COVID-19

The 2021 edition of Saudi International Airshow will double in size, with more than 100,000 square metre surface exhibition space, two new exhibition halls, in addition to the existing hall and a static display. Despite COVID-19 and several months of slow business, many requests for exhibiting have been received as Saudi International Airshow will be the first airshow to be held in 2021, the organisers said. Hosted by Saudi Aviation Club and held under the Patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Chairman of the Saudi Space Commission, Founder and Chairman of Saudi Aviation Club, Saudi International Airshow will take place at Thumamah Airport, Riyadh from 16 to 28 February 2021. Aerospace products and services For its second edition, Saudi International Airshow will introduce two new areas: Space & Satellite, and Aviation & Aerospace Cyber Security, and will host more than 500 international booths where exhibitors will showcase a full range of aerospace products and services. The exhibition will have stations located next to the runway to offer a full range of aircraft available for test flights. World’s top aviation companies have confirmed their commitment to Saudi International Airshow 2021 The world’s top aerospace and aviation companies have confirmed their commitment to Saudi International Airshow 2021, the organisers added. International Pavilions, representing countries such as USA, France, UK, Russia, China, Czech Republic will have dedicated zones at the show. Saudi International Airshow has become one of the top Aviation & Aerospace events within the Middle East, as Saudi Arabia is the largest market within the region. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Saudi International Airshow connects the Aviation and Aerospace industry to Saudi Arabia. It provides the perfect platform to learn, network and conduct business across all areas of the industry and promote successful worldwide trade. The show will also provide an opportunity to meet the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) community and learn about UAV technology. The outstanding 2019 edition established Saudi International Airshow as one of the key events within the aviation and aerospace industry. The first edition was attended by more than 20,000 people, featured more than 80 aircraft, 57 participating countries, and 267 local and international companies who signed 15 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs).

The new Wisenet PoE extender cameras from Hanwha Techwin are designed to save integrators and end users time and money, when there is a requirement to install two cameras within 80 metres of each other. For retrofit applications where an additional camera is needed, system integrators need to simply substitute an existing Wisenet camera with a PoE Extender camera, and then re-install it at the new camera location, with both devices being able to share the same cable run. PoE Extender cameras With the ability to support all PoE cameras within the entire Wisenet range, the new 2 and 5 megapixel PoE Extender indoor and outdoor dome cameras provide an equally cost effective solution for new installations as they reduce the number of network ports and switches, as well as the amount of cabling, required. Installation ease is matched by a considerably reduction in the cost of the time that system integrators would normally have to spend on site to install a new camera. System integrators also have the option to connect other PoE enabled devices to the Wisenet PoE extender cameras, such as a supplementary lighting unit, I/O controller or PIR sensor.  Built-in IR LEDs and Digital Image Stabilisation The 4 new dome cameras all have built-in IR LEDs that illuminate objects up to 50 metres from the camera The 4 new dome cameras all have built-in IR LEDs that illuminate objects up to 50 metres from the camera and feature Digital Image Stabilisation (DIS) which helps ensure the capture of sharp, stable images by reducing motion blur which is caused by wind or vibration. All are equipped with Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) technology, with the 2 megapixel models performing at up to 150dB and the 5 megapixel models at up to 120dB, to produce clear images from scenes containing a challenging mix of bright and dark areas, which normally results in overexposed or underexposed images. User-friendly installation Part of the Wisenet X Plus series, the PoE Extender cameras offer a number of other practical features that further minimises the time installers have to spend on site, including magnets which lock sensor modules into the dome housing. A waterproof gland, through which a network cable can be inserted with the aid of an RJ45 plastic push-through device, negates the need to re-make a cable end. Prior to installation, technicians from the convenience of their workshop should be able to configure IP network settings without the need to remove a camera module from its packaging. Advanced audio and video analytics The new cameras come supplied with a diverse range of licence-free specialist analytics such as directional detection, virtual line, enter/exit, appear/disappear and loitering detection. In addition, an audio analysis function is able to recognise critical sounds, such as explosions, screams and broken glass, and then immediately generates an alert to enable emergency services to react quickly and effectively to any incident. In a retail environment, for example, this functionality could be used to alert security personnel that a customer is behaving aggressively to a sales colleague. Retail Insight business Intelligence solution Processing power of the chipset at the heart of the new cameras enables them to support edge-based people counting The processing power of the chipset at the heart of the new cameras enables them to support edge-based people counting, heat maps and queue management applications. The new cameras offer retailers, art galleries, museums and other business establishments which are open to the public, the opportunity to gain a greater understanding of customer behaviour and improve productivity accordingly, with the option to display the captured data on the centralised dashboard of the Wisenet Retail Insight (v2.0) business intelligence solution. Additional key features of the Wisenet PoE extender cameras include the following: PoE Out: Maximum 12.95W at 80 meters using CAT5/5E cable. Hallway View which provides a highly effective way to monitor narrow vertical areas such as shopping aisles and corridors, and extended tilt range of up to 90 degrees to ensure wide area coverage when the cameras are installed in locations which have low ceiling heights. WiseStream II, a complementary compression technology which dynamically controls encoding, balancing quality and compression, according to movement in the image. When WiseStream II is combined with H.265 compression, bandwidth efficiency is improved by up to 99% compared to current H.264 technology. Shock-detection technology which, via built-in gyro sensors, detects unusual physical shocks and generates alerts to enable operators to quickly respond to any incidents. Audio playback on event. Up to five pre-recorded warning messages can be stored on-board a PoE extender camera and these can be programmed to automatically play when pre-defined events occur. The new Wisenet PoE extender cameras are as follows: Wisenet XNV-6081RE 2 megapixel outdoor dome with 2.8-12mm varifocal lens Wisenet XND-6081REV 2 megapixel indoor dome with 2.8-12mm varifocal lens Wisenet XNV-8081RE 5 megapixel outdoor dome with 3.6-9.4mm varifocal lens Wisenet XND-8081REV 5 megapixel indoor dome with 3.6-9.4mm varifocal lens Cost-effective video integration solution “At a time when many businesses will be striving to recover from the economic consequences of COVID-19 and might therefore have a reduced security budget, we are very pleased to be able to introduce a highly cost effective way to add a camera or another PoE enabled device to an existing system, or install a new two camera video surveillance solution,” said Uri Guterman, Head of Product & Marketing for Hanwha Techwin Europe. He adds, “As well as their value proposition to end-users, these new cameras will undoubtably make life much easier for system integrators by minimising the time they have to spend on site.”

Digital Guardian announced that it has released a new research report, The DG Data Trends Report, which assesses the risk of sensitive data loss during the COVID-19 crisis. The research is based on aggregated and anonymised data from nearly 200 customers of Digital Guardian’s Managed Security Program around the globe. It represents a wide range of organisation sizes and industries, including financial services, manufacturing, healthcare, and business services. As they continue to work from home, employees from these companies regularly interact with regulated and structured data as well as unstructured intellectual property and trade secrets. The data set analysed was from January 1 – April 15, 2020 and comparative data was evaluated from January 1 – February 29, 2020 (before the global onset on COVID-19) vs. March 1 – April 15, 2020 (after the COVID-19 pandemic came to the forefront). Sensitive data loss This enabled Digital Guardian to compare data egress patterns before and after the work from home transition took place and gauge its impact on the risk of sensitive data loss, now and in the future.  Key Findings: There was a 123% increase in the volume of data downloaded to USB devices by employees after the pandemic declaration and working from home became widespread. 74% of that data had been classified by organisation data governance policies. Cloud storage and USB devices became the most preferred egress paths after the COVID-19 emergency declaration, accounting for 89% of all data egressed. Data egress via all paths (email, cloud, USB, etc.) was 80% higher in the first month following WHO’s COVID-19 pandemic declaration. More than 50% of the data egressed was classified. From March 11 - April 15, employees uploaded 336 TB of data to the cloud, a 72% increase from January and February combined. After the WHO’s declaration, Digital Guardian’s Managed Detection & Response analysts also saw a 62% increase in malicious activity from external attackers, a number that corresponded to a 54% increase in incident response investigations required. USB device usage Our research indicates remote employees are egressing classified data at unprecedented rates" IT and security professionals should pay particular attention to the significant uptick in USB device usage as they inherently increase the risk of sensitive data loss due to their portability and likelihood of being misplaced, lost or stolen. “Organisations have accepted that the economic and health effects of COVID-19 will be with them for the foreseeable future and working from home will remain a requirement for many of their employees,” said Tim Bandos, VP, Cybersecurity, Digital Guardian. Data security enforcement “Our research indicates remote employees are egressing classified data at unprecedented rates across all egress paths. Executives and security teams would be wise to consider implementing solutions that provide visibility into this behaviour, and a means to control it, in order to avoid a potential data breach.” The DG Data Trends Report contains more in-depth information, including statistics on additional data egress channels and points of risk that were monitored, a primer on data security enforcement actions, examples of COVID-19 phishing attacks, as well as recommendations to protect remote workforces.

In 2020, with the continuous spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of people have been infected around the globe. Touchless security devices In these uncertain times, with the ever-increasing demand for touchless security devices, Anviz, a globally renowned biometric security solutions firm, offers the latest touchless solutions - iris and face recognition access control terminals. The company’s latest iris and face recognition access control terminals help reassure business owners, wrestling with the uncertainties of running their businesses, during this very challenging period. Iris S2000 and FacePass 7 Series access control terminals Anviz’s Iris (S2000) and FacePass (FacePass 7 Series) recognition terminals provide 100% touchless user authentication for a variety of applications, spanning access control, time & attendance, visitor management, etc. These terminals help: Detect if a person requesting access has an acceptable face mask or glasses. The face recognition readers have body temperature detection that will instantly alert and deny access to anyone trying to enter with body temperature above the acceptable range. Efficient body temperature screening Anviz’s iris and face recognition terminals feature a very powerful embedded dual core processor Denying access to anyone with high body temperature prevents healthy individuals from being infected, especially in shipping facilities, airports, schools, commercial office buildings, pharmacies, grocery stores, and so on. Anviz’s iris and face recognition terminals are a combination of a very powerful embedded dual core processor and the latest AI deep learning algorithm for high-level accuracy and quick matching-speed. Featuring integrated thermal sensor The capture time of the company’s touchless access control devices is less than 1 second and the matching speed is less than 0.5 second and its body temperature detection is accurate to within +/- 0.3 degrees Fahrenheit when a person stands within 20 inches of its integrated thermal sensor. Anviz successfully launched 3 models of its touchless access control series.

Dallmeier electronic, one of the world's manufacturers of video security and video information technology, is currently conducting a survey on its website regarding the "Made in Germany" and “Made in Europe” seal of quality. End users and interested parties from various industries as well as partners, erectors and planners are warmly invited to take part in this survey. As a consequence of the coronavirus crisis, a lot of businesses are currently considering many things from a different point of view – perhaps even more radically than when the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was passed into law two years ago. Data protection The relative merits of questions such as the manufacturer's origin, faith in trading partners, stable supply chains, data protection and data security, and security in general are the subject of active and lively debate about solutions and products made in European countries. Dallmeier has, therefore, taken this opportunity to conduct a survey about the “Made in Germany” and “Made in Europe” seal of quality. At the beginning of July 2020, Dallmeier will publish the results of the survey in the form of a press release and on social networks. Those who wish to, can take part in the survey that can be found on the company’s official website (duration: 3–5 minutes).

Maxxess Systems, a global renowned provider of event response management and collaboration systems, is pleased to announce their partnership with Seek Thermal, an advanced imaging technology company, to deliver a complete temperature screening solution to help manage health risks. Temperature screening solution Unlike stand-alone systems for temperature screening, this new complete solution helps organisations not only detect health risks in real time, but also to trigger immediate automated security system protocols and then follow through by taking appropriate actions in accord with their policies and tracking results to completion. “The Covid-19 pandemic demonstrated to all companies the importance and value of detecting potential health threats and initiating a response as quickly as possible,” said Nancy Islas, President at Maxxess Systems. Integration with automated response system New complete solution integrates the latest temperature screening technology with our automated response system" Nancy adds, “This new complete solution integrates the latest temperature screening technology with our automated response system that can initiate immediate action and then guide managers as they deliver trusted information to authorised personnel and follow through to ensure the safety and security of their staff and visitors.” “As the Covid-19 isolation lock downs are eased, Health screening will be an essential part of re-opening and will probably continue to be an ongoing part of our healthy future,” said Mike Muench, CEO of Seek Thermal. Mike adds, “By combining our reliable temperature screening system with the Maxxess response coordination system, we will give organisations the tools to detect potential health risks and take the next appropriate steps.” Non-contact thermal imaging technology This unique new technology brings together two key elements to help create the complete temperature screening solution. The first element is the simple, accurate automated temperature screening system from Seek Scan that is specifically designed and calibrated for skin temperature measurements. This non-contact thermal imaging technology is perfect for lobbies, hallways, and other key access points. InSite Health Risk Management application When a person with an elevated temperature is detected, an alert is set to the second key element of the system, InSite’s Health Risk Management application from Maxxess. The InSite system is integrated with access control, communication, and other systems and can take immediate action programmed to be in alignment with company policies. For example, the system can deny entry to the individual and instruct them to wait for an HR representative. Efficient health screening and status update It is clear that the need for health status screening will continue into the future If a contagious disease is confirmed, the system can assist management in timely, accurate follow up, surveys to confirm the status of coworkers and recent contacts, and deliver clear, trusted information to all relevant staff.  It is clear that the need for health status screening will continue into the future, even after the current Covid-19 lockdowns are eased. This complete solution offers many advantages over stand-alone temperature screening systems, including: The ability to send both the temperature alert and the image of the person to the desktop and/or the mobile app of the InSite system, making it accessible to anyone with authorised access instantly. Because the InSite system provides for remote access, the authorised viewers can be located anywhere inside or outside the facility. InSite integration with access control systems allows for automating the entrances to lock or unlock depending on the temperature screening result. Health Risk alerts can be routed to the responsible departments or people automatically and without delay. There is no need to staff the temperature screening camera, because the appropriate staff can be summoned in the case of an alert. And, the InSite solution logs all actions for audit, review, or similar purposes.

Technology has played a vital role in how businesses have enabled their employees to work productively from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. For those of us who can do our jobs from home you only have to look at the ‘Zoom Boom’ to see how much our working lives have changed compared to the beginning of the year. Despite the fact that those companies that can are now productively and efficiently operating remotely, the country is now facing the next challenge in this crisis: how to safely reopen workplaces for those who can’t. There is no argument that the economy hasn’t taken a hit during this unpredictable time. Shops, restaurants and entertainment facilities have been forced to close, and 23% of the country’s workforce (6.3 million people) has been furloughed. It’s no surprise that the Bank of England has warned that the UK is heading towards its sharpest recession on record. To counter this economic risk, the government is taking steps to slowly and cautiously reopen the economy by easing lockdown measures, sending people back to work and allowing businesses to reopen. With non-essential retail outlets now able to open from the 15th June, the question business owners face is how to operate safely and maintain social distancing practices, which are set to remain in place until such time as a vaccine is widely available. With lockdown easing and a ‘new normal’ on the horizon, the health of the country’s workforce mustn’t be forgotten in a bid to save the economy. This is why technology that can allow for a controlled return to work, while mitigating any risks to the health of consumers and employees, must play a part in the easing of lockdown. Temperature screening in the new normal Elevated temperature screening is one technology that should play a key part in return to work strategies and the safe reopening of businesses. This valuable solution uses a thermal and optical camera to analyse body temperature, which is a key indicator of the presence of a potential illness, and discreetly alerts the operator when the set temperature threshold is exceeded by someone screened by the tool. With temperature screening technology in place, the exposure of potentially infected individuals to others can be dramatically decreased and the risk of a localised outbreak minimised. Furthermore, for businesses such as retailers whose success is dependent on customers feeling safe to visit the premises, it has the added benefit of giving them additional assurances that visible measures for their protection are in place. In combination with other solutions, such as vigorous testing and screens to protect employees and customers, returning to work can be safe and controlled. With temperature screening technology in place, the exposure of potentially infected individuals to others can be dramatically decreased The reality of a ‘new normal’ may already be visible in some industries, such as grocery retail where one-way systems, plastic screens and constant cleaning are already in place. However, elevated temperature screening has countless applications for both essential and non-essential industries, ranging from offices and train stations, to hospitals and pharmacies. This screening technology allows businesses to take preventative steps to minimise the chances of the wider workforce and customers coming into contact with someone exhibiting symptoms of a potential illness. A number of businesses are already deploying this technology, such as Vodafone, which has deployed heat detection cameras at key UK sites to protect its employees. The camera used by the telco can screen up to eight people at once and 100 people per minute, while judging body temperature in less than half a second – all of which makes it ideal for congested and high traffic areas. Not all solutions are created equal Over the past few months, we have been inundated with images and videos of temperature screening taking place within key industries, which have continued to operate through the pandemic. However, the hand-held thermometers commonly being used require the device to be within an extremely short range of the subject and are only able to screen one person at a time. This is why remote elevated temperature screening solutions are so valuable – especially given that social distancing guidelines are unlikely to be relaxed in the near future. Stand-off solutions can enable temperature screening to take place without the need for close human interaction, further safeguarding employees and reducing the risk of contact with potentially infected individuals. Elevated temperature screening has countless applications for both essential and non-essential industries, ranging from offices and train stations, to hospitals and pharmacies Along with remote capabilities, there are a number of other crucial factors to take into account. The solution must be quick and easy to implement, as well as being highly accurate. When paired with a blackbody, the accuracy of temperature screening solutions can be within 0.3°C. Connectivity is also key and adopting an end-to-end solution linked to a centralised command and control location is invaluable. With holistic connectivity, these solutions can encompass cameras installed in multiple locations, and alarms can be viewed locally, remotely or on a smartphone app. This means that staff don’t need to provide direct supervision to the device on-site. With the guidelines regarding which industries and sectors can reopen changing on an almost daily basis, it’s important that these protective solutions can be installed without overhauling the surveillance infrastructure already in place. Looking ahead, adopting a solution with an upgrade path to other enhancements, such a facial recognition, is favourable as they can be used in conjunction with future and existing security measures.  Shop local Stand-off solutions can enable temperature screening to take place without the need for close human interaction Businesses have plenty on their minds as they prepare for the uncertainty that is sure to continue throughout the rest of the year and beyond. However, due diligence can’t be left to the wayside when looking to adopt an elevated temperature screening solution. There are high-risk vendors present in the market, many of which have been blacklisted in the US, and they must be given a wide berth. Buying British-made technology can alleviate these security concerns, as well as avoiding any logistical issues caused by the breakdown of global supply chains.  As the economy cautiously reopens, the country will have to adapt to a ‘new normal’ over the coming months. Elevated temperature screening solutions should be implemented by businesses to protect the health of the workforce and customers alike – ultimately paving the way to a safe and controlled return to work.

COVID-19 has already had a huge impact on the global economy. According to Statista, GDP growth globally will drop from around 3% to 2.4% - equivalent to a drop of around $35 trillion worldwide. In sectors like oil and gas, the impact is particularly acute: IHS Markit predicted that the reduction in oil consumption due to COVID-19 has led to a first-half surplus of 1.8 billion barrels of crude oil. The macroeconomic trends around these worldwide sectors point to harsher economic conditions and recession. For companies in the oil and gas sector running complex operations around the world, this will lead directly to tougher trading environments and a lot of necessary belt-tightening when it comes to costs around operations. Indirectly, the potential recession could cause more civil unrest and security threats for them as well. To cope with these potential challenges, companies will have to look at how they can maintain security for their operations and prevent risks as much as possible. Taking a contextual approach to physical security With these two goals in mind, looking at threat intelligence data should be considered. Threat intelligence refers to a set of data that can be used to judge current and future trends around risks, from everyday crime or political changes through to larger events like civil unrest, terrorism or the current pandemic. Based on data around these issues, companies can make better decisions on how they invest and manage their security posture in advance. Behind this overall approach, however, there are a significant number of moving parts that have to be considered. This includes where the data comes from, how it is used, and who is using the data. Companies can make better decisions on how they invest and manage their security posture The first consideration for threat intelligence is where data comes from. Typically, companies with large oilfields or refinery operations will have large investments in physical security to protect these environments, and part of this spend will include intelligence on local market, political and security conditions. Using this forecast data, your security leadership team can ensure that they have the right resources available in advance of any particular problem. This data can come from multiple sources, from social media data and crowdsourced information through to government, police and private company feeds. This mass of information can then be used to inform your planning and decision making around security, and how best to respond. However, one issue for oil and gas companies with distributed operations is how much data they have to manage over time. With so many potential sources of information all feeding back in real time, it’s hard to make sense of what comes in. Similarly, companies with international teams may have different sets and sources of data available to different parts of their organisations - while each team has its own view of what is going on, they may be missing out on contextual data from other sources held by neighbouring teams or by the central security department. Without a complete picture, it is easy to miss out on important information. Making threat intelligence smarter To solve this problem - and to reduce the costs around managing threat intelligence data - centralising your approach can make it easier to provide that context to all your teams and stakeholders. Rather than letting each team set up and run their own threat intelligence approach, centralising the data and letting each team use this can reduce costs. More importantly, it can improve the quality of your threat intelligence approach overall. By applying a combination of algorithms and security analysts to evaluate threat intelligence centrally, you can improve the quality of the data that you have coming into the organisation in the first place. This approach provides higher quality data for decision making. However, a centralised approach is not enough on its own. Local knowledge and analysis is always useful. Consequently, alongside any centralisation approach you have to have better filtering and search capabilities, otherwise you risk teams not being able to get the information that is particularly relevant and timely to them. This approach of bringing together centralised management of data feeds with more powerful tools for local teams to find what they want and get that access in real time represents the best of both worlds. Planning ahead Scenarios vary from a best case return to pre-crisis revenues of $50 to $60 per barrel by 2021 or 2022 According to consultancy firm McKinsey, the oil and gas sector faces an enormous challenge over the next few years. Scenarios vary from a best case return to pre-crisis revenues of $50 to $60 per barrel by 2021 or 2022, through to a worst case scenario where demand never returns and the industry has to undertake managed decline around some assets and look for new market opportunities in others. Whatever scenario plays out in the real world, security for existing assets will be a continued requirement. Planning ahead using threat intelligence data will be essential whatever happens. To help reduce costs and improve data quality, centralising this approach will help. Without this mix of global oversight and local detail, companies will find their operations hampered and wrong decisions are made. It’s only by applying threat intelligence data in the right context that security teams will be able to keep up with the challenges of the future.

There are many companies jumping into selling temperature detection systems to the state, local governments, hospitals, airports and local businesses, but do they know how to drive one? Anyone can get behind a car and drive it into a wall by accident. The same can happen with a temperature detection system.  The first thing you should ask is “does my firm have a certified thermographer?”. If not, the firm are at risk of getting a low quality system that is being resold to make quick cash. Businesses that are doing this do not know how to operate it properly. Asking the right questions Secondly, you should ask whether the system is NDAA compliant. NDAA compliance means that your temperature detection equipment is protected by U.S. law. Does your system have a HSRP device (blackbody)? HSRP (Heat Source Reference Point) is a device that will allow the camera to detect the correct temperature a distance. Even if the room temperature does change throughout the day, treat it as a reference point for the camera to know the temperature at that distance. Can your system scan mutliple people at once? Can your system scan mutliple people at once? This is a bad question but often asked since most systems will say yes. For ease, everyone wants to scan many people at once, but the best practice according to FDA and CDC guidelines is to run one person at a time for best accuracy. Why? The HSRP (blackbody) device tells the camera what the correct temperature is at a given distance away from the camera. Every foot you are away from the HSRP device will be off by 0.1 degrees roughly. If you are in a room full of people, let's say 6, in view of the camera, every person that is not next to the HSRP device (5) will be given an inaccurate reading. Hence why it is so important to run the system correctly with just one person at a time. You will also need to follow the 6 feet rule. If you take that into consideration, one at a time at 6 feet apart, the device should tell you how you need to run the system. Sensitivity of thermal imaging Is your system’s sensor accurate enough? The FDA recommends an error of ±0.5°C or better. When looking for a system, make sure it is better than what they recommend. I would recommend ±0.3°C or better. Do not purchase a system over ±-.5°C degrees as you are doing yourself and your customers or employees an injustice.  Another thing to look at is how many pixels it can determine the temperature from. Some cameras can only tell the temperature of 6 points on the screen, whilst others can take a temperature reading from each pixel. Take a 384x288 camera, for example, which would be over 110,000 points of temperature taking on a single image.      Thermal cameras are very sensitive, so there are a lot of do’s and don’ts. For example, the system cannot see through glasses or hats. On the below image you can see a person with the visual camera on the right, whilst on the left side is through a thermal camera.  Both are pointing at the same area. It is clear the person on the left side is “invisible” to the thermal imaging camera. Demonstrating the sensitivity of thermal imaging If you are a company who wants to detect the temperature of customers or employees though the front door, window or a car window, the answer would be no. You need a clear line of sight without any interference to scan for temperatures. Other things you need to look out for is wind and distance away from the HSRP (blackbody) device. Air and distance away from the HSRP device will make the system less and less accurate the more space between the device. Air and distance away from the HSRP device will make the system less and less accurate Thermal imaging and COVID-19 If you have a clear line of sight, is there anything I need to know? The answer is yes. Reflective materials such as metal can interfere with your temperature readings. Reflective materials are easily picked up from the thermal side so pointing at a medal, glass or anything reflective can cause inaccuracies within the system. In the age of COVID-19, temperature detection systems are more important than ever. Organisations must get a system in place to help scan for high temperatures in order to reduce the spread of the virus.

Sooner or later (hopefully sooner), the novel coronavirus global pandemic will allow workplaces to reopen. But as we move into this recovery phase, there are many questions surrounding the transition. How can companies ensure facilities are in acceptable working order to reopen? How do they decide who is coming back and when? How will social distancing impact the operation of a company’s physical access control system? How can companies ensure that both visitors and employees are aware of the policy changes and extra controls? For answers to these and other salient questions, we called on Ian Lowe, Product Marketing Director of HID SAFE Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions. “There’s no doubt about it: the global pandemic will change the way we live, work, and conduct business for some time,” says Lowe. “Over the past several weeks, we have been working with customers to enable a safe return to the workplace. We have observed that the number of challenges in the mid-to-long-term level and the associated complexity vary by location.” Lowe shares some of the proactive measures and best practices that can assist in a safe return to the workplace as we settle into a “new normal”. Challenge 1: Ensuring building readiness After being unoccupied for weeks or months, building readiness must be addressed completely before welcoming anyone inside. Even though employees may be eager to return, the workplace itself may not be ready. Companies may want to consider continuing remote work while facility operations are prepped. Challenge 2: workforce management There’s no doubt about it: the global pandemic will change the way we live, work, and conduct business for some time While it is dependent on location and industry, taking a phased approach is the best course of action when allowing employees, contractors and visitors back into facilities. First, facilities management will want to survey the property for readiness and then provide an estimate as to when employees may begin reporting back into the office. Next, it’s important to consider that office density needs are interrelated to the facility architecture. It is possible to accommodate a higher capacity of workforce in an airy, open office space than in a constrained one. A good rule of thumb is to start by introducing no more than 30% of employees back into the workplace at first. This could be a rolling group model in which the population total remains controlled and constant, but specific individuals vary from day to day. This option is good for a workforce that needs to be together in person but not necessarily all at the same time due to office density concerns. Welcoming visitors or customers into the office should be delayed as long as possible. If that’s not feasible, visitor numbers should be factored into the total density count. A cloud-based visitor management system can help with implementation. Challenge 3: Controlling access The ability to vet staff, employees, contractors and visitors before and during the return will vary greatly depending on the location. Policies should be implemented that require employees to be screened regularly — and for an extended amount of time. Look to answer the following questions: Where have you visited in the days since last entering the workplace? Have you come into contact with anyone else who has recently visited high-risk areas? Have you shown any symptoms of infection in the past xx number of days? Policies should be implemented that require employees to be screened regularly — and for an extended amount of time If there is cause for concern, refuse the visitor and/or supplement the screening process with additional steps. Temperature checking is mandatory in many organisations⁠— often multiple times a day. This applies to interactions at delivery bays, too. A policy-based physical identity and access management solution integrated with existing physical access controls makes it possible to enforce, monitor and report this type of activity. Challenge 4: Social distancing and contact tracing plan Social distancing may continue within the office, which will impact restrictions and guidelines related to access control. The office layout may be reworked for proper distance between cubicles, workplace positions and employees. Specific entrances, exits and pathways may be designated as one-way-only. Assigning Bluetooth LE beacons to employees once they are inside the workplace will allow companies to monitor proximity to others and measure localised density in real-time⁠ by using location services, contact tracing, and surge response technologies. Challenge 5: Reduced physical touchpoints Contactless technologies can help enforce social distancing and reduce touchpoints on common surfaces Reducing the number of physical touchpoints is desirable throughout a workplace. Contactless technologies can help enforce social distancing and reduce touchpoints on common surfaces such as faucets, doorknobs, coffee pot handles, etc. While introducing additional security checks and screenings, it’s important to not increase touchpoints and further infection risks. There have been more requests for a contactless experience to secure workplace access, including automatic doors and turnstiles, contactless cards and mobile access. Challenge 6: Communicating for confidence Proactive communication is key to provide reassurance that appropriate safety measures have been taken and that both visitors and employees are aware of the policy changes and extra controls. Equally important is to communicate a policy change – and the reasoning behind it – before it happens. While there may not be an exact expiration date on these new policies, ensuring that impacted individuals will have a safer experience is universally appreciated.

Spread of the novel coronavirus has jolted awareness of hygiene as it relates to touching surfaces such as keypads. No longer in favour are contact-based modalities including use of personal identification numbers (PINs) and keypads, and the shift has been sudden and long-term. Both customers and manufacturers were taken by surprise by this aspect of the virus’s impact and are therefore scrambling for solutions. Immediate impact of the change includes suspension of time and attendance systems that are touch-based. Some two-factor authentication systems are being downgraded to RFID-only, abandoning the keypad and/or biometric components that contributed to higher security, but are now unacceptable because they involve touching. Touchless biometric systems in demand The trend has translated into a sharp decline in purchase of touch modality and a sharp increase in the demand for touchless systems, says Alex Zarrabi, President of Touchless Biometrics Systems (TBS). Biometrics solutions are being affected unequally, depending on whether they involve touch sensing, he says. Spread of the novel coronavirus has jolted awareness of hygiene as it relates to touching surfaces such as keypads “Users do not want to touch anything anymore,” says Zarrabi. “From our company’s experience, we see it as a huge catalyst for touchless suppliers. We have projects being accelerated for touchless demand and have closed a number of large contracts very fast. I’m sure it’s true for anyone who is supplying touchless solutions.” Biometric systems are also seeing the addition of thermal sensors to measure body temperature in addition to the other sensors driving the system. Fingerscans and hybrid face systems TBS offers 2D and 3D systems, including both fingerscans and hybrid face/iris systems to provide touchless identification at access control points. Contactless and hygienic, the 2D Eye system is a hybrid system that combines the convenience of facial technology with the higher security of iris recognition. The system recognises the face and then detects the iris from the face image and zeros in to scan the iris. The user experiences the system as any other face recognition system. The facial aspect quickens the process, and the iris scan heightens accuracy. TBS also offers the 2D Eye Thermo system that combines face, iris and temperature measurement using a thermal sensor module. TBS's 2D Eye Thermo system combines face, iris and temperature measurement using a thermal sensor module Another TBS system is a 3D Touchless Fingerscan system that provides accuracy and tolerance, anti-spoofing, and is resilient to water, oil, dust and dirt. The 2D+ Multispectral for fingerprints combines 2D sensing with “multispectral” subsurface identification, which is resilient to contaminants and can read fingerprints that are oily, wet, dry or damaged – or even through a latex glove. In addition, the 3D+ system by TBS provides frictionless, no-contact readings even for people going through the system in a queue. The system fills the market gap for consent-based true on-the-fly systems, says Zarrabi. The system captures properties of the hand and has applications in the COVID environment, he says. The higher accuracy and security ratings are suitable for critical infrastructure applications, and there is no contact; the system is fully hygienic. Integration with access control systems Integration of TBS biometrics with a variety of third-party access control systems is easy. A “middleware” subsystem is connected to the network. Readers are connected to the subsystem and also to the corporate access control system. An interface with the TBS subsystem coordinates with the access control system. For example, a thermal camera used as part of the biometric reader can override the green light of the access control system if a high temperature (suggesting COVID-19 infection, for example) is detected. The enrollment process is convenient and flexible and can occur at an enrollment station or at an administration desk. Remote enrollment can also be accomplished using images from a CCTV camera. All templates are encrypted. Remotely enrolled employees can have access to any location they need within minutes. The 3D+ system by TBS provides frictionless, no-contact readings even for people going through the system in a queue Although there are other touchless technologies available, they cannot effectively replace biometrics, says Zarrabi. For example, a centrally managed system that uses a Bluetooth signal from a smart phone could provide convenience, is “touchless,” and could suffice for some sites. However, the system only confirms the presence and “identity” of a smart phone – not the person who should be carrying it. “There has been a lot of curiosity about touchless, but this change is strong, and there is fear of a possible second wave of COVID-19 or a return in two or three years,” says Zarrabi. “We really are seeing customers seriously shifting to touchless.”

Arteco’s VCA video analytics system is their latest new product, signalling a move from machine vision-based analytics to deep learning video analytics. A server – separate from the Arteco video management system (VMS) – manages the algorithms for the analytics. Arteco has been field-testing the product for a year and a half and had planned to launch it officially at ISC West in March (which was postponed). In lieu of the trade show launch, the company has been presenting the product (along with partners) through a series of webinars. The deep learning video analytics product operates out of the box – “just turn it on,” says Steve Birkmeier, Arteco VP of Sales. Functionality is based on “training” of pre-classified objects, such as differentiating between a person, an animal, a vehicle, or just clutter. The deep learning library focuses on people and vehicles. Detection and identification The new system detects everything in the field of view The new system detects everything in the field of view and only identifies what the operator is looking for, thus reducing false alarms. Any identified object is provided with an accuracy reading (e.g., 92% confident it is a human.) The system can be set up from the graphical user interface (GUI). Arteco VCA (video content analysis) also uses analytics rules, such as “if A+B=C, then do D.” Therefore, an abandoned object may elicit a different response than a violated area. With roots in the industrial automation market of the early-2000s, Arteco offers an event-based video management system (VMS) platform. That is, their emphasis is on identifying and providing video at the moment something happens rather than managing a vast amount of video that shows, in effect, nothing of interest. Arteco’s system, providing functionality expected in a full-featured VMS, is designed around the need to react to exceptions and events. Video verification “We can pull in events from any type of system and provide the related video,” says Steve Birkmeier, Arteco VP of Sales. “It can be access control, fire, intrusion, perimeter security, radar or microwave barriers, vape sensors, license plate recognition, or whatever.” An open connector, xml framework enables Arteco to interface with other systems and provide video verification of events. In addition to a focus on event-based video, Arteco also emphasises ease of use, building on their 20-year history with video analytics. Another point of differentiation is their open architecture that easily and repeatably enables incorporation of third-party “events.” Finally, Arteco’s systems are competitively priced (less expensive), including flexible pricing and licensing structure to maximise value for a customer.  In addition to security, there are multiple operational applications that use video verification In addition to security, there are multiple operational applications that use video verification. For example, integration with warehouse management software using metadata from warehouse surveillance video can provide a searchable database. An operator can enter a purchase order number, for instance, and the system provides video associated with that sale.  The role of video in physical security Arteco has traditionally been a strong player in the utilities vertical, where event-based video management is useful to keep watch on high-value assets located in remote areas with little physical security. Another strong vertical is car dealerships in the United States, including security and loss prevention applications as well as integration with fleet management (using RFID and/or license plate reading). Arteco’s heat mapping capabilities can help a car dealer analyse customer activity to guide merchandising decisions, in the same way a retail store might. Big-box stores are another application for Arteco’s combination of marketing analytics, security and loss prevention.  Arteco’s strength is also proving useful in the emerging, highly regulated cannabis industry. State regulations require that each marijuana plant be tagged, and systems are required to provide total chain of custody records from “seed to sale.” In the case of Arteco, video associated with a specific plant tag is available at each stage of growth, production and sale. Coronavirus and video management The analytics can detect when people are grouped together closer than 2 meters As an Italian company, Arteco has already applied its deep-learning VCA product at city centers in Italy, which was hard hit by the novel coronavirus. The analytics can detect when people are grouped together closer than 2 meters, for example, and can provide an alarm if social distancing requirements related to the coronavirus are not being observed. The system can also detect and confirm the use of face masks at an entrance. Tracking that number – the percentage of customers who comply – in real time might offer additional peace of mind for high-risk customers entering a store, for example. Birkmeier contends the world has been changed forever by the pandemic, although acceptance over time of new technologies being introduced will vary greatly by geographic location. Already, in the last decade or so, acceptance of video surveillance has been greater, even in the U.S. market, he says. ”More often you hear ‘why don’t you have cameras’ rather than ‘I don’t like these camera here,’” he comments.

Mayflex, the distributor of Converged IP Solutions, has installed Thermal Elevated Temperature Screening Solutions from Hikvision to improve the health and safety of their employees and visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic. The system works by automatically checking the forehead skin temperature in real time as employees pass by, maintaining a 2m gap in accordance with UK Government social distancing advice. If a person is over a normal temperature threshold, an audible and visual alarm is given and they will be asked to verify their body temperature using a medical thermometer. If in the future face masks become mandatory, the system can also verify if a visitor or employee is wearing a mask. Temperature screening at warehouse and office James Vian, Technical and Training Manager said “The temperature screening solution has been installed in our main reception as well as the warehouse entrances at both the Head Office and our Environ House warehouse.  The system includes the Hikvision Thermographic Bullet and Turret Cameras with the addition of the Hikvision Blackbody Calibrator that increases the accuracy of the readings from ±0.5oC to ±0.3oC.” Andy Cooper, Supply Chain Director at Mayflex said “It’s a non-contact means of quickly and consistently measuring the skin temperature of a person’s forehead, whilst maintaining social distancing in line with current Government guidelines.  In doing so, we can reduce the likelihood of someone with an elevated temperature coming into contact with other building occupants.  This also reduces the possibility of losing an entire shift for 14 days, ensuring that we can deliver on our customers’ needs even in these challenging times.” Andy concluded “It gives me confidence that we are doing everything we can to ensure the wellbeing of staff and protecting the business during the Coronavirus Pandemic.”

Mayflex, the distributor of converged IP solutions, has installed Thermal Elevated Temperature Screening solution from Hikvision to improve the health and safety of their employees and visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Elevated Temperature Screening The system works by automatically checking the forehead skin temperature in real time as employees pass by, maintaining a 2 metre gap in accordance with the UK Government’s social distancing advice. If a person is over a normal temperature threshold, an audible and visual alarm is given and they will be asked to verify their body temperature using a medical thermometer. If in the future face masks become mandatory, the system can also verify if a visitor or employee is wearing a mask. Hikvision Thermographic Bullet and Turret Cameras The system includes the Hikvision Thermographic Bullet and Turret Cameras" James Vian, Technical and Training Manager at Mayflex said, “The temperature screening solution has been installed in our main reception as well as the warehouse entrances at both the Head Office and our Environ House warehouse. The system includes the Hikvision Thermographic Bullet and Turret Cameras with the addition of the Hikvision Blackbody Calibrator that increases the accuracy of the readings from ±0.5 degrees Celsius to ±0.3 degrees Celsius.” Andy Cooper, Supply Chain Director at Mayflex said, “It’s a non-contact means of quickly and consistently measuring the skin temperature of a person’s forehead, whilst maintaining social distancing in line with current Government guidelines”. Enhanced staff security in COVID-19 period He adds, “In doing so, we can reduce the likelihood of someone with an elevated temperature coming into contact with other building occupants. This also reduces the possibility of losing an entire shift for 14 days, ensuring that we can deliver on our customers’ needs even in these challenging times.” Andy concluded, “It gives me confidence that we are doing everything we can to ensure the wellbeing of staff and protecting the business during the Coronavirus Pandemic.” Hikvision are highly regarded as one of the major manufacturer of security products, which are distributed by Mayflex in the United Kingdom.

Eagle Eye Networks, the provider of cloud video surveillance, announces one of the fastest completions of a large scale, fully integrated citywide surveillance program, installing 13,720 cameras in 4 months. This project has been a large success for Mexico City C5, contributing to Mexico City's larger ‘Citizen Safety’ mobile application. This mobile application facilitates content sharing for more effective neighbourhood watch and a panic SOS button. “Effective citywide surveillance is more than installing cameras in a few key locations, it’s about creating a platform that meets the unique needs of each municipality.” Unique web application The cameras are all operational, remotely monitored, and providing safety and security to citizens today “In partnership with Eagle Eye Networks we leveraged the Eagle Eye Video API and SDK to customise a unique web application that is designed to integrate fixed, mobile body worn, and vehicle cameras into one interface, providing an unprecedented level of insight and awareness into our cities operations, ” said Jaime Abad Valdenebro, CEO, Omnicloud.mx. 4G connectivity with Eagle Eye Networks’ bandwidth optimisation was utilised in order to facilitate this quick deployment, installing approximately 250 cameras per day at its peak. The cameras are all operational, remotely monitored, and providing safety and security to citizens today. Integration of new technologies This fast-paced install occurred amidst the global supply chain challenges caused by COVID-19, however, Eagle Eye Networks’ strong partnership with both the Reseller, Omnicloud.mx, and suppliers provided alternatives and solutions to keep the project on schedule. Eagle Eye Networks solution was chosen because the Eagle Eye Cloud Video API Platform provides an open solution that allows integration of new technologies (AI, advanced analytics, search, license plate recognition), new suppliers, and new cameras at any time. Future and cybersecurity proofing the city’s investment and eliminating the headaches associated with managing large premise based data centres was crucial in their decision. City-wide surveillance project Eagle Eye’s cloud video retention and massive on demand scalability make it ideal for large scale deployments" “When deploying a city-wide surveillance project, scalability, retention, and cellular transmission must be considered. Eagle Eye’s cloud video retention and massive on demand scalability make it ideal for large scale deployments. To operate your own large data centre system for video recording is expensive and challenging.” “With Eagle Eye’s subscription service we provide a more robust and lower cost answer for large scale deployments. Furthermore, our open platform provides a future proof solution, integrating AI, video analytics, and advanced search at the click of a mouse,” said Dean Drako, CEO of Eagle Eye Networks. Cost-effective solution “More than half of the world’s population resides in cities, creating an increased demand for smart, accurate insights to help streamline everyday operations including public safety, traffic flow management, infrastructure and transportation. Enormous amounts of data collection, aggregation, and storage are necessary to drive the deep analysis that is required to produce these smart insights.” “The only way to efficiently manage this data is to aggregate and analyse in the cloud,” said Jeff Kessler, Managing Director of Imperial Capital and Publisher of the Security Industry Annual Report. The Eagle Eye Cloud is a robust, scalable and cost-effective solution, purpose-built to support the data storage and analysis demands that city-wide deployments require.

International medical imaging IT and cyber security company Sectra (STO: SECT B) is receiving new orders for its crypto solutions for mobile telephony, smartphones and the blue-light operations’ communication network TETRA from several European government authorities. Order bookings for Sectra’s Secure Communications operating area amounted to approximately SEK 35 million in April 2020. With solutions from Sectra, authorities that handle sensitive information are able to maintain their operations even when faced with exceptional circumstances.“Communication is pivotal for an operation in times of crisis. If information is unreliable, it is impossible to lead the operation,” says a spokesperson for a European security authority. Mobile encryption solutions During the COVID-19 pandemic, many operations are being run from the employees’ home offices During the COVID-19 pandemic, many operations are being run from the employees’ home offices. Currently, opportunities to work remotely are extensive in many work categories, but for individuals who are privy to classified information, working from home is not always an option. This means that certain critical operations risk coming to a standstill if employees are unable to meet each other or access their usual working tools. To uphold operations, many European government authorities have now implemented mobile encryption solutions from Sectra. Measures taken include providing their key employees with smartphones and tablets that are protected with Sectra’s crypto solution. With these tools, they are able to exchange information in encrypted calls and chat, as well as gain access to important applications like email and calendar via a secure connection. Maintaining security and integrity Without such a solution, classified information belonging to the authorities cannot be exchanged at all outside of the walls of their official facilities. Other authorities that are closer to the field are taking advantage of Sectra’s crypto technology for the TETRA network. The TETRA network is used by blue-light operations and other emergency services and is usually operational on a national level. One country in Europe has elected to expand its access to Sectra’s crypto solution to ensure that, for example, healthcare professionals are able to discuss sensitive information while maintaining security and integrity for both healthcare services and the individual.

Nottingham-based manufacturer and supplier of protective systems, Hardstaff Barriers announced that it has completed the installation of a hostile vehicle mitigation system at the site of the Nightingale Hospital in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. The hospital is one of a series of temporary facilities which have been built around the United Kingdom to add additional bed capacity to the NHS (National Health Service) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Linear surface-mounted concrete security barriers Appointed as part of its role as the designated National Barrier Asset delivery partner, Hardstaff Barriers, which is part of the wider HS Security Group, has installed temporary linear surface-mounted concrete security barriers, as well as a gated access system, across the site. The system, which was installed overnight, is designed to especially mitigate threats such as hostile vehicle attacks and protect against reckless or accidental damage from vehicles to the site’s workforce and buildings. Hostile vehicle mitigation system installed Fellow HS Security business, ATG Access was also recently commissioned to protect the Nightingale Hospitals The project at the Harrogate Nightingale Hospital is the latest in a series of related developments for HS Security Group, a group of the UK’s renowned physical security specialists, owned by Hill & Smith Holdings PLC. Fellow HS Security business, ATG Access was also recently commissioned to protect the Nightingale Hospitals at both the London ExCel and the Cardiff Principality Stadium. Enhanced security for Nightingale Hospitals Kathryn Cooper, Service Manager at Hardstaff Barriers, said, “The NHS is doing a fantastic job of caring for and protecting the people of the country at this most extraordinary time.” She adds, “Naturally, we are tremendously proud to have been able to play a small part in the delivery and operation of this hospital. This is a time for the whole nation to pull together and do everything they can to protect our collective wellbeing.” The Nightingale Harrogate has been set up within the Harrogate Convention Centre in the North Yorkshire town and provides 500 additional beds.

As a consequence of COVID-19, many hospitals have needed to quickly erect new portable buildings to expand the capacity of certain sensitive areas. This in turn has created a requirement to immediately expand the scope of existing CCTV systems to ensure control room operators are able to monitor and react appropriately to any suspicious activity in the vicinity of the new buildings. New Cross Hospital, which is run by the Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust, is just one of many hospitals throughout the UK who are faced with the challenge of ensuring all areas of its campus can be monitored 24/7. Providing 700 beds and employing almost 9,500 staff, it is the largest teaching hospital in the Black Country, having been originally built circa 1900 as a workhouse. Cost-effective solution We clearly needed to find a much simpler and cost-effective solution which would enable our clients to take full advantage" The need to install a new 4K camera in a location over 300 metres from the hospital’s control room initially seemed daunting in terms of the cost of laying the network cabling normally needed to transmit ultra-high definition captured by IP cameras. “Apart from the cost of the engineering work and the disruption caused by installing the new cabling, it would also have taken several days to achieve,” said Dan Mather, Director of Derby based JKE Security, who have had a long term working relationship with the Trust. “We clearly needed to find a much simpler and cost-effective solution which would enable our clients to take full advantage of the superb quality images captured by 4K cameras and, if necessary, pass evidence of any wrongdoing to police.” Electronic security products Dan Mather sought advice from Smart R Distribution, the Haverhill based specialist electronic security products distributor. They were able to offer him an assurance that their own brand 602POE-2P single port PoE Ethernet Extender would be able to reliably support a new 4K Wisenet PNP-9200RH dome camera, by facilitating the transmission of the IP images over the hospital’s existing coaxial cabling. The Smart R 602POE-2P single port PoE Ethernet Extender has been proven to be able to robustly transmit data over any 2 wire cable, and with the ability to handle bandwidth of up to 200Mbps, is more than capable of coping with the transmission demands of the Wisenet 4K camera. Safe working environment It was truly a case of plug & play, with both devices installed, configured and working within half a day" “Although we did not source the camera from Smart R, it could not have been easier to connect it to the Ethernet Extender,” said Dan. “It was truly a case of plug & play, with both devices installed, configured and working within half a day!” Commenting on the successful installation of the new camera, Paul Smith, Head of Security and Car Parking for the Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust said: “It is essential during this challenging time that we are able to continue to provide a secure and safe working environment for all our heroic colleagues who are so compassionately caring for people who have contracted COVID-19." Electronic security supply chain "I have been impressed with how quickly various companies within the electronic security supply chain have been able to come together and use their combined expertise to provide us with an effective and cost-effective solution.”

Protecting the oil and gas market is key to a thriving economy. The list of security challenges for oil and gas requires the best technology solutions our industry has to offer, from physical barriers to video systems to cybersecurity. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: what are the security challenges of the oil and gas market?