Tom Larson

More cameras today are providing more video than ever, but how much of the video is available when and how it is needed? The question often comes up when law enforcement entities are seeking to access video from private systems to help solve a crime. There are many more private video systems than public systems, but is the video available when needed? And what about privacy: In what situations is it acceptable to share private video for the public good? We took these questions to this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable. Specifically, we asked: When does it make sense to share video from private video surveillance systems with citywide systems? What are the technical and/or privacy hurdles to sharing video more widely?

IP network dependability matters in physical security and safety applications, given that a company’s assets and people are at risk. There have been strides in the areas of network dependability, fault-tolerance, reliability, and survivability. However, networks (or affordable ones, at any rate) still cannot ensure near-100 percent uptime, which is why system designers acknowledge and plan for the possibility of a network outage. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How can/should an IP networked system adapt when network connectivity is lost?

Sometimes you see it coming and want to scream out: “Don’t do that.” We all make mistakes, but it’s hard to sit and watch others as they go down the wrong path. It’s especially difficult when the errant party is a customer, and when their wrong move might somehow end up reflecting badly on you as a technology or security systems provider. Much better to anticipate the problem by expecting the possible mistake before it happens. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Round Table: What is the biggest mistake you see your customers make when it comes to buying or installing security or surveillance systems?

Distributors have traditionally played an important role in the physical security market, ensuring ready availability of products that systems integrators need to complete their projects. But a changing industry has had dramatic impact all along the supply chain of which distributors are a critical link. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How is the role of distributors changing in the market, and what is the impact?

Software drives video solutions in the IP environment, but often that software is a pre-installed component of a purpose-built network video recorder (NVR). In other cases, software solutions are sold separately and then installed (usually by the integrator) on a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) server. But how can an integrator or end user decide which approach is best for them? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a pre-configured video appliance (such as a purpose-built NVR with preinstalled software) versus software running on an off-the-shelf server?

Big security trends are driving change in the physical security market. We see change happening around us every day, and much of it is disruptive to the status quo. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What has caused the greatest disruption to the physical security market in the last 12 months?

It’s a challenging time for security integrators and installers. Equipment prices are going down (along with margins), and commoditisation is wiping away what used to be the advantage of exclusively offering a top product brand. Integrators can continue to succeed by finding a way to move ahead of the pack – but how? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How should integrators/installers differentiate themselves or make themselves stand out in today’s market?

The provider of purpose-built video surveillance recording appliances, BCDVideo, announces the launch of a new line of harsh environment, rail, and in-vehicle servers. Their new product line delivers quality performance in diverse environments with a long product life to customers with complex requirements worldwide. BCDVideo’s new line of Harsh Environment Video Recording Servers features Intel® Core™ Processors, coupled with up to 10 TB of max storage. The video servers include a fanless design that performs in temperatures between -14°F and +131°F and has additional options such as cell, GPS, and WiFi modules. Innovative video surveillance recording products We are excited to expand BCDVideo’s innovative video surveillance recording products" The Harsh Environment Video line also includes a 3-year advanced replacement warranty that lowers the total cost of ownership to ensure project success. “We are excited to expand BCDVideo’s innovative video surveillance recording products to new customers working in harsh environments around the globe. With our latest product line of harsh environment, rail, and in-vehicle servers, clients receive peak performance, long lifespans, and cutting-edge technology, no matter where they work.” said Tom Larson, Chief Technology Officer. Advanced replacement warranty The RAIL Certified Servers feature Intel® Core™ Processors, extended temperature, and up to 20TB of storage. The servers are certified with both EN50155 as well as MIL-STD-810G. Each model supports cell, GPS, and WiFi modules, with a 3-year advanced replacement warranty. The In-Vehicle Servers feature Intel® Core™ Processors, up to 16 POE Ports and up to 20TB of max storage. The in-vehicle servers support vibrations up to environmental standards (IEC) 60068-2-64, as well as temperatures from -40° to +158°F. A 3-year advanced replacement warranty is included to lower the overall cost of ownership.

BCDVideo, the provider of purpose-built IP video surveillance solutions, is marking its 20th year in business at the Global Security Exchange (GSX) in Chicago. Since its founding in 1999, BCDVideo has evolved into a multinational hardware manufacturer with close to 100,000 systems currently recording video surveillance in 75 countries. BCDVideo’s customer-first approach and focus on proactive response has allowed the company to become the most trusted source for security integrators seeking innovative and purpose-built video data infrastructure and appliances. Cutting-edge products BCDVideo’s rapid growth, dedicated team, and cutting-edge products have been recognised perennially in prestigious rankings, including CRN Magazine as one of North America’s top technology solutions providers, and Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States. We now hold a commanding presence in this marketplace and still possess the curiosity" “The secret to our longevity is that we had the courage to realise—and then capitalise—on opportunities that were presented to us. Case in point, in 2008 when I met Tom Larson by chance, it brought us into a whole new market. We now hold a commanding presence in this marketplace and still possess the curiosity and motivation to keep learning and getting better,” commented BCDVideo’s Chief Executive Officer, Jeff Burgess. Respect-filled relationships with customers “We credit our successful longevity to the respect-filled relationships that we have built with vendors, partners, and customers, and holding true to our core values: proactivity, integrity, passion, accountability, and humility.” “Twenty years later, I am most proud of our employee team members and the pride they put into their own destiny and personal growth. Our culture is a tapestry of diversity, and every one of our team members believes that they are the reason for our growth and success, and I agree wholeheartedly.”

Virtualisation offers multiple benefits to video surveillance systems, but the technology has been slow to adapt to the needs of video. However, the tide is turning. At ISC West, BCDVideo introduced a hyperconverged infrastructure tailored to video surveillance (HCI-VS) that answers the demand for higher and more efficient operating performance while also lowering the total cost of ownership for the integrator and end user. Hyperconverged infrastructure solution “ISC West attendees were able to get their hands on our hyperconverged solution and immediately see how easy it is to use and the benefit of adding virtual machines,” says BCDVideo’s Chief Technology Officer Tom Larson. Security integrators were impressed that BCDVideo continues to adapt technologies" Virtualisation was just one of the innovations in BCDVideo’s demo room. Many integrators and end users found their way to the conference room, located not far from the exhibition hall, and BCDVideo was also featured at partners’ booths on the show floor. “Security integrators were impressed that BCDVideo continues to adapt technologies to the video surveillance space,” says Larson. “BCDVideo ‘gets’ them, but often IT does not. The HCI solution is purpose-built for video, and it works.” Server, storage and networking BCDVideo’s HCI-VS is a virtualised, video-optimised and highly available infrastructure. It combines the server, storage and networking into one platform. Powered by Scale Computing’s HC3 software, BCDVideo’s HCI is a scalable, node/cluster-based infrastructure that enables integrators to virtualise their physical security appliances and software, meaning fewer devices need to be deployed and maintained. Physical security integrators can create an infrastructure that provides high availability to the VMS" “More importantly, our HCI makes it easier than ever before both to quickly create and deploy virtual machines, and to manage video surveillance infrastructure,” says Larson. Some of the unique needs that HCI-VS serves are those of multi-faceted projects involving video recording, access control, building management, etc. With HCI-VS, separate appliances are not needed for each of these tasks, which enables better use of hardware, reduces overall rack space and power/cooling costs. Essentially, this solution eliminates the “pizza box” model and serves the need in the marketplace where always-on video and high availability are necessary, and especially in situations where loss of video data cannot be tolerated, says Larson. Simplified graphical user interface (GUI) makes it easy for integrators to implement systems that use hyperconverged technology Tolerant to hardware failure “By leveraging the concepts of hyperconvergence, physical security integrators can create an infrastructure that provides high availability to the video management system,” he says. “When components within a video management system are tolerant to hardware failure, it results in less loss of data and continual access to the data from the failed component. You always have access to the video data even if the hard drive fails.” Defining virtualisation Virtualisation is the act of creating virtual copies of physical resources, including, but not limited to, compute, memory, storage, and network resources. This is achieved by employing software to manage all physical resources, known as a hypervisor. As servers become more powerful, the discrepancy between software and hardware capabilities result in inefficient use of resources. “By partitioning the hardware resources into smaller virtual environments, we can create multiple virtualised servers that share a common set of resources,” says Larson. “By sharing this common set of resources, the virtualised servers utilise the resources more efficiently with less waste.” Integrators and end users flocked to BCDVideo's demo room at ISC West to try out the new hyperconverged solution Education and physical security Learning about the benefits of why to virtualise and applications will be a first step” A challenge to greater adoption of virtualisation in the physical security industry is education. “Some security integrators will need to step out of their comfort zone,” says Larson. “Virtualisation for video has been slow to adapt, and other solutions are complicated. IT technology applications traditionally have not worked in the space either. Learning about the benefits of why to virtualise and applications will be a first step.” HCI-VS in new verticals While HCI-VS is vertical-market-agnostic, the solution is suitable for school districts looking to consolidate their hardware, for hospitals and the healthcare industry in general, for the rapidly growing cannabis industry, any mass transit system, as well as for Fortune 1000 companies, to name a few. “Our virtualised solution especially appeals to these verticals because of the number of cameras, the need for 24/7/365 video recording and extensive data retention requirements, and where loss of video data cannot be afforded,” says Larson. Purpose-built solutions BCDVideo’s HCI-VS is the latest example of products BCDVideo is creating for the physical security industry. “We purpose-build and engineer our solutions specifically for video surveillance with the ability to scale-out as needed,” says Kelly Kellen, BCDVideo’s Director of Marketing. “We engineer new products to address problems in the marketplace. Our CTO is really looking at the market and studying the security integrator’s pain points. Then we engineer solutions to best serve them.”

BCDVideo, the provider of enterprise-quality, purpose-built IP video storage solutions, and Scale Computing, a pioneer in edge computing and hyperconverged solutions, announced the certification of BCDVideo’s new Hyperconverged Infrastructure for Video Surveillance (HCI-VS). Developed over the last year and underpinned by Scale’s HC3 software, BCD218-HCI Series, built on a Dell OEM technology foundation, offers modularity and ease-of-use without sacrificing performance and quality. Initial tests of the solution, configured with Genetec’s Security Center software, ran at throughput of 1800Mbps with ten video archiver virtual machines (VMs). BCDVideo expects final testing in the 2200-2400Mbps range. “We acknowledge that recording video on virtual machines has been a challenge in this market for years. We decided to tackle this issue and finally through engineering and testing, b”uilt a viable solution,” said Tom Larson, Chief Technical Officer, BCDVideo. “We successfully adapted the technology for video.” The HCI-VS system installs at the project site within an hour and is a fully integrated cluster-wide resourceEliminating system downtime BCDVideo’s new Hyperconverged Infrastructure for Video Surveillance (HCI-VS) Series greatly simplifies the deployment, management, and maintenance of its infrastructure, saving the security integrator training costs, and most importantly, eliminating system downtime. The HCI-VS system installs at the project site within an hour and is a fully integrated cluster-wide resource. Deploying new Virtual Machines (VMs) can be achieved in minutes and everything is managed through a very easy-to-use web interface. The native high availability built into this all-in-one solution utilises automation and self-healing to eliminate the complexities around deployment and ongoing management. HC3 self-healing machine intelligence “It goes far beyond building an easy-to-deploy hyperconverged solution on the Dell OEM platform, although flexibility within that technology is an innovator’s dream,” reflected Jeff Burgess, Chief Executive Officer of BCDVideo. “It’s more about making a significant difference in a market that sincerely needs one. Customers need high-availability solutions that don’t cost an arm and a leg and perform as promised. BCDVideo has delivered on both counts.” The HC3 self-healing machine intelligence automatically identifies, mitigates, and corrects infrastructure problems in real-time" “The HC3 self-healing machine intelligence automatically identifies, mitigates, and corrects infrastructure problems in real-time, eliminating the need for infrastructure management componentry. This innovation makes HC3 simple for security integrators to manage and administer,” commented Jeff Ready, CEO and co-founder, Scale Computing. “The HCI-VS system, powered by Scale Computing, combines the HC3 self-healing automation with BCDVideo’s leading technology, giving customers a solution built to meet industry wide surveillance requirements while also simplifying the management and maintenance of their infrastructure.” HCI-VS solution at ISC West The HCI-VS is currently available to ship. The company will showcase the solution at ISC West April 10th and 11th. ISC West is the largest converged security trade show in the United States, covering video surveillance, access control, smart home, public security, drones, robotics, and more. Conference attendees showcase the newest security products and technologies, network with colleagues and security professionals, and gain valuable industry training.

Revolutionising how throughput is maximised in Milestone Systems video recorders, BCDVideo releases the BCDVideo Accelerator (BVA) equipped video recording servers for Milestone, which incorporate the company’s innovative accelerator technology and eliminates the need for extra storage solutions, including the costly and space-consuming 15,000rpm hard disk drives previously required to attain necessary system bandwidth. “BCDVideo is dedicated to solving challenges in the security marketplace,” said Tom Larson, Chief Technical Officer, BCDVideo. “The new BCDVideo Accelerator is a leap forward in system bandwidth for video surveillance systems, benefiting both our security integrator customers and their end users by reducing costs associated with data storage.” Newest security products BCDVideo validated the new system using Milestone’s XProtect Corporate R1 2019 at 700MBps throughput, and up to 2.2GBps throughput when adding a 10GbE Network Card Kit. Using existing technologies, a best-practices Milestone server needs eight Live Video 15K drives to maintain a 700Mbps throughput. The BVA Accelerator solution eradicates the need, and instead, replaces them with an additional 112TB of archival storage, thus reducing the financial overhead a second server requires, including in additional maintenance, power consumption, and labour costs. System showcase at ISC West 2019 The BVA Accelerator will begin shipping to customers in March. The company will showcase the system at ISC West in April. ISC West is the largest converged security trade show in the U.S., covering video surveillance, access control, biometrics, smart home, public security, drones, robotics, and more. Conference attendees showcase the newest security products and technologies, network with colleagues and security professionals, and gain valuable industry training.

Anyone looking to ensure customer satisfaction in the video server market for security integrators and end users need look no further than the supply chain. Eliminating the inconsistencies and time delays in the supply chain is a key strategy to ensure customer success, and certified systems builders can provide extra value in the process. Tom Larson, Chief Technology Officer, BCDVideo, says supply chain issues impact customer satisfaction for integrators and end users at all stages of an integrator’s job – at presale, during deployment and for after-sale support. Data capture form to appear here! Stage one: presale Sticking with large, enterprise-grade server manufacturers like Dell and HP guarantees the widest possible selection of high-quality products For an integrator commissioning a video job, a systems builder can provide a wide selection of server and networking products – including the exact needs of any application – through an association with a large-scale OEM (original equipment manufacturer). The scale of the manufacturer also ensures the quality of products; each individual component is made by the same manufacturer so quality and compatibility of the assembled product are givens. In contrast, a generic, non-branded, do-it-yourself server product might be assembled from components made by various no-name manufacturers in an approach reminiscent of Frankenstein, a mixed bag of parts on the inside. Sticking with large, enterprise-grade server manufacturers like Dell and HP guarantees the widest possible selection of high-quality products, says Larson. Stage two: during deployment After an integrator specifies a system, the deployment stage again relies on effective management of the supply chain. In this case, it’s the systems builder that ensures immediate availability of needed server and networking products that are pre-tested and preconfigured before they are delivered to the job site.Creating a close relationship between integrators and their systems builders provides added confidence to integrators that their needs will be met Servers are imaged with the customer’s choice of video management software before they are shipped – it’s another time-saver for customers. Buying direct from a large manufacturer might involve longer lead times, especially if there is a huge amount of equipment involved. In contrast, systems builders can make the process easier by keeping proper levels of inventory on hand and generally ready to be shipped to a customer’s site, within three to five days as needed. If the unexpected occurs with an installation, equipment is needed immediately. In critical situations, additional servers can be pulled from inventory, benched, properly configured, and overnighted if required for a project. A financially solid systems builder can also provide more favorable payment terms, such as net-30 or net-60, to help integrators with cash flow. Creating a close relationship between integrators and their systems builders provides added confidence to integrators that their needs will be met in a timely and professional way. The ability to return equipment within 60 days of purchase for any reason and with no questions asked saves time and also reduces the integrator’s risk. That’s another added service systems builders can provide. The system builder is encouraged to raise high expectations among their integrator customers during deployment and then work to meet, and even exceed, those expectations.All along the supply chain, their certified systems builders facilitate value to integrators and ultimately the end users Stage three: after-sale support If a system component fails two years from now, how quickly can the component be replaced? Large server OEMs maintain seven years of components after a product’s end-of-life, thus ensuring the availability of replacement components. The systems builder again plays a role in making sure that replacements are kept on-hand and can be shipped at a moment’s notice. Another supply chain benefit when it comes to after-sale support is the world-wide availability of on-site technical support provided through large OEM server companies. All along the supply chain, their certified systems builders facilitate value to integrators and ultimately the end users, says Larson. This ensures rapid availability of equipment, flexible payment terms, expertise with system configuration, and the nurturing of a close working relationship with integrators. OEMs provide dependable products to build on, a long-term commitment to providing replacement components, and on-site technical service all over the world. The combination meets the market needs of security and video system integrators and ensures satisfaction of their end user customers.

Security integrators are often tasked with a multitude of responsibilities which could include a variety of installation, integration or design tasks made up of sprinkler systems, fire alarms, access control, HVAC, video surveillance systems and networks; and then pile on maintenance, training and analytics. Traditionally, most security integrators have installation backgrounds but are now expected to be IT savvy, too. Even the most proficient IT professionals may not fully grasp the complexity of adapting computer servers for use with video systems. It’s not the area of expertise of security integrators as the complexities between IT data and video data are significant. Therefore, security integrators depend on system builders to provide solutions to meet the needs of video systems expertly and with few hassles. It’s a simple enough ask, but not so easy to deliver. Tom Larson, Chief Technology Officer, BCDVideo, lists some of the challenges: Data capture form to appear here! The gap between reality and customer expectations End users should expect a security integrator to provide services and a wide product line to ensure the right equipment for any size job Sometimes there is a gap between what a security integrator expects from a video surveillance solution (in terms of validation testing, dependability, technical support) and the performance of available choices, especially in the case of low-cost or generic equipment. Extra service and support are needed to bridge the gap. Unfortunately, some manufacturers entering the market have failed to deliver, and integrators (and their end user customers) have paid a price. The network is often overlooked Security integrators should pay special attention to engineering the network and calculating the bandwidth and storage needed for video projects, especially given how technology evolves so quickly. Security is an appliance-driven business, and integrators who just want to add another server to expand storage or functionality without configuring the network run the risk of i/o bottlenecks and other system failures. End users should expect a security integrator to provide services and a wide product line to ensure the right equipment for any size job. Unfortunately, traditional IT resellers are often married to a singular solution limiting their knowledge of a good fit for the job. Buying a video server based on a low price aggravates the problem, as “Frankensteined” or generic servers tend to generate additional costs over time Servers are mistakenly considered a one-time expense One mistake purchasing agents make and security integrators have a hard time quantifying is viewing video storage as a capital expense (as one more component of a security system) rather than considering ongoing operating expenses. Buying a video server based on a low price aggravates the problem. “Frankensteined” or generic servers tend to generate additional costs over time, such as firmware or supply chain issues, and some systems builders have failed to provide support to offset those costs. In fact, the high costs over time of supporting inexpensive servers have been unsustainable for some system builders, who have left integrators and end users holding the bag, and in some cases, the liability. Adapting to sustainable strategies “Systems builders to the video surveillance market must adapt and invest to meet the demands of security integrators’ expectations, and they need a business model that enables them to provide a substantial level of support and commitment,” says Larson. “Working with high-quality manufacturers and providing tried-and-tested, certified equipment upfront ensures manageable costs over the life of the system. Products that are fully tested and contain no firmware bugs ensure smoother installations. By providing adequate technical support to the security integrator and managing IT variables over the life of the system, the systems builder makes it possible for a security integrator to specify and install a video server as easily as any other system component.” Keeping IT professionals on staff to deal with server issues is cost-prohibitive for security integrators Taking a longer-term view and considering total cost of ownership is a more sustainable strategy for integrators, says Larson. Investing upfront in a higher-quality server is rewarded by dependability and lower service costs over the life of the system. And the lower costs of supporting a higher-quality server create a more sustainable business model for the integrator, thus ensuring the integrator and end user will have ongoing support. Adapting server technology to video applications Security integrators deliver a different skill set than IT integrators, who tend to be more hands-on in terms of updating firmware and providing maintenance. Keeping IT professionals on staff to deal with server issues is cost-prohibitive for security integrators, who therefore depend on systems builders to provide that expertise. They develop a long-term relationship with a systems builder they can depend on to meet their needs for each job. Larson says the best scenario for a security integrator is a combination of a high-quality server systems builder that understands the specific needs of the security integrator market. Adapting server technology to video applications requires knowledge of both disciplines. Dependable technology adapted to the needs of the video channel ensures successful installations and happy, long-term customers.

BCDVideo, the provider of enterprise-quality, purpose-built IP video storage solutions and Scale Computing, a pioneer in edge computing and hyperconverged solutions, announced an exclusive technology and engineering partnership enabling BCDVideo to deliver turnkey hyperconverged solutions based on Scale Computing’s HC3 software to BCDVideo’s global network of security integrators and OEM customers.     BCDVideo has a long history of adapting and developing technology for video surveillance. There is a clear gap in the market for a simple, deployable hyperconverged video solution. BCDVideo and Scale spent the last year co-developing and certifying a platform, which fits seamlessly into the BCDVideo product philosophy of lessening the Total Cost of Ownership, and meets the security integrators needs for performance, scalability and simplicity, all in a single platform. Combining computing, storage and networking It allows the integrator to deliver video surveillance recording, access control, visitor management into one hyper-converged clusterTom Larson, BCDVideo Vice President states, “It’s been exciting to have spent the past year working with one of the pioneers in hyperconverged software as we jointly engineered this new platform. This solution will bring high availability and scalability to a market that desperately needs it, as we combine compute, storage and networking into one software-driven appliance. This, in turn, allows the integrator to deliver video surveillance recording, access control, visitor management, and other applications into one hyper-converged cluster. “The fact that it is easy to deploy and even easier to maintain should open the hyperconverged market up to a larger number of security integrator customers who may have been hesitant to go in this technical direction in the past.” Saves training costs Deploying new Virtual Machines can be achieved in minutes and everything is managed through a very easy-to-use web interfaceShipping in the fourth quarter, BCDVideo’s new Hyperconverged Infrastructure for Video Surveillance (HCI-VS) Series greatly simplifies the deployment, management and maintenance of its infrastructure, saving the security integrator training costs, and most importantly, any system downtime. The system installs at the project site within an hour and is a fully integrated cluster-wide resource. Deploying new Virtual Machines (VMs) can be achieved in minutes and everything is managed through a very easy-to-use web interface. The native high availability built into this all-in-one solution utilises automation and self-healing to eliminate the complexities around deployment and ongoing management. “We are very excited about this strategic partnership,” said Dan Pierce, VP Strategic Sales, Scale Computing. “Customers globally will benefit from BCDVideo’s HCI-VS series as it addresses the full spectrum of needs in the IP Video Surveillance market while eliminating complexity and reducing total cost of ownership. As with other edge environments, ease of deployment and administration at each individual location by administrative generalists is key for this market.”

BCDVideo announces the addition of their new line of Access Control Servers and Workstations. Their Access Control portfolio is built to suit a wide range of projects from small to large, to fit any size project specification. BCDVideo also offers a superior 5-year, Next Business Day, On-Site Warranty, along with a Keep Your Hard Drive Warranty to ensure data integrity and customer satisfaction. Dual OS SSD BCDVideo offers three types of Access Control Servers: Pro-Lite, Professional, and Enterprise. Their Access Control Servers are all powered by Dell EMC and carefully built to deliver high throughput and read/write performance. In addition, they have the capability to use the latest Intel Core, Xeon E3, or Scalable Processors. Not only do their Access Control Servers have the latest technology, their Enterprise Access Control Servers have fast spinning 10k or 15k dual port SAS drives, while Professional and Pro-Lite versions have 24/7 duty cycle SATA drives. Each of the Pro-Lite, Professional, and Enterprise Access Control Servers have Dual Operating Systems (OS) Solid State Drive (SSD) options as well. 2-Bay tower workstation BCDVideo has two types of Access Control Workstations: Small Form Factor and a 2-Bay Tower, also powered by Dell EMC. Both Workstations include an Nvidia Quadro P620 Graphics Card, Intel Core Processor, and 16GB of RAM. The Small Form Factor Workstation packs a lot of horsepower in a small enclosure which saves you space. The 2-Bay Tower Workstation is uniquely engineered to ensure it meets the demands of access control management systems which is valuable for large projects. “All of BCDVideo’s access control servers are configured with throughput in mind – built from the ground up to provide the highest I/O performance possible at an affordable price,” says Tom Larson, Vice President. “Taking it one step further, BCDVideo has certified over ten Access Control software partners on BCDVideo platforms.”

In a significant move for the video security market, BCDVideo has announced that it is set to become Dell EMC’s OEM partner in the video surveillance space. For nearly a decade, the Chicago-based company has been known as a key OEM partner of Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), providing storage and networking technology to security integrators on a global scale. This latest partnership will allow BCDVideo to take their offerings to the next level. BCDVideo Vice President Tom Larson spoke to SourceSecurity.com to discuss the reasoning behind the deal, and how the programme will benefit partners, integrators, and end-users alike. Expanding BCDVideo's product offering For BCDVideo, the HPE OEM programme has been widely acknowledged as a success, allowing the company to leverage a globally recognised brand and provide high-quality, reliable solutions across video networking and access control. Nevertheless, explains Larson, HPE server solutions are primarily suited to large-scale enterprise projects, and are therefore unable to accommodate for the growth in small- and medium-sized surveillance applications. The global collaboration with Dell EMC will allow BCDVideo to open up a broader product offering, building on success in the larger enterprise market to offer tailored solutions to SMEs. Our aim is to look at all best of breed technology to serve the video surveillance marketplace, and that means multiple partnerships” Support for integrators By leveraging Dell EMC’s sophisticated digital storage platforms, BCDVideo will now be able to offer a more cost-effective solution to integrators, without sacrificing the resilience and IT-level service that BCDVideo is known for. With access to Dell EMC’s expansive global sales and technical teams, the company hopes to expand its reach, all-the-while providing partners with around-the-clock technical support and a five-year on-site warranty. Customers should be reassured that BCDVideo will continue to offer HPE platforms, service, and support. “Our aim is to look at all best-of-breed technology to serve the video surveillance marketplace, and that means multiple partnerships,” says Larson.  “The addition of Dell EMC to our portfolio is a major win for BCDVideo, for Dell EMC, and for our integrators.” The global collaboration with Dell EMC will allow BCDVideo to open up a broader product offering Meeting surveillance market demands At the technology level, assures Larson, Dell EMC’s server offering is well suited to handle the increasing video resolution and growing camera count demanded by the surveillance industry. At the larger end of the spectrum, the company’s Isilon Scale-Out NAS solution can handle tens of petabytes of data, making it ideal for large-scale security applications such as city-wide surveillance and airport security. Dell EMC storage solutions are already proving successful at major international airports including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, each with a camera count in the 1000s.Dell EMC and BCDVideo together are ensuring our customers get the right solutions designed for the surveillance market” For Dell EMC, the new partnership means the ability to expand on this success in the enterprise market, leveraging BCDVideo’s surveillance expertise and high-level customer service to offer tailored solutions for lower-volume applications. Since its inception, BCDVideo has differentiated itself in the security space by providing a high level of IT service to integrators making the transition to IP systems. By combining resources, the partners will be able to service VMS and analytics companies, software vendors, and access control providers, as well as traditional business integrators. Ken Mills, General Manager Dell EMC Surveillance, explains: “Surveillance storage is not just about capacity, it is also about performance and reliability. Dell EMC and BCDVideo together are ensuring our customers get the right solutions designed for the surveillance market.” Accomodating for growth BCDVideo is well placed to accommodate this anticipated growth. Last year, the company opened a new 51,000-square-foot global headquarters in Illinois, home to 90 separate stations within their Innovation Center where each system is customised according to integrator needs. The new facility allows for expanding business with new and existing partners in the security market.

BCDVideo is finding success at the intersection of IT and security, focusing on the video surveillance market. The Hewlett-Packard OEM partner has seen yearly revenue increases of 25 percent for the past three years. Rapid growth resulted in a desperate need for more space to expand. Global HQ grand opening Now a new 51,000-square-foot global headquarters in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, a northwest Chicago suburb, will provide an abundance of room for the company to “stretch our legs,” says Jeff Burgess, CEO/President of BCDVideo. He cut the ribbon at a grand opening event for the corporate headquarters. “Our organic growth has been good, and this is another evolution for the company,” says Burgess. “It’s incredible what we did in such a tight space.” The new facility includes the BCDVideo Innovation Center, where each system is configured and customised to order. The centre has 90 stations with simultaneous imaging capability for up to 332 video servers. Hardware and software components are combined uniquely to each customer order number, and systems are private-labelled for a variety of manufacturers and integrators, with branding affixed by BCDVideo. BCDVideo history BCDVideo has evolved from its roots in the IT market, where expectations of service are high. Ten years ago, when security industry veteran Tom Larson came on board as Director of Sales and Engineering, the company pivoted to focus on the video surveillance market, bringing that higher level of service to security integrators making the transition to IP systems. “You have to build a better mousetrap, and ours is on the service side, because that’s what gets you repeat business,” says Burgess. “When we brought this to the video market in 2008, they weren’t used to that kind of service. It has always been our edge.” BCDVideo now has 50,000 systems running worldwide, he says. Risk insurance for integrators Among its innovative approaches, BCDVideo offered integrators “risk insurance” and took the guesswork out of configuring computer systems to accommodate a specified camera count. Instead of an integrator calculating (or “guesstimating”) the types of IT systems he would need for a certain camera count, BCDVideo does the calculations, configures the system and then guarantees that it will accommodate the system requirements. BCDVideo has maintained a close working relationship with Genetec over the last three years “That was the decisive point for us with integrators,” says Burgess. BCDVideo does business with all the national integrators, and Burgess expects growth to continue, expanding business with each integrator, driven by Perry Levine, Director of Strategic Alliances. New sales will also result from stretching into other product areas. In addition to servers and storage, BCDVideo now provides networking and professional services, led by Darren Giacomini, Director of Networking. Expanded Genetec relationship BCDVideo has maintained a close working relationship with Genetec over the last three years, in effect providing hardware components that work in lockstep with Genetec’s software systems. Previously, larger solutions sold to Genetec customers were branded BCDVideo. Moving forward, branding everything Genetec will overcome any unintentional channel conflict, says Burgess.  That Genetec relationship has expanded and BCDVideo produces all of Genetec’s branded hardware products, including the SV-16 and SV-32 as well as the larger solutions. Now Genetec can provide a “unified” hardware/software solution that is “bundled” with software licences and cybersecurity technology unique to Genetec-branded products. If the Genetec relationship continues to evolve, there is 9,000 square feet of empty space in the new facility that can accommodate any growth. Burgess especially sees growth in the market for systems with under 40 cameras, which will build on BCDVideo’s success in the larger enterprise market. What comes next? Burgess is careful to warn against complacency and emphasises the need for the company to “bring it every day.” He’s clearly looking to the future: His sons have joined the business – Alex Burgess is Manager of Supply Chain Operations and Max Burgess is Global Accounts Manager. “There’s nothing like coming to work and having two of your sons working with you,” he says. “It means a lot to me.”

Advantages of Rigid Networking include multicast capabilities, redundant power, and port naming BCDVideo has released a new line of harsh environment networking switches called Rigid Networking. These new video surveillance products will set the standard for outdoor security solutions. BCDVideo is the first system integrator to combine high-performance and price with a rugged, multicast product. This opens the door for highly customisable security solutions. “The value that the new Rigid Networking series provides comes from its edge-only deployment capability,” said Tom Larson, Director of Sales and Engineering at BCDVideo, “The Rigid Networking switches extend the network outdoors for parking garages, street poles, and other remote locations.” BCDVideo's Rigid Networking series Environmentally hardened to operate in extreme temperatures ranging from -40oF to 167oF. Up to 8 PoE+ ports allow Rigid Networking to tap into existing infrastructure and offer centralised power management for each device. Further advantages of Rigid Networking include multicast capabilities, redundant power, and port naming. And, the fanless design protects mission critical surveillance from dirt and dust. “Our introduction of Rigid Networking will offer the most cost-effective solution to almost any environment,” said Jeff Burgess, President of BCDVideo, “These switches are built for mobile and remote video surveillance applications. Nothing else on the market matches their performance.” “With the announcement of our Rapid Networking products, customers can focus on how best to protect sensitive infrastructure and the public, rather than with network-related issues that tend to plague these remote surveillance deployments.” BCDVideo Rigid Networking comes with a five-year warranty to ensure total system coverage.

BCDVideo is the first system integrator to adopt Avaya NOS software for private label distribution BCDVideo and Avaya have partnered together to create Titan Networking. This new line of video surveillance switches will be powered by Avaya’s network operating system software (NOS) Avaya Fabric Connect. BCDVideo is the first system integrator to adopt Avaya NOS software for private label distribution. "Until this point, the only option available to the video surveillance industry was expensive, complicated, and in many cases, low-performing multicast networking systems,” says Tom Larson, Director of Sales and Engineering at BCDVideo. “The combined BCDVideo and Avaya solution gives our customers a simple and powerful offering at an attractive price point. The Titan Series makes shopping around for multicast networks and specialized engineers a thing of the past." Improper network support – prime cause of video surveillance issues According to ZK Research, 75% of video surveillance issues are attributed to the underlying network. Most of these issues have been found to be improper network support. Traditionally, a certified networking technician would be required to setup the network. The Titan Series solves this problem. With just a few lines of code, these systems are setup and ready for operation. Equipped with Avaya’s Fabric Connect, it offers the shortest path bridging, enabling multi-path routing in the data centre. "BCDVideo's introduction of its new line of switches that are powered by Avaya will enable it to deliver mission critical, always-on video surveillance systems for its customers globally,” says Liam Kiely, Vice President of Avaya Networking. “With Titan, customers can focus on protecting their organisations versus worrying about the network related issues that plague many other IP surveillance deployments." Similar to most BCDVideo servers and storage, the multicast networks offer a five-year warranty to ensure total system coverage and comprehensive technical support from Avaya.