Bob Germain

The kits contain a recorder and multiple cameras in a single box To better serve its integrator partners who serve the small and medium business (SMB) market, Hikvision USA, and Hikvision Canada, North American providers of innovative, award-winning video surveillance products, announces that Hikvision is offering kits for the first time. Hikvision Super Value and Performance kits “The kits contain a recorder and multiple cameras in a single box. There are two levels of kits: Super Value and Performance. The components were carefully selected to meet the distinct needs of the SMB market that requires small, straightforward systems,” said Bob Germain, Hikvision director of product management. Both the Super Value and Performance Kits are available now. “This is an all-in-one box security system with all of the Hikvision features needed for a small business, residential or DIY customers,” said Doug Gray, Hikvision product manager. “And its plug-and-play installation means the system is up and running in no time.” Hikvision camera kit features The TurboHD Super Value Kits' componentry automatically detects and images cameras with Up-the-Coax (UTC) control of the OSD Menu system, 2 MP resolution, true Day/Night function, OSD Menu, DNR, Smart IR, and IP66 weatherproof housings. The DVR provides H.264+ compression, convenient rear panel HDMI and VGA outputs, flexible recording scheduling, synchronous playback, and a pre-installed hard drive. "This is an all-in-one box security system with all of the Hikvision features needed for a small business, residential or DIY customers" The IP Super Value Kits include high-resolution (2 MP) outdoor dome cameras housed in weather-resistant (IP67) and vandal-resistant (IK10) enclosures. They also feature connectivity over the network to the included NVR, built-in PoE ports, plug-and-play capability, and night and day viewing with IR illumination. The NVR provides full high-resolution recording of the 2 MP cameras and VCA features. The NVR- or DVR-based systems can be managed with a smartphone via Hikvision’s free mobile app (iVMS-4500) or on a PC using our free client SW (iVMS-4200). The included HDD stores numerous days and hours of information. Hikvision will exhibit its SMB and enterprise-level security solutions at ISC West, Booth 18037 in Las Vegas, April 5-7, 2017.

Hikvision website’s “Security Center” provides cybersecurity informationand tools for integrators and end users The time is now to address the impact of cybersecurity threats on the IP video market. In the case of video surveillance systems, the main motives of cyber-attackers are usually to either cover up video evidence of crimes or to gain access to video that should be private. “The use of video surveillance is growing across North America, not just for safety and security but for operational purposes as well. As it becomes more widespread, it’s important for users to understand the risks as well as the benefits,” explains Bob Germain, Director of Product Management for Hikvision USA. “Hikvision has a strong commitment to educate our dealers and end users about best practices for cybersecurity as it pertains to video surveillance. Identifying cybersecurity vulnerabilities before exploitation “We have established a special task force at our headquarters, the Network and Information Security Lab,” Germain adds. Hikvision has improved cybersecurity by eliminating the use of default passwords, and by providing flexibility to change default ports to make IP appliances less “visible” on the network “They are responsible for setting the company’s security standards, performing security evaluations and testing, and responding to security issues if they arise. We also have partnerships with third-party security data and analytics companies, which perform ongoing penetration tests and vulnerability assessments of our products. “We firmly believe that manufacturers, security installers, and end users must work together to ensure the greatest level of cybersecurity possible,” Germain says. Hikvision has worked to increase cybersecurity by eliminating the use of default passwords, and by providing flexibility to change default ports to make IP appliances less “visible” on the network and, therefore, less prone to attack. By embracing third-party testing, the company seeks to find any cybersecurity vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. Hikvision’s software limits where network traffic can originate. A variety of software tools make firmware and software updates easier, and the Hikvision website’s “Security Center” provides cybersecurity information and tools for integrators and end users. “Once an item or video appliance is on the Internet, it is vulnerable,” says Joe Coe, Sales Engineer for Hikvision USA’s Northern California region. “However, there are simple best practices that can help.” For more on cybersecurity in the IP video market, check out SourceSecurity.com’s Exclusive Technology Report: Meeting the Cybersecurity Challenge of IP Video Systems, available here.

Hikvision USA Inc., the North American leader in innovative, award-winning video surveillance products and solutions, is proud to announce the launch of their new Value Plus product line. This series of 2 MP and 4 MP indoor/outdoor cameras boasts the higher functionality typical to a professional line, yet maintains a cost effective price point. Features include Hikvision’s Basic Smart Suite of video content analysis, exceptional wide dynamic range, and H.264+ compression. Versatile form factors Building on the success of their Value series, Hikvision created the Value Plus line to bring some of the innovation from their Smart series into the mainstream market. “The Value Plus line provides an unprecedented features-to-cost ratio for customers looking to benefit from high performing IP video surveillance,” explained Bob Germain, Director of Product Management for Hikvision USA. In vertical markets that have a great need for security yet are challenged by limited budgets, such as education and retail, the Value Plus series allows schools and businesses to build robust, versatile surveillance systems. A variety of available form factors include domes, compact domes, turrets, and bullets. The remarkable functionality of Value Plus cameras is unlike others at their price point. The 2 MP models offer 1080p resolution at 30 fps; the 4 MP models, 2688x1520 resolution at 20 fps. High quality images are easy to achieve even in challenging lighting environments both day and night. The cameras are fortified by 120 dB of wide dynamic range and smart infrared options such as high performance EXIR or standard IR LEDs with ranges up to 150 feet. Hikvision’s specialised H.264+ compression reduces bandwidth requirements, and the Value Plus cameras are the perfect companions to Hikvision’s professional and plug and play NVRs. Incorporating cutting-edge technology Hikvision has also introduced a “Basic Smart Suite” custom-tailored for Value Plus, bringing intelligence to even the most basic video surveillance deployments. The cameras support four line crossing and four intrusion detection zones, boosting the convenience and efficiency of video surveillance. “Our great success in North America is due in part to our understanding of what our customers want and need,” stated Jeffrey He, President of Hikvision USA and Hikvision Canada. “The Value Plus line of products will bring our cutting-edge technology to a broader range of customers and ensure the safety of a greater number of citizens.”

As technology advances and more surveillance features become available, it can be difficult for security integrators to know which system will fit their customer’s needs It’s no secret that Internet Protocol (IP) cameras are on a steady march to replace analogue video. Network-centric surveillance cameras bring a host of value to the protected premises, above and beyond traditional physical security. Now, cameras are increasingly used for safety, such as in liability claims and with analytics, thus increasing the value proposition for the end user who can deploy cameras for business intelligence, including operational and marketing improvements. As the technology continues to increase, it can be difficult for systems integrators to know what to select for the user. 4K is a good example of changing technology, providing four times the pixel density of standard HD and twice the horizontal and vertical resolution of 1080p HDTV. Manufacturers continue to do a great job in providing training as well as specification materials, matrixes and other information to assist. Of course, the first place to start is a sit-down with the customer or potential client. What are their security challenges and what do they want to accomplish? What is the budget and are there other processes they might use surveillance cameras for? Those are some starting questions, which should be coupled with a walk of the facility and thorough site survey. Bob Germain, Director of Product Management, Hikvision USA, City of Industry, California, answered two key questions that may ultimately ease the selection process for integrators. SourceSecurity.com: What are some critical considerations in specifying the right camera for the application? Germain: There are two main aspects to this selection criteria. The first is form factor: whether it is a box-style camera, bullet, dome or even PTZ. This is largely driven by aesthetics as well as the availability of specific lens options. The most critical consideration is the lighting environment, both day and night. If the scene has great variation in the lighting – bright sunlight and dark shadowed areas within the same field of view, for example — a camera with true wide dynamic range (WDR) would be required. Intelligent analytics such asintrusion detection, line-crossingdetection, audio detection and facedetection allow users to search onspecific events or actions toimprove system usability andflexibility For less challenging lighting environments, digital WDR or even backlight compensation may be sufficient. For night viewing, a true day/night camera is always recommended, and cameras with integrated IR can provide full field-of-view coverage for clear night-time images. Avoid cameras that use slow shutter speeds to provide a night-time image, because the motion blur lose detail. If colour recognition is required at night, there are low-light colour image technologies that provide real-time colour images in even the dimmest lighting conditions. SourceSecurity.com: What are some of the latest features of cameras, such as higher resolution/HD, and how does that play into the overall design and installation? Germain: Analytics are among the most cutting-edge features today’s cameras have to offer. Intelligent analytics such as intrusion detection, line-crossing detection, audio detection and face detection allow users to search on specific events or actions to improve system usability and flexibility. As far as image quality, the latest cameras feature 6 MP and 4K resolutions at real-time frame rates. When coupled with new encoding technologies such as H.264+ and H.265, the necessary bandwidth and storage become less of a problem. When this is paired with integrated IR technology that provides superior field-of-view coverage and 3D noise reduction, the relatively poor low-light sensitivity of these sensors is no longer an issue. That used to be a concern in the past with all megapixel CMOS sensors (when compared to the old standard definition CCD sensors), but the improvements in image sensor design and image signal processing have eliminated that concern.

NVR appliances ease analogue to IP transition by providing end users with a hybrid-ready product There should be a palatable migration path from a large installed base of analogue to the latest IP technology. The biggest missed opportunity related to network video recorder (NVR) NVR appliances in the video surveillance marketplace is effectively using existing analogue camera investments while transitioning to the network. For example, IP encoders can be utilised as a bridge between analogue cameras and the IP network, says Charles McCready, senior product specialist and technical resource for Panasonic System communications Company’s partners and customers. With these devices, video can be displayed with a video management system (VMS) or a Web browser and recorded to NVRs or centralised storage. Integrators can help develop a migration path that leverages existing hardware investments and helps end users to transition to IP at their own pace, says McCready. Recording video at the edge with SD cards is also another strategy when network capacity may be an issue or where surveillance only needs to be recorded/viewed upon alert or conditions such as motion detection. “There are many strategies to leverage the existing analogue infrastructure, yet still give the end user choices and the ability to use the latest NVR devices,”he says. “Installers need to work closely with the end user on a consultative basis to make certain their needs are met now and in the future.” "There are many strategies to leverage the existing analogue infrastructure, yet still give the end user choices and the ability to use the latest NVR devices. Installers need to work closely with the end user on a consultative basis to make certain their needs are met now and in the future", says Charles McCready of Panasonic System communications Company Panasonic’s NVR solutions are suitable for a range of vertical market customers, but especially those businesses with larger systems and a variety of cameras that may need addition controls and capabilities. They offer ease of installation manageability and grow-as-you-go scalability to support additional cameras and system expansions. NVRs are the workhorse of the security market, offering comprehensive control of networked recording solutions, simultaneously recording and providing remote access to live views and delivering the same high-quality images with live video and during playback of recorded images. The flexibility of Panasonic NVRs makes the product suitable for a range of specifications and end user customers in any vertical market. Consider hybridisation strategies With a substantial number of legacy deployment still lagging behind in the analogue world, the need to reduce switching cost to digital is ever-apparent, says Muhanad Jamjum, product manager of appliances at Genetec. Moreover, it has set a mandate for network appliances to mimic the functionality of a DVR in terms of ease of use and configuration. As part of Genetec’s hybridisation strategy, a customer can either invest in on-premises appliances with options to accommodate extra storage, or choose to capitalise on the Genetec cloud services in partnership with the Microsoft Azure cloud platform. To ease the migration from analogue to digital, Genetec has introduced a cost-effective analogue promotion that bundles a Bosch analogue encoder with Genetec software licenses at almost half the cost. Moreover, the recent development of the Control Panel and wizard application addresses the need for an appliance that is simple to use and easy to configure. Addressing legacy systems in multiple markets Hikvision serves many markets with its NVR appliances. The plug-and-play units are popular in the small- to medium-sized business (SMB) market. The units are as easy to install as analogue, says the company, so many new dealers are using them to make the switch to IP. Markets with legacy analogue infrastructure, such as banking, take advantage of Hikvision’s “Tribrid” TurboHD recorders because they support their old analogue cameras, allowing them to be replaced by 1080p TurboHD analog-over-coax cameras, and also supporting the addition of IP cameras. “This allow for an easy migration from analogue to IP and enables addition of higher resolution or specialty cameras such as fisheyes to meet their growing demand over time,” says Bob Germain, director of product management, Hikvision USA. NVRs are the workhorse of the security market, offering comprehensive control of networked recording solutions, simultaneously recording and providing remote access to live views and delivering the same high-quality images with live video and during playback of recorded images Simplifying the analogue-to-IP transition The Milestone Husky Hybrid Series offers options to enable users to combine analogue and IP camera to simplify the analogue-to-IP transition. The options are available for the Milestone Husky M30 and Milestone Husky M50. Offering greater customisation options, the Milestone Husky M30 easily integrates Milestone XProtect VMS add-ons and third-party hardware and software for comprehensive surveillance solutions, ideal for markets such as education. The Milestone Husky M50, also pre-installed with Milestone XProtect VMS, is a robust, fully-customised, rack-mounted unit, with the highest storage capacity, memory and CPU power for large, complex surveillance environments such as a banking deployment. Milestone NVR appliance products also include the Milestone Husky M10, an entry-level product ideal for single location business such as retail shops and restaurants. Meeting security and budgetary needs "End users continue to upgrade their aging analogue video systems at an increasing rate to take advantage of the higher image quality and many other benefits of IP video", says Ken LaMarca, OnSSI vice president of sales and marketing. He says NVR appliances can ease this transition by providing end users with a hybrid-ready product that allows them to continue to get value out of their legacy analogue technologies while migrating to IP gradually on a schedule that fits within their needs and budgets. As a result, NVR appliances are playing an increasingly important role in easing those customers into IP systems through a process that meets their specific security and budgetary requirements.

NVR appliances are increasingly importantfor businesses incorporating a well-roundedphysical security plan  A major, oft-mentioned advantage of network video recorder (NVR) appliances is their ease of installation and use. These machines come pre-installed with software and are as close to plug-and-play as you can get in the IP video surveillance world. NVRs are also being designed to support 4K technology as well withstand a variety of applications and uses.  We invited several manufacturers that offer NVR appliances to expound on the ease-of-use benefits of the machines for integrators and end users. Easily scalable and expandable Panasonic’s appliances have become easier to use and, as a result, can be deployed in a wide range of applications and specifications, says Charles McCready, senior product specialist and technical resource for Panasonic System Communications Company’s partners and customers. Still, they offer leading capabilities, such as intelligent video motion detection (VMD), while metadata associated with VMD provides, fast, effective search. They are easily scalable and expandable, meeting the varied needs of the market and the user. For the dealer/installer, NVR appliances should be a bridge to all the advantages of IP connectivity, not an additional hardware hindrance, says McCready. They should allow an integrator to add services, such as analytics for businesses intelligence, or storage at the edge, or easily integrate with other products, such as access control – because in the end recurring monthly revenue is a critical component for the installing company. If possible, they should be able to promote and foster remote accessibility, such as connectivity to internet devices, tablets and smart phones. NVRs make it easy to benefit from HD solutions and integrations to access control, alarm systems, intercoms and other technologies, according to Dahua, another manufacturer of NVRs. Customers should also pay attention to convenience and intelligence. In Dahua’s home-use NVR portfolio, PoE or Wi Fi versions can make configuration super easy, says the company. Dahua’s NVRs for small- to medium-sized businesses (SMB) have additional intelligent functions that are helpful for analytics. An integrated ‘building block’ solution A video appliance alleviates the needto completely design certain aspectsof a video management system,instead providing a fully integratedsolution building block Dealers and integrators face a daily challenge to keep up with customer quotes, requests, and implementations, says Lars Nordenlund Friis, vice president of incubation and ventures, Milestone Systems. A video appliance alleviates the need to completely design certain aspects of a video management system, instead providing a fully integrated solution building block, says Friis. These NVR building blocks can be deployed at smaller offices, bank branches, retail chain stores, remote locations, or in the central location. This allows the integrator to focus on critical aspects of the physical security system while deploying a fully integrated and optimised solution elsewhere. NVRs or video appliances are easy to deploy with pre-installed video management software, device licenses included, and configuration wizards. There is no concern about support because the full solution, hardware and software, is supported by Milestone, says Friis. Common client manages multiple devices Hikvision offers the benefit of a common user interface throughout its line, whether it’s a 4-channel plug-and-play or a 256-channel Super NVR. With the common client to manage all devices, Hikvision NVRs are easy to install and manage. “We also fully support field installation and replacement of HDDs [hard disk drives] without voiding the warranty,” says Bob Germain, director of product management, Hikvision USA. NVRs are easy to install, says Germain. There is no need to worry about a Windows operating system, maintaining updates, or compatibility with new hardware. Plug-and-play NVRs and auto-searching units have eliminated much of the setup required as well, reducing the complexity of the system. It is easy to add additional storage or even just field-replace a hard drive. A major trend in the market is standardisation and continuity among systems, says Germain. Because the Hikvision interface is simple and standard, any investment in training is leveraged across all future installations. The benefits of the company’s embedded Linux NVRs include minimal maintenance, high performance, cost effectiveness, and high scalability. In addition, Hikvision NVRs keep up with the demands of new technology, such as supporting 4K resolutions. Most systems still require a back-end storage system with cloud and edge storage usually being an enhancement to the total solution. Probably the biggest missed opportunity is plug-and-play. “If an integrator has not tried these units, they have not seen how easy IP can be,” says Germain. “They are great for small systems or multi-site systems and can be easily managed with Hikvision’s remote client software and DDNS [Dynamic Domain Name System] service, which are provided free of charge.” Video appliances have gained in importance because of the increasing need for businesses to incorporate a well-rounded physical security plan while remaining within budget, says Ahmed Elsayed, sales engineer, Hikvision USA. Hikvision offers distributed and scalable architecture and lower-cost redundancy. The appliances are “plug and play:” They are operational from the moment you turn them on. Furthermore, auto-searching units make installations easier and quicker. Regardless of the type, number, or geographic location of the appliances, operation is seamless to the user, says Elsayed. Video appliances have gained inimportance because of the increasingneed for businesses to incorporate awell-rounded physical security planwhile remaining within budget Wizards quickly configure NVR appliances Exclusive to Genetec NVR appliances is the software company’s newly developed Control Panel application. The application runs a series of wizards and tools to quickly configure the appliance, starting with network configuration, access credentials, and license activation, with automatic camera discovery, enrollment and configuration. The Genetec Control Panel is designed to reduce the time needed to configure and commission the system, to reduce the cost of deployment, says Muhanad Jamjum, product manager of appliances at Genetec. The automatic update tool within the Control Panel allows the end user to check for the latest Security Center software version and can fully automate system updates to stay current with the latest release available. These features not only reduce the costs of initial setup, but also reduce the cost of maintaining the Genetec appliance with the most up-to-date software releases as they become available, says Jamjum. Pre-installed and verified Network Security Appliances relieve the system integrator’s pre-sales team of the burden of specifying an off-the-shelf server to match the system requirements of the video management software. Though dependent on the choice of vendor, ideally the time it takes to design the system is greatly reduced with minimal risks involved. The selected hardware platform is already tested, fine-tuned, and pre-configured to maximise the performance of the software. In complex solutions that span multiple remote sites or locations and possibly involve more than one system integrator, the ability to standardise hardware becomes crucial. Capitalising on a preconfigured Network Security Appliance across different sites ensures the consistency and stability of the entire system, which ultimately reduces the total cost of maintaining that system. The time needed to commission the system is also reduced, especially with the use of wizards and initial setup applications. Easy implementation requires less expertise Ease of installation is a major concern for integrators, says Ken LaMarca, OnSSI Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Integrators have made it clear that they want plug-and-play solutions to address this need. That’s why NVR appliances powered by OnSSI are designed to meet this demand with a variety of robust solutions that offer extreme ease of implementation to reduce the required time and technical expertise – which lowers costs for installers and end users. A main benefit of NVR appliances powered by OnSSI is their ease of installation, says LaMarca. Dealers and integrators who are not implementing these devices are losing out on the time and cost savings they provide, he adds. These appliances are purpose-built to significantly reduce the time and specialised technical skills and training necessary for installation. Time is money, and this combination of benefits can add up to significant savings for end users and increased profits for dealers and integrators.