Healthcare 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.

Complicated key management systems can detrimentally affect nursing care. Staff using older, mechanical key systems find it difficult to keep track of who has the keys. Searching for that person to gain access to controlled drugs can waste much of a nurse’s valuable time. Pharmacy managers at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham (QE Birmingham), identified a better solution for secure, quick and convenient staff access to controlled medicines: the PROTEC2 CLIQ® electromechanical locking system from ASSA ABLOY group brand ABLOY. Encrypted electronic locking and identification PROTEC2 CLIQ® is a key-based access control system based on high-security mechanical disc cylinders combined with highly encrypted electronic locking and identification. ASSA ABLOY worked with medical equipment manufacturer Bristol Maid to supply QE Birmingham with 1,400 keys and 1,600 cylinders to improve medicine security at the hospital – further broadening the company’s experience in safeguarding access to healthcare environments across Europe. With CLIQ®, power to the cylinder is supplied by a standard battery inside every programmable CLIQ® key, so no wires are required, making it an ideal retrofit solution for doors, cabinets and mobile drug trolleys. Each employee can now carry a single, physically identical, programmable CLIQ® key that opens any CLIQ® cylinder for which the system has authorised its access. No CLIQ® cylinder can be opened without the key first being authorised by the software. Remote key management QE Birmingham’s new PROTEC2 CLIQ® system also allows for remote key management. Comprehensive audit trails for locks and padlocks are available on demand, so chief pharmacists and nurse managers can instantly generate a report detailing who has accessed particular cabinets or drug trolleys at any time. It is easy to remove access permissions from lost or stolen keys using the admin software, or to amend the access permissions of any CLIQ® key. All these features are enabled by CLIQ® technology, and combine to substantially increase the security of controlled drugs — and to save nurses’ time. “Efficiency is also increased,” explains Aaron Ballard Ridley, healthcare sales specialist at ABLOY UK. “As each nurse has access to their own key with personalised access rights, they don’t have to waste time looking for who has the key to a particular cupboard.” “The message from all nursing staff is that patients are getting medicines much easier and in a more timely fashion,” says Inderjit Singh, Chief Pharmacist at QE Birmingham. “For us, the key return on investment is the quality of service we’re providing.”

People feel at home where they feel good and are familiar with the surroundings. The retirement village in the centre of Windisch in a park-like environment, is an ideal place to be for people in their third and fourth stages of life. The facility provides different types of living, support and care, plenty of variety and numerous opportunities to take part in group activities. EVVA inner code system Elderly residents with different residential options including care and support call Sanavita Alterszentrum Lindenpark their home. A pleasant and appealing atmosphere within and around the development is paramount – it goes without saying that security is also in the focus. In terms of locking systems owners opted for a combination of mechanical and electronic locking system: EVVA ICS and Xesar. Xesar: guaranteed healthcare Particularly healthcare facilities are highly sensitive areas that not everyone should have access to. A highly secure, yet flexible locking system is required to ensure access restrictions and simultaneously grant medical staff fast access to individual areas. You can flexibly grant and revoke access authorisations. As a result, exclusively authorised users are granted access. Consequently, the existing locking system at Alterszentrum Lindenpark was replaced by Xesar. Safeguarding medical cabinets The electronic solution now also secures medical cabinets including drawers containing toxic substances as well as refrigerated medical cabinets at the corresponding ward facilities. The Xesar wall reader as the updater unit at the main entrance guarantees fast security within the existing virtual network. Xesar wall readers in combination with electronic motorised cylinders (EMZY) have been installed in all outside doors. The project was managed by EVVA Rotkreuz and local EVVA Partner UTO Sicherheitstechnik AG took care of system installation. Securing residents’ properties “Securing the building towards the outside and securing residents’ properties was the primary aim”, Remo Breuss explains, EVVA’s head of sales in Switzerland. “Exclusively authorised persons must have access to medical areas. Xesar can record a precise protocol showing who has access to what and when. The ICS mechanical locking system has also been integrated. "The vast number of different user groups was a particular challenge. The project also required plenty of expertise to comply with the requirements for an escape route concept as per statutory stipulations. The combination of electronic and mechanical locking system was the ideal solution for Alterszentrum Lindenpark.” EVVA technology in the facility 502 ICS cylinders 415 Xesar combi keys 21 e-half cylinders 56 e-escutcheons 162 e-handles 14 wall readers 1 updater unit

The City International Hospital (CIH) is a new multi-specialty hospital located within the Binh Tan district in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Located in the International Hi-Tech Healthcare Park, CIH features the latest medical technology and imaging equipment. With a large volume of visitors anticipated at the hospital every day, the need for a best-in-breed surveillance solution was a high priority from the onset of the project. To fulfill this requirement, hospital administrators turned to Citek Corporation, a technology integrator located in Ho Chi Minh City. IP surveillance with Arecont megapixel cameras The need to secure CIH by maintaining the highest levels of situational awareness was a primary design objective for the new video surveillance system. To achieve this goal, Hoa Lam’s management team worked together with Citek’s technical personnel to design and install a superior video surveillance system. The decision to deploy an IP surveillance solution featuring Arecont Vision megapixel cameras was based on superior functionality and image quality, ease of use, and the ability to manage the system centrally or remotely. “We always rely on the quality of Arecont Vision® cameras”, says Mr. Thomas Tran, CEO of Citek Corporation. “Our experience with Arecont Vision® has made them our first choice for every large project because of their exceptional performance and image quality.” Situational awareness both day and night Citek became an Arecont Vision® installer in Vietnam in 2009, and installation of the video surveillance system was a smooth process by the experienced integrator. The video surveillance system at CIH is monitored on a local network, which includes a main server and two client systems. There are approximately two hundred Arecont Vision cameras installed at the CIH facility to date There are approximately two hundred Arecont Vision® cameras installed at the facility to date, including approximately one hundred SurroundVideo® 360° AV8365DN 8 megapixel (MP) panoramics and 35 SurroundVideo® 180° AV8185DN 8 MP panoramic cameras. These high-performing cameras deliver exceptional situational awareness in both day and night lighting conditions. Additionally, there are approximately 60 Arecont Vision® MegaVideo® AV2115DN compact day/night megapixel cameras installed at key locations which are operational 24/7. “The quality of Arecont Vision® cameras more than satisfies our requirements for image quality,” said Mr. Lai Voon Hon, General Director of Hoa Lam-Shangri-La. “The system is working very well for us and Arecont Vision® is extremely responsive to our needs.” Substantial savings, superior coverage The CIH management team carefully evaluated their long-term return on investment (ROI) comparing IP and analogue surveillance system solutions. Since a smaller number of Arecont Vision® megapixel cameras provide superior area coverage to conventional cameras, substantial savings are derived. This includes reducing the number of cameras, cables, poles, and housings plus the requirement for less ongoing maintenance and fewer VMS licences. Additional savings are derived from the reduction in manpower needed to watch video feeds and guard the facility. Beyond the financial benefits, CIH management recognises the intangible ROI achieved from maintaining high security, which makes the facility a safer place for patients, staff and visitors. “The International Hi-Tech Healthcare Park will be the first integrated healthcare development in Vietnam to provide a comprehensive healthcare environment employing high-tech medical equipment and a professional medical staff. Our new video surveillance system is an important element of that environment,” said Mr. Lai Voon Hon.

Healthcare facilities such as hospitals and general practitioner surgeries are locations that pose significant challenges for security managers with lots of activities needing to take place quickly, such as lifesaving treatments, while ensuring the protection of patients, staff and property.  MOBOTIX intelligent video MOBOTIX intelligent video systems, using decentralised architecture, have proven a particularly good fit to solve many of these issues. Alongside traditional video surveillance, MOBOTIX uses smart sensors able to  detect a wide range of things such as person leaving a room or a bed during the night; how often lights are turned on; as well as the heat and room temperature control. Information from biomedical sensors and devices can also be captured and displayed in real time to notify care providers.  Seamless integration For example, an integrated TELUS broadband service or other infernal facility infrastructures can send alarm notifications via SMS, voice & video messages or simply triggering a beeper. The open application programming interface (API) and software development kits allows MOBOTIX devices to be seamlessly integrated into a range of audio, video and SIP devices plus healthcare industry specific Lab Information System (LIS) and Electronic Medical Records (EMR) systems: A truly healthy option.

Located in the city of Pinelands, South Africa's Western Province Blood Transfusion Service (WPBTS) is a non-profit, independent organisation operating throughout the Western Cape. However, in reality, this is the largest blood bank in the nation and shoulders a medical responsibility commiserate with this status. Annually in charge of over 165,000 units of blood, the WPBTS operates in accordance with both the World Health Organisation's international standards and local South African national law to assist patients with their medical needs. Monitoring medical areas In late 2011, the WPBTS contacted South African security installer Verivision to develop a hybrid solution that would: Ensure that sensitive medical areas are continually monitored Logistically monitor the packaging and dispatching of blood stock Monitor the movement of individuals throughout the facility Interestingly, from its very inception, this solution was meant to transcend the traditional goals of a normative security. This is to say, instead of only stopping 'bad guys', this WPBTS solution is intended to add value and bring logistical benefits to the medical facility. This is not to say that security was de-prioritised; but rather that it is meant to highlight the multi-functional IP role that Verivision aspires towards. iVMS Smart Search A big part of this value-add was the logistical tracking of blood packets. In this case, it was a Hikvision software feature that helped facilitate this aspect of the solution. Specifically, it was Hikvision iVMS-4200 Software's Smart Search feature for both the facility's existing analogue and IP cameras. Essentially, this feature provides motion detection, in a specified area, for security functions. In the case of the WPBTS, cameras are trained on a certain area containing valuable blood stock; if activity occurs, Hikvision's DS-8132HFSI-SH Standalone DVR is programmed to start recording a particular camera's video feed. Furthermore, if a bookkeeping incongruence is later detected, Smart Search allows the Material Manager (the individual largely responsible for the day-to-day and managerial duties associated with this IP CCTV system) to quickly search for the associated video based upon related date & time parameters. Keith Lewis, owner of Verivision, noted, "In many respects, this Smart Search feature is the key to the entire solution. Of course, it is only one of many aspects; however much of the hardware and technical work that went into designing the overall system was based upon the idea of efficiency. Smart Search very much epitomises this efficiency and has improved overall security while concurrently reducing shrinkage [loss] by a large margin. We are even able to better ensure laboratory standards are more efficiently met with WPBTS blood resources." Keeping with the DS-8132HFSI-SH, Mr. Lewis explained that in the WPBTS, the CCTV system has a unique internal design. Essentially, the CCTV system is maintained by the Central IT Department. In turn, the aforementioned Material Manager has an office in close proximity to this Central IT Department, and is connected by fibre-optical cable. Through these means, the Material Manager has the facility's lone client PC used to access any live or recorded video that is deemed to be of importance. "We are even able to better ensure laboratory standards are more efficiently met with WPBTS blood resources" The WPBTS requires video storage of anywhere between 50 - 90 days. With the medical importance of this facility, Mr. Lewis stated, "I only want the best possible resolution for both live and recorded views. This is why I chose the DS-8132HFSI-SH - it gives me 4CIF resolution real-time recording and an HDMI/VGA output at 1920×1080P resolution ... the best resolution possible for any of the analogue cameras in this medical facility." Current and future IP possibilities Hikvision's DS-9632NI-ST Embedded NVR was selected to allow the facility's IP cameras to function. As can be expected, Mr. Lewis expected nothing less from this NVR model. With up-to 5MP recording resolution and identical HDMI / VGA output as the previous DVR, he was not disappointed. Additionally, this NVR provides the ability to add 32 IP cameras to the overall solution, providing both an element of foresight and fiscal practicality for whatever the future may bring. IP eyes Placed in critical areas, such as the blood dispatch / transport area, and biometrically-secured access control stations, Hikvision's DS-2CD2012-I 1.3MP IR Mini Bullet Camera relies upon its excellent high-resolution capability to provide quality images. Almost antithetical to this 1.3MP technology is an equally important aspect: the DS-2CD2012-I's small, low-profile design. Mr. Lewis elaborated, "Since this model is primarily in main passageways, we wanted a camera that did not ... stick out. Instead, the goal was for a durable, unobtrusive camera that does a great job ... and with its IR ability, it had no problem doing this job in the middle of night, when the facility is locked-down and lights are off." Adding the proverbial cherry-on-top is the Hikvision DS-2CD7153-E 2MP Mini Dome Camera. Placed in the Transport Control Room, a logistical nerve centre of the medical building, the DS-2CD7153-E is responsible for keeping a visual record of exactly who is entering the building and exactly why they are doing so. In this transport control room, Hikvision's 2MP resolution mini dome is able to easily view the attendant's activities; giving a clear view of the logbooks and of people in the area. Providing a superb wide-angle view, this IP mini dome camera is both a security and value-added logistical benefit.

"In the busy environment of our ITU ward we have nurses working in shifts and visitors walking in and out. Consequently, the policy of the NHS trust is that we need to securely store our drugs. Before, we used key based cupboards to do so. Each of our 65 nurses owned a key to operate them, sometimes up to 100 times a day. As a result of the intensive use, the locks wore out regularly. Sometimes the nurses couldn’t lock the cupboards properly anymore and bent or broke their keys as a result. Patient safety always comes first, and we had to be confident that the cupboards were secure at all times. We also had to comply with the national NHS policy to securely store the drugs. That’s where Nedap came in." Recommendation for Nedap "When we asked our partner Carillion, facilitator of the NHS trust fund buildings, about a solution to comply with the NHS security policy, they recommended Nedap. They worked with Nedap before in other NHS site projects, for example NHS Crawley & Horsham hospital. Carillion had heard about the locker management functionality of Nedap’s security management platform AEOS. They told us that this solution could help us solve our key management problem in a cost effective way. Not only for us, but also for Carillion themselves," says Tara Laybourne, Manager of the ITU ward, Darent Valley Hospital. No more key management "Because the mechanical keys and locks wore out all the time, Carillion had to come over very often to replace them. Also, every time you copy a key, the key gets worse. Eventually it didn’t fit the lock anymore. It was an ongoing problem. That’s why we chose AEOS Locker Management,’ says Tara. ‘The main reason is that the locks can be operated with badges instead of keys. All of our nurses now have one single badge which operates every drug cupboard on the ITU ward.’ Also from a maintenance point of view the electronic locker management solution is very cost effective; locks and keys don’t have to be replaced anymore and as the locks are wired, there’s no need to replace batteries. Tara says: ‘Generally, the solution serves a good purpose and is worth the money." Track and trace access "Apart from the fact that we can now secure the access to the cupboards, we can also track and trace who’s accessed the cupboards at what time. That’s also one of the reasons why we’ve chosen for AEOS Locker Management. According to NHS policy, we have to keep our drugs securely stored. They regularly perform audit trails to check if we comply to the policy. In case of an audit trail, we can easily prove that only authorised persons had access to the cupboards," says Tara. AEOS Locker Management provides access control on micro level. Via an easy to use web application, accessible via every web browser, users can easily define who should have access to which lockable compartment at what time. When asked about the user friendliness of the system, Tara says: "We’re happy about the system, but still finding our way around it though. Sometimes, when we issue a new badge to a new colleague, we accidentally issue a visitor badge instead of an employee badge. Consequently, the new colleague can’t open the cupboards. Then we know that we did something wrong. With a few mouse clicks we can fix our mistake; the system is easy to manage. To keep the process of managing the cupboards secure and clear, only myself and someone else are authorised to manage the system and assign badges. In case both of us are out, the others have an algorithm to check user history if necessary." "In the past keys were sometimes lost or misplaced. Since the installation of AEOS Locker Management, they never lost a badge, so that’s a great benefit too" User experiences When asked about the cooperation with Nedap and its certified Business Partner, Tara says: "The cooperation was good. Nedap was available to come over in the case of an event. For example, one time, the cupboard wouldn’t close. It turned out that the hinges where dislocated. Because the nurses lean on it all the time, we had to renew them. So, it wasn’t really due to the system. In the past keys were sometimes lost or misplaced. Since the installation of AEOS Locker Management, they never lost a badge, so that’s a great benefit too." Future proof Darent Valley hospital is now ready for the future. In case more drug cupboards should be equipped with Nedap’s electronic locks, they can be integrated into the existing AEOS Locker Management system with a few mouse clicks. Because the hospital opted for the solid AEOS security management platform, they can also choose to add on functionalities like access control, intrusion or video management later on. For now, they only use the locker management functionality of the platform and they only pay for the locker management feature they use. Darent Valley hospital Darent Valley is a modern hospital in Kent offering professional care, exceptional quality and providing patients with the latest technology for their treatment in safe, comfortable and clean surroundings. The hospital’s team of around 2000 professional and friendly staff provides care for patients across a full range of day-patient, inpatient and out-patient care. It works closely with the local community to improve the standards of its services and welcome all patients both locally or further afield. As Darent Valley benefits from the solid AEOS platform, they can choose to add on functionalities like access control, intrusion or CCTV later on. For now, they only pay for the feature they use.