Digital Surveillance Solutions - Experts & Thought Leaders

For schools around the United States, increased violent crime and active shooter situations have brought a sharp focus on safety, and polls show the growing fears among American parents. In response, a Northeast K-12 School district planned an upgrade for their access control system and the deployment of new video security technology. To ensure the safety of staff, students, and the community as a whole, the district safety committee took a careful approach to school security by insisting that the upgrade team work closely with local emergency responders, including police, fire departments, and local homeland security officials. Video management software It was decided early on that responding officers should be able to access the district's video from their squad cars and remote devices, in addition to the central dispatch office. Because Milestone software enables integrations with countless third-party vendors, the XProtect video management software (VMS) was the logical choice to set the new course. Milestone XProtect Expert VMS and Smart Client Remote access and monitoring with Milestone Mobile Entrance access control from LenelS2 Security Network cameras from Axis Communications and MOBOTIX Consulting and implementation by Digital Surveillance Solutions (DSS) Controlling user access Streaming, real-time video from the cameras is available at the police department, fire department Milestone XProtect Expert is at the core of the surveillance system, controlling user access, camera and recording settings, viewing, searching, archiving, and evidence sharing. The advanced mapping features and remote video access are key to the schools’ requirements for sharing video with authorities. The surveillance solution is also integrated with the video intercom system for 2-way audio and access control at public entrances. Streaming, real-time video from the cameras is available at the police department, fire department, and in mobile police units. In the event of an emergency, a map-based interface in the district's VMS lets responding officers navigate fast to see campus buildings and click on logically named camera locations to check what is happening. Access control system The seamless integration of the access control system with the Milestone VMS has enabled the schools to easily keep track of any attempted entry by unauthorised people. School administrators can access camera views in their respective buildings, and district office personnel are authorised to see the video in all buildings. The video security system delivers overall campus visibility and discourages vandalism In addition to dealing with potential or active external threats, the video security system delivers overall campus visibility and discourages vandalism, student conflicts, and after-hours trespassers. A resource officer for the district noted that with the system in place, the incidence of crime dramatically decreased to almost nothing. If things do occur, video evidence is highly valued in criminal or liability investigations. Conserving operational resources School facility personnel can access cameras remotely for more logistical uses, like viewing parking lots after a particularly snowy night to determine whether or not the schools should be plowed or closed that day. Overall, the increased real-time situational awareness has not only contributed to the peace of mind across the community but recorded video evidence has saved the district a lot of resources in crime investigations and reporting. And that means all stakeholders are able to focus more on the important task of educating the country’s youth. “Milestone’s open platform makes it easy for us to add new devices and scale the VMS as the district needs. On-site or remotely, the system is easy to use, and we've had nothing but positive feedback from the police department. The multi-agency approach has been a key to the schools’ success with this system,” said Michael Blumenson, President, DSS. Preventing future incidents In 2019 a Federal Data Strategy also began to examine data on school safety According to the School Survey on Crime and Safety (SSOCS) data from 2017-2018 showed that 66% of public schools recorded physical attacks or fights without a weapon, and 21% of schools reported at least one serious violent incident. From 2018 through 2020, Statista numbers K-12 shootings increased to circa 115 each year for incidents where guns were brandished, fired, or hit school property. The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) also funded the creation of a database to track shootings on K-12 school grounds. This research aims to uncover why multiple-victim homicide incidents have been increasing. In 2019 a Federal Data Strategy also began to examine data on school safety. Both efforts can help to better understand the nature and extent of violent crime that occurs in U.S. schools — and ultimately how best to prevent future incidents.

 Top partners received recognition of their expertise at Milestone Integration Platform SymposiumMilestone Systems, the open platform company in IP video management software, recently held its 7th annual partner event in the Americas, called MIPS (Milestone Integration Platform Symposium). Several hundred participants gathered at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa in California, for four days of knowledge sharing with industry speakers, product presentations, workshops and training certifications. Top performing partners came onstage for special recognition of their expertise."At Milestone, we want to shine the spotlight on our ecosystem partners and make them the stars of the show. This MIPS was yet another great event featuring networking opportunities and important shared product information and updates - not least the unveiling of XProtect™ Corporate 3.1 with Smart Client 5.0 and its enhanced GUI that takes usability to new levels of ease, adaptability and efficiency," says Lars Thinggaard, CEO at Milestone Systems. "At MIPS the power of the Milestone integration platform was once again highlighted: our partners had premier access to new technology and we also gleaned valuable feedback through specialised focus groups and detailed NDA sessions that ensure continued innovations for the industry."In addition to Milestone management, speakers of note included Martin Gren, Founder of Axis Communications, who delivered an IP Update; Mike McCann, Manager of Solutions Engineering at Sony Electronics, who presented Technology Trends in IP Video, and John Honovich, Founder of IPVideoMarket.info, who shared Camera Test Results and How to Win Business. A city surveillance case study was discussed by Jo Stark, Global Director of Digital Video Surveillance at IBM Global Technology Services; a retail case by Alan Greggo, Associate Vice President - Loss Prevention at Luxottica Retail; an education case by Chief Barbara O'Connor, Director of Public Safety at the University of Illinois; and a transportation case by Steve Miller, Intelligent Traffic Systems (ITS) Project Manager at the Harris County Toll Road Authority in Texas.The Milestone event was attended by distributors, systems integrators and value-added resellers, Milestone Solution Partners (MSPs), and Milestone Manufacturer Alliance Partners (MAPs), along with other key industry influencers. At the Symposium Gala Dinner, Partner-of-the-Year awards were proudly presented to the following: Digital Surveillance Solutions received the Partner of the Year award from MilestoneMAP of the Year: Axis Communications Milestone has had a long-standing relationship with Axis. Their breadth of product line has allowed integrators to pair their IP cameras and encoders with XProtect IP video software in many different end user environments for best-of-breed solutions. This included a very successful past year in the marketplace where such implementations have been deployed with a significant increase in the use of new H.264 and HD technologies. This year's Milestone MAP of the Year Award was presented to Martin Gren, Founder of Axis Communications.MSP of the Year went to Johnson Controls, Inc., both a national reseller of Milestone products and a Milestone Solutions Partner with integrations between their access control platform and their digital video recorders and the Milestone XProtect IP video platform. These integrations have opened up new possibilities to transform legacy deployments with new IP solutions while maintaining the end users' prior investments. These integrated solutions are also enabling new projects where the solutions inter-operate to meet end user requirements. This award was accepted by Gerry Pittman, Manager at Global Security Technology, who represented Johnson Controls for their integrations to P2000 and DVN.Distributor of the Year was presented to Anixter, whom Milestone has been working with throughout the Americas and EMEA for the last four years. Anixter has been instrumental in driving Open Platform solutions to customers, and they received this award for their exceptional business growth and well-demonstrated example of partnership spirit. Anixter has embraced the video-enabling solutions concept with both channel partners and Milestone Solution Partners. Additionally, Milestone and Anixter have worked together to coordinate business processes. The "behind the scenes" people at Anixter - the security solutions program office, order processing, accounts payable, and marketing - have all exemplified the true meaning of partnership. This award was presented to Jim Ricker, Anixter's VP of Marketing - Sector Solutions.Partner of the Year was announced to be Digital Surveillance Solutions based out of Buffalo, New York. The President, CTO and Founder, Michael Blumenson, believed so strongly in the future of Video over IP that he presented his business plan during a University at Buffalo entrepreneur academic program years ago and was awarded funding to help establish his company as a converged integrator. DSS has been a very loyal Certified Milestone Partner since 2004, instrumental in the growth of Milestone Systems. His team's dedication has been demonstrated time and time again over the years. DSS also represents a wide variety of Milestone ecosystem partners' products and services, leveraging the true power of Milestone's Open Platform technology. The Moxt Explosive Growth award for the year went to Pro-Tec Design for its dedication to IP video managementSpecial congratulations were given to Pro-Tec Design for the Most Explosive Growth for the year. Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this company has shown tremendous growth and helped pave the way for several Milestone Systems project wins in the State of Minnesota in the arenas of government, transportation, education, commercial and retail. Pro-Tec Design's dedication to the open IP video management framework is also illustrated in their strategies and partnerships with other eco-system partners. Tom Hagen, President of Pro-Tec Design, and Steve Washburn, Vice President of Sales Operations accepted this award.Most Spectacular Install of the Year was well deserved by SecureNet, a Certified Milestone Partner headquartered in Texas. SecureNet had a great sales year in 2009 and sold a high quantity of Milestone solutions into the marketplace. Most notable is the Waco Independent School District where they won a project with 800 channels for XProtect Corporate. SecureNet has been a loyal partner with Milestone for three years with outstanding success and a list of other worthy projects in Texas, Oklahoma and throughout the Midwest. SecureNet CEO Brian Bergstrom and Regional Manager Mike Dunn accepted this award.Milestone Solution Partners and Manufacturer Alliance Partners exhibiting at the MIPS event included Arecont Vision, Axis, Basler, BVI Networks, Dot Hill, Firetide wireless, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intransa, JVC Professional Products Company, Lextech Labs, Open Options Inc., Panasonic, Pelco by Schneider Electric, Pivot3, Rimage Corporation, S2 Security Corporation, Sony Electronics, Tri-Ed Distribution Inc., and Vidient analytics.