Biometric authentication

At the end of September 2019, eleven professional application developer companies, primarily from Nordic countries, got together in Stockholm to demonstrate their creations for Airbus’s Tactilon Dabat device. This was the 5th edition of the Critical App Challenge, which has already taken place in Germany, Belgium, Hungary, and the Middle East and North Africa region in order to give local innovative companies from these regions the chance to demonstrate their solutions for public safety and mission-critical use. IoT, data analytics and artificial intelligence The innovative aspect, user experience on behalf of public-safety and mission critical professionals were key evaluation criteria This one-day event in the Swedish capital allowed the companies to present their applications to a jury of seven customers and Tactilon Dabat end-users from various industries and scopes of use. The innovative aspect, as well as the user experience on behalf of public-safety and mission critical professionals, were key evaluation criteria. In short, the participants had to take into account the use of IoT, data analytics, and artificial intelligence in order to propose unique ways to retrieve data, as well as the means of processing and exploiting that same data. “I am extremely satisfied with the outcome of this new Nordic-oriented edition,” explains Rahim Zaknoun, Head of Developer Ecosystem for Secure Land Communications at Airbus. “This concept is a unique way to show our customers that we are actively listening to their needs and are also proposing tailored applications and solutions which take into account technological advances, as well as current and future specific requirements, while finding means to optimise daily missions and tasks for all end users, regardless of which industry they work in. Whether it be in public safety, law enforcement, transport, utility and industry, and even healthcare, amongst others.” Zaknoun adds. 4K and data security The prize winners, selected as the best existing solutions suitable for the Tactilon Dabat presented state-of-the-art mission-critical solutions. The top three were: Mesensei with a decentralised platform for private social media communication and decentralised data ownership, Dottli, a communication solution which collects and shares data on each end-user by using sensors, and Ansur, a secure application which aims to reduce emergency response time for mission-critical interventions by proposing an option that handles visual situational awareness data by processing high-resolution – and even 4K – imagery. All companies have received invitations to participate in two large events in November: Rakel Day, a major Swedish customer event which will take place on the 12th of November, and Slush; the world’s leading start-up event in Finland, from the 21st to the 23rd of November, at the Airbus stand. This will give them a unique chance to demonstrate their apps to both Airbus and end-users alike. Airbus Tactilon Dabat hybrid terminal The Airbus Tactilon Dabat hybrid terminal offers both Tetra and LTE radio technologies in one single device The Airbus Tactilon Dabat hybrid terminal offers both Tetra and LTE radio technologies in one single device. Tactilon Agnet 800 is an app for smart devices such as the Tactilon Dabat. It makes it possible to use features such as push-to-talk, status notifications, text messaging, and emergency calls on the Tactilon Dabat. Group communication with other professional radio carriers or the control room is also possible. Indeed, end-users of Airbus’s Tactilon Dabat can already take advantage of an array of professional applications available in the Airbus SmarTWISP catalogue, which offer features such as biometric, licence plate recognition and geo-positioning. Tactilon Agnet solution In addition to the possibility of installing such applications on the device, Airbus’s very own Tactilon Agnet solution is also available on the device to allow users to share voice, data, image and video information with other individuals or a group of individuals in a secure and reliable way.

Ping Identity, a pioneer in intelligent identity solutions, has announced the release of PingCentral, a self-service delegated administration and converged operating portal for enterprise identity and access management (IAM). The solution addresses common tasks across the Ping Intelligent Identity platform with simple, self-service workflows and standardised templates that can be delegated to business users and application teams that don’t have IAM expertise. Ping Intelligent Identity platform Dedicated IAM admins struggle to manage the high volume of requests required to keep application teams functioning Dedicated IAM administrators often struggle to manage the high volume of requests required to keep application teams functioning. An example of this is adding a connection for an application or API, or handling minor changes like updating configurations, security certificates and more. Meanwhile, business application teams generally have limited IAM knowledge and ability to make these modifications on their own. The result can be IAM changes that take up to several weeks of back and forth activities between IAM administrators and business application teams, including multiple requests, emails and meetings. This leaves little time for identity security teams to focus on value-add activities like enhancing security posture and improving end user productivity. PingCentral streamlines IAM processes PingCentral streamlines IAM processes and helps enterprises efficiently leverage IAM services as a valuable business driver for digital transformation. In doing so, it helps enable business application teams to rapidly onboard their own resources through delegated administration. This extends and increases the value of IAM teams, so they can do more with less, serve the business faster, and achieve widespread adoption and usage of centralised identity services. PingCentral puts IAM teams and application teams on the same page by providing the following capabilities and benefits: Delegated Administration Portal: Contains a self-service, user-friendly interface and template workflow that allows IAM administrators to create, update and deploy standard templates for single sign-on (SSO) and authentication. Orchestration Engine: Automates promotions across the application development and deployment lifecycle by maintaining configuration across environments, and allows IAM administrators to designate protected environments that require approval to reduce risk. Central Monitoring System: Provides visibility of application connections, clients and environment tiers from a single screen, and permits IAM and business application administrators to assign and/or update resource ownership. Lifecycle Management: Supplies an audit trail across the lifecycle of client configuration changes and promotions—so administrators always know who has done what and when to a connection and/or client—and allows for easy reversion back to previous configurations as needed. Enterprise identity and access management solutions Ping Identity is dedicated to providing implicit value to our customers through our IAM solutions" “Ping Identity is dedicated to providing implicit value to our customers through our IAM solutions, helping enterprises to achieve their digital transformation goals,” said Loren Russon, vice president, product management at Ping Identity. “By simplifying fundamental IAM processes and enabling non-technical business teams to manage standard administrative tasks, PingCentral helps enable organisations to save valuable time and resources while strengthening their overall security posture.” "We see enormous potential for PingCentral’s ability to positively impact our organisation,” said Dan Ricke, manager, information security at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. “A range of staff roles will be able to collaborate on and work in this solution regardless of IAM sophistication, speeding up the connecting process and saving time for the identity and access management team.” Zero Trust identity-defined security The Ping Intelligent Identity platform provides customers, employees, partners and, increasingly, IoT, with access to cloud, mobile, SaaS and on-premises applications and APIs, while also managing identity and profile data at scale. Ping Identity helps enterprises achieve Zero Trust identity-defined security with a much more personalised, streamlined user experiences

Optical transaction technology specialist, MetaSepia, unveils ScreenBeam, a ground-breaking optical alternative to rival mobile near field communications (NFC) services by enabling fast, frictionless and secure transactions between on or offline devices. Unlike mobile NFC, which relies on transformer-based radio frequency (RF) fields to couple devices, ScreenBeam authenticates visually, displaying and capturing authentication data using the devices’ display screens and onboard cameras. Fast and two-way device authentication ScreenBeam uses light-emissive codes which scan quickly and in all manner of conditions" Uniquely, ScreenBeam uses the same interface to enable the instant issuance of a transaction e-receipt, a feature typically unavailable when performing transactions using conventional mobile NFC. ScreenBeam’s patented optical NFC pairing system supports a variety of use-cases where mobile NFC falls short, notably including rapid and legal in-flight device pairing (in aeroplane mode) and data sharing, offline P2P wallet transactions including cryptocurrency payments, the ability to jumpstart apps and to authenticate automatically to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi gateways. “ScreenBeam is a radical evolution of the QR code model that provides secure, fast and two-way device authentication to compete with mobile NFC,” comments David Watkins, CEO, MetaSepia. “ScreenBeam uses light-emissive codes which scan quickly and in all manner of conditions.” Single directional camera “Since device auto-pairing occurs optically, the privacy and security risks associated with radiating a spherical RF field are removed from the pairing process. Barriers to widespread adoption are small; ScreenBeam is lightweight software, deployable across all smartphones and operating systems, including older models with a single directional camera.” We’re excited about the potential for this technology to enable offline face-to-face crypto payments" “The range of use-cases for optical NFC is compelling,” continues Watkins. “In the payments world, we’re particularly excited about the potential for this technology to enable offline face-to-face crypto payments, especially since individuals and micro-merchants can issue e-receipts and loyalty or promotional materials as part of the transaction, providing a new level of non-repudiation in their digital wallets. These are all attributes that are not catered for by conventional mobile NFC.” Commercial possibilities for service providers Through investment, licensing, IP acquisition or technology partnerships, MetaSepia now seeks to expand its R&D capability to establish ScreenBeam as a fully functional, standalone optical file sharing system operating at over 100Kbps. “Most NFC tokens are between 15kb and 50kb,” adds Watkins. “As a pairing interface, ScreenBeam’s UX is already uniquely visual and tactile. Looking ahead, our development roadmap is clear: ScreenBeam will easily rival mobile NFC speeds and open up a variety of new commercial possibilities for service providers.” MetaSepia’s ScreenBeam technology prototype will be demonstrated at DELTA Summit 2019 (2nd - 4th October) where MetaSepia’s CTO, Kerry Brown, will be available for briefings.

Matrix has announced bagging the prestigious and highly coveted Good Design 2019 award for its new-age access control controller - COSEC ARGO. The award is given in recognition for excellence in product innovation and design. The Good Design Award evaluates and celebrates the quality of design whether tangible or intangible that has been created to fulfill some kind of ideal or purpose. Good Design awards The Good Design awards are produced by The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design in cooperation with the European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design and Urban Studies. The awards are amongst the most prestigious global award programs for design excellence and design innovation, honoring both products and industry leaders in design and manufacturing for over seven decades since its inception. Each year, the organisation highlights and recognises the most innovative industrial, product and graphic designs. COSEC ARGO access control controller On winning this prestigious award, Ganesh Jivani, Chief Executive of Matrix said “Matrix is focused on designing and manufacturing high grade cutting-edge security and telecom solutions for modern organisations and enterprises. Matrix offers these products in more than 50 countries worldwide – most of them to the first-world technologically advanced nations.” He adds, “With 250+ R&D engineers and world-class infrastructure and equipment, Matrix is committed to R&D and cutting-edge products. This award is a validation of Matrix's state of the art innovation and design capabilities.” Cutting-edge security and telecom solutions Ganesh further said, “I thank all our customers and channel partners for their trust in Matrix and congratulate the entire Matrix team for this outstanding achievement. Such recognition would encourage us to work harder towards building future technologies and products.”

Videx, global manufacturer and supplier of access control and door entry systems, has improved its standalone offline Mifare proximity access solution, MiAccess, by introducing a new handle to compliment the current range of readers. Mifare proximity access control The handle, with a brushed aluminium finish, is a standalone and surface mount addition that includes an integrated offline Mifare proximity fob/card reader that is battery powered from an internal 6V lithium battery allowing up to 60,000 operations on average.  Sian Luxton, Access Control Manager at Videx, said “The AL500-MF door handle can provide access to an unlimited number of users and used to create a multiple door system, making it ideal for a range of buildings which require specific access control solutions and minimum disruption during install. Installation is simple as no wiring is required. It’s designed to mount onto internal wooden doors ranging from 35mm to 55mm thickness. The handle is reversible for mounting onto left-hand or right-hand opening doors.” MiAccess readers The handle can be used standalone or as part of a multiple entrance system comprising of handles and MiAccess readers The handle can be used standalone or as part of a multiple entrance system comprising of both handles and MiAccess readers. It is compatible with both the free PROA MS and PROH MS MiAccess software, where programming, configuration settings and event logs can be transferred between the PC and the reader using micro-USB or Mifare cards. The programmed information is transferred from the card to the reader and from the reader to the card so there is no need for a connection between the readers and the PC. User cards are created via the software with the PROX-USB desktop enrolment reader where access rights are saved directly to the user’s card. Programming cards are also created in the same way to configure the reader’s settings. Personalised access control Other helpful features include the ability to collect events directly from the reader via the micro-USB port or from a programmed ‘events collect card’, ‘black list’ cards that have been lost or stolen (up to 500 cards) and personalise access rights for each user to restrict the users access to certain times, days and readers.

Identiv, Inc announced that the company is expanding its partnership with Les Bouchages Delage to deliver Internet of Things (IoT)-ready solutions for near field communication (NFC)-connected bottles in the wine and spirit industry. Identiv and Les Bouchages Delage originally partnered while collaborating on an intelligent NFC bottle cap for a luxury cognac brand. Now, the two companies are expanding their partnership by equipping a wide variety of Les Bouchages Delage cap designs with Identiv’s NFC technology. Near Field Communications technology Identiv and Les Bouchages Delage incorporated a contactless NFC tag into the cork stopper of all decanters While partnering on the luxury cognac project, Identiv and Les Bouchages Delage incorporated a contactless NFC tag into the cork stopper of all decanters. By tapping their mobile device to the cork, consumers are able to register their purchase and become a member of a private club providing exclusive content, unique experiences, and personalised services. The expanded partnership between the two companies will now apply the same intelligent technology to a greater selection of Les Bouchages Delage bottle caps. Custom Near Field Communications tag Identiv has developed a custom NFC tag design that fulfills a variety of unique bottle cap requirements, including high-performance in complex metal environments, maximum durability and readability by both Apple iOS and Android mobile devices at a small tag size, and 100% tested, secured, encoded, and locked variable data. As an expert in closure design and production, Les Bouchages Delage has provided the most reliable industrial production process for tag embedding, ensuring maximum radio frequency identification (RFID) performance and luxury-brand quality control. Radio frequency identification performance “Forty billion devices will be connected to the IoT by 2020,” said Stephane Ardiley, Identiv Director of Product Management. “Identiv’s expanded partnership with Les Bouchages Delage meets the increasing demands of consumers in this NFC-enabled world.” He adds, “people expect to connect to products in new ways, and through this partnership, we’re strengthening our commitment to consumer engagement, asset tracking, and authentication in the IoT.” IoT-connected products We saw a tremendous response to the intelligent corks in the luxury cognac project" “We saw a tremendous response to the intelligent corks in the luxury cognac project,” said Christian Delage, Les Bouchages Delage CEO. “Les Bouchages Delage is expanding its partnership with Identiv to apply this same intelligent technology to our complete line of customisable bottle caps to meet the increasing consumer demand for IoT-connected products. He further said, “Identiv’s tag designs meet each unique requirement in the wine and spirits industry and the team shares our vision for truly trustworthy product authentication.” NFC-compatible electronic devices Identiv’s complete portfolio of NFC-enabled solutions features a catalog of transponders compatible with NFC Forum, created for contactless transactions and connecting electronic devices with a simple tap-and-go model.

The statistics are staggering. The death tolls are rising. And those who now fear environments that were once thought to be safe zones like school campuses, factories, commercial businesses and government facilities, find themselves having to add the routine of active-shooter drills into their traditional fire drill protocols. The latest active shooter statistics released by the FBI earlier this year in their annual active-shooter report designated 27 events as active shooter incidents in 2018. The report reveals that 16 of the 27 incidents occurred in areas of commerce, seven incidents occurred in business environments, and five incidents occurred in education environments. Deadly active-shooter events Six of the 12 deadliest shootings in the country have taken place in the past five years Six of the 12 deadliest shootings in the country have taken place in the past five years, including Sutherland Springs church, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the San Bernardino regional center, the Walmart in El Paso and the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, which have all occurred since 2015. Although these incidents occurred in facilities with designated entry points common to churches, schools and businesses, the two most deadly active-shooter events since 2015 were the Route 91 Harvest music festival shooting in Las Vegas that left 58 dead and the Pulse nightclub killings in Orlando where 49 perished. As Christopher Combs, special agent in charge of the FBI field office in San Antonio, Texas, said during a news conference following the August 31 mass shooting in Odessa, Texas that claimed seven lives: “We are now at almost every two weeks seeing an active shooter in this country." Active shooter incidents Between December 2000 and December 2018, the FBI’s distribution of active shooter incidents by location looks like this: Businesses Open to Pedestrian Traffic (74) Businesses Closed to Pedestrian Traffic (43) K-12 Schools (39) Institutions of Higher Learning (16) Non-Military Government Properties (28) Military Properties—Restricted (5) Healthcare Facilities (11) Houses of Worship (10) Private Properties (12) Malls (6) What the majority of these venues have in common is they all have a front entrance or chokepoint for anyone entering the facilities, which is why any active-shooter plan must include a strategy to secure that entry point. Situational awareness in perimeter and door security Preventing people with the wrong intentions from entering the space is the goal" According to Paul Franco, an A&E with more than 28 years of experience as a consultant and systems integrator focusing on schools, healthcare and large public and private facilities, that while active shooter incidents continue to rise, the residual effect has been an increase in situational awareness in perimeter and door security. “Certainly, protecting people and assets is the number one goal of all our clients. There are multiple considerations in facilities like K-12 and Healthcare. Preventing people with the wrong intentions from entering the space is the goal. But a critical consideration to emphasise to your client is getting that person out of your facility and not creating a more dangerous situation by locking the person in your facility,” says Franco. High-security turnstiles “Schools today are creating a space for vetting visitors prior to allowing access into the main facility. Using technology properly like high-security turnstiles offer great benefits in existing schools where space constraints and renovation costs can be impractical.” What steps should they be taken when recommending the proper door security to ensure the building is safe As a consultant/integrator, when discussions are had with a client that has a facility in a public space like a corporate building, government centre or industrial facility, what steps should they be taken when recommending the proper door security to ensure the building is safe and can protect its people and assets? For Frank Pisciotta, President and CEO of Business Protection Specialists, Inc. in Raleigh, North Carolina, a fundamental element of his security strategy is making appropriate recommendations that are broad-based and proactive. Properly identifying the adversaries “As a consultant, my recommendations must include properly identifying the adversaries who may show up at a client’s door, the likelihood of that event occurring, the consequences of that event occurring, determining if there are tripwires that can be set so an organisation can move their line of defence away from the door, educating employees to report potential threats and creating real-time actionable plans to respond to threats. A more reactionary posture might include such thing as target hardening such as ballistic resistant materials at entry access points to a facility,” Pisciotta says. Veteran consultant David Aggleton of Aggleton & Associates of Mission Viejo, California recommends that clients compartmentalise their higher security areas for limited access by adding multiple credential controls (card + keypad + biometric), along with ‘positive’ access systems that inhibit tailgating/piggybacking such as secure turnstiles, revolving door and mantrap if your entrances and security needs meet the required space and access throughput rates. Integrated solution of electronic access control Defining a single point of entry in some public facilities is becoming the new standard of care according to many A&Es and security consultants, especially in a school environment. This approach allows a concerted effort when it comes to staffing, visitor monitoring and an integrated technology solution. The bottom line remains: most buildings are vulnerable to a security breach A proactive stance to securing a door entryway will use an integrated solution of electronic access control, turnstiles, revolving doors and mantraps that can substantially improve a facility’s security profile. The bottom line remains: most buildings are vulnerable to a security breach, so it’s not a matter of if there will be a next active shooter tragedy, it’s only a matter of where. Enhancing access control assurance “There is no easy answer to this question,” says Pisciotta referring to how a secured entrance can deter an active shooter. “There have been at least two high-profile incidents of adversaries shooting their way into a facility through access control barriers. So, if the threat so dictates, a ballistic resistant might be required.” He concludes: “There is obviously no question that turnstiles, revolving doors and man traps enhance access control assurance. Electronic access control is easy to integrate with these devices and providing that credentials are secure, approval processes are in place, change management is properly managed and the appropriate auditing measures in place, access control objectives can be met.”

Rodrigue Zbinden, CEO at Morphean, discusses the business benefits from merging video surveillance and access control technologies as demand for ACaaS grows. The big question facing businesses today is how they will use the data that they possess to unlock new forms of value using emerging technologies such as the cloud, predictive analytics and artificial intelligence. Some data is better utilised than others: financial services were quick to recognise the competitive advantages in exploiting technology to improve customer service, detect fraud and improve risk assessment. In the world of physical security, however, we’re only just beginning to understand the potential of the data that our systems gather as a part of their core function. Benefits of ‘Integrated access control’ The first thing to look for is how multiple sources of data can be used to improve physical security functionsWhat many businesses have yet to realise is that many emerging technologies come into their own when used across multiple sources of data. In physical security, for example, we’re moving from discussions about access control and CCTV as siloed functions, to platforms that combine information for analysis from any source, and applying machine learning algorithms to deliver intelligent insights back to the business. ‘Integrated access control’ then looks not just to images or building management, but to images, building management, HR databases and calendar information, all at the same time. And some of the benefits are only now starting to become clear. The first thing to look for, of course, is how multiple sources of data can be used to improve physical security functions. For example, by combining traditional access control data, such as when a swipe card is used, with a video processing platform capable of facial recognition, a second factor of authentication is provided without the need to install separate biometric sensors. CCTV cameras are already deployed in most sensitive areas, so if a card doesn’t match the user based on HR records, staff can be quickly alerted. Making the tools cost-effective In a similar vein, if an access card is used by an employee, who is supposed to be on holiday according to the HR record, then video data can be used to ensure the individual’s identity and that the card has not been stolen – all before a human operator becomes involved. This is driving growth in ‘access control as a service’ (ACaaS), and the end-to-end digitalisation of a vital business functionThese capabilities are not new. What is, however, is the way in which cloud-based computing platforms for security analytics, which absorb information from IP-connected cameras, make the tools much more cost effective, accessible and easier to manage than traditional on-site server applications. In turn, this is driving growth in ‘access control as a service’ (ACaaS), and the end-to-end digitalisation of a vital business function. With this system set up, only access control hardware systems are deployed on premise while the software and access control data are shifted to a remote location and provided as a service to users on a recurring monthly subscription. The benefits of such an arrangement are numerous but include avoiding large capital investments, greater flexibility to scale up and down, and shifting the onus of cybersecurity and firmware updates to the vendor. Simple installation and removal of endpoints What’s more, because modern video and access control systems transmit data via the IP network, installation and removal of endpoints are simple, requiring nothing more than PoE and Wi-Fi. Of all the advantages of the ‘as a service’ model, it’s the rich data acquired from ACaaS that makes it so valuable, and capable of delivering business benefits beyond physical security. Managers are constantly looking for better quality of information to inform decision making, and integrated access control systems know more about operations than you might think. Integrating lighting systems with video feeds and access control creates the ability to control the lightsRight now, many firms are experimenting with ways to find efficiencies and reduce costs. For example, lights that automatically turn off to save energy are common in offices today, but can be a distraction if employees have to constantly move around to trigger motion detectors. Integrating lighting systems with video feeds and access control creates the ability to control the lights depending on exactly who is in the room and where they are sitting. Tracking the movement of employees Camera data has been used in retail to track the movement of customers in stores, helping managers to optimise displays and position stocks. The same technology can be used to map out how employees move around a workspace, finding out where productivity gains can be made by moving furniture around or how many desks should be provisioned. Other potential uses of the same data could be to look for correlations between staff movement – say to a store room – and sales spikes, to better predict stock ordering. What makes ACaaS truly exciting is it is still a very new field, and we’re only just scratching the surface of the number of ways that it can be used to create new sources of value. As smart buildings and smart city technology evolves, more and more open systems will become available, offering more ways to combine, analyse and draw insights from data. Within a few years, it will become the rule, rather than the exception, and only grow in utility as it does.

The industry faces numerous challenges in the coming year. Physical and cyber security threats continue to become more complex, and organisations are struggling to manage both physical and digital credentials as well as a rapidly growing number of connected endpoints in the Internet of Things (IoT). We are witnessing the collision of the enterprise with the IoT, and organisations now must establish trust and validate the identity of people as well as ‘things’ in an environment of increasingly stringent safety and data privacy regulations. Meanwhile, demand grows for smarter and more data-driven workplaces, a risk-based approach to threat protection, improved productivity and seamless, more convenient access to the enterprise and its physical and digital assets and services. Using smartphone apps to open doors Cloud technologies give people access through their mobile phones and other devices to many new, high-value experiencesEnterprise customers increasingly want to create trusted environments within which they can deliver valuable new user experiences. A major driver is growing demand for the ‘digital cohesion’ of being able to use smartphone apps to open doors, authenticate to enterprise data resources or access a building’s applications and services. Cloud technologies are a key piece of the solution. They give people access through their mobile phones and other devices to many new, high-value experiences. At the same time, they help fuel smarter, more data-driven workplace environments. With the arrival of today’s identity- and location-aware building systems that recognise people and use deep learning analytics to customise their office environment, the workplace is undergoing dramatic change. Improved fingerprint solutions Cloud-based platforms and application programming interfaces (APIs) will help bridge biometrics and access control in the enterprise, overcoming previous integration hurdles while providing a trusted platform that meets the concerns of accessibility and data protection in a connected environment. At the same time, the next generation of fingerprint solutions will deliver higher matching speed, better image capture quality and improved performance. The next generation of fingerprint solutions will deliver higher matching speed, better image capture quality and improved performance Liveness detection will ensure that captured data is from a living person. Biometrics authentication will also gain traction beyond access control in immigration and border control, law enforcement, military, defence and other public section use cases where higher security is needed. Flexible subscription models Access control solutions based on cloud platforms will also change how solutions are deployed. Siloed security and workplace optimisation solutions will be replaced with mobile apps that can be downloaded anywhere across a global ecosystem of millions of compatible and connected physical access control system endpoints. These connections will also facilitate new, more flexible subscription models for access control services. As an example, users will be able to more easily replenish mobile IDs if their smartphones are lost or must be replaced. Generating valuable insights with machine learning Machine learning analytics will be used to generate valuable insights from today’s access control solutionsEducation, finance, healthcare, enterprise, and other niche markets such as commercial real-estate and enterprises focussed on co-working spaces will benefit from a cloud-connected access control hardware foundation. There will be a faster path from design to deployment since developers will no longer have to create an entire vertically integrated solution. They will simply add an app experience to the existing access control infrastructure. New players will be drawn to the market resulting in a richer, more vibrant development community and accelerated innovation. Data analytics will be a rapidly growing area of interest. Machine learning analytics will be used to generate valuable insights from today’s access control solutions. Devices, access control systems, IoT applications, digital certificates and location services solutions, which are all connected to the cloud, will collectively deliver robust data with which to apply advanced analytics and risk-based intelligence. As organisations incorporate this type of analytics engine into their access control systems, they will improve security and personalise the user experience while driving better business decisions. 

As the deal/no deal prospects of Brexit are tossed in a whirlwind of UK and EU politics, the uncertainty of the back-and-forth has broadly impacted general economic trends, and by extension, the physical security market. The new deadline for a Brexit agreement is October 31, already postponed six months from the scheduled April 12 departure date. Numbers show that Britain’s GDP shrank in the second quarter, possibly reflecting fewer exports because of Brexit uncertainty. And beyond the current indecision lies the long-term impact of a possible change in trading status between the United Kingdom and continental Europe. Other issues include capital flow and labor mobility. Brexit uncertainty leading to security concerns Loss of shared information with the EU will make the UK less safe “Companies … are unclear about their future,” comments Martin Warren of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. “Companies are making decisions now about jobs, supply chains, headquarters and asset locations, incurring significant, and possibly unnecessary, cost and upheaval.” Warren fears the destructive effects of a ‘no deal’ outcome and hopes politicians will break the deadlock and restore business confidence. Security implications of Brexit extend beyond economics. Loss of shared information with the EU will make the UK less safe. Extradition across EU borders will be more difficult, and exchange of data such as fingerprints and vehicle registrations is at risk. The Irish border after Brexit is of particular concern to security professionals. Countering threat of international terrorism Robert Hall of London First and Alison Wakefield of Security Institute say the security impact of departing the EU will be long lasting and profound. “In security terms, the UK will still have to contend with international terrorism, transnational crime and the global movement of people, all challenges that require wide scale cooperation.” They add that leaving the EU will require “a significant investment in people, resources and databases to cope with the anticipated volumes of traffic through ports, airports and tunnels.” Analyst company IHS Markit earlier commented about the impact on the security industry of Brexit’s drag on the UK economy, “Access control, intruder and fire alarm markets typically track construction rates closely and are forecast to be affected most. However, a large cut to infrastructure spending would be just as damaging to the video surveillance market.” UK security companies prefer ‘soft exit’ from EU If a ‘soft exit’ trade deal is not negotiated, the UK would have to revert to WTO trade rules If a ‘soft exit’ trade deal is not negotiated, the UK would have to revert to World Trade Organisation (WTO) trade rules, which means tariffs on trade between the UK and the EU, says IHS Markit. There are five British-based access-control and intruder-alarm vendors supplying the European market in significant quantity – each with revenue exceeding $10 million. IHS Markit estimates these companies combined account for less than 10 percent of total European, Middle-Eastern and African (EMEA) market revenues for both industries.  Uncertain future of UK security marketplace Asset protection specialist VPS Security Services has warned that the ongoing Brexit saga will likely lead to a rise in vacant commercial and residential properties as developers and investors are more reluctant to move forward with their UK real estate strategies. Seemingly endless machinations and shifting proposals are making the eventual outcome of Brexit very much a guessing game. Uncertainty translates into a volatile and changing outlook, and the eventual impact on the broader economy is an open question. As a reflection of that economy, the security marketplace will inevitably feel the economic impact, too, not to mention the new security challenges likely to ensue.

As police use of live facial recognition (LFR) is called into question in the United Kingdom, the concerns can overshadow another use of facial recognition by police officers. Facial recognition is incorporated into day-to-day police operations to identify an individual standing in front of them. This more common usage should not be called into question, says Simon Hall, CEO of Coeus Software, which developed PoliceBox, a software that enables police officers to complete the majority of their daily tasks from an app operating on a smart phone. Time-consuming process There are two different use cases for facial recognition in the context of law enforcement" “Verifying the identity of an individual standing in front of you via facial recognition should be no more controversial than taking a fingerprint for the same purpose,” says Hall. “We are not talking about mass surveillance here, but the opportunity to use technology to make an officer’s day more efficient. Verifying a person’s ID is a time-consuming process if you have to take them to the station, so being able to do this more quickly should be welcomed as a positive step to modernise policing.” Because the use of facial recognition by police has proven to be a divisive topic, Simon is eager to highlight the distinction between the use of facial recognition for ID verification and the more controversial mass surveillance that some police forces have trialed. “There are two different use cases for facial recognition in the context of law enforcement,” says Hall. Number-plate recognition “Firstly, there is facial recognition to verify a person’s identity (typically done face-to-face with the individual concerned and using the Police National Computer [PNC] database). This is no more controversial than taking an individual’s fingerprint to verify their ID but can be conducted more quickly if the officer has the capability on their smart phone. The second common use of facial recognition is to identify suspects quickly via mass surveillance. This is more controversial.” The focus for PoliceBox is ID verification only, he adds. The focus of facial recognition for PoliceBox is ID verification only First, there is the matter of consent. In the context of facial recognition in public situations, it is very difficult to inform everyone that they are being observed, so they cannot give their informed consent, says Hall. Then there is the inability for people to ‘opt out’ of the process. Unlike with driving a car, where one can technically opt-out of the rules of the road (and avoid technologies like number-plate recognition) by choosing not to drive, there is no such option for facial recognition. National surveillance system Secondly, many-to-many matching (matching lots of images to lots of database records) is more likely to produce false matches, resulting in possible perceived harassment of individuals who happen to match a person of interest, notes Hall. The government is openly exploring plans to develop a national surveillance system using facial recognition Lastly, Hall says there are legitimate concerns that the technology could be misused for discrimination or exerting control over populations. In China, for example, where facial recognition technology is already widely used in the commercial sector, the government is openly exploring plans to develop a national surveillance system using facial recognition. “Mass surveillance can be used in two ways; real-time, whereby ‘people of interest’ are flagged up as soon as a match is detected, and historical, where the movements of individuals around the time of a reported crime are established after the event,” says Hall. Repeated false matches “These two modes probably require different types of safeguards. For example, it may be appropriate to obtain a warrant to search historical data, to prevent Cambridge-Analytica style mining of personal data. For real time data, safeguards against repeated false matches are needed to prevent harassment of falsely matched individuals.” Properly implemented, facial recognition can be consistent with the GDPR. The principles are no different from obtaining a fingerprint to confirm identity, where consent would normally be given. For PoliceBox, using fingerprint or facial identification is typically a time-saving solution, benefitting both parties, instead of going to the police station and establishing identity there. Signed consent can be obtained on the spot using a secure on-screen signature. The PoliceBox solution is based on the UK legal framework and would also be appropriate for countries whose laws are similar to the UK Facial recognition algorithms Fingerprints and facial images can be automatically deleted once used to establish identity. There are special provisions for the collection of personal data for law enforcement purposes without consent, and some test cases for mass surveillance could go through the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). This is particularly significant where private operators are concerned. PoliceBox solution is also internationalised and can be used in different languages The PoliceBox solution is based on the UK legal framework and would also be appropriate for countries whose laws are similar to the UK. It is also internationalised and can be used in different languages. Facial recognition algorithms and databases are typically implemented by the relevant law enforcement body (such as the Home Office) and not directly within the product, which acts as a front-end to those systems. Public sector organisations Hall sees several remaining challenges related to police use of facial recognition: The adoption of cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions within the public sector. The existing infrastructure in the public sector has evolved over a number of years and there are significant legacy systems in place that need to be refreshed/replaced; Need for proven technology. Public sector organisations are risk-averse and often insist on being able to reference existing installations, which creates a Catch 22 problem when introducing new technology as someone has to be first; Interrupting business-as-usual. Most organisations already have some form of an existing solution. Even if this system provides poor ROI and is extremely dated, one must still overcome ‘the better the devil you know’ policy; A reluctance by some suppliers to share information with other solutions via APIs. This has stifled innovation for some time. Improving officers’ wellbeing These challenges are slowly being overcome. “I am confident we will soon see an accelerated adoption of platforms such as ours to deliver the financial and efficiency savings that are needed to bring the public sector into the 21st century,” says Hall. One of the biggest themes to come out of the recent Home Office Review into frontline policing was the need to improve officers’ wellbeing. Law enforcement has to deal with some of the most difficult and harrowing situations on an almost daily basis. The administrative burden can also be problematic, says Hall. “If we can help to reduce the administrative burden placed on officers – even by a little bit – the overall improvements in effectiveness and well-being when magnified across a whole force will be significant.”

Krowd is an app that connects people together based on geography; that is, if they are at the same place at the same time. Users sign into the app using the local WiFi, identify themselves by username, and are placed immediately in a group chat comprising anyone else at the location who has signed into the app. An enhancement of the Krowd app, known as Krowdsafe, leverages the technology to achieve and promote security and safety. Specifically, Krowdsafe enables users to interact directly with security personnel at a public place to report any crimes or security infractions and to enable rapid response. Think of it as “crowdsourcing” security – the app provides more eyes and ears to keep a venue safer. In effect, it enables each of its users to be an extension of the security presence at a venue or event. Krowdsafe improves crowd resilience. “Crowdsourcing” security – the app provides more eyes and ears to keep a venue safer Krowdsafe security app Krowdsafe also opens a channel of communication for the security team to provide ad-hoc security information reminders or messages. Krowdsafe can be used at a variety of venues, including stadiums, transport hubs, office blocks, retail malls, college campus and major events organisers. The app does not access identities, violate privacy, or track the movements of users. Other app users only know the information fellow users disclose. Still, group chats, one-on-one engagement, and other social media interactions can ensue, whether about a favourite football team or the excitement of a rock concert. The system fosters digital engagement that centers around a physical space. Krowdsafe applies those capabilities to promoting better security. Enhancing crowd safety and management The elements of Krowdsafe beat out 67 competitors to win the Defence & Security Accelerator Competition to Innovate Crowd Safety, launched by the UK Home office after terror events in 2017. Key areas of interest in the competition were to improve the detection of threats from explosives and weapons within a range of crowded places with high footfall and so reduce the chance of future attacks. Krowdsafe provides a prioritised, readily accessible and simple way for members of a crowd to communicate with a security team charged with keeping them safe. The £250,000 government award has helped the product move forward commercially at a faster pace. Krowdsafe app does not access identities, violate privacy, or track the movements of users Krowdsafe users can tap a red button, prominent on the Krowd app, that says “Report.” They may then choose from a listing of common threat types – from suspicious activity or unattended activity to medical emergency or fire services. The list is configurable by venue and corresponds to any specific threat models. The list corresponds to the nature of any situation security wants to address, such as “anti-social behavior” at a football club. Users in the crowd can anonymously report racist chanting, for example. In a children’s sporting event, the app can be used to facilitate lost-and-found children. If a child gets lost, a user can share a photo with the security team, who can alert the “public” (other Krowdsafe users) and find the child within minutes or seconds. Encrypted identifier code A user taps the “Report” button, selects an issue, and an alert goes directly to the security team A user taps the “Report” button, selects an issue, and an alert goes directly to the security team, who can respond because they have the encrypted identifier code from which the message came. For that point, the security team communicates one-on-one with the user, who can then choose to share their current location with the security team to facilitate response. (The “legitimate interest” of knowing the location negates any privacy concerns.) Once location is enabled, the security team can follow the precise positioning of threats on a map, using GPS and other technologies, or even on a three-dimensional digital map of a multi-story building. Another security benefit of Krowdsafe is prevention. Event organisers and venue managers can promote the use of Krowdsafe on posters or in announcements throughout the venue. Additional eyes and ears are the equivalent of CCTV coverage on every inch of a venue and use of the system makes the environment more hostile to mischievous, malicious and/or terrorist activity. In effect, bad guys will go somewhere else. Enhancement to Krowd app Krowdsafe is an enhancement to the Krowd app, which has been around for a couple of years and is available in app stores for iOS and Android. The app approximates in the digital world the experience of being a stranger in the crowd in the real world. Users can join a conversation based on their username, and then disclose to the crowd whatever they wish (or not). Event managers/organisers can promote hashtags to help identify others in the crowd (such as #ManUnited to identify fans of the same football team). In general, users can identify themselves (voluntarily) according to common interests using hashtags.  “Krowd is a group chat that connects people together at the same place at the same time in a group, but without anyone having to disclose personal information,” says Geoff Revill, Managing Director, Krowdthink Ltd. “You have a digital presence in the same place with other people at the same time.” Wireless connectivity Users connect initially into the system through WiFi, access to which serves to approximate presence at a venue Users connect initially into the system through WiFi, access to which serves to approximate presence at a venue. Once someone signs in, information about them is merely a grouping of “hash” numbers, which are used to identify them as they communicate with others in the location. However, the “hashing” cannot be hacked to find a user’s location, thus ensuring greater privacy. Because Krowd does not collect personal data (which is a revenue source for most social media companies), the company generates revenue by providing the service to venue owners who wish to interact with and manage a crowd. Data security Location data is considered sensitive under General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and tracking locations can help to identify where someone lives, works, who they associate with, etc. By not tracking location, Krowd avoids the related privacy issues. After initially signing in on WiFi, Krowd communications can also use 2G, 3G and other cellular networks in addition to WiFi. Addressing privacy concerns is essential to encouraging involvement in the Krowd app, and in Krowdsafe. “If you want people to participate in keeping the crowd safe, you have to get their trust and respect them, that’s a building block behind the behavioral science,” says Revill. By not tracking location, Krowd avoids the related privacy issues Privacy protection Because Krowd users remain anonymous (except for the information they choose to share), user data is not collected (and/or sold or used for future marketing purposes). Krowd’s paying customers are event venues and public places that provide the Krowd service and can promote their commercial messages or provide other information to their populations while on site. Krowdsafe can provide immediate security benefits to a venue. Even if only 25 staff members use the app in a given location, for example, that’s 25 more sets of eyes and ears to help the security department. In a retail mall, if the staffs of 200 tenant businesses use the app, that’s another 500 or so people watching out for security. Among the general public, use of the app can be promoted in customer newsletters, or by posting group discussions on big screens around a venue. Wide marketing scope It enables members of a crowd to report any broken doors, water leaks or blocked toilets Security is a secondary benefit for some Krowd users, who are drawn to the app because of marketing opportunities, such as the ability to provide discounts or promotional offers to customers while they are on site. The app also encourages social media interaction, while maintaining the venue’s ability to “manage” the crowd by moderating any discussions. The Krowd app also provides management benefits to a venue. For example, it enables members of a crowd to report any broken doors, water leaks or blocked toilets. In general, the app helps to promote a better brand experience for the customer. Incident management One of the UK government’s concerns about Krowdsafe was its possible use by terrorists or other to cause incidents in a public venue. Think of the case of Olly Murs, a U.K. singer, whose mistaken tweets about hearing gunshots caused a brief panic at a department store on a busy shopping day. Might Krowd be uses similarly by a terrorist or other evil-doer to cause chaos or a distraction? No, says Revill, who points to a higher level of control over content exchanged in Krowd versus Twitter, for example. The security team can censor content or limit its propagation. They can also disable or block a user from communicating on the app. Messages containing dangerous or troubling content, such as racist terms, can trigger alerts to enable security teams to respond quickly.

Globally renowned electronic locks manufacturer, Mul-T-Lock has announced providing Glenveagh National Park in County Donegal, Ireland with over 50 of its high-tech eCLIQ locks so as to enable them to efficiently manage access control rights across the whole estate. Spanning over 170 square kilometres in area size, Glenveagh National Park is the second largest national park in Ireland. It features a number of rugged mountains, pristine lakes, tumbling waterfalls and enchanted native oak woodlands that together make up its ecosystem. At the centre of the national park, on the edge of Lough Veagh, is Glenveagh Castle, a late 19th century castellated mansion, which was originally built as a hunting lodge. Advanced eCLIQ technology allows park managers to schedule individual access permissions for each lock eCLIQ locking system With multiple facilities located on the sprawling site, Glenveagh National Park required a high-security and fully customisable access control solution, and therefore opted for Mul-T-Lock’s advanced eCLIQ locking system. The new and advanced eCLIQ technology allows park managers to schedule individual access permissions for each lock, subsequently granting and revoking access to various areas of the estate whenever necessary. Remote access control solution Stephen Crowe, Regional Sales Manager for Mul-T-Lock, commented, “At Glenveagh National Park there is a need to restrict public access from certain areas for safety reasons, but at the same time, relevant staff should be able to access these areas whenever required”. He adds, “Our eCLIQ system proved the perfect solution for this, as administrators (those who manage the security system) can easily set-up tailored access permissions remotely via our CLIQ Remote Web Manager software. eCLIQ padlocks and cylinders Stephen further stated, “With eCLIQ, administrators also have the ability to set time-limited access – something that isn’t achievable with a mechanical system. For example, padlocks around the estate could be programmed to allow access to certain gates between Monday and Friday, from 8am to 6pm. It’s this customisation that makes our system so popular.” The Mul-T-Lock system was specified and installed by Paul Speer at JP Speer Locksmiths, who added, “We now have over 50 eCLIQ padlocks and cylinders securing gates, offices and the Visitor Centre within this impressive estate. The complete system is managed from the main office and once set up it is easily maintained, with the flexibility to change quickly whenever required.” Mul-T-Lock advanced eCLIQ technology Another great feature with eCLIQ is the way in which you can expand the system retrospectively when needed" Paul further said, “Another great feature with eCLIQ is the way in which you can expand the system retrospectively when needed. Glenveagh National Park has used mechanical systems in the past, but these haven’t been able to satisfy its access control requirements. Mul-T-Lock’s eCLIQ technology ensures that access rights are maintained for years to come.” Pat Vaughan, District Conservation Officer at Glenveagh National Park, finished by saying, “Mul-T-Lock’s eCLIQ system is the perfect fit for our Park as it has all the features that such a vast estate as ours requires. Park security He says, “During our summer season our visitor numbers quadruple and we have to employ seasonal staff to meet this demand. Having such a system as Mul-T-Lock’s eCLIQ means that we can set up temporary access for these workers, with all the relevant access rights required. The eCLIQ system also enables us to deactivate keys and revoke access at the click of a button.” Pat adds, “This is particularly helpful if any of our team accidently lose their keys, or if temporary staff forget to return keys after their time with us. We are extremely happy that we opted for the eCLIQ system to secure our beautiful estate; it will stand the test of time for years to come and has all the features we require to manage, build and secure our Park and its future.”

3xLOGIC, Inc., global provider of integrated, intelligent security solutions, has announced that integrator partner, Harris Tec, has reported the successful installation of a 3xLOGIC infinias access control system for their customer. Harris Tec is a relatively new company and is helmed by Justin Harris, who has been in the security industry for several years. Justin said, “Our customer does both local cultivation of marijuana plants, as well marijuana production, which means marijuana by-products. Cultivation and production are in two separate parts of the facility and require two separate licenses.” The facility is approx 30,000 sq.ft in size, and the infinias system manages access for eight doors and an inventory cage Cannabis security On November 8, 2016, Nevada voters approved Question 2, which legalises, regulates, and taxes recreational marijuana throughout the state and allows adults age 21 or older to possess up to one ounce of marijuana and grow up to six plants beginning on January 1, 2017. Marijuana is largely a cash business and with high-value inventory also on premise, security is of utmost concern for such an entity. The facility is approximately 30,000 square feet in size, and the infinias system manages access for eight doors and an inventory cage. Except for one exterior door, all other managed doors are on the interior. “I’ve been installing infinias for about five years, and I love the system,” commented Harris. Infinias access control system He adds, “I like the system’s flexibility, we have it programmed to create a man trap at the main entrance, only one door can be opened at a time. We also can do lock down with the system automatically halting all ingress and egress.” “My staff initially aren’t experts in all things access control and they manage this system very well, they’re able to leverage all the system’s capabilities. By closely managing the interior doors, we are making sure the 40+ employees are going only where they are explicitly approved to go.” Electronic access control It’s not practical to give out keys to the facility, so we have to implement electronic access control" Harris further said, “With infinias, my customer has real peace of mind. It’s not practical to give out keys to the facility, so we have to implement electronic access control. And in this business, there is a good amount of turnover, so it’s essential we are able to program badges both on and off immediately,” said Harris. The end user’s employees are organised into several different groups, each with different access privileges in terms of day and time and location. Managed Services Provider Harris Tec is the Managed Services Provider (MSP) for the end user, they perform day-to-day system management, troubleshoot any issues, make all changes to schedules and groups, and turn cards on and off. System-generated reports are used for trouble-shooting and on-site security staff manage doors with an app installed on a tablet. Harris concluded, “When I’m asked if the system can do this or do that, I tell my employees, ‘Never say no,’ because this system can do virtually anything. You just have to use it and quickly you’ll understand the tremendous flexibility and capabilities you have.”

The first China International Import Expo was held on November 5, 2018 in Shanghai. As the world's first import-themed national exhibition, it attracted more than 3,600 exhibitors from 172 countries, regions and international organisations, making security a top priority during the event. As an essential force in the global security industry, Dahua Technology has performed outstandingly in assuring the security of many international events such as the Rio Olympic Games, G20 Hangzhou Summit and the 9th BRICS Summit. This time, Dahua Technology has shouldered the security responsibility again with its state-of-the-art products and solutions. Event security Dahua Technology provided more than 3,000 sets of cutting-edge intelligent equipment The Expo expected a total number of 800,000 visitors, as well as tens of thousands of displayed goods, coming from more than 3,000 companies in more than 130 countries, demanding safety as the top priority in the venue. Integrating data from various departments as well as monitoring the venue and command dispatching became a huge challenge for the security and police personnel. Dahua Technology provided more than 3,000 sets of cutting-edge intelligent equipment in the core locations of the Shanghai National Convention and Exhibition Center and its surrounding areas, using video AR, face recognition, ANPR, video structuring, intelligent analysis and other technologies to improve the venue’s level of security. Artificial Intelligence solutions In order to further enlarge the area security coverage, Dahua Technology set up video surveillance points in key areas of Shanghai National Convention and Exhibition Center including entrance and exit points of the outer ring, interior area, office buildings, as well the surrounding major passages, plazas, commanding points, subway entrances and exits, pedestrian bridges, etc. In addition to the already pre-installed surveillance equipment, new monitoring devices were also added to make sure that there will be no blind spots and interruptions of the video transmission in the whole area. Panoramic cameras Dahua panoramic cameras installed at the commanding point of the Shanghai National Convention and Exhibition Center employs AR technology in order to achieve omni-directional and no blind spot surveillance. Additionally, the panoramic cameras deployed inside the exhibition center monitor the situation inside the exhibition hall and obtain real-time dynamic information that builds a three-dimensional platform that are visual, controllable and schedulable to facilitate an efficient security operation. Intelligent video analysis system Intelligent video analysis system was built in the exhibition area to classify the acquired data  Moreover, intelligent video analysis system was built in the exhibition area to classify the acquired data according to the preset rules and application requirements, such as crowd detection, behavior analysis, map search, etc. This system expands and deepens the application of video information in the efficiency of public security. Furthermore, through the Dahua Deep Learning Series video alert camera, people who would illegally climb over the perimeter fence built within the 4-kilometer area of the exhibition hall would be identified and captured. Dahua face recognition system The Dahua face recognition system deployed at the entrance and exit of the exhibition center could recognise the identity of all visitors in real time by comparing their ID card’s recorded information with the face photo captured by the front-end smart camera. This system did not just improve the traffic efficiency of the entrance and exit points, but also guaranteed the safety and accuracy of the identification of people walking in and out of the venue. High-definition smart cameras Dahua high-definition smart cameras were also set up at the entrance and exit around the transportation hub of the Shanghai National Convention and Exhibition Center to monitor and track high-risk vehicles and people in real-time. This effectively improved the road management and traffic control in the area. Fully structured cameras capturing real-time videos of motor vehicles, pedestrians and non-motor vehicles were deployed in the surrounding area, which also support face and body recognition for a more comprehensive security. Video network platform Video network platform automatically connects the video and image data captured within the area  Additionally, a video network platform automatically connects the video and image data captured within the area to the public security command center, creating a resource sharing integration of valuable information. China International Import Expo has facilitated countries and regions all over the world in strengthening economic cooperation and trade, and promoting global trade and world economic growth. Dahua AI solutions has greatly enhanced the prevention and control measures within the key areas around the venue, assuring security during the Expo. Cutting-edge security solutions After the event, Dahua Technology received letters from the Shanghai Public Security Bureau, Qingpu Public Security Bureau, Changning Public Security Bureau, Shanghai Hongqiao Integrated Transportation Hub Emergency Response Center, and other offices, thanking Dahua Technology for its strong support and contributions to the success of the security management during the event. From the Rio Olympic Games to the G20 Hangzhou Summit, from the 9th BRICS Summit to the first China International Import Expo, Dahua Technology always accomplishes various security tasks with high quality and efficiency. With its cutting-edge products and solutions, quality operation services and professional technical team, Dahua Technology will continue to assist more major international events in the future.

Abdullah A. M. Al-Khodari Sons Company is a multifaceted contracting company in Saudi Arabia. This company conducts business in diverse sectors such as civil engineering, roads and bridges, railways, buildings and infrastructure, water and waste water treatment, oil-gas and pipelines. It has 25 construction sites across Middle East. Managing time-attendance, shifts, overtime and leaves of 20,000 employees at different locations was a challenging process for them. They wanted a centralised time-attendance solution that would enable them to manage attendance data from a central location and speed up the payroll process. Project Highlights Time-attendance solution for 25 construction sites Access control solution for 25 sites Centralised attendance management for 20,000 employees Managing time-attendance data Al-Khodari is engaged in wide spread construction activities with 60 construction sites in the Middle East Al-Khodari is engaged in wide spread construction activities with 60 construction sites in the Middle East. Managing time-attendance, shifts, leaves and overtime of 20,000 employees at different locations is very time consuming and a tedious task. Previously, the customer was using Hand geometry solution, which was very time consuming. Workers also found it difficult to place their palms in the proper position. Managing time-attendance data of all employees on a central level was also becoming difficult for the company. Furthermore, the head office was using a different time-attendance solution in comparison to other sites. The head office processed the salary of employees after receiving an attendance summary from each of their branches. The process of salary calculation with respect to working hours and overtime of each employee took around 10 days. Moreover, there were chances that the attendance data was inaccurate, leading loss of efficiency and employee dissatisfaction. To overcome such challenges, the company required a centralised time-attendance and access control solution which could be managed and controlled from the head office. Faster and accurate salary calculation After discussing all of their problems and requirements Matrix offered web based COSEC CENTRA time-attendance and access control solution for their multi located branches across the Middle East. It automated all time-attendance processes right from recording entries to processing salaries. COSEC CENTRA access control solution allows controlling access on three simultaneous dimensions – user, zone and time. COSEC CENTRA server is installed at the head office to where attendance data of all locations are collected Optical fingerprint based time-attendance and access control terminal COSEC DOOR FOP was installed to mark the attendance and get access using fingerprint credentials. As per assigned access rules and time-attendance policies, access is allowed or denied, and event data would be pushed from all devices to the COSEC CENTRA server in real-time. COSEC CENTRA server is installed at the head office to where attendance data of all locations are collected centrally. Various types of time-attendance reports and charts can be generated for faster and accurate salary calculation. Error free time-attendance Time required for salary calculation reduced by 30% Productivity increased by 20% Control of all sites through a live monitoring window Error free time-attendance and overtime data Database management of all employees Centralised report generation Products installed COSEC DOOR FOP - optical fingerprint and RF card based door controller COSEC ENROLL FINGER - fingerprint enrolment station COSEC LE PLATFORM - web based application software platform COSEC LE TAM - time-attendance and leave management module COSEC LE ACM - access control module COSEC LE USER10000 - 10000 user license for LE platform

Allegion, globally renowned provider of security products and solutions, has announced that the Schlage AD electronic locks, NDE networked wireless locks, LE networked wireless locks and MT multi-technology readers now support contactless student IDs in Apple Wallet. Allegion - CBORD collaboration Allegion worked with CBORD and Apple to enable a mobile credential leveraging the industry global standard NXP DESFire EV1 security technology to provide higher education campuses with an easy-to-implement solution for the enablement of contactless student IDs for iPhone and Apple Watch. The University of Tennessee, University of Vermont and University of San Francisco are among the first schools to leverage the solution. “A recent study from The Center for Generational Kinetics found that 95 percent of Gen Z owns a smartphone and being connected is their norm. Because of this, universities are tasked with meeting student preferences while also ensuring campus security,” said Jeff Koziol, Allegion business development manager, campus software partner. “Allegion is proud to expand its product features to provide higher education campuses seamless yet flexible security solutions, and an improved mobile access experience for students and faculty members alike.” Contactless student IDs Having contactless student IDs in Apple Wallet makes it easier and more convenient for students and faculty to access buildings like residence halls or the library, as well as make payments on and around campus for coffee, laundry and other purchases with iPhone and Apple Watch. Universities can remotely issue credentials over-the-air, and those credentials are protected by two-factor authentication and can be remotely deactivated by the student or university. MIFARE DESFire EV1 technology, supported by Allegion in this program, is the widely accepted open global standard "As an institution that values innovation, it's important to us that we are always adapting to the way students use technology to enhance the campus experience," said Chris Cimino, senior vice chancellor for finance and administration. "Being able to access your VolCard on your iPhone is one of the many ways UT is continuously improving to meet expectations for a modern campus.” MIFARE DESFire EV1 technology MIFARE DESFire EV1 technology, supported by Allegion in this program, is the widely accepted open global standard and one of the top solutions in contactless credentials. By leveraging Allegion and CBORD’s solution with DESFire, higher education campuses are now able to take advantage of an open architecture and work with various manufacturers without being locked into a siloed proprietary solution. This new capability is compatible with the following Schlage commercial solutions: AD electronic locks - Schlage AD-400 wireless locks were designed to reduce installation costs on interior access-controlled doors, such as student rooms, faculty offices, classrooms and lab spaces, while offering the adaptability to support future evolutions in technology. The AD-400 and AD-300 wired locks are available in cylindrical, mortise, mortise deadbolt and exit trim chassis options, and they integrate into popular physical electronic access control systems (PACS). NDE networked wireless cylindrical locks - NDE wireless locks integrate into popular electronic access control systems from PACS providers to bring the benefits of electronic access control deeper into university buildings. NDE packages the cylindrical lock, credential reader and access control sensors together in to a small footprint that is both easy to install on university campuses and affordable. LE networked wireless mortise locks - The LE design packages the mortise lock, credential reader and access control sensors together into a small footprint that is both elegant and affordable. They feature two sleek trim options with broad range of decorative lever choices to match the style of any residence hall. MT Multi-Technology readers - Schlage MT multi-technology readers are designed to simplify university access control solutions and allow a transition from proximity or magnetic stripe (on a physical student ID) to more secure, encrypted smart card technology or mobile credentials in the Apple Wallet. Schlage’s AD Series Locks This extended offering is the next wave in Allegion’s pursuit to work with other providers in the industry for digital credential rollout in universities. Recently, the company announced its collaboration with Transact to enable contactless student IDs in Apple Wallet through Schlage’s AD Series Locks at Mercer University.

People and vehicle access control specialist, Nortech offers a number of products within the Nedap product range that use vehicle tagging to identify individual vehicles while they are moving through a monitoring point. uPASS Reach reader The uPASS Reach reader offers long-range vehicle identification for up to 5 metres using the latest UHF technology.     With consistent reading up to 5 metres and adjustable onsite reading as just two of the benefits of the system, the uPASS Reach reader has an elegant slim design, LED and audible read indication and is encased in weatherproof housing. It also operates with passive UHF tags, self-adhesive windscreen tags and hand-held tags with dual-technology options. Long-range passive UHF tags The reader output allows the access control system to open the gate/barrier when an authorised vehicle arrives When the uPASS Reach reader is installed (maximum height two metres) next to an automatic gate or barrier, long-range passive UHF tags are identified at a distance of up to 5 metres as soon as they are visible in direct line of sight of the reader. The reader output allows the access control system to open the gate/barrier when an authorised vehicle arrives without the need for the driver to present a card or badge, and the built-in high intensity LED provides the user visual feedback that the tag has been read. UHF tags are also both battery and maintenance-free. UHF Windshield Tag To work alongside the uPASS Reach, Nedap has designed four different UHF tags to suit all environments. The UHF Windshield Tag is a passive UHF transponder and offers long range identification up to 5 metres when installed inside non metallised windscreens. This provides cost-effective long range vehicle identification for access control applications and is available as a standard peel off version or as a tamperproof version for additional security. Passive UHF Exterior Tag Where vehicle windscreens are fully metallised, Nedap offers a passive UHF Exterior Tag which can be easily fitted onto non-metallic / plastic parts of the vehicle such as the headlights. For added security, the UHF Exterior Tag is a tamper resistant, transparent, adhesive tag. It will show visual proof of removal and is extremely difficult to remove, intact and functional. The chip inside is also protected against harmful UV rays. UHF Heavy Duty Tag This tag features a rugged design for long term use in outdoor and industrial environments The Nedap UHF Heavy Duty Tag is a passive UHF transponder which again offers long-range identification up to 5 metres with the uPASS Reach. However, this tag features a rugged design for long term use in outdoor and industrial environments. The UHF Heavy Duty Tag is a cost-effective solution for installations where the tag needs to be mounted onto the exterior of the vehicle and can also be cable tied or bolted onto bicycles, forklifts and many other industrial devices. Finally, the UHF ISO Combi Card is a card featured with long-range UHF tag and proximity or smartcard technology. Used for both people and vehicle access, it enables the use of one card for both vehicle and building access applications. Available with a range of formats such as Mifare, Legic and HID. Efficient vehicle identification reader The uPASS Reach reader complies with the ISO18000-6C and EPC global Gen 2 directive. This long-range vehicle identification reader is based on latest passive UHF technology. It is used in combination with battery free UHF (EPC Gen 2) tags, making this access control solution totally cost efficient. The uPASS Reach is ideal for convenient vehicle access to public car parks, private-run parking spaces and lots, gated communities and staff parking areas in corporate offices and government buildings.

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?

The new school year is a good time to reflect on the role of security in protecting our schools. From video to access control to some newer technologies, our Expert Panel Roundtable found plenty to talk about when we asked this week’s question: How does security technology make our schools safer?

Driven by technology developments such as voice recognition, smart devices and the Internet of Things, our homes are getting “smarter” all the time. Increasingly, we expect our residential environments to be responsive to our voice commands, whether we are adjusting a thermostat, turning on a light, or lowering the window shade. Smarter home integration yields new opportunities and challenges for home security, too, which contributes an element of safety and protection to the convenience aspects of smart homes. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How are new smart home systems impacting security?