Hybrid security

The National Security Inspectorate’s (NSI) team of 34 full-time, expert auditors recently gathered in Maidenhead to participate in advanced training and sharing of best practice, as part of their continual development. This unique, highly respected team clocks up on average 3.25 million miles each year, fulfilling around 3500 audit days across more than 1800 approved companies.  As part of its commitment to raising standards within the industry, NSI’s audit team is increasingly adopting hybrid powered vehicles which deliver low emissions and excellent fuel economy. “Up to 37 miles of my daily commute to audits can be completed on electric only power, as I charge my car every night. It’s beneficial knowing I can select electric mode when driving through residential and city areas, thus reducing pollution,” advises NSI Auditor Doug Malcolm. Having owned a hybrid vehicle prior to starting my employment with NSI, it was an easy decision to opt for one" Zero emission zones NSI Auditor Dave Bartram comments: “Having owned a hybrid vehicle prior to starting my employment with NSI, it was an easy decision to opt for one. I’m not an eco-warrior but I do feel passionate about contributing to cleaner emissions. As discussions are underway with respect to zero emission zones in major city centres, the continued ability to drive into zero emission zones is a great positive." "I believe we will see more and more of these types of vehicles in the coming years, as the benefits far out way the future impacts and limitations of solely combustion engine cars.” NSI’s forward-looking approach to its vehicle fleet is just one of the ways in which the UK’s leading certification body in the security and fire safety sectors is delivering greater efficiency and environmental benefits. The organisation’s integrated audit policy has been a welcome and proactive step, benefitting its clients through cost saving as well as delivering the environmental benefit of fewer road miles.

Pulse Secure, a provider of secure access solutions for people, devices, things and services, announced a key new release of the Pulse Secure Virtual Application Delivery Controller (vADC). The new solution brings an industry step change in enterprise management and analytics, giving IT and security professionals detailed information about data flows through each application and providing actionable insights into the behavior of applications across virtual and cloud platforms. Following last year’s acquisition of the vADC product line from Brocade, this announcement demonstrates Pulse Secure’s commitment to product innovation and the vADC market segment, which is experiencing dramatic growth and is a driver behind today’s digital business transformation initiatives.  “This new vADC release from Pulse Secure overcomes the challenges of early application visibility tools, which can be expensive and require a lot of care and feeding to set up and maintain. By offering a turn-key approach to application visualisation and analytics with intuitive analysis tools, this solution enables a customer to quickly drill down and gain a better understanding of application performance as well as pinpoint patterns and problems that can be optimised and repaired." "The flexible licensing model lets enterprises tightly align their IT spend with demand and avoid over spending,” said Mike Fratto, Research Director at GlobalData. “I look forward to seeing where Pulse Secure goes with its vADC platform and closing the loop with orchestration in the future.” Virtual ADC analytics allows IT and security professionals to readily view high-level dashboards and drill down to detailed behavioural data flows" Pulse Services Director version 18.1 Pulse Services Director version 18.1 supports customers moving to virtual, cloud, software and micro-service-centric architectures. IT and security professionals no longer have to wade through large streams of unstructured data in order to identify patterns and unusual events. Powerful new intuitive graphical analytics make it easy to visualise end-to-end application traffic flows in order to baseline normal activity and highlight issues that need to be addressed, leading to quicker investigation, interpretation and corrective actions. Customers benefit from: Graphical analysis of data flows through the application Insights into application behaviour Segment-by-segment breakdown of traffic statistics Microsecond-accurate timing analysis and connection tracing Drill downs into performance problems and identification of optimisation strategies Sharable reports for closer collaboration with co-workers “We are excited by our pace of innovation and business growth since we have been acquired by Pulse Secure. In just six months, we are enjoying new flagship customer wins across a variety of industries and realising healthy revenue growth,” said Marion Smith, VP and GM, vADC Business Unit at Pulse Secure. “Virtual ADC analytics allows IT and security professionals to readily view high-level dashboards and drill down to detailed behavioral data flows of each application in real time. The enhanced operational insight, triage and reporting capabilities in this new release demonstrate our continued commitment to leading the virtual ADC market with world class products and services.”  Pulse SD automates the management, licensing, and metering of virtual network services for Pulse Secure vADC Enterprise management Pulse SD Version 18.1 brings other Enterprise Management (EM) capabilities into the same package, including centralised backup and restore of ADC instances as well as centralised authentication for administration of ADC instances. It also supports centralised logging and Application Data Export for integration with third-party analytics engines. Pulse SD automates the management, licensing, and metering of virtual network services for Pulse Secure vADC, one of the most advanced virtual application delivery controllers in the market today. Intelligent access capabilities “We have been fortunate to be involved with Pulse Virtual Traffic Manager for over 12 years and are very excited about the opportunity to work with Pulse Secure following its acquisition of vADC. Many of our customers already use Traffic Manager’s built-in activity graphs for traffic analysis and visibility, and this new release will give customers a centralised view of the data with rich analytical tools." "We expect to see new and innovative solutions come out of Pulse Secure leveraging its best-in-class Secure Access and Traffic Manager platforms,” said Ken Tan, Sales Director at Network Armada.  “This release is the first step in a larger vision to help provide customers with more intuitive tools enabling visibility, availability and control of their applications. You will see us build on this release in the future as we start to bring our Secure Access product portfolio together to include intelligent access capabilities around hybrid cloud,” added Smith.

New research from WinMagic, the data security company, surveying over 1,000 IT Decision Makers (ITDM) about hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) has revealed flexibility (65%), performance (58%) and availability (46%) as the highest ranked benefits of the technology. However, the survey also highlighted ITDM concerns around expanding their use of HCI, with complexity leading at 45% and security, a close second (43%). Currently, only 15% of respondents’ report have any HCI technology in their infrastructure. Yet, the HCI market is expected to expand, with Gartner stating that “By 2021, hyper-converged integrated systems (HCIS) will represent 54% of total converged infrastructure shipments by revenue, with HCIS reaching $10.8 billion.” (Hype Cycle for Storage Technologies, July 2017). ITDMs are clearly seeing the benefits of HCI technology, so what is holding them back from using it more? Deployed with the correct controls, HCI can be one of the best ways to simplify data centre infrastructure Simplifying data centre infrastructure Deployed with the correct controls, HCI can be one of the best ways to simplify data centre infrastructure. However, its dynamic nature and reliance on virtual machines creates challenges such as how to unify security and control data sprawl as IT departments struggle to maintain control as workloads expand. ITDMs highlighted four areas, making them reluctant to include HCI as part of their future infrastructure plans: Increased complexity of IT infrastructure (45%) Maintaining security across HCI environments (43%) Maintaining management control as HCI scales across the business (39%) The lack of an ability to manage virtual machines in hybrid environments (34%) Risks from security shorcuts A quarter (27%) of respondents admitted to not limiting access to the control planes of their hyper-converged infrastructure. Rather than encrypting individual workloads, many are simply encrypting the whole platform, ignoring the need for encryption and access controls to certain sensitive datasets. The result is that unfettered access may be given to workloads that should be geo- or time restricted, leaving a company at risk of breaking its governance, regulatory and compliance obligations. In addition, there were other areas of concern relating to security when using HCIs, such as: Having a security solution that scales with our needs (29%) Ensuring compatibility with any type of hypervisor technology (23%) Maintaining identity access management and authentication (22%) Unified approach to security management “Hyper-converged infrastructure offers a wide range of benefits for IT departments and they want to embrace the technology, but often the security and management concerns make it feel like a risky investment,” said Mark Hickman, Chief Operating Officer at WinMagic.WinMagic SecureDoc Enterprise offers 100% encryption of endpoints, data centre and cloud workloads with a single platform “The truth is the benefits can be easily realised by IT teams, if a unified approach is taken to security and management, through a single tool where they are dependent, not separate tasks. In reality, this approach should extend beyond the hyperconverged hardware to the whole infrastructure whether on premises or in the cloud." "WinMagic SecureDoc Enterprise offers 100% encryption of endpoints, data centre and cloud workloads with a single platform, meaning data is protected across the enterprise while IT leaders are free to deliver the enormous benefits of hyperconvergence.”

Last year, Genetec predicted that cybersecurity would be taken much more seriously as the Internet of Things (IoT) opened more doors for hacking and network take overs. We also predicted that that there would be an increase in the adoption of Software as a Service (SaaS), expanding choice and convenience from new ownership models via hybrid (on-premises and Cloud) and Cloud-only models. Cyber Accountability awareness 2017 was also a year of awareness about ‘Cyber Accountability’. Rising cyber-crime and the increasing threats saw organisations taking direct action to mitigate their risks. There was a greater demand for cybersecurity/cyber-incompetence malpractice insurance in the physical security space. The physical security industry is continuing to grow at a rate that most other industries would envy. However, the “race to the bottom” and the rise of ultra-low-cost surveillance sensor equipment is negatively affecting the industry as a whole on several levels: Not only are profit margins being eroded, but these ultra-low-cost devices are being fielded and subsidised by state-owned organisations which raises troubling questions around privacy, data sovereignty and cyber security. More focus on privacy protection In 2018, we will see a lot more focus on privacy protection and compliance. People want to feel safe, but not watched. This is where privacy protection and encryption technology play a role in ensuring that security professionals have enough information to be able to do their job while protecting the privacy of the public. In addition to privacy and data protection, there is a greater demand for organisations and institutions to not only make sense of an increasing array of data from sensors and connected devices, but to take meaningful and smart action on these data. Software that help organisations build and activate this type of operational resiliency and security intelligence will lead the way in 2018. Genetec celebrated its 20th anniversary and welcomed its 1,000th employee in 2017. We are still proudly privately owned and will continue to grow and march to our own drummer while delivering our usual brisk pace of software innovation.

New to RBH Security Group Ltd is Nick Bartlett, who joins as Business Development Manager to the UK. Nick has over 20 years’ experience in the industry, specialising in access control, and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to an already strong and progressive RBH team. Caine Jenkins, UK Operations Manager for RBH Security Group said: “We are delighted to welcome Nick on board; his vast knowledge of the industry will be invaluable in promoting and supporting the Axiom product range through our approved distributor network".

Bosch has updated its Building Integration System (BIS) software to Version 4.5. The latest BIS features: Access control that is easier to use, more flexible and even more secure; integration of new or updated Bosch video surveillance, fire alarm and public address systems; and auditing of configuration changes.  A key function of BIS is access control. This allows authorised people to enter various areas of a building or site and keeps unauthorised people out. Version 4.5 makes enrollment (and de-enrollment) of authorised people easier, more flexible and more secure. Easier, more flexible, more secure Easier, because: it now integrates fingerprints into the cardholder management dialogue and does not require third party software anymore. Also, enrollment can now be done remotely on any access reader in the system. More flexible, because: the enrollment dialogue via masks and processes are no longer static, but can be customised by the user; identification photos from any USB camera can be used; and access badges can be flexibly designed and printed with barcodes. More secure, because Microsoft Windows Server 2016 supports BIS 4.5 for best cyber protection. Communications throughout BIS are transmitted at a higher encryption level than ever before. Advanced features BIS 4.5 can communicate with and control more Bosch subsystems than before. New additions include: Alarm video plugins for the latest Bosch and ONVIF cameras as well as Bosch DIVAR network and hybrid recorders Smoke and fire detection in Bosch AVIOTEC cameras Monitoring and management of calls on Bosch’s PAVIRO Public Address System. All these components can be controlled by a single operator at a central point. Audited configuration With Version 4.5, all configuration history is captured in a database that records who did what and when they did it. This provides an audit trail that helps colleagues know what each other is doing or has done and aids investigation of past events. 4.5 is first. All these upgrades in Version 4.5 help BIS to be the premium system on offer. It is easy to use, flexible and even more secure. It integrates more equipment than ever, and it audits its own configuration. BIS is well-equipped to monitor and manage, from a central control room, a building or a complex or a full network of stations across a public transport system. It also improves handling of changing and remote workforces and in generating an audit trail to comply with internal or external regulations.

Pulse Secure, a provider of Secure Access solutions to both enterprises and service providers, has announced that Entegrus has successfully deployed Pulse Policy Secure advanced network access control (NAC), to strengthen overall visibility and access security across their hybrid IT infrastructure. Entegrus, a Canadian energy company, leveraged their existing Pulse Secure virtual private network (VPN) implementation to expedite NAC deployment and fortify their infrastructure in accordance with National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) guidelines. As a result, their security organisation extended visibility for remote and on-premise users and devices, as well as enhanced endpoint compliance and Internet of Things (IoT) risk mitigation. We have increased our security posture, and for the most part, there has been zero impact on our end users" Pulse Secure-Entegrus collaboration Entegrus serves over 58,000 customers throughout Ontario. They bring electricity, renewable energy and water across three large regions, with a workforce spread out over 2,300 square miles. Entegrus’ objective is to provide safe, reliable and cost-effective provision of energy and related billing services, while providing high levels of service to its customers, partners and the communities it serves. IT security plays a critical role in protecting their delivery of energy and data services.  “The threat landscape is constantly evolving, forcing us to always consider how we can go one step further. With a widely distributed IT infrastructure, we considered NAC as an effective way to improve our security posture without dramatically altering how we operate,” said Dave Cullen, manager of information systems for Entegrus. “We have a long-standing relationship with Pulse Secure. The level of integration between Pulse Secure secure sockets layer (SSL) and NAC, as well as the extended feature set, made it a straightforward choice for us. Perhaps, the two most important things are that we have increased our security posture, and for the most part, there has been zero impact on our end users.”  Active control with seamless network access Ensuring always active control while maintaining flexible, seamless access to network and application resources is an essential requirement for utility providers. Within such highly regulated industries, best practices dictate a constant cycle of security readiness review and improvement to meet an increasingly potent threat posed by cyber threat actors. NAC provides foundational endpoint intelligence, resource access enforcement and IoT defences that support industry and regulatory compliance guidelines. These compliance requisites apply to both regional and large national critical infrastructure providers.  For stretched IT departments, Pulse Secure’s Secure Access solutions are designed to streamline deployment and on-going administration using an easy, integrated, policy-driven platform that works with a customer’s existing installed base and network infrastructure. In addition, Pulse Secure’s VPN solution utilises the same endpoint client, policy engine and appliance management as the NAC solution. Entegrus took advantage of this platform capability to rapidly implement NAC. As a result, they gained dynamic intelligence, unified policy management, automated enforcement and threat response through a single management console. We needed to make sure our secure access technologies could adapt to new regulatory requirements and new business needs" Secure access solutions Cullen highlights numerous benefits, including a simplified method of managing complex policies and user access rights, as well as an enforceable method of checking end-point devices to ensure that only properly patched operating systems can connect to the network. Another advantage of Pulse Policy Secure was evident after Entegrus recently merged with London, Ontario-based St. Thomas Energy. “We needed to make sure our secure access technologies could adapt to new regulatory requirements and new business needs, as the recent merger added new, unqualified infrastructure and grew our customer base by around a third, which also led to the hiring of 28 new staff members,” Cullen added.

A security camera provided by Hikvision USA Inc., the North American supplier of innovative, award-winning video surveillance products and solutions, was installed by Holmes Security to help Spinner’s Pizza in Fayetteville, NC to improve efficiency. Established in 1999, Spinner’s Pizza is a popular restaurant with a dedicated following and a very busy lunch crowd. Owner Spero Poulos thought of using a “Pizza Cam” to streamline operations during their busiest times. “Holmes Security had installed Hikvision cameras for security in and around the restaurant. We decided, why not use it for the service efficiency and accuracy?” said Poulos. Innovative camera-kitchen monitor system  The restaurant owner needed to improve efficiency. The combination of a camera with a kitchen monitor “keeps the staff from running to the buffet just to check what needs to be cooked." Poulos noted that when staff members leave the kitchen they’re “invariably stopped by customers and friends that want to chat. That can slow down the replenishment process." Spinner’s analog and IP hybrid system includes mini domes, bullets and turret cameras. Holmes Security recommended and installed the Hikvision DS-2CE56D5T 1080p Turbo HD-TVI Turret camera for the buffet to deliver HD quality over the existing coax cabling. The turret camera is positioned to capture the entire line of pizzas on the buffet. “We’re able to keep the buffet full at all times. When someone is on a tight lunch break, the last thing you want them to do is wait for their food. With the Hikvision camera in place, they no longer have to wait,” said Poulos. The Pizza Cam enables the operation to be run from the kitchen monitor with no downtime. Monitoring the Hikvision Turbo HD-TVI Turret camera from the kitchen improved efficiency since staff can check the status easily and quickly Ruggedised camera for heat tolerance “Heat tolerance was a big consideration based on the camera’s position in relation to the buffet itself. The specs showed that the Hikvision camera’s operating temperature range was 22 below to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, so we knew it could withstand the heat,” Dave Foster, sales and marketing manager for Holmes Security, told Hikvision.    Holmes Security is a 109-year old, family-owned company based in Fayetteville, NC. They use Hikvision cameras because “we have found over time that Hikvision provides higher quality, is easier to install, program and maintain. Tech support is great, and the software is consistent as well. Plus, we have great reps and a great rapport with Hikvision personnel,” said Foster.  Holmes Security positioned the camera to the upper right of the buffet to capture the entire line of pizzas. Spinner’s kitchen staff can now see the entire buffet from a monitor in the kitchen, allowing the chefs to stay ahead of customer demand.  Poulos adds that he gets “comments all the time about what a great idea it is. The customers especially like the fact that they don’t have to wait for new pizzas to be placed on the buffet.” Greater efficiency and improved operations  Spinner’s Pizza is delivering a better experience to its customers by keeping its buffet stocked with fresh pizza. Monitoring the Hikvision Turbo HD-TVI Turret camera from the kitchen improved efficiency since staff do not have to run out to the food line to check the status. The system allows servers to concentrate on serving. The Hikvision Pizza Cam delivers ease of operations for the restaurant staff, owner, and patrons. “Our strength in the field is the partnership among Hikvision, our integrators and their customers, collaborating together to find innovative ways to solve real-world problems,” said Alex Asnovich, director of marketing for Hikvision. “Spinner’s Pizza is a great example of applying our technology to achieve business results in a retail restaurant environment.”

Fifth Third Bancorp, one of the top 15 banks in the U.S., is well on its way toward completing a major upgrade of its March Networks video surveillance system. A customer since 2004, Fifth Third has deployed 12,000 March Networks cameras and approximately 1,400 March Networks 8000 Series Hybrid NVRs over a period of 36 months. Identification and apprehension of suspects “By the end of 2016, we’ll have a total of 1,600 new 8000 Series recorders,” said Mike Neugebauer, Fifth Third’s Vice-President and Director of Corporate Security, who oversees security for 1,300 full-service retail branches, as well as data centres, corporate offices and cash handling facilities across 12 states. The combination of March Networks MegaPX WDR MiniDome Z IP cameras, Analog WDR Indoor Domes and the 8000 Series Hybrid NVRs with advanced video compression allows Fifth Third to provide law enforcement authorities with high-quality video for the identification and apprehension of suspects. Video verification improves urgency “Bank robberies and break-ins appear to be trending higher nationally,” said Neugebauer. “Much of it is a consequence of the heroin epidemic. Typically, they’ll go through a window in the middle of the night to see what there is to steal.Security staff in our 24-hour monitoring centre can verify an alarm and tell responding law enforcement officers what we see" “We constantly get compliments from law enforcement about the quality of our video. Even if the bad guys show up with hoodies or masks, we can zoom in on clothing patterns and brand logos, partial facial features, tattoos or other distinguishing marks.” “Security staff in our 24-hour monitoring centre can verify an alarm and tell responding law enforcement officers what we see,” said Neugebauer. “Video verification is huge. It changes law enforcement’s urgency to respond.” Crystal-clear images In minutes, Fifth Third security staff can email crystal clear images of a suspect to police, dramatically improving the chances of apprehension. The March Networks MegaPX WDR MiniDome Z IP camera’s wide dynamic range and progressive scan in high resolution delivers excellent image quality even in bright backlit situations, while its H.264 compression technology reduces bandwidth and storage costs. The MiniDome Z also features Power-over-Ethernet and is ONVIF-compliant, allowing it to be used with a variety of third-party video surveillance systems. Linking video with teller and ATM transaction data allows fraud investigators to quickly establish the identity of an individual associated with a transaction The Analog WDR Indoor Dome also features wide dynamic range, progressive scan in high resolution and low light sensitivity, making it ideal for capturing quality images in a variety of lighting conditions. Mix of analogue and IP The 8000 Series Hybrid recorder is a perfect fit for Fifth Third, accommodating a mix of analogue and IP cameras and offering up to 16 TB of onboard storage across four hard drive slots. “Typically, we’ll have two IP MiniDomes and 14 analogue cameras per branch, but we’re starting to use more exterior-mounted IP cameras in our elevated risk branches, so storage is important to us,” said Neugebauer. “The other thing we like about the 8000 Series is how it gives us sharper images from our analogue cameras.” The availability of the 8000 Series Hybrid NVR in 4, 8, 16 and 32-channel configurations is also a plus because it allows Fifth Third to acquire a fit-for-purpose unit for every application. Compatibility issues The decision to standardise on March Networks cameras frees Fifth Third from having to worry about any compatibility issues. “When we weren’t buying March Networks cameras, it made management of the cameras a lot harder for us,” said Neugebauer. “That was especially the case for IP megapixel cameras and managing the software patches that have to go on them. The fact that our March Networks cameras work in concert with our NVRs means we don’t have to do any software loads like we had to do when we were buying another camera brand. We were managing many pieces of software instead of just one platform.” Transitioning to Command Enterprise and Searchlight Next on the agenda for Fifth Third is a transition to March Networks Command Enterprise video management software and the acquisition of March Networks’ Searchlight for Banking software. Fifth Third security staff can email crystal clear images of a suspect to police, dramatically improving the chances of apprehension Command Enterprise features a user-friendly, browser-based interface that provides support for up to 10,000 recorders and 128,000 video channels, while Searchlight for Banking is a suite of tools to speed fraud investigations and capture business intelligence such as tracking customer behaviour. Linking video with teller and ATM transaction data, for example, allows fraud investigators to quickly establish the identity of an individual associated with a transaction. Searchlight advantages “On the retail side, we also hope to take advantage of Searchlight to help us make better business decisions,” said Neugebauer. Using Searchlight’s queue length monitoring analytics, Fifth Third will be able to gather and compare metrics on branch traffic and speed of service. It can also be used to track self-serve kiosk usage and gather data on how long customers linger in front of marketing displays. Concurrent with the introduction of Searchlight, Fifth Third is also planning to acquire March Networks’ new MegaPX Indoor Analytics Dome camera with built-in intelligence.  “We’ve just done some testing and we’re very pleased with it,” said Neugebauer. While security remains the primary application for video surveillance at Fifth Third, other “lines of business” are taking advantage of it. Weather damage and alarms “In the past, security directors were always hesitant to share their video surveillance system, but we share our system with our facilities and retail groups”, said Neugebauer. “They use it to see if the sidewalk has been shovelled or if the parking lot has been plowed in our northern branches. In Florida, where we’ve had some severe storms, they use it to see if the windows have been blown out or if we have water damage. “Our facilities group has really embraced it. We’ll put cameras in mechanical rooms, for example, so they can see the indicator light configurations on the control panels. It often saves them from making a trip to the site. If a technician gets an alarm from an HVAC system or a generator, for example, he can diagnose the problem remotely and take the necessary steps to resolve it.When we weren’t buying March Networks cameras, it made management of the cameras a lot harder for us" “Retail uses the system to look at compliance with opening and closing procedures. Or, they may have a teller who’s great at selling and go in to look at best practices for training purposes.Sharing their March Networks video surveillance system with other departments “makes funding easier for us,” said Neugebauer. Longer lifecycle However, underlying Fifth Third’s choice of a video surveillance supplier is March Networks’ track record for product durability. Fifth Third began retiring the 4000 C Series recorders it acquired in 2004 two years ago and will only complete the transition to new 8000 Series units in 2016. “Some of my peers in the industry are buying new recorders every three years,” said Neugebauer. “Everything has a lifecycle and we feel the lifecycle for March Networks products is significantly longer than most of the other systems out there.”

Intrusion can be very invasive, damaging and expensive for any industrial or commercial business. The damage of machinery or the theft of goods can be potentially devastating. Not only that, but each commercial and industrial property can vary dramatically in terms of the level of security required, along with the conditions of the installation. Aisles, machinery and varying environmental conditions are all considerations, as is the required function of the security system and the ability to monitor it safely and remotely. Pyronix hybrid solution So, which security system can deliver the right solution? Look no further than the PCX46 APP. This is the professional high-security hybrid solution that delivers maximum security, convenience, flexibility and potential. Tailor the security system to meet the individual needs of the property, with the full range of Pyronix devices. Whether wired for Grade 3 requirements (large casing PCX46 APP) or utilising the multi-award-winning two-way wireless technology for any Grade 2 requirements, you can deliver the ideal system for the property and provide the user with full assurance that they are paying for the best possible security solution. Protecting external areas So, for any environments such as show rooms, factories, garages, banks, entrances or exits, there is the Pyronix range of KX detectors, which utilise Dual Technology (DT) which offer resolute detection in areas with changing conditions. If there are any drafts or fluctuating temperatures, there is the perfect KX. There is also the XD range of external detectors that utilise Tri-Technology (TT), as well as Anti-Masking and Anti-Blocking options. These can offer any external areas the protection they need, as well as be utilised to set off lights. Whether the installation requires sensors, detectors, sirens and much more, this is all possible and easily accomplished with the PCX46 APP. PyronixCloud and HomeControl+ App Utilise this security system and you can also benefit from the PyronixCloud and HomeControl+ App infrastructure. The user gets remote control of their system from anywhere in the world, while you benefit from remote diagnostics and programming, as well as easy set up. The HomeControl+ App delivers unrivalled control over the property for the user, with the ability to: arm and disarm, control any automation outputs, check the status of every individual device on the system, see their event history and much much more, all in real-time. So, whether the user is at work, on holiday or in bed, they are always informed and always in control. This is particularly useful for any business owner or manager, where it may be advantageous to monitor the access to the building, as well as any automation outputs added to the system. With remote programming and diagnostics of the system using InSite UDL software via the PyronixCloud, there are fewer call-outs and therefore reduced costs. This makes the PCX46 APP a more profitable solution for businesses, as systems can be fully managed remotely and even when a call-out is necessary, the engineer will know what the issue is before getting to site. Furthermore, users can also generate recurring revenue streams by offering PyronixCloud management services.

The Melbourne Cricket Ground, known to fans as simply ‘The G’, is Australia’s largest and most iconic sporting venue. With a history dating back to 1853, upwards of 100,000 fans as well as thousands of catering and hospitality staff, hundreds of security officers, police, medical teams, and media crews, as well as sports teams and match officials, flood the site. After a site survey, it was found that the existing access control system not only needed to be replaced, but taking the new public threat levels into account, access control needed to be significantly expanded to protect equipment and infrastructure across the site. Access control-building management integration A key challenge for Frances was that MCG’s electronic security and building management systems were incompatible with each other In addition, a management solution was required that could weave the existing surveillance gear together with the new access control system, as well as other electronic security and building management solutions. Whatever solution was implemented, it also had to be scalable and completely future-proof. MCG facilities manager Andy Frances quickly realised the key to the MCG’s electronic security future would be an open architecture networked solution. A key challenge for Frances was that MCG’s electronic security and building management systems were incompatible with each other and the multiple layers of cabling infrastructure that sprawled across the site were a complete unknown. Frances also knew that he would need a powerful graphical user interface that incorporated mapping, which meant all the hardware employed across the site had to be built for a networked environment. Networked access control  According to Frances, integrating the entire system in a networked environment was a crucial factor According to Frances, integrating the entire system in a networked environment was a crucial factor. Frances explains that in terms of what he wanted to achieve at The G, the main goals were to upgrade the access control system, including door controllers and door hardware, and to look at software management programs for controlling access control, CCTV and alarms. “Given the current state of technology, the first thing we had to look at was the security infrastructure,” Frances states. “I saw the key to the site was going to be a futureproof network infrastructure supporting video surveillance, access control and alarm monitoring, integrated by a powerful software management solution.” “That overall management solution was important because for our critical infrastructure areas, we wanted a system that would allow us to know if a door was forced open, and to have some auditing capability,” says Frances. VertX IP access control solution All parts of the new system have been selected on the basis of their ability to support open architecture. The network components include off-the-shelf hardware and firmware installed in IT rooms and supported by the IT department. This part of the system includes switchers and the recording solution. The access control side is the major part of the new installation at the MCG, with Genetec Security Center’s Synergis module supporting VertX IP access control solution, a powerful modular solution designed to carry access control solutions into an IP environment. According to Frances, as the decision solidified and VertX came to the fore, a catastrophic failure of the existing access control system took over the decision-making process. OPIN application programming interface What we liked about VertX was the fact that along with its excellent functionality, HID Global would provide the specifications of that product to any software manufacturer" “While we were calmly assessing the product, we had a failure of the access control system we couldn’t recover from,” Frances explains. “Fortunately, we had already talked to HID about the VertX IP access control solution”, says Frances. “What we liked about VertX was the fact that along with its excellent functionality, HID Global would provide the specifications of that product to any software manufacturer. This satisfied our IT team because it was non-proprietary.” The MCG’s need for open architecture and the proprietary nature of virtually all other access control systems meant HID Global’s VertX solution built on HID’s OPIN application programming interface was the perfect solution for this application. OPIN enables HID Global’s Edge access control devices to operate seamlessly with any management software and in almost any conceivable configuration. The perfect compatibility of VertX meant that it was the first component of the new access control solution selected, which is uncommon. The operational functionality of VertX was also an important part of the decision-making process. Non-proprietary management software “When looking at HID Global’s VertX, there are some key elements that are important. If the system goes offline, it has a cache and when the network is available, VertX downloads all interim events - that was an important thing for us,” Frances says. “While we wanted a fully networked system, we didn’t want to lose any data if the network was offline. We also wanted to retain functionality - we wanted to have the doors operate as they normally would under all circumstances.” Most importantly, VertX’s OPIN architecture allowed the use of non-proprietary management software – this was a major issue for MCG. VertX’s hybrid nature meant virtually the entire site’s existing RS-485 cable could be retained. This saved an enormous amount of money, given the challenges of re-cabling a site so large and heavily constructed. HID’s V1000 network controllerThis robust and highly intelligent Linux-based unit is really the hero of HID’s VertX solutionNo account of the MCG’s access control solution is complete without recognition of the power and capability of HID Global’s V1000 Network Controller. This robust and highly intelligent Linux-based unit is really the hero of HID’s VertX solution. With its RISC processing the V1000 pulls system smarts all the way down to remote network closets giving multiple benefits. The V1000 reduces the number of dedicated ports the access control system needs and buffers events when the network is down. And the V1000 can receive and action commands from third party control software and is also able to activate a digital dialer or GSM modem in the event of longer network failure. Genetec Security Center Frances has no doubt that he has made the right decision going with a fully networked solution at the MCG. “I think the networked model works very well and there’s no question this is the way most security managers on large sites should be heading,” Frances says. “Working with HID Global has been very good for most the same reasons – they understood where we were at and what we wanted. HID Global is able to come to the party very quickly with a system designed with this sort of solution in mind. I can pick up the phone and speak to them and get things resolved.” “The way things are now I can call up the integrator and discuss changes and improvements and talk about ways to keep things within budget. If there’s a location where a low-cost camera works well, and I can save money for other things, then I can buy that. If Bosch releases a new high-end camera for external environments, then I can buy a hundred of those. And it’s the same with access control readers, or if Genetec releases a new version of a module, I can upgrade to it and know I have the best possible system at any given moment,” Frances states. Integrators Australia installed the HID Global VertX access control solution at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. It is managed across the site’s network by Genetec’s Security Center software that includes a Synergis access control module and Omnicast video surveillance module.

A security camera provided by Hikvision USA Inc., the North American provider of innovative, award-winning video surveillance products and solutions, was installed by Holmes Security to help Spinner’s Pizza in Fayetteville, NC to improve efficiency. Established in 1999, Spinner’s Pizza is a popular restaurant with a dedicated following and a very busy lunch crowd. Owner Spero Poulos thought of using a “Pizza Cam” to streamline operations during their busiest times. “Holmes Security had installed Hikvision cameras for security in and around the restaurant. We decided, why not use it for the service efficiency and accuracy?” said Poulos. Full coverage of pizza buffet with kitchen monitor The restaurant owner needed to improve efficiency. The combination of a camera with a kitchen monitor “keeps the staff from running to the buffet just to check what needs to be cooked.” Poulos noted that when staff members leave the kitchen they’re “invariably stopped by customers and friends that want to chat. That can slow down the replenishment process,” said Poulos. Holmes Security installedthe Hikvision DS-2CE56D5T 1080p Turbo HD-TVI Turret camera for the buffet Spinner’s analogue and IP hybrid system includes mini domes, bullets and turret cameras. Holmes Security recommended and installed the Hikvision DS-2CE56D5T 1080p Turbo HD-TVI Turret camera for the buffet to deliver HD quality over the existing coax cabling. The turret camera is positioned to capture the entire line of pizzas on the buffet. “We’re able to keep the buffet full at all times. When someone is on a tight lunch break, the last thing they want is to wait for food. With the Hikvision camera in place, they no longer have to,” said Poulos. The Pizza Cam enables the operation to be run from the kitchen monitor with no downtime. Greater efficiency and improved operations “Heat tolerance was a big consideration based on the camera’s position in relation to the buffet itself. The specs showed that the Hikvision camera’s operating temperature range was 22 below to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, so we knew it could withstand the heat,” Dave Foster, Sales and Marketing Manager for Holmes Security, told Hikvision.   Holmes Security is a 109-year old, family-owned company based in Fayetteville, NC. They use Hikvision cameras because “we have found over time that Hikvision provides higher quality, is easier to install, program and maintain. Tech support is great and the software is consistent as well. Plus, we have great reps and a great rapport with Hikvision personnel,” said Foster. Holmes Security positioned the Hikvision camera to the upper right of the buffet to capture the entire line of pizzas Holmes Security positioned the camera to the upper right of the buffet to capture the entire line of pizzas. Spinner’s kitchen staff can now see the entire buffet from a monitor in the kitchen, allowing the chefs to stay ahead of customer demand. Poulos adds that he gets “comments all the time about what a great idea it is. The customers especially like the fact that they don’t have to wait for new pizzas to be placed on the buffet.” Applying technology to achieve business results Spinner’s Pizza is delivering a better experience to its customers by keeping its buffet stocked with fresh pizza. Monitoring the Hikvision Turbo HD-TVI Turret camera from the kitchen improved efficiency since staff does not have to run out to the food line to check the status. The system allows servers to concentrate on serving. The Hikvision Pizza Cam delivers ease of operations for the restaurant staff, owner and patrons. “Our strength in the field is the partnership among Hikvision, our integrators and their customers, collaborating together to find innovative ways to solve real-world problems,” said Alex Asnovich, Director of Marketing for Hikvision. “Spinner’s Pizza is a great example of applying our technology to achieve business results in a retail restaurant environment.”