Central Monitoring

Network security and the threat of cyber-loopholes should be a top priority for video surveillance users, IDIS will tell visitors at IFSEC International. Launching a cybersecurity advisory video ahead of the show, the IDIS team will also be on hand to demonstrate and explain how IDIS technology goes a step further to strengthen the resilience of traditional surveillance network processes. Korea’s largest surveillance manufacturer will be highlighting the dangers of cyber-attacks and the common vulnerabilities found in many surveillance set ups – and showcasing a full range counter-measures – at the London’s ExCel event on 18-20 June, stand IF1110. Enhancing data security IDIS has consistently led the way in addressing cybersecurity concerns" Users should plan for three specific risks, says the company: data access loopholes, data transmission weaknesses, and the integrity of recorded footage. “IDIS has consistently led the way in addressing cybersecurity concerns, taking a multi-pronged approach from R&D through to customer installation,” said James Min, Managing Director, IDIS Europe. “We have developing a rich, layered and comprehensive set of technologies and features to ensure maximum protection for end users.” IDIS Direct IP solutions Visitors will see how IDIS DirectIP - the cornerstone of the IDIS Total Solution – closes-up widespread vulnerabilities and serves as a proprietary mutual authentication system for all IDIS IP products. DirectIP speeds up implementations and streamlines cybersecurity by eliminating the need for engineers to manage multiple IP addresses and associated passwords during implementation. It therefore mitigates against human error and the common malpractice of saving passwords in vulnerable spreadsheets. Using peer-to-peer technology, IDIS’s For Every Network (FEN) technology also lets engineers deploy and configure secure, multi-site surveillance solutions that utilise centralised monitoring and control without in-depth knowledge of routing or networking. Chained Fingerprint technology IDIS will also highlight the cybersecurity essentials for transmission and recording IDIS will also highlight the cybersecurity essentials for transmission and recording, together with its own patented and proprietary technologies which prevent activities such as snooping, modification and destruction of data.  In addition, visitors to stand IF1110 will learn how IDIS ensures the integrity of video recording, with its advanced Chained Fingerprint technology authenticating footage so that it can be submitted to the police and courts as evidence. Strengthening cybersecurity “Combined with these technologies, our industry-leading training programs are helping installers and integration partners work knowledgably with devices and networks to ensure maximum cybersecurity for our users,” added Min. The IDIS team will be on hand to discuss cybersecurity throughout IFSEC on 18-20 June on stand IF1110.

With 2,365,782 security officers registered – of which over 498,435 are employed by just over 9,000 registered and active security businesses, South Africa has one of the most mature security markets. Over the last 17 years, the number of registered and employed security officers grew by 157% and the number of security businesses by 65% (Source: Annual Performance Plan 2018/2019 of PSIRA – Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority of South Africa). Furthermore, South Africa represents the gateway to the Sub-Saharan region, where some countries are now living a fast paced and promising growth. Data are showing the importance of investing in this amazing country and confirm how crucial is a show like Securex for the whole industry. Customer centric software solutions Arteco software solutions are customer-centred and offer an engaging experience of control over the monitored area"“Arteco confirmed its commitment to the African market and aims at strengthening its position through collaborations with the main distributors of the country. The success we had at the booth is an interesting sign of the way security professionals see the market, which coincides with ours: people make the difference, and this is why we are proud to say that Arteco is a company of people,” says Dean Sichelschmidt, Arteco’s Country Manager for South Africa. “In our booth we showcased our view of the security industry: Arteco software solutions, indeed, are meant to be customer-centred and offer an engaging experience of control over the monitored area. For us, it means designing and developing software that, through a single interface, provides a complete view on the system, integrating security devices and third parties’ software, so as to go far beyond security.” Real-time access to events With Arteco Next current interface, every security operator can create his/her personal camera views The advantages Arteco offers for offsite monitoring are undeniable: with Arteco Next current interface (in the future with Arteco Omnia), every security operator can create his/her personal camera views and have real time access to events. The intuitive use, the friendly design and the simple drag-and-drop function guarantee full access (both input and output) to any device included. Meanwhile, the event-oriented structure of the software allows for an immediate match of notifications coming from all the device set in a single area: thus, the level of situational awareness is exponentially increased to give a more precise and rapid answer. How is it possible? Through the integration platform called Open Connector, Arteco is able to open its software to the many players of the industry that choose to become our partners. Intrusion and fire detection, perimetral and access control, temperature sensors and thermal cameras: these are just some of the many integrated systems Arteco can offer to create a real custom-made solution.

Limitless Security, a provider of security solutions for the housebuilding and construction industries, has launched the VIDAR detector. This standalone, wire-free security system combines motion detection with integrated image verification to help reduce the cost of break-ins, theft and vandalism. VIDAR is a key part of Limitless Security’s new fixed cost, fully managed service which takes away the headaches and hassles involved in installing, managing and maintaining security equipment on building sites.  According to Adam Lees, Managing Director of Limitless Security: “Developed as a result of more than 30 years’ experience, VIDAR is an integrated, technology-led security solution that detects intruders and captures images for visual verification around the clock. It provides building sites with unparalleled flexibility in terms of deployment as it does not need to be connected to an external power supply, control panel, telephone line or internet service.” Clear images of intruders during day/night VIDAR works in colour during the day and black & white at night using four high powered infrared spotlightsVIDAR uses a high-quality CMOS camera with automatic exposure, colour encoding and focus to capture images that clearly show when intruders are onsite. It works in colour during the day and black & white at night using four high powered infrared spotlights. Operating in conjunction with a PIR that uses a highly directional Fresnel lens, VIDAR has a day/night range of up to 30 metres – over double the distance of other market-leading solutions. When the PIR sensor detects motion, VIDAR’s embedded SIM automatically transmits images to a Monitoring Centre for visual verification before an agreed response plan is implemented. Limitless Security installs VIDAR after completing a risk assessment and configures the units to auto-arm and disarm at times and days required by individual sites. Unique SmartArm technology is used to scan target locations for any activity at pre-set arming times. VIDAR will only arm itself when no movement has been detected for a continuous period configurable from 15-60 minutes to minimise false alarms and unnecessary call-outs. It can also be used in ‘Gate’ mode to monitor the routine entry and exit of people and vehicles at building sites. SIA-licensed security guarding service Our managed solution includes detection, monitoring and response using a SIA-licensed security guarding service" “Our managed solution includes detection, monitoring and response using a SIA-licensed security guarding service. It covers everything from risk assessment, the supply, installation and management of all equipment and site security signage through to documentation of any events for evidential purposes and the provision of information to responding agencies,” continued Lees. “Importantly, we are focussed on providing a complete security solution for a single, fixed monthly cost to make budgeting easier and eliminate any unexpected additional charges.” VIDAR is IP65 rated with dimensions of 240mm (h) x 120mm (w) x 60mm (d). Each unit weighs 0.62Kg excluding batteries.

High-tech, Scottish-based site security company Safer Scotland has broken into the lucrative UK market with a £500,000 contract at the Northumberland Energy Park, a premier East Coast location for a range of energy-based industries. The breakthrough deal, signed with major UK and Europe building and civil engineering contractor Farrans, is the latest in a successful run of contract wins which will push Safer Scotland’s turnover to in excess of £1.6 million, up by 50% compared to this year. It will also bring to a much wider audience the Paisley headquartered enterprise’s innovative application of the latest technological advances to what has traditionally been a man-guarding sectoral model. Requirement of CCTV and access control The Northumberland contract will entail a CCTV package, man-guarding and access control at the strategic land development sitesSecurity specialist and business founder Ryan Clark said: “This is an important new step which opens up a world of potential for our offering. The opportunities in England are 50 times greater than north of the border."  The Northumberland contract, which will run for two and a half years, will entail a bespoke CCTV package, man-guarding and access control at the strategic land development sites across the Blyth Estuary. It follows a previous contract win with Farrans for a road realignment project in Aberdeenshire. That, in turn, followed a major £200,000 instruction at the £38 million Farrans Roadbridge Joint Venture which was set up to construct the A737 Dalry bypass. Mobile CCTV surveillance tower On the Dalry project, Safer Scotland once again broke new ground by developing, in-house, a bespoke mobile CCTV surveillance tower for Farrans which runs entirely from renewable energy. It was so innovative that Farrans is submitting it for a Considerate Constructors Scheme award. Mr Clark said: “The bypass was a rolling project with constantly changing power needs and risk profiles. The client wanted a tower which they could move themselves and which would not be dependent on replacing hydrogen power cell gas canisters. Safer Scotland has moved into an office which will also serve as a security demonstration centre “We developed a solution which combined solar panels and an inbuilt wind turbine capacity which meant remote and dangerous areas could be effectively monitored. Its standalone generating capacity has given us a proof of concept model which we can roll out more widely.” Technical solutions for effective coverage Mr. Clark pointed out that while personnel traditionally were used to guard sites, it was recognised that they were vulnerable to intimidation, corruption, isolation-related incidents and attack. As a consequence, his firm is 90% to 95% weighted towards CCTV and the company employs technical solutions wherever possible, creating significant cost savings for clients as well as greater, more effective coverage. Safer Scotland, which employs 12 people, has recently moved into new office which will also serve as a security demonstration centre, illustrating how radically site safety and surveillance has changed in recent years. The company also provides security guards, event security, door supervisors, key holding and other security services.

The Z-Wave Alliance, a global membership organisation dedicated to advancing the popular Z-Wave wireless smart home protocol, will host the Z-Wave Pavilion at ISC West 2019 in Las Vegas, with Alliance members introducing and demonstrating their latest Z-Wave solutions. The Z-Wave Alliance offers security dealers and integrators the opportunity to interact with the latest Z-Wave technology in one central location as well as network with manufacturers that are leading the global smart home and IoT security industry. This new Z-Wave module is built on a new ARM-based core and the Silicon Labs Gecko platform Silicon Labs, a provider of silicon, software and solutions for a smarter, more connected world, will also demonstrate the innovative Z-Wave 700 platform, boasting advanced capabilities in every aspect of smart home technology to drive greater interoperability, simple plug and play installs, and the highest levels of security. This new Z-Wave module is built on a new ARM-based core and the Silicon Labs Gecko platform that brings a host of new development tools to make time to market faster. Z-Wave Pavilion members include: Danalock will demonstrate how their Danabridge V3 enables remote operation of their newest smart lock, the Danalock V3 and showcase the Danapad V3 wireless access pad and Universal Module V3. Everspring will display their new range of Z-Wave sensors with the Z-Wave S2 Security framework. Leedarson will present their new IoT solutions designed to enhance smart home security, monitoring, lighting and energy, and enable voice activated commands on products that work with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT. Parakeet will showcase their enterprise solutions for MDU owners and managers to enable centralised remote access control of primary property functions like HVAC monitoring, door locks, garage doors, thermostats and more. SecureNet is presenting their SecureNet platform that simplifies and expands the capabilities of central monitoring stations and alarm dealers to add lifestyle services to their existing alarm transportation offerings. ShenZhen NEO is one of the earliest professional manufacturers of IP Cameras in China, providing indoor wireless IP cameras, wireless outdoor IP cameras, mini PTZ IP cameras, dome IP cameras and outdoor PTZ IP cameras and more. Vision is showcasing their Z-Wave compatible U-Bell alarm, Wall Remote, and Wireless Siren and Strobe that receives activation commands from an alarm system. Showcasing growing ecosystem of products ISC West remains an important venue to engage with this audience and spread awareness of the benefits of Z-Wave" “In our fifth year at ISC West, the Z-Wave Pavilion continues to be a representation of our leadership in the smart home security market and we look forward to showcasing our growing ecosystem of products for security dealers and integrators,” said Mitchell Klein, executive director of the Z-Wave Alliance. “Integrators are an integral part of this industry’s growth – they talk to consumers on a daily basis and understand the concerns they have around issues like network security and barriers to greater adoption of smart home. "ISC West remains an important venue to engage with this audience and spread awareness of the benefits of Z-Wave and its commitment to security across the market.”

Hanwha Techwin Europe has further strengthened its Wisenet T Thermal camera range with the introduction of three new radiometric thermal models, each of which have a temperature measurement feature. The Wisenet TNO-4030TR, TNO-4040TR and TNO-4041TR are able to accurately detect if the air temperature is higher or lower than set parameters, e.g. above or below 40°C. They have been designed to help monitor areas which are vulnerable to fires, such as oil and chemical facilities, construction sites and forests, as well as recycling and waste management centres which can experience spontaneous combustion. The cameras are also ideal for monitoring poultry and livestock farms in order to detect temperature changes which could foster disease. Difficult environmental conditions The TNO-4030TR is equipped with a 13mm lens and has a maximum range of 1,173m for vehicle detection, whilst the TNO-4041TR, which is designed to be mounted onto a PTZ unit, and the TNO-4040TR, have a 19mm lens and a maximum range of 1,714m. The three new models are able to capture images at up to 640 x 480 resolution and are designed to detect objects and people As is the case with other Wisenet T Thermal cameras, the three new models are able to capture images at up to 640 x 480 resolution and are designed to detect objects and people in difficult environmental conditions such as through smoke, snow, heavy rain and fog, which traditional video surveillance cameras may not be able to do. They also offer an effective solution for projects where there are concerns about light pollution. The Wisenet TNO-4030TR, TNO-4040TR and TNO-4041TR are equipped with audio analysis functionality which recognise critical sounds such as gunshots, explosions, screams and broken glass. Complementary compression technology Additional features include temperature change, shock, object/people direction, loitering and camera tampering detection. Other key features include -20°C ~130°C temperature measurement. Built-in Gyro sensors offer accurate stabilisation which comes into effect when a camera is disturbed by wind or vibrations, resulting in more stable images. IP66 and IK10 ratings for protection against water, dust, and mechanical impact, making them an ideal choice for outdoor applications as well. A choice of H.265, H.264 or MJPEG compression. WiseStream II, a complementary compression technology which dynamically controls encoding, balancing quality and compression according to movement in the image. Bandwidth efficiency is improved by up to 99% compared to current H.264 technology when WiseStream II is combined with H.265 compression.

It amazes me how in a few short years security systems have gone from simple, dumb cameras witnessing events to intelligent eyes, ears, speech and touch solutions that boost situational awareness far beyond human capabilities. It seems the only senses missing from the equation now are smell and taste. And who knows, someone might be working on those in a lab somewhere right now. But what’s really fascinating to me is how the Internet of Things (IoT) has opened a world of possibilities for transforming security technology into something new yet again. With IoT we’re able to push and pull nuggets of intelligence from sources we never considered before: environmental sensors, pressure plates, door lock timers and much more. It’s helped us break through the constraining mindset that security systems are strictly single-purpose. With interconnectivity at the core, we’re starting to imagine myriad ways to apply these tools to challenges outside the realm of security. Here are just a few examples. Flood management assistance Network camera adds another dimension and timeliness to flood management by helping responders investigate remotely As recent hurricanes and floods have shown, water damage can be devastating to a community. That’s why some municipalities are using their city surveillance cameras in conjunction with water sensor to proactively address the problem. Water sensors collect data from multiple sources such as rain gutters, sewer systems and pump stations, in order to monitor fluctuations in water levels and water quality. If an alert triggers, having a network camera in proximity to visually verify the situation helps responders determine the best course of action. For instance, if multiple water detection sensors trigger alerts simultaneously or sequentially over a large area it’s probably due to natural runoff from recent rainfall. But without eyes on the scene, how can you be sure? Network camera adds another dimension and timeliness to flood management by helping responders investigate and identify the cause of a trigger remotely. It might be a fire hydrant spewing water, a water main break or even a chemical spill. With video streaming live to the command center, staff can remotely inspect the area, determine the cause of the trigger and decide whether remediation is required, thus avoiding the expense of dispatching an investigative crew to a non-event. Some municipalities are using their city surveillance cameras in conjunction with water sensor to proactively address the problem Environmental control assistance Data centers house the lifeblood of a business so it’s no wonder why companies work hard to protect them. We’re all familiar with the integration of network cameras with access control systems to visually verify who is actually using the credentials. Network camera adds another dimension and timeliness to flood management by helping responders investigate and identify the cause of a trigger remotely But there’s another aspect to protecting data centers and that’s environment control. Data centers need to maintain optimum humidity and temperature for the racks of electronics. When environmental sensors in the facility detect out-of-norm ranges technicians can remotely command a network camera to zoom in on the gauges and help them determine whether remediation might be necessary.  Coupling network cameras with other sensors in the data center can provide visual confirmation of other conditions as well. For instance, every time a data rack door-open-close sensor detects an event it can trigger the camera to pan to the location and stream video to security. Some data centers employ weight sensors at the doorway to weigh personnel and equipment as they enter the room and when they exit to ensure no additional hardware is being taken out of the facility or left inside without permission. Any discrepancy would trigger the camera to zoom in for a close-up of the individual’s face and send a visual alert and ID information to security. Roadway management and parking assistance Network cameras have long played a part in city-wide traffic management. Adding video analytics and integration with network sensors, makes those cameras that much smarter and versatile. They can detect cars driving in bike lanes or driving in the wrong direction and capture license plates of offenders. Their ability to detect anomalous traffic flow patterns can be integrated with car counting sensors, networked electronic road signs and traffic light systems to automatically redirect vehicles to alternate routes. They make great, intelligent parking lot attendants, too. Working in conjunction with weight sensors network cameras can count vehicles coming into and leaving a lot or garage and verify when the facility has reached capacity. License plate recognition and video analytics can be used to ascertain that a vehicle entering a reserved parking space doesn’t match the credentials and vehicle attributes in the database. With the addition of noise sensors and audio analytics, network cameras can improve roadway and parking facility safety by detecting and identifying specific sounds – breaking glass, car alarms, gun shots, and aggressive speech – and triggering a visual alert to first responders. Network cameras can improve roadway and parking facility safety by detecting and identifying specific sounds and triggering a visual alert to first responders Shopper experience assistance In the early days of online shopping, e-tailers designed their sites to replicate the in-store customer experience. In an ironic turn of events, today brick-and-mortar stores are trying to mirror the online shopping experience. To do so, they’re turning their security systems into adjunct sales assistance. With network video and audio system automation they can recognise and acknowledge loyal customers with personal greetings. Retailers are applying people counting video analytics to checkout activity to create rules-based consistency in customer service With heatmapping analytics they can measure how much time a customer spends in a specific department or observe how they walk through the aisles of the store. They can track shopping behaviors such as items looked at that made it into the cart or didn’t, or whether a customer actually checked out or left the merchandise behind. By capturing these shopping patterns and trends retailers can shape a more positive, more profitable customer shopping experience. For instance, integrating video analytics with point of sale systems and RFID sensors on merchandise tags can result in timely alerts to sales associates to recommend additional merchandise. This is a case of emulating how e-tailers let the customer know that other customers who bought X often also purchased items Y and Z. Or to avoid disappointing customers due to stock outages, retailers are linking weight sensors and video analytics to make sure their shelves are well-stocked and if not, quickly alert associates to what items need to be restocked. Capturing business intelligence Retailers are also using video cameras to monitor checkout queues and trigger automated announcements over the public-address system, closed system such as smartphones or other wireless communications devices that checkers are needed rather wait for a person to call for backup. IoT laid the groundwork for network security solutions to seamlessly integrate with other IP-based technologies, sensors and programs They’re applying people counting video analytics to checkout activity to create rules-based consistency in customer service. While retailers will always use their surveillance camera for loss prevention, they’re finding that integrating traditional technology in new ways can yield even bigger returns. Linking network video surveillance, video analytics, network communications system and sensors with point-of-sale systems and customer loyalty databases, retailers are capturing the business intelligence they need to get back in the game and make brick-and-mortar a greater overall experience than online shopping. A natural cross-over technology This trend towards integration has forever changed how organisations view their investment in security technology. The intelligence and versatility of a tool that can see, verify and analyse what’s happening in real-time is spurring users to tap its cross-over potential for a host of other tasks that could benefit from more astute situational awareness – everything from manufacturing and equipment maintenance to logistics, inventory control and beyond. IoT laid the groundwork for network security solutions to seamlessly integrate with other IP-based technologies, sensors and programs. How we capitalise on that connection is only limited by our imagination.

Timely and important issues in the security marketplace dominated our list of most-clicked-upon articles in 2018. Looking back at the top articles of the year provides a decent summary of how our industry evolved this year, and even offers clues to where we’re headed in 2019. In the world of digital publishing, it’s easy to know what content resonates with the security market: Our readers tell us with their actions; i.e., where they click. Let’s look back at the Top 10 articles we posted in 2018 that generated the most page views. They are listed in order here with a brief excerpt. 1. U.S. President Signs Government Ban on Hikvision and Dahua Video Surveillance The ban on government uses, which takes effect ‘not later than one year after … enactment,’ applies not only to future uses of Dahua and Hikvision equipment but also to legacy installations. The bill calls for an assessment of the current presence of the banned technologies and development of a ‘phase-out plan’ to eliminate the equipment from government uses. 2. Motorola Makes a Splash with Avigilon Video Surveillance Acquisition Early clues point to Motorola positioning Avigilon as part of a broader solution, especially in the municipal/safe cities market. The company says the acquisition will enable more safe cities projects and more public-private partnerships between local communities and law enforcement. Motorola sees Avigilon as ‘a natural extension to global public safety and U.S. federal and military’ applications, according to the company. 3. Impact of Data-Driven Smart Cities on Video Surveillance One of the major areas of technology that is going to shift how we interact with our cities is the Internet of Things (IoT). One benefit will be the ability to use video surveillance to analyse data on large crowds at sporting events The IoT already accounts for swaths of technology and devices operating in the background. However, we’re increasingly seeing these come to the forefront of everyday life, as data becomes increasingly critical. Bosch is highlighting its “Simply. Connected” portfolio of smart city technology to transform security as well as urban mobility, air quality and energy efficiency 4. CES 2018: Security Technologies Influencing the Consumer Electronics Market Familiar players at security shows also have a presence at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). For example, Bosch is highlighting its “Simply. Connected” portfolio of smart city technology to transform security as well as urban mobility, air quality and energy efficiency. Many consumer technologies on display offer a glimpse of what’s ahead for security. Are Panasonic’s 4K OLEDs with HDR10+ format or Sony’s A8F OLED televisions a preview of the future of security control room monitors? 5. SIA Predicts Top Physical Security Trends for 2018 Traditional security providers will focus more on deepening the customer experience and enhancing convenience and service. The rise of IoT also places an emphasis on cybersecurity, and security dealers will react by seeking manufacturers and technology partners with cyber-hardened network-connected devices. 6. High-Speed Visitor Screening Systems Will Improve Soft Target Security The system is more expensive than a metal detector, but about a third the cost of familiar airport body scanners. Labor reduction (because of faster throughput) can help offset the system costs, but “it’s difficult to quantify the improvement in the visitor experience,” says Mike Ellenbogen, CEO of Evolv Technology. 7. How to Prevent ATM Jackpotting with Physical and Cyber Security A new crime wave is hitting automated teller machines (ATMs); the common banking appliances are being rigged to spit out their entire cash supplies into a criminal’s waiting hands. The crime is called “ATM jackpotting” and has targeted banking machines located in grocery shops, pharmacies and other locations in Taiwan, Europe, Latin America and, in the last several months, the United States. Rough estimates place the total amount of global losses at up to $60 million. The safety and security world bring a complex problem to solve- how to pick out a face in a moving and changing environment and compare it to several faces of interest 8. Why We Need to Look Beyond Technology for Smart City Security Solutions Although technology is necessary for an urban area to transition in to a safe and smart city, technology alone isn’t sufficient. Truly smart cities are savvy cities and that includes how they employ software, sensing, communications and other technologies to meet their needs. 9. How New Video Surveillance Technology Boosts Airport Security and Operations Employing airport security solutions is a complex situation with myriad government, state and local rules and regulations that need to be addressed while ensuring the comfort needs of passengers. Airport security is further challenged with improving and increasing operational efficiencies, as budgets are always an issue. As an example, security and operational data must be easily shared with other airport departments and local agencies such as police, customs, emergency response and airport operations to drive a more proactive approach across the organisation. 10. The Evolution of Facial Recognition from Body-Cams to Video Surveillance The safety and security world bring a complex problem to solve how to pick out a face in a moving and changing environment and compare it to several faces of interest. “One-to-many” facial recognition is a much harder problem to solve.

Governments and corporations face crisis events every day. An active shooter terrorises a campus. A cyber extortionist holds a city for ransom. A hurricane washes away a key manufacturing facility. Not all critical events rise to the level of these catastrophic emergencies, but a late or inadequate response to even a minor incident can put people, operations and reputations at risk. Effective response plan In 2015, for example, the City of Boston experienced several record-breaking snowstorms that forced the city to close the subway system for three days. The extreme decision cost the state $265 million per day and was largely attributed to a lack of preparation and an inadequate response plan by the transportation department. The reputation of the head of the transportation department was so damaged by the decision she was forced to resign. Being able to better predict how the storms would impact the subway system’s aging infrastructure – and having a more effective response plan in place – could have saved the state hundreds of millions of dollars (not to mention the transit chief’s job). A comprehensive critical event management strategy begins before the impact of an event is felt and continues after the immediate crisis has ended. This full lifecycle strategy can be broken into four distinct phases – Assess, Locate, Act and Analyse. Assessing threats for prevention Security teams might have complained about not having enough intelligence data to make accurate predictionsIdentifying a threat before it reaches critical mass and understanding how it might impact vital assets is the most difficult challenge facing security professionals. In the past, security teams might have complained about not having enough intelligence data to make accurate predictions. Today, the exact opposite might be true – there is too much data! With crime and incident data coming from law enforcement agencies, photos and videos coming from people on the front line, topics trending on social media and logistical information originating from internal systems it can be almost impossible to locate a real signal among all the noise and chatter. Being able to easily visualise all this intelligence data within the context of an organisation’s assets is vital to understand the relationship between threat data and the individuals or facilities in harm’s way. Social media monitoring Free tools like Google Maps or satellite imagery from organisations like AccuWeather, for example, can help understand how fast a storm is closing in on a manufacturing facility, or how close an active shooter is to a school. Their usefulness, however, is limited to a few event types and they provide only a very macro view of the crisis.Data from building access systems, wifi hotspots, corporate travel systems, among others, can be used to create a profile Critical event management (CEM) platforms, however, are designed specifically to manage critical events of all types and provide much greater visibility. Internal and external data sources (weather, local and national emergency management, social media monitoring software, security cameras, etc.) are integrated into these platforms and their data is visualised on a threat map. Security teams can quickly see if there are actual threats to the organisations or communities they are protecting and don’t lose time trying to make sense of intelligence reports. The more they can see on a ‘single pane of glass,’ the faster they can initiate the appropriate response. Locating a threat Once a threat has been deemed a critical event, the next step is to find the people who might be impacted – employees/residents in danger, first responders and key stakeholders (e.g., senior executives or elected officials who need status updates). Often, this requires someone on the security team to access an HR contact database and initiate a call tree to contact each person individually, in a specific hierarchical order. This can be a time-consuming and opaque process. There is no information on the proximity of that person to the critical event, or if a person has skills such as CPR that could aid in the response. Ensuring ahead of time that certifications, skill sets, or on-call availability is included with contact information can save valuable time in the middle of a crisis response. Going even further, data from building access systems, wifi hotspots, corporate travel systems, among others, can be used to create a profile of where a person just was and where he or she might be going in a CEM platform. This information can be visualised on the threat map and help determine who is actually in danger and who can respond the fastest. The emergency response then becomes targeted and more effective. Security teams can quickly see if there are actual threats to the organisations or communities they are protecting Acting and automating The third step is to act and automate processes. If there is a tornado closing in on a town, for example, residents should not have to wait for manual intervention before a siren is activated or a message sent out. Organisations can build and execute their standing operating procedures (SOPs) fully within a CEM platform. Sirens, alarms, digital signs and messages can all be automatically activated based on event type, severity and location. Using the tornado example, an integration with a weather forecasting service could trigger the command to issue a tornado warning for a specific community if it is in the path of the storm. Summon security guards Warning messages can be prepared in advance based on event type so there is no chance of issuing a misleading or unclear alert Warning messages can be prepared in advance based on event type so there is no chance of issuing a misleading or unclear alert. All communications with impacted individuals can be centralised within the platform and automated based on SOP protocols. This also includes inbound communications from first responders and impacted individuals. An employee confronted by an assailant in a parking garage could initiate an SOS alert from his or her mobile phone that would automatically summon security guards to the scene. Conference lines can also be instantly created to enable collaboration and speed response time. Additionally, escalation policies are automatically engaged if a protocol is broken. For example, during an IT outage, if the primary network engineer does not respond in two minutes, a designated backup is automatically summoned. Eliminating manual steps from SOPs reduces the chance for human error and increases the speed and effectiveness of critical event responses. Analysis of a threat Looking for ways to better prepare and respond to critical events will not only improve performance when similar events occur again It’s not uncommon for security and response teams to think that a critical event is over once the immediate crisis has ended. After all, they are often the ones pushing themselves to exhaustion and sometimes risking life and limb to protect their neighbours, colleagues, community reputations and company brands. They need and deserve a rest. In the aftermath of a critical event, however, it’s important to review the effectiveness of the response and look for ways to drive improvements. Which tasks took too long? What resources were missing? How many times did people respond quickly? With a CEM platform, team performance, operational response, benchmarking data and notification analysis are all captured within the system and are available in a configurable dashboard or in after-action reports for analysis. Continuously looking for ways to better prepare and respond to critical events will not only improve performance when similar events occur again, but it will also improve response effectiveness when unforeseen events strike. Coordinate emergency response Virtually every organisation has some form of response plan to triage a critical event and restore community order or business operations. While many of these plans are highly effective in providing a structure to command and coordinate emergency response, they are reactive in nature and don’t account for the full lifecycle of a critical event – Assess, Locate, Act and Analyse. Whether it’s a large-scale regional emergency or a daily operational issue such as an IT outage, a comprehensive critical event management strategy will minimise the impact by improving visibility, collaboration and response.

Recent technology advances – from the cloud to artificial intelligence, from mobile credentials to robotics – will have a high profile at the upcoming ISC West exhibition hall. Several of these technologies were recently designated by the Security Industry Association as the Top 8 security technologies for security and public safety. Some of them will also be a focus at the ISC West conference program, SIA Education@ISC, April 9-11 at the Sands Expo Center. This article will highlight some of those conference sessions.  Topic: Cloud Systems and Video Surveillance as a Service (VSaaS) Managed Video Services are saving TD Bank $500K annually, April 9, 2:45 to 3:45 p.m. Why TD Bank decided to roll out a managed services solution, what it took to deploy and how the bank is saving an astounding $500,000 annually. IT 4.0 and Video Surveillance: A Guide to the New Terminology and What It Means to You and Your Customers, April 11, 1:15 to 2:15 p.m. How IT 4.0 can enhance or change video surveillance, and consequently deliver additional value to customers, including explanations of terms such as cloud data centers, personal clouds, the edge, IoT sensors and data analytics. One of the sessions to cover how IT 4.0 can enhance or change video surveillance, and consequently deliver additional value to customers Topic: Artificial Intelligence (AI) In Video and Other Systems The Challenges and Opportunities of AI in Physical Security, April 10, 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. Looking toward what the future may hold for AI in physical security; the challenges and opportunities the technology has created; and how participants can leverage AI and machine learning with existing customers to grow their business. Deep Learning Demystified: Next-Generation AI Applied to Video, April 11, 9:45 to 10:45 a.m.  Dispelling the myths of the terms “deep learning” and “artificial intelligence,” and what the technologies can do in practical terms. Modern cameras find and identify faces and vehicles, analyse behavior and organise and control assets Neural Processing and Smart Cameras, April 9, 8:30 to 10 a.m. Deep learning-capable hardware is evolving at a frantic pace, and GPU and NPU (neural processing unit) co-processors are commonly embedded in cameras and video management systems. Modern cameras find and identify faces and vehicles, analyse behavior and organise and control assets. Analytics in the Video Central Station: Proper Deployment, Programming and Configuration to optimise operational and cost efficiencies, April 11, 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. How analytics plays a critical role in reducing alarm traffic in a central station environment, allowing them to save money and realise other operational and performance efficiencies. Topic: Robotics and Autonomous Devices Robotic Aerial Security – Growth Trends and Best Practices, April 10, 11 a.m. to noon The lion’s share of growth in the robotic aerial security sector will come from autonomous systems and changing FAA regulations will soon allow companies to monitor and secure remote facilities with no human guards present. Racing drones are difficult to detect as they do not use GPS or radio frequency signals to identify the location of other devices How to Adapt to Address Drone Security, April 11, 1:15 to 2:15 p.m. Drone industry professionals and a physical security design engineer will cover the realistic applications of drone systems and counter-drone solutions that can protect organisations and facilities. Next Generation Threat: Racing Drones, April 11, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Racing drones are difficult to detect as they do not use GPS or radio frequency signals to identify the location of other devices. This session will identify the potential risks these drones can pose to facilities, special events, and critical infrastructure. Establishing a Corporate Drone Program, April 10, 9:45 to 10:45 p.m. Is a corporate drone program an appropriate addition to an existing security program? How to understand and navigate the regulatory challenges and processes associated with starting up a commercial-use drone program. The Rise of Intelligence in Physical Security, April 11, 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. “Intelligence” incorporates a variety of subdomains from artificial intelligence to machine learning and contextual analysis. It is rapidly becoming a focus in the realm of IT security – and increasingly in the realm of physical security, too. Changing FAA regulations will soon allow companies to monitor and secure remote facilities with no human guards present Topic: Mobile Credentials Finding Their Place in Access Control How Biometrics Are Enabling the Convergence of Physical and Information Security, April 10, 1:45 to 2:45 p.m. At the center of convergence is one crucial building block: strong irrefutable identity powered by biometrics. Driving the Future: How Interoperability Standards in Access Control Can Enable Smart Building Success, April 9, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Growing user demand is driving new open platform approaches and the adoption of interoperability standards Growing user demand for unfettered and unlimited third-party integrations is now driving new open platform approaches and the adoption of interoperability standards. They are changing the dynamic of access control and its role within the smart building environment. Topic: Facial Biometrics in Professional Solutions How Biometrics Are Enabling the Convergence of Physical and Information Security, April 10, 1:45 to 2:45 p.m. Securing workstations, virtual desktops, turnstiles, front doors, mobile devices and more, biometric authentication is helping enterprises and governments worldwide to realise a more secure future. Topic: Voice Control in the Smart Home Environment Delivering the Smart Home of the Future, April 11, 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. With the proliferation of connected smart devices, including voice control devices, consumers have a growing array of options for defining what their Smart Home experience could be.

ISC West in Las Vegas is the first of several major security trade shows planned for 2019 as part of the Reed Exhibitions ISC Security Events portfolio. Next up will be Expo Seguridad México in May in Mexico City, followed in June by ISC Brasil in Sao Paolo, and ISC East this fall in New York. Expo Seguridad México, May 7-9, will serve the important Mexican market for security goods and services. In Mexico City alone, a large population translates into plenty of buildings and facilities that need protection; security is a big concern and a large market. Concerns about information security, cybersecurity and convergence are also dominant topics. Benefitting from a revised trade agreement with the United States, Mexico offers a favourable business climate and low costs. In addition to video and other hardware products familiar at the U.S. show, Expo Seguridad also includes a large public safety/police component, a workplace, environmental and industrial safety sector, and fire products, offering a broad range of additional product categories. Developing knowledge of attendees The FISSE (Innovation and Solutions of Security) conference room will have cybersecurity and electronic security speakersOn the exhibition floor will be the VIII International Conference for the Administration of Security and Law Enforcement, which will bring together renowned specialists in the security and public safety sector. Free conference track rooms will be provided on the exhibition floor to develop knowledge of attendees in various business areas. The FISSE (Innovation and Solutions of Security) conference room will have cybersecurity and electronic security speakers. Manufacturers, distributors, integrators, and national and international end users have come together at Expo Seguridad since 2002 to interact and exchange knowledge during the three days dedicated to the security industry. Expo Securidad México provides access to more than 350 exhibitors and the opportunity to interact, connect and develop face-to-face relationships with more than 16,300 security and public safety decision-makers. This year, Daniel Linskey, former Boston police chief, will provide a welcome speech at the opening ceremony and will share his experience and thoughts about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Exhibition of public safety equipment The exhibit encompasses a selection of public safety equipment and vehicles, body armour, and counter-terrorism solutionsISC Brasil, June 25-27, offers a combination of physical security and emerging information and cybersecurity elements. An Infosecurity pavilion on the show floor and related conference track sessions highlight growing concerns in the marketplace. A large meeting of Brasil’s law enforcement commanders is collocated with ISC Brasil, and the exhibit encompasses a selection of public safety equipment and vehicles, body armour, and counter-terrorism solutions. A strong VIP attendee program ensures attendance by high-level decision-makers with money to spend. The ISC Brasil Congress is an educational program for continuing professional education and technical training for corporate end users, police commanders, distributors, integrators, law enforcement officials, security consultants, IT and public safety managers. Of the expected 18,000 attendees, some 53% come from corporate end users in several vertical industries. Some 21% of attendees are commercial system integrators, with 9% central monitoring systems and 5% law enforcement and public authorities’ safety. Security for oil and gas companies Brasil’s economy has been improving steadily after a rough patch, and the ISC Brasil show has seen an uptick for the last two yearsBrasil’s economy has been improving steadily after a rough patch, and the ISC Brasil show has seen an uptick for the last two years. Brasil’s huge economy includes big industries that need lots of security – oil and gas companies, and automotive production are among the contributors to economic growth. Attendee and exhibitor satisfaction is strong for ISC Brasil, and the show is on a new growth path as the economic situation in Brasil continues to improve under a new president.  Large exhibitors at ISC Brasil include Bosch, Genetec, Hikvision, Dahua, HID Global, Honda, Yamaha, and Microsoft. Large Reed Exhibition offices in Mexico City and São Paulo manage the Latin American events and work with local partners, marketing organisations and clients. Emerging Technology Zone ISC East in New York, Nov. 20-21, continues to build momentum in 2019 after a successful 2018 show that saw double-digit growth both in exhibition space and attendance. Reed Exhibitions’ Infosecurity/ISACA North America Expo and Conference will again be collocated with ISC East, expanding information security and cybersecurity horizons for attendees. (ISACA is an international professional association focussed on IT governance.) New at ISC East in 2019 will be an Emerging Technology Zone, providing a high profile for emerging technology companies at the show New at ISC East in 2019 will be an Emerging Technology Zone comparable to the one at ISC West, providing a high profile for emerging technology companies at the show. The Unmanned Security Expo, a big success last year, will be even bigger in 2019 with more exhibits than ever. There are good signs on the horizon for greater use of drones and robotics. Protection for enterprises ISC East has traditionally focussed on the ‘tri-state’ area around New York City – New York, New Jersey and Connecticut – an area rich in end user companies, especially in financial services, retail, entertainment and the media. In New York City alone, there are almost endless numbers of big enterprises that need protection, so a localised show is a natural, and doesn’t require the large pool of potential customers to travel away from their businesses. New York also has a large and active law enforcement community, and there are many large systems integrators that operate in and around the New York area. ISC East is a growing show that serves a large, unique audience. Growth of ISC East also suggests it is becoming more of a ‘super-regional’ event, drawing good attendance from the Southeast and Midwest in addition to the tri-state area.

Security is arguably at the heart of the United States partial government shutdown: President Trump’s demand for $5.6 billion to start building a wall along the southern border with Mexico is the major bone of contention as gridlock in Washington prevents passage of a spending bill to keep the government in full operation. The partial government shutdown has affected security in other ways, too, and some of the impact could continue long after the impasse is settled. Some 800,000 federal employees are impacted, some on full or partial leave as a result of the shutdown and others working without knowing when they will get paid. Cybersecurity initiatives delayed Furloughed federal employees tasked with cybersecurity are not on hand to address the constant threat to government IT systems from possible hackers and other bad actors. In fact, hackers may decide the government shutdown is a vulnerable time to launch an attack. Data capture form to appear here! Hackers may decide the government shutdown is a vulnerable time to launch an attack Specifically, the new Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency, launched last fall, is operating with a skeleton staff. If the shutdown encourages cybersecurity experts to seek other employment, the resulting drain of “knowledge capital” could be a lasting detriment. New cybersecurity initiatives are also being delayed, such as the 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act, aimed at creating a baseline of security defense across government web sites. Some government websites have had their Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption certificates expire during the shutdown. Impact on TSA agents Although Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents remain on the job at major airports, they will not be paid again until after the shutdown is over. The resulting negative impact on morale has arguably slowed down airport security operations, although airports have not reported any major problems. In addition, some agents have called in “sick” and/or sought other employment to provide income during the shutdown. In the Dallas-Fort Worth airport, the number of agents calling out sick reportedly increased by 200% to 300%. The absences can aggravate existing TSA staffing shortages. Impact on border protection agents Customs and border protection agents are also on the job with no assurance of when they will be paid. Other immigration agents in the Department of Homeland Security are also currently without pay. Hearings on immigration cases are being canceled, which can result in a large backlog to be addressed after the shutdown ends. Customs and border protection agents are also on the job with no assurance of when they will be paid What about worker documentation? A consequence of the shutdown is unavailability of the government’s E-Verify system, which is used to verify a worker’s immigration status prior to being hired by an employer. During the lapse in government appropriations, employers will not be able to access their E-Verify accounts, create an E-Verify case, edit company information, terminate accounts, run reports, etc. Long-term impact on government employment The longer the shutdown continues, the more employees will be encouraged to seek work elsewhereThe shutdown may lead federal employees to seek work in the private sector, where their paycheck is not likely to be delayed because of a political impasse. The longer the shutdown continues, the more employees will be encouraged to seek work elsewhere, whether on a temporary basis or as a permanent alternative. Manpower shortages can translate into security risks. Trump has argued for funding of the border wall on security and humanitarian grounds and has sought to put pressure on newly empowered Democrats. However, adding physical barriers at the border is only part of the solution to border security, says the conservative Heritage Foundation. Also needed are improved technology to monitor the border and appropriately equipped border patrol agents. Holistic approach to border security This holistic approach of combining barriers, technology, and people is the cost-effective way to secure the border, says Heritage Foundation. It’s also important to enforce immigration laws, and border security does nothing to stop visa overstays, another source of illegal immigration. The Democratic opposition has said Trump’s urgent call to build the wall is a “manufactured crisis,” and the wall would be “immoral” and “ineffective.” Weeks into the impasse, there is no end in sight.

King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital (KCMH) is a public medical facility in Bangkok, Thailand. The hospital is operated by the Thai Red Cross Society and functions as the teaching/training medical center for Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine as well as the Thai Red Cross College of Nursing. With 1,479 in-patient beds, it is one of the largest hospitals in Thailand. Bhumi Siri Mangalanusorn Building (BSMB) is the largest Centre for Medical Excellence in Thailand. The building has 34 floors and total area of 225,000m. Gallagher security solution benefits Can integrate with other systems, such as Symphony video management software, building automation, parking and fire alarm systems Has a user-friendly Graphical User Interface (GUI) Is highly reliable and scalable, to meet future security needs Can meet increasing compliance requirements Supported IT industry standards for integration, XML, SQL, OPC, BACnet, etc Gallagher and AES Group Ltd, the local Gallagher system integrator, worked closely with the designer to ensure that the proposed system met the tender requirements of securing the hospital and protecting staff, patients and assets. The system is fully integrated, scalable and expandable, digital-based, user-friendly and crucially, a combination of enhanced operational efficiency and cost saving. Gallagher Command Centre Through Command Centre, Gallagher’s site management solution, KCMH is able to integrate multiple systems Through Command Centre, Gallagher’s site management solution, KCMH is able to integrate multiple systems, including fire alarm, video management system, building automation and parking, and feed the information into Command Centre. KCMH Security Manager, Adul Karutbumrung, says having one central monitoring platform ensures operational staff quickly identify, locate and respond to any risks on site. “The Gallagher system provides us with a higher level of validated access control in critical areas”. Centralised operation platform Gallagher’s system streamlines operations for KCMH to lower total cost of operation through its centralised operation platform. The user-friendly GUI also delivers the best value to reduce training time. In addition to meeting KCMH’s requirements for security, privacy and compliance, Gallagher provides additional benefits and features not available in other systems. Its scalability ensures that future expansion requirements can be addressed in a cost effective manner.

With a large campus comprising historic and modern buildings and significant research facilities and equipment, the University of Otago has assets in excess of $1.4 billion (NZD). In 2006, an internal security review of campus facilities identified that a number of critical areas – including laboratories where medical research is conducted on animals and human cadavers – could attain an increased level of security and achieve greater cost efficiency through the installation of Gallagher systems. A key priority of the security upgrade was to replace the traditional lock and key system in place in facilities across campus with Gallagher’s electronic access control solution. By moving to an entirely electronic system, the University has mitigated the risks associated with lost keys and unauthorised access. Lost and misplaced cards are reported and immediately deactivated ensuring complete control is maintained over facility access. Comprehensive alarm monitoring The team at the University of Otago needed an auditable system, capable of identifying access by people, place, and timeThe electronic system also allows for comprehensive alarm monitoring per door and per freezer, ensuring campus security is immediately notified if a door or freezer has been left open. Gallagher’s Mobile Client, available with the Command Centre v7.30 security management platform, means these alarm notifications can be communicated directly to security personnel’s Apple iPhone devices providing valuable information in real-time, to those outside of the control room. More than simply managing the access permissions across campus, the team at the University of Otago needed an auditable system, capable of identifying access by people, place, and time. Gallagher’s Command Centre application provides this high-level of traceability and enables the University to quickly and easily extract the exact information required both for internal use and for the regulatory audits required of research facilities. Identifying who accessed which areas “Due to the nature and value of our assets, it’s critical not just to control who has access to facilities but to be able to identify exactly when areas were accessed and to know who was there,” said Deputy Proctor at the University of Otago, Andrew Ferguson. Key industry challenges Eliminate the security threat that comes with lost keys Enhance the level of security for critical areas including Medical Research laboratories Procure a solution capable of producing comprehensive audit trails Introduce a secure, automated facilities management system Gallagher security products installed Command Centre Electronic card readers Syllabus Plus integration Syllabus Plus integration Syllabus Plus enables automation in the scheduling and booking of resources and equipment Founded in 1869, the University of Otago is New Zealand’s oldest university. Ranked in the top 200 universities worldwide, the University of Otago is New Zealand’s primary medical tertiary institute and is considered the top research university in New Zealand. The Gallagher system installed at the University of Otago includes a Syllabus Plus integration. Syllabus Plus enables automation in the scheduling and booking of resources and equipment through Command Centre. The University of Otago team were quick to see value in the opportunity to synchronise their access control system with class time-tables, and subsequently manage room resources by automatically unlocking doors. Easily search and book resources A key benefit for the University was a move away from the manual process of entering room bookings into Command Centre. In addition to removing the labour associated with this manual process, the university also found a reduction in the number of booking inaccuracies caused when people changed their plans, as staff can now quickly and independently reschedule their resource and room bookings if their requirements change. “Smart scheduling gives authorised users in our wider team the ability to quickly and easily search and book resources,” said Ferguson. “It’s a genuine time-saver for us and ensures our facilities are managed efficiently.” The university has implemented an ongoing software maintenance agreement with Gallagher To ensure the University of Otago’s security system remains at the forefront of technology, the university has implemented an ongoing software maintenance agreement with Gallagher to ensure they receive the latest system developments as they are released. “We would never go without software maintenance, it’s imperative that our high-end security be the best it can possibly be,” said Ferguson. Training for system operators In addition to ensuring their security products and systems are up-to-date, the University of Otago also ensures their system operators undergo regular training. According to Ferguson, “We arrange annual training with Gallagher for our Campus Watch security team. The training teaches the team valuable tips and tricks on how to utilise the system to its fullest.” During the years since the initial installation of Gallagher security systems, the University of Otago has experienced significant savings associated with not needing to re-key facilities or replace locks when traditional keys have been lost or not returned – maintenance that the University estimates used to cost tens of thousands of dollars each year.

In mid-2009, Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited opened City of Dreams, Macau – a casino and resort complex that quickly become one of the world’s premier entertainment and leisure destinations. The complex brings together a collection of world-renowned hotel brands, including Crown, Grand Hyatt, and Hard Rock, along with a casino area of approximately 448,000 square-feet and over 20 restaurants and bars. Also comprising an audio-visual multimedia experience, and ‘The House of Dancing Water’ – the world’s largest water-based extravaganza showcased in the purpose-built Dancing Water Theater. These unique and innovative entertainment, shopping, food and beverage offerings realise the company’s vision of bringing world-class integrated resort and entertainment experiences to Macau and Asia. Need of a robust security solution Melco Resorts was looking for a robust security solution capable of protecting high-value assetsHaving thousands of staff moving around the site meant that effective people management needed to be a significant part of the security solution. With a large site encompassing multiple areas and a staff of approximately 13,000, Melco Resorts was looking for a robust security solution capable of protecting high-value assets while providing a reliable and flexible system to support daily operations. In the years leading up to the opening of City of Dreams, Gallagher worked directly alongside Melco Resorts, and security partner Certis Security (Macau) Ltd, during the design and construction phases. The Gallagher team were highly involved in discussions and developments relating to software customisations and the final commissioning of critical security areas. MIFARE Classic card technology Part of the City of Dreams philosophy from day one was to operate a one-card, single service entity per staff member – not only for high-level security but across all system requirements. According to Billups, a lot of decisions around system choice were based on meeting the one-card philosophy. Utilising MIFARE Classic card technology, 1700 access controlled doors were set up across the complex. Utilising MIFARE Classic card technology, 1700 access controlled doors were set up across the complex Gallagher’s ability to encode the cards with data from multiple system providers was crucial in delivering the one-card policy. Along with Gallagher access data, third-party ASCII data encoding was also provided on the card for use by other on-site systems to achieve the objective of a single card philosophy. Latest generation data security The original system, comprising MIFARE Classic card technology, is now being upgraded to the latest MIFARE DESFire EV1 across all Melco Resorts properties. MIFARE DESFire EV1 provides the latest generation data security and encryption ensuring Melco Resorts globally stays at the forefront of technology. To further meet their one-card philosophy, Melco Resorts wanted a single card technology utilised across all three of their Macau complexes – City of Dreams, Altria Macau, and Studio City. In addition to enabling access across multiple properties, there was a requirement for a central monitoring system that could manage alarms escalated from any of the properties and register such alarms centrally in a main command structure. Highly integrated and expansive platform Gallagher’s multi-server technology delivers this, with seamless connection between all systems and across all sitesFuture-proofing was an important consideration of the security solution. “City of Dreams needed a system that catered well to growth, particularly in the areas of people management and access control. Gallagher provided us with the highly integrated and expansive platform we were looking for,” said Kelly Billups, Director of Security Technology & Administration for Melco Resorts. Gallagher’s multi-server technology delivers this, with seamless connection between all systems and across all sites. If communication between the facilities should fail due to a network fault or similar incident, each site’s security system will continue to function independently. According to Billups, the multi-server system has resulted in reduced labour costs due to the consolidation of security administration. Efficient movement of people The Gallagher system provides rapid response times to access requests ensuring the efficient movement of people in and out of areas. The instant dissemination of cardholder access and configuration data also ensures people have appropriate access delivered in real time. If cardholder access needs to be denied, this information is communicated and applied instantly across the site. In addition to door access activity, 5300 detection points are also monitored throughout the complexIn order to provide Melco Resorts with an audit trail of security events, all site activity is logged in a secure database. In addition to door access activity, 5300 detection points are also monitored throughout the complex. Reports are generated using a simple wizard-based system which steers the report generator through a step-by-step process ensuring the relevant data is retrieved. The City of Dreams site required integration with a number of external systems and Gallagher’s Command Centre central management software provided the platform to deliver this. Cameras integrated with Command Centre As surveillance is a key requirement for a casino, City of Dreams has thousands of cameras throughout the complex. A number of these cameras monitor critical back of house operations and are integrated with Command Centre to provide additional layers of security and enable further administrative functionality. A number of lower-level security points throughout the complex – which utilise traditional keys – integrate Command Centre with an electronic key management system. Keys are electronically released to personnel depending on their access permissions. Two high-level interfaces provide communication to all elevators connected to Command Centre There are approximately 80 elevator shafts located throughout the City of Dreams complex. Two high-level interfaces (Schindler and Otis) provide communication to all elevators connected to Command Centre where access control groups manage access to each of the floors. This integration is particularly important for heart-of-house elevators where access can be highly restricted to only authorised personnel. HR system integrated with Command Centre An integration between City of Dreams Human Resources (HR) system and Command Centre was established. The active connection between the two ensures that basic personnel information is automatically communicated from the HR system to Command Centre without the need for manual intervention. Because of this, the process of updating cardholder information and assigning access to cardholders is a quick and simple procedure – a must for a database of this size. The Gallagher system provides rapid response times to access requests ensuring the efficient movement of people in and out of areas. Where high-level (software) interfaces are not available, the Gallagher system connects with other services including: boom gates, motorised vehicle and pedestrian doors, and turnstiles, using what is commonly referred to as a low-level interface. A control relay in Gallagher’s Command Centre platform activates the door or gate, and in turn the status of the door or gate (open, closed) is reported back. Salto integrated guest locking system Melco Resorts requirement is to seamlessly integrate hotel guest-room locks with the Command Centre platformThe delivery of a high-level integration with a hotel guest-room locking solution is currently in development and will be a world first. Melco Resorts requirement is to seamlessly integrate hotel guest-room locks with the Command Centre platform in order to deliver high-level security across the entire complex. To deliver this solution, Gallagher is working with long-term partner Salto. The Salto integrated guest locking system is required to operate in conjunction with Melco Resorts high-security card encryption and encoding, while complimenting the hotel décor. Melco Resorts and Gallagher maintain an ongoing relationship which brings together Melco Resorts evolving requirements and Gallagher’s product development road map. “The relationship is key for us” said Billups, “having a team based in the region who meet with us regularly and having a level of engagement over development is very important.”

One of the fastest growing districts in the upper Midwest of the United States, Harrisburg in South Dakota educates almost 4000 students across eight schools. Gallagher Command Centre was selected as the only solution that could meet the district’s security requirements, and in October 2015, these security measures were put to the test when the local high school was the target of a shooting. The incident resulted in one staff member being injured but was prevented from escalating further due to Gallagher’s central management platform, Command Centre, being activated by staff. Logs from the incident confirm that from the time the emergency button was pressed, it took just four seconds for Command Centre to lock all outside doors, notify district authorities, and limit building access to emergency responders only. Physical barriers for students’ security Gallagher Command Centre was involved with placing physical barriers between an active gunman and high school students"James Straatmeyer, Chief Executive Officer of Integrated Technology & Security, partnered with Gallagher for the installation of Harrisburg districts security solution. James says, “Gallagher Command Centre was directly involved with placing physical barriers between an active gunman and hundreds of high school students filling 37 classrooms. As far as I’m aware, there’s no other product on the market that has the capabilities and integration solutions for protecting students and staff to the extent of Gallagher Command Centre.” This type of security alert is of increasing concern for many educational institutions, prompting renewed focus on daily security protocols. Integrated and scalable security system Essential to providing an optimum learning environment for students is ensuring their safety and security – a responsibility the district of Harrisburg takes extremely seriously. Key to this was partnering with a security solutions provider that understood the specific needs of educational institutions, with the flexibility to employ customised features that could be tailored to Harrisburg’s particular requirements. The system needed to be fully integrated, scalable and expandable, digitally based, user-friendly The system needed to be fully integrated, scalable and expandable, digitally based, user-friendly and crucially, to assist and not replace, existing manual security procedures. Gallagher and South Dakota based Integrated Technology & Security completed the initial installation within three weeks. Since its introduction, the system has been under continual expansion. Features of updated security solution The access control system originally installed in 2013, fulfilled the region’s initial security requirements; however, a period of growth prompted the need for an enhanced system that could protect the increasing number of students. Some of the features of Harrisburg’s upgraded security solution included: Outlook calendar integration, to enable scheduling of access for special events Intercom / phone integration, to control doors from a desktop icon or smartphone Strobe light control to provide lockdown notifications in hearing impaired areas such as deaf education, shops and the gym Intercom integration for lockdown announcements Command Centre provides enterprise level lockdown controls which limit access to buildings, control fire doors, and send notifications, while providing an audit trail and video alerts. Lockdown access to all staff members An understanding of the benefits of an advanced, interactive security network is essential, and in some cases, lifesavingUsability is a highlight of Command Centre, offering access for all levels of personnel. Initially, only office and administrative staff were trained in the use of lockdown systems, but as the Command Centre’s lockdown features have developed, all staff members can now control access in individual school buildings. Once a lockdown has been activated, a notification is automatically issued to district authorities, immediately alerting emergency services if required. The security incident in 2015 strongly supported Harrisburg district’s decision to install a sophisticated access control system to protect its faculty, staff and students. At a time when concern over campus security is rising, an understanding of the benefits of an advanced, interactive security network is essential, and in some cases, lifesaving. Gallagher’s security solution offers educational institutions around the world a combination of enhanced operational efficiency and cost savings. Command Centre’s software provides a powerful and versatile feature set, enabling system operators to configure, monitor and control their unique security system.

Senstar, global provider of video management solutions and perimeter intrusion detection systems, has published a case study detailing how its Senstar Symphony video management system (VMS) and video analytics are helping Ferretería Ochoa secure spaces and gather business intelligence. Senstar Symphony VMS Ferretería Ochoa is a hardware and home improvement retail chain that has been operating in the Dominican Republic for over 45 years. Symphony was first installed at one of its retail stores in 2013 and is now being used at six locations, including a storage facility and a manufacturing facility. Ferretería Ochoa also uses several of Senstar’s video analytics to better understand customer and employee behavior. One of the main benefits Symphony has provided Ferretería Ochoa is increased inventory control One of the main benefits Symphony has provided Ferretería Ochoa is increased inventory control. This not only refers to shoplifting by customers, but also to errors – accidental or intentional – made during shipping and receiving. Employees are aware they are being monitored at all times and understand the system’s ability to capture incidents and provide proof. Central video monitoring “It dissuades deceitful and malicious situations such as shipping more items than ordered or a more expensive item,” said Mr. Gomez. “The deterrence factor Symphony provides is probably the most important result we have achieved.” Symphony has also enabled Ferretería Ochoa to utilise security personnel more efficiently and has reduced costs by having video from all sites managed from one central location. Retail security “Senstar Symphony and analytics are ideal for retailers looking to deter theft, protect staff and customers and improve the overall customer experience,” said Senstar’s Director, North America Business Development Anthony Hackett. “We are happy to be helping Ferretería Ochoa achieve such results.”

LOCKEN has been selected to modernise access management for half of all substations in Enedis’ national network. Following a test phase it has opted for the latest-generation intelligent key by Iseo, which uses contactless induction technology to guarantee instant access. The EDF subsidiary supplies electricity to consumer meters, through extremely high-voltage lines, located at its many substations. The solution is currently being introduced and full deployment across 1,100 substations will take place throughout 2019. Effective solution The construction principles for this type of structure require wide open spaces to keep people and equipment safe Substations transform the power from very high-voltage lines (90,000 V or 225,000 V) to high-voltage (20,000 V most often) and through to private homes (230V). Some sites may be located in urban settings. In this case, the substations are installed in underground infrastructure, like in Paris and its inner suburbs. But most are found in rural or semi-urban areas, covering a half or full hectare. The construction principles for this type of structure require wide open spaces to keep people and equipment safe. With perimeter security accessible through an outside gate, substations comprise a technical room and a number of transformers, which may be outside or under shelter. These facilities have many access points which must be secured. Without an effective solution, key management is complex and operational efficiency is reduced. Centralised management software Substations are sensitive sites with strictly controlled access. Given the exposure to electrical risk, intrusions present potentially lethal consequences. This is where the LOCKEN solution comes in: a single key with associated rights allows employees to open any area they require (and are authorised to access) as part of their job. A lost key is easily disabled within the centralised management software. The solution is particularly appropriate given the number of maintenance officers required by substations. Users are not all Enedis employees, explains Maxime Leboeuf, Project Manager at Enedis. “Although site workers are mostly Enedis employees, the sites must also be accessible to subcontractors for extension and renewal work and a number of maintenance operations, by employees of RTE, the electricity transmission system operator responsible for the very high-voltage lines which end at substations.” Electronic access management “Electronic access management drastically reduces the risk of intrusion associated with mechanical keys. With the Locken system, we can now authorise subcontractor access for a specified period and location. In the Enedis setup, the access rights memorised by the electronic keys must be updated daily by the key's user using the dedicated devices.” Keys are deactivated almost immediately once the process is initiated in the Locken Smart Access (LSA) central management software" “Keys are deactivated almost immediately once the process is initiated in the Locken Smart Access (LSA) central management software. This also provides a reliable crisis management tool.” At Enedis, LOCKEN has fitted outdoor access points in often isolated, rural areas. The key supplies the energy to open the cylinder so no wires are needed for doors. Extending electronic key The cylinder is approved to resist extreme weather conditions, especially the effects of water. Contactless technology also shields it from dust and oxidation. Enedis is considering the possibility of extending electronic key use to the most sensitive parts of its technical rooms, especially access to control and command rooms, the nerve centres of the substations. Enedis also plans to replace all substation cylinders to minimise the risks associated with joint activity, meaning a number of operations carried out by different engineers can take place simultaneously at the same substation.

The concept of how security systems can contribute to the broader business goals of a company is not new. It seems we have been talking about benefits of security systems beyond “just” security for more than a decade. Given the expanding role of technologies in the market, including video and access control, at what point is the term “security” too restrictive to accurately describe what our industry does? We asked the Expert Panel Roundtable for their responses to this premise: Is the description “security technology” too narrow given the broader application possibilities of today’s systems? Why?

You could say concerns about privacy are “trending” in our increasingly data-driven world. Unease about how Facebook and other high-tech companies use and share data dominates the news, and the full impact of new European Union (EU) regulations is about to be felt around the world. By May 25, companies that collect data on EU citizens will need to comply with strict new rules around protecting customer data, as enumerated in the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). But how do the new regulations, and broader concerns about privacy, affect the physical security market? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How do privacy issues and regulations, such as GDPR, impact physical security systems and how they are managed?

Companies in fast-moving industries tend to want half or more of their revenue to come from products released in the last three or so years. The logical extension of that philosophy is the demise of product "cash cows" that remain in a company's portfolio for many years. Where better to witness the shortening life cycles of technology products than in the smart phone market, where most of us buy into the hype of the "latest and greatest?" But does acceleration of new product introductions translate into shorter product life cycles in the field? We asked this week's Expert Panel Roundtable: What is an acceptable life cycle for a physical security system? Is there a trend toward systems being replaced more, or less, often?