Human area network

Trackforce™, a security workforce management platform, announces its acquisition of Valiant Solutions Inc., a provider of Human Capital Management (HCM) software solutions. The new company, Trackforce Valiant, now delivers all-in-one security workforce management platform: the only comprehensive operations management solution available to the industry. Building on a pedigree and industry knowledge of physical security, Trackforce Valiant is a purpose-built solution that supports the growing needs of security guard companies worldwide. As a result of this acquisition, Trackforce Valiant now enables automation of every single aspect of a security company’s operations, including crucial back office functions such as billing, payroll, time and labor management (TLM), human resource management (HR), and employee and client onboarding. This game-changing upgrade still delivers Trackforce’s globally proven front-line capabilities, including tracking guard tours, visitor management, incident reports, and more, in a paperless environment devoid of antiquated guard tour devices. We are now able to offer end-to-end management of the entire security company workforce environment" “Trackforce is one of the most innovative solutions for security guard management, and Valiant Solutions joining our team has created an exciting opportunity in the market,” explains Trackforce Valiant’s new CEO George Wright. “By bringing Valiant’s solutions onto one unified platform, we are now able to offer end-to-end management of the entire security company workforce environment that combines people, process, and technology in one seamless solution that benefits security company management, the workforce, and clients. Everyone wins together.” Intuitive SaaS solution Trackforce Valiant is a complete platform for security companies. “Our clients gain access to an entire feature-rich, intuitive, and customisable SaaS solution. With this news, we are now the market leader in providing secure productivity tools for the trusted workforce,” adds Wright. For security guarding companies, the benefits of the full Trackforce Valiant platform are massive. The fully automated back office environment increases productivity, saves time on operational and HR processes, and optimises the management and utilisation of all security employees with mobile and desktop applications. All the shift data and hours worked by each security officer are easily tracked, then processed by an intelligent back-office management platform, thus minimising payroll processing time for all security personnel. In the field, the platform empowers security officer supervisors with intelligence-driven technology fed by data captured on smartphones by guards on the front line. This improved access to relevant data supports more effective management of more customer sites and assets while maintaining a high standard of service irrespective of location. A unified front-line and back-office management system ultimately allows users to manage and track not only who is assigned to each site but also any security officer activity, all with an unmatched level of vigilance. Holistic view of security operations Trackforce implements solutions for clients such as G4S, SecurAmerica and Inter-Con Security Systems, among others What is more, security company customers can attain fresh insights to improve management with greater transparency, real-time KPIs, and a holistic view of their security operations based on data captured by officers on duty. “Trackforce has become an integral partner in the success and growth of our security company,” observes Joe Murphy, Senior Vice-President at SecurAmerica. “Since implementing the Trackforce platform several years ago, we have established a solid foundation, and we are now building on it to provide the highest level of services and demonstrable value to our customers.” “We have been using Valiant for many years, and I have been consistently impressed with the professionalism of Valiant’s staff, the ease of use of the software, and the wide variety of tools at my disposal,” remarks Ken Grossberger, Vice President of Elite Investigations. “I’ve always received timely, helpful responses to any issues, and Valiant continuously improves current products while bringing new ones online. Valiant’s team has always done a great job for us, and I’m excited to see what this new announcement brings for our business.” Trackforce implements solutions for clients such as G4S, Whelan Security, SecurAmerica, McKesson Corporation, and Inter-Con Security Systems, among many others.

Userful Corporation, a provider of AV-over-IP solutions for enhanced video communication since 2015, announces newly expanded capabilities of its Visual Networking Platform architecture. This includes enhancing the uClient app to support on-premise deployments by connecting webOS smart digital signage displays from LG Electronics to an onsite server for more demanding display applications. With this announcement, an onsite PC or server loaded with Userful On-Premise software can now connect over the network directly to smart displays deployed with the uClient app with no additional hardware required and in real-time. Advanced layout management Userful On-Premise with uClient is the first platform to stream live or interactive content directly to smart displays in real-time, on any display. Userful On-Premise enables organisations to optimise interactivity through advanced layout management, such as picture-in-picture, multi-window, and command and control, making it the ideal solution when operating demanding real-time content. Userful On-Premise with uClient is the first platform to stream live or interactive content directly to smart displays Until recently, video walls and other advanced display applications have relied on media players, thin clients, cables, extenders and other hardware. Earlier this year Userful changed that with Userful Cloud, a hardware-free video wall that uses Userful’s uClient app to connect to LG webOS Signage displays. Userful has extended its product and innovation leadership and executed its vision of replacing hardware with more reliable, stronger performing and less expensive software-based solutions. Providing a compelling solution “The integration of Userful’s On-Premise and LG’s webOS Signage platforms provides a compelling solution for video communications across the enterprise, bringing a new level of flexibility and effectiveness by eliminating unnecessary hardware,” says Clark Brown, Vice President, Digital Signage, LG Business Solutions. “Organisations need the power of Userful On-Premise when managing advanced video communications that require interactivity or a large number of sources,” said John Marshall, Userful’s Chief Executive Officer. “The support of uClient on smart displays such as LG’s for Userful On-Premise makes those deployments more cost-effective by eliminating additional hardware, and also streamlines support and maintenance. By continuing to reduce the amount of hardware required, Userful continues to reduce TCO.”

The Electronic Security Expo (ESX) sought to redefine the traditional purpose of industry shows within the electronic security and life safety channel. On June 3-6, ESX 2019 offered an outlet for professionals to come together in a collaborative environment — and it was a hit for many looking for a more modern take on the traditional “badge scan” expo, according to the organisers. Networking and connections Throughout the two expo days of the event, 78% of attendees reported having quality conversations that can actually lead to business. In fact, 75% reported they will make a purchase or form a partnership as a result of a conversation had at ESX this year. Many are reporting they have already made purchases. Products and services were honoured with ESX Innovation Awards. With a mission of bringing leaders together to learn more, share more and interact more, this year’s event in Indianapolis did just that. More than 2,000 professionals registered for the show this year, with nearly 30% registering for the very first time. Many attended for four days of networking, quality connections with peers and vendors, and industry education. Challenging ESXers ESX provides a great opportunity to network with industry professionals" On the Main Stage, speakers challenged ESXers to rethink the future of the industry, talking through potential disruptor technologies like drones for the masses. They also inspired the audience to lead more efficiently, make an impact every day and be the hero for those around them. “A great moment to reflect on outward appearances of your team and entropy,” says John Hopper, global systems and technology at Uber. “ESX provides a great opportunity to network with industry professionals, participate in a variety of educational paths, explore new products and connect with suppliers,” says attendee David Speer, operations manager for Custom Alarm in Minnesota. “I don’t know of a more insightful convention to attend,” says Deric Morrow, commercial account manager at Johnson Controls. “This was the most beneficial three days of my career. I’m left with a ton of ideas I can’t wait to share with my colleagues.” Becoming responsive The peer-led sessions were rich in best practice sharing, and professionals were immersed in actionable ideas and strategies that affirmed their integration and monitoring firms as trusted partners in keeping people, places and things safe. Quality education is delivered at registration prices that allow integration and monitoring companies of all sizes With peer-led educational sessions, a focused expo, and meaningful networking opportunities, this event provides a blueprint for industry professionals to better run, grow, and maximise their companies. It is an opportunity to rethink traditional operating models — to pivot into becoming more agile and responsive in this changing competitive landscape. Integrating and monitoring “This event is an excellent way to meet with industry leaders outside of your area who can put topics into perspective,” says attendee Brian Deschenes, vice president of Double D Security Solutions in Rhode Island. “These people are almost always willing to lend a hand and help solve issues.” The event — owned by industry trade associations the Electronic Security Association and The Monitoring Association — has invested significant resources in ensuring quality education is delivered at registration prices that allow integration and monitoring companies of all sizes to bring their leadership teams — elevating the industry as a whole.

Allied Universal®, a security and facility services company in North America, announces the launch of HELIAUS® – an advanced artificial intelligence platform designed to improve safety and reduce risk by enhancing on-site guarding services. “We developed HELIAUS® to deliver better results for our clients through advanced workflow automation, robust data capture and visualisation, and artificial intelligence that understands not only what’s likely to happen, but what to do to drive better outcomes,” said Steve Jones, CEO of Allied Universal. “Now, our security officers are better equipped to help reduce incidents, respond faster to emergencies and provide unmatched operational performance accountability.” Dynamic workflow automation The main significance of HELIAUS® is to bring together rich data, artificial intelligence, location-aware workflow automation, and seamless user experience design for security professionals. This new tech solution provides insight into the drivers of risk, makes recommendations about how to reduce incidents, and through dynamic workflow automation, ensures that those recommendations are implemented. The AI uses this information to understand what's likely to happen at a client's site regarding safety" “HELIAUS® also offers an advanced approach to location awareness that uses a combination of GPS, bluetooth beacons, and near-field communication (NFC) tags to quickly and accurately capture real-time location information both indoors and outdoors,” said Mark Mullison, CIO for Allied Universal. “The AI uses this information to understand what's likely to happen at a client's site regarding safety and security incidents and then automatically suggests workflows to our security professionals that drive better outcomes, thus reducing accidents and crime.” Increasing situational awareness In addition, this new workforce management technology brings sophisticated data visualisation capability to allow security operators to understand the who, what, where and when both in real-time and historically, which increases situational awareness and helps users develop powerful insights. “HELIAUS® represents a tremendous step forward in building AI technology that is not just smart like humans, but smart with humans,” said Mark Mullison, CIO for Allied Universal. “When it comes to safety and security, our goal is to deliver at the highest level.” This new smart technology is not just a reporting or incident management system but also an all-encompassing, adaptable workforce management solution to better protect people, brands and assets.

The Security Industry Association (SIA) has selected the SIA Women in Security Forum as the recipient of the 2018 Chairman’s Award, which recognises SIA members’ diligent efforts in furthering the SIA mission and overall commitment to the association’s future. SIA will present the award at The Advance, SIA’s annual membership meeting, during ISC West. Supporting professional development The leaders of the forum have demonstrated outstanding engagement of SIA membership" The SIA Women in Security Forum supports the advancement of women in the security industry through programs and opportunities for professional development, networking and thought leadership. The group – led by a dedicated committee of volunteers – was established on International Women’s Day in 2018. “The Women in Security Forum got off to a remarkable start in its first year by quickly and effectively building the program, forming a charter and developing a strong committee,” said Scott Schafer, chairman of the SIA Board of Directors. “The leaders of the forum have demonstrated outstanding engagement of SIA membership and the security industry, planned and executed top-quality, well-attended events and advanced the mission of promoting professional development, mentorship and a path to success for women in the security industry.” Security forum offerings Key Women in Security Forum offerings include the SIA Progress Award, which celebrates individuals who advance opportunities and pave the way to success for women in the security industry; networking and professional growth events for women in the security industry; SECURE Perspectives, a monthly column that supports the participation of women in the security profession by highlighting successful women in the industry; and an all women-authored issue of the SIA Technology Insights journal. Talented industry It is exciting to see our efforts come to fruition during the most important security event of the year" “The Women in Security Forum is thrilled to be recognised with the 2018 Chairman’s Award as we celebrate our first anniversary. We are working diligently to create a movement by collaborating with industry leaders – men and women – to develop programs and initiatives that empower women and influence change,” said Maureen Carlo, co-chair of the Women in Security Forum Steering Committee. “Thank you to SIA for allowing us to embrace this opportunity; it is exciting to see our efforts come to fruition during the most important security event of the year. A talented and diverse industry will grow when we support each other – the best is yet to come!” Networking and insights At ISC West, members of the Women in Security Forum will participate in two panel sessions on women in security on Tuesday, April 9 – ‘being a woman business owner in the security industry is an advantage, not a disadvantage’ and ‘bridging the gender gap in the security industry’. The Women in Security Forum will also host its annual meeting and a complimentary breakfast event on Friday, April 12, featuring networking and insights from special guest Juliette Kayyem, a national leader in America’s homeland security efforts. Kayyem previously served as President Obama’s assistant secretary for intergovernmental affairs at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick’s homeland security advisor. Diversifying leadership in security “Over the last year, the core leadership group that makes up the Women in Security Forum has come together to create a unique opportunity to diversify the leadership voices in security as we move toward the next iteration of innovation for our industry and beyond,” said Dawne Hanks, co-chair of the Women in Security Forum Steering Committee. Providing opportunities for fresh voices to take the lead in driving where we go" “Providing opportunities for fresh voices to take the lead in driving where we go and how we change the world is at the heart of what we are trying to do and will drive growth for the future. I am honoured that SIA has seen fit to present the Chairman’s Award to this esteemed group of women that, together with SIA, are looking to drive actionable change to diversify and grow our industry.” SIA’s Women in Security Forum offers programs, professional opportunities and networking and professional growth events to celebrate and advance the involvement of women in the security industry. Any employee of a SIA member company – regardless of gender – is eligible to join the forum. ISC West The Advance 2019 will take place during ISC West on Tuesday, April 9, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. All SIA members are invited to attend. In addition to the presentation of the Sandy Jones Volunteer of the Year Award, attendees will enjoy a high-impact presentation from Sal Mani, security systems manager for Google, on the workforce imperative of developing cross-functional skill sets to stay competitive in the security industry. SIA will also submit five nominations to the SIA Board of Directors for ratification and present the SIA Milestone Awards, Sandy Jones Volunteer of the Year Award, Member of the Year Award and Committee Chair of the Year Award. Attendees of The Advance will also receive complimentary lunch and have the opportunity to network with industry colleagues.

HID Global®, a worldwide provider of trusted identity solutions, announced that Bluvision™, a part of HID Global, was named in the challenger quadrant of the Gartner 2019 Magic Quadrant for Indoor Location Services, Global. Adoption of location services is projected to increase from less than 10 percent today to more than half of all enterprises worldwide within three years. According to Gartner, “By 2022, 65% of enterprises will require indoor location asset tracking (both people and equipment) to be part of all access layer infrastructure communications decisions (up from less than 10% today).” Asset tracking HID Location Services, enabled by Bluvision, is ideal for organisations that want to implement an architecture that supports multiple use cases from asset tracking to workplace safety. “To us, being named to the Gartner Magic Quadrant proves once again that Bluvision is a major player in location services,” said John Sailer, Chief Operating Officer at Bluvision, part of HID Global. “Bluvision’s value proposition for enterprise customers is compelling from high accuracy and flexibility to low cost of ownership, uniquely giving customers a way to locate workforce and assets with the same infrastructure. No other vendor can do what we can do for location services – all accomplished with our portfolio of beacons and blufi gateway form factors.”

According to IHS Market, it is estimated that there are over 60 million security cameras in the United States, and other reports say these cameras capture more than four billion hours of footage per week. Over the last decade, IP camera technology has dominated the conversation as it has provided users with a broad offering of enhanced image quality and features. With a large percentage of existing security systems relying on analogue, many end users looking for high definition (HD) video quality have been forced to take on a complete system overhaul. Infrastructure overhaul for HD video To make the switch, customers would need to change everything, from cameras to hardware to wiring– not to mention the lengthy installation process that would ensue. IP cameras also require higher Internet speeds and more cloud space. Whether constrained by budget, bandwidth or storage, many end users have been unable to adopt this new video surveillance method.Thanks to technological advancements within the security industry, HD over Coax offers a viable solution for integrators and end users alike Thanks to technological advancements within the security industry, HD over Coax offers a viable solution for integrators and end users alike. By utilising the current Coaxial cables, this offering yields high definition video, while requiring minimal infrastructure changes and is an optimal surveillance choice for security customers. Plus, with new advancements and updates being made frequently to this technology, there is a solution for every security need. The enhanced alternative of HD over Coax has been warmly welcomed in the security industry, thanks to its simple solutions and ever-evolving features. Many new analogue HD cameras are “plug and play,” able to connect directly to existing Coaxial cables. This eliminates the need for a complete system change, creating cost-savings for the end user and an enhanced video quality offering. Easy solutions for HD video As a result, integrators can cost-effectively upgrade their customer’s surveillance solution while using their legacy infrastructure, making it an attractive option for end users and an easy sell for dealers. Latency in video is another common issue with network-based camera systems, where even the slightest delay in video surveillance can hinder security response HD over Coax cameras themselves are always expanding and evolving to meet a wide array of security needs. With the introduction of fisheye and multi-sensor cameras, users now have a multitude of coverage options, not to mention the introduction of 4K bringing resolution options to the same level as IP. Some newer technologies are even touting 4K cameras paired with 4K digital video recorders (DVRs) made specifically for analogue systems. Longer cables grant transmission for up to 1600 feet, double the distance of standard analogue solutions, and triple that of IP systems. This single cable is able to transmit both HD video and audio. Recently, broadcast quality audio over Coax has become available in limited models, a substantial improvement over older analogue technology, which was unable to transmit audio. Stopping video delay Latency in video is another common issue with network-based camera systems. Even the slightest delay in video surveillance can hinder security response. IP cameras are forced to compress and packetise their video for transmission. The outcome of this is a reduced number of images per video, which in turn causes delay. HD over Coax on the other hand, delivers an unlimited amount of HD images in real time, with smooth motion and impressive clarity. Additionally, the point-to-point transmission delivers uncompressed video free of lag. Another touted benefit is that, unlike IP networked cameras, analogue systems provide a more secure video transmission. With so much sensitive information housed on a businesses’ network, adding another point of network access through an IP camera can create concerns for cyber security risks. HD over Coax delivers an unlimited amount of HD images in real time, with smooth motion and impressive clarity Preventing network hacking With HD over Coax, the physical connections between the camera and DVR prevent network hacking. By keeping the video surveillance system offline, security professionals are able to direct their attention to the physical threats at hand, rather than having to focus on deterring cyber security risks. One of the primary difficulties of deploying HD video solutions is the fact that many older systems utilise a wide variety of HD standards and platforms. To make matters more complicated, after HD over Coax was brought to market, manufacturers raced to create their own version of this technology. Today, the most popular proprietary standards are HD-CVI, HD-TVI and AHD. However, integrators and customers found that attempting to manage multiple HD technologies proved to be near impossible.Integrators and customers found that attempting to manage multiple HD technologies proved to be near impossible Diversifying surveillance through one DVR To combat these issues, manufacturers have introduced products with more flexibility to their portfolios. One example of this is the penta-brid DVR which grants the ability to seamlessly integrate multiple technologies deployed across one application. This means that systems with diverse camera brands and technologies, such as a mix of HD-CVI, HD-TVI, AHD, analogue or IP, can be connected through one DVR. For many end users with legacy analogue systems, penta-brid DVRs give them greater freedom to choose between a variety of solutions, rather than being limited to one option. With video resolution increasing, the space needed to store the footage is similarly rising. Penta-brid technology has been able to adapt to these evolving needs, giving users ample storage space to house the HD and 4K surveillance video with some of the newest models including H.265 compression.  HD casino surveillance made simple For casinos, HD images are critical for identifying unauthorised personnel and unlawful behaviours to create a safe environment for guests and staff While HD over Coax is beneficial to many end users and integrators, those in the casino and hospitality markets find it crucial. With a combination of high profile guests, large amounts of cash on hand, constant crowds and strict industry regulations, reliable video surveillance is a must. Deploying new IP systems comes at a stiff price. When looking to upgrade their video surveillance, casinos must also be mindful of the installation process. When moving to an IP-based system, ripping out old wires and replacing them with new is the standard practice. This practice can be both disruptive and costly, not to mention gaming regulations require casino activities be monitored at all times so a complete system shutdown would result in revenue loss. This cost can be hard to justify, especially when the current legacy analogue system remains in working condition with only the lower image resolution to date it. For these scenarios, the most cost-effective option is to leverage the legacy infrastructure, replace the existing cameras with new devices, and reap the benefits that HD video has to offer without any lapse in security. For casinos, HD images are critical for identifying unauthorised personnel and unlawful behaviours to create a safe environment for guests and staff. HD over Coax cameras now offer the same resolution as IP cameras with a plug and play approach, that cuts down on expense without sacrificing quality. For businesses and applications that are unable to adopt IP technology, whether it be cost or time prohibitive, HD over Coax now features most of the same benefits IP has to offer without breaking the bank. By providing clear images in real time, maximising existing infrastructure, and affording cyber security benefits, HD over Coax provides an attractive solution for many end users and integrators.

A hyperconverged infrastructure is a software-defined environment in which various elements of a physical security system – computing, storage and networking – are combined together and run more efficiently on fewer hardware devices. Rather than each element of a system being represented by a physical hardware device, those elements are combined on a cluster of hardware devices. Hypervisor software separates a computer's operating system and applications from the underlying physical hardware. The elements continue to function as before, and software keeps them separated virtually, while also enabling the system to run more economically on less hardware. Virtualisation within hyperconverged systems Hypervisor software separates a computer's operating system and applications from the underlying physical hardware Software companies such as VMWare, Microsoft Hyper-V and Nutanix provide virtualisation software that enables hyperconverged systems in the IT world. However, bringing hyperconverged systems to the world of video surveillance requires special handling, and security integrators may not be aware that hyperconverged software from the IT market does not work seamlessly with video data. Specifically, these hypervisor software systems have latency problems that are not compatible with video. Therefore, hyperconverged software systems must be adapted to meet video’s needs. Companies working to bring hyperconverged systems to the video market are taking proper measures to ensure that those systems deliver on expectations of security integrators and end users while also providing economic and operational advantages of hyperconverged systems. Why a virtual machine can aid your server solution A hyperconverged system can transition a stack of 10 or more application servers down to three servers, with all the applications still virtually separated on fewer machines. Each server is used to 100 percent of its capacity, which is more efficient. Companies working to bring hyperconverged systems to the video market are taking proper measures to ensure that those systems deliver on expectations Both operating and maintenance expenses are lower, and if more computing resources are needed for a virtual machine, the software interface enables an end user to allow more processing power, RAM or disk space to that application. Less servers equate to less equipment costs, and also less costs for rack space, cooling and other related expenses. When a video system is working on a hyperconverged cluster, what happens if there is a hardware failure? The virtual system gets moved to a cluster that is working, but there might be a 30-second gap in video, which would not be acceptable for a critical application. All video must therefore be saved in two places. Virtualised server stacks from BCDVideo BCDVideo has entered into an engineering partnership with Scale Computing to develop an optimised hypervisor based on Scale Computing’s HC3 software that is also efficient for writing video.Less servers equate to less equipment costs, and also less costs for rack space, cooling and other related expenses Virtualisation in the physical security market can create traffic patterns that are unlike traditional IT, and changes need to be implemented to accommodate for that. To avoid a “bottleneck” that can occur during the virtualisation process, the virtual machine and the underlying physical hardware must be optimised to account for the virtualisation process. “Performance and high-availability are critical in the video surveillance market and not all HCI solutions will adapt to video data,” said Dan Pierce, VP of Strategic Sales at Scale Computing. “With Scale Computing’s HC3 platform and BCDVideo’s ‘purpose built’ approach, customers will benefit from a solution that’s adapted to meet industry wide requirements while simplifying the management and maintenance of their infrastructure.”  Hyperconverged infrastructure will become more and more prevalent in the video market, especially for large systems that have high camera counts and longer video retention times. Hyperconverged systems offer a more efficient use of resources and save costs because hardware is more fully utilised. Previous problems of using hyperconverged systems for video have been solved, which paves the way for much more widespread deployment. Over time, we should expect hyperconverged system to become more common for larger video installations, such as gaming, sports arenas, large cities, universities, corporate campuses and airports. The key to success is applying knowledge both of the needs of video systems and of how hyperconverged systems can be adapted to meet those needs.

Anyone looking to ensure customer satisfaction in the video server market for security integrators and end users need look no further than the supply chain. Eliminating the inconsistencies and time delays in the supply chain is a key strategy to ensure customer success, and certified systems builders can provide extra value in the process. Tom Larson, Chief Technology Officer, BCDVideo, says supply chain issues impact customer satisfaction for integrators and end users at all stages of an integrator’s job – at presale, during deployment and for after-sale support. Data capture form to appear here! Stage one: presale Sticking with large, enterprise-grade server manufacturers like Dell and HP guarantees the widest possible selection of high-quality products For an integrator commissioning a video job, a systems builder can provide a wide selection of server and networking products – including the exact needs of any application – through an association with a large-scale OEM (original equipment manufacturer). The scale of the manufacturer also ensures the quality of products; each individual component is made by the same manufacturer so quality and compatibility of the assembled product are givens. In contrast, a generic, non-branded, do-it-yourself server product might be assembled from components made by various no-name manufacturers in an approach reminiscent of Frankenstein, a mixed bag of parts on the inside. Sticking with large, enterprise-grade server manufacturers like Dell and HP guarantees the widest possible selection of high-quality products, says Larson. Stage two: during deployment After an integrator specifies a system, the deployment stage again relies on effective management of the supply chain. In this case, it’s the systems builder that ensures immediate availability of needed server and networking products that are pre-tested and preconfigured before they are delivered to the job site.Creating a close relationship between integrators and their systems builders provides added confidence to integrators that their needs will be met Servers are imaged with the customer’s choice of video management software before they are shipped – it’s another time-saver for customers. Buying direct from a large manufacturer might involve longer lead times, especially if there is a huge amount of equipment involved. In contrast, systems builders can make the process easier by keeping proper levels of inventory on hand and generally ready to be shipped to a customer’s site, within three to five days as needed. If the unexpected occurs with an installation, equipment is needed immediately. In critical situations, additional servers can be pulled from inventory, benched, properly configured, and overnighted if required for a project. A financially solid systems builder can also provide more favorable payment terms, such as net-30 or net-60, to help integrators with cash flow. Creating a close relationship between integrators and their systems builders provides added confidence to integrators that their needs will be met in a timely and professional way. The ability to return equipment within 60 days of purchase for any reason and with no questions asked saves time and also reduces the integrator’s risk. That’s another added service systems builders can provide. The system builder is encouraged to raise high expectations among their integrator customers during deployment and then work to meet, and even exceed, those expectations.All along the supply chain, their certified systems builders facilitate value to integrators and ultimately the end users Stage three: after-sale support If a system component fails two years from now, how quickly can the component be replaced? Large server OEMs maintain seven years of components after a product’s end-of-life, thus ensuring the availability of replacement components. The systems builder again plays a role in making sure that replacements are kept on-hand and can be shipped at a moment’s notice. Another supply chain benefit when it comes to after-sale support is the world-wide availability of on-site technical support provided through large OEM server companies. All along the supply chain, their certified systems builders facilitate value to integrators and ultimately the end users, says Larson. This ensures rapid availability of equipment, flexible payment terms, expertise with system configuration, and the nurturing of a close working relationship with integrators. OEMs provide dependable products to build on, a long-term commitment to providing replacement components, and on-site technical service all over the world. The combination meets the market needs of security and video system integrators and ensures satisfaction of their end user customers.

With IFSEC International fast approaching, 27,000 security professionals are preparing to come together at London’s ExCel to share the latest technology and best practices in the physical security industry. Last year’s show reflected the latest trends shaking the security market, including Big Data and cybersecurity. This year, we can expect speakers and exhibitors to develop these themes in line with recent developments. The industry will need to respond to end users’ questions about collecting and protecting increasing amounts of data from smart security systems. Exhibitors will be expected deal more thoroughly with data security and cyber concerns in light of the reform of EU data protection regulation While data security and cyber vulnerabilities have been big news across the pond at trade-shows such as ISC West, the London-based event will be expected to deal more thoroughly with these concerns in light of the 2018 reform of EU data protection rules, known as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR.) Cyber security for physical security systems Over the last two years, the physical security industry has begun to sit up and take notice of the interdependence of physical and cyber security systems. High profile incidents such as the WannaCry ransomware attack on the UK’s National Health Service have highlighted the threat that the Internet of Things (IoT) poses to business security systems, while the Mirai botnet attack underlined the vulnerabilities of networked security systems specifically. Visitors will receive advice on how to secure increasing volumes of information through the synergy of physical and cybersecurity technologies At previous IFSEC shows, cybersecurity and IoT have played a marginal role, confined to specific zones on the show floor. This year’s exhibition promises to be the arena for an ‘integrated security event,’ with the convergence of physical and cyber security playing out across the show floor. A new ‘Show Me How’ area will provide end users with best practice advice for deploying smart, integrated security systems. The Keynote Arena will host a range of ‘case study’ seminars, offering insights into real world deployments of connected security solutions. Speakers include Silvino Schlickmann, Director of Cyber Crime at INTERPOL, and Dr Pippa Malmgren, Founder of DRPM Group and former Special Assistant to the President of the United States. The Converged Security Centre, brought to the show by Vidsys and partners, will demonstrate how the latest networked technologies can provide security professionals with actionable business intelligence. Visitors will receive advice on how to secure increasing volumes of information through the synergy of physical and cybersecurity technologies.IFSEC 2018 is explicitly addressing safe city concerns with City Forum and London First summits, where strategists can discuss everyday threats European security market trends Attendees will also expect the show to address the regional developments affecting the physical security market. With the ongoing threat of extremism, safe city solutions continue to be big news at European shows. IFSEC 2018 will explicitly address this theme with City Forum and London First summits, which will bring together government and law enforcement strategists to discuss everyday threats, from cyber security to terror. Exhibitors will also need to address the impact of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on their physical security offerings. At last year’s event, manufacturers were ready to discuss the impact of data protection changes on a theoretical level. Now that the regulation has come into effect, video surveillance and access control companies will need to clearly show how their products and solutions comply to new standards, including privacy by design and the right to be forgotten. While this year’s IFSEC International event reflects many familiar themes we have heard about at recent shows, the three days at London’s ExCel are sure to offer new solutions and wisdom to security professionals who are hoping to weather the challenges of an increasingly connected technology landscape.

The Supreme Court is the highest and final court of appeal for all United Kingdom civil cases, and criminal cases from England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Formed in October 2009, it replaced the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords as the highest court in the UK. At the time of writing, it has heard over 835 appeals and hears cases of the greatest public or constitutional importance. The building is located on Parliament Square, just opposite Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. The judges of the Supreme Court, known as Justices, have the final say on the biggest legal issues. For example, the Court recently heard the high-profile Brexit prorogation-related judicial review case of R (Miller) v The Prime Minister which sought to investigate the legality of the prorogation of parliament in Summer 2019. Live streaming and media coverage Westminster location were each equipped with four Panasonic HN130s, a RP150 camera controller "As the highest court in the land, any decision here is binding and final," explains Brian Shek, Senior System Administrator & Commercial Officer at the Supreme Court. The policy of the court is to record and broadcast hearings, in keeping with their commitment to transparency. Since its creation, all cases have been archived on their website ensuring fair and open access to all. "The reason we added live streaming and media coverage is because the justices wanted the court to be fully accessible to all members of the public," adds Brian. Shots of high production value Three court rooms at the Westminster location were each equipped with four Panasonic HN130s, a RP150 camera controller and NewTek Tricaster to efficiently record the high-profile cases. “We need PTZs because it’s not practical in a court room to have an operator manually controlling the cameras,” explains Dan Money, a technical architect and IT Manager at the Supreme Court. “You need a constant shot of the Justices bench, a back and front shot, and both a wide and close up shot to gain an understanding of what is going on in the court. PTZs are the least intrusive option that guarantees transparency in the courtroom but they also give the camera operator the right level of control and ensure shots of high production value,” highlights Dan. Panasonic PTZ camera The Supreme Court installed PTZ cameras as part of their initial set up in 2009 but were in need of an upgrade that could enable them to achieve better quality recordings. “Our first requirement was updating the camera output from SD to HD,” explains Dan. “The IT team wanted to implement a system that could do everything the original system could, but make the overall image quality look better with an intuitive system that we could understand.” For the upgrade, the IT team at the court required NDI-based PTZ camera technology. They wanted to use their own technical networking expertise to maintain the system themselves. The team were able to take the NDI IP connection from the Panasonic PTZ camera and convert it to fiber using existing runs in the building. From there, the stream was converted back to IP and into a NewTek Tricaster. Professional video output Being IP-based has made camera technology far more straightforward for individuals" “We are also planning to have the audio from all court rooms also over NDI in the future so that we can have networked video and audio over the existing building infrastructure. Being IP-based has made camera technology far more straightforward for individuals like ourselves to get to grips with providing a professional video output,” explains Dan. The communications team also wanted a HD output to enable the hosting of any events. The Supreme Courts broadcast contractor were engaged to support the Supreme Court with their broadcast operation needs and provide audio/visual engineers to operate the equipment. The first big test of the system was the high-profile Brexit prorogation-related judicial review. The case of R (Miller) v The Prime Minister investigated the decision to prorogue parliament in September 2019. 1080p network-based stream “We had originally planned to sign off the system during the recess period over the summer months – however, the case was scheduled two weeks before the system was scheduled to be implemented meaning that we had to push the project forward and deliver early to stream this case,” explains Dan. To deliver the streaming services, the team used Microsoft’s Azure Media Services platform. “This is what prompted us to implement the NDI architecture in the first place as the NewTek Tricaster is on their recommended equipment list. We had to work with the lead developer of Azure Media Services to tailor the platform to our requirements to run a 1080p network-based stream on the platform," says Dan. Two access points The R (Miller) v The Prime Minister case attracted widespread media interest and news agencies including both the BBC and Sky used the court’s live stream as part of their reporting. Two access points were installed at both the front and rear of the Supreme Court to take the camera streams accessed in the control room back to the broadcasters via an OB truck. PTZ cameras provided the correct combination of cost-efficiency, quality and service “This meant that if anything was to happen to the live stream on Azure, we had the redundancy in place so broadcasters would still be able to output video from the court room themselves,” explains Dan. This proved to be beneficial as the stream did get momentarily overloaded with an audience of four and a half million at its peak and ten million for the day. Cost-efficiency, quality and service Panasonic PTZ cameras provided the correct combination of cost-efficiency, quality and service that tended to the court’s needs. “From a feature perspective, we needed a system that was cost-effective in terms of an initial outlay but also to maintain and receive support as and when we need it. We wanted a long-term relationship, and with Panasonic we know that we’d get that. "We were very pleased with the feedback we have received on the picture quality, not only from those around the courts but also from feedback on the stream and the broadcasters too!" concludes Dan.

Located in Milpitas, California, Jang Su Jang restaurant offers high quality, authentic Korean cuisine offering an extensive menu to satisfy even the pickiest taste buds. Their main goal is to provide delicious meals served with great service in a clean, modern and upscale environment. Jang Su Jang prides themselves by only using the freshest produce for their side dishes and quality meats for their BBQ, providing an excellence to the Jang Su Jang brand. Highly committed to creating an exceptional dining experience not only with great food, but through superior service and an attractive atmosphere, Jang Su Jang employees will always do their best to provide the highest level of Korean cuisine and customer service.The primary objectives of a security overhaul are to monitor staff and provide overall coverage of dining areas as well as entrances and exits Management acknowledges that security plays a crucial role influencing sustainability of operations. The primary objective of a security overhaul including maintenance with camera additions and upgrades will allow management to monitor staff, provide overall coverage of dining areas as well as entrances and exits. Solution by VIVOTEK VIVOTEK’s camera deployment was crucial to assist management in the day-to-day operations of the restaurant. Remotely monitoring employees, customer disputes, damage to customer property and car break-ins are all concerns upper management must address. Also, being able to monitor the main dining areas, assist hosts with seating and table occupancy and camera installations always provide security during non-business hours. Since 2015, management at Jang Su Jang restaurant have always wanted, at a security level, no blind spots left uncovered in the kitchen and dining areas. At the same time, it is critical to maintain the restaurant’s upscale design, making sure cameras are discrete but fully functional. The new video surveillance system features twelve VIVOTEK Network cameras including a 16-channel network video recorder, ND8401. A security overhaul will allow management to monitor staff, provide overall coverage of dining areas as well as entrances and exits Perfect fit for overall coverage FD816BA-HT 2 megapixel fixed dome network camera is equipped with a Full HD sensor enabling a viewing resolution of 1920x1080 at 30 fps. Featuring WDR Pro and Supreme Night Visibility technology, this camera can capture high quality and high visibility video in high contrast or low light environments.Armed with a removable IR-cut filter, VIVOTEK's solution can maintain optimal image quality around the clock As a professional day/night camera, the FD816BA-HT features a removable IR-cut filter as well as IR illuminators effective up to 30 meters for superior image quality around the clock making this camera a perfect fit for overall coverage of the main dining area. Following with the FE9191 H.265 fisheye network camera was used to cover the large banquet area. Covering 360° surrounding view, restaurant staff has no blind spots and can easily run the floor without having to constantly walk the area. The 12 megapixel camera guarantees superb image quality utilizing the latest in panomorph lens technology for 180°panoramic view (wall mount) or 360°surround view (ceiling/wall/floor mount). Armed with a removable IR-cut filter and WDR Enhancement technology, the camera can maintain optimal image quality around the clock for unparalleled visibility under high-contrast lighting environments. Jang Su Jang’s kitchen area was outfitted with FE8174V, VIVOTEK fisheye network camera featuring 5 megapixels.The restaurant uses VAST as the central management software designed to manage all surveillance products Finally, the FD8134 fixed dome network camera completed the deployment and was installed at various exits and entrances, hallways and the cash register area. Specifically designed for indoor applications with its compact and stylish exterior, FD8134 allows discrete surveillance by capturing high quality, high resolution video. In addition to completely outfitting the property in VIVOTEK cameras, the restaurant uses VAST as the central management software designed to manage all surveillance products. VAST allows owners to operate their business efficiently on premises or remotely. VIVOTEK's effective solution “When we originally started improving our security system, we chose VIVOTEK cameras and were continually impressed with the quality and reliability, we continued to do upgrades as new VIVOTEK equipment was released. Delicious, quality food is not our only priority; safety is also fundamental to our business. Our staff and customers well-being is of immense importance and helps our business operations run smoothly,” said Manager of Jang Su Jang restaurant Brian Chung.

In this ever-expanding era of artificial intelligence (AI), Deep Learning will soon become the foundational technology for the security industry. Technologies that “learn” will become more common and more powerful. This trend will strengthen critical security efforts in every sphere. Hikvision’s three camera models equipped with deep learning algorithms will be introduced in the smart retail industry. In the retail business, with the growing popularity of shopping online, the retail sector has felt the disruptive impact of Internet e-commerce more than most industries. Some have reacted to online competition by closing physical stores, but others are attempting to overcome challenges through technological transformation. Traditional retail lacks intelligent tools for accurate data collection and visualisation, making it unable to provide a basis for business decision-making at the shop. Hikvision smart retail solution Hikvision has developed a Smart Retail Solution that provides comprehensive CCTV security to protect staff and customers and assist loss prevention. Not only that, this smart retail solution features data collection and analytics for enhancing business value. Benefiting from deep learning technology, three intelligent functions for retail support include people-counting to track customer traffic and volume, heat mapping to know the popularity of goods in the shopping area, and queue detection to monitor the queuing situation in real-time.\ Hikvision’s Dual-Lens People-Counting Camera provides accurate customer counting and generates customer flow trends Dual-Lens People-Counting Camera There is an old saying in the trade industry: “small profits but quick turnover”. And footfall is a “KPI” – key profit indicator – that can help make that turnover. Compared to e-commerce, traditional offline retail stores lack the capabilities to accurately calculate customer flow. Hikvision’s Dual-Lens People-Counting Camera provides accurate customer counting and generates customer flow trends to evaluate performance and strategic initiatives. However, in a real-world scenario, shadows or other objects may easily cause miscounts. The Dual-Lens People-Counting Camera, equipped with two cameras and powered by a deep learning algorithm, easily overcomes such interferences to deliver highly accurate people-counting data. A key advantage of deep learning algorithms over surveillance cameras’ vision algorithms is that deep learning can be continuously trained and improved with better and more datasets. This means the longer it works for you, the smarter it gets. Human detection feature Featuring binocular stereo vision, 3D people detection, and height filtering technologies, the Dual-Lens People-Counting Camera is able to accurately distinguish human beings from non-human objects in the background. Hence, these cameras distinguish human beings from other objects and movements in the background. By analysing customer flow data, store management can optimise the allocation of the workforce to reach higher profits and ensure better customer service. Store managers can schedule staff strategically for peak and off-peak hours. Furthermore, they can also develop strategic marketing activities to attract customers by analysing the data of incoming rates (entering vs. passing by). Heat Mapping Hikvision’s Heat Mapping function allows retailers to determine the amount of time shoppers spend in specific areas of a store When customers enter the store, retailers are concerned about what merchandise customers are interested in. Before that, what's more important is how to get what route they walk and where they stop. With Hikvision’s Heat Mapping function, retailers can determine the amount of time shoppers spend in specific areas of a store, identify hot spots and dead zones, and measure the number of people who actually shop for specific products, rather than just casually walk by. Heat Mapping is used to monitor and measure the size of target traffic in a region. It is a graphical representation of data represented by colors, and it is usually used to analyse the visit times and dwell times of customers in a specified area. The Heat Map function is often used in shopping malls, supermarkets, museums, etc., and can find customers' preferences over time through heat maps, offering insight how to best place items and design the store layout. Fisheye cameras As a representative product, Hikvision’s Fisheye cameras, equipped with heat mapping function, not only capture a panoramic high-definition image but also learn about heat conditions in different regions within a store. In spacious areas, fewer cameras means reduced installation and labour fees. Hikvision’s fisheye cameras are ideal for these areas, maximising monitoring views and image quality insurance. Queue detection Hikvision Smart Retail Solution is designed to help retailers bring offline stores into a digital world In the retail industry, waiting time is one of the most important factors affecting the customer experience. Hikvision’s Queue Detection function can help retailers manage checkout lines. When too many customers enter a queue, it can notify management to open a new checkout line. More specifically, Hikvision’ queue detection cameras can monitor the queuing situation in real-time. Firstly, cameras count the number of people in each queue, and then track the dwell time of each customer. Once it is found that the number of people in queue is too many, or the average dwell time of customers is too long, an alarm will be triggered to prompt a response. Store management will be reminded to open checkout windows to reduce waiting times, improving transaction efficiency and the entire shopping experience. Hikvision Smart Retail Solution is designed to help retailers bring offline stores into a digital world, allowing data to support management and operations. And it will promote retailers’ technological transformation in response to increased industry competition through the use of innovative retail technology.

Milestone Systems’ open platform IP video management software (VMS) is the technology helping to give peace of mind to residents and visitors of Las Ramblas in Cayala City, Guatemala. Milestone Systems’ XProtect expert software, an open platform technology, was chosen for managing IP-networked video and maintaining continual surveillance over the city’s projects. Network video cameras from Axis Communications are also used, some with crossline detection video analytics. EMC Isilon servers provide the data storage. The open platform Milestone software is compatible with the previously installed security equipment unifying the interface between differences in brand, while featuring larger capacities (in its servers as well), which optimises resources. The combined solution also integrates easily with existing human resources and procedures, making the process of obtaining valuable information, taking action and preventing incidents more efficient. Designed by urban planner Leon Krier, Cayalá is located in Guatemala’s capital city Virtually independent city Highly rated and classified as a spotless city, Ciudad Cayalá features impressive colonial buildings, wide pedestrian areas, greenways and - most importantly - a sense of security throughout its streets. Designed by urban planner Leon Krier, Cayalá is located in Guatemala’s capital city. His objective was to create a virtually independent city within the capital, away from crime and the problems known commonly to affect it. The initial project began in the 1980s when the land was purchased. The first residential areas that were built stood out due to their signature white walls but this closed city model led to some criticism related to class division and isolation of the Guatemalan upper class. As a result, the city’s residential community, Las Ramblas, is an open zone that forms a part of the commercial area and the Cayalá offices. Open area security systems Las Ramblas and the project’s future residential phases do not have walls, but are instead open, connected areas. It was exactly this aspect of Las Ramblas that led to its security systems - specifically those designed for open areas - being put to the test. The goal was to maintain the same standard of existing security among the other phases of the Cayalá project. One of the clear and principal objectives was to offer a safe environment for visitors and residents In Cayalá there are more than 1,500 residences, over 400 offices and businesses, and over 50 lofts. At times, the area involves more than 20,000 visitors daily. Thus, one of the clear and principal objectives was to offer a safe environment for visitors and residents; as a result, Cayalá took on the idea of being a ‘Safe City’ from the beginning. Milestone Systems XProtect Expert software Luis Pedro Rodas is the business manager of Revolution Technologies REVTEC, S.A., the firm that worked with Cayalá to find a security solution. He explains: “In order to carry out a challenge of such magnitude, the city selected Milestone Systems XProtect Expert software as its technological platform. Working together with human resources and processes, it provides the necessary information to take action and prevent security incidents.” All of the Axis cameras are connected to the Milestone video management platform, which interconnects three surveillance centers. For video storage, Cayalá uses EMC Isilon, which holds up to 30 days’ worth of footage. Although there is no physical wall, there are technology systems, human resources and policies at work" “Several virtual security rings exist in Cayalá. Those who enter are being monitored, and although there is no physical wall, there are technology systems, human resources and policies at work,” says Rodas. Prevention of security breaches With an investment of over 2 million dollars in technology, Cayalá has been able to introduce the concept of a ‘Safe City’. The routes of its residents and visitors alike are monitored thanks to a combination of over 120 elements provided by human resources, processes and technologies, which together make it possible to obtain information, take action and prevent security breaches. Héctor Leal, engineer and Cayalá general manager, mentions that this security plan “made it possible to restore the trust, peace and quality of life that had been lost in other cities of the country.”

What happens after the sale is complete, after the contracts are all signed and sealed? That’s when an abundance of variables can kick in – variables that can mean the difference between a successful security system or a case of buyer’s remorse. The features and value of equipment involved in a security system are well known before the sale closes, as hopefully are the integrator’s and end-user’s expectations about after-sale service. But what is the reality of after-sale service, and how can manufacturer’s make it better? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How can security system manufacturers improve their after-sale service for integrators and end users?

Where does the time go? Before you know it, here we are at mid-year reflecting on an eventful first half of 2018 in the physical security market. It’s also a good time for our Expert Panel Roundtable to pause and look ahead at what we might expect in the second half of the year. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What technology development will have the greatest impact in the second half of 2018?