Government & public services security applications

Booth number: 14039 Dahua Technology USA Inc. will display video surveillance solutions, access control and intercoms at ISC West. Q: What was the first year your company exhibited at ISC West? Please share your remembrances of that experience. The first year that we exhibited at ISC West was in 2012. That was before we had a local US operation. The market started to pick up our brand and was surprised that we offer extensive product portfolios. In 2014, we registered our US office and continued to participate in ISC West. Through our presence at the show, customers get to know us better and understand that we are not just a product manufacturer but can also support them from the service and operation standpoints. We are local here and help our customers to grow their business and increase their satisfaction with us. A trade show is not just for marketing; ensuring the best ROI requires work by several parties in an organisation Q: What strategies do you use to get the most out of exhibiting at ISC West? A trade show is definitely a lot of investment within a few days. Therefore, how we create the best ROI and meet the right customers are very important. A trade show is not just for marketing; ensuring the best ROI requires work by several parties in an organisation, including products and technical expertise as well as the sales team. We use an internal and highly coordinated plan with the team to get a better result. We make sure everyone is on the same page in terms of the products/technology we are going to present and have the people with the best knowledge to present to customers who visit our booth. Therefore, a highly coordinated team strategy is required. Q: How do you quantify your success at ISC West? What ROI do you receive from the show? Every company has their ways to follow up with the leads and evaluate the ROI from the show. The way we are using is to upload all our leads to our software and track all these leads afterwards. If they are not already buying from us, our goal is to convert them to become a registered dealer. Customers get to know us better and understand that we are not just a product manufacturer but can also support them from the service and operation standpoints If they are already our registered dealers, we seek to grow their business by using our latest technology solutions. In general, all marketing activities in business today require a clear ROI, and it has to tie into the sales numbers. From our experience, the ISC West show provides the best ROI among other shows in the North American market. Q: What company activities (outside the show floor) does your company organise each year? We have a partner event and invite our value-added dealers and partners. We’ve been hosting this event since 2015. Q: What sets ISC West apart from other trade shows on the calendar? As I mentioned, ISC West provides the highest ROI among other shows in the North America market. This show also brings many of our customers and partners to the city as well. I guess people value this opportunity to meet and discuss the technology, the industry trends, and the business to figure out how we can grow together. Other trade shows might be smaller than ISC West and targeted at different markets or address different scopes of the industry need. Every show we attend in 2019 plays a strategic role for us to communicate with the market and find the customers we are looking for.

Booth number: 8045 Costar Technologies, Inc. is a public company that designs, develops, manufactures and distributes a full range of products for the video surveillance and machine vision markets. Costar consists of five operating companies: Arecont Vision Costar, CohuHD Costar, Costar Video Systems, Innotech, and IVS Imaging. The combined product portfolio consists of surveillance cameras, video surveillance systems, recorders, monitors, lenses, cables, accessories, and cloud-enabled services. For more about their presence at ISC West, we contacted Jeff Whitney, Vice President of Marketing for Arecont Vision Costar, a Costar Technologies, Inc. business unit. In 2005, the technology was extremely new and unproven to the typically risk-adverse security industry Q: What was the first year your company exhibited at ISC West? Please share your remembrances of that experience. One of our companies, Arecont Vision, exhibited in ISC West booth 17147 in 2005, a tiny space on which the hopes of the company rested. At the time AV was focused on pioneering IP megapixel surveillance cameras, but today we are part of Costar Technologies, offering cameras, VMSs, and recorders. In 2005, the technology was extremely new and unproven to the typically risk-adverse security industry. Talking with those who were with the company at time, the enthusiasm of the booth team reached the security dealers and systems integrators who were attending, helping bring megapixel cameras to a much wider audience. Q: What strategies do you use to get the most out of exhibiting at ISC West? The Costar companies have a very deep portfolio of products for the security market, and we bring our latest products from each business unit to ISC West. Attendees come in part to see the latest tech, and we drive our development cycle to have exciting new products to unveil on the show floor. We also have meeting space in the booth to provide one-on-one time with our executives and sales team, while sponsoring free admission to the expo for all who want it. Q: How do you quantify your success at ISC West? What ROI do you receive from the show? Unveiling our latest products and solutions to existing customers and partners is key to a successful event, and ISC West’s large impact on the industry ensures that many will attend. Perhaps even more important is informing those attending of the strength of the Costar product portfolio, including many Made in USA products and services that others don’t deliver. Both help to drive leads for projects in which we can really benefit our partners and end user customers. Each of our companies will participate in meetings, dinners, and events with our customers and partners throughout the days of the show Q: What company activities (outside the show floor) does your company organise each year? A large show like ISC West brings many of the Costar business units together, providing an excellent opportunity to continue bonding as a team, as well as to participate in events beyond the show floor. Each of our companies will participate in meetings, dinners, and events with our customers and partners throughout the days of the show. Q: What sets ISC West apart from other trade shows on the calendar? ISC West brings a very large number of interested, security-focused systems integrators, dealers, consultants, and end user customers all to one place for a three-day expo. That audience and opportunity to share our message validates the investment any large show requires from Costar or others. While some industry events have struggled to find and maintain their audiences, ISC West continues to deliver quality, knowledgeable attendees from across the Americas and around the world.  The show differs from other events we do, which are typically regional in attendance or focused more on specific vertical markets.

Booth number: 12089 At this year's ISC West, VIVOTEK USA, Inc. will be showcasing their 180⁰/360⁰ product line plus other general form factors with new features and benefits, including a cybersecurity application embedded onto the cameras, crowd detection, smart motion detection, tailgating, and many more. In addition to IP cameras, VIVOTEK will display a comprehensive product line that also includes NVRs, video receivers, video servers, PoE switches, and video management software. Q: What was the first year your company exhibited at ISC West? Please share your remembrances of that experience. We have come a long way from a little-known surveillance manufacturer with a small booth size VIVOTEK has been an exhibitor at ISC West for many years now. Looking back, we have come a long way from a little-known surveillance manufacturer with a small booth size to one of the global providers in the security industry with a recognisable and trusted brand. Now, we are well-known in the industry and are proud of our accomplishments, but we feel greater things are still in front of us. Q: What strategies do you use to get the most out of exhibiting at ISC West? Each year, we want our booth to tell our stories – who we are, what we do and what we are capable of, and where we are heading. We do not want to just be another camera manufacturer who only promotes and displays products; we want to be the solution provider that customers are looking for. In addition, we have very knowledgeable sale managers who can assist visitors at our booth who are looking for surveillance, whether it’s an upgrade or a totally new solution. Q: How do you quantify your success at ISC West? What ROI do you receive from the show? Gain industry knowledge and perspective as to where surveillance security industry is heading Like any trade show, it is difficult to quantify success. We attend ISC West to promote the VIVOTEK brand, meet and discuss with customers and gain industry knowledge and perspective as to where surveillance security industry is heading. If we achieve these, then ISC West is a success for us. Q: What company activities (outside the show floor) does your company organise each year? Our main focus each year at ISC West has always been the interaction with customers and potential customers on the show floor. We pride ourselves in the products and technology we offer, and there aren’t any other trade shows in North America to showcase our capabilities than ISC West. Q: What sets ISC West apart from other trade shows on the calendar? ISC West is the industry standard of security trade shows in North America. Since we are a security surveillance manufacturer, ISC West is the one show that all manufacturers in this industry must attend.

Booth number: 26041 March Networks is a global provider of video surveillance and video-based business intelligence solutions. Their product portfolio is end-to-end, ensuring that customers can deploy comprehensive solutions designed to help them address real business challenges and improve performance. At ISC West this year, March Networks will be showcasing new hosted services, new PTZ cameras and additional offerings. Attendees will also be encouraged to discover their solutions for banking, retail, cannabis and transportation – all of which help organisations transform video into business intelligence through the integration of surveillance video, analytics, and data from business systems and IoT devices. For more about their presence at ISC West, we contacted Peter Strom, President and CEO, March Networks. And not surprisingly, the technology was a lot less sophisticated compared to what we see today Q: What was the first year your company exhibited at ISC West? Please share your remembrances of that experience. I believe March Networks first exhibited at ISC West in 2001. I did not join the company until 2003, however I had been working in the industry for several years already, and can recall that the exhibitions back then had a much different feel. For one thing, there weren’t the very large companies we see today dominating a lot of the landscape. And not surprisingly, the technology was a lot less sophisticated compared to what we see today. Anyone who has worked in physical security for a long time can attest to the remarkable shift we have seen over the years, first with the transition from analogue to IP video and all that entails, to security analytics, to today’s truly advanced business intelligence applications, hosted solutions, and artificial intelligence, computer vision and similar content analytics. Q: What strategies do you use to get the most out of exhibiting at ISC West? Our most effective strategy by far is scheduling our business meetings in advance of ISC West. Our sales team does a very good job of planning meetings with enterprise end users and channel partners ahead of time, so we’re hitting the ground running even before the doors open on Day 1 of the event. In addition, our channel partners are also very well organised, and know which organisations they are going to bring to our booth during ISC West. This pre-planning saves us a tremendous amount of time and ensures that we make the most of the opportunity to meet face-to-face with the many decision-makers who have travelled to the show. The quality and quantity of our planned business meetings is definitely how our company measures the success of our ISC West participation each year Q: How do you quantify your success at ISC West? What ROI do you receive from the show? The quality and quantity of our planned business meetings is definitely how our company measures the success of our ISC West participation each year. Of course we do track the number and quality of the leads we capture as well; however, our face-to-face meetings with end user organisations and channel partners are the primary measures of our ROI. Q: What company activities (outside the show floor) does your company organise each year? The activities we organise outside of the show floor vary from year to year. We have hosted customer appreciation events and roundtable events. We will typically organise an internal sales meeting as well to take advantage of the fact that many of our salespeople and product managers are in the same location. Q: What sets ISC West apart from other trade shows on the calendar? The timing of ISC West is good for most people, as it is still early enough in the budget cycle for most customers to leverage the show to help make decisions – particularly in our banking, retail, cannabis and transit target verticals. Holding the event consistently in Las Vegas is also beneficial, as it makes it easier for people and exhibitors to plan in advance. The city itself is well equipped to handle large exhibitions, offering everything from a central conference space at the Sands to the convenience of nearby accommodations, restaurants etc. Travel is typically convenient as well. In our opinion, ISC West is the premier industry show in North America and appears to be gaining momentum each year.

Booth number: 18037 Hikvision will showcase a wide-range of its video surveillance solutions and security products such as its DarkFighterX dual-sensor with patented bi-spectral fusion technology for low light color imaging; thermal technology for critical perimeter applications, as well as preventive maintenance through temperature alarming and fire detection; specialty solutions for vertical markets including retail, education, gaming and commercial real estate with tailored products and valuable business intelligence analytics; TurboHD (HD over coax) for high resolution video using existing cabling; PanoVu and multi-sensor cameras. We will also feature Hikvision’s central management system, HikCentral, which provides a highly-scalable, reliable, and efficient centralised system management. We bring the latest and greatest in technology and a knowledgeable workforce to meet our customers and partners Q: What was the first year your company exhibited at ISC West? Please share your remembrances of that experience?  Hikvision has exhibited at ISC West since 2006. Our presence has grown considerably since then. Each year we showcase Hikvision’s latest technologies and the evolution of the brand through ad campaigns: “Heartbeat of Security” (2016), “Art of Video Surveillance” (2017), and “Achieve Extraordinary” (2018). At ISC West, Hikvision enjoys re-connecting with existing customers and developing new partnerships. Over the years, Hikvision has demonstrated growth and strength within the industry and will continue to support its partners through the dedicated workforce that makes up Hikvision North America.  Q: What strategies do you use to get the most out of exhibiting at ISC West? The strategy is simple. We bring the latest and greatest in technology and a knowledgeable workforce to meet our customers and partners. With our latest products displayed at our booth and our team of product managers, vertical-market leaders, and other technical gurus readily available in one place, it’s a great opportunity to connect with our current and future partners. Of course, we also have one-on-one client meetings in our meeting rooms throughout the show. And, we also host interactive experiences including trivia games, product demonstrations, and other technical presentations at the Thought Theater in our booth.  Q: How do you quantify your success at ISC West? What ROI do you receive from the show? Hikvision quantifies its success with a variety of metrics including traffic throughout the booth, attendance at educational sessions we host, the number of meetings we conduct with customers, and responses from our sales team on the engagement with integrators and end users after the show. We also measure the feedback we receive from our advertising campaigns whether it’s through our signage at the show or coverage in publications.  Q: What company activities (outside the show floor) does your company organise each year? We host a Hikvision Partner Celebration @ ISC West, an invitation-only event to celebrate Hikvision Dealer Partners, distribution, technology and design partners We host a Hikvision Partner Celebration @ ISC West, an invitation-only event to celebrate Hikvision Dealer Partners, distribution, technology and design partners, and end users. We consider it a fun way for us to say thank you to our valued partners in a casual setting. We’re also an enthusiastic sponsor of the Mission 500 Security 5/2K. Hikvision is fielding a running team, and we’ve begun our fundraising in earnest. Corporate social responsibility is part of our DNA at Hikvision, and the Security 5/2K is a wonderful way to join with our security industry colleagues to make a difference in kids’ lives and give back. Q: What sets ISC West apart from other trade shows on the calendar? Hikvision attends a variety of important conferences and trade shows throughout the year, but ISC West is the big show that attracts international attendees that everyone looks forward to. We wouldn’t miss it.

Booth number: 20031 Pelco is highly invested in providing end-to-end video surveillance solutions for customers, so this priority will remain the same in 2019 and beyond Pelco’s priorities for 2019 at ISC West are informed by worldwide trends in the security industry. As a result, Pelco will be focusing on enhancing cloud connectivity and cybersecurity for their customers. In addition, VideoXpert is Pelco’s best-selling video management solution, so this system will be the primary solution focus moving forward. Pelco is also planning to build upon Pelco Professional Services, which will include VxCare, a three-tier service plan for VideoXpert owners available worldwide this May. Overall, Pelco is highly invested in providing end-to-end video surveillance solutions for customers, so this priority will remain the same in 2019 and beyond. Q: What was the first year your company exhibited at ISC West? Please share your remembrances of that experience. Pelco was established in its current form around the year 1987, we have been attending ISC West since at least then. One memory that stands out is having to make many coax cables connect with all the analogue cameras and switchers. Q: What strategies do you use to get the most out of exhibiting at ISC West? We truly value the media relationships we’ve nurtured over the years. The security trade media specifically have played a pivotal role in sharing the latest news as it relates to our industry and ISC West. In addition to media relations, e-mail blasts and blogs are also key tools to build buzz around our exhibit. Lastly, we utilise a playbook and training protocols developed for our sales department. This information ultimately benefits our customers because they will receive accurate and up-to-date information about our video surveillance solutions. One way we quantify our success at ISC West is to keep track of the number of people attending our booth Q: How do you quantify your success at ISC West? What ROI do you receive from the show? One way we quantify our success at ISC West is to keep track of the number of people attending our booth. The show is considered the premier event in North American security so a major way we measure our ROI is through initial or final meetings with customers and partners. These initial connections can happen on or near the show floor. In addition, our product managers and engineers create a dialogue with our customers so they can determine the transferrable value of a potential solution, which in turn influences our product world map. Q: What company activities (outside the show floor) does your company organise each year? We have participated in the Security 5K in support of Mission 500. Additionally, we sometimes host customers at local end user sites so they get to see the system in operation. Q: What sets ISC West apart from other trade shows on the calendar? It’s the best-attended security conference in North America by far, attracting both domestic and international visitors.

The healthcare sector is a crucial part of a functioning society as it provides life-saving care and reassurance to the population. A key part of ensuring the professionals in this industry have the best work environment is the ongoing security of the facilities. Overcoming environmental challenges Hospitals are challenging environments for security integrators. There is little room for mistakes because staff, patients and assets cannot be compromised. Medical centres and their facilities can be vast complexes and security teams must be confident in their ability to identify and nullify threats as soon as possible.  Chubb provided Queensland Children’s Hospital's security team with a simple and easy-to-use tool Chubb Fire & Security offers a range of intelligent video and access control systems to solve these challenges. The Queensland Children’s Hospital in Australia, formerly named Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital, is the major specialist children’s hospital for families living in Queensland and Northern New South Wales. The facility not only provides care to the local families but also the state’s sickest and most critically injured children who need highly specialised care. This state-of-the-art hospital, coupled with a leading academic and research facility and the high calibre staff, provides a platform to continue to develop as a leader in paediatric health care, education and research. Comprehensive security solution Chubb developed a solution for Queensland Children’s Hospital that included access control, video management, communications and asset tracking. By creating a common infrastructure for all security systems managed through a comprehensive user interface, Chubb provided the hospital’s security team with a simple and easy-to-use tool that enables them to resolve situations as they happen and action events automatically on command. Chubb also developed a 3D model of the building that allows the security team to respond quickly to a wide variety of events. The protection of patients and staff is naturally a hospital's number one priority Also crucial to the implementation of security systems in a hospital is minimal disruption to its everyday operations. Professionals in hospitals are working 24/7 so there is little time when it comes to disabling security systems for maintenance or repairs. Continued maintenance and upgrades are vital elements to Chubb’s work and key to this is a great deal of collaboration with clinical and operational stakeholders. Securing mission-critical environment Hospital facilities are not always state-of-the-art and often face the slow upgrade process that a limited budget imparts. However, through the audit and update of security systems, steps can be taken to ensure continued operations without external disruption. The protection of patients and staff is naturally a hospital's number one priority and Chubb shares the same commitment to making sure the environment is safe and secure. Carrying out a technically demanding project in a large, mission-critical environment like a hospital takes strong teamwork, including expert strategic partners, and collaboration between stakeholders.

In 2017, IoT-based cyberattacks increased by 600%. As the industry moves towards the mass adoption of interconnected physical security devices, end users have found a plethora of advantages, broadening the scope of traditional video surveillance solutions beyond simple safety measures. Thanks in part to these recent advancements, our physical solutions are at a higher risk than ever before. With today’s ever evolving digital landscape and the increasing complexity of physical and cyber-attacks, it’s imperative to take specific precautions to combat these threats. Video surveillance systems Cybersecurity is not usually the first concern to come to mind When you think of a video surveillance system, cybersecurity is not usually the first concern to come to mind, since digital threats are usually thought of as separate from physical security. Unfortunately, these two are becoming increasingly intertwined as intruders continue to use inventive methods in order to access an organisation's assets. Hacks and data breaches are among the top cyber concerns, but many overlook the fact that weak cybersecurity practices can lead to physical danger as well. Organisations that deploy video surveillance devices paired with advanced analytics programs often leave themselves vulnerable to a breach without even realising it. While they may be intelligent, IoT devices are soft targets that cybercriminals and hackers can easily exploit, crippling a physical security system from the inside out. Physical security manufacturers Whether looking to simply gain access to internal data, or paralyse a system prior to a physical attack, allowing hackers easy access to surveillance systems can only end poorly. In order to stay competitive, manufacturers within the security industry are trading in their traditional analogue technology and moving towards interconnected devices. Due to this, security can no longer be solely focused on the physical elements and end users have taken note. The first step towards more secured solutions starts with physical security manufacturers choosing to make cybersecurity a priority for all products, from endpoint to edge and beyond. Gone are the days of end users underestimating the importance of reliability within their solutions. Manufacturers that choose to invest time and research into the development of cyber-hardening will be ahead of the curve and an asset to all. Wireless communication systems Integrators also become complicit in any issues that may arise in the future Aside from simply making the commitment to improve cyber hygiene, there are solid steps that manufacturers can take. One simple action is incorporating tools and features into devices that allow end users to more easily configure their cyber protection settings. Similarly, working with a third party to perform penetration testing on products can help to ensure the backend security of IoT devices. This gives customers peace of mind and manufacturers a competitive edge. While deficient cybersecurity standards can reflect poorly on manufacturers by installing vulnerable devices on a network, integrators also become complicit in any issues that may arise in the future. Just last year, ADT was forced to settle a $16 million class action lawsuit when the company installed an unencrypted wireless communication system that rendered an organisation open to hacks. Cybersecurity services In addition, we’ve all heard of the bans, taxes and tariffs the U.S. government has recently put on certain manufacturers, depending on their country of origin and cybersecurity practices. Lawsuits aside, employing proper cybersecurity standards can give integrators a competitive advantage. With the proliferation of hacks, malware, and ransomware, integrators that can ease their client's cyber-woes are already a step ahead. By choosing to work with cybersecurity-focused manufacturers who provide clients with vulnerability testing and educate end users on best practices, integrators can not only thrive but find new sources of RMR. Education, collaboration and participation are three pillars when tackling cybersecurity from all angles. For dealers and integrators who have yet to add cybersecurity services to their business portfolios, scouting out a strategic IT partner could be the answer. Unlocking countless opportunities Becoming educated on the topic of cybersecurity and its importance for an organisation is the first step Physical security integrators who feel uncomfortable diving headfirst into the digital realm may find that strategically aligning themselves with an IT or cyber firm will unlock countless opportunities. By opening the door to a partnership with an IT-focused firm, integrators receive the benefit of cybersecurity insight on future projects and a new source of RMR through continued consulting with current customers. In exchange, the IT firm gains a new source of clients in an industry otherwise untapped. This is a win for all those involved. While manufacturers, dealers and integrators play a large part in the cybersecurity of physical systems, end users also play a crucial role. Becoming educated on the topic of cybersecurity and its importance for an organisation is the first step. Commonplace cybersecurity standards Below is a list of commonplace cybersecurity standards that all organisations should work to implement for the protection of their own video surveillance solutions: Always keep camera firmware up to date for the latest cyber protections. Change default passwords, especially those of admins, to keep the system locked to outside users. Create different user groups with separate rights to ensure all users have only the permissions they need. Set an encryption key for surveillance recordings to safeguard footage against intruders and prevent hackers from accessing a system through a backdoor. Enable notifications, whether for error codes or storage failures, to keep up to date with all systems happenings. Create/configure an OpenVPN connection for secured remote access. Check the web server log on a regular basis to see who is accessing the system. Ensure that web crawling is forbidden to prevent images or data found on your device from being made searchable. Avoid exposing devices to the internet unless strictly necessary to reduce the risk of attacks.

In the next three years, software as a service ‘SaaS’ is likely to grow by around 23%. That’s according to reports by Cognizance. It’s growth rests on the adoption of cloud public, private and hybrid. Without the cloud applications can’t truly pervade an organisation, nor can operational or customer benefits be derived. But there’s no point in adopting the cloud if it’s not secure - the proliferation of SaaS demands security, none more so in a GDPR world. Large cloud environment But modern applications are difficult to secure. SaaS based, web, mobile, or custom made all work on different platforms and frameworks. It’s a headache managing all the APIs needed to automate and sync tools. This introduces risk. The greater the number of apps the broader the attack surface and therefore the greater the chance there will be blind posts. Keeping up to date with updates and new security policies is never easy There are also added hazards. Applications are always changing. Keeping up to date with updates and new security policies is never easy, but especially hard in a large cloud environment. Failure to adopt changes puts the organisation and customers at further risk. But the biggest obstacle is keeping applications and APIs out of harm’s way. It’s a near on impossible task when attack methods and sources are constantly changing. More advanced threats To be specific there are four emerging challenges when it comes to protecting apps. Firstly, managing the good and the bad bots and spotting which is which, secondly securing APIs as IoT adoption intensifies, thirdly the relationship between securing apps and DevOps and ensuring ownership of security, and finally denial of service attacks that use newer tactics such as brute force. Basic security hygiene dictates that security teams refer to the OWASP Top 10. It’s considered the ‘ten commandments’ in security circles, providing a starting point for ensuring the most common threats and vulnerabilities are managed, detected and mitigated. Web Application Firewalls also come into the fray with guidance on testing for the ways hackers exploit vulnerabilities. However, though the basics are good to have in place, there are always more advanced threats to take care of. Bots being a big one. Bot management The more sophisticated bots will go as far as to mimic human behaviourAstonishingly about half of internet traffic is bot generated. Half of it is from bad bots. Discerning the good from the bad isn’t easy though and explains why around 80% of organisations can’t make a clear distinction between the two. Bad bots can do a lot of damage like take over user accounts and payment information, scrape confidential data, or hold up inventory and skew marketing metrics. The more sophisticated bots will go as far as to mimic human behaviour and bypass tools like CAPTCHA and even device fingerprinting based protection ineffective. Securing APIs Then there’s the complications derived from machine-to-machine and internet of things (IoT) communications. The more integrated ‘things’, the more data there is, the more events there are report on, and the more activity there is reliant on APIs to make the ‘things’ useful and agile. That’s what makes them a target and the threats to API vulnerabilities include injections, protocol attacks, parameter manipulations, invalidated redirects and bot attacks. There’s the risk that business will grant access to sensitive data, without inspecting nor protecting APIs to detect cyberattacks.   There’s the risk that business will grant access to sensitive data, without inspecting nor protecting APIs to detect cyberattacks Denial of service (DoS) You might think there’s little to add to the swathes of denial of service warnings. Yet when businesses are still being targeted and feeling the ill effects it’s worth mentioning again that different forms of application-layer DoS attacks are still very effective at bringing application services down. Even the greatest application protection is worthless if the service itself can be knocked down This includes HTTP/S floods, low and slow attacks (famous examples being Slowloris, LOIC, Torshammer), dynamic IP attacks, buffer overflow, Brute Force attacks and more. The IoT botnets are the culprits and have made application-layer attacks so popular that they have become the preferred DDoS attack vector. Even the greatest application protection is worthless if the service itself can be knocked down. Continuous security It may seem easy to say but for modern DevOps, agility is valued at the expense of security. We see time and again examples of where development and roll-out methodologies, such as continuous delivery, mean applications are exposed to threats each time they are modified. There’s no doubt it is extremely difficult to maintain a valid security policy and protect sensitive data in dynamic conditions without creating a high number of false positives. But we now find that this task has gone way beyond the capability of humans. Organisations now need machine-learning based solutions that map application resources, analyse possible threats, and create and optimise security policies in real time. Reaching this level in security planning should be a big wake-up call that security automation is an essential not a nice to have. Running security plans The board needs to know that investment is critical to protect their profits It’s critical that the security solution your company adopts protects applications on all platforms, against all attacks, through all the channels and at all times. The board needs to know that investment is critical to protect their profits. As such there are six things they need to know: Application security solutions must encompass web and mobile apps, as well as APIs. Bot management solutions need to overcome the most sophisticated bot attacks. DDoS mitigation must be an essential and integrated part of application security solutions. A future-proof solution must protect containerised applications, severless functions, and integrate with automation, provisioning and orchestration tools. To keep up with continuous application delivery, security protections must adapt in real time. A fully managed service should be considered to remove complexity and minimise resources. No amount of human power will beat the bots. That last point is the most critical. Skill is essential in designing and running security plans and policies that work. But the plans can’t be executed without automated tools. There are just too many decisions to make in a split second. Combining both is the path to an effective app protection strategy and a stronger brand to boot.

As political winds present new challenges for Chinese companies doing business in the U.S. market, the countdown is under way to implementation of a ban on sale of Chinese manufacturers’ video surveillance products to the Federal government. Some good news is a delay enacting the wider-reaching “blacklist” aspects of the ban. Meanwhile, possible sanctions to prevent U.S. manufacturers from selling components to Chinese companies are posing immediate public relations difficulties – and the possibility of eventual more tangible ones. Chinese ban imposed by U.S. government The “Chinese ban” provision [[Paragraph (a)(1)(a) of section 889 of Title VII of the National Defense Authorisation Act (NDAA) for FY 2019] prohibits Federal government procurement of “equipment, systems, or services provided by specified entities.” The “specified entities” are Huawei Technologies Co., ZTE Corp., Hytera Communications Corp., Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co. and Dahua Technology Co. Hikvision and Dahua are two of the largest manufacturers of video surveillance equipment, and Huawei manufactures HiSilicon chips widely used in video cameras. NDAA specifies that the ban be implemented within a year of the law taking effected The “Chinese ban” provision is an open Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Case, and a proposed FAR draft rule is due in early June. NDAA specifies that the ban be implemented within a year of the law taking effected (signed by President Trump on August 18, 2018). Blacklisting Chinese video surveillance parts Implementation of a “blacklist” provision has been spun off into a separate FAR Case, and enactment has been delayed allowing time for public comments on its ramifications. The provision [Paragraph (a)(1)(B) of section 889 of Title VII of the National Defense Authorisation Act (NDAA) for FY 2019] addresses “entities that use covered equipment.” As it relates to the video surveillance market, this provision has been interpreted to mean, for example, that an integrator that sells Hikvision equipment to anyone (e.g., to a small retailer) would be banned even from selling non-Hikvision equipment to the U.S. government or ‘recipients of Federal loan or grant funds.’ Obviously, this represents a broader impact on the industry compared to the Chinese equipment sale ban. The government’s stated reasons for the delay include concern about a dramatic reduction in the available industrial base Reduction in available industrial base The government’s stated reasons for the delay include concern about a dramatic reduction in the available industrial base (including small business suppliers), who will no longer be able to sell to the government, either because their non-government business is more valuable, or due to the cost of the potential regulatory burdens associated with compliance. Another concern is that Federal grant recipients in rural areas may be ‘disproportionally impacted … due to the limited number of market options in rural areas.’ The delay will allow time for a public meeting to solicit input on the proposed rulemaking The delay will allow time for a public meeting to solicit input on the proposed rulemaking. In fact, the Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration (GSA) and NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) are hosting a public meeting on July 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Department of Interior (DOI) Auditorium in Washington, D.C. Interested parties may also attend virtually via the Internet. NDAA ban on Chinese technology, equipment Furthermore, a proposed rule of implementation will be published, followed by a second public meeting. The Office and Management and Budget will solicit feedback on proposed changes to existing grants and loans and consider public comments and feedback prior to finalising changes. The White House has sent a legislative proposal to Congress to "adjust certain implementation deadlines to allow for additional stakeholder engagement." The Federal Acquisition Security Council would be tasked with submitting a report “containing a discussion and recommendations regarding any changes required for effective implementation of that section.” Do these processes represent hope for leniency? Hikvision targeted in ban The NDAA ban is one of several issues facing Chinese companies in the U.S. market The NDAA ban is one of several issues facing Chinese companies in the U.S. market. Another is snowballing backlash about the involvement of surveillance companies in human rights abuses at detention camps in the Xinjiang region of China. For example, a number of Congressmen and Senators have sent a letter asking the U.S. State Department and Treasury to impose sanctions, export controls and financial disclosures to counter the human rights abuses. In response, Hikvision has retained human rights expert and former U.S. Ambassador Pierre-Richard Prosper to advise the company regarding human rights compliance. According to a company spokesperson: “Hikvision takes these concerns very seriously and has engaged with the U.S. government regarding all of this since last October.” (See Hikvision USA’s full statement here.) Furthermore, Hikvision expressed optimism at the ISC West trade show.  The Trump administration has also singled out Hikvision and is considering seeking limits on the video surveillance giant’s ability to buy American technology, similar to a ban already implemented against chipmaker Huawei. HiSilicon chips, manufactured by Huawei, currently run millions of security cameras across the United States, and several video camera manufacturers are rethinking their use of HiSilicon chips in wake of the ban.

IFSEC Global, like any large trade show, can be daunting for attendees. At big shows, there can be hundreds of physical security manufacturers and dealers vying for your attention. As the scope of physical security expands from video surveillance and access control to include smart building integrations, cybersecurity and the Internet of Things (IoT), there is an increasing amount of information to take in from education sessions and panels. With IFSEC Global approaching next week, we present eight hints and tips for visitors to make the most out of trade shows: 1. Outline your objectives As the famous saying goes, “Failing to plan is planning to fail!” Once you know your objectives, you can start to research who is exhibiting Before you plan anything else, ensure you know what you need to achieve at the show. By clearly noting your objectives, you will be able to divide your time at the show appropriately, and carefully choose who you speak to. If there is a particular project your organisation is working on, search out the products and solutions that address your security challenges. If you are a security professional aiming to keep up with the latest trends and technologies, then networking sessions and seminars may be more appropriate. 2. Bring a standard list of questions Prepare a list of specific questions that will tell you if a product, solution or potential partner will help you meet your objectives. By asking the same questions to each exhibitor you speak to, you will be able to take notes and compare their offerings side by side at the end of the day. This also means you won’t get bogged down in details that are irrelevant to your goals. 3. Do your homework Once you know your objectives, you can start to research who is exhibiting and decide who you want to talk to. Lists of exhibitors can be daunting, and don’t always show you which manufacturers meet your needs. Luckily, most trade show websites provide the option to filter exhibitors by their product category. Once you know your objectives, you can start to research who is exhibiting and it may be easier to download the floor plan to your phone/tablet Many exhibitions also offer a downloadable floor plan, grouping exhibitors by product category or by relevant vertical market. It may be easier to download the floor plan to your phone/tablet or even print it out, if you don’t want to carry around a weighty map or show-guide. 4. Make a schedule Once you have shortlisted the companies you need to see, you can make a schedule that reflects your priorities. Even if you are not booking fixed meetings, a schedule will allow you to effectively manage your time, ensuring you make time for the exhibitors you can’t afford to miss. When scheduling fixed meetings, keep the floor plan at hand If the trade show spans several days, aim to have your most important conversations early on day one. By the time the last afternoon of the show comes around, many companies are already packing up their booth and preparing to head home. When scheduling fixed meetings, keep the floor plan at hand to avoid booking consecutive meetings at opposite ends of the venue. This will ensure you can walk calmly between stands and don’t arrive at an important meeting feeling flustered! 5. Make time for learning If you’re on a mission to expand your knowledge in a given area, check the event guide beforehand to note any education sessions you may want to attend. Look for panels and seminars which address the specific needs of your project, or which will contribute to your professional growth. This is one of the best opportunities you will have to learn from industry leaders in the field. Be sure to plan your attendance in advance so you can schedule the rest of your day accordingly. Check the event guide beforehand to note any education sessions you may want to attend and be sure to plan your attendance in advance 6. Keep a record Armed with your objectives and list of questions, you will want to make a note of exhibitors’ responses to help you come to an informed decision. If you’re relying on an electronic device such as a smartphone or tablet to take notes, you may like to consider bringing a back-up notepad and pen, so you can continue to take notes if your battery fails. Your record does not have to be confined to written bullet points. Photos and videos are great tools remind you what you saw at the show, and they may pick up details that you weren’t able to describe in your notes. Most mobile devices can take photos – and images don’t need to be high quality if they’re just to refresh your memory. 7. Network – but don’t let small talk rule the day It may seem obvious, but don’t forget to exchange business cards with everyone you speak to It may be tempting to take advantage of this time away from the office to talk about anything but business! While small talk can be helpful for building strong professional relationships, remember to keep your list of questions at hand so you can always bring conversations back to your key objectives. Keeping these goals in mind will also help you avoid being swayed by any unhelpful marketing-speak. It may seem obvious, but don’t forget to exchange business cards with everyone you speak to, or even take the opportunity to connect via LinkedIn. Even if something doesn’t seem relevant now, these contacts may be useful in future. Have a dedicated section in your bag or briefcase for business cards to avoid rummaging around. 8. Schedule time for wandering With your most important conversations planned carefully, there should be time left to explore the show more freely. Allowing dedicated time to wander will give you a welcome break from more pressing conversations, and may throw up a welcome surprise in the form of a smaller company or new technology you weren’t aware of. Allowing dedicated time may throw up a welcome surprise in the form of a smaller company or new technology you weren’t aware of Security trade show checklist Photo Identification: As well as your event pass, some events require photo identification for entry. Notebook and pen: By writing as you go, you will be able to compare notes at the end of the day. Mobile device: Photos and videos are great tools to remind you what you saw at the show, and may pick up details you missed in your notes. Paper schedule and floor plan: In case batteries or network service fail. Business cards: Have a dedicated pouch or pocket for these to avoid rummaging at the bottom of a bag. Comfortable shoes: If you’re spending a whole day at an event, and plan on visiting multiple booths, comfortable shoes are a must! Click here for an infographic on attending the event.

Panasonic is selling off 80% of its video surveillance business to a private equity firm but will retain 20%, and the new company will continue to use the well-known Panasonic brand. The move is aimed at reinvigorating a business challenged by new competition from large Chinese companies and lower prices of video surveillance equipment. Strategic business alliances Panasonic is establishing a new company made up of its security systems business, and Polaris Capital Group Co. will acquire 80% of the outstanding shares of the new company. The decision was approved by the board of directors on May 31, and the transaction is expected to be completed by Oct. 1. The new company’s security cameras and software will be sold under the Panasonic brand Polaris has experience in strategic capital alliances with manufacturers and large-scale companies. Based on that experience, Polaris expects to smoothly and rapidly build the structure necessary for an independent business while preserving the strengths and unique characteristics of the business. The goal is to 'maximise corporate value as an independent company toward IPO (initial public offering) in the future.' Panasonic brand name to continue The new company – named Panasonic i-PRO Sensing Solutions Co., Ltd. – will encompass the Panasonic Connected Solutions Company’s Security Systems Business Division and the industrial and medical vision compact camera R&D department of its Innovation Center.  The Public Safety sales and development functions of Panasonic System Solutions Company of North America (PSSNA), and the security camera manufacturing factory in China – Panasonic System Networks Suzhou Co., Ltd. (PSNS) – will become subsidiaries of the new company. Polaris expects to smoothly and rapidly build the structure necessary for an independent business After establishment, the new company’s security cameras and software will be sold under the Panasonic brand. Sales will be handled directly by the new company in the U.S. market; through Panasonic System Solutions Japan Co., Ltd. (PSSJ) in the Japanese domestic market; and through existing Panasonic sales companies in other regions including Europe, China, Southeast Asia, Oceania and Canada, which will all sign sales agreements with the new company. Future outlook An announcement from Panasonic details plans for the new company: “It will build on the strengths of the Division while benefitting from management and resources of Polaris to seamlessly implement the necessary structure to operate as an independent organisation. Strengthening its solutions capabilities with proactive alliances and M&As, the new company will aim to enhance its revenue and profitability globally centred on the North American market. With new and next-generation products and services, and a strategic growth plan to expand sales of medical camera modules, the new company will build a solid foundation as an independent entity.” The core business of video surveillance equipment is more competitive than ever The Security Systems Business Division of Panasonic has a roughly 60-year history of developing security cameras and advanced edge devices and combining these with unique software such as facial recognition to meet the needs of the market. It has established itself as a top brand. Effect on U.S. market Panasonic in the U.S. broadened its business approach to increase systems sales with the acquisition of Houston, Texas-based Video Insight in 2015. The developer of video management software especially helped to boost business opportunities in the education market in North America. More recently, Panasonic has sought to differentiate itself with an emphasis on R&D and new product developments, including artificial intelligence. Last year, the company highlighted its FacePro deep learning facial recognition system using extreme sensing and enhanced detection technology to identify persons of interest and  alert authorities of their presence in real-time. Developments in the offing The Security Systems Business Division of Panasonic has a roughly 60-year history of developing security cameras In the near future, Panasonic is also looking to apply AI-based capabilities to vehicle recognition, with the ability to identify vehicle characteristics such as colour, type of vehicle and direction of travel. On the VMS side, Panasonic announced last year its intent to transition its Video Insight software to a modular approach, tailoring solutions for a growing range of vertical markets, such as transportation and retail, all using “plug-ins” that enhance operation of Video Insight software. No additional license fees are involved. Still, the core business of video surveillance equipment is more competitive than ever. As Panasonic looks to regain its former dominance, it will face an uphill battle. A sharper focus and new management, resulting from the acquisition, may help to turn the tides.

VMS software and IP products from Hikvision, a supplier of innovative video surveillance products and solutions, are now being used by the Government of Gujarat Directorate of Technical Education (DTE), to protect and administer education facilities and services across Western India. A government organisation that provides qualitative and higher level technical training for students from a diverse mix of financial and social backgrounds, the Directorate of Technical Education’s (DTE) goal is to deliver global standards of excellence in technical education for all its students. Looking to provide a more secure environment and enhance education management, both inside its college campuses and within classrooms, DTE enlisted the help of Prama Hikvision India to evaluate their needs and recommend a practical solution. Enhancing education processes Working closely with the client, Hikvision undertook site surveys at 43 campuses across Gujarat and in respect of DTE’s management and system performance needs, proposed a cost-effective solution that would provide the required level of indoor and outdoor surveillance coverage. The considerations for the surveillance solution would also take-in DTE’s objective of enlisting the new system to play a role in enhancing the day-to-day education processes, where it could also be used to remotely monitor examinations, as well as being a time-saving facilities management tool for use across the large Western India state.The Hikvision control software fully supports smart search, playback, and smart detection Centralised surveillance monitoring Providing centralised remote surveillance and alarm monitoring, Hikvision proposed an IP-based solution that would use DTE’s existing secure virtual private network (VPN), which connects all education sites across Gujarat to a central point at the Directorate of Technical Education, in the capital city of Gandhinagar, Gujarat. At two control rooms, Hikvision iVMS-5200 Professional VMS software was installed to control and monitor the new surveillance system 24/7. Ideal for controlling any mix of surveillance system products, the iVMS-5200 Professional software fully supports all Hikvision products, including DVRs, NVRs, cameras and speed domes, as well as any mix of third party manufacturer products that conform to ONVIF standard. Allowing DTE’s security and management application needs to be addressed, regardless of its size and complexity, the Hikvision control software fully supports the installed Hikvision products’ smart features, including smart search, playback, and smart detection. Low-light surveillance capability To provide affordable high-quality surveillance imaging across the 43 college campuses covered, Hikvision specified a mix of DS-2CD2620F-IS HD 2 Megapixel vari-focal IR network bullet, and DS-2CD2720F-IS HD 2 Megapixel outdoor network IR dome cameras. Both camera models provide 1920×1080 resolution, and true day and night (ICR) low-light capabilities, along with back-light compensation (BLC). Approximately 1,300 Hikvision cameras installed now provide comprehensive surveillance within the campuses lobbies, classrooms, laboratories, staff rooms, examination halls, auditoriums, storerooms, exit and entry doors, and open campus area access gates and car parks. Integrated campus security The Hikvision iVMS-5200 Professional VMS software enables 43 campus locations to be monitored easily and reliably"The Hikvision IP-based surveillance solution successfully illustrates just what can be achieved with large-scale integration,” explains Pinkal Shah, Asst. Manager - Technical Support, at Prama Hikvision India. “The Hikvision iVMS-5200 Professional VMS software enables 43 campus locations to be monitored easily and reliably, encompassing central video management, integration and failover mechanism." "Supporting all remote sites’ local storage and camera SD storage, the system uses Hikvision’s Center Video Record (CVR) mode using NAS to receive data streams directly from network cameras. With CVR mode, there is no need for an intermediate storage server, which not only increases storage efficiency and system stability, but also greatly reduces system hardware cost for the end-user.” Remote surveillance DTE system operators can remotely check the status of facilities or presence/absence of support staff "The Hikvision video surveillance system utilises a WAN/VPN to connect each of the separate locations in this massive multi-site project,” explains Mr. Dayashankar of Progility Technologies Pvt. Ltd., systems integration company responsible for the installation of the project. “The excellent Hikvision iVMS-5200 Professional VMS software enabled us to integrate the many existing third-party manufacturers cameras into the new system, as well as providing out of office hours remote alarm configuration and monitoring. We found the quality of the Hikvision networked camera images to be exceptional under every operating condition.” Viewed from the central monitoring stations, DTE system operators can now remotely check the status of facilities or presence/absence of support staff across Western India. In addition, on examination of the high definition play back, since the installation went live, incidents of petty theft have been recorded, and stolen belongings of students and facilities recovered.

The Sinan Erdem Dome is the largest multi-purpose indoor venue in Turkey. Located in Istanbul, the dome has a seating capacity of up to 22,500, and hosts a number of events, including concerts, tennis matches, and basketball games. Strengthening stadium security Upon being chosen to host a number of games during the European Basketball Championships 2017, the chief European men’s international basketball competition held biannually, the Sinan Erdem Dome looked to strengthen their security system. The dome’s large-scale presented high-surveillance requirements such as support for 64 split-screens, hundreds of cameras, and a back-end storage and management infrastructure that could support the entire system. Dahua provided the dome with a complete, high-end monitoring system that included a total of over 600 IP, speed dome, and ANPR cameras on the front-end, and NVRs, video walls, video matrix devices, and related control accessories on the back-end. Smart detection technologies The dome’s surveillance system was constructed with the latest cutting-edge technology To better protect the stadium from a variety of threats, the solution employed a number of smart detection technologies such as intelligent analysis, which includes motion detection, tripwire, intrusion, and smart-tracking functionality. ANPR was also utilised, which recognises licence plates numbers and checks them against a central whitelist and blacklist. Plate records are also stored on NVR devices and can be searched through by security officers. In less than a week, the local team completed installation, testing, and customer training, and the dome was fully ready to securely host international sporting events. Protecting all corners In under a week, the dome’s surveillance system was constructed with the latest cutting-edge technology, increasing its appeal to international events seeking venues. Dahua smart technologies automated a great number of surveillance operations, such as automatic car-barrier operation enabled by ANPR camera integration, thus greatly reducing the strain on security workers. Every corner of the stadium was covered by Dahua cameras providing high definition video, ensuring zero blind spots and optimal detail collection. In addition, Dahua showcased its customer-centric philosophy through supplying high-quality customisation, technical support, operation training, and after-sales service, which guaranteed the expertise of system operators as well as long-term reliability and quick issue resolution.

The G20 Summit is an annual meeting of leaders from 20 major economies to discuss global issues. In 2016, China hosted its first-ever G20 forum in the south-eastern city of Hangzhou. Securing the leaders of multiple countries is no easy task, and would require many months of preparation by thousands of labourers in order to ensure the two-day forum, transportation, and cultural activities ran smoothly. China’s largest security project The G20 World Summit was one of the largest security projects the country had ever faced, and extremely important to setting a precedent for future major events in China. 29 leaders including formal G20 members, the European Union, and invited guests, along with other high-ranking officials from all over the world required constant protection over a large area which included Hangzhou's Xiaoshan Airport and the roads leading to it, the main conference areas for the G20 and its sister conference, the B20, multiple hotels hosting country leaders, and the city's main tourist zone: the West Lake Scenic Area.The G20 World Summit was one of the largest security projects the country had ever faced Assisting the government  Dahua Technology assisted the Hangzhou government in constructing a large-scale, comprehensive security system consisting of over 20,000 devices. Cameras with 40x optical zoom and over 10km range covered large areas, while cameras with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology scanned roads for dangerous vehicles. Over 500 PTZ cameras guarded critical routes from the airport to G20 and B20 conference areas. Thermal cameras provided unparalleled night vision support along with the ability to detect overheating equipment or fires. At train and subway stations, Face Recognition was employed to scan for known fugitives and verify tickets. Finally, all cameras were connected to a central cloud system which provided a real-time assessment of traffic quality and threats, through a traffic status cloud system and processed unstructured video data from cameras, to analyse and generate thumbnails and descriptions for easy search-and-review. Suspicious targets were instantly tagged and tracked, and workers on the ground could be dispatched to keep tabs on the situation. Thermal cameras provided unparalleled night vision support and Face Recognition was employed to scan for known fugitives Unified cloud system Pulling off a successful G20 Summit was achieved not through luck, but by a combination of over 20,000 devices connected by a unified cloud system and advanced technologies such as face and plate recognition, thermal imaging, and optical zoom. In addition to recording 29,823 traffic violations, Dahua cameras recognised and led to the capture of multiple fugitives attempting to traverse the city. The versatility of bullet, fisheye, and 40x zoom PTZ cameras employed in the security network ensured critical areas had no blind spots, and command centre workers could easily direct those on the ground to quickly respond to suspicious behaviour. Dahua helped keep world leaders secure in the midst of a prime chance for China to set a precedent for hosting major international government events and the pressure that it carried. This case proves the efficacy of Dahua products combined in city-scale projects, and is a perfect example for future Safe City solutions to follow.Dahua helped keep world leaders secure in the midst of a prime chance for China to set a precedent ANPR and Smart Traffic Management Smart Traffic Management includes vehicle detection features which can recognise over 200 brands and 3000 car models to prepare advanced reports with information such as the time and location a car is seen, as well as its heading, colour, licence plate number, inspection dates, and other important data. In Hangzhou, the government has enacted a plate number restriction policy limiting the days a car with an even or odd plate number may access the crowded West Lake Scenic Area, as well as restrictions on highways during rush hours, in order to prevent congestion on cramped roads. During the G20, cameras with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) were employed on all roads to and from the airport, hotels, conference centres, and G20 activities to scan for suspicious vehicles and record traffic violations. By the end of the heightened security period, a whopping 29,823 vehicles were automatically recorded breaking the plate limit policies. ANPR systems allowed the city to accurately capture more infractions with less police on the roads, keeping them safe and focused on protecting more critical Summit areas while saving the city in labour costs, increasing revenue collected from fines, and serving as an effective deterrent to cars clogging up roads. 29,823 vehicles were automatically recorded breaking the plate limit policies Finding fugitives Facial recognition technology has made great technological leaps over the years with the introduction of Deep Learning and Artificial Intelligence. Dahua Face Recognition can detect a face in less than 3 seconds with a 90% recognition rate. At important transportation hubs such as train and subway stations in adjoining cities, Facial Recognition assisted workers in matching passenger faces to their tickets and IDs, verifying their identities. This greatly reduced the amount of man hours spent by increasing the efficiency of identity checks. Dahua Face Recognition can detect a face in less than 3 seconds with a 90% recognition rate At checkpoints in Hangzhou, faces were also verified across a blacklist database consisting of known fugitives, leading to the capture of a number of lawbreakers passing through the city. Cloud analysis and real-time maps All cameras protecting key G20 zones, including both Dahua and non-Dahua cameras, were connected to a central cloud system. This system processed massive amounts of video data in real time, quickly performing analysis and generating thumbnails and descriptions so that workers could easily search for and review important clips. Suspicious targets were tagged and tracked by the system, which allowed command centres to instantly dispatch police or workers to investigate. In addition, the position and line of sight of PTZ cameras with embedded GPS and G-sensor located at the B20 and G20 conference centres were displayed on a live e-map, giving a precise outlook of the current surveillance situation.

Manchester-Boston Regional Airport opened to serve the state of New Hampshire and the surrounding New England community in 1927, a little over two decades after the Wright brother’s first powered flight. Located three miles south of central Manchester, the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport is the fourth largest passenger and third largest cargo airport in New England. The airport is also the busiest in the state, qualifying under the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a “small hub primary commercial service facility.” Airport redevelopment project The 1990’s brought a large redevelopment project to the airport, sparking more modern facilities, increased room for aircraft, and a range of new shops and restaurants. By 2012 it had become clear that the airport and its parking areas required enhanced surveillance. Increased foot traffic, manpower, and federal safety regulations resulted in the awarding of an FAA grant for a new surveillance system.Increased foot traffic, manpower, and federal safety regulations resulted in the awarding of an FAA grant for a new surveillance system The Manchester-Boston Regional Airport faced a lengthy decision-making process when it came to security camera manufacturers, requiring products able to support the unique applications and varied environment of the airport. The security team monitored a range of spaces both in and outdoors, and required products that excelled under all of these varying situations and lighting conditions. The selected cameras needed to provide full high-definition video across multiple open areas, while also delivering detailed, close-up images within busy, crowded spaces. The airport’s FAA grant included stipulations regarding the types of products that could be purchased with the supplied funds, specifying that the selected system must qualify under the “Buy American” standard. This provision meant that all potential selections not only meet the technical requirements, but also be Made in USA. Arecont Vision: foundation for security system After a year of exploring the market, the client determined that Arecont Vision was the only manufacturer that not only satisfied the “Buy American” stipulation, but did so without sacrificing the airport’s fundamental security requirements by providing a wide range of high resolution megapixel cameras.Arecont Vision was open in demonstrating its Made in USA product design, manufacturing, quality control, and support as part of the selection process Arecont Vision was open in demonstrating its Made in USA product design, manufacturing, quality control, and support as part of the selection process. Securadyne Systems was selected as the systems integrator. Extensive planning determined which Arecont Vision products to install, where to do so, and how the installation process would be accomplished. Once Manchester-Boston Regional Airport chose Arecont Vision cameras as the foundation for their security system, they began to collaborate with On-Net Surveillance Systems, Inc. (OnSSI) to supply the video management system (VMS). OnSSI is an Arecont Vision Technology Partner Program member, with many joint customers around the world, demonstrating proven integration between the two company’s products and support services. Arecont cameras chosen by airport security team The Arecont Vision SurroundVideo® multi-sensor camera series piqued the security team’s interest for its 180° panoramic capabilities. Passengers, staff, and aircraft crew move frequently and often swiftly from one location to another in varied lighting, yet all proved trackable with the SurroundVideo cameras and the OnSSI software. The placement of SurroundVideo cameras at the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport provides comprehensive coverage while reducing the number of cameras needed overall, a feat that was especially useful in large areas such as the airport’s apron. The security team chose cameras from the Arecont Vision MegaDome® series, which are equipped with a wide range of innovative features For locations that required a single coverage view, the security team chose cameras from the Arecont Vision MegaDome® series, which are equipped with a wide range of innovative features. Features such as low light capabilities and remote focus and zoom all proved crucial to the airport’s requirements. Casino Mode™ is available in the 1080p versions of the MegaDome series, a feature that proved to be as useful at the Manchester-Boston TSA checkpoints as it is in a Las Vegas casino. Casino Mode guarantees 30 frames per second to capture every detail on fast-action applications, an incredibly effective tool when investigating security situations involving many complex, small movements for both live and forensic viewing.Casino Mode guarantees 30 frames per second to capture every detail on fast-action applications for many complex, small movements in both live and forensic viewing Investigating criminal or worker concerns Manchester-Boston Regional Airport has installed over one hundred and fifty Arecont Vision cameras, and the video surveillance system is continuing to grow. The latest installation of Arecont Vision products included the lower level of a parking garage as well as a newly renovated passenger checkpoint area. When asked if there are any specific incidents in which Arecont Vision cameras proved useful, Mr. Mueller responded, “Every other day we use the cameras to investigate criminal or worker concerns. We go back and monitor them for possible safety issues on the ramps, for passenger interaction, and for worker interactions. Anytime someone expresses a concern to me, they can come in and we can watch the footage together. I try to make sure that the option to view footage is fairly transparent, which has proved very useful to everyone. "SurroundVideo 180° cameras were again utilised in the latter situation due to the client’s satisfaction with stitching together images from multiple 180°s." Paul Mueller, Manchester-Boston Regional Airport’s security manager, stated, “We were sure to go back to Arecont Vision during this process. We have had a good working relationship with them for the past five years, and they enable us to use less cameras while still maintaining full view of inspection areas.”Primary camera views are displayed and monitored all the time, while others can be pulled up and played back as issues arise Passport and ticket inspection made easy Arecont Vision cameras are monitored 24/7 in the airport’s communications centre. Primary views are displayed and monitored all the time, while others can be pulled up and played back as issues arise. The system also allows for particular divisions within the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport to monitor cameras that are applicable to their work, such as in the parking garage. In terms of responsiveness, Arecont Vision makes it a top priority. “We had an issue recently with the lack of detail in some of the views for when people were having their passports and tickets inspected by TSA employees,” Paul stated, “An Arecont Vision rep came out and agreed that we could improve images, so he pulled the cameras and re-installed a newer firmware version which allowed for finer adjustments, completely and efficiently solving our problem.” Arecont Vision prides itself in its relationship with clients such as Manchester-Boston Regional Airport and to its continued design and manufacturing of quality, innovative, and industry-leading cameras within the United States for customers to use worldwide.

"Many disasters have occurred in the world, but few have also provided so much delight for posterity." There probably are no better words to describe Pompeii than Goethe’s during one of his trips to Italy – the area of Pompeii encompasses 440,000 square meters that include the archaeological excavations of the ancient Roman city submerged by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, frozen in time by the sudden rain of ash and lava rock that preserved it for centuries. In 1997 UNESCO declared Pompeii a World Heritage Site, on account of the fact that the extraordinary findings in the cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum and neighbouring cities buried by the eruption provide a complete and vivid picture of society and daily life that have been preserved nearly intact for two millennia. Presently Pompeii is the flagship of the Pompeii Authority, an Institute of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism provided with special autonomy, which is active in the area of protection, conservation, and public access to cultural heritage sites. The Great Pompeii project: video security needs The need to install a video security system was born of the Great Pompeii project, an undertaking ordered by the Italian Government for the purpose of reinforcing the effectiveness of the conservation actions and programmes in the archaeological area of Pompeii, by developing an extraordinary and urgently needed programme of conservation, prevention, maintenance, and restoration. An important and demanding operation, also in financial terms – €105 million from Fesr and national funding – with the objective of modernising the Pompeii archaeological site, not only by stabilising and restoring decorated walls and surfaces, but also by means of security and leveraging the video security system. Metoda's technical expertise "The reasons underlying theneed to implement a videosecurity system included protection of archaeological findings, to tourist control" The project, supported and accompanied by a suitable scientific and technical study plan for the purposes of identifying, researching the scientific knowledge and guiding the operating choices, called for launching a bid for tenders for a new video security system, which was eventually awarded to Metoda in August 2014. An Italian company in the providing solutions, software projects, and consulting in diverse IT and tele-communications sectors – from mobile payments to building management, including civil protection, security and networking – Metoda employs more than 300 experts, from professionals and specialised technicians involved in the business units dedicated to specific applications, including research and development, which collaborates with prestigious research institutes and universities for many years. "The feather in the cap for Metoda is SOA certification, which was received precisely because of our complex internal organisation and attests to the financial and technical capacity of the firm to qualify for designing and implementing large scale public tenders," explains Cesare Gonnelli, Deputy Manager of Metoda. From "under observation" to "under video surveillance" "The reasons underlying the need to implement a video security system were multifaceted, from protection of the archaeological findings, which are often the object of theft and vandalism, to tourist control," adds Gonnelli. The archaeological site, which may receive up to 15,000 tourists in a single day – a numerical turnout second to only the Coliseum – sends us very frequent reports of graffiti, scratches, and defacing of the walls and frescoes of the Roman Domus villas, which are at the heart of the archaeological site. These acts of vandalism are carried out by tourists with their pens and fingernails when they somehow manage to stay within the walls on purpose even after the site is closed to the public. Furthermore, as a result of the recent terrorist attacks, the Authority evaluated the opportunity of utilizing an advanced video security system in support of the physical surveillance activity of the guards. "In fact one of the priorities was being able to clearly distinguish the face of the people and monitoring behaviour that looked out of place inside the area, as well as any objects left behind and considered potentially suspicious," continues Gonnelli. MOBOTIX video surveillance solution Cameras were installed on light posts along the perimeter, and on the walls of the Roman Domus villas Partnering with MOBOTIX since 2011, Metoda had no doubt about the best product to offer to the Pompeii Authority for implementing the video surveillance project. "MOBOTIX easily satisfied the requirements of the bid for tenders, and was in fact the only technology truly capable of providing an answer to the actual requirements of the Authority. A resounding victory, most of all because of the quality of the images, which completely surpassed all the expectations of the customer.". The installation of the first video cameras – almost all of them D15, with the exception of about ten D25 chosen to blend with the architecture and style – started in July 2015, but already in December Pompeii was under surveillance by 240 video cameras, with the objective of reaching more than 380 before the end of the summer, installed both on the light posts placed both along the perimeter of the archaeological site, and on the internal and external walls of the Roman Domus villas. In any event, the video security system is a much more complex IT and telecommunications project, as it required the implementation of a complex network support infrastructure (12 fibre optic rings and 88 nodes) thanks to the strong expertise of Metoda in networking, with a department specifically dedicated to software development and the integration of IT and telecommunication systems. Event-activated video surveillance The video cameras are in operation 24 hours a day, but with the exception of special particular requirements, are only event-activated, in order not to overload the storage, notwithstanding the 700-TB NAS archive system. The recordings can later be viewed on nine 42-inch monitors in a dedicated control room provided with four workstations dedicated for the monitoring personnel. The cameras are event-activated, in order not to overload the storage, notwithstanding the 700-TB NAS archive system No issues were encountered during neither the installation phases nor the deployment of the system, thanks also to the technical expertise of Metoda. "Likewise, no complaints from the personnel in charge of using the system (for the time being the same guards at the park), who received a minimum amount of training, but certainly cannot be called ‘expert’ in the utilisation of advanced technology systems. The ease of use of MOBOTIX solutions certainly gave us an advantage in the quick deployment of the project," concludes Gonnelli. High image quality As in most of the projects implemented by MOBOTIX, the praise should also be attributed in this case to the excellent quality of the images, which cannot be compared – also according to Metoda – to any other system available in the market. Certainly the decentralised concept of MOBOTIX played an important role in promoting all the virtues of the system, especially because of the number of video cameras involved, which prevents overloading the network under "critical" utilisation conditions. Both Metoda’s and the end user’s needs have been satisfied – a fact only confirmed by the idea that considerations are being made to implement a video analysis system to support the anti-graffiti activities, with the objective of studying behaviours considered "suspicious." As such, they could prevent acts of vandalism that could cause irreparable damage to the artistic and cultural heritage.

Security expert Abloy UK has supplied South Staffs Water (SSW) with a bespoke PROTEC2 CLIQ® electromechanical security system for 91 of its operational sites. SSW supplies high quality drinking water to approximately 1.3m people and 35,000 commercial customers over 1,500 square km in the West Midlands, South Staffordshire, South Derbyshire, North Warwickshire and North Worcestershire areas. The SSW clean water sites include treatment works, reservoirs, pumping stations, boosters, and water towers. PROTEC2 CLIQ® electromechanical locking system The installation of the PROTEC2 CLIQ® system, which was completed by Lincoln Security, comprised of 600 Padlocks, 392 Cylinders, 200 User Keys and four Desktop Programmers. In addition, 10 Wall Programming Devices were strategically placed at offices and depots throughout the SSW geographical area to allow key holders to re validate when required. The locking systems are now fully operational, securing and maintaining the safety of equipment - such as pumps and telemetry units - operational apparatus, chemicals, and potable water within reservoirs. There is also scope for the system to be expanded to fulfill additional security and site access requirements, as they are needed. CLIQ®-powered electronic security Abloy’s PROTEC2 CLIQ® cylinder system was chosen because it is specially designed to provide the highest level of security for the most sensitive areas; it offers a patented disc controller structure that requires a moving element in the key. PROTEC2 CLIQ® also possesses key and key blank patent protection to prevent systems from becoming compromised through the unauthorised duplication of keys. The patent, which lasts until 2031, is one of the longest in the industry and covers the entire range. "We chose the Abloy PROTEC2 CLIQ® system because of the versatility and flexibility it offers" In a PROTEC2 CLIQ® locking system, different products can be keyed into the same master key system, meaning all products can be operated with just a single key, simplifying the locking system and key management. In addition, there are 1.97 billion different key combinations; providing the possibility to create extensive master key systems that fulfill the clients’ exact specifications. Versatility and flexibility Kate Wilkes, Resilience and Security Manager at South Staffs Water, said: “We chose the Abloy PROTEC2 CLIQ® system because of the versatility and flexibility it offers – our employees can use just one key for every site they need to gain access to. Individuals that only need to access certain assets can have a particular level of key and other employees can have a higher level where required.” Rob Bennett, Senior Market Development Manager at Abloy, added: “There are a number of specific requirements when securing water sites, and it can be difficult to maintain access to all areas without the risk of keys being lost and a system becoming compromised. “A web-managed, patent protected master-key system that combines electronic access control with the strength of Abloy’s mechanical locks is the ideal solution, as it reduces the number of keys carried by individual employees or contractors, offering a convenient and flexible high security provision.”

With the advent of online shopping, brick-and-mortar retail businesses are challenged to make transactions more convenient while enhancing the “experience” aspects that differentiate real-life shopping from the simpler route of clicking on a website. Technology is helping retailers create that differentiation, including technologies such as video systems, deep learning analytics and point-of-sale (POS) integrations that have evolved from innovation in the physical security market. For more insights, we asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What new security industry technologies are having an impact on the retail market?

Cybersecurity has become the ultimate buzzword in the physical security market. And it also represents one of the industry’s most intractable challenges. Several years ago, the problem with cybersecurity was lack of awareness among physical security practitioners. It’s now safe to say that awareness has increased. Everyone today talks about cybersecurity, but has it helped the larger problem? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: Is greater awareness helping to increase the cybersecurity of physical security systems?

Technology advancements often come with new terms and definitions. The language of our marketplace evolves to include new words that describe innovations in the industry. In the skilled hands of marketers, terms intended to be descriptive can also take a new element of ‘buzz,’ often presaging exciting developments that will drive the future. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable:  What new buzzword have you heard, and what does it mean for the industry?