GeoVision unveils advanced GV-Control Center (v4.0) security software

GeoVision announces the launch of new generation GV-Control Center (v4.0) integrated security management software

19 Oct 2021

GeoVision has announced the release of GV-Control Center (V4.0), integrated security management software, designed for central monitoring systems.

GV-Control Center is designed for enterprise system users, to handle high-volume video data. From real-time monitoring, video playback, event detection pop-up, I/O central monitoring, 3D E-map and communications, GV-Control Center helps security guards to quickly identify threats, and take swift actions.

GV-Control Center (V4.0)

GeoVision unveils a re-designed user experience on GV-Control Center (V4.0), to streamline its interfaces and aim at building a consistent experience, across the platforms of GV-VMS and GV-Edge Recording Manager.

Additionally, GV-Control Center V4.0 introduces the new viewing windows, Face Recognition (FR) Watch and ASManager View, to integrate the monitoring of face recognition, access control and LPR events into the central monitoring operation. The AI (video analytics) events from forefront GV-VMS software and GeoVision AI cameras are also incorporated in the new version.

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Crossing the divide - automating security processes across physical, business and IT domains

Security is a critical requirement for all organisations. Getting security right involves the correct mix of people, processes and technology working together. However, many enterprise companies don’t look at the full mix that encompasses information security, and instead split their physical security and business continuity teams away from their IT security departments. According to research by ASIS, around half (52 per cent) of companies have converged two or three out of their physical, IT security and business continuity teams together, with the majority of those opting to bring together their continuity and physical security teams. Of those that have not brought teams together, around 70 per cent have no plans to do so. It's Important to bring all department's security together The reason for this is that cybersecurity is perceived as having a more specialist role within the business and that this prevents companies from bringing their departments together. However, while IT security has its own specialist requirements and skills, it should not be looked at alone. Businesses are looking at how to manage risk more effectively across all their operations, and they have problems when their teams are siloed and don’t have the full picture. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has developed its own guide to this area, based on the growth of the Internet of Things and more connected devices entering both homes and businesses, so this will continue to grow in importance. The rise of automation The pace of change that companies face today, coupled with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, means that more organisations are moving to digital services and automating their operations as much as they can. Security is no exception here - according to our research on security and automation, 75 percent of companies say they would need an additional three or more analysts in place to deal with all their incoming alerts in the same day, while 83 percent say their teams face ‘alert fatigue.’ IT security teams are drowning in data, but they feel unable to cope - yet at the same time, they will have to work more closely with other departments as well. Automation is necessary to deal with all these problems, but it should not be looked at in isolation. While IT security teams are keen to invest in automation using technologies like Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) and Security Orchestration, Automation and Response (SOAR), these investments can be used across both physical and IT security. As IT security teams invest in automation, they can adapt and extend their approach to help risk management and security in the physical world as well. The best approach to be successful around this is to look at areas where real-world and IT security challenges cross over for businesses. To adopt this approach successfully involves understanding business processes better. Fraud detection processes Automation involves using data and analytics to improve how a process operates from beginning to end, including where IT and technology is used to support physical interactions or activities. A good example of this would be a bank’s fraud detection process, where multiple digital and physical transactions have to be monitored and investigated. Bringing together different teams - physical security, business continuity, risk management and IT security - is about how to protect the whole organisation against risk. While the most well-known area for fraud investigation would be credit card transactions, there are multiple different types of transactions to track, from national and international wire transfers to prepaid phone cards and other prepaid cards that can be used for credit purchases. Each of these will have its own workflows and requirements to investigate a transaction, This can include looking at whether transactions are false positives or need further investigation, which is based on a mix of digital documentation for online purchases and physical data from in-person transactions. At the same time, the sophisticated nature of fraud can mean there is a large IT component to any investigation. Members of the IT security team may need to be involved alongside the anti-fraud department. While this investigation is necessary, it pulls analysts away from cybersecurity tasks, which can be especially frustrating where false positives are concerned. Instead, automating the investigation process can help. Consolidating Physical, IT and risk management By consolidating processes and automating the workflow, this pulls physical, IT and risk management together in a smarter and more efficient manner. It also improves productivity for an anti-fraud team as they can remove false positives from the workflow and get automated support for IT analysis. If the team needs more human insight, they can bring this in where they need it rather than requiring it for every investigation. While anti-fraud is one example of where this kind of convergence and collaboration is required, there are other use cases. For instance, industrial control and manufacturing applications that run production lines around the clock are frequently targeted for attacks, either to steal vital data or to disrupt business operations. This crosses over from the realm of IT into the world of operational technology, where systems are very different and the systems used may have been in place for years, even decades. Bringing together different teams - physical security, business continuity, risk management and IT security - is about how to protect the whole organisation against risk. By working together, teams can be more efficient rather than working in their respective silos. This involves better use of data across those teams, which will rely on more automation to be efficient. Using SOAR, security analysts and business risk professionals can cut the amount of time needed to respond to potential problems, reducing the impact and remediating faster. At the same time, it reduces the waste associated with false positives and manual work. The emphasis here should be on how to support the business with better security - by consolidating processes and working more effectively, security teams across the organisation can achieve that goal.

Dahua Technology’s video and access control solution enhances safety in Empresa Panamena de Alimentos food company’s facilities

Dahua Technology is a globally renowned video-centric smart IoT solutions and services provider. Based on technological innovations, Dahua Technology offers end-to-end security solutions, systems, and services, in order to create value for city operations, corporate management, and consumers. Dahua Technology has designed a video surveillance and control solution for a popular Panamanian Food Company - Empresa Panamena de Alimentos (EPA). Dahua’s security solution Empresa Panamena de Alimentos is a renowned company in the processed food industry in Panama, Central America. It was founded in 2012 and owns production plants and warehouses in the capital city, as well as agencies around the country. EPA’s products, including all kinds of cookies, coffee, and pasta, are already important parts of consumers’ day-to-day life. With the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic risks, EPA needed a system to sustain efficient management and operation, over their staff and facilities. Implementing multiple access controls in the facilities As a food company, the operations of the company need to be under caution, especially during the pandemic As a food company, the operations of the company need to be under caution, especially during the pandemic. It was necessary to implement multiple access controls in the facilities. With multiple plants located around the nation and accelerated growth, a centralised monitoring system for all equipment, alert management and user reports was needed. The solution, applied at EPA’s facilities, integrates various electronic security systems under a single platform and was evaluated based on the company’s needs. ANPR, AI-based cameras and access control systems “Currently, 480 Dahua devices have been arranged. Among them are different models of cameras, access control systems, and automatic number plate recognition products. AI-based cameras enhance the level of personnel protection. Everything is monitored by a DSS Express server in the main plant,” said Luis Araujo, the Manager of Infrastructure and Telecommunications of the Secutec Panama. Every day, more than 800 employees enter EPA facilities nationwide, the access control system allows a faster and safer automated entry of the staff and their cars. Access controllers and Pro Network Video Recorders Besides, three Pro Network Video Recorders (NVR5864-4KS2) were also adopted Apart from automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) devices, more than 20 access controllers (ASI7213X-T1) were installed in main offices for temperature monitoring and attendance management. Besides, three Pro Network Video Recorders (NVR5864-4KS2) were also adopted. With a powerful processor, they have the capability of 4K resolution processing and high definition recording quality. Perimeter protection and access control In Dahua Technology’s security solution, perimeter protection and access control are both realised. “We have had Dahua equipment for 7 years. It is a brand that has been of great help to our safety. It has contributed to continuous and steady operations throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Guillermo Figueroa, EPA’s Safety and Control Manager. Javier Rodríguez, Secutec Panama’s Operations Manager, valued the quality and technology of Dahua’s solution, which has been ‘key’ for the development of their projects, the support and accompaniment to the brands that are planned to be developed. Trust in Dahua Technology’s solution “We are very proud that our teams are here for EPA and that companies, like EPA and Secutec, trust Dahua Technology. We continue to innovate to offer solutions that help companies to work in a safer and smarter way,” said Fermín Osorio, an Engineer at Dahua Technology Ltd.

Everbridge Control Center deployed by G4S to accelerate Abu Dhabi Global Market Square’s physical security digital transformation

The Abu Dhabi Global Market Square (ADGMS), located on Al Maryah Island, in the United Arab Emirates capital, Abu Dhabi, is a high-profile, architecturally compelling business and hospitality hub. Many of the most globally prestigious companies inhabit the buildings, in the award-winning financial centre. Abu Dhabi Global Market Square ADGMS also hosts frequent international dignitaries and large-scale public events, including the Abu Dhabi national New Year’s fireworks display. Abu Dhabi Global Market Square was the first project in the UAE, to achieve LEED Core and Shell (LEED-CS) Gold pre-certification, by the US Green Building Council (USGBC). The Abu Dhabi Global Market Square (ADGMS) consists of: 450,000 sq. m of office space, a lavish retail section and luxury business hotel offerings, 4 Grade-A commercial office towers with 30 floors each, 4 km waterfront promenade, Over 2,000 cameras, and Over 1,000 doors. Unconnected security systems and situational awareness gaps Because of its iconic status, the Abu Dhabi Global Market Square faces many unique challenges to security, including: Political pressure - Because of ADGMS’s status and frequent high-profile international visitors, any disruption to operations - be it natural disaster, activism, terror or other critical events, could cause issues on a national scale. Protection for VIPs - Regular visits from prestigious VIPs, such as sheikhs, the royal family, and global business leaders, elevates security risks and the need for executive protection. Unobtrusive security - ADGMS is a public space with tenanted offices, meaning that security must be robust, but unobtrusive and follow all global data, and privacy regulations. Physical location - Being situated on an island is an extra security risk, complicating the ability to enter and exit the space, during planned and unplanned critical events or emergencies. Architecture - The buildings in ADGMS are mostly glass, with many levels, making it difficult to secure. Previously, a number of systems were deployed to help with security and life safety, such as CCTV, access control, fire detection, and building management. However, these were not connected and left gaps in situational awareness, which ADGMS found unacceptable. In light of the above challenges, ADGMS building managers felt it essential to harden security, across the market square, within these buildings and in connecting areas. Risk intelligence & integrated control of physical assets Martin Grigg, Principal Consultant and Project Lead for PTS Middle East was selected to design and oversee the project Abu Dhabi Global Market Square approached PTS Middle East (PTS Consulting Group Ltd.), a multi-national security and digital transformation consultancy, which carried out the threat, risk and vulnerability assessment, designed the mitigation measures, and provided oversight of the installation and commissioning of the entire system. They were also tasked with ensuring that the system met the operational requirements and was fit for purpose, and proportional to the risks, faced by ADGMS. Martin Grigg, Principal Consultant and Project Lead for PTS Middle East was selected to design and oversee the project, right from concept to completion. Everbridge Control Center deployed Following the assessment, G4S, a British multi-national risk consultancy company, headquartered in the United Kingdom, was selected to deliver the project, based on its experience in helping secure many of the region’s most prestigious locations. G4S is also a global partner with Everbridge, and together, they have secured people, assets and infrastructure for numerous organisations. G4S selected Everbridge Control Center to integrate and manage all the technology, which is coming into their Security Command Centre (SCC). Everbridge Risk Center was also deployed to provide real-time threat intelligence to ADGMS. Critical issues solved by Everbridge technology: Consolidation of four control rooms into one, reducing the office space needed for security - This premium space is now free and able to be re-purposed as rentable office space, Reduction of man guarding costs, as fewer resources are needed to secure the facility, Real-time situational awareness allows for reduced risk, accelerated response times and keeps stakeholders informed, Everbridge Control Center provides event driven, unified interface and automated SOP presentation, Everbridge technology provides flexibility to adapt, as requirements change, Reduction in time taken to identify a security incident and resolve it, Intelligence from the facial recognition systems is proactively used to welcome friends and identify known criminals, Risk intelligence to identify events, such as sandstorms, allows ADGMS to act faster, enabling them to reduce the risk to people and operations, and Automated reporting capabilities save huge amounts of time and resources - A report that took 20 minutes can now be automated in seconds.

Mobile access articles

Yeastar and TELIgraph announce distribution partnership in Singapore

Yeastar, the provider of SME PBX system, and TELIgraph, the Singapore-based distributor of business telecommunication and phone systems jointly announce a distribution partnership. TELIgraph will distribute the full line of Yeastar’s innovative Unified Communications solutions to channels across Singapore. VoIP and Unified Communications solutions “We feel excited to partner with TELIgraph which has been in the business of telecommunication and phone systems for 33 years in Singapore and overseas markets.” “This partnership is built on our leading VoIP and Unified Communications solutions aligned with their expertise of a team of experienced professionals. We will work together to empower more SMEs with reliable and robust telecommunication solutions in the local market,” said Prince Cai, Vice President of Yeastar. Reliable and cost-effective solutions TELIgraph continues to provide reliable and cost-effective Telecommunication and Structured Cabling solutions" “As one of the market leaders in the Singapore telecommunications industry, TELIgraph continues to provide reliable and cost-effective Telecommunication and Structured Cabling solutions to meet customers’ needs.” “TELIgraph believes that adding Yeastar products to the TELIgraph’s portfolio is the response to the increasing growth of demand for fast-moving changes in technology. Yeastar equipment will let TELIgraph’s partners address various needs of their customers and assist them in achieving their competitive edge,” said Eugin Lim, Business Development Manager of TELIgraph. New VoIP products As a distributor of Yeastar, TELIgraph’s clients will have easy access to the complete range of Yeastar innovative and high-performance VoIP products designed to, which includes: P-Series PBX System: Purpose-built for SMEs to fulfill more sophisticated communication needs, P-Series PBX is a converged system that wraps a suite of services around, including voice, video, applications, collaboration, and more. S-Series VoIP PBX: Easy to manage, configure, and install, the feature-rich S-Series unleashes the power of unified communications and meets the growing needs of SMEs. Yeastar Cloud PBX: A robust, flexible and easy-to-use hosted business phone system. VoIP Gateways: A complete portfolio of VoIP Gateways that covers the business need of connecting FXS, FXO, GSM/3G/4G, ISDN PRI to VoIP.

AlertMedia announces new Global Threat Intelligence division to aid enterprises in keeping employees safe and informed in critical events

AlertMedia, the globally renowned emergency communication solutions provider, has announced its new Global Threat Intelligence Division, with faster, broader, and more relevant coverage, about a wide range of global and local incidents. Staffed by a dedicated team of intelligence analysts, who provide human-verified alerts 24/7, the division has more than doubled the volume of actionable intelligence available to AlertMedia customers concerning threats that directly affect employees and business operations. Global Threat Intelligence Available immediately to customers worldwide, AlertMedia’s Global Threat Intelligence solution provides independently verified, around-the-clock, curated threat warnings for critical events, across the globe, from severe weather and natural disasters to public demonstrations and public health crises, to help organisations more easily identify, monitor, and assess risks to their people and business. Organisations face an increasing number of daily threats to employee safety, business continuity Organisations face an increasing number of daily threats to employee safety, business continuity, and their ability to provide products and services to customers without disruption. To identify potential risks, operational security, loss prevention, and safety teams are often forced to sift through disparate sources of unstructured data, requiring significant labor and infrastructure to manually assess the impact to their organisation. Delivering analyst-vetted intelligence AlertMedia’s Global Threat Intelligence transforms today’s staggering threat monitoring environment, by monitoring, identifying, and rapidly delivering analyst-vetted intelligence from trained experts, to help organisations drastically reduce their response times to an incident that presents a safety or operational risk. Now, instead of spending the majority of their time manually evaluating and distributing information, they can instead focus on solving more strategic problems. “Many of the safety and security teams we speak to today suffer from an overwhelming amount of information and an inability to quickly filter noise, to find what matters,” said Sara Pratley, the Vice President (VP) of Global Intelligence at AlertMedia. Sarah Pratley adds, “Our focus is on delivering solutions that provide customers with actionable, vetted intelligence that accelerates decision making and provides clarity, concerning the impact to their organisation. The combination of relevant insights, alongside our suite of emergency communication tools, enables any company to more quickly disseminate information, and protect their business.” Seamless integration with emergency communication solution AlertMedia’s Global Threat Intelligence seamlessly integrates with its emergency communication solution AlertMedia’s Global Threat Intelligence seamlessly integrates with its emergency communication solution, enabling organisations to communicate information about critical events to employees, leadership, and other stakeholders through multiple channels. For example, Coca-Cola Bottling United’s people team is responsible for knowing of any and all threats that could impact the company or safety of its employees. “Severe weather, including hurricanes, tornadoes, and winter storms, threatens our business every year, but our ability to keep track of these events and inform employees at a moment’s notice became increasingly challenging,” said Gianetta Jones, the Vice President (VP) and Chief People Officer of Coca-Cola Bottling United. Responding to disruptive events in real time Gianetta Jones adds, “AlertMedia helps us identify and respond to disruptive events in real-time, and we’re now better able to take proactive measures to ensure our employees stay safe and out of harm’s way no matter the emergency.” By combining AlertMedia’s emergency communication and threat intelligence solutions, organisations can benefit from the following: Faster, analyst-vetted intelligence: Every threat delivered by AlertMedia is independently verified, by highly-trained experts and categorised by type, severity, and location, giving people the ability to easily filter and set specific alert preferences, for each event type. Expert analysis from trusted sources: Receive vetted alerts, by highly trained analysts with decades of combined experience in monitoring and delivering threat intelligence for the CIA, FBI, US Army, and many of the world’s largest corporations. Real-time coverage of a wide variety of events: Improve situational awareness with faster detection of critical events, transportation disruptions, security incidents, public demonstrations, environmental hazards, public health emergencies, and more. Streamlined response workflows: Navigate the entire lifecycle of a threat, from detection to resolution from a single, intuitive platform. Accelerate communication tasks with a fully integrated emergency communication solution. Impact assessment: Understand the organisation’s exposure, with a clear picture of exactly who and what is impacted, based on the locations of the people or assets. Automatic alerts to targeted groups: Create automatic, triggered actions that send real-time threat warnings to admins or directly to employees, who are in close proximity to a nearby threat.

AlertMedia releases new mobile app features to enhance workers’ safety in remote locations

AlertMedia, the globally renowned emergency communication solutions provider, has announced the launch of several new mobile app features, which are designed to keep the current hybrid workforce and anywhere workers safe and connected to their organisation, while travelling, working remotely, or on the go. AlertMedia mobile app Employees of organisations with an AlertMedia account can now access real-time information about emerging threats happening anywhere in the world, through the AlertMedia mobile app, with the option also to leverage dynamic location tracking, in order to receive instantaneous threat intelligence alerts about environmental hazards, crime, and other potentially dangerous incidents happening nearby. Through a new partnership with GeoSure, employees can access detailed neighbourhood and city-level safety scores Additionally, through a new partnership with GeoSure, employees can access detailed neighbourhood and city-level safety scores for any work or travel destination, so as to help them quickly and accurately understand their surroundings, when in unfamiliar places. Keeping employees safe and connected “With employees working from locations all over the world, often away from a traditional office, it’s much harder to identify unpredictable events that threaten their safety and productivity. The new normal demands that organisations adapt and keep their employees safe and connected, wherever they are,” said Brian Cruver, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founder at AlertMedia. Brian Cruver adds, “Our mobile app technology provides a powerful way for employers to ensure their people know what threats exist nearby, while also providing the employees with simple and intuitive ways to signal for help, during an emergency.” Hybrid working environment As offices begin to reopen amid the vaccine rollout, many companies are exploring more flexible work options. In a global survey from Accenture, three-quarters of workers said they want a mix of office and remote working to become the new norm, creating greater complexity for employers needing to locate and communicate with impacted employees, during emergencies. Additionally, with business travel rapidly returning to pre-pandemic levels, employers are faced with how to efficiently and effectively monitor and communicate with an increasingly mobile and distributed workforce. AlertMedia’s new mobile features create a more direct connection between employers and workers, while enabling employees to play an active role, in making informed decisions that impact their well-being. Access to 24/7, location-aware intelligence Even though more people are returning to the office, finding ways to communicate effectively continues to be a challenge" With access to 24/7, location-aware intelligence, alongside hyper-local safety scores from GeoSure, employees can more easily assess, evaluate, and navigate evolving incidents, and unfamiliar travel locations, in order to avoid potential threats that present safety risks. “Even though more people are returning to the office, finding ways to communicate effectively continues to be a challenge,” said Donna Kelly, the Head of Facilities at Rakuten. Enabling employees to manage personal safety Donna Kelly adds, “Rather than send an email to employees, hoping they will read it, AlertMedia enables our employees to manage their own safety, at their own site. Our employees are our most valuable asset. By providing them access to the AlertMedia mobile app, we are demonstrating our vested interest in their well-being.” AlertMedia’s new mobile features include: Global Threat Intelligence: Empower employees with real-time threat intelligence and warnings concerning incidents, happening near their office, homes, or mobile location, to improve situational awareness and avoid potentially dangerous situations. Employee Safety Monitoring: Give employees an instant, reliable connection, to call for help from their organisation or law enforcement, with distress signal capabilities, including a one-touch panic button and timed monitoring session, both supported by a 24/7 dedicated monitoring team that provides live support, while response teams and law enforcement are alerted. GeoSure GeoSafeScores: Deliver at-a-glance safety data for more than 65,000 cities, towns, and neighbourhoods worldwide, in order to provide employees an overall safety rating and contextual information for any location, spanning eight risk categories - Women’s Safety, LGBTQ+ Safety, Physical Harm, Theft, Health & Medical, Basic Freedoms, Nighttime, and Overall Safety. Travel safety for employees in unfamiliar locations “Our mission is to help anyone, whether for business or pleasure, travel more confidently and safely,” said Michael Becker, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at GeoSure. Michael Becker adds, “We’re thrilled to partner with AlertMedia, to extend the reach of our data and help employees take extra precautions, and steer clear of potential threats, when traveling to less familiar environments.”

AlertMedia expands Executive Leadership Team with the appointment of Laura Woolford as the Chief People Officer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Go touchless with the Anviz FaceDeep series

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Valsoft Corporation expands education sector portfolio with the acquisition of ScholarChip

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

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

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

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

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