerful enough to render high-quality megapixel images for applications running 24/7. Optimised for advanced graphics and video capabilities, smaller projects can use the Gamma Series as both a video recorder and viewer.

To the lay person they appear to be simple LED light spots going back to the original style of illumination of the old 1800s palace (1876) that currently houses the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance, and that historically represents the first great building of the newly reborn Roman capital, as commissioned by the former Minister Quintino Sella. Hidden in plain sight The carefully hidden technology, however, transforms each of the 20 light points (appropriately designated “Roma lights”) decorating the external perimeter into a state-of-the-art tool to guarantee the security of the public in the area around the Ministry. The transformation is executed thanks to the internal installation of IP cameras produced and distributed world-wide by the German company MOBOTIX, equipped with software for recording and processing the images. Notwithstanding the innovation of the performance, the new lighting systems are perfectly integrated, from an aesthetic point of view, with the historic palace where they are installed: A very advanced system, therefore, in terms of technology, but completely hidden inside a design in perfect harmony with the place where the light spot is installed, as envisioned and implemented by Dr. Massimo Belli, Appointed Administrator of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Dr. Umberto Dall’Aglio, Director of the VI Office of the IV Department of the Ministry and by Architect Gianluca Canofeni, Director of the Works and Technical Administrator of the IV Department. High efficiency at a low cost The transformation is executed thanks to the internal installation of IP cameras produced and distributed by MOBOTIX  “The motivation for the project was multifaceted: On the one hand to realise a control system based upon state-of-the-art video surveillance tools, and on the other hand implementing a new lighting project to substantially reduce electricity consumption – within the scope of energy efficiency –, guaranteeing at the same time a much longer useful life, and as a result a substantial reduction of maintenance costs”, said Lieutenant Colonel Saverio La Monaca, chief of the Central Security Organisation of the Ministry. As per the costs, the analysis carried out by the Ghisamestieri teams, obviously as a function of the actual system utilisation give a clear picture: It is foreseen that the initial investment will be recouped within only 4 or 5 years and economic savings of even 50% between the fifth and fifteenth year of useful life of the system. With respect to energy savings, MOBOTIX’ video cameras provide a further guarantee, since their energy consumption is extremely low in comparison with other technologies present on the market: about 4 to 6 watts per hour. MOBOTIX DualDome cameras The project, comprises today of 20 wall light spots installed in strategic positions throughout the Ministry. Each shelf hides inside 2 MOBOTIX DualDome cameras with 180 degrees field of view, for an overall total of 40 high-resolution IP security cameras. The images can be recorded inside the cameras 24/7 (colour, and black and white) to be viewed at the control centre located inside the Ministry building. The security personnel belonging to the military branch of the Financial Guard manage the complete video surveillance apparatus and constantly monitor the images of the cameras in real time. 10 wireless routers manufactured by the young Italian company 3WLan, are installed inside a similar number of wall brackets and are capable of guaranteeing the bi-directional Wi-Fi link between the control centre and the patrols active outside the palace. This is possible thanks to an authentication on a RADIUS server that identifies the access permissions of the router on a list of authorised equipment. Exchange data and images in real time The new wireless system guarantees much more reduced operating expenses against a much more intensive use profile" “Especially in case of demonstrations, which is actually very common, our security operators are involved in the so-called pacification operations outside the palace for the purpose of first of all protecting the ministerial magistrates. These are carried out both on foot and inside our patrols – which implies the need to rapidly cross-check the owner of a particular vehicle or verifying the personal data on passports and identification documents. "Before installing the new intelligent light spots we relied on a GSM system that was, however, very expensive. The new wireless system guarantees much more reduced operating expenses against a much more intensive use profile”, added Giancarlo Varvo, who is responsible for security. The video surveillance technology available on the patrol vehicles, which are also equipped with tools to read license plates, or palmtop operating systems (also known as explorers) supplied to foot patrols, once within the radius of coverage of the poles equipped with Wi-Fi antennas, have the option of exchanging data and images with the operations centre inside the Ministry by means of a recognition system. Furthermore, by connecting to a specific IP address, external patrols have the possibility to view the images recorded by a specific video camera in real time. Remote day/night illumination management Each support is also equipped with a remote switch that allows managing the illumination and video surveillance functions completely autonomously and independently from each other. While the light source turns on at dusk and switches off at sunrise, the cameras continue functioning 24/7, according to the specific settings they may record both in continuous mode or trigger upon an event, such as the movement of a pedestrian, or a sound. The cameras placed close to the entrances of the Ministry are capable of sending alerts in real time to the operations centre, or activating a bollard along the perimeter thanks to an automatic vehicle license plate reading system. Nothing to object about the support of the engineers of Ghisamestieri, that proved to beat all times available and collaborative in answering the requirements of the Ministry. Also, no complaints about Genius, a unique world-wide illumination solution, capable of offering high level design and advanced technology in a single solution. No objections about the technology made in Germany of MOBOTIX. Securing the facility with additional cameras In fact, the operations room located inside the Ministry remotely controls the recording of more than 1,600 cameras" “In addition to the project implemented with Ghisamestieri, we employed the technology of MOBOTIX also for other types of requirements, still obviously related to the security of the Ministry: 36 AllroundMono security cameras have already been installed on the roof of the palace to check potential attacks for instance through the air vent conduits to the so-called Tempest room, a completely aseptic environment for the protection of communications inside the Ministry. "In fact, the operations room located inside the Ministry remotely controls the recording of more than 1,600 cameras installed in various facilities connected to the department”, underscores Varvo. The light spots installed in Rome find their place in a wider project, where any illumination support can potentially serve as a technology node. Named “Genius” by their creators, regardless of the design or aesthetic form, any light spot is potentially capable of becoming a true security centre, perfectly integrated from the aesthetic and urban points of view into city decor. Equipped with microphones and speakers, MOBOTIX’ cameras can put the citizens in touch with the operations centres of the police or ambulances by means of special buttons placed at the base of the pole or through the implementation of an RFID or magnetic strip identification system. “With respect to traditional poles with well-visible cameras installed outdoors, Genius represents a true video security system, not just a simple crime deterrent”, concluded Varvo.

Hikvision, the global leader in video surveillance equipment, and their Abu Dhabi partner, Opal Protection Systems, have played a major role in preventing an attempted robbery at a Money Exchange in Abu Dhabi. A comprehensive Hikvision CCTV System captured the moments when a robed figure threatened employees with a pistol and alerted the Abu Dhabi Police Operations Room, which immediately dispatched officers to arrest the suspect. Footage of the unfolding drama has now been posted to YouTube and proved an online sensation with over 3 million hits. All the money exchanges in Abu Dhabi benefit from the world’s most highly advanced security technology, which is installed by authorised dealers under the strict surveillance of the police. Each is video linked to a 24/7 specialist police department, which can respond in a matter of minutes to any alert. The security system in the money exchange centre involved in the attempted robbery consists of 13 Hikvision easy-to-use IP cameras connected to a Hikvision DS-8616NI-ST Network Video Recorder (NVR). The cameras used include the DS-2CD2120F-I(W)(S) 2MP vandal-proof dome camera, the DS-2CD2520F 2 MP mini dome camera, DS-2CD2020-I 2MP IR bullet camera and the DS-2CD2D14WD 1MP mini camera. Surveillance helped police swiftly secure the situation “The incident in the Abu Dhabi exchange centre involved a woman using a fake gun and a knife in an attempted robbery,” says Yousef Moharib, General Manager at Opal Protection Systems Ltd, which implemented the Hikvision CCTV solution. “Thanks to the Hikvision security solution installed within the exchange centre, Abu Dhabi Police were able to secure the situation within minutes, and with maximum efficiency. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Hikvision for their continued support and feel that this incident has further strengthened our partnership within the region. “We are aggressively focused on staying at the pinnacle of the systems integration industry. Our clients range from Government entities on a federal and municipal level to large enterprises throughout the Middle East. Opal offers clients a turnkey solution for its entire infrastructure requirement,” he added.

Based in Poland, Bank Pekao is one of the largest financial institutions in Central and Eastern Europe. Security is a paramount concern for the organisation, which is why it has chosen to implement Vanderbilt’s cutting edge video and access control technology across a large part of its estate. Leading financial institution Over the last 85 years Bank Pekao has become one of the leading organisations of its kind within Central and Eastern Europe. This Polish financial institution is considered one of the safest banks at the pan-European level and operates almost 1,000 branches, the second largest network in the country. The company belongs to one of the world’s biggest financial groups, UniCredit, which operates in 17 European countries with a network of 9,600 branches and around 145,000 employees. As a pioneer in its industry, Bank Pekao has been awarded many prestigious national and international accolades. In 2014 the company’s mobile banking application won Best Mobile Banking Award by Money.pl, and the Top Employers Institute named it Top Employers Europe 2015 for the sixth consecutive time. Security strategy & technology Its position as one of the safest and secure financial organisations in Poland has been achieved through the implementation of a carefully constructed security strategy, alongside a commitment to adopting cutting edge technology. This area is coordinated by the Bank’s Security Department which is managed by its Director- Janusz Szymków. "As part of this initiative we wanted to move towards an Internet protocol (IP) based solution that could centrally monitor, maintain and control different branch offices" Ryszard Pichnicki Operational Director at Bank Pekao Physical Security Office, explains, “Efficient security is vital, so we have a programme of continually upgrading our infrastructure to make it as reliable as possible. As part of this initiative we wanted to move towards an Internet protocol (IP) based solution that could centrally monitor, maintain and control different branch offices around Poland to allow more efficient management. This would mean that any issues could be identified immediately and remedial action taken when necessary.” Vanderbilt technology Pichnicki contacted Siedlce based intruder alarm system integrator, Cel-Tronics, for its suggestions. Bogdan Jedrych, the company’s Managing Director, explains, “We have worked with Bank Pekao for many years and are pre-approved as a technical partner. After gaining an understanding of what was required, we suggested a solution based around Vanderbilt’s cutting edge technology, including the robust Vectis video recording devices, SPC control panels and the SiPass integrated access control system. Ryszard Pichnicki made it clear that he wanted to implement products from a company that could guarantee availability without any restrictions to installers, and therefore working with Vanderbilt made complete sense.” Interoperability between SPC panels and access control systems SiPass integrated is a powerful and almost infinitely flexible access control system that provides a very high level of security without compromising convenience and ease of use. Krzysztof Krasowski, Vanderbilt’s Sales Manager for Poland, Baltics and Ukraine, says “SiPass integrated is a part of Bank Pekao’s system that restricts movement within each branch and, thanks to its diverse range of modes, can provide ultimate protection. Bank Pekao also required full interoperability between the SPC panels and access control systems for operations such as arm/disarm area, alarms notifications, input/outputs status reading. This is something that we are used to providing, so we had no problem meeting the brief.” Centrally managed single network This level of high-end operability means that the entire system is run over a single network that can be centrally managed, allowing it to work smoothly and ensuring maximum security for all bank branches. Furthermore, this approach was incredibly cost effective, as it eliminated the need for more than one cabling infrastructure. Integration possibilities It also provides an open interface for any third party software, offering the possibility to integrate access control with other systems – therefore creating one intelligent building management system that can check the status of doors, prompt the Vectis iX video recorders to activate, and provide a full audit trail. Vectis iX is based on the ONVIF open communication protocol, which allows these devices to be used alongside third party camera vendors. This has proven to be very beneficial, especially where cameras were already installed and needed to be integrated into the new system. Reusing in-situ infrastructure As the new solution is replacing a Vanderbilt Sintony based system, some of the in-situ infrastructure is being reused, providing further cost savings and reducing unnecessary waste In addition, the Vanderbilt solution is being rolled out in stages and because SiPass is open to readers that can communicate with other controllers, it is helping to provide a smooth migration path. As the new solution is replacing a Vanderbilt Sintony based system, some of the in-situ infrastructure is being reused, providing further cost savings and reducing unnecessary waste, in line with Bank Pekao’s environmental and sustainability policy. Cel-Tronics has installed the new technology in many of the Bank’s branches so far, with great success, and ais planning many more over the next few years. The programme has been very efficient as Bogdan Jedrych explained, “We prepare configuration files beforehand based on existing installations, adjusting them to local requirements. In future we will change the set-up via the central network and apply this to the additional controllers. This will give the flexibility to add/delete cards remotely, download reports and perform other operational tasks.” Bank Pekao’s Ryszard Pichnicki is very pleased with the results so far and concludes, “We take the issue of security very seriously and need to know that we have a system in place that can protect people, property and assets as effectively as possible. I’m confident that, thanks to Cel-Tronics and Vanderbilt, we have the best means of achieving this important objective.”

ASSA ABLOY’s Access Control’s Aperio® wireless locking technology has been installed at the headquarters of BMCE Bank in Casablanca, to provide an instant upgrade to an access control system, without compromising aesthetics. BMCE Bank is one of the largest commercial banks in Morocco, with a network of 540 branches. As part of a complete overhaul of its headquarters security arrangements, around 50 Aperio® C100 wireless online cylinders were selected for its glass doors. Easy to install, ASSA ABLOY Access Control’s Aperio® escutcheon enabled a simple security upgrade from the mechanical systems in place to a sleek access control wireless locking solution. With Aperio®’s flexible design and ability to work with RS485 and Wiegand Interface, and iClass, Mifare Plus and DesFire technology credentials, there was no issue with it instantly connecting to the existing online access control system at BMCE Bank, with minimal modification to doors and premises. Says Chris Bone, ASSA ABLOY Vice President Access Control EMEA: “To have selected Aperio® for such a prestigious building, where security is of paramount importance, is true testament to the abilities of this revolutionary technology.” “This installation really demonstrates how Aperio® can provide end users in any market across the globe, with a simple and intelligent way of upgrading the controllability and security levels of their premises.” Aperio® C100 wireless online cylinders were selected for 50 glass doors at the bank  “And with its evolving connectivity and developments in RFID technology, its ability to connect with almost all access control systems is further evidence of how Aperio® continues to evolve and play such a major part in the security industry.” ASSA ABLOY Access Control worked alongside MAXXESS who provided an eFusion security management system and HikVision, which installed a 100 camera surveillance system, incorporating a hybrid recording solution. The contract to implement the complete integrated system was awarded to CST Sécurité, a leading Moroccan security systems integrator.

Mobotix AG, a leading manufacturer of digital high-resolution, network-based video security systems has released details of an installation of its MOBOTIX CCTV solution which is helping to protect and improve access for staff and clients at Pinfields Limited, a highly respected Midlands-based accountancy practice.Based in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, Pinfields has a long-established background offering high quality financial advice to small and medium enterprises since 1938. Due to their continuing growth, in August 2009 Pinfields moved into new purpose-built offices covering 5,500 sq ft over three floors. With a move to bigger premises, the firm decided to improve its security monitoring and access control requirements and approached Ecl-ips, a local business which specialises in monitoring and surveillance using IP technology. 360° all-round viewAfter surveying the building and discussing the exact requirements with the client, Aaron Kernaghan, Managing Director of Ecl-ips, recommended a solution that combined the MOBOTIX IP Surveillance cameras and a door entry and access control system from Access Control Technology (ACT).Due to MOBOTIX's innovative Q24 hemispheric camera, Ecl-ips only had to install one camera in the office building. Thanks to the 360° all-round view, the Q24 is able to capture an entire room. With a panorama function and a quad view, the camera can show images from four different angles simultaneously. Currently the MOBOTIX Q24 is the only product on the market that offers this functionality and reduces the number of cameras needed to provide surveillance of a room. The MOBOTIX M12 camera was situated at the front of the building to provide external surveillance of the premises. As with the Q24, all of the MOBOTIX cameras are high resolution cameras which store images that are more revealing and provide stronger evidence than other formats. MOBOTIX cameras record approximately 30 times more detail than 95% of all existing video systems worldwide. In virtually all applications, one MOBOTIX camera can replace several standard CCTV systems because MOBOTIX technology offers four times more coverage. Ecl-ips also installed a surveillance class network attached storage device which is capable of recording and storing up to 28 days of high-definition footage from the MOBOTIX cameras. Retrieval of these images is made simple by the utilisation of the license-free MOBOTIX MxControlCenter Video Management Software that has been set up and deployed on several client PCs within the business. One MOBOTIX camera can replace several standard CCTV systems because MOBOTIX technology offers four times more coverage Restricted access and time and attendance recorderThe ACT access control system recommended by Ecl-ips has exceeded the expectations of Nick Pinfield and his team. Ecl-ips fitted an ACTpro 3000 door access controller which allows the staff to gain access to the building via a key fob. This also records the exact time that they enter and leave the building, and by doing so provides the restricted access that was requested and delivers a time and attendance system. With the use of the ACTentry V-IP system, which combines door entry with audio video over IP, visitors to the Pinfields office simply press the door entry panel, which includes a camera, and from any PC in the business that has the client software installed they can view who is at the door and speak to them over the phone system before allowing them access to the building. Nick Pinfield, a Partner at Pinfields Limited commented: "The system recommended and installed by Ecl-ips has definitely exceeded my expectations. The quality of the MOBOTIX images is superb and we can even zoom in and out of the recorded images as and when we need to. I have found the system incredibly easy and intuitive to use. The access control has enabled us to be able to monitor and control our front door when reception is not attended. The time and attendance system is also very simple but highly effective and has fulfilled all of my requirements. This has also increased our productivity."Pinfield continued: "We have been delighted by the professionalism of Ecl-ips and the team of engineers that have worked on this project. They are a company that understand technology and in particular IP. It has definitely been money well spent."