Door access control

PSA Security Network, the globally renowned consortium of professional systems integrators, has announced its partnership with Zenitel, an international provider of intelligent communication solutions and products. This new partnership agreement will provide PSA Security Network’s members and owners, an opportunity to work with Zenitel directly. PSA - Zenital partnership Our partnership with Zenitel is a major step in the convergence of technologies between the sound/audio and security industries" “While PSA owners and members have long been able to purchase Zenitel products in the PSA network, our new partnership will allow them another channel to purchase Zenitel products,” said Chris Salazar-Mangrum, PSA Security Network’s Vice President (VP) of Technology Partners. Chris adds, “Our partnership with Zenitel is a major step in the convergence of technologies between the sound/audio and security industries.” Zenitel intelligent communication solutions Zenitel intelligent communication solutions have been available to the PSA members and owners through other technology partner agreements, and will continue to be available through those partners. Specifically adding Zenitel to the PSA network of technology partners increases the opportunity of the network, to be exposed to the communication offerings for Zenitel’s intelligent communication systems. Zenitel's primary system offering is within IP public address, intercom and radio disciplines. “The PSA/Zenitel partnership is a powerful combination for the security industry,” said Dan Rothrock, President of Zenitel Americas, adding “We are excited about this opportunity to expand our reach into an industry-leading buying group and to give them a personal look at our product portfolio that allows people to hear, be heard and be understood, in every situation.” Video surveillance, access control and audio Zenitel believes that modern security systems should involve video surveillance, access control and audio, to offer well-rounded and responsive information management, and security platforms, all communicating with each other, and providing actionable insight into risks, and potential physical breaches. Audio is the new value hub of the connected enterprise. Simply put, a silent security system cannot be an effective security system.

The Security Industry Association (SIA) has named Edison Shen as its new Director of Standards and Technology. In this role, Edison Shen, who previously served as a Programme Manager in the Building Infrastructure and Transportation Systems Divisions, at the National Electrical Manufacturer Association (NEMA), will manage and administer SIA’s standards and technical programme activities, and coordinate with other standards organisations that impact the SIA standards programme of work. New Director of Standards and Technology He will also liaise with the SIA Standards Committee, subcommittees and working groups, to set agendas and build consensus, develop cyber security and security technology content for SIA members, research standards activities, and complementary programming, and manage the SIA Standards team. As Director of Standards and Technology, Edison Shen will spearhead SIA programmes, such as the SIA Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP) standard and its related OSDP Boot Camp, and OSDP Verified offerings, as well as projects that align security technologies with industry best practices, standards and guidelines. Staff Liaison for SIA Cybersecurity Advisory Board He will also serve as the SIA Staff Liaison for the SIA Cybersecurity Advisory Board He will also serve as the SIA Staff Liaison for the SIA Cybersecurity Advisory Board, which guides SIA members of potential cyber security issues, related to electronic physical security measures and provides prescriptive guidance, and advocacy for new and existing cyber security strategies, and solutions. “SIA has a strong history of over fifty years of service to the security industry, and I am excited to join SIA and its nearly 1,200 member companies in shaping its future,” said Edison Shen, adding “SIA’s Standards Committee has been very active in obtaining the adoption of the OSDP standard, by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), as IEC 60839-11-5 and launching the OSDP Verified programme. Edison Shen adds, “I look forward to bringing value to our members through tackling current challenges and exploring new opportunities through standards.” Development of standards, guidelines and specifications In his most recent role at NEMA, Edison Shen was responsible for the management of technical committees and section operations, including the development of standards, guidelines and technical specifications, through the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and IEC approval processes. He was also involved in the harmonisation of standards across North America and easing regulatory compliance across regions, development of a U.S. Department of Homeland Security-accepted standard specifying user needs, and functional requirements for the procurement process and submission of code proposals for the National Electrical Code, and International Building Code. He is also active in ANSI and IEC committees. Developed HVAC performance standards and guidelines Prior to joining NEMA, Edison Shen also served as the Manager of the Applied Sector at AHRI Prior to joining NEMA, Edison Shen also served as the Manager of the Applied Sector at the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), responsible for the management of 15 certification programmes, development of over 35 HVAC performance standards and guidelines, and monitoring product regulatory rulemaking of national and international government agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Energy and National Resources Canada. He holds a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management from the George Washington University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University. Implementing the SIA Standards Roadmap “We are thrilled to have Edison join the SIA team, as our standards programme further evolves, to meet the needs of members and the industry,” said Security Industry Association’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Don Erickson. Don Erickson adds, “With his deep knowledge of standards and technology, he will help to implement the SIA Standards Roadmap, accelerate growth of existing SIA’s programs such as OSDP Verified, introduce new content and committee opportunities for members in the areas of AI and video and add additional technical expertise to SIA’s advocacy efforts before government agencies, such as NIST and CISA.” SIA develops ANSI-accredited standards that promote interoperability and information sharing in the industry. SIA members collaborate and volunteer expertise, feedback and commentary on standards and other technology development activities.

Amthal is celebrating its landmark 21st anniversary, and growth from a two-man residential security company to a 50 strong team, integrated fire, and security specialist. Launched in 2000, by close friends John Allam and Paul Rosenthal, Amthal now has over 50 members in the team and operates on a Europe-wide basis providing installation maintenance and monitoring services across all commercial, residential and public sectors. In 2008, Jamie Allam joined the management team to become Commercial Director and created the structure to drive an ambitious growth plan incorporating all aspects of the business, from operations, through sales and commercial targets.  Fire and security services We have shifted our focus to a total solution provider for clients to deliver full fire and security services" Says Paul Rosenthal, Founder and Sales Director of Amthal Fire & Security, “Since we opened our doors at the turn of the century, we have grown with our clients, always taking a proactive approach to adaption, whatever the economy and even most recently, the pandemic has thrown at us!” “We have also undergone our evolution, shifting our focus to a total solution provider for clients to deliver full fire and security services. But underneath it all, we have remained independent and our mission, vision, and values reflect our status as a family business. It makes me so proud at 21 years, to see how far we have come and excited for the future as we continue our strong track record of success.” Amthal has had an impressive lead up to its 21st anniversary, most recently securing projects in Europe and being certified and approved as a Honeywell Gent system integrator.   Fire Safety And Security Jamie Allam, CEO Amthal Fire & Security added, “Amthal has grown together – as people and as a company – and I am so proud of what we have become, and our place in the sector. Knowing as a team, we are being recognised for our complete approach from initial design to project completion, and focus on compliance and offering the latest technology is unsurpassable.” We look to the future with a focus on sustainably, creating collaborative ways to meet the huge demand" “That’s what has led us to be at the forefront of fire safety and security, where we are determined to stay for another 21 years and beyond. We look to the future with a continued focus on protecting what’s precious, sustainably, creating collaborative ways to meet the huge demand we have for our services at present. We have set the benchmark high, but you can always aim higher and we have so many exciting opportunities ahead of us.” End-user experience  Independently owned, Amthal Fire & Security is dedicated to satisfying end-user needs for security safety and convenience offering design, installation, service, and remote monitoring of advanced electronic fire & security solutions, including intruder, fire, access, and CCTV systems.  Amthal Fire & Security is accredited by the Security Systems and Alarm Inspection Board (SSAIB) United Kingdom Accreditation Services (UKAS) and British Approvals for Fire Equipment (BAFE.)

Honeywell has announced that the company is launching the Pro-Watch 5.5, the latest iteration of its Pro-Watch Integrated Security Suite. The Honeywell Pro-Watch Integrated Security Suite is a software platform that is designed for enterprise and critical infrastructure markets, to help protect people and property, optimise productivity, and ensure compliance with industry regulations, all while helping to reduce operational costs. Honeywell Pro-Watch Intelligent Command Pro-Watch 5.5 upgrade enables operators to respond rapidly and effectively to alarms or incidents Honeywell Pro-Watch Intelligent Command, a user interface that allows organisations to construct a security system with total situational awareness, via the seamless integration of video and access control solutions, can now be upgraded to Pro-Watch 5.5. The Pro-Watch 5.5 upgrade enables operators to respond rapidly and effectively to alarms or incidents, by providing actionable intelligence, including a unified alarm view with maps and associated video, which includes the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to be followed, thereby enhancing compliance with advanced reporting, and reducing security risks. Key benefits and features of the Pro-Watch 5.5 include allowing users to: Improve situational awareness: It provides a unified view of alarms and maps, incident workflows, and a space/area builder, in order to create logical zones and group-based, multi-site views. Upgrade integration with cyber security and data privacy: It integrates a new PW7K controller, enhances cyber security with Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP) and improves data privacy with selective masking. Enhance compliance: It enhances compliance with advanced reporting and reduces security risks, through an SOP process, and end-to-end TLS 1.2 encryption, and guided alarm/incident response. Increase productivity and system uptime: It improves operator efficiency with intuitive controls for effective incident management and simplifies maintenance with remote bulk camera firmware upgrade, and camera password changes capabilities, which includes specific non-Honeywell cameras. Pro-Watch Video Management System (VMS) R700 Honeywell is also launching the Pro-Watch Video Management System (VMS) R700 Honeywell is also launching the Pro-Watch Video Management System (VMS) R700, the latest iteration of its feature-rich and user-friendly video management software platform. Pro-Watch VMS R700 controls video subsystems, to collect, manage and present video, in a clear and concise manner. Honeywell’s Pro-Watch VMS R700 also intelligently determines the capabilities of each subsystem, across various sites, allowing video management of digital video devices, through a unified configuration and viewer. Key benefits and features of Pro-Watch VMS R700 include allowing users to: Enhance productivity: It allows users to access video footage and respond to alarms, via mobile app – anytime, anywhere. New video core features: It reduces solution cost with advanced GPU video rendering, salvo sequences, 64-bits optimised recording engine and optimised server deployments. Provide emerging technology support: It works with H.265 smart video compression codec, multi-imager and fish-eye cameras. Improve situational awareness: It provides multiple camera views in web clients, new integrations with artificial intelligence (AI) and analytics systems, and geographic information system (GIS) online maps. Integrate with Honeywell Series 70 AI cameras: It integrates natively with current and future Honeywell cameras for edge analytics and annotations, for licence plate recognition, intelligent video analytics and object classifications video analytics. Honeywell Pro-Watch Integrated Security Suite Pro-Watch Video Management System (VMS) R700 is part of the Honeywell Pro-Watch Integrated Security Suite, a software platform, which is specially designed for enterprise and critical infrastructure markets, to help protect people and property, optimise productivity and ensure compliance with industry regulations, all while helping to reduce operational costs. To enhance situational awareness, Honeywell’s Pro-Watch VMS R700 easily integrates with Honeywell Pro-Watch Intelligent Command, a web-based user interface that provides organisations the ability to construct a security system with total situational awareness, in order to better protect people, property and assets.

Reader plays a very important role in the access control solution, as it links the credentials and controller system. GV-DESFire Series reader GeoVision has announced the launch of a new series of readers, supporting DESFire, one of the most secure hardware encryption to protect data transmission. The company’s GV-DESFire Series reader allows enterprises to better secure their assets, avoiding intrusions and malicious exploits. 5 key features that open the door to new business opportunities include: Enhanced Security - DESFire EV2 3DES credential enhances security against transaction attacks. Flexible Integration - OSDP standard ensures interoperability and secure data communication from the reader to the controller. Longer Distance - RS485 interface can easily achieve 600 meter installation. Multi-technology - Compatibility with multiple credential technologies, QR Code, RFID MIFARE DESFire EV2 simplify the various requirements for different user profiles. Dual-band Frequency - 125 kHz EM and 13.56 MHz Mifare dual-frequency readers help to manage all the migration projects. GV-DESFire readers come in 3 models - RKD1352 and DES1352, QR1352: RKD1352 model combines card and/or PIN code, allows various access modes (card and key/card/key). OSDP standard provides bi-directional communication between reader and controller, so as to ensure inter-operation with security. DES1352 model projects 125 kHz and 13.56 MHz dual band frequency for all migration projects with higher secure technologies. This reader model comes in flush-mounted design with bi-colour options, green and red, for instant grant and denial of access. QR1352 model is equipped with a QR Code module. Identification by QR code simplifies the management of visitors’ temporary access in offices and other facilities. The Virtual credential feature provides touchless access control and a safer experience to customers.

Bird Home Automation, a Berlin-based manufacturer of ‘DoorBird’ IP access control devices, is expanding its product portfolio, to include door intercoms with an integrated fingerprint sensor. IP video door stations of the D21x series are now equipped with fingerprint technology from Fingerprint Cards AB, a renowned global biometrics company, based in Sweden. This enables biometric authentication via fingerprint. DoorBird door station with mobile access With a DoorBird door station, home owners and residents can see and speak to their visitors and delivery services on-the-go, via their smartphones and unlock the door, when needed. Each door intercom features an HD wide-angle camera, motion sensor and audio system, with echo and noise cancellation. Keyless access control via RFID or PIN code is now complemented by a new option, via biometric fingerprint. Fingerprint reader integration with Doorbird software The full-frame touch sensor is based on patented technology by Fingerprint Cards AB The full-frame touch sensor is based on patented technology by Fingerprint Cards AB and meets high convenience and security standards, when compared to line-based sensors. The fingerprint reader is fully integrated into the DoorBird software architecture and can be configured remotely at any time. Via app or web-based dashboard, the user can grant and withdraw access permissions, and also define which event should follow, when a certain finger is detected. For example, an internal or external relay can be triggered, or an HTTP(S) command can be carried out. To prevent manipulation attempts, the fingerprint scanner is temporarily locked, after ten unauthorised access attempts. Fully integrated biometric fingerprint sensor The fingerprint sensor is integrated in DoorBird models with one and two call buttons: D2101FV Fingerprint 50 and D2102FV Fingerprint 50. Each door intercom can store up to 50 fingerprints. Furthermore, customers can create their own customised IP video door stations equipped with a fingerprint sensor and other individual modules via the DoorBird 3D Configurator. “Thanks to the cooperation with Fingerprints Cards AB, we can fulfill many of our customers’ requests for high-quality IP access control devices, with a fully integrated biometric fingerprint sensor,” said Sascha Keller, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bird Home Automation. Bird Home Automation and Fingerprint Cards AB partnership Sascha Keller adds, “When it comes to collaborations, we always try to work with the best in their class and that is why we have integrated this technology, which is characterised by a superior biometric performance and security, into our DoorBird IP video door stations.” “We are excited about our collaboration with DoorBird, our first IP Door Station partner in EMEA, who now launched their D21x series with our fingerprint sensor, a solution that is suitable for smart homes, where biometrics bring convenience and security,” said Michel Roig, the Senior Vice President (SVP) - Business Line Payment & Access at Fingerprint Cards AB.

While the foundation of autonomous retail has been built up over the past few years, it is only now that retailers are beginning to fully experiment with the technology. There were an estimated 350 stores globally in 2018 offering a fully autonomous checkout process, yet this number is forecast to increase dramatically with 10,000 stores anticipated by 2024. This acceleration in the growth of unmanned retail stores has, in part, been boosted by the COVID-19 pandemic and a demand for a more contactless, socially distanced shopping experience. Physical security technologies Innovative physical security technologies can play a significant role in protecting a site while supporting its operation Many retailers are now exploring such solutions as a way to streamline their services and simplify store operations while reducing overheads. Of course, the security of unmanned sites is a concern, with many eager to embrace such a design, but wary about the prospect of leaving a store unguarded. This is where innovative physical security technologies can play a significant role in protecting a site while supporting its operation and also helping to improve customer experience. Comprehensive integrated solution To make the autonomous retail vision a reality, a comprehensive solution is needed that integrates network cameras, IP audio speakers, and access control devices. The cameras can be employed to monitor entrance points and sales areas, including checkout terminals, and can be monitored and operated remotely from a central control room. This offers management full visibility of operations, regardless of the number of stores. Recorded video material can be processed, packaged, and passed to authorities, when necessary, by applicable laws. Optimising operations As autonomous stores do not require staff to be present and run largely independently, managers can be notified automatically via mobile device if an event occurs that requires their attention. This could range from a simple need to restock popular items or clean the premises after a spillage, to a criminal break-in or attack. Again, network video surveillance cameras installed inside and outside of the premises provide high-quality video of any incident as it occurs, enabling immediate action to be taken. Improving customer experience Access control mechanisms at the entrance and exit points enable smooth, touch-free access to customers Access control mechanisms at the entrance and exit points enable smooth, touch-free access to customers, while IP audio speakers allow ambient music to be played, creating a relaxed in-store atmosphere and also offering the ability to play alerts or voice messages as required. Due to the automated nature of such audio broadcasting, consistency of brand can be created across multiple locations where playlists and pre-recorded voice messages are matched in terms of style and tone from store to store. Boosting profits The accessibility of premises 24/7 can ultimately lead to an increase in sales by simply allowing customers to enter the store and make a purchase at any time, rather than being restricted by designated retail hours. This also serves to improve customer loyalty through retail convenience. Utilising data from the access control system, managers can configure lights to turn on/off and ambient music to power down when the last person leaves the shop, to be reactivated the next time someone enters the premises. This approach can also conserve energy, leading to cost savings. Designing a future proof solution The threat of vandalism is greatly limited if everyone entering the shop can be identified, which is something that is already happening in Scandinavia using QR codes linked to an electronic identification system called BankID. This process involves a user being identified by their bank details, and their credentials checked upon entering the store. This not only streamlines the transaction process but vastly improves security because only those who want to legitimately use the services will go through the identification process, helping to deter antisocial or criminal behaviour. Physical security technology should be reliable and of high quality, without compromising the service to customers VMS-based network solution Both inside and outside of the premises, physical security technology should be reliable and of high quality, without compromising the service to customers, or hampering their experience. Door controls, network cameras, and loudspeakers, together with a comprehensive video management system (VMS), enable retailers to control every element of their store and remove any uncertainty around its management or security. Such a system, network-enabled and fully scalable to meet ongoing business requirements, can be offered using open APIs; this allows configuration and customisation while ensuring that the retailer is not limited by the technology or tied into any particular set-up or vendor as their requirements evolve. Additional security benefits As more businesses launch their unmanned stores, the benefits of such technology to streamline and improve every aspect of their operations become ever clearer. A comprehensive solution from a trusted security provider can bring complete peace of mind while offering additional benefits to support the retail business as it seeks a secure future.

Gregor Schlechtriem has worked in the access control market for over 20 years and is now responsible for the Access & Intrusion Business Unit at Bosch Building Technologies. In this interview, the expert talks about key industry trends, the impact of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, technical innovations and his company’s strategy. Mr. Schlechtriem, you have many years of experience in the security technology market. What is your background and what are your responsibilities as Senior Vice President at Bosch Building Technologies? Gregor Schlechtriem: I am a trained engineer and electrical technician, and have been involved with access control in the broadest sense, since I started my career in the late 1980s. I started in the field of parking garage technology and then switched to security technology in 2001, as Managing Director of micos GmbH, which specialised in traditional access control. micos GmbH was known for its highly available and highly secure access control systems, for critical infrastructure and government applications. Many systems from that time are still in use today and continue to be supported and upgraded. Bosch is continuing micos’ business here? Gregor Schlechtriem: Exactly, micos was taken over in 2004 by Bosch Security Systems, now known as Bosch Building Technologies. Since then, we have continuously been developing the access control business. Being part of the Bosch Building Technologies division, we benefit a lot from international cooperation with colleagues Being part of the Bosch Building Technologies division, we benefit a lot from international cooperation with colleagues and from overlap with other product lines, such as intrusion detection technology and video security. This gives us the opportunity to implement outstanding project solutions for demanding customers in an international environment. In developing this business, I rely on my experience from other interesting roles at Bosch that I took on, after micos was bought in 2004. For a time, I worked in the European System Integrator Business, which I also had the privilege of managing for several years, as well as being directly responsible for business units. In Fairport, USA, I had the overall responsibility for intrusion detection technology for many years, as I later did in Eindhoven for video systems. Since 2018, the global access control and intrusion detection business has once again been my direct responsibility. At Bosch Building Technologies, we have in the meantime assigned sales to the respective business units, so that we can develop our product and solution portfolio, in close cooperation with sales and our regular customers. Our main task now is to make our access control portfolio accessible to a broader market. We want to make Bosch much better known, as an access control provider, in the international market. After all, with our own access product portfolio, the power of the Bosch Group and over 40 years of experience in this sector, we have a lot to offer. As an expert in access control, how do you see the industry developing? In which direction is it currently evolving? Gregor Schlechtriem: First of all, I see that security requirements are constantly increasing. Whereas there are currently still simple ‘key replacement systems’ that merely record card numbers, such an approach, to a large extent, no longer meets today’s security and user experience requirements.The core task of access control has not changed over the years In the beginning, access control was more or less a kind of key replacement. Later, there was the possibility of increasing security via a pin code, i.e., via verification through simple data inputs. The next step in this direction was biometrics, which is another key step up, because it allows verification by means of unmistakable characteristics. However, the core task of access control has not changed over all the years and has basically always remained the same: access control means determining who has an access request and checking whether this request can be fulfilled. What’s next on this path to greater security? Gregor Schlechtriem: Biometrics-based access control is becoming increasingly powerful and user-friendly through the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Here, data protection plays a major role, as wherever identities are established and movement data is recorded, it is necessary to reconcile the evolving technology with data protection.Biometrics-based access control is becoming increasingly powerful and user-friendly through the use of artificial intelligence The question of data protection is becoming even more significant, as systems increasingly migrate to the Cloud. Bosch puts particular emphasis on ensuring that, even in the cloud, the data generated in access control is always in line with data protection rules, regardless of where it is located. In my opinion, this trend towards the Cloud will continue, because companies are increasingly looking for complete service offerings, so that they can focus on their core business. Also, a system in the Cloud is easier to maintain and always up-to-date with the latest software, which makes cloud solutions even more attractive for providers and users. How can higher security be reconciled with a good user experience? Gregor Schlechtriem: Today, the card still plays a central role in the user experience, as the essential credential. Another current trend is ‘one card for everything’: with the increasing availability of secure multi-function smart cards, the possibility arises to use cards beyond the pure access function, for example, for payment in the canteen, at the catering and coffee machines, and in the parking garage, as well as simple access to other properties and so on.The security of cards has evolved significantly and kept pace with requirements The security of the cards, the reading and encryption processes, has evolved significantly and kept pace with requirements, although we are also facing an installed base that no longer meets these requirements, due to outdated systems. Today, it is standard for communications between reader and card to be encrypted. In some cases, the keys are also only held centrally to further increase security. The security systems industry was also affected by the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. How do you think the industry has changed? What technical solutions have emerged during this time? Gregor Schlechtriem: First of all, there is a certain need for retrofitting in the industry due to changes in how buildings are used. For example, American retailers used to be open around the clock and always had staff on site. Now, due to COVID-19, stores are also closed, and this results in a whole new need for intrusion detection and access control systems to protect the buildings. For access control, an obvious task has arisen as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, namely to track contacts, as far as this is compatible with data protection. We actually expected more to happen here, but in our observation, many companies did quite little, despite clear and simple steps that could have been implemented relatively quickly. The installed access control systems clearly lag behind the technical possibilities. Another topic that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought into focus is hygiene Another topic that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought into focus is hygiene. Companies should actually have invested in contactless systems here and retrofitted speed gates or motorised doors. But in many cases this was not put into practice. The door opener is still often used, which has to be operated manually and therefore, is touched multiple times. But, if everyone presses the same button, that doesn't help hygiene. Surprisingly, this is different in North America. Here, ‘request-to-exit’ proximity detectors are used almost everywhere, which avoids this problem completely and releases the door, when an authorised person approaches it. Mobile access and smartphone-based access control are also growing markets. What kind of developments do you see in these areas? Gregor Schlechtriem: I already mentioned that users increasingly want to be able to use one card for several applications. But, what we are seeing here is that even with the most modern cards, which have a lot of applications loaded on them, we are reaching performance limits and the user experience suffers. If you compare the card with the smartphone as a credential, you have a much more attractive integration platform there, which is significantly faster and delivers much better performance. For us, the mobile credential or the smartphone is the future, because it simply offers more possibilities that the card will not be able to provide in the long term. What is the specific direction Bosch is taking here? Gregor Schlechtriem: We are currently working on a broad implementation. A whole team is working on the user experience around the smartphone, because it’s understood that smartphone-based access has to work just as easily, as it currently does with a card.A whole team is working on the user experience around the smartphone In theory it does, but if you look at some of the actual implementations, this topic is still relatively complex. In terms of user experience and automation, we still have quite a way to go, and we are working hard on that at the moment. The user experience is one side of the coin, the other side concerns establishing security in the smartphone as a whole. In other words: How do I make the smartphone secure enough as a mobile credential, to meet my access control requirements? We are also working intensively on this. That's actually an IT task. Do you do this yourself at Bosch or do you work with external experts here? Gregor Schlechtriem: We have our own powerful Bosch IT, which also manages our company smartphones. If our company smartphones are lost, the data on them is automatically deleted. The devices use biometrics to identify users, before they can access the data. It is a sound security concept that a card cannot offer. Moreover, we are working with other partners in the IDunion project, to create the additional infrastructure around mobile credentials as well. What exactly is the IDunion and what role does Bosch play? Gregor Schlechtriem: Digital identities must be openly accessible, widely usable, interoperable, and secure. This applies not only to access control, but to the digitised economy in general. The IDunion project has set itself the task of creating the infrastructure for this, in the form of an independent wallet, i.e., secure identity storage on smart devices. The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWI), because digitisation is also a critical social issue. We are intensively involved in the ‘Physical access to the building’ work package in this consortium. Through this involvement, we want to ensure that our access control systems benefit from this infrastructure and are open to future digital business models. Does ‘digital identity management’, which includes biometrics and mobile access, also play a role for Bosch? Yes, it plays an important role for us, and I wouldn’t consider these topics separate Gregor Schlechtriem: Yes, it plays an important role for us, and I wouldn’t consider these topics separate. For me, a mobile device has the advantage that it has already ensured and verified my identity from the moment of interaction. That’s the fascinating thing about it. If I only allow the device to communicate with the access control system, if I have identified myself first, I have implemented biometrics and access control together in a widely accepted process. From my point of view, this is a very interesting perspective, in terms of security and user experience, because the biometrics procedures in smartphones are, I think, the best currently available. In my view, the smartphone has the potential to take over central functions in access control in the future. What are your goals for the access control business of Bosch Building Technologies in the near future? Gregor Schlechtriem: We will continue to focus on specific solutions for large customers. That is the continuation of our current strategy. In these projects, we will introduce new topics as I have just described, i.e., primarily new technology elements. I believe that, precisely because of the longevity of access control, a long-term migration capability is also of particular importance. We want to reach out to the broader market and make more widely available, what we have developed in terms of technology and innovation. We are currently in the process of setting up and optimising our sales organisation, so that it becomes much more widely known that we at Bosch have our own powerful access control portfolio, which can be used for all kinds of applications. In addition, we want to differentiate ourselves in the market with our systems, in line with the motto of our founder, Robert Bosch: ‘Technology for life’. The user experience with Mobile Access should be simple, straightforward, and secure: You hold your smartphone in front of the reader and the door opens.

Recent cyber-attacks have disabled and even shut down physical assets. Robust foundational security and training staff, able to recognise an attack can help mitigate the threat, as ABB’s Rob Putman explains. Edge devices and data analytics As cyber security specialists, we must navigate an ever-changing threat landscape, one that is made even more complex by the increased interconnectivity between Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT), as companies look to leverage edge devices and data analytics, as well as remote connectivity, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the threat surface evolves, the industry must guard against attacks on key physical infrastructure, carried out by a range of malicious actors, including nation states and criminals intent on blackmail. The chemicals sector, a high-value target for cyber-criminals Cyber-criminals view the chemicals sector, as a high-value target, because of the potential cost In 2017, not long after a ransomware attack that targeted Maersk, the world’s largest shipping firm, made the news around the world. Another cyber-attack, this time targeting physical industrial assets, generated fewer headlines, and yet could have resulted in both real, as well as financial, damage. Cyber-criminals view the chemicals sector, as a high-value target, because of the potential cost, both financial and reputational, to the operator, should production be interrupted or stopped entirely. Cyber security vulnerabilities put physical assets at risk The attack in question, a ‘Triton’ custom malware attack on a petro-chemical facility in Saudi Arabia, targeted a safety system, taking over system controllers. Bugs in the code triggered an emergency shutdown, but could have led to the release of toxic and explosive gases. It was a vivid reminder of how cyber security vulnerabilities are increasingly putting companies’ key physical assets at risk. Two more-recent high-profile incidents illustrate my point. In February, a Florida water treatment plant was hacked. The malicious actor remotely accessed the system for three to five minutes, during which time they opened various functions on the screen, including one that controls the amount of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) in the water. The hacker changed the NaOH from about 100 parts per million to 11,100 parts per million, which could have resulted in a mass poisoning event. Colonial Pipeline cyber-attack incident Then, in May, the Colonial Pipeline system that originates in Houston, Texas and carries gasoline, and jet fuel, suffered a ransomware attack. Using a VPN, hackers targeted back-office IT systems, forcing Colonial to shut down IT hosts and network infrastructure, severing communication with those OT systems that are responsible for communicating ‘transactional data’ associated with fuel delivery. In this instance, a single compromised password disrupted Colonial’s ability to invoice its customers. This dependency on OT data stopped pipeline and business operations, and the company was elected to pay the hackers an initial ransom of US$ 4.4 million, in order to restore operations. The Colonial attack was multi-dimensional, in that it not only impacted Colonial’s business, but also the wider US economy and national security, since the pipeline transports nearly half of the east coast's fuel supplies. Outdated IT system elevates physical risk The increased interconnectivity between IT and OT can also create vulnerabilit Attacks such as these prove that, armed with little more than a laptop, an email account and access to the dark web, determined hackers can cause disproportionate damage to physical infrastructure. As mentioned at the outset, the increased interconnectivity between IT and OT can also create vulnerability. Producers often want to know: Is it risky to connect a production asset or their operational environment to the Cloud? My answer is, if you do so without having done any risk audits around people, processes and technology, or without enhancing and maintaining that environment, then yes, that is risky. For example, we often observe that the life cycle of a production asset far outlasts the IT systems that are used to run it. Take a cement kiln. Several generations of plant operators may have come and gone, but that asset may still run, using legacy software, such as Windows XP and why not? Need to replace aging distributed control systems Well, that’s fine, if you are not concerned about having that asset compromised, and all that entails. A ‘flat’ IT network, an aging distributed control system, and machines with legacy versions of Microsoft Windows, all these elements, which are still commonplace in many industries, make it much easier for attackers to find and infiltrate a company, without needing sophisticated tools. The age-old mantra of not interfering with a piece of equipment or software that appears to be working, often applies to the individual assets. For example that cement kiln that are still controlled by the same Windows XP-based control software. However, if we’re honest, things have changed quite a bit, not because something was broken, but because innovation came in. That same kiln control system is most likely connected to other systems, than when first commissioned and that opens it to exposure to threats that it was never designed for. The human element There is a misconception that IoT-connected devices can open companies to risk There is a misconception that IoT-connected devices can open companies to risk, but many recent, high-profile cyber-attacks have been conducted from a laptop, by hacking someone’s VPN, or are a simple phishing/malware attack. In all these cases, the human element is partly to blame. Take the Florida attack. The compromised computer at the water treatment facility was reportedly running an outdated Windows 7 operating system and staff all used the same password, in order to gain remote access via the Teamviewer app, which the hacker was then able to use. Physical and human assets, key to robust cyber security Discussion on the best way to mitigate the threat is often framed solely around specific technical solutions and ignores the fact that robust foundational cyber security is really driven by two very different, but equally important, types of capital: physical assets (e.g. production machinery), and human assets. The truth is that smart digital software and industry-renowned cyber security applications, while critical, are in many cases, only as good as the weakest human link in the chain. Industry would, therefore, do well to ask itself the following question: Do we have a security problem, or a complacency problem? At this juncture, it is important to point out that the majority of companies that ABB works with, are at least aware of the threat posed by cyber attackers, and the potential impact of an attack, on their revenues, reputation and bottom line. User error and human-generated exposures Making sure staff are aware of the threat and training them to respond properly, if they are targeted, is vital However, user error and human-generated exposures are where most of these attacks occur. Those human failures are mostly not due to malicious intent from employees, but to the lack of training of the employees on secure behavior. Making sure staff are aware of the threat and training them to respond properly, if they are targeted, is vital. However, there are also age demographics at play here. Much of the operations employee base is heading towards retirement and often, there is no plan or ability to backfill these people. Need to invest in new digital and automated technologies If you think you don't have enough people now, in order to stay on top of basic care and feeding of the OT environment, with regards to security, what is that going to be like in 20 years? For this reason, there must be a major industry reset, when it comes to its workforce. Companies must invest in new digital and automated technologies, not only to ensure that they stay ahead of the curve and mitigate risk, but also to attract the next generation of digitally literate talent. Robust cyber security is built on solid foundations When we talk about foundational cyber security, we mean fundamentals, such as patching, malware protection, high-fidelity system backups, an up-to-date anti-virus system, and other options, such as application allow-listing and asset inventory. These basic controls can help companies understand their system setup and the potential threats, identify vulnerabilities, and assess their risk exposure. The Pareto principle states that around 80% of consequences come from 20% of the causes. In the context of cyber security, that means 80% of exposure to risk comes from 20% of the lack of security. If companies do the foundational things right, they can manage out a significant amount of this risk. Importance of maintaining and upgrading security controls However, having basic security controls, such as anti-virus software in place, is just the first step on that journey. Equally important is having someone within the organisation, with the requisite skill set, or the extra labour bandwidth, to operate, maintain and update those security controls, as they evolve. Educating, training and recruiting existing employees, and the next generation of talent, along with forging partnerships with trusted technology providers, will ensure that industry can leverage the latest digital technologies, in order to drive business value, and secure physical assets against cyber-attacks.

It’s been almost exactly a decade since HID Global launched the world's first university pilot of smartphones carrying secure mobile IDs. A lot has changed in the following 10 years. Today’s technology has matured, advanced, and proliferated across a variety of high-value use cases. To catch up on the latest developments in mobile access, we contacted Luc Merredew, Product Marketing Director, Physical Access Control, at HID Global.   Q: What has changed since the first pilot implementation of smartphones used for secure mobile identification? Merredew: One of the biggest milestones several years ago was when mobile access solutions achieved certification to the ISO 27001:2013 Information Security Management System (ISMS) standard. With increasing awareness of cloud-based security threats and resulting high expectations from a solution, today’s system owners, operators, and users insist on companies being able to demonstrate that they have had their services vetted by independent laboratories and/or agencies. When adopting mobile access solutions that maximise convenience and efficiency, and deliver dramatically improved user experiences, it is neither necessary nor acceptable to compromise security in either the physical or digital domains. Q: Do universities continue to be the biggest users? Mobile IDs on devices eliminate person-to-person credentials when accessing secured areas Merredew: The use cases have grown dramatically, spread evenly across all types of organisations in locations ranging from high-rise buildings to multi-campus global enterprises. But yes, universities continue to be big adopters, and they were among those most eager to leverage the technology so they could bring people back to campus in person during the pandemic. In this environment, mobile IDs on smartphones and other devices eliminate person-to-person credential (e.g., badge or ID card) issuance or revocation, as well as the need to physically touch cards, readers, or keypads when accessing secured areas.   Q: How were mobile IDs employed by your customers as they brought people back to physical locations after the pandemic shutdown? Merredew: One example is Vanderbilt University, where the challenges of COVID-19 brought renewed attention to the importance of a modern system for identity management and access control that was compatible with Near Field Communication (NFC) and Bluetooth technologies. Members of the campus community could more conveniently access buildings and services with their mobile devices, and the university could efficiently provision and de-provision credentials remotely without person-to-person contact. More recently, Vanderbilt leveraged HID Mobile Access® to deploy campus IDs on iPhone and Apple Watch through Apple Wallet. Q: Is there another example outside the university vertical? Merredew: Another example is the iconic tower Arcos Bosques Torre 1 in Mexico City, where the owners and tenants enjoy the simplicity of using their trusted mobile devices to seamlessly access their spaces. As with the Vanderbilt deployment, the drive for operational efficiency and convenience in the tower was combined with a desire to minimise the need for users to come in physical contact with the system. Having a solution like HID Mobile Access that delivers touchless entry and increased safety and security is important.  Q: What have been the biggest mobile access advancements? The mobile credential provides contactless, seamless access to a wide range of devices and services Merredew: One of the most important advancements was simplifying upgrade paths to mobile access. In the Vanderbilt example, our HID Reader Manager was used to upgrade the firmware on the university’s physical access control readers and extend support for NFC-based credentials in Apple Wallet. The university uses the HID Origo™ Mobile Identities API integrated with CS Gold®, a higher education transaction system from CBORD, for credential lifecycle management. Another significant enhancement has been the expanded range of uses cases for the mobile credential, going beyond simply opening doors to include providing contactless, seamless access to a wide range of devices and services such as time-and-attendance terminals, cashless vending machines, printers, computers, workstations, and many other applications. Q: Wearables are also having an impact. Merredew: Contactless mobile experiences are also delivered through wearable wristbands. One example is the Nymi band which, once authenticated, continuously authenticates the identity of the user until it’s removed from the wrist. This delivers zero-trust security principles and access control using convenient fingerprint and heartbeat biometrics to users seeking touchless authentication. Q: What is the impact of the cloud? Merredew: The move to a cloud-based system to issue and manage mobile identity credentials has unified, automated, and simplified identity issuance at a single facility or across any number of distributed office or remote work locations. Q: What should end users look for in a mobile access solution? Look for solutions that use a secure element in the reader as well as cloud certificates, to ensure security and data privacy Merredew: Solutions should support the largest possible number of popular mobile devices – in HID’s case, this includes more than 250. Look for solutions that use a secure element in the reader, and a secure key management process, as well as cloud certificates, to ensure both security and data privacy. Make sure the solution supports Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Near Field Communication (NFC), and both iOS and Android operating systems. Solutions that provide Application Programming Interface (API) and Software Development Kit (SDK) support offer direct access to the solution’s access control hardware, speeding deployment while enabling integration partners to continue innovating products that deliver even better user experiences. Q: Wonder what this market will look like in 10 more years. What’s next for mobile access? Merredew: Future innovations are on the horizon with technologies such as Ultra-Wideband (UWB) wireless connectivity, which HID expects will become ubiquitous on mobile devices. It provides unprecedented accuracy and security when measuring the distance or determining the relative position of a target. It is not HID’s expectation that UWB will replace Near Field Communication (NFC) or Bluetooth, but rather supplement Bluetooth and other technologies to provide the assurance, reliability, and granularity of device position that enables truly seamless experiences. 

A new generation of video cameras is poised to boost capabilities dramatically at the edge of the IP network, including more powerful artificial intelligence (AI) and higher resolutions, and paving the way for new applications that would have previously been too expensive or complex. Technologies at the heart of the coming new generation of video cameras are Ambarella’s newest systems on chips (SoCs). Ambarella’s CV5S and CV52S product families are bringing a new level of on-camera AI performance and integration to multi-imager and single-imager IP cameras. Both of these SoCs are manufactured in the ‘5 nm’ manufacturing process, bringing performance improvements and power savings, compared to the previous generation of SoCs manufactured at ‘10nm’. CV5S and CV52S AI-powered SoCs The CV5S, designed for multi-imager cameras, is able to process, encode and perform advanced AI on up to four imagers at 4Kp30 resolution, simultaneously and at less than 5 watts. This enables multi-headed camera designs with up to four 4K imagers looking at different portions of a scene, as well as very high-resolution, single-imager cameras of up to 32 MP resolution and beyond. The CV52S, designed for single-imager cameras with very powerful onboard AI, is the next-generation of the company’s successful CV22S mainstream 4K camera AI chip. This new SoC family quadruples the AI processing performance, while keeping the same low power consumption of less than 3 watts for 4Kp60 encoding with advanced AI processing. Faster and ubiquitous AI capabilities Ambarella’s newest AI vision SoCs for security, the CV5S and CV52S, are competitive solutions" “Security system designers desire higher resolutions, increasing channel counts, and ever faster and more ubiquitous AI capabilities,” explains John Lorenz, Senior Technology and Market Analyst, Computing, at Yole Développement (Yole), a French market research firm. John Lorenz adds, “Ambarella’s newest AI vision SoCs for security, the CV5S and CV52S, are competitive solutions for meeting the growing demands of the security IC (integrated circuit) sector, which our latest report forecasts to exceed US$ 4 billion by 2025, with two-thirds of that being chips with AI capabilities.” Edge AI vision processors Ambarella’s new CV5S and CV52S edge AI vision processors enable new classes of cameras that would not have been possible in the past, with a single SoC architecture. For example, implementing a 4x 4K multi-imager with AI would have traditionally required at least two SoCs (at least one for encoding and one for AI), and the overall power consumption would have made those designs bulky and prohibitively expensive. By reducing the number of required SoCs, the CV5S enables advanced camera designs such as AI-enabled 4x 4K imagers at price points much lower than would have previously been possible. “What we are usually trying to do with our SoCs is to keep the price points similar to the previous generations, given that camera retail prices tend to be fairly fixed,” said Jerome Gigot, Ambarella's Senior Director of Marketing. 4K multi-imager cameras “However, higher-end 4K multi-imager cameras tend to retail for thousands of dollars, and so even though there will be a small premium on the SoC for the 2X improvement in performance, this will not make a significant impact to the final MSRP of the camera,” adds Jerome Gigot. In addition, the overall system cost might go down, Gigot notes, compared to what could be built today because there is no longer a need for external chips to perform AI, or extra components for power dissipation. The new chips will be available in the second half of 2021, and it typically takes about 12 to 18 months for Ambarella’s customers (camera manufacturers) to produce final cameras. Therefore, the first cameras, based on these new SoCs, should hit the market sometime in the second half of 2022. Reference boards for camera manufacturers The software on these new SoCs is an evolution of our unified Linux SDK" As with Ambarella’s previous generations of edge AI vision SoCs for security, the company will make available reference boards to camera manufacturers soon, allowing them to develop their cameras based on the new CV5S and CV52S SoC families. “The software on these new SoCs is an evolution of our unified Linux SDK that is already available on our previous generations SoCs, which makes the transition easy for our customers,” said Jerome Gigot. Better crime detection Detecting criminals in a crowd, using face recognition and/or licence plate recognition, has been a daunting challenge for security, and one the new chips will help to address. “Actually, these applications are one of the main reasons why Ambarella is introducing these two new SoC families,” said Jerome Gigot. Typically, resolutions of 4K and higher have been a smaller portion of the security market, given that they came at a premium price tag for the high-end optics, image sensor and SoC. Also, the cost and extra bandwidth of storing and streaming 4K video were not always worth it for the benefit of just viewing video at higher resolution. 4K AI processing on-camera The advent of on-camera AI at 4K changes the paradigm. By enabling 4K AI processing on-camera, smaller objects at longer distances can now be detected and analysed without having to go to a server, and with much higher detail and accuracy compared to what can be done on a 2 MP or 5 MP cameras. This means that fewer false alarms will be generated, and each camera will now be able to cover a longer distance and wider area, offering more meaningful insights without necessarily having to stream and store that 4K video to a back-end server. “This is valuable, for example, for traffic cameras mounted on top of high poles, which need to be able to see very far out and identify cars and licence plates that are hundreds of meters away,” said Jerome Gigot. The advent of on-camera AI at 4K changes the paradigm Enhanced video analytics and wider coverage “Ambarella’s new CV5S and CV52S SoCs truly allow the industry to take advantage of higher resolution on-camera for better analytics and wider coverage, but without all the costs typically incurred by having to stream high-quality 4K video out 24/7 to a remote server for offline analytics,” said Jerome Gigot. He adds, “So, next-generation cameras will now be able to identify more criminals, faces and licence plates, at longer distances, for an overall lower cost and with faster response times by doing it all locally on-camera.” Deployment in retail applications Retail environments can be some of the toughest, as the cameras may be looking at hundreds of people at once Retail applications are another big selling point. Retail environments can be some of the toughest, as the cameras may be looking at hundreds of people at once (e.g., in a mall), to provide not only security features, but also other business analytics, such as foot traffic and occupancy maps that can be used later to improve product placement. The higher resolution and higher AI performance, enabled by the new Ambarella SoCs, provide a leap forward in addressing those scenarios. In a store setup, a ceiling-mounted camera with four 4K imagers can simultaneously look at the cashier line on one side of the store, sending alerts when a line is getting too long and a new cashier needs to be deployed, while at the same time looking at the entrance on the other side of the store, to count the people coming in and out. This leaves two additional 4K imagers for monitoring specific product aisles and generating real-time business analytics. Use in cashier-less stores Another retail application is a cashier-less store. Here, a CV5S or CV52S-based camera mounted on the ceiling will have enough resolution and AI performance to track goods, while the customer grabs them and puts them in their cart, as well as to automatically track which customer is purchasing which item. In a warehouse scenario, items and boxes moving across the floor could also be followed locally, on a single ceiling-mounted camera that covers a wide area of the warehouse. Additionally, these items and boxes could be tracked across the different imagers in a multi-headed camera setup, without the video having to be sent to a server to perform the tracking. Updating on-camera AI networks Another feature of Ambarella’s SoCs is that their on-camera AI networks can be updated on-the-fly, without having to stop the video recording and without losing any video frames. So, for example in the case of a search for a missing vehicle, the characteristics of that missing vehicle (make, model, colour, licence plate) can be sent to a cluster of cameras in the general area, where the vehicle is thought to be missing, and all those cameras can be automatically updated to run a live search on that specific vehicle. If any of the cameras gets a match, a remote operator can be notified and receive a picture, or even a live video feed of the scene. Efficient traffic management With the CV52S edge AI vision SoC, those decisions can be made locally at each intersection by the camera itself Relating to traffic congestion, most big cities have thousands of intersections that they need to monitor and manage. Trying to do this from one central location is costly and difficult, as there is so much video data to process and analyse, in order to make those traffic decisions (to control the traffic lights, reverse lanes, etc.). With the CV52S edge AI vision SoC, those decisions can be made locally at each intersection by the camera itself. The camera would then take actions autonomously (for example, adjust traffic-light timing) and only report a status update to the main traffic control centre. So now, instead of having one central location trying to manage 1,000 intersections, a city can have 1,000 smart AI cameras, each managing its own location and providing updates and metadata to a central server. Superior privacy Privacy is always a concern with video. In this case, doing AI on-camera is inherently more private than streaming the video to a server for analysis. Less data transmission means fewer points of entry for a hacker trying to access the video. On Ambarella’s CV5S and CV52S SoCs, the video can be analysed locally and then discarded, with just a signature or metadata of the face being used to find a match. No actual video needs to be stored or transmitted, which ensures total privacy. In addition, the chips contain a very secure hardware cyber security block, including OTP memory, Arm TrustZones, DRAM scrambling and I/O virtualisation. This makes it very difficult for a hacker to replace the firmware on the camera, providing another level of security and privacy at the system level. Privacy Masking Another privacy feature is the concept of privacy masking. This feature enables portions of the video (say a door or a window) to be blocked out, before being encoded in the video stream. The blocked portions of the scene are not present in the recorded video, thus providing a privacy option for cameras that are facing private areas. “With on-camera AI, each device becomes its own smart endpoint, and can be reconfigured at will to serve the specific physical security needs of its installation,” said Jerome Gigot, adding “The possibilities are endless, and our mission as an SoC maker is really to provide a powerful and easy-to-use platform, complete with computer-vision tools, that enable our customers and their partners to easily deploy their own AI software on-camera.” Physical security in parking lots With a CV5S or CV52S AI-enabled camera, the camera will be able to cover a much wider portion of the parking lot One example is physical security in a parking lot. A camera today might be used to just record part of the parking lot, so that an operator can go back and look at the video if a car were broken into or some other incident occurred. With a CV5S or CV52S AI-enabled camera, first of all, the camera will be able to cover a much wider portion of the parking lot. Additionally, it will be able to detect the licence plates of all the cars going in and out, to automatically bill the owners. If there is a special event, the camera can be reprogrammed to identify VIP vehicles and automatically redirect them to the VIP portion of the lot, while reporting to the entrance station or sign how many parking spots are available. It can even tell the cars approaching the lot where to go. Advantages of using edge AI vision SoCs Jerome Gigot said, “The possibilities are endless and they span across many verticals. The market is primed to embrace these new capabilities. Recent advances in edge AI vision SoCs have brought about a period of change in the physical security space. Companies that would have, historically, only provided security cameras, are now getting into adjacent verticals such as smart retail, smart cities and smart buildings.” He adds, “These changes are providing a great opportunity for all the camera makers and software providers to really differentiate themselves by providing full systems that offer a new level of insights and efficiencies to, not only the physical security manager, but now also the store owner and the building manager.” He adds, “All of these new applications are extremely healthy for the industry, as they are growing the available market for cameras, while also increasing their value and the economies of scale they can provide. Ambarella is looking forward to seeing all the innovative products that our customers will build with this new generation of SoCs.”

The city of Baltimore has banned the use of facial recognition systems by residents, businesses and the city government (except for police). The criminalisation in a major U.S. city of an important emerging technology in the physical security industry is an extreme example of the continuing backlash against facial recognition throughout the United States. Facial recognition technology ban Several localities – from Portland, Oregon, to San Francisco, from Oakland, California, to Boston – have moved to limit use of the technology, and privacy groups have even proposed a national moratorium on use of facial recognition. The physical security industry, led by the Security Industry Association (SIA), vigorously opposed the ban in Baltimore, urging a measured approach and ‘more rational policymaking’ that preserve the technology’s value while managing any privacy or other concerns. Physical security industry opposes ban In such cases, it is local businesses and residents who stand to lose the most" “Unfortunately, an outright ban on facial recognition continues a distressing pattern in which the clear value of this technology is ignored,” said SIA’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Don Erickson, adding “In such cases, it is local businesses and residents who stand to lose the most.” At the national level, a letter to US President Biden from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Coalition asserts the need for a national dialogue over the appropriate use of facial recognition technology and expresses concern about ‘a blanket moratorium on federal government use and procurement of the technology’. (The coalition includes Security Industry Association (SIA) and other industry groups.) The negativity comes at a peak moment for facial recognition and other biometric technologies, which saw an increase of interest for a variety of public and business applications, during the COVID-19 pandemic’s prioritisation to improve public health hygiene and to promote ‘contactless’ technologies. Prohibition on banks, retailers and online sellers The ordinance in Baltimore prohibits banks from using facial recognition to enhance consumer security in financial transactions. It prevents retailers from accelerating checkout lines with contactless payment and prohibits remote online identity document verification, which is needed by online sellers or gig economy workers, according to the Security Industry Association (SIA). At a human level, SIA points out that the prohibition of facial recognition undermines the use of customised accessibility tools for disabled persons, including those suffering with blindness, memory loss or prosopagnosia (face blindness). Ban out of line with current state of facial recognition Addressing the Baltimore prohibition, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation reacted to the measure as ‘shockingly out of line with the current state of facial recognition technology and its growing adoption in many sectors of the economy’. Before Baltimore’s decision to target facial recognition, Portland, Oregon, had perhaps the strictest ban, prohibiting city government agencies and private businesses from using the technology on the city’s grounds. San Francisco was the first U.S. city to ban the technology, with Boston, Oakland; Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Berkeley, California, among others, following suit. Police and federal units can use biometrics Unlike other bans, the Baltimore moratorium does not apply to police uses Unlike other bans, the Baltimore moratorium does not apply to police uses, but targets private uses of the technology. It also includes a one-year ‘sunset’ clause that requires city council approval for an extension. The measure carves out an exemption for use of biometrics in access control systems. However, violations of the measure are punishable by 12 months in jail. The law also establishes a task force to evaluate the cost and effectiveness of surveillance tools. Transparency in public sector use of facial recognition Currently, the state of Maryland controls the Baltimore Police Department, so the city council does not have authority to ban police use of facial recognition, which has been a human rights concern driving the bans in other jurisdictions. A measure to return local control of police to the city could pass before the year lapses. SIA advocates transparency in public-sector applications of facial recognition in identity verification, security and law enforcement investigative applications. SIA’s CEO, Don Erickson stated, “As public sector uses are more likely to be part of processes with consequential outcomes, it is especially important for transparency and sound policies to accompany government applications.”

Following a change in employment practices, created by the COVID-19 pandemic, many office-based employees now follow a hybrid schedule, working where they are needed or find convenient. The fast-growing use of flexible offices and co-working spaces is a testament to this emerging trend. With employees coming and going as they please, a change in how security and access control are managed is an urgent, but overlooked aspect that many firms are just waking up to now. Clockwise, renowned office space provider Clockwise is the UK and European provider of flexible office space for entrepreneurs and established businesses. The company’s expanding offering includes contemporary offices, meeting rooms and shared workspaces, across multiple cities. Any business, which relies on flexibility, places high demands on door security and access control. Clockwise needs a broad choice of electronic devices to secure meeting rooms, private offices, communal spaces and main entrances, which may not all require the same lock type. Access management should adapt to changing needs Access management must be able to adapt and change, as fast as Clockwise clients’ needs The office space demands of a start-up, freelance co-worker or growing SMB can change at any time, so Clockwise offer a range of membership levels and packages. Access management must be able to adapt and change, as fast as Clockwise clients’ needs. Because tenants come and go frequently, Clockwise facility managers need tailoring of user access rights, to be as easy as possible. Clockwise’s own spaces and a portfolio may also evolve, so any access system must be able to scale instantly up or down. How flexibly Clockwise can deliver for their clients is essential to growing in such a competitive market. Incedo Business offers versatile access control The range of Incedo-enabled devices and door hardware, managed by simple cloud-based software, convinced Clockwise to choose ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions’ Incedo Business, for all their premises. This platform-based access solution connects security software and hardware within a single, future-proofed ecosystem. The diversity of Incedo-enabled devices enables Clockwise to select the ideal electronic lock for every opening in their properties. Internal private office doors, ‘Zoom rooms’ and meeting rooms, as well as communal area doors, and entrance/exits, are now secured with wireless access control devices from the Incedo Business range. Flexible system management options Incedo’s flexible system management options help Clockwise to operate access control with maximum efficiency. Administrators quickly create groups with tailored access for specific doors. Access permissions may also be time-limited, which is perfect for meeting room bookings or for facilitating access hours for different membership options. Private desk members get 24/7 admission, whereas hot-desk membership is only allowed entry during office hours. According to Clockwise, the flexibility to create groups and the ability to remotely update cards, both work really well for their business.

Dahua Technology is a globally renowned video-centric smart IoT solutions and services provider. Based on technological innovations, Dahua Technology offers end-to-end security solutions, systems, and services, in order to create value for city operations, corporate management, and consumers. Dahua Technology has designed a video surveillance and control solution for a popular Panamanian Food Company - Empresa Panamena de Alimentos (EPA). Dahua’s security solution Empresa Panamena de Alimentos is a renowned company in the processed food industry in Panama, Central America. It was founded in 2012 and owns production plants and warehouses in the capital city, as well as agencies around the country. EPA’s products, including all kinds of cookies, coffee, and pasta, are already important parts of consumers’ day-to-day life. With the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic risks, EPA needed a system to sustain efficient management and operation, over their staff and facilities. Implementing multiple access controls in the facilities As a food company, the operations of the company need to be under caution, especially during the pandemic As a food company, the operations of the company need to be under caution, especially during the pandemic. It was necessary to implement multiple access controls in the facilities. With multiple plants located around the nation and accelerated growth, a centralised monitoring system for all equipment, alert management and user reports was needed. The solution, applied at EPA’s facilities, integrates various electronic security systems under a single platform and was evaluated based on the company’s needs. ANPR, AI-based cameras and access control systems “Currently, 480 Dahua devices have been arranged. Among them are different models of cameras, access control systems, and automatic number plate recognition products. AI-based cameras enhance the level of personnel protection. Everything is monitored by a DSS Express server in the main plant,” said Luis Araujo, the Manager of Infrastructure and Telecommunications of the Secutec Panama. Every day, more than 800 employees enter EPA facilities nationwide, the access control system allows a faster and safer automated entry of the staff and their cars. Access controllers and Pro Network Video Recorders Besides, three Pro Network Video Recorders (NVR5864-4KS2) were also adopted Apart from automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) devices, more than 20 access controllers (ASI7213X-T1) were installed in main offices for temperature monitoring and attendance management. Besides, three Pro Network Video Recorders (NVR5864-4KS2) were also adopted. With a powerful processor, they have the capability of 4K resolution processing and high definition recording quality. Perimeter protection and access control In Dahua Technology’s security solution, perimeter protection and access control are both realised. “We have had Dahua equipment for 7 years. It is a brand that has been of great help to our safety. It has contributed to continuous and steady operations throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Guillermo Figueroa, EPA’s Safety and Control Manager. Javier Rodríguez, Secutec Panama’s Operations Manager, valued the quality and technology of Dahua’s solution, which has been ‘key’ for the development of their projects, the support and accompaniment to the brands that are planned to be developed. Trust in Dahua Technology’s solution “We are very proud that our teams are here for EPA and that companies, like EPA and Secutec, trust Dahua Technology. We continue to innovate to offer solutions that help companies to work in a safer and smarter way,” said Fermín Osorio, an Engineer at Dahua Technology Ltd.

Gindi TLV, a residential complex in the heart of Tel Aviv, Israel, maintains the safety of its community, by using Oosto’s face and object recognition, to reduce contact with surfaces and enforce a policy of density, distance and wearing masks in public areas. Securing Gindi TLV complex Gindi TLV is an innovative residential complex, located in the heart of Tel Aviv, which includes 4 towers, restaurants, cafes, a country club and a mall. The complex has been planned and designed to allow community life for families and individuals, who have chosen to live in the beating heart of Tel Aviv, located within walking distance of the city’s business and entertainment areas. Gindi TLV residents use a dedicated app for convenient booking of the complex’s facilities Gindi TLV residents use a dedicated app for convenient booking of the complex’s facilities, parking, guest invitation and as a social network that is the basis for community life in the complex. Gindi TLV is also equipped with advanced and interconnected technological systems that enable efficient and cost-effective management of infrastructure and service for tenants. Oosto’s facial recognition technology The Prop-tech technology in the complex was developed and managed by the start-up, MyTower, which serves as a design partner in the project and is responsible for making it the first smart residential neighbourhood in Israel. Gindi TLV uses Oosto’s facial recognition technology, in order to provide tenants with touchless and secure entry. Dan Stern, the Vice President (VP) – Digital, at Gindi TLV, explains “On the one hand, the tenants in the complex are highly sensitive to personal security and privacy, and on the other hand, because it is their home, we did everything to avoid using cards, chips or fingerprints, and allow easy access control for tenants, and their guests, using Oosto’s advanced facial recognition technology.” Visual AI and touchless access control Dan Stern adds, “Following the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic, there has been a need to expand the use of visual AI, to maintain community safety, by reducing contact with surfaces, monitoring density in facilities and public areas in the complex.” Ofer Schmidt, Sales Director of Central Europe & Israel, Oosto, said “Pre-COVID-19, maintaining tenant safety was primarily about security - letting tenants and their guests in and keeping unauthorised people out, in a transparent and smooth manner. Deployment of facial and object recognition solutions These days, we are seeing more and more prestigious residence complexes using face and object recognition" Ofer Schmidt adds, “These days, we are seeing more and more prestigious residence complexes using face and object recognition, to maintain the health of the tenant and staff, for example by enforcing a policy of on distance, density, wearing masks and allowing only vaccinated, or those with a negative test, access to common facilities, such as the gym.” He further stated, “The high accuracy of the computer vision algorithms, operating in Gindi TLV, enables the maintenance of the health of those who live or visit the complex, while minimally interfering with their daily routine. “ Video analytics using AI Video analytics using artificial intelligence (AI) to reduce COVID-19-related risks is not unique to residential complexes. According to a recent survey, 82% of academic institutions in the US and Western Europe will adopt face and object recognition technologies, in order to maintain safety through enforcing mask wearing, social distancing and reducing contact with surfaces to a minimum.

Abloy UK has been awarded a 5-year contract with UK Power Networks valued at £2.5m to upgrade the current mechanical locking systems to a combined electromechanical and mechanical locking solution, for its high and low voltage distribution networks. Rob Bennett, Senior Business Development Manager at Abloy UK, has facilitated the partnership between Abloy UK and UK Power Networks. UK Power Networks own and maintain the electricity distribution network across South East England, the East of England and London. Supporting complex workflow Products specified include a mix of Abloy PROTEC2 CLIQ® electromechanical and PROTEC2 mechanical padlocks and cylinders, which will be controlled and administered using the new CIPE Manager operating system. CLIQ® offers high security and flexibility that supports the complex workflow of organisations It is estimated that Abloy will supply around 9,500 padlocks per annum, together with programmable PROTEC2 CLIQ Bluetooth Low Energy keys, enabling UK Power Network’s system to be expanded conveniently in the future. CLIQ® offers high security and flexibility that supports the complex workflow of organisations in the energy sector by enabling audit trails to be generated for individual cylinders, padlocks, keys and system users. Major security risk If a key is lost or stolen this no longer creates a major security risk, because each individual key can be deactivated if required and have access rights changed or removed using the CLIQ® web manager software, providing a truly dynamic secure system. The battery powered CLIQ® keys are programmable, so a temporary contractor can be issued with a key that permits entry to specific sites for a limited time period. After the authorisation period ends, the key cannot open the lock.

Real-time access control can enable facility managers to get ahead of security problems, rather than wait for them to get worse. Yet traditional wired access control can be expensive and disruptive to install. Wireless Aperio locks — installed cable-free and integrated online — add this real-time control to more doors at a much lower cost than equivalent wired door locks. Why do security managers increasingly prioritise online access control? Because real-time management of an online system enables them to solve a minor issue before it creates a problem. Online control keeps site users safer and ensures an organisation’s valuable equipment and data are protected. Maintaining site security When someone loses their credential, online integration enables facility managers to cancel its permissions and blacklist it right away. Nobody needs to visit a door or system updater. Online access control maintains an overview of site security in real-time, with the ability to create audit trails for any lock or user on demand. Security staff can always find out who went where, and when — now, not an hour ago or yesterday Security staff can always find out who went where, and when — now, not an hour ago or yesterday. With online access control, they can also gain remote control over entrances and exits, which could be critical in an emergency. Aperio battery-powered locks with integrated RFID-Readers are built on an open platform, online (and offline) integration with almost any new or existing security system is seamless. One sentence about the function of the hub. Online access control Aperio wireless locks already enhance security with real-time, online access control in healthcare, education, corporate, governmental and commercial premises all over Europe. As a provider of future-oriented business education, The Camp sought an access solution as forward-thinking as their courses. Aperio wireless locks integrated with a TIL Technologies system enable real-time management of the site, with profiles to segment individuals who need fine-grained access to specific areas. “Many credentials get lost and Aperio enables us to handle this efficiently,” says Benjamin Ciotto, Head of Information Technology at The Camp. A few clicks are all it takes to cancel a lost key-card and issue a replacement. Card-based locking technology Plexal offices are equipped with Aperio’s wireless, access card-based locking technology “Online mode is very important because [access] rights are very often updated for the constantly shifting campus population,” adds Ciotto. “We can also program access to defined time slots, which is essential when we welcome 200 people for an all-day meeting, for example.” At Plexal in East London, enterprise and academia work together, with technology companies, start-ups, universities and creative under one roof. Up to 800 entrepreneurs use the workspace to devise, create and launch products and services. Plexal offices are equipped with Aperio’s wireless, access card-based locking technology. Plexal’s Aperio locks are integrated with DoorFlow, NetNodes’ online platform for managing and auditing building access. Monitoring building information To date, 59 Aperio L100 wireless high-security door locks have been installed and integrated online with DoorFlow. These Aperio locks provide Plexal with the highest levels of physical protection and transmit door status to DoorFlow — all in real-time. The Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Grenoble occupies a site that’s open to the city The Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Grenoble occupies a site that’s open to the city. Quite literally: it has no enclosing walls. With so many people on the premises each day, property theft had become widespread. CHU’s 7,800 employees needed reassurance that their belongings, as well as those of visitors, were well protected. A modest outlay on 20 Aperio wireless cylinders and escutcheons, integrated online with a Castel access control system, transformed hospital security. Aperio’s immediate impact was to drastically reduce theft. Online integration ensures hospital managers monitor building information in real-time — even removing key-cards permissions remotely when required. Replacing mechanical locks Crous Montpellier fixed their recurring lost key problem by replacing mechanical locks with Aperio cylinders. Now 1,500 wireless Aperio cylinders are integrated online with their ARD security system, giving facility managers a live overview of accommodation security. When a student loses their key-card, it’s simple for a site manager to cancel the old credential and issue a new one. Because Aperio integration is online, managers block lost credentials quickly using the software, without visiting the door. It is just as easy to de-authorise credentials for students who leave, even if they forget to return their smart-card. An administrator simply removes them from the system database and they are locked out. Online integration saves Crous time and money. Access control solution The campus is now equipped with Aperio cylinders and electronic handles with built-in RFID readers Every day around 7,000 people pass through Aix-Marseille University’s suburban Luminy campus. As part of a modernisation project, managers sought a retrofit-ready access control solution to upgrade security for two buildings. The campus is now equipped with Aperio cylinders and electronic handles with built-in RFID readers. Locks are integrated seamlessly, wirelessly and online with an ARD access control system. Online Aperio integration gives staff a ‘live’ overview of the campus, so they can respond proactively. “We have critical premises, including for the storage of chemicals, some with radioactive properties,” says Cédric Lopez, Maintenance Manager at Luminy. One key metric for new locking was to deter theft, which was becoming a problem in teaching areas with computers. “Since we installed Aperio, we have not had a break-in,” adds Lopez.

Anviz’s client, Integrate Security (Integrar Seguridad), is a company that is dedicated to providing electronic security services. Integrate Security has trained personnel to provide the best solution to local and foreign tourism in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with ten years dedicated in this field. The challenge With a diverse set of physical identities and mobility of local and foreign tourists, who access multi-purpose buildings, it’s hard to manage sets of rooms only by keys. Unnecessary human capital will be added on to manage a multi-purpose building, with an additional fee to manage the system. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Anviz’s client needs a modern solution As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Anviz’s client needs a modern solution, to help them manage all these newly add-on tourism and minimise human capital, with the function of registering and managing new users’ access requests within minutes. FacePass 7 and CrossChex Standard solutions Furthermore, Integrate Security wants to make everything touchless, in order to fit the requirement of COVID-19 policies, while protecting both tourists and workers from the Coronavirus. Anviz’s FacePass 7 and CrossChex Standard solutions offered Integrate Security exactly what they needed, touchless access control solution that can be monitored on a laptop or PC. To ensure the best configuration result, Anviz designed special stainless steel turnstiles for FacePass 7. Touchless access control The FacePass 7 and CrossChex Standard can enable staff members to add or delete additional users within minutes and monitor access records, whether or not the tourists wear a mask to fulfill COVID-19 requirements.

Many of the threats facing the energy and utility sector are related to cybersecurity, as recent incidents have confirmed. Another problem is that operating systems for utilities tend to be outdated, which presents extra challenges in a connected world. There are also physical security demands, not to mention regulatory and social issues. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the security trends in energy and utilities?

A new generation of security professional is waiting in the wings. They will be faced with unprecedented challenges, as they seek to transform the security marketplace to the ‘next level’. Technology changes ensure the market will be very different 10 years from now and the fresh labour pool will need to be able to meet the host of new challenges. We asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: What exciting career opportunities in the security industry await the next generation?

Residential security and smart homes are rapidly changing facets of the larger physical security marketplace, driven by advances in consumer technology and concerns about rising crime rates. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people spent more time at home and became more aware of the need for greater security. As workplaces opened back up, returning workers turned to technology to help them keep watch over their homes from afar. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the trends in residential security in 2021?