Healthcare security

Axis Communications has continued to listen to industry needs and announces two new camera models for corner-mount usage, with specific design features to meet particular use cases. The AXIS P9106-V Network Camera Brushed Steel model has a design that is perfect for blending into the aesthetic in elevators, whereas the AXIS P9106-V Network Camera White model is ligature-resistant (also known as anti-ligature), ideal for, among others, the healthcare sector. The 3 MP cameras are specially designed for out-of-the-box optimised corner-to-corner coverage. They can cover up to 130 degrees horizontally and 95 degrees vertically, without blind spots. Overcoming challenges “For niche applications such as surveillance in elevators, interview rooms, and psychiatric wards, our clients face very specific challenges and seek to achieve specific benefits that are not commonly addressed by standard products available in the market” said Michael Chen, Global Product Manager at Axis Communications. Network audio can be added by pairing AXIS P9106-V with AXIS T6112 Audio and I/O Interface and its portcast technology, so it can also record dialogue “But thanks to our strong partnership network globally, we are able to work alongside system integrators and end-users to ensure our new cameras’ designs serve their needs and exceed their expectations in aesthetics, usability and durability. In our dedication to innovating and creating cameras for long-term use, we are proud to present these two new cameras that will help our clients utilise our technology in even more industries.” Recording dialogue with portcast technology The white ligature-resistant model eliminates the chances for vulnerable people, such as those in mental health care or police custody, to use the device for self-harm. Network audio can be added by pairing AXIS P9106-V with AXIS T6112 Audio and I/O Interface and its portcast technology, so it can also record dialogue, which is very useful in applications such as police interview rooms. Additionally, the camera can be re-painted to match any environment, decreasing the chances of it standing out and upsetting or irritating vulnerable persons. If the camera is defaced, its abrasion- and chemical-resistant front window is easy to clean with the help of detergents or simple graffiti remover. The brushed steel model is designed to blend in with elegant elevator environments, such as in high-class establishments in commercial environments. The camera benefits from no visible screws, adding to its elegant design feature. If the camera has been affected or targeted by vandalism, the durable front window is easy to clean or replace, as per the white model. IK10 and IP66 rated corner cameras Both models are IK10- and IP66-rated for protection against impact, dirt and water ingress Michael adds, “Specifically in the elevator application, customers expressed the cumbersome procedures involved if any camera maintenance would require access inside the elevator shaft. To address this, we have designed the camera to be fully accessible from inside the elevator, reducing maintenance time and costs, while keeping the camera compact and discreet, to blend into elegant spaces.” These new corner cameras are easy to install alone, thanks to innovative screw gaskets. They also come pre-focused, helping installers complete the set-up quickly and correctly, which decreases installation costs. Both models are IK10- and IP66-rated for protection against impact, dirt and water ingress. The hardened cameras are compatible with multiple connectivity options to allow installation in environments where infrastructure requirements are unique. Choose between: PoE, PoE over Coax, and PoE over 2-wire connections (separate connectivity devices required). The latter of these is common, e.g. in travelling cables along elevator shafts. The cameras will be available in Q4 2018 through Axis distribution channels.

Cathexis is proud to be exhibiting at Security Essen from 25-28 September 2018 at the Messe Essen Exhibition Centre, in the City of Essen, Germany. Cathexis is a globally recognised Video Management Software (VMS) Developer, with over two decades of expertise in providing world-class Video Surveillance Software solutions to the international market. Cathexis will be showcasing CathexisVision 2018 which offers feature-rich functionality and ease of installation and use for a range of vertical markets such as Retail, Manufacturing, Banking, Healthcare, Mining, Education, Transport, Business Parks, City Surveillance, Government, Remote Monitoring, as well as Residential and Commercial Property sectors. Effective surveillance solutions CathexisVision Video Surveillance Management Software provides clients with sophisticated features and seamless third-party integrations The CathexisVision Video Surveillance Management Software provides clients with sophisticated features and seamless third-party integrations which ensure efficient and effective surveillance solutions that reap maximum returns on investment. CathexisVision boasts an open platform that supports the world’s most popular IP camera brands, allowing for the speedy setup of hundreds of on-site cameras in a matter of minutes, and guaranteeing the best solution for each unique application. CathexisVision features such as Advanced Search Tools dramatically speeds up the process of viewing pre-recorded footage, while Adjacent Camera Mapping effectively tracks a suspect through multiple camera scenes. Other notable features include Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), Camera Parameter Cloning, Failover, Video Wall and Video Analytics. Powerful Video Analytics Powerful Video Analytics suites improve the overall effectiveness of the system by analysing vast amounts of data and generating actionable information. The system automatically pinpoints significant incidents allowing for immediate action. In a nutshell, the CathexisVision features improve the user’s overall experience and ability to efficiently manage a control room environment. Third-party system integration is perhaps one of the most successful and differentiating features of CathexisVision. This VMS has the capability to integrate various third-party systems like Access Control, Point of Sale, Alarm Panels and Fire Panels and many more with predetermined actions. Hardware tool enables users to enter camera and storage parameters, and automatically generates the recommended recording Health monitoring system Cathexis has also developed web-based hardware and license design tools to assist installers in designing the best system for their application. The hardware tool enables users to enter camera and storage parameters, and automatically generates the recommended recording client servers for each project. With Automatic Failover Redundancy, CathexisVision experiences zero-downtime in the event of a server recording failure. The reliability of the system goes hand-in-hand with the kind of stability that customers have come to expect from Cathexis, such as its unique Health Monitoring system, which ensures integrity through the provision of automated warnings of any possible impending failure. It has always been the objective of Cathexis to supply more than just products, but integrated solutions that deliver a real return on investment.

The easy-to-manage SMARTair system is now available to professional security installers from ASSA ABLOY Access Control, a UK division of ASSA ABLOY, the global provider of door opening solutions. SMARTair is an effective, fully-scalable access control system that can be installed quickly and easily by security installers. Available in offline and wireless online versions, SMARTair is a flexible, end-to-end, battery-operated system. This makes it the perfect solution for a variety of installations. Key management & control issues SMARTair uses radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader technology to provide a secure access solution to areas with diverse ranges and frequencies of foot traffic. The RFID reader and locking mechanism are all housed in one device, meaning SMARTair is suitable for nearly all types of interior and exterior doors, as well as turnstiles, barriers, elevators and more. SMARTair devices eliminate key management and control issues in favour of a card-based access solution As an energy-efficient technology, SMARTair devices need minimal maintenance, with battery changes only required after approximately 70,000 cycles. It also eliminates key management and control issues in favour of a card-based access solution, in which cards can be issued, invalidated and updated in real time for maximum security. Smart door access solution SMARTair is well-suited to the education sector, as it gives relevant stakeholders the ability to lock, unlock and grant door access permissions at allotted times and dates. The level of control is further strengthened with the audit trail function, which allows SMARTair to provide detailed attendance records for security and administrative purposes. These features showcase SMARTair as a secure and flexible access control system that balances student safety with the adaptability an educational environment requires. The ability to audit trail makes SMARTair an invaluable security solution for care home owners and operators The ability to audit trail also makes SMARTair an invaluable security solution for care home owners and operators. Because it can provide access control information 24/7 in real-time and audit trails can be provided to see who is accessing sensitive or restricted areas, SMARTair can give stakeholders peace of mind and allow them to better fulfil their duty of care, as well as their health and safety obligations. Tried & tested access control solution Alan Kent, Access Control Manager and SMARTair specialist said: “SMARTair is an access control solution that has been tried and tested over many years, and we are very excited to make this versatile system available through ASSA ABLOY Access Control. Its adaptability makes it ideal for a number of sectors, including education and healthcare.” “Security Installers can take advantage of the adaptability offered by SMARTair, as well as UK-based technical training and support, marketing and expert back up from the ASSA ABLOY Access Control team.”

Vicon Industries, Inc., designer and manufacturer of video surveillance and access control software, hardware and components, announced the launch of Valerus 18.2, the latest version of its popular thin-client VMS solution built upon true open standards. New to this release are features that include: automated NVR failover, enhanced configuration options that include an enhanced rules engine that can respond to external events, tighter controls for system access authorisations and network-wide log collection and reporting. It also offers support for Valerus SmartAnalytics, a soon-to-be-released, tightly integrated video analytics solution that offers real-time event detection, video search and business intelligence applications. Valerus’ new NVR failover option allows administrators to create ‘failover clusters’ within the network, in which one or more NVRs are identified as dedicated failover units to support primary NVRs. Failover NVRs automatically take over for primary NVRs within their cluster, maintaining all camera and system settings until the original NVR is restored to operation. Playback of recorded video remains seamless, eliminating the need for operators to know exactly when failover occurred. Valerus automatically retrieves video from the NVR on which it resides. Valerus SmartAnalytics for event detection Valerus SmartAnalytics can analyse video from multiple sources in parallel and allows for complex detection scenarios that link detection rules from different cameras The addition of Valerus SmartAnalytics as an option for users of Valerus 18.2 brings powerful, integrated analytics capabilities to the VMS platform. The Valerus SmartAnalytics engine applies detection rules based on sophisticated AI algorithms to provide live action alerts, post-event search and business intelligence trend analysis. Valerus SmartAnalytics can analyse video from multiple sources in parallel and allows for complex detection scenarios that link detection rules from different cameras. Unlimited combinations of analytics detection rules can be applied to each camera. Events and search tools appear within the Valerus interface, providing a simplified experience for system operators. Both NVR failover and Valerus SmartAnalytics support are offered through a new ‘enterprise’ level Valerus licensing tier. The Valerus SmartAnalytics modules will be available to customers running Valerus Enterprise, version 18.2, beginning in early fall, 2018. Customers currently running Valerus Pro or Core level software can easily upgrade to Enterprise without the need for camera relicensing or hardware replacement. Improving security staff’s situational awareness In keeping with the Valerus commitment to delivering ‘advanced simplicity’, Valerus 18.2 offers a simplified but more powerful system configuration user interface. Administrators can now use the Valerus rules engine to create multi-step automated actions in response to events generated by external systems. Administrators must now actively provide each user with access to Valerus resources by assigning him or her to one or more ‘roles’ – Admin, Operator, Supervisor and/or Investigator For example, an integrated LPR system’s identification of a black listed vehicle can prompt Valerus to immediately call up relevant cameras and send a text alert to specified operators, improving security staff’s situational awareness and ability to respond quickly. The configuration interface now simplifies load balancing, making it easier to move cameras between NVRs, and provides additional navigation buttons for jumping between the device and resource screens. Enhanced security through authorisation system Valerus 18.2 offers enhanced security through an updated authorisation system. Administrators must now actively provide each user with access to Valerus resources by assigning him or her to one or more ‘roles’ – Admin, Operator, Supervisor and/or Investigator. Assigned roles determine which resources are available to each user upon logging in. For support and maintenance teams, a single request can now provide system-wide software logs from all devices, making it easier to troubleshoot. “Vicon’s Valerus VMS platform has proven to be hugely popular in enterprise applications, from citywide and statewide surveillance systems, to healthcare and education campuses, to the largest Cathedral in the world. We anticipate that the features we are introducing with Valeurs 18.2 will do much to further that trend,” said Bret McGowan, Senior V.P. of Sales and Marketing.

Door and window hardware professionals can now nominate their projects for the internationally recognised biennial GAI/RIBA Architectural Ironmongery Specification Awards. Organised by the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI) in conjunction with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the awards are designed to identify and reward excellence in the specification of architectural ironmongery. Architectural ironmongery advisers Projects can be nominated for the following categories: residential; commercial and hospitality buildings; public health and education buildings Projects can be nominated for the following categories: residential; commercial and hospitality buildings; public health and education buildings; international projects outside the UK and Ireland and, new to the 2018/19 awards, best new product: design and innovation. Architects, specifiers, building contractors, clients and their architectural ironmongery advisers and suppliers across the world can nominate projects from now until Friday 16 November 2018. The winners will be announced at a celebratory lunch in March 2019.  The Specification Awards ceremony David Stacey, president of the GAI, says: “The Specification Awards ceremony is one of the Guild’s most highly anticipated events. The calibre of entries is always incredibly high and shows architectural ironmongery at its best. The GAI is always proud to see its member companies involved in so many complex projects.” “These awards are unique because they reward the whole specification team, highlighting the importance of the professional partnership between architects and architectural ironmongers.”

Ping Identity, the pioneer in Identity Defined Security, announced findings from its most recent CISO Advisory Council meeting. The Council is aimed at better understanding the challenges and opportunities impacting the modern CISO. Members have access to strategic guidance and support as they develop and grow their enterprise-wide security initiatives. This includes leveraging valuable insights and best practices related to infosecurity, privacy and compliance. Members of the 2018 council represent organisations, including American Red Cross, Cisco Systems, Allegiant Travel Co., BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, PowerSchool, GCI, Cvent, Gates Corporation, Vertafore Inc., CoBank, and Greenway Health. These companies span industries including healthcare, banking, travel and leisure, fashion, technology, consulting, education and construction. Our customers are the catalysts of change in the creation of products and services at Ping Identity, so we take their feedback on innovation seriously" Giving importance to customers’ feedback In addition to providing strategic direction and value to the CISOs of these leading organisations, their contributions are equally important to the development of Ping’s identity security solutions. With a view into the company’s vision, strategy and roadmap, these champions inform on product priorities, go-to-market strategies and advocate for the modern enterprise. “Our customers are the catalysts of change in the creation of products and services at Ping Identity, so we take their feedback on innovation seriously,” said Andre Durand, CEO of Ping Identity. “These CISOs from leading organisations view identity as a strategic imperative for succeeding as a digital company. Our priority is to help ensure our offerings continue to align with customer objectives, providing them with the business advantage they need to succeed.”

Hospital Wattwil opened the doors to its new inpatient wing in March 2018. The 88 patient beds in total are being fitted with LEGIC technology in the final completion stage. This innovative service offers comfort, security and efficiency for the patient and hospital operator. A monitor is installed at every patient bed. The patients can identify themselves using an RFID smartcard or bracelet and log into their bed computer at any time. Innovative smartcard technology Information such as menus, services and other special hospital information can be accessed through the hospital’s extranet. The resulting costs can be easily and instantly debited from the card’s account. Cabinets by the patient’s bed and the lighting and curtain controls can also be accessed using the smartcard. All of this makes the processes at the hospital much easier. Patients learn how to use the system intuitively and welcome this helpful and smart technology. System expansion with personalised treatment information and appointments or transfer to smartphones and tablets is already being planned System expansion with personalised treatment information and appointments or transfer to smartphones and tablets is already being planned: another step towards a digital hospital. Wattwil has already taken the first step with digital patient files. The processes are being increasingly automated. This reduces paper processes and guarantees efficient process management. Integrated hospital security The system was integrated, and the project was completed by the company Ondamedia, which has the necessary experience in this field. Advantages for the end user: Easy to use thanks to the intuitive user interface All the information is available at every patient bed Different applications in the hospital using one system Highly reliable and secure information André Juszko Head of Technology / Medical Technology, Hospital Wattwil commented - “With the technology from LEGIC we have every opportunity to integrate more applications at the hospital in future.”

Three years after its original decision to single source video monitoring solutions from Hanwha Techwin, (previously known as Samsung Techwin) the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust is now investing in the latest Wisenet camera and recording technology to help create a safe environment for patients, staff and visitors within its mental health units. Over 380 Wisenet X H.265 network cameras have recently been installed at 9 mental health units located throughout the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust estate. These are in addition to the large numbers of earlier generation Wisenet cameras which were installed at 19 other units during previous phases of the project. “We were pleasantly surprised to learn that the price of the Wisenet X cameras is lower than the older models which they supersede and yet they deliver superior performance and enhanced feature sets,” said Mark Milliard, Capital Projects Manager at the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. “It was an easy decision therefore to deploy various Wisenet X models throughout the 9 mental health units.” Safeguarding staff, patients and visitors We are committed to the Safewards’ initiative, whose key aim is to reduce the rates of conflict within in-patient mental health settings" The safety of its staff, patients and visitors is fundamentally important to the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust and it needs to be able to constantly and unobtrusively monitor patient activity. The Trust, which currently provides care for over 40,000 people with mental health problems, offers a range of specialist services that are dedicated to the care and recovery of anyone experiencing mental ill health or substance misuse issues across Norfolk and Suffolk. Although some of the mental health units are secure, the majority allow the free movement of patients. “We are committed to the Safewards’ initiative, whose key aim is to reduce the rates of conflict within in-patient mental health settings,” said Mark Milliard, “We believe that the use of smart technology, such as IP network-based video monitoring systems, can play a large role in helping us achieve this objective.” Upgrading to IP network-based systems Mark, who has worked within NHS Estates since 1986, has over recent years overseen the migration of the Trust’s analogue CCTV systems to IP network-based solutions. “The analogue systems which were installed a number of years ago became increasingly unreliable and we made the decision to upgrade them with IP network-based systems,” explained Mark. I was particularly impressed with the quality of the images which could be captured by the Wisenet cameras" “A key advantage of being able to transmit images over the network is that it provides the flexibility for any authorised user to view live or recorded video captured by any of the cameras from their PCs. We realised that this would provide us with much more flexibility in terms of how we monitor activity at the mental health units, compared to the analogue CCTV systems which could only transmit captured images to a central location.” Monitoring high-definition images “It made sense to source the cameras from just one manufacturer and from an ongoing maintenance point of view, to deploy the minimum possible number of different camera models,” said Mark. “I decided to carry out my own research as to which manufacturer had a product portfolio which could best cover all our requirements, as well as offering us the value we were looking for. “Part of the value formulae had to include a rock-solid reputation for reliability, as well as cameras with advanced technical features which would allow us to capture and monitor high definition images, regardless of the location or environmental conditions.” Mark’s extensive evaluation of a large number of manufacturers resulted in a shortlist of two, from which Hanwha Techwin emerged as the winner. “Both companies were able to show evidence as to the reliability of their cameras,” said Mark. “However, I was particularly impressed with the quality of the images which could be captured by the Wisenet cameras and the fact that each camera, depending on its location, could be configured to multi-stream images at different frame rates and at different resolutions. This offers a significant benefit from a network bandwidth management point of view.” Wisenet cameras with 150dB WDR technology Among the Wisenet X cameras recently installed are a number of XNP-6370R two megapixel 37x network IR PTZ domes which allow operators to zoom into observe close up detail of any activity The majority of the cameras installed at the 9 mental health units are Wisenet XNV-6080R two megapixel vandal-resistant network domes which have built-in IR illumination and utilise H.265 compression to minimise bandwidth and video storage requirements. Equipped with the world’s best 150dB Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) technology and the world’s best motorised varifocal F0.94 low light lens, Wisenet X cameras such as the XNV-6080R, are supercharged by the most powerful DSP chipset ever incorporated into a full camera range. Together, these features ensure superb quality colour images are captured, regardless of the environment or the time of day. The processing power of the Wisenet X chipset also provides the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust with the option to run multiple on-board third-party analytics applications. PTZ domes, fishnet and panoramic cameras Also, among the Wisenet X cameras recently installed are a number of XNP-6370R two megapixel 37x network IR PTZ domes which allow operators to zoom into observe close up detail of any activity. In addition, a number of Wisenet XNF-8010R 4 megapixel 360° fisheye and Wisenet PNM-9020V 7.3 megapixel 180° panoramic cameras have been installed, in order to efficiently reduce the number of cameras which would normally be needed to monitor wide open areas within the mental health units. With 4HDDs, the XRN-1610S offers a potential on-board storage capacity of up to 24TB, with additional storage possible via e-SATA Images from all the recently installed cameras are being recorded onto Wisenet XRN-1610S Network Video Recorders (NVRs). With 4HDDs, the XRN-1610S offers a potential on-board storage capacity of up to 24TB, with additional storage possible via e-SATA. It also supports WiseStream, a complementary compression technology which dynamically controls encoding, balancing quality and compression according to movement in the image. Bandwidth efficiency is improved by up to 75% compared to current H.264 technology when WiseStream is combined with H.265 compression. Relaxed and secure working environment “There is nothing wrong with the earlier generation of Wisenet cameras which we currently continue to use at most of the mental health units, but there is no doubt that the Wisenet X models are making it even easier for us to maintain a relaxed and secure working environment for our colleagues whilst keeping our patients safe,” added Mark Milliard. “Over the coming months we will continue our programme of updating the systems at other mental health units and in this respect, we have decided to continue to single source the cameras and recording devices from Hanwha Techwin.”

Completed in 2017, the Adana Integrated Health Campus is a state-of-the-art hospital complex in Turkey comprising three specialised clinics with a total capacity of 1,550 beds. Located in Adana - the country’s fifth-largest city - the over 318,000 square-meter facility is a public-private partnership project realised in cooperation with the Ministry of Health to serve patient populations from the surrounding Adana, Hatay and Osmaniye provinces. The Adana Integrated Health Campus prides itself in offering the highest level of care through specialised physicians and advanced equipment. The Main Hospital offers an Oncology Hospital as well as a Cardiology and Cardiovascular Hospital with a 367 bed capacity. The Maternity & Pediatrics Hospital have 349 beds and the General Hospital 584 beds. Before opening to the public, the project already won several awards, including Best Healthcare Project and World’s Largest Seismic Isolated Health Campus. IP-based video surveillance system When it came to choosing a security and safety solution for their high-profile health facility, officials in Adana wanted to integrate the most advanced hardware on a single platform covering four areas: video surveillance, access control, fire alarm plus public address and voice alarm. Bosch won the contract as the one-stop provider with the capacity to unify all systems via its Building Integration System (BIS) through different interfaces. The installation was completed by the Bosch partner Ateksis. The IP-based video surveillance system consists of 2,000 cameras for monitoring critical indoor and outdoor areas Due to the size and complexity of the modern campus, this level of integration proved a true test for the Bosch Building Integration System (BIS). The IP-based video surveillance system consists of 2,000 cameras for monitoring critical indoor and outdoor areas such as entrances and corridors. Managed on the Bosch Video Management System (BVMS), live feeds from high-definition FLEXIDOME, DINION IP starlight, and AUTODOME IP starlight cameras are monitored on-site through a single control room. Providing fire safety, BIS controls roughly 45,000 detection points, including 30,000 fire detectors, plus manual call points and interface modules across the campus. Use of RFID tags to prevent baby kidnapping For an extra level of integration, the hospital’s telephone switchboard is integrated into the public address and voice alarm system via BIS to enable public announcement and/or fire alarms from the nurse desks for immediate evacuation of patients and their relatives. And to safeguard the Maternity Clinic against ‘pink code’ cases (baby kidnapping), the Bosch access control integrates RFID tags on newborn babies to trigger alarms. By implementing a complete solution on a single platform from the start, Adana Integrated Health Campus sets the standard for exemplary patient safety in a system marked by low overall cost of ownership, maintenance costs, and failure rate. In the bigger picture, the state-of-the-art campus proves the end-to-end capabilities of Bosch Building Technologies and serves as a showcase for the next level of healthcare and integrated security.

Safety is at the forefront of hospitals across the nation. According to a landmark report To Err is Human (2000) by The Institute of Medicine (IOM), between 44,000 and 98,000 patients die a year in the U.S. due to preventable medical errors including wrongful administration of medication. Beyond the cost of human life, these errors cost the healthcare industry as much as $29 million per year. This figure takes into account the expenses associated with additional care, loss of income and disability so as to reduce medication administration errors, hospitals are modifying their current medical dispensing systems in operation to prevent and eliminate these errors. Based in Portsmouth, Ohio, Southern Ohio Medical Center (SOMC) is one such hospital that is addressing this concern. A 222-bed hospital that provides emergency and surgical care, as well as a wide range of other health-care services, SOMC employs 2,200 full and part-time doctors and volunteers. SOMC has a medical staff of more than 140 board-certified or board-eligible physicians and specialists and is supported by more than 800 volunteers. WALLaroo 2000 wall station The WALLaroo 2000 wall station featured a cabinet mounted outside each patient’s room to temporarily stock the non-narcotic medications prior to dispensing One of the “Best Practices” outlined in the IOM report calls for the healthcare industry to utilise technology, such as bed side bar coding, to improve patient identification. To meet these standards, SOMC quickly modernised their process from relying heavily on a two-cart dispensing system that included laptops on wheels (LOW’s) and pharmacy carts, to a system that was more efficient and accurate. The new solution, the WALLaroo 2000 wall station, featured a cabinet mounted outside each patient’s room to temporarily stock the non-narcotic medications prior to dispensing. SOMC’s IT department was tasked with finding a way to integrate the wall stations with a state-of-the-art access control system that was equipped with an access-controlled lock and reader. By implementing this solution, SOMC has been able to strictly adhere to their patient’s rights as they pertain to medication dispensing, which includes: the right patient, the right medication, the right dose, the right time and the right route of administration. Centrally networked access control system “When we started our quest for an access-control solution, we looked for two things,” said Dennis Ward, information services and applications manager for SOMC. “First SOMC needed a solution that would be centrally networked with the current eMAR system, as well as have a main power source. Additionally, we needed to replace the magnetic strip on employee badges with a more effective technology.” Ward consulted with several companies within the security industry, including Accu-Tech, SecuriCo, Microman and HID Global, before finding the optimal solution- SecuriCo’s Securus Web software solution. The solution operates with a HID EdgeReader coupled with iCLASS 2K (37-bit) smart cards and Rutherford Controls 3513 Lock. SecurusWeb software solution SOMC project requirements indicated that both a Web-based software solution and an IP PoE Access Control solution were required" “SOMC project requirements indicated that both a Web-based software solution and an IP PoE Access Control solution were required,” said Jim Andrews, president of SecuriCo, Inc. “After Dennis and I reviewed the project requirements and discussed the design options with AccuTech and Microman, everyone agreed that the SecurusWeb software solution with a pre-configured HID EdgeReader and iCLASS 2K (37-bit) smart cards were the perfect fit for the hospital’s unique access control needs.” According to Ward, “As I conducted product research in the security information space, I noted that most available solutions were based on HID technology. This was important since the hospital was growing, and our security needs would grow, too. HID Global has a great industry reputation so it was a natural and easy decision to select the company’s solutions and OEM partner, SecuriCo, Inc.” Installing WALLaroo wall stations and HID EdgeReader Since Ward had never implemented a project like this before, he obtained samples of one of the WALLaroo wall stations, a HID EdgeReader and evaluation software from SecuriCo. Using the samples, he created a prototype that would fit all his access control needs and serve SOMC in the best possible way. Installed by Microman, these pre-programmed wall units have the SOMC specifications that Ward devised. While physical access control is delivered through the HID EdgeReader and iCLASS cards, the control of the hardware is provided through SecuriCo’s Securus Web software. The software controls which individuals are granted access to each station based upon a preset access level, which includes the day and time access is allowed. In addition, the application also records how access is added and removed. This innovative solution also enables pharmacy technicians to deliver barcoded, 24-hour scheduled, non-narcotic medications to the secured wall mounted stations. Using their authorised HID iCLASS cards, the nursing staff is then able to access and administer the medication. SecurusWeb and HID Global’s Edge IP access solutions SecurusWeb and HID Global’s Edge IP access solutions can make it easier to meet the unique and demanding needs of healthcare applications, as experienced by SOMC Thinking outside the box and using innovative products like SecurusWeb and HID Global’s Edge IP access solutions can make it easier to meet the unique and demanding needs of healthcare applications, as experienced by SOMC. Accuracy for patient medication dispensing has improved significantly thanks to the new solution. Workflow is also more efficient because the amount of time it previously took nurses to go to the medication room and retrieve new medications has been significantly reduced. Additionally, medication is secure and located where the staff expects it to be, while eliminating the need for medication carts, making the hospital hallways accessible and less cluttered. With the original installation of 73 of HID’s EdgeReaders being such a great success, SOMC ordered and installed an additional102 EdgeReaders in the hospital’s new North Tower, including 12 on the first floor Heart Care Unit (HCU), 30 on the second floor in the Surgical-Vascular Care Unit (SVCU), 30 on the third floor in the Medical-Surgical Care Unit (MSCU), and 30 more that are located on the fourth floor in the Progressive Care Unit (PCU).

Princeton Identity Inc., provider of the fastest, simplest and most secure biometric security systems on the market, announced that its customer, Brevillier Village, is reporting a huge increase in brand awareness resulting from publicity of its status as the nation’s first senior residential and healthcare facility to deploy iris recognition technology as part of a comprehensive physical security system. Located just outside Erie, PA, Brevillier Village has been the subject of local and international press coverage during the past year due to public fascination with its cutting-edge approach to security. The Princeton Identity IOM Access solution allows staff and residents with normal mental acuity to unlock exterior doors to exit the building by gazing into wall-mounted iris readers positioned near each exit, while restricting residents with dementia from opening the doors and leaving the building unsupervised. Two reader ‘heads’ are located at each monitored doorway – one positioned for standing residents and the other for those in wheelchairs Easy registration of iris credentials The system makes it possible for both non-dementia and dementia residents to live comfortably in the same building as part of a mixed population. Non-technical personnel at Brevillier Village can easily register new residents to the system and, if a resident begins to experience cognitive decline, his or her iris credentials can be deactivated, allowing them to remain living in the familiar surroundings of their own apartment rather than move to a fully locked facility. The Princeton Identity solution piggybacks onto the Assa-Abloy Securitron access control infrastructure that was already in place at Brevillier Village, with each iris scan logging as an ‘event’ within the access control system. Two reader ‘heads’ are located at each monitored doorway – one positioned for standing residents and the other for those in wheelchairs. These are connected to integrated control units that communicate over Ethernet cabling back to the server room. Brand awareness for Brevillier Village has skyrocketed and, in 2017, it was honoured for the first time with the region’s prestigious Erie’s Choice Award for Best Retirement Facility Better access control system than keypad Dan Desrocher, the facility’s Director of Development, says that “If there’s any question about who left the building at a given time, we can look at who had their iris scanned and then check surveillance video to make sure that they are the only person who went through the door. From a security standpoint, this is far more information than was available using the keypad system we had in place, for which everyone shared the same code.” Brevillier administration places a high value on security, regarding it not only as an operational imperative but as a point-of-differentiation in the highly competitive senior living and healthcare market. The investment in technology is paying off. Brand awareness for Brevillier Village has skyrocketed and, in 2017, it was honoured for the first time with the region’s prestigious Erie’s Choice Award for Best Retirement Facility, beating out a much larger facility that had won for the past ten years in a row. No need to remember keypad codes Mark Clifton, Princeton Identity’s CEO, says, “This project highlight some of the advantages in deploying iris recognition in healthcare and assisted-living facilities. There are no keypad codes to remember, it doesn’t require a free hand and it’s touchless, making it completely sanitary.” Brevillier’s Dan Desrocher adds, “We’re using the technology to keep people in, rather than keep people out, but we could definitely use the other way too. With an iris reader, residents would no longer have to fumble for a key fob to get into a building. The convenience factor is huge.”

ANSecurity, a specialist in advanced network and data security, has announced a successful project with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to move to the SHA-2 cryptographic standard to help strengthen its security posture. With over 12,000 computing devices and 500 servers under its management, Nottinghamshire Healthcare has maintained an ongoing strategy to continually improve its security controls. Most of its systems are used internally and unconnected to the internet. However, increased use of BYOD and more interconnection has prompted the IT department to instigate a migration of its PKI infrastructure to the newer SHA-2 (Secure Hash Algorithm 2), a set of cryptographic hash functions that is widely used in security applications and protocols, including TLS and SSL, PGP, SSH, S/MIME, and IPsec. ANSecurity helped the Trust to overcome the complexity of its legacy PKI, along with dependencies on existing services including mobile device onboarding and remote access control Overcoming the complexity of legacy PKI “SHA-1 has been depreciated in terms of its security capability, however not all our applications or servers natively supported SHA-2 which meant we needed to consider the upgrade with the context of a wider application server upgrade,” explains Andy Spencer, System Team Leader for Nottinghamshire Healthcare, “It is a significant project that we felt could benefit from dedicated security expertise for which we turned to ANSecurity.” ANSecurity helped the Trust to overcome the complexity of its legacy PKI, along with dependencies on existing services including mobile device onboarding and remote access control. As Jason Parry, Network Security Architect for ANSecurity explains, “We discussed at length with Andy and his team the merits of several deployment scenarios to determine the best course of action. Next, we agreed a process with various business groups who consume PKI and once ratified completed our standard scope of works documentation with pre-requisites to streamline the deployment.” The entire migration project including legacy operating systems migration and remediation of weaknesses within the SHA-1 signatures took just 3 days Improved security posture The actual project was driven by the Nottinghamshire Healthcare’s IT department under guidance from ANSecurity to ensure high levels of knowledge transfer. The entire migration project including legacy operating systems migration and remediation of weaknesses within the SHA-1 signatures took just 3 days, leading to improved security posture without any disruption to its 24/7 operations. “Any organisations with a legacy windows PKI environment need to perform something similar,” Parry explains, “This may not require a wholesale replacement and in many cases, it might be applicable to perform a simpler migration to new servers along with an upgrade that renews existing PKI infrastructure.” ANSecurity have performed dozens of these projects over the last 24 months and has a significant number planned for the next year. “The NHS with its large number of legacy systems is a sector that is rapidly moving to SHA-2,” says Parry. “Busy IT staff that may have overlooked these types of projects due to the complexity of legacy applications servers should not be overly concerned as the process for migration is relatively straightforward and uses a well understood process.”