Schneider Electric to promote converged critical security systems at Counter Terror Expo

According to Schneider Electric converged security systems based on network IP provide better security

At this year's Counter Terror Expo Schneider Electric is promoting the benefits of intelligent, converged critical security systems. According to the company a converged approach can help organisations to effectively manage the ever-increasing, ever-changing threat of international terrorism, and can reduce capital and operational expenditure. Critical security systems have traditionally involved the use of separate processes, procedures and equipment. However, according to Schneider Electric, this is costly and cumbersome, and today's security challenges require a more intelligent approach.

In a converged, integrated security system based on network IP (Internet Protocol) solutions, disparate components such as video surveillance, access control, fire and life safety and perimeter detection can work together to help proactively combat security breaches. Converged systems enable security staff to quickly and accurately pinpoint and analyse events, and to respond in a timely and effective way.

Schneider Electric is also encouraging organisations to move to fully converged systems where a collection of completely separate processes such as security, building management, energy management and IT become one convergent technology. The benefits to this approach include less cabling, less hardware and reduced installation costs, leading to lower capital expenditure. In addition, there will be reduced training, maintenance, staffing requirements and personnel costs, cutting operational expenditure.

At Counter Terror Expo, Schneider Electric is also highlighting the benefits of PSIM (Physical Security Information Management) technology, which provides one system and one command point. With PSIM security systems, situations can be analysed from a single-seat, single-user interface, giving a more thorough understanding and far more control over the whole security landscape.

Schneider Electric's PSIM solutions have the ability to manage all of an organisation's facilities and remote sites from a single computer, at any time and from anywhere. With such vast business intelligence, organisations can make real-time decisions to improve business performance as well as security. Paul Clark, national security sales manager at Schneider Electric, said: "If security systems are installed and managed separately and work independently, each one will need its own hardware, software, oversight, service, maintenance, administration and training all being expensive and cumbersome burdens. In addition, this type of arrangement offers no real intelligence and is very localised."

"As well as being able to reduce costs, we believe converged, integrated critical security strategies create the most secure environment possible. And with PSIM a multitude of things can be controlled, monitored and analysed. Security related components such as access control, video surveillance and intrusion detection can be seamlessly integrated with building and energy management components such as heating and cooling, lighting, power and IT, to deliver further savings and efficiencies."

"We believe PSIM integrated systems will quickly take over the critical security market because they reduce costs, simplify operations, leverage existing infrastructure and improve overall security by providing a single user interface. And with IP being set to become the dominant solution and increasingly being specified on new build projects, the move to a PSIM system can be very straightforward."

Schneider Electric's intelligent security solutions systems have been making buildings and infrastructure more secure and energy efficient for over 80 years.The company has provided solutions for a considerable number of high-profile projects including airports, ports and government and military sites. Its critical and integrated security solutions include the very latest technology and techniques, and the company is globally recognised as a market leader.