College security

Organisations around the world sent an unprecedented number of people home during 2020 to work and attend school remotely, many of them with Chromebook laptops whose shipments more than doubled year over year. HID Global, identity solutions company, is helping organisations bring these people and their Chromebooks back to a hybrid work and classroom environment using its HID HydrantID Account Certificate Manager (ACM) digital certificate management offering.  Seamless connections According to the market research firm Canalys, “Chromebooks set record shipment volumes, reaching 11.2 million units in Q4 2020, a remarkable 287% increase over Q4 2019, bringing the full-year 2020 total to 30.6 million units.”   HID HydrantID ACM and its new Chromebook Certificate Enrollment Extension (CEE) feature enable organisations to issue and manage the digital certificates for bringing these devices back to physical work and study settings, ensuring they can connect to networks seamlessly and securely without passwords.  Easy, cloud-based approach “The traditional walled-fortress IT security posture isn’t feasible as we transition to hybrid remote and in-person work and study environments using a growing variety of computing devices and operating systems,” said By Mrugesh Chandarana, Senior Product Manager, Commercial CA and PKI Services with HID Global, Identity and Access Management. “The huge influx of Chromebooks is here to stay and HID HydrantID ACM with its CEE feature is the first solution to provide an easy, cloud-based approach to digital certificate management that enables these devices to authenticate to enterprise networks in a passwordless, Zero Trust network access environment.”   Digital certificate lifecycle management The solution offers automated digital certificate lifecycle management with tracking, installation, and renewal HID HydrantID ACM with the CEE feature offers automated digital certificate lifecycle management with tracking, installation, and renewal. It enables users of any Chromebook to make or model to be securely up and running on the network by simply plugging in their devices and seamlessly deploying certificates for passwordless authentication without any user intervention. Early adopters of the HID HydrantID CEE solution for Chromebooks include a large financial institution with a sizable remote workforce, as well as high schools and colleges where Chromebook usage grew substantially during the 2020/2021 academic year.   Passwordless authentication The CEE feature is especially valuable for users as it allows them to have passwordless authentication while seamlessly navigating between remote connectivity and direct connection to the in-office network.  For organisations that do not have an internal Microsoft Active Directory Certificate Services (ADCS) infrastructure, the CEE allows them to implement a seamless experience for their users while freeing up Help and\or Service Desk resources. By implementing the CEE using HID HydrantID Managed PKI-as-a-Service, organisations eliminate operational complexity and dramatically reduce costs related to operating and deploying an organisational private PKI.  

LenelS2 introduced its indoor location subscription-based service for businesses and other organisations using LenelS2’s BlueDiamond™ mobile app version 2.1.8 for smartphones. Touchless solutions  This new premium mobile app service complements LenelS2’s touchless access solutions by providing users with: the ability to quickly pull up a map to determine the current location within a building, search for points of interest, use turn-by-turn directions for efficient navigation and unlock doors directly from a building map. The service is an advanced solution in Carrier’s Healthy Buildings Program. LenelS2, an advanced security systems, and services company is a part of Carrier Global Corporation, the global provider of healthy, safe, and sustainable building, and cold chain solutions. Efficient building navigation “Our new BlueDiamond Indoor Location service raises the bar for mobile credential app capabilities. BlueDiamond mobile credential holders can confidently find their way within buildings, enabling easier, more efficient building navigation,” said Ernie Chan, General Manager, BlueDiamond and Value-Added Services, LenelS2. “This new capability expands the ways credentialed users experience touchless access control, including unlocking doors in their path.” Unlock with voice commands For customers utilising the LenelS2™ OnGuard® or NetBox™ access control security systems, the Indoor Location service provides app users with convenient facility-wide navigation. From corporate campuses to entertainment venues, hospitals, convention centres, and more, users can quickly get directions by pulling up a map from their smartphone to show their current location and search for points of interest such as meeting rooms, exits, and more. Users can also unlock doors using voice commands for an enhanced touchless access experience In combination with BlueDiamond readers, users can also unlock doors using voice commands or other app features for an enhanced touchless access experience. Compatible with various technologies The Indoor Location service is hardware-agnostic, allowing it to work with various technologies including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy, and virtual beacons. Organisations can digitise facility maps and define dynamic points of interest. The beacons deployed throughout the facility enable the app to triangulate the smartphone’s location for display on the map. The Indoor Location service joins the recently announced Contact Notification service as part of BlueDiamond mobile app version 2.1.8 that also includes a variety of non-subscription-based updates to improve the access control and user experience.

Allegion, the globally renowned provider of security products and solutions, including Schlage readers and locks, together with CBORD, a renowned higher education technology solutions provider, announced that they have expanded their offerings and now provide on-campus mobile credential solutions on Android phones. Students, faculty and staff on participating campuses can now use their Android phones to conveniently, safely and securely access campus buildings and make purchases through Google Pay, while the universities benefit from operational efficiencies. Contactless mobile IDs for campuses Allegion and CBORD first launched contactless mobile IDs for campuses in August 2019, for Apple devices. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, University of Vermont and University of San Francisco were among the first schools to leverage the solution. The solution was well received and will be extended to Android phones on more campuses throughout this year, so as to reach an even larger population.          “COVID-19 accelerated the adoption of and demand for contactless solutions, across the campus population. With many campuses looking to reopen for in-person classes this fall, having a contact-free solution became paramount to ensure a safe reopening,” said Jeff Koziol, Business Development Manager of Campus Software Partners at Allegion. Enhancing campus safety Schlage readers and locks also support the Transact NFC Android and the Apple iOS NFC mobile credentials Jeff Koziol adds, “Campus security directors can now offer students and faculty assurance that they can come back to campus safely, with contactless access in place to reduce touch points and trace outbreaks, while adding convenience.” Once the CBORD credential is provisioned, users simply present their device to NFC-enabled readers to pay for food, vending or laundry, or access exterior and interior doors at campus buildings and residence halls. Schlage readers and locks also support the Transact NFC Android and the Apple iOS NFC mobile credentials. Leveraging MIFARE 2GO cloud service CBORD and Transact’s mobile credentials for Google Pay leverage NXP Semiconductor’s secure MIFARE 2GO cloud service, which enables use of the credentials on all compatible Android NFC-enabled phones. “Campus credentials in the mobile wallet continue to reinvent and enhance the student experience,” said Larry Delaney, Vice President of Strategic Alliances at CBORD, adding “The ability to issue student IDs and access privileges prior to students returning to campus is yet another example of modern convenience and improved efficiency that mobile credentials provide.” Additional benefits for further convenience and interoperability include: They are wallet-based. The credentials make the transition seamless, as the campus population already tends to utilise digital wallets. The credentials allow for self-service, which helps the campus population avoid lines to traditional university card offices, which is critical as traffic is an area of concern during this COVID-19 pandemic They are protected by two-factor authentication. The solution allows students to request two-factor authentication by leveraging the pin pad or biometrics already present on their phone. The credentials can be remotely deactivated by the student or university, for added security. This extended offering is the next wave in Allegion’s pursuit to work with other globally renowned solution providers in the industry for digital credential rollout in universities.

PAC, a supplier of innovative access control solutions, has announced new versions of its cutting-edge Access Central and EasiNet Residential software management platforms. The most comprehensive upgrades to both systems since they were initially launched, PAC has introduced a range of dynamic features that will enable commercial and residential premises to maintain high levels of occupant safety as lockdown begins to ease. ‘Access control technology has a significant role to play in helping to protect building occupants from infection, alongside its ability to configure smart and reliable strategies to help alleviate anxiety, enhance confidence and maintain regulatory compliance,’ commented Pete England, PAC’s global product manager. ‘Over the last year, we have been working hard to leverage the power of our technology. As a result, Access Central v5.3 has been designed to help limit person-to-person contact, control occupancy levels reduce surface touches, and swiftly initiates contact tracing procedures.’ Enhance security with access central Access Central acts as a central resource for keyholder records and access privileges, with the ability to set pre-configured alarms, track activities  Designed primarily for the commercial, educational, and healthcare sectors, Access Central acts as a central resource for keyholder records and access privileges, with the ability to set pre-configured alarms, track activities and maintain a full audit trail. To build on its existing capabilities, Access Central v5.3 now has additional occupancy management features including managed entrance, occupancy tracking, and global anti-passback for accurate tracing of keyholders. This will help make sure occupants adhere to designated one-way flow systems through buildings and do not overpopulate specific areas. Furthermore, a keyholder’s access privileges can be temporarily disabled if they do not read out when exiting an area. Access Central v5.3 also boasts enhanced building management and security features such as a guard tour that configures set routes around a building for security officers. Using pre-configured parameters, automated event notifications send PC pop-up notifications when occupancy limits are reached and/or exceeded restrict entry and provide a live display of the number of people in an area. This can form part of a broader health and safety policy, for example, temperature and mask checks or use of sanitisation stations, and can be used to configure a traffic light-style system, while time periods are configurable to enable one or multiple managed entrances per day. Cost-effective expansion Similar innovations are found in EasiNet Residential v5.3, which combines high-security access control with advanced keyholder configuration and management, which can be supported through PAC’s secure Residential Cloud. EasiNet Residential v5.3 enables cost-effective expansion into building management systems through the use of PAC input/output controllers to facilitate third-party equipment integration, allowing building services such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems to be centrally managed. In addition, lift control means that keyholders are only assigned access to specific floors to maintain social distancing. These features can all be managed via Control Centre – PAC’s new ‘single pane of glass’ management tool for operators. Consolidating CCTV and access control functionality is more vital than ever and both Access Central v5.3 and EasiNet Residential v5.3 offer options for 3xLOGIC VIGIL integration. Cameras can be directly configured and monitored through each software solution, with access to VIGIL’s business intelligence capabilities achieved via integration with a VIGIL server. As such video verification through CCTV actions can be captured through pre-sets that, for instance, move a pan, tilt, zoom camera as an event is taking place. Smart access control PAC’s Pete England concluded, ‘As people emerge from their homes and begin to return to their workplaces, building safety and security needs to be rethought, reconfigured and adapted to meet a complex set of challenges. Access control technology must be used in smarter ways than ever before to help protect building occupants and achieving this objective is now possible thanks to Access Central v5.3 and EasiNet Residential v5.3’.  In order to help partners and customers maximise the potential of these state-of-the-art features, PAC will be hosting two webinars for the commercial and residential markets. 

Further demonstrating their commitment to the security industry and drive for excellence, Third Millennium (Third Millennium Systems Ltd) are pleased to announce that Rob Hills ASyl, one of the company’s product engineers, has recently been accepted as an Associate of the Security Institute. Pivotal role in technical support Third Millennium’s General Manager, Paul Grimshaw, was eager to comment on how Rob Hills plays a pivotal role in giving technical support to both pre-sales and after-sales customer enquiries, together with the development of products, as part of the company’s Research and Development (R&D). Paul Grimshaw said “We are delighted with his achievement, and offer huge congratulations from the entire team.”

PSA Security Network (PSA), the globally renowned consortium of professional systems integrators, has announced the addition of EAGL Technology to its Managed Security Service Provider Program (MSSP). EAGL Technology is a manufacturer of indoor/outdoor IoT wireless gunshot sensors, as well as sensors that can detect vape, car collisions, flood waters and critical infrastructure failures. Active shooter threat detection “EAGL produces solutions that address today’s real-world security concerns,” said Tim Brooks, PSA’s Vice President of Sales and Vendor Management, adding “Its solutions are designed to quickly identify an active shooter threat. We are pleased to add EAGL to our lineup of products.” EAGL Technology was initially developed in the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy and is now deployed globally in airports, schools, C-suites, commercial offices, convention centers, bus stations and inner cities worldwide. Its product portfolio contains deployment for a variety of industries and venues. IoT sensor technology The PSA Network is an ideal partner for EAGL to offer the IoT sensor technology to its partners" “The PSA Network is an ideal partner for EAGL to offer the IoT sensor technology to its partners, to reach the customers most affected by gun violence and an active shooter threat,” said Boaz Raz, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of EAGL Technology. Boaz adds, “The rapid detection and emergency notification capabilities increase citizen and first responder survivability and can also assist law enforcement and first responders in identifying a threat much earlier in the timeline.” Integration with building security system The EAGL system can integrate with almost any building security system. Its wireless gunshot sensors detect gunfire and activate within seconds of shots fired. EAGL will then notify law enforcement of the active shooter threat with a map of the building, showing the location of the shooter and ballistic data of the weapon being used. PSA Security Network’s MSSP program hinges on uniting industry-renowned partners in cyber security and cloud-based security solutions, offering training and certification opportunities and financing options with assistance from PSA.

Protecting against fire and security risks is an essential aspect of life for people and across all sectors. However, there is an increasing expectation and demand on fire and security providers, in areas such as education. The securitisation of our world paired with the rapid speed of communication and news updates means that young people especially have the potential to be more aware of potential dangers and threats to their own safety and the safety of those around them. Education institutions are large and sometimes sprawling sites that present considerable fire and security challenges. From kindergarten to university Each education site brings distinct challenges, with differing facilities and specialties, as well as the need to maintain the capacity of students, teachers and lecturers to study, learn and teach at the high level expected.Each education site brings distinct challenges, with differing facilities and specialties While some schools and universities are based in urban areas with a mix of heritage and high rise buildings, others are sprawled across green open spaces. Some of these sites have specialised sporting facilities, while others may be focused on engineering or scientific study, with costly technical equipment. Kindergartens and primary schools have their own unique requirements. Parents expect the highest safety standards, while schools require safety in addition to efficient facilities management. The demographic of these institutions is predominantly young children, who are often unaware of or only just learning about fire safety and personal safety. This creates a huge vulnerability and an added onus on teachers to keep their students safe. Facial recognition at West Academy of Beijing In response to this need, Chubb China upgraded the closed-circuit television (CCTV) system for Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) focusing on elevating video content analytic features, including maximised CCTV monitoring, automatic police calling, and a smart search solution. Complementing this, a facial recognition system capable of finding the exact location of a student on campus within 30 seconds was added, aided by real-time remote gate operation. This integrated and advanced system resulted won the "High Quality Educational Technology Suppliers for School" award for the WAB project at the 2019 BEED Asia Future Oriented Construction of Universities and Schools Seminar. This award recognises outstanding solution design and project execution. Parents expect the highest safety standards, while schools require safety in addition to efficient facilities management Awareness remains important at university As students graduate from kindergarten, primary school, junior and senior school, they become more aware of fire safety, relevant dangers and how to protect themselves. Unfortunately, external dangers remain. There are particularly high stakes for university campus facilities managers The safety of students in a university environment is also critical. It is often the first time young people live away from their family home and have the independence of adulthood. For this reason, there are particularly high stakes for university campus facilities managers. In the eventuality of a fire, students could be at great risk and, beyond the immediacy of physical harm, this can have serious ramifications for the reputation of an educational institution. Integrated solutions Integrated solutions must be nimble and adapted to a range of site types including campus residences, recreational areas, open spaces and lecture theatres. Chubb Sicli recently identified and overcame these challenges through the installation of a full suite of fire safety and security equipment and services at Webster University Geneva. Established in Switzerland in 1978, Webster University Geneva is an accredited American university campus that offers programs in English to students interested in undergraduate or graduate-level education.  Located in the Commune of Bellevue, just a few kilometres from Geneva's central station, the campus of Webster University Geneva includes five buildings in a park-style atmosphere. Full fire and security audit Chubb Sicli provided Webster’s fire extinguisher maintenance for over 25 years. This business relationship led to a full fire and security audit that identified the need for updates to the university’s security installation. The initial audit showed several improvements to the university’s security profile were needed.The challenge was to create and provide an effective and interconnected fire and security solution The challenge was to create and provide an effective and interconnected fire and security solution, enhancing the security of the student population and its ever-evolving needs. This included complete fire detection and intruder alarms for all five buildings, upgrades to existing CCTV systems, new video surveillance equipment and an automated fire extinguishing system in the kitchen areas. In addition to this integrated system solution, Webster University required access control for all main entrances, with the requirement that all documentation to be made available in English, because Webster is an American company. Customised solution Chubb Sicli’s quality, capability, and security expertise provided a customised solution for the unique educational establishment. Not only was the solution both tailored and integrated, the approach and planning were based on audit, fire extinguisher and emergency light maintenance, fire detection, intrusion detection, access control, video surveillance and Fire Detection. Through dedicated and integrated fire safety support, Chubb provides students and families peace of mind and security. From the moment a young child enters the education system, Chubb’s diligent and effective surveillance and fire safety systems work to prevent and protect, offering a new kind of ‘end-to-end’ service for education systems around the world.

Colleges and universities have been targeted in the last several weeks with a series of bomb threats received via campus printers and fax machines. Targeted institutions included Vanderbilt University, the University of Southern California, the University of Virginia and the University of Detroit Mercy, among others. Businesses were also among the targets. Around 100 organisations in all received print-outs, faxes or emails demanding that a $25,000 ransom be paid to a Brazilian citizen to avoid detonation of explosives allegedly planted on the sites. The police determined that the “form letter” threats were part of a hoax and not credible. The situation highlights the need to proactively secure access to printers in today’s networked world. SourceSecurity.com asked Ashish Malpani, Director, Embedded Solutions Product Marketing at HID Global, for insights from a technology perspective. SourceSecurity.com: What are the best practices for securing access to a printer? How widely employed are such practices (i.e., how vulnerable are most printers today?) Ashish Malpani: Most network printers in university environments are secured using several best practices. They include: Set a strong administrator password. Modern MFPs (multi-function printers) have a web interface for configuration and control. By default no password is set so it is important to set a strong admin password. Restrict network access to campus. Ensure that only campus IP addresses are able to access the printer. Disable unnecessary services. Disable services like FTP, Telnet, other network (and discovery) protocols, etc. Implement firmware updates. Securely dispose of MFPs. A recent scan at University of Nebraska at Lincoln found that, in spite of all security practices, 12 percent of printers still have open port and password issues. SourceSecurity.com: How can systems be set up to accommodate students who need access to printers from off campus (or outside the firewall)? Malpani: In the university environment, the need for off-campus print access is prevalent. One of the ways to enable this capability is to force students to connect to the university network using a virtual private network (VPN). However, this is inconvenient and doesn’t usually support printing on demand or printing from handheld devices and cloud storage. An effective way to address this issue is to deploy a secure printing solution, where the users are required to authenticate themselves before the print job is released to the printer from a centralised pool. The benefits of this approach are increased convenience and ability to print at any printer on the campus. However, most printer manufacturers support entering a PIN for authentication, and it is not necessarily secure or convenient when you want faster access. However, new innovations in secure printing have made the printers more identity-aware and rely on everyday devices such as mobile phones and wearables for authentication, resulting in secure and convenient access. SourceSecurity.com: Whose responsibility is the security of a printer? Should manufacturers be doing more to prevent unauthorised access to printers? What is the customer's role? Malpani: IT security staff is responsible for the security of the printer. Something as simple as a printer is expected to work right away after deployment. Manufacturers can do more to enforce security policies on the printer or provide modes that enforce stricter control by default. As a customer, it is critical to have print data security as part of security policy, to review the manufacturer’s recommendations for securely configuring a printer, and to find solutions that not only enhance the security but also provide convenience to end users. A compromised printer can be used to attack other applications, execute arbitrary malicious code or attack other systems SourceSecurity.com: What are some other ramifications of unsecured printers, beyond the printing of threatening materials as we have seen recently on college and university campuses? Malpani: Today’s MFPs are more than just printers. They are file servers, they can email, act as DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) servers, and have the capacity to hold large data sets. Unsecured printers risk misuse and data disclosure. In January of this year, a team of researchers from Ruhr-Universität Bochum in Germany exposed vulnerabilities of major MFPs, such as exploiting the PostScript and Printer Job Language (PJL) vulnerabilities to get access to the data on the printer’s files system and memory. SourceSecurity.com: How does the problem of unsecured printers relate to wider issues of network security (given that most printers are now networked)? What is the risk that printers might be vulnerable as an entry point to the larger network? Malpani: In addition, a compromised printer can be used to attack other applications, execute arbitrary malicious code or attack other systems (e.g., to launch a denial of service attack on the network). SourceSecurity.com: How does the risk of unsecured printers impact the business world or other markets (in addition to college campuses)? How are the security measures different in various environments? Malpani: The security challenges are the same in business environments but, other than the financial industry, most other businesses do not pay close attention to threat vectors emerging out of print data security. IT security departments are also concerned about network security, and the facilities worry about building security, paying little attention to the security of business systems like printers, elevators, HVAC systems etc. Businesses are increasingly turning to managed print service (MPS) providers to ensure compliance, data security as well as management of accessories like print cartridges. SourceSecurity.com: What's your best advice for customers in terms of what they should do to secure their printers? Malpani: First of all, know your customer, understand their needs and what capabilities they desire from the printing systems today. The next generation of students value convenience over privacy and security. So the IT departments across universities need to think about how to meet the needs of their customer while ensuring best practices for security and compliance. It is critical to develop a comprehensive security policy, a regular audit schedule, to secure printers according to manufacturer’s recommendation, and to invest in solutions like secure print that not only provide convenience but also enhance security. Identity-aware systems definitely handle the challenges more effectively than traditional practices going forward. So it is important that the solutions we invest in also take into account the future trends in authentication and printing. {##Poll35 - How strong are your company’s defenses against cyber threats?##}

The PASS guidelines don’t just point to specific technologies; they address security issues and help guide school administrators to make their schools safer and more secure From K-12 to college campuses, schools need integrated solutions and proactive measures to lessen the potential of active shooters while targeting general loss prevention and security. The good news is that technology is available to address nearly every threat and challenge, and systems integrators and others have upped their game, providing comprehensive, proactive consultations to the education market. According to the Institute of Education Sciences and National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), schools continue to use technology increasingly to address security and safety challenges. Overall, there has been an ongoing increase in the use of technology in schools. For example, the NCES cites the percentage of schools that used one or more security cameras to monitor the school in 2013–14 (75 percent) was higher than it was in 2009–10 (61 percent) with other technologies on the upswing as well. PASS takes holistic security approach Security industry organisations, such as the National Systems Contractors Association, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and the Security Industry Association, Silver Spring, Maryland, are working to establish realistic and effective guidelines for school security. The Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS), powered by NSCA and SIA, released its K-12 security guidelines in April 2015 at ISC West in Las Vegas in an effort to make technology easier to implement and help schools become safer. The PASS guidelines Define threats common to schools at each educational level Offer recommendations on parental and community involvement Detail a layered security approach that combats common threats and mitigates risks related to active shooters Provide information for integrators, school administrators, resource officers, and IT staff on technology-focused solutions like video surveillance, duress alarms, and electronic access control Deliver scalable/tiered measures that administrators can implement based on available resources and local risk levels Advance Technology, Scarborough, Maine, as well as other systems integration firms, manufacturers and consultants, is a PASS-endorsing organisation, according to Rob Simopoulos, President, working with the organisation and others to promote unified efforts. PASS recently updated the initial guidelines to include a new position statement on classroom barricade devices. "It's critical for us to be involved in programs such as PASS," says Simopoulos. "Working together as a united front in the industry, we can help schools become proactive and help them become better prepared." "The guidelines and assessment tools from PASS are not designed to simply point schools towards specific technology. They are designed to take a broader brushstroke to challenges and issues and help guide school administrators through the steps they can take in making their schools safer and more secure,” he adds. Programme gaining traction with schools According to Chuck Wilson, NSCA Executive Director and a Steering Committee Director for PASS, the response to the programme has been extremely positive, and it continues to gain traction. “We see this as a great educational tool, a resource, a way to start a technology roadmap, and a way for schools to build an attainable budget. We have been inundated with requests to download the PASS School Security guidelines, and they are beginning to be used in the field.” The next step is the creation and dissemination of a PASS assessment tool and tool kits that piggyback with the guidelines. “With the PASS assessment tool, integrators can work with school officials to find out what technology they have in place, what can be enhanced or modified to meet the guidelines,and what they can budget for. The PASS tool kits will be custom-designed for the specific audience; for example, for school administrators it might provide information on how to write a grant or respond to a school referendum bond targeting security,” Wilson says. The PASS Steering Committee will meet at ISC West 2016 to address those items.

The cloud is here to stay. Its resilience and ability to connect the world during during the COVID-19 pandemic has proved its worth, even to the uninitiated who have now witnessed first-hand the value of connected systems. Video and access control as a service provides a flexible and fluid security and business solution to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving industry, where the changing threat landscape means investing in the cloud is an investment towards success. This article will look back at our articles in 2020 about the growing popularity of cloud solutions for physical security, with links to the original content. Product offering While most people agree on the definition of “cloud,” there are several points about the terminology that may require clarification. Private cloud or public cloud? VSaaS or unlimited storage for video? Beyond the basics, the terms become foggy, reflecting a variety of notions about how cloud services fit into the broader physical security marketplace. As cloud usage becomes more popular, it’s important that marketers be precise in their terminology, and that integrators and end users be diligent in understanding the specifics of available product offerings. Different meanings “The cloud has many different possible connotations, depending on the context,” says Yu Hao Lin of Rasilient Systems, one of our Expert Roundtable panelists. For example, corporate CIOs will more likely understand the cloud to be a private cloud platform. As such, the public cloud is a ubiquitous term while the private cloud is more specified. Cloud system security Security of cloud systems is an ongoing discussion in the industry, especially how cloud system cybersecurity compares to that of on-premise systems. Our Expert Panel Roundtable weighed in on this question. “While both kinds of security systems serve their purpose, it can be argued that the streamlined updates that are commonplace with cloud-based solutions may put them at more of an advantage when it comes to data security,” says panelist Eric Widlitz of Vanderbilt Industries. “Also, most reputable cloud-based solutions are running in secured data centers by companies such as Google, Microsoft or Amazon, so you also get to take advantage of all the security layers they have protecting your data.” Hybrid cloud video security solution A growing list of cloud players reinforces the importance of the cloud in the future of physical security There are several relatively new companies pushing cloud in a big way. Verkada is fast-growing company currently currently focusing to deliver an all-in-one hybrid cloud video security solution powered by edge processing inside the camera. The growing list of cloud players reinforces the importance of the cloud in the future of physical security. Combining AI and cloud video One company investing in the cloud is Eagle Eye Networks, which has raised $40 million of Series E funding from venture capital firm Accel to finance the realisation of their vision to combine AI and cloud video. The money will allow Eagle Eye to continue its steep growth curve and leverage AI on its true cloud platform to reshape video surveillance. “The investment will make video surveillance smarter and safer for end-users,” says Ken Francis, President. Eagle Eye offers an application programming interface (API) to enable the integration of best-in-breed third-party AI and analytics systems to leverage the video. Eagle Eye is also investing in its own AI development and hiring additional development and customer service personnel. Hirsch Velocity Cirrus and MobilisID Identiv introduced the Hirsch Velocity Cirrus cloud-based Access Control as a Service (ACaaS) solution and MobilisID smart mobile physical access control solution. Hirsch Velocity Cirrus is an optimal solution for both end-users and integrators, with lower upfront costs, reduced maintenance, enhanced portability, and the future-proof assurance of automatic security updates and feature sets.  MobilisID is a smart mobile physical access control solution that uses Bluetooth and capacitive technologies to allow frictionless access to a controlled environment without the need to present a credential. Advantages and disadvantages Advantages of cloud-based physical security technologies are many, when supporting staff  The advantages of cloud-based physical security technologies are many, and have wide-ranging applications for all areas of the transport sector; across stations, transport hubs and vehicles. When used to support staff and complement existing processes, such systems can prove invaluable for transport professionals in helping to create a safer working environment, promoting confidence among personnel and passengers, and assuring passengers who are fearful about the current pandemic that all possible precautions are being taken during their journey. 5G supporting cloud-based applications 5G is the first communication environment that is cloud-native. As such, such, 5G networks will support cloud-based applications in a way that 4G, 3G and 2G can’t support. For instance, sensors (e.g. in a manufacturing plant) often have small internal storage and rely on synced devices (e.g. gateways) to interact with the cloud. Soon, these sensors will be able to work more efficiently, interacting with the cloud via the ultra-low latency and the edge computing capabilities supported by 5G networks. Increasing use of IoT Unlike current IoT services that make performance trade-offs to get the best from these existing wireless technologies, 5G networks will be designed to bring the high levels of performance needed for the increasing use of IoT. It will enable a perceived fully ubiquitous connected world, with the boosted capacity offered by 5G networks transferring exponentially more data at a much quicker rate.

According to the reports of not-for-profit organisation Gun Violence Archive, the year 2018 saw 323 mass shooting incidents as of November. This number is 346 for the year 2017 and 382 for 2016, with ‘mass shooting’ defined as cases where four or more people are shot or killed in the same time period and location. A variety of gunfire detection solutions and other technology approaches seek to address the problem. ShotSpotter SiteSecure and ShotSpotter SecureCampus provide critical outdoor infrastructure protection against active shooter attacks. SiteSecure delivers critical information such as the number of shots fired, a detailed map of the airport or transportation facility, with the shooting location clearly identified. SiteSecure also provides law enforcement and transportation facility management with real-time information that can be useful to identify and address false alarms and reduce mass panic. Gunfire detection and precise shooter location ShotSpotter SecureCampus is a gunfire detection system designed to provide outdoor coverage at university and school campuses. Designed for college campuses and K-12 schools, SST SecureCampus provides gunfire detection, precise location, and number of shooters to first responders and school personnel, enabling faster response to an incident. Designed for college campuses and K-12 schools, ShotSpotter SecureCampus provides gunfire detection Data capture form to appear here! Gunshot detection can offer tremendous benefits in mitigating active shooting incidents occurring in a public facility or commercial environment. Data shows that active shooter attacks often begin outside a building and then progress indoors. Thus, the first line of defence for security professionals lies outside a facility, in a zone of protection surrounding it or comprising the entire outdoor area of a larger facility of many buildings. Audio solutions for perimeter security Video cameras are effective surveillance tools in the event of a shooting incident, but they are not able to capture everything. Deploying audio solutions can automatically flag incidents not caught on camera, as well as alert central station guards of what surveillance zones need to be closely monitored. Audio analytics solutions for aggression and gunshot detection are some of the best security tools in the security market when it comes to detection, intervention and deterrence. They are the next generation of monitoring; equipping security teams with critical information and enhancing perimeter security. End users can identify high-risk situations in real-time and prevent acts of physical aggression before they happen Aggression detectors are capable of accurately recognising duress in a person’s voice. The software automatically and objectively detects the presence of rising human aggression, anger or fear, and subsequently warns staff by a visual alert or alarm trigger. As a result, end users can identify high-risk situations in real-time and prevent acts of physical aggression before they happen. Artificial intelligence to detect weapons A gunshot detector recognises firearm discharge from various firearms in different settings. Within seconds of a gunshot, the software accurately classifies and triggers an immediate notification through a designated VMS. Security staff can then verify the alert, effectively reducing the reaction time of first responders. With the development of artificial intelligence (AI) in object recognition, AI weapons detection offers an efficient alternative to gunshot detection to prevent active shooting: AI can visually detect guns based on their shapes before they are fired. The AI is trained to recognise firearms in different shapes, sizes, colours, and at different angles in videos, so that the AI weapon detector can be deployed with existing camera systems, analyse the video feeds, and instantly notify security staff when a gun is spotted. Audio analytics, processed inside a video camera, are another approach that can quickly pinpoint zones that security staff should focus on, which can dramatically shorten response times to incidents. Audio-derived data also provides a secondary layer of verification that an event is taking place which can help prioritise responses from police and emergency personnel.   Detecting audio levels and alerting operators The first job of a well-configured camera or camera/mic pair is to detect sounds of interest while rejecting ancillary sounds and noise below a preset threshold. Each camera must be custom-configured for its particular environment to detect audio levels which exceed a user-defined level. Since audio levels are typically greater in abnormal situations, any audio levels exceeding the baseline set levels are detected as being a potential security event. Operators can be notified of abnormal situations via event signals allowing the operator to take suitable measures Operators can be notified of any abnormal situations via event signals allowing the operator to take suitable measures. Finding a baseline of background noise and setting an appropriate threshold level is the first step. Well configured audio analytics can deliver critical information about a security event, accelerating response times and providing timely details beyond video-only surveillance. Analytics take privacy concerns out of the equation and allow installers and end users to use camera audio responsibly. Hanwha Techwin's audio source classification technology, available in its X Series cameras, features three customisable settings for category, noise cancellation and detection level for optimum performance in a variety of installation environments.

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.

Sterling and Wilson, established in 1927, is currently having its corporate office in Mumbai, India. It is one of the turnkey MEP (Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing) Services Company with 60% of its business coming from electro-mechanical projects. Just as the company has been instrumental in pioneering MEP services in India, it has also executed several prestigious MEP projects internationally. Sterling and Wilson are expanding with approximately 10,000 employees located at various regional and branch offices and project sites. Challenges It was a herculean task for corporate HR to process staff salary and overtime from manually recorded attendance collected from all project sites. Managing the attendance of 10,000 employees distributed among regional/ branch offices and remote sites from a central location was a tedious task. Replacement of the existing manual attendance mechanism with automatic attendance marking functionality was the major requirement. Additionally, they wanted a wireless connectivity solution for managing remote project sites for error-free tracking and management of employee attendance. Matrix offered solution provides wireless connectivity to the server through 3G Internet Dongle to prevent loss of data Centralised time-attendance solution Matrix comprehensive solution offered centralised time-attendance solution to Sterling and Wilson connected all project sites with regional and branch offices and these offices to corporate head office. Matrix offered solution provides wireless connectivity option to the server through 3G Internet Dongle to prevent loss of data from remote locations. This ensures efficient data management in case of emergency like, internet connectivity failure during which all the events are stored in the device. Hence, the events can be restored easily as soon as it recovers their connection back to the server. The solution from Matrix offered integrations with third-party resource planning software-SAP to the client. Results Buddy punching or fraudulent time-keeping is eliminated Capturing the biometric attendance of all employees has smoothened HR's task Corporate HR can get real-time attendance of all employees at a central location Accurate in/out time of each employee is acquired Monthly salary and overtime are paid only when fingerprint-based in/out time for each The working day of every employee is obtained Any delay in projects due to employee attendance gets easily identified Products offered COSEC CENTRA ACM: Access Control Software Module COSEC CENTRA TAM: Time-Attendance Software Module COSEC PANEL LITE: One Site Controller for Every Building or Location up to 255 Doors COSEC DOOR FOT: Standard Optical Fingerprint and RFID Card based Door Controller COSEC PATH DCFE: Standard Optical Fingerprint and RFID Card based Door Controller

UNC Greensboro (UNCG) is one of 17 campuses within the University of North Carolina system. Founded in 1891, UNCG is the largest and most diverse university in the Piedmont Triad region, serving more than 20,000 students and employing approximately 2,800 faculty members. UNC Greensboro (UNCG) The university is in the heart of Greensboro, which boasts nearly 260,000 people, making it visible within the larger community as well. Landlocked by local streets, the 200-acre campus with 30 buildings poses unique security issues, as it is crisscrossed with major roads, making it a priority to ensure pedestrian and bicycle safety. UNCG has its own police department (UNCG PD), with more than 40 members, who ensure the safety of the campus As a public institution, UNCG is also largely open to the community and hosts numerous events, activities, and services, which are regularly accessed by residents of nearby neighbourhoods and the city of Greensboro at large. UNCG has its own police department (UNCG PD), with more than 40 members, who ensure the safety of the campus. UNCG PD relies on its video surveillance system to alert them to incidents, record video for forensic purposes, and also provide video analytics for traffic and crowd control. Proactive video surveillance and camera system With a growing campus and rising security needs, UNCG PD, with the help of its systems integrator, NETCom Cabling and Security Systems, located in Greensboro, North Carolina, recognised it required a more efficient and proactive video surveillance and camera management system. The days when DVRs could provide the necessary recorded data quickly, gave way to the need for a more responsive approach, such as a shared enterprise system, to bring together cameras, recording, and the intelligent usage of both. The exacqVision platform and Z-Series video recorders UNCG PD’s foray beyond the NVR/DVR world began with the installation of the exacqVision platform, starting with its Z-Series recorders, to cover its parking decks. From there, it began to incorporate a hybrid platform, including exacqVision VMS, to support the analogue cameras used for the parking decks, as well as the IP cameras being installed for security elsewhere. The migration began several years ago, but today the campus boasts nearly 900 cameras in use, with about 700 IP and the remainder analogue. Each recorder can handle up to 128 IP cameras and 64 analogue ones, and it works with thousands of IP camera models. Within that time, the UNCG PD has also grown to become a state-of-the-art department, with its own command and emergency operations centre, where it can monitor and manage its video surveillance system. Intuitive video surveillance system In selecting the exacqVision Z-Series, UNCG’s police department was seeking an intuitive system In selecting the exacqVision Z-Series, UNCG’s police department was seeking an intuitive system that would put the necessary information at the fingertips of whosoever was on duty. It was also critical to deploy a system with built-in redundancy, to protect against any data loss, in the event of a power issue or system fail. “It’s a pretty easy end-user experience for our officers, without a lot of technological background,” said Joshua Green, Technical Services Analyst for the UNCG PD. Scalable video security system The software within the system makes it simple to perform tasks, such as playing back recordings or searching for data, using a single screen. One of the biggest benefits of the Z-Series is its scalability, offering one of the largest processors and fastest speeds of the DVRs on the market. The system’s design also makes it easy to add new cameras and licensing. One of the common usages of the exacqVision platform is for traffic management. Using the video from the exacqVision system, they can perform tasks, such as counting parking spaces, to know when a parking lot is full, as well as to watch crosswalks, to see how pedestrian and vehicle traffic is moving, or where people are congregating. Key inputs for efficient resource allocation It can also be used to help the police department determine where to put resources. For example, how many people are in the workout room and does that area need extra patrols, or are there concerns about equipment in the computer lab and how should that be monitored? There is also time savings to be gained, by working with exacqVision VMS platform There is also time savings to be gained, by working with exacqVision VMS platform, a system that lets the user easily search recorded video, with a timeline search. Green recalled an instance when someone was concerned that an iPad had been stolen, but a quick check of the video showed within a matter of minutes that the item had been safety stored away, rather than taken. UNCG, NETCom and Intelligent Marketing Inc. partnership As a long-time user of the Z series and exacqVision VMS, UNCG, NETCom and Intelligent Marketing Inc. are quick to share their success stories and concerns to improve the product. “These guys, (Tim Reese, Sergeant for the technical services area, and Green), are working with Exacq engineers on changes that everyone will benefit from,” such as improvements to the mapping feature,” said Bob Moulton, North Carolina’s Territory Manager for Intelligent Marketing, a security manufacturer representative firm that works closely with end-user customers. Smart video surveillance solution The ability to make integrations down the road, because of the scalability of the system, whether it’s adding card access or expanding the number of cameras, makes the Z-Series a smart strategic investment for the university. We are looking to the future of our surveillance system to ensure the safety of the university’s students" “We are looking to the future of our surveillance system to ensure the safety of the university’s students, faculty and visitors,” said Tim Reese, Sergeant for the technical services area, adding “Migrating to and implementing a new NVR platform provides the university with an important foundation for future surveillance capabilities and usability.” Implementing new NVR platform Systems integrator, NETCom Cabling and Security Systems concurred with those sentiments. “We enjoyed the opportunity to collectively work together with the University of North Carolina’s police department and Intelligent Marketing Inc. to support the University’s goal of continuously making improvements to ensure the campus remains secure,” said Aaron Spivey, Director of Security at NETcom Cabling. Aaron Spivey adds, “Together, we’ve achieved that objective and we look forward to continuing to work together in the future.” Security system providers: Intelligent Marketing Inc., based in Haverhill, Massachusetts., works in concert with manufacturers, distributors, specifiers, and integrators to assist with system design and specifications. Intelligent Marketing Inc. delivers proactive customer service, training, and support from project inception to completion, and more. NETcom Cabling and Security Systems, Greensboro, North Carolina, has been in business since 1990, specialising in category 5e/6 and 6a copper, indoor/outdoor fiber installations, card access, cameras, perimeter detection, gate entry systems, paging and AV solutions. NETcom has the capabilities to create comprehensive commercial cabling and security plans, through its in-house CAD department.

The user may know that fixed licence plate reader technology (LPR) is one of the most powerful security tools available for protecting buildings and perimeters of geographical areas. Best practices for ELSAG® Fixed Plate Hunter LPR systems include: College, university, and school campuses Airports Casinos Manufacturing facilities Houses of worship Transportation depots Utility infrastructure Municipal buildings Military campuses Ports and border stations Fixed plate readers are also proving to be fundamental components of public safety missions designed to protect people in high-pedestrian areas, or those targeted by traffickers and predators. This case study offers three real-life instances of fixed or semi-fixed deployments that not only keep buildings and perimeters secure, but also people. Identifying suspect vehicle The ELSAG Fixed Plate Hunter ALPR in action fixed ELSAG ALPR cameras are attached to infrastructure like a utility pole or sign gantry. Fixed cameras scan plates of passing vehicles, capturing licence plate numbers, date/time stamps and GPS locations. The infrared camera captures b/w images of each plate and a colour camera captures overview images of each vehicle. A computer reads the plate characters and compares them with a hot list. Plates that match a white or hot list trigger instant alerts to security officials. ELSAG Fixed Plate Hunter ALPR Performance: Cameras read licence plates, day or night, in any weather. Plates are processed at up to 150 mph (241 kph) passing speeds, from over 100 feet away. Plates are recognised using specially designed protocols for each jurisdiction in which the systems are deployed ELSAG Fixed Plate Hunter ALPR Performance. Alerts are sent to officials, command centres and other patrol cars instantaneously, upon identifying a suspect vehicle. Captured data includes date/time stamps, GPS coordinates and photo of the licence plate. Fixed systems can capture the speed of passing vehicles. Hot list updates are wirelessly received and transmitted. Keeping people safer Duck, NC is a coastal community located in Dare County on the Outer Banks of North Carolina There are flexible LPR technologies available that allows the user to address any law enforcement and security mission or challenge that involves vehicles with licence plates. Here are three examples of LPR programs using Leonardo systems that were started for routine purposes, then expanded to help keep people safer and more secure. Duck, NC is a coastal community located in Dare County on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It hosts about 20,000 people during the summer months. In 2015 The Chief of Police began an LPR program with two fixed cameras to help manage ‘burglary season’ on the island. Cameras read plates as vehicles enter and leave town. Almost immediately two arrests were made in separate cases of burglars who had been stealing from area homes for over a decade. Identifying stolen vehicles The Duck, NC program also identified stolen vehicles, located missing persons, and exposed narcotic activities, leading to the expansion of their LPR network. Additional fixed cameras protect the 30 miles from Manns Harbor to the Wright Memorial Bridge. Additional fixed cameras protect the 30 miles from Manns Harbor to the Wright Memorial Bridge The Dare County LPR program is now instrumental in keeping track of residents who adhere to hurricane evacuations and any who choose to stay on the island. LPR traffic tallies and licence plate numbers give officials an estimate of people who may need help during the crisis, and an address. “Our LPR systems provided us a starting point to begin and end any type of situation or investigation.” John Cueto, Retired Chief of Police, Duck, NC. Pedestrian-heavy area In 2015, BA Tránsito, the road traffic authority in Buenos Aires, used a network of fixed LPR cameras to support an initiative designed to protect the pedestrian-heavy area of the oldest part of the capital city known as the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. Only taxi cabs, government officials and other select vehicles are allowed to use the streets there. If any LPR camera reads the licence plate of a vehicle without a permit, they are mailed a ticket. The success of the original LPR program led to a 2017 expansion to relieve traffic congestion in the area immediately surrounding the Autonomous City. This busy metropolitan area, the ‘centre city ring,’ has multi-lane roads in several directions, dangerously busy with vehicle activity. Cutting down daily traffic To encourage compliance, every licence plate number read is prominently displayed on digital signs BA Tránsito cut down daily traffic by half using fixed LPR systems. Licence plates ending with odd numbers can enter the centre city ring on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Plates ending with even numbers have access on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Police wait nearby to stop unauthorised vehicles. To encourage compliance, every licence plate number read is prominently displayed on digital signs for all other drivers to see. The NTSCIU covers eight counties, looking for criminals who use interstates and highways to smuggle illicit contraband. In 2017 they started an LPR program with two mobile LPR units to read plates as officers patrolled. They expanded their LPR network in 2018 with the addition of a LPR radar trailer housing two fixed cameras to serve as a semi-fixed system that could be easily moved to different places along highways, as needed. LPR radar trailers In 2018, they purchased an additional trailer to use along strategic routes and support requests from other agencies within the NTSCIU to help curtail crimes such as burglaries. While there are countless headlines about NTSCIU’s removal of illicit drugs from Texas highways and seizures of drug money and other contraband, aided by LPR technology, one of their most important cases was the recovery of a child abducted in California. As described by an NTSCIU supervisor, that case alone paid for their entire investment in LPR technology As described by an NTSCIU supervisor, that case alone paid for their entire investment in LPR technology. In 2018, the NTSCIU learned of an Outlaw Motorcycle Gang rally in their jurisdiction. They deployed LPR radar trailers around the event site to gather data (licence plate number, photos of each plate on a bike or vehicle, date and time stamps, and trailer identifier). Fixed LPR technology Should events occur during the rally that would require investigating, law enforcement could analyse the data for information to help resolve the issue. Agencies of every size will benefit from deploying fixed LPR technology—to aid security of places and people. There are lease options and grants available to help with funding, and Leonardo even has a lower-cost video camera LPR solution available now. So, get your agency outfitted with this 21st-century technology that is changing law enforcement best practices by increasing capacity, productivity and facilitating creative ways to address any issue that involves a licence plate.

One of India's most premier educational institutions, IIT Delhi, is sprawled over 325 acres of land. It houses classrooms, department buildings, laboratories, libraries, recreational zones, and residential areas for students, faculty, and other staff, among other things. Need for an intelligent surveillance system As expansive and beautifully landscaped the institute is, it presented a massive security challenge. Until now, its measures were limited to the campus being physically manned by security personnel. Considering the size of the institute, having a few security guards was inadequate and inefficient to properly monitor the entire premises, safeguard the students and prevent unsightly events. The need of the hour was an intelligent surveillance system that facilitates end-to-end protection by providing complete visibility of the campus, especially the entry and exit points, perimeter walls, and passages, as well as helps instill discipline within the institute.  Videonetics provided 24X7 protection Videonetics worked closely with IIT Delhi and system integrator Supreme Audiotek to identify key strategic locations on the premise that needed to be secured. Approximately 300 high-definition network cameras were deployed to cover all vantage points and locations. Approximately 300 high-definition network cameras were deployed to cover all vantage points and locations These cameras covered entry and exits, boundaries of the campus, passages, playground, cafeteria, outdoor walkways, and lobbies of the various buildings, to keep in check incidents of bullying, vandalism, teasing, unauthorised visitors, and so on. Videonetics AI-powered Intelligent Video Management Software (IVMS) 3.0 was chosen to support these network cameras to ensure efficient and seamless management of humongous video data. The enterprise-class solution helped to record, view and manage these cameras from its unified interface, providing situational awareness and actionable intelligence. Vigilance and collaborative action The hundreds of cameras deployed across the campus provide a comprehensive view of all areas to the security personnel manning the Command & Control Centre. With live video playing 24X7 on the video wall, they can ensure constant vigilance, spot unusual behaviour at any time, and send alerts to the on-ground security staff for swift action.  With Videonetics Intelligent VMS, security operators at IIT Delhi are proactively identifying, addressing, and investigating incidents faster. Robust data protection To safeguard the privacy of students, staff, and visitors, Intelligent VMS ensures that the highest possible standards of data protection are followed. In this respect, it has offered its multi-pronged security measures, which include multi-factor authentication so that data is accessible only to authorised operators, encryption of data at rest to protect from cyber threats, video watermarking to discourage unauthorised use, and more.  Smart investigation-friendly software    With smart and user-friendly Intelligent VMS, security operators can monitor and evaluate live and recorded videos With smart and user-friendly navigation of Intelligent VMS, security operators can monitor and evaluate live, as well as recorded videos simultaneously in the same interface, helping them to quickly investigate incidents in history, without losing sight of the current activities. That means when incidents happen, operators can quickly find, select such videos, and share them with authorised officials for conducting investigations without leaving their desks. Furthermore, the leading-edge Intelligent VMS also provides collaborative tools for the operators to exchange messages and share observations about any suspected activity by using in-built chat room of the software.  Resilient and future-ready platform  Lastly, Videonetics open, flexible, and resilient IVMS system can be evolved with the growth of the infrastructure, as well as seamlessly integrate with third-party applications and devices. Moreover, it is future-ready and can tackle all the challenges of today and tomorrow. Videonetics Intelligent VMS 3.0 With the cutting-edge and state-of-the-art Videonetics Intelligent VMS 3.0, security personnel can efficiently monitor the entire campus round the clock. With live visualisation, they can identify incidents and emergencies in real-time and respond immediately. Additionally, the knowledge that the premises are protected by cameras has brought down disciplinary and safety-related incidents. AI-powered interface AI-powered offering also provides them with intelligent insights to help on-campus authorities predict and prevent events The AI-powered offering also provides them with intelligent insights to help on-campus authorities predict and prevent events. For example, people crowding to fight, someone being followed, property being vandalised, unwanted people entering the premises, etc. This allows them to intervene in time and take preventive action before the issue escalates. The intuitive, adaptive, and user-friendly interface of the solution has made it very easy for the security teams to understand, learn and master the software. Boosting safety and confidence of students The solution is designed to complement the existing security systems and practices to ensure a comprehensive security infrastructure for enhanced safety of the students and faculty. The Videonetics solution has boosted the confidence of students, parents, faculty, staff, and others and made them feel safe at all times. It has brought them immense peace of mind, helping them focus on what they came to IIT Delhi for -- learn and grow.  Advanced features & user-friendly interface Operators are increasingly relying on real-time surveillance, monitoring, and instantaneous investigation" Tarun Sethi, Manager – Sales of Supreme Audiotek Pvt. Ltd expressed “IIT Delhi wanted to install a surveillance system that can be adopted by their security personnel easily. Today, operators at the command control centre are effortlessly using Intelligent VMS due to its user-friendly interface and advanced features.” “They are increasingly relying on real-time surveillance, monitoring, flagging, playback, and instantaneous investigation. Needless to mention, our partnership with Videonetics was one of the cornerstones that allowed the project to fly and succeed. We look forward to working with them in the future as well.” Network monitoring Mukesh Khandelwal, Institute Engineer of IIT Delhi said "We were looking for a solution that could provide security to the entire premises of IIT Delhi, as well as help us administer discipline.” “The Videonetics IVMS solution was a perfect fit for viewing and managing extensive camera network covered all key strategic locations, enabling protection of students and faculty. Additionally, its user-friendly interface with advanced features made it very easy to monitor the campus 24X7, by empowering our existing security infrastructures.”

ASSA ABLOY’s Code Handle door entry solution is a simple solution for keeping private rooms very private, in order to allow access only to those who require it and authorised personnel. Code Handle door entry solution The PIN code setting of the Code Handle access control solution allows users to keep control of who has access, particularly important when they want to keep items away from children. In primary schools, Code Handle protects each and every room that staff and security don’t want pupils to access. This ensures that only authorised teachers and support staff, who know the code to unlock the door, can access these rooms. All they need to do is enter the code on the Code Handle‘s keypad and the door opens. Works together with existing locking units Code Handle, by ASSA ABLOY, works in combination with the existing locking units Code Handle, by ASSA ABLOY, works in combination with the existing locking units, already installed in facilities. Users can keep the cylinder or lock, and just change the handle to a battery-powered Code Handle. With Code Handle, there is no need to cable the door, connect it to the mains or install an electronic access control system. The Code Handle door entry solution is perfect for staff offices, kitchens, store rooms, staff toilets, or any other school room that is to be kept private and secure. ASSA ABLOY’s Code Handle has various benefits, including: Auto-lock - Staff rooms are used many times, throughout the day, With Code Handle’s auto lock feature, there is no need to remember to lock the door, when exiting. Easy to install and retrofit - All it takes is two screws and two minutes of time, to install Code Handle on almost any interior door. Keyless and convenient - Secure rooms with no keys, no wires and no expensive access control system, with the Code Handle door entry solution.

A host of industry-pioneering fire protection solutions from UK manufacturer, Advanced, have been installed to protect approximately 140,000 sq ft of Grade A office space at Westferry House, Canary Wharf. As a cornerstone office building situated at the western gateway to Europe’s largest and most successful business district, Westferry House consists of 11 storeys, complete with its retail promenade on the ground floor. At the core of the active fire protection for the building are six Advanced MxPro 5 fire alarm control panels installed alongside Apollo Soteria multi-sensors. Installing custom-made fire panel Responsible for all aspects of the installation, as well as the future maintenance of the system, are Advanced partners, Pacific Security Systems Ltd. The Kent-based fire and security specialists installed the MxPro 5 fire panels alongside Advanced’s remote-control terminal and repeater panel, TouchControl, to provide a discreet and aesthetically pleasing means of viewing the fire system in the building’s recently refurbished reception area. Advanced’s team was commissioned by Pacific Security Systems to design and manufacture a custom-built annunciator panel Advanced’s AdSpecials team was also commissioned by Pacific Security Systems to design and manufacture a custom-built annunciator panel to control the pressurisation and extraction fans and dampers on all floors of the building. The annunciator also integrates with the building’s VA/PA system to provide manual control of messages on all floors. Reliable and user-friendly solutions Kirk Short, Director at Pacific Security Systems, said, “As long-time installers of Advanced with many successful projects, large and small, under our belts, we know its solutions are both reliable and user friendly. The bespoke equipment we required for the fire system upgrade at Westferry House is of an excellent standard, and we found the AdSpecials team very easy to work with throughout the entire design process.” Advanced’s AdSpecials team works with customers requiring bespoke fire panels to design and manufacture unique fire system solutions, whatever the installation challenge. Versatile TouchControl solution Amanda Hope, UK Fire Business Development Manager at Advanced, said, “Canary Wharf attracts some of the World’s most respected and successful companies, and it was fantastic to learn that our solutions have been installed in such a prestigious commercial office space.” “Westferry House is just a stone’s throw from the Landmark Pinnacle – the UK’s tallest residential building – another iconic site protected by Advanced’s MxPro 5 panels. Westferry House is also a fantastic example of where our TouchControl solution comes into its own, providing additional monitoring and control in a sleek and versatile format that complements the building’s stylish reception space.” Touchscreen repeater TouchControl is a high-resolution touchscreen repeater that makes it easy to check fire system status via interactive maps TouchControl is the low-profile, high-resolution touchscreen repeater that makes it easy to check fire system status via interactive maps and zone plans while harmonising with a wide range of interiors. When in standby, it can be used to display branding, advertisements, and information, but will instantly revert to fire operation when a fire condition occurs. Advanced, owned by FTSE 100 Company Halma PLC, protects a wide range of prestigious and high-profile sites across the globe – from London’s Shard to Abu Dhabi International Airport and the Hong Kong – Zhuhai – Macau Bridge Fire protection solutions   Advanced is a world pioneer in the development and manufacture of fire protection solutions. Advanced’s reputation for performance, quality, and ease of use see its products specified in locations around the world, from single-panel installations to large, multi-site networks. Advanced’s products include complete fire detection systems, multi-protocol fire panels, extinguishing control, fire paging, false alarm management, and reduction systems as well as emergency lighting. Halma is a global group of life-saving technology companies with a clear purpose to grow a safer, cleaner, healthier future for everyone, every day.

School shootings are a high-profile reminder of the need for the highest levels of security at our schools and education facilities. Increasingly, a remedy to boost the security at schools is to use more technology. However, no technology is a panacea, and ongoing violence and other threats at our schools suggest some level of failure. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How have security solutions failed our schools and what is the solution?

Securing large campus environments can be particularly demanding and requires a range of technology solutions. In effect, a campus may represent a dozen or more individual facilities to be secured, in addition to protecting the overall environment. Seeking more insight into the number and variety of needs of securing a campus, we asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the security challenges of protecting large campus environments?

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?