Alex Johnson

The role of video surveillance is expanding, driven by all the new ways that video – and data culled from video – can impact a business. As a growing population of video cameras expands into new fields of view, we asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What is the most unusual application of surveillance cameras you have seen recently?

Tools such as standard operating procedures (SOPs) and checklists ensure that every factor is considered when installing a physical security system – or do they? Security system installations are detailed projects, and any overlooked detail is a missed opportunity to make the system better. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What is the most overlooked factor when installing physical security systems?

Products are the building blocks of the security industry. Historically much of the industry’s sales effort has been focused on highlighting product features and functionality. At the end of the day, however, an end user is less interested in the performance of any individual system component than in the system as a whole. Lately, the industry has embraced a changing sales approach by emphasising systems rather than products. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the benefits of a transition from selling security products to selling security solutions?

Video storage is an important – and expensive – aspect of almost any surveillance system. Higher camera counts equate to a need for more storage. New analytics systems make it easier for operators to manage video, but that video must be dependably stored and easy to access if and when it is needed. To keep up to date on the latest developments, we asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What’s new in video storage solutions?

While unpacking our bags from a trade show, it is interesting to consider the dominant themes and trends we heard and saw at the show. So it is with the recently concluded Global Security Exchange (GSX) show in Chicago, presented by ASIS International. Amid all the product promotion, training sessions, networking and tired feet at the show, what really stood out? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What was the big news at the GSX 2019 trade show in Chicago?

Video analytics are undergoing a fundamental change in the market as machine learning enhances their accuracy while expanding their capabilities. But what are those expanded capabilities and how are they impacting the operation of security and video systems? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What new video analytics are having an impact in the market and how?

An aging employee population and the influx of a new generation of workers and customers is driving change in the physical security industry. Millennials – those born in the 1980s and mid-1990s – are especially impacting how the industry operates, the technologies it produces, and the customers it serves. This tech-savvy generation grew up with the Internet at their fingertips. They embrace innovation in all its glory and expect it to play a seamless role in their lives – and work. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How are millennials changing how security systems are designed, installed and/or operated?

There will be more artificial intelligence, more machine learning, video systems with more capabilities, and all of it will add greater value to our solutions. Those are among the expectations of our Expert Panel Roundtable as they collectively look ahead to the remainder of 2019. One unexpected prediction is that AI will not prove to be a game changer – at least not yet. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What will be the biggest surprise for security in the second half of 2019?

People are an essential component of any physical security system. Automation hasn’t taken over completely yet! But how has innovation changed the skillsets security operators need to operate systems effectively? The two elements – technology and manpower – must operate seamlessly and hand-in-glove to ensure that modern systems live up to their full potential. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How does technology innovation in security systems impact the skillsets needed by security operators and officers?

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

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

In many regards, 2018 was a turbulent year for the physical security marketplace, driven by evolving technologies and changing customer needs, among other factors. Year-end is a great time to reflect, so we asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: What caused the most disruption in the physical security marketplace in 2018? 

How much does a security system cost? We all know that total costs associated with systems are substantially higher than the “price tag.” There are many elements, tangible and intangible, that contribute to the costs of owning and operating a system. Taking a broad view and finding ways to measure these additional costs enables integrators and users to get the most value from a system at the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO). However, measuring TCO can be easier said than done. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable to share the benefit of their collective expertise on the subject. Specifically, we asked: How should integrators and/or end users measure total cost of ownership (TCO) when quantifying the value of security systems?

The role of video surveillance is expanding, driven by all the new ways that video – and data culled from video – can impact a business. As a growing population of video cameras expands into new fields of view, we asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What is the most unusual application of surveillance cameras you have seen recently?

Tools such as standard operating procedures (SOPs) and checklists ensure that every factor is considered when installing a physical security system – or do they? Security system installations are detailed projects, and any overlooked detail is a missed opportunity to make the system better. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What is the most overlooked factor when installing physical security systems?

Products are the building blocks of the security industry. Historically much of the industry’s sales effort has been focused on highlighting product features and functionality. At the end of the day, however, an end user is less interested in the performance of any individual system component than in the system as a whole. Lately, the industry has embraced a changing sales approach by emphasising systems rather than products. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the benefits of a transition from selling security products to selling security solutions?

Video analytics are undergoing a fundamental change in the market as machine learning enhances their accuracy while expanding their capabilities. But what are those expanded capabilities and how are they impacting the operation of security and video systems? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What new video analytics are having an impact in the market and how?

Verint intelligent security solutions help reduce fraud and loss, boost operational efficiency Verint® Systems Inc.recently announced the expansion of its portfolio of security and business intelligence solutions for the retail sector as it continues to deliver advanced technologies to help reduce fraud and loss, boost operational efficiency and improve the customer experience. To help reduce shrinkage and achieve a significant return on investment, retailers are using Verint solutions, which include a comprehensive portfolio designed to meet the specific needs of a variety of retailers — from enterprise-class to specialty stores. Verint’s award-winning portfolio includes IP video management software, video business intelligence applications, encoders and decoders, IP cameras, intelligent network video recorders (NVRs), situation management software and industry-leading business system interfaces. Advancements to industry-leading network video recorder (NVR) Verint’s comprehensive NVR platform, the EdgeVR®, is designed to deliver scalable and enterprise-class video monitoring and recording capabilities. The advanced NVR platform enhances security and streamlines investigations for retailers, allowing them to close cases quickly and proactively minimise losses. The latest version delivers all the benefits of an embedded NVR, including bandwidth optimisation, remote access and robust surveillance analytics. It easily scales to support up to 64 IP and analog cameras, providing a path to migration for budget-conscious retailers. Additional features include H.264 and MPEG-4 compression options and scalable storage options up to 16 terabytes. Consistent with the EdgeVR’s open platform design, it integrates with various edge devices helping retailers leverage current infrastructures and expand to meet future system demands. Further updates to the EdgeVR include advanced investigation tools, such as face detection, license plate recognition and a variety of surveillance analytics, providing retailers new levels of situation awareness. Other capabilities include: Surveillance Analytics provides loitering detection, directional movement, line crossing, object left behind and missing item identification. Once the system identifies a predefined movement, it can send emails or SMS to the appropriate personnel, or relay messages to associated systems. Mobile Client allows security operators to remotely access video and view live and recorded video from multiple cameras simultaneously. Accessible from Apple iOS devices, the application delivers 10 pre-defined screen layout options, zoom capabilities and the ability to access recent camera views. IP Camera Integrations include support for the new economic line of Verint V3300 IP cameras, the Oncam Grandeye 360 camera when larger fields of view are required, and a Height Strip Camera for store entrances and exits. “At the NRF Loss Prevention event this week, Verint is highlighting a variety of intelligent solutions designed to reduce shrinkage and theft,” says Alex Johnson, senior director of retail, Verint Video and Situation Intelligence Solutions™. “At Verint, we’re committed to providing technologies that limit and negate vulnerabilities in loss prevention operations and reach beyond traditional security uses by integrating with common retail platforms through open standards and interfaces.” To learn more about Verint’s intelligent solutions for retail, visit booth #1026 at the NRF Loss Prevention Conference and EXPO June 10-13 in Fort Lauderdale.