Integration software

RealNetworks, Inc., global provider of digital media software and services, has announced SAFR for Security, a new solution that integrates SAFR, the world’s premier facial recognition platform for live video, with leading video management systems (VMS) to provide enhanced visibility and situational awareness for security professionals. Announced at ISC West in Las Vegas, SAFR for Security is immediately available for worldwide deployment. SAFR for Security Heads of security at hospitals, stadiums, corporate campuses, airports, and other enterprises must maintain high awareness over large areas via a growing number of security cameras. To know whether a familiar person, employee, VIP, perceived threat, concern, or stranger is onsite, security professionals must rely on their ability to focus on key details and then make accurate assessments. SAFR for Security makes it simple to maintain higher security in public and restricted areas in our facility" “It’s been a challenge to maintain awareness of who is present at Shelby American, whether those are specific individuals of concern or aggregate demographics of museum visitors,” said Richard Sparkman, Director of Technology, Fleet & Facilities at Shelby American car museum in Las Vegas. “SAFR for Security makes it simple to maintain higher security in public and restricted areas in our facility and helps us understand who is moving through our museum by age, gender, and time of day – allowing us to better tailor our museum experience." 24/7 video monitoring Available as a standalone solution or integrated with market-leading video management systems, SAFR for Security provides vigilant 24/7 monitoring to detect and match millions of faces in real time, delivering a 99.86 percent accuracy rate. In the April 2019 National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) test results, the SAFR algorithm tested as both the fastest and most compact amongst algorithms for wild images with less than 0.025 FNMR. When SAFR for Security is paired with a VMS, the integrated experience includes video overlays within the VMS to identify strangers, threats, concerns, unrecognised persons, VIPs, employees, or other tagged individuals in live video. Security teams can customise real-time alerts to automatically notify them when persons of interest appear on a video camera feed or make use of automated bookmarking to conduct forensic analysis. SAFR for Security attaches rich metadata to video footage so security professionals can search by time range, location, category, person type, and registered individual instead of sifting through hours of video to find a specific person. All data passed through SAFR is protected with AES 256 encryption in transit and at rest “Security professionals are inundated with hours of raw footage, much of which must be evaluated in real time by a limited number of human eyes,” said Dan Grimm, Vice President and General Manager of Computer Vision at RealNetworks. “SAFR for Security helps these professionals maintain higher awareness by combining our highly accurate AI-based facial recognition service with the software they currently use.” Facial recognition systems The underlying SAFR platform has been optimised to detect and recognise faces in live video based on its industry-leading excellence in accuracy and performance. The SAFR platform can be deployed on a single PC to monitor a handful of IP cameras or scaled to thousands of cameras in a distributed architecture hosted on-premises, in the cloud, or hybrid. All data passed through SAFR is protected with AES 256 encryption in transit and at rest. The platform also provides actionable data for live analytics of traffic volumes, demographic composition, dwell times, and data exports for further reporting. “We’re delighted to partner with RealNetworks to extend our intelligent IP video system with SAFR for Security’s highly accurate facial recognition,” said Thomas Lausten, CEO, MOBOTIX AG. “The combination of SAFR and our innovative camera technologies opens up a new set of applications and use cases for MOBOTIX customers around the world, especially in retail, healthcare and education.”

RS2 Technologies, globally renowned security and access control systems provider firm, has been named as a new Strategic Alliance Partner in the United States by Zenitel Group, the global provider of Intelligent Communication solutions. Integrated systems “Zenitel’s continued innovative approach to simple but powerful integrated systems provides a complete unified solution to customers of all sizes”, said Dave Barnard, Director of Dealer Development for RS2. “Zenitel has been established as the industry leader in integrated intelligent communications. Our companies have had a long-standing relationship where integration was valued, but we believe it is now time to go beyond simple integration to providing a full-service solution.” According to Barnard, RS2 Technologies has a reputation as a “one-stop” solution for the access management needs of customers in a wide variety of applications. RS2 delivers cost-effective access management solutions to customers in industries as diverse as ship-building, energy, hospitals, education, defense, banking, government (federal, state and municipal), museums, and a variety of diverse manufacturing companies. From small office buildings to large industrial facilities, RS2 has the products to meet the needs of business and industry. RS2 is known for having a rich feature set, continuous integrations, and the lowest total cost of ownership Intelligent Communication “The Intelligent Communication market is targeted to exceed $150 billion by 2021”, said Jim Hoffpauir, President, Zenitel Americas. “To continue to provide innovative solutions that exceed our customers’ expectations, we are creating new strategic partnerships with complimentary technology leaders in the security industry. With our recent release of the new IC-Edge system, partnering with RS2 provides Zenitel with sales channel alignment to emphasise smaller system sales, providing organisations of all sizes an easily accessible and cost-effective solution for highly intelligible audio.”

Quantum Corp. has announced the release of the new VS-Series, an efficient, flexible storage cloud platform that has been specially designed for surveillance and industrial IoT applications. The VS-Series is available in a broad range of server choices, suitable for deployments with fewer than ten cameras, up to the largest environments with thousands of cameras. Using the VS-Series security platform, security professionals can efficiently record and store video surveillance footage and run an entire security infrastructure on a single platform. Multiple systems integration Surveillance and security operations continue to get more complex, with more cameras, higher-resolution imagery, and increasing data retention requirements. As buildings become smarter, everything from access control systems to lighting and HVAC systems are now connected – part of the “Internet of Things.” There is an opportunity to simplify operations by consolidating and converging many applications onto a single platform.  The Quantum CSP was designed specifically for video and other forms of high-resolution content Quantum’s VS-Series architecture is based on the Quantum Cloud Storage Platform (CSP), a new software-defined storage platform specifically designed for storing machine and sensor-generated data. Like storage technologies used in the cloud, the Quantum CSP is software-defined, can be deployed on bare metal, as a virtual machine, or as part of a hyperconverged infrastructure. Unlike other software-defined storage technologies, the Quantum CSP was designed specifically for video and other forms of high-resolution content – engineered for extremely low latency, maximising the streaming performance of large files to storage. Quantum VS-Series cloud storage platform The Quantum Cloud Storage Platform enables high-speed video recording with optimal camera density and can host and run certified VMS management applications, recording servers, and other building control servers on a single platform. The VS-Series product line is being offered in a variety of deployment options; including software-only, mini-tower, 1U, 2U, and 4U hyperconverged servers. Key VS-Series attributes include: Efficiency: Quantum’s VS-Series supports high camera density and software architecture that enables users to run their entire security infrastructure on a single hyperconverged platform. Flexibility: The VS-Series is a software-defined platform which offers the broadest range of deployment options. Many appliances can scale out for more cameras or scale up for increased retention. Easy to Deploy, Operate and Maintain: The VS-Series comes pre-installed with certified VMS applications, and can be installed and configured in minutes. It is backed by the world-class service and support of Quantum and our integrator partners Resilience: The VS-Series software offers a fault-tolerant design to minimise hardware and software issues, designed to virtually eliminate downtime Quantum products at ISC West 2019 The first products in the VS-Series to launch are the VST10x mini-tower appliances, and the VS2112 and VS2124 2U servers Quantum will highlight the new VS-Series at ISC West, booth #22137. The first products in the VS-Series to launch are the VST10x mini-tower appliances, and the VS2112 and VS2124 2U servers, available this quarter. Additional offerings will be available later this year. Josh Woodhouse, Principal Analyst, IHS Markit, said “There are huge increases in ubiquitous video surveillance data required to be processed, analysed and stored. The total market capacity shipped for enterprise storage systems in video surveillance is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 40 percent from 2017 to 2022. Storage demand is strongest in safe or smart cities installations, and in retail and transportation hubs around the globe, where end-users are looking to both protect against security threats and maximise the efficient use of collected data. Scalable, flexible data storage systems are important in achieving this goal.” High-resolution network cameras Jeremy Scott, Strategic Alliance Partner Manager, Americas, Milestone Systems said, “Security systems today include more high-resolution cameras to capture relevant situational information. Our partnership with Quantum lets us deliver scalable video surveillance solutions with the storage capacity and access suited to the increased data volumes these systems generate.” I’m pleased that we were able to bring this VS-Series to market so quickly" Keith Bishop, Strategic Growth Manager for Data Enabled Business, Johnson Controls stated, ” Buildings and cities have internet connected devices everywhere – cameras, badge readers, lighting, HVAC systems, and more – which creates a need to consolidate and manage this digital data in one place. Being able to converge surveillance recording, VMS systems, and other building control applications onto a single platform means our customers can simplify their infrastructure as we help them create smarter and safer buildings and cities.”  Hyperconverged security infrastructure  Jamie Lerner, President and CEO, Quantum, says “As we worked with partners to design a platform for surveillance, we knew that streaming performance and camera density would be critical, as well as hyperconvergence both for efficiency and to consolidate the security infrastructure. I’m pleased that we were able to bring this VS-Series to market so quickly – it demonstrates both the software-defined nature of the Quantum Cloud Storage Platform and how we can take our years of expertise working in movie and TV production and construct a platform with leading performance for the surveillance industry.”

Zenitel Group and AMAG Technology have collaborated to deliver to the market more innovative and intelligent integrated solutions. This comes at a time in the security industry where interoperability of core systems, and the high functionality of those individual system components, is most crucial. Zenitel and AMAG both acknowledge this demand and exceed it by providing easy to configure, plug and play solutions through IC-EDGE and Symmetry Access Control v9.1 and Symmetry CompleteView Video Management System platforms without compromising on visual quality or audio intelligibility. Responding to incidents in real-time “Voice communications are critical to the operation and to the security program of all organisations,” said Kelly Lake, Director, Strategic Alliances, Zenitel USA. “It provides a level of engagement at the time of need not found in other forms of technology. By integrating intelligible two-way and broadcast voice communications into a unified security strategy with access and video, the user can respond to any incident real-time without the lag time of a guard response.” “With a unified Zenitel and AMAG solution, the operator can more securely guard entrances with dual-authentication through audio and visual verification,” said Jason Schimpf, VP Product & Partner Programs, AMAG Technology. “Additionally, users can automate and synch responses to critical events, and fully manage all system reports through the Symmetry solution.” Intelligent communication solution Zenitel and AMAG are designed to expand in order to continuously meet the needs of any industry so that as a company grows, security can easily accommodate new demands. This ensures that the investment a company makes in an intelligent communication solution is one that will continue to be effective as it adapts to meet the ever-changing environments of your unique enterprise. “When you are able to see, hear, and interact from virtually anywhere, you are able to make better decisions and be more efficient with your resources,” said Lake. “It is the only way to be truly present at the time of need.”

ProdataKey (PDK), an innovator of cloud-based networked and wireless access control products and services, has announced the introduction of “touch io”, a new Bluetooth reader and credentialing option for smartphones designed for use with the company’s cloud-based access control solution, pdk io. Touch io Bluetooth reader  touch io does not require the user to unlock the phone in order to gain access through a protected door Touch io brings new levels of convenience and security for the communication between smart phones and access control door readers, eliminating the need for cards or fobs. Unlike other systems, touch io does not require the user to unlock the phone, or to even remove it from pocket or purse, in order to gain access through a protected door. The individual’s identity is validated through communication directly between his/her credentialed device and the reader, via Bluetooth, bypassing the need for internet or cellular connectivity. This can occur from distances as far as 30 feet away, as defined by the customer. By the time the user reaches the door and indicates an intent to enter, by simply touching or tapping a hand to the reader, door activation is immediate and seamless. A combination of machine-learning algorithms that learn door opening patterns, combined with directional antennae placed on each side of controlled doorways, ensure that credentials are not inadvertently validated when employees pass in proximity to the doors from the unlocked side. Superior security Compared to traditional RFID proximity cards, as well as to more high-tech 13MHz contactless smart cards, PDK’s mobile credentials offer superior security on many fronts. Touch io credentials are impossible to clone, each possessing a randomly-generated, unique ID, are authenticated by the Bluetooth reader at each use, and employ a session-unique encryption key for communication with the reader. Furthermore, if a phone is lost or stolen, its owner can immediately deactivate the credential by remotely wiping the phone with a tool like “Find My Phone,” a precaution he or she is likely to take out of concern for other personal data also stored on the device. By contrast, if a wallet or keys are lost that contain a card or fob, the credential remains active until the company’s system administrator is notified of the loss – which may sometimes take days. Cloud-based access control We are making the use of smartphones both more convenient and more secure than traditional methods" The touch io reader is compatible with legacy systems, capable of reading traditional proximity cards. Mobile credentialing is available as part of the pdk io affordable system licensing plan, offering users an unlimited number of credentials for a low, per reader, annual subscription. System administrator can easily generate and assign these to employees with just a few clicks from within the pdk io software management interface. Josh Perry, Chief Technology Officer at PDK, explains, “Until now, the access control market has been filled with Bluetooth mobile credentialing options that offer an inferior customer experience to traditional RFID cards which are, quite frankly, reliable and convenient. With PDK’s touch io, we are redefining the category, making the use of smartphones both more convenient and more secure than traditional methods. It’s the latest example of how our corporate commitment to innovation is bringing a litany of tangible benefits to the security professionals, system administrators and the employees who use our systems every day.”

FLIR Systems, Inc. announced that Daniel Gundlach has been named Vice President (VP) and General Manager (GM) of the Security division within FLIR’s Commercial Business Unit. Gundlach will lead all facets of the security business, including strategy development, product innovation, sales and marketing, and operations. Gundlach joins FLIR from Apollo, a United Kingdom-based fire detection company, where he served as VP of Sales and Marketing. Prior to Apollo, he spent nearly 20 years at Bosch, including seven years as the VP of Marketing and Business Development for their Security and Safety Systems business. He served in numerous roles during his tenure at Bosch Security and Safety in both the United States and Europe, including VP of Marketing, VP of Business Development, and Chief of Staff to the President and CEO of Bosch Americas. Security industry expert Daniel brings to FLIR deep security industry expertise as well as impressive sales, marketing, and operational leadership experience"“Our security business is vital to FLIR’s mission to save lives and livelihoods, and I’m excited for Daniel’s contributions to that aspiration,” said Travis Merrill, President of the Commercial Business Unit at FLIR. “Daniel brings to FLIR deep security industry expertise as well as impressive sales, marketing, and operational leadership experience. I look forward to working closely with Daniel on applying his experience and skills for the benefit of FLIR’s customers and partners.” FLIR security products offer an unmatched, integrated end-to-end security system ranging from feature-rich visible cameras to the most advanced thermal security cameras, open-platform software offerings and smarter analytics delivering intelligent, reliable security 24/7. Gundlach has a Master of Science degree in Physics from the University of Hannover, Germany and a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of Rostock, Germany. 

The industry faces numerous challenges in the coming year. Physical and cyber security threats continue to become more complex, and organisations are struggling to manage both physical and digital credentials as well as a rapidly growing number of connected endpoints in the Internet of Things (IoT). We are witnessing the collision of the enterprise with the IoT, and organisations now must establish trust and validate the identity of people as well as ‘things’ in an environment of increasingly stringent safety and data privacy regulations. Meanwhile, demand grows for smarter and more data-driven workplaces, a risk-based approach to threat protection, improved productivity and seamless, more convenient access to the enterprise and its physical and digital assets and services. Using smartphone apps to open doors Cloud technologies give people access through their mobile phones and other devices to many new, high-value experiencesEnterprise customers increasingly want to create trusted environments within which they can deliver valuable new user experiences. A major driver is growing demand for the ‘digital cohesion’ of being able to use smartphone apps to open doors, authenticate to enterprise data resources or access a building’s applications and services. Cloud technologies are a key piece of the solution. They give people access through their mobile phones and other devices to many new, high-value experiences. At the same time, they help fuel smarter, more data-driven workplace environments. With the arrival of today’s identity- and location-aware building systems that recognise people and use deep learning analytics to customise their office environment, the workplace is undergoing dramatic change. Improved fingerprint solutions Cloud-based platforms and application programming interfaces (APIs) will help bridge biometrics and access control in the enterprise, overcoming previous integration hurdles while providing a trusted platform that meets the concerns of accessibility and data protection in a connected environment. At the same time, the next generation of fingerprint solutions will deliver higher matching speed, better image capture quality and improved performance. The next generation of fingerprint solutions will deliver higher matching speed, better image capture quality and improved performance Liveness detection will ensure that captured data is from a living person. Biometrics authentication will also gain traction beyond access control in immigration and border control, law enforcement, military, defence and other public section use cases where higher security is needed. Flexible subscription models Access control solutions based on cloud platforms will also change how solutions are deployed. Siloed security and workplace optimisation solutions will be replaced with mobile apps that can be downloaded anywhere across a global ecosystem of millions of compatible and connected physical access control system endpoints. These connections will also facilitate new, more flexible subscription models for access control services. As an example, users will be able to more easily replenish mobile IDs if their smartphones are lost or must be replaced. Generating valuable insights with machine learning Machine learning analytics will be used to generate valuable insights from today’s access control solutionsEducation, finance, healthcare, enterprise, and other niche markets such as commercial real-estate and enterprises focussed on co-working spaces will benefit from a cloud-connected access control hardware foundation. There will be a faster path from design to deployment since developers will no longer have to create an entire vertically integrated solution. They will simply add an app experience to the existing access control infrastructure. New players will be drawn to the market resulting in a richer, more vibrant development community and accelerated innovation. Data analytics will be a rapidly growing area of interest. Machine learning analytics will be used to generate valuable insights from today’s access control solutions. Devices, access control systems, IoT applications, digital certificates and location services solutions, which are all connected to the cloud, will collectively deliver robust data with which to apply advanced analytics and risk-based intelligence. As organisations incorporate this type of analytics engine into their access control systems, they will improve security and personalise the user experience while driving better business decisions. 

For those of you old enough to remember, video matrix switchers were once the heyday of surveillance camera control. These cumbersome antiques were at the heart of every major video surveillance system (CCTV at the time) in premier gaming properties, government installations and corporate industrial complexes. They required more physical labour to construct and configure than perhaps the pyramids – maybe not – but you get the picture. And then digital video made its way in to the market and everything changed, transforming the physical demands for camera control and management from a hardware-centric to a software driven process. We’ve come a long way in a few short years, and the borders that once defined IT and security continue to diminish, if not disappear completely There’s no doubt that this migration also presented significant challenges as many security professionals often struggled with all things IT and software programming being one of the industry’s soft spots. Fortunately, we’ve come a long way in a few short years, and the borders that once defined IT and security continue to diminish, if not disappear completely. However, the complexities of today’s VMS functionality can be intimidating for anyone tasked with installing one of these systems given all of the user-defined options available from the simplest camera sequencing and bandwidth allocations to mobile management and enterprise level integration. This is where truly advanced VMS solutions need to shine on both the operations and the design/build sides of the equation. Smart VMS design There are more solutions products labelled “VMS solutions” out there than ever before. The issue is the fact that many of these “solutions” really don’t fall into the category of a true VMS by today’s standards but offer basic camera and NVR control. No doubt that there is a place for such software programs in the market. However, VMS solutions from the likes of OnSSI and other industry-leading companies offer distinct and superior management and control capabilities for demanding security and business intelligence applications. Perhaps of equal importance, these top-tier VMS solutions incorporate provisions for installers, so they have a clear and easier implementation path. OnSSI offers VMS solutions with smart camera drivers Here are seven attributes that can assist with the design and implementation of an advanced VMS solution: 1) Open architecture platform We need the ability to easily integrate with other systems and scale for future developments and physical system growth The ability to easily integrate with other systems and scale for future developments and physical system growth is largely dependent on a systems platform architecture. Here’s where VMS solutions with open architecture provide a distinct advantage. Open-architecture solutions expand functionality by facilitating greater integration between multiple systems and components. This not only makes VMS solutions with open architecture easier to implement, it makes them extremely cost-efficient by eliminating the need for proprietary solutions. Open architecture systems also provide adherence to industry standards such as ONVIF and PSIA, as well as compression formats such as H.265 and MJPEG, and help ensure system integration and support of an extensive range of manufacturers’ cameras and off-the-shelf hardware. Be wary of VMS solutions with limited camera manufacturer support. 2) Simple licensing processes and pricing Camera licenses and pricing is always a touchy subject, as any misunderstanding of a specific VMS solutions’ licensing terms can prove to be costly after the fact. And it often seems that some VMS suppliers have gone to great lengths to complicate the process as to obscure actual Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Perhaps the most direct, simple and straightforward camera licensing and pricing method is to have one license per IP address used by each camera/encoder on multi-channel devices. These should be perpetual licenses with no required annual fees or subscriptions. Additionally, the licensing agreement should be all inclusive without added fees for multiple clients, failover servers, active directory support, I/O devices, redundant management servers, technical support or security patches and updates. 3) Mixing and matching camera license types The ability to mix and match different camera license types within the same system helps facilitate a seamless and simple migration of new and pre-existing systems with minimal downtime or interruption in operation. The ability to mix and match camera licenses not only saves valuable design and installation time, it can provide considerable savings when integrating large, multi-tenant systems. Mix and match capabilities also allow system designers to apply specific feature sets to specific groups of cameras to best leverage functionality and budgets, as well as providing the flexibility to implement an on-site, virtual, or cloud-based VMS solution, without any additional cost. 4) Auto camera detection and configuration Another VMS set-up feature that eases the install process is the ability to forego device registrations or MAC address requirements Another VMS set-up feature that eases the install process is the ability to forego device registrations or MAC address requirements. This functionality allows installers to instantly locate cameras on the network and configure them centrally so they can easily replace older cameras while seamlessly retaining video recorded from them. The auto detection capability should also include the ability to detect and import CSV files, which can then be stored and used to configure camera templates for future camera installation profiles. 5) Smart camera driver technology VMS solutions with smart camera drivers offer valuable assistance during system implementation, and any time new cameras are added to the network or replace older models. Manufacturer-specific smart camera drivers expand the range of model-specific static drivers. Instead of storing the device’s information (codecs, resolutions, frame rates, etc.) statically, a VMS with smart camera drivers queries devices for their capabilities using the manufacturers’ proprietary protocol. All that is required for configuration is that the camera is available on the network. Smart camera drivers eliminate the need to wait for model-specific drivers or installation of driver packs, allowing for newly released cameras to be used immediately. Network security is an area where leading VMS suppliers like OnSSI have ramped up development efforts to stay ahead of hackers  6) Importance of network security Network Security is perhaps the greatest challenge faced by industry professionals today Network security is perhaps the greatest challenge faced by industry professionals today. This is an area where leading VMS suppliers like OnSSI have ramped up development efforts to stay ahead of hackers. New security developments to look for include TLS 1.2 encryption protocols for camera-to-server communications (SSL 3.0 supported for older cameras), as well as server-to-server communications. Additional safeguards to consider include: randomised video databases with no camera identification information to secure recorded data; support for Active Directory authentication; AES encryption between servers and clients; and AES encrypted exporting. 7) Automatic updates Regardless of the supplier you select for your VMS solution, they should be consistently providing new updates and security patches on a frequent if not regular basis. Keeping up with these updates can be a burden and are often overlooked leading to system failures and breeches. Advanced VMS solutions now feature automatic update service checks on a system-wide basis, eliminating the need to manually update individual servers and devices. This ensures that your VMS system always has the latest drivers, fixes and updates which assures overall security while reducing TCO. So next time you’re getting a demo of the latest and greatest VMS solution, remember to ask what it offers in terms of design and implementation tools. Half the battle with new technologies is getting them installed and working properly. Without the right tools to accomplish these critical first steps, all the functionality in the world will do you little good.

Consolidation persisted in the physical security industry in 2018, and big companies such as Motorola, Canon and UTC continued to make moves. Also among the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) news in 2018 was a high-profile bankruptcy (that ended well), continuing consolidation in the integrator market, and the creation of a new entity called “LenelS2.” Here’s a look at the Top 10 M&A stories in 2018: 1. Motorola acquires Avigilon Motorola Solutions announced in February that it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire video surveillance provider Avigilon in an all-cash transaction that enhances Motorola Solutions’ portfolio of mission-critical communications technologies. Avigilon products are used by a range of commercial and government customers including critical infrastructure, airports, government facilities, public venues, healthcare centers and retail. The company holds more than 750 U.S. and international patents. 2. UTC Climate, Control & Security buys S2 Security UTC Climate, Controls & Security agreed in September to acquire S2 Security, a developer of unified security and video management solutions. UTC subsequently combined S2 with its Lenel brand to create LenelS2, “a global leader in advanced access control systems and services” with “complementary strengths.” 3. Costar Technologies acquires Arecont Vision after bankruptcy Arecont Vision, the provider of IP-based megapixel camera and video surveillance solutions, announced in July that the acquisition by Costar Technologies, Inc. of its assets had been approved by the bankruptcy court. After the closing of the sale, the company began operating as Arecont Vision Costar, LLC and is part of Costar, a U.S. corporation that designs, develops, manufactures, and distributes a range of products for the video surveillance and machine vision markets. 4. Allegion acquires access control company ISONAS Allegion plc, a security products and solutions provider, agreed in June to acquire ISONAS through one of its subsidiaries. ISONAS’ edge-computing technology provides access control solutions for non-residential markets. ISONAS' devices – like its integrated reader-controllers – utilise power over ethernet, making them easy to install and cost effective as they utilise existing customer infrastructures. The company is based in Boulder, Colo. 5. HID buys Crossmatch for Biometrics HID Global announced that it had acquired Crossmatch, a provider of biometric identity management and secure authentication solutions, from Francisco Partners. Crossmatch’s portfolio of products includes biometric identity management hardware and software that complement HID’s broad portfolio of trusted identity products and services. 6. BriefCam announces acquisition by Canon BriefCam, a global provider of video synopsis and deep learning solutions, announced its acquisition in May by Canon Inc., a global digital imaging solutions company. The addition of BriefCam to Canon’s network video solutions products portfolio complements the Canon Group’s previous acquisitions of Axis Communications and Milestone Systems. 7. Allied Universal acquires U.S. Security Associates Allied Universal, a security and facility services company, finalised its acquisition of U.S. Security Associates (USSA) in October, further building on its position in the security services industry. This acquisition includes Andrews International (including its Government Services Division and Consulting and Investigations and International Division) and Staff Pro. 8. Johnson Controls acquires Smartvue Corp. Johnson Controls announced in April that it had acquired Smartvue, a global IoT and video provider that empowers cloud video surveillance and IoT video services. The addition of the Smartvue cloud-based video platform will enhance Johnson Controls’ offering of an end-to-end, smart cloud-based solution that can provide superior business data and intelligence to customers and added value to partners. 9. ADT acquires Red Hawk Fire & Security (and others) ADT Inc.’s acquisition of Red Hawk Fire & Security, Boca Raton, Fla., was the latest move in ADT Commercial’s strategy to buy up security integrator firms around the country and grow their footprint. In addition to the Red Hawk acquisition, announced in mid-October, ADT has acquired more than a half-dozen security system integration firms in the last year or so. 10. Convergint Technologies continues to acquire Convergint Technologies announced in August the acquisition of New Jersey-based Access Control Technologies (ACT), bringing further electronic security systems experience to Convergint's service capabilities. Convergint has strategically grown its service footprint across the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia Pacific through strong organic growth and the completion of 18 acquisitions since early 2016. And it continues: Convergint announced acquisition of SI Technologies, Albany, N.Y., in November and Firstline Security Integration (FSI), Anaheim, Calif., in December. (And Convergint itself was acquired in February by private equity group Ares Management.)

Safety and Security Things GmbH (SAST) will be both a first-time exhibitor at ISC West and also feature a larger booth – 1,800 square feet. The Bosch startup is looking to make a big splash in its first-time appearance at the largest security trade show in the United States. The International Security Conference & Exposition (ISC West) will be held April 10-12 at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas. Founded in September 2018 and based in Munich, Germany, SAST is building a new Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem for the security and safety industry, including an app store, an open and secure camera operating system, a software developer environment, and a portal for providing knowledge and functionalities tailored to integrators. SAST’s open IoT platform The open IoT platform is based on an open standardised operating system for video security cameras The open IoT platform is based on an open standardised operating system for video security cameras that creates a common basis for innovation and growth for the security industry. Apps built on SAST will enable airports, restaurants, stadiums and other facilities to transform security cameras into smart devices. The first partners are already developing apps based on the SAST ecosystem. “We will bring all the partners of our platform together and will showcase the first applications already realised on the platform,” says Nikolas Mangold-Takao, SAST Vice President of Marketing and Product Management. “In order to showcase this effectively at ISC West, we will create a space to demonstrate solutions effectively. At the same time, we are using the booth as our meeting space and will create a collaborative environment for our partners and all participants.” IoT and access control  “We want to ensure that all visitors of our booth (No. 10073) are getting to see first-hand solutions which are already realised based on first apps and cameras using our Operating System,” he adds. “We also want to demonstrate the benefits of the SAST platform for solution developers, integrators and manufacturers.” SAST is about bringing different players from the industry together in order to deliver better solutions" SAST will be looking for measurable results at ISC West. “On the one hand, we measure results by hard facts, such as the number of new partners who will join us and how satisfied our current ones are with the output,” says Mangold-Takao. “On the other hand, direct feedback from visitors at the booth, especially professionals from our industry and end-customers, is also extremely important to us, and we will measure it. SAST is about bringing different players from the industry together in order to deliver better solutions.” Openpath Access solution Another new exhibitor with a relatively large booth is Openpath, whose booth (No. 23051) will be 1,200 square feet. Openpath Access combines cloud-based software and sleek hardware with an app to enable hands-free access to an office using a smartphone that doesn’t need to leave your pocket.  Although large for first-time exhibitors, the Openpath and SAST booths fall squarely in the “medium range” of overall exhibit sizes at ISC West – larger than the smallest 100-square-feet exhibits typical for many first-time exhibitors, but still smaller than the largest booths such as Hanwha Techwin America (5,500 square feet). In addition to the new exhibitors on the main show floor, the Emerging Technology Zone, located in the Venetian Ballroom, will welcome new startups in the security marketplace.

MIPS (Milestone Integration Platform Symposium) Copenhagen 2019 saw Milestone Systems double down on the ‘creating an intelligent world’ theme from 2018 and expand it to ‘exploring an intelligent world.’ “The intelligent world theme was bigger than we could cover in one year!” said Malou Toft, VP of EMEA at Milestone Systems. Isolate important events With 865+ registered attendees and more than 47 exhibiting partners in Denmark, this is the largest Community Days event Milestone have hosted, even larger than the very well-attended Nashville event in February. The company took the opportunity to present Marketplace, their new Amazon-style online company directory, where end-users can identify Milestone Verified and Certified companies to supply a security solution. There was also a demo of Milestone’s XProtect software updates, able to adjust a video feed in real time to show number plates, to de-blur video and to filter out irrelevant clips to isolate important events, identified by artificial intelligence (AI). Self-learning mechanism We’re seeing advances on a small scale and are now going to see it becoming an inherent part of XProtect moving forward" “We’re seeing advances on a small scale and are now going to see it becoming an inherent part of XProtect moving forward,” said Malou Toft. “One example is, the way we can ask a camera with the right type of integration to dynamically adjust to the environment.” And Malou says the best is yet to come. Of today’s technology on show at MIPS, and indeed at 2019’s trade shows, she said: “Is it super intelligent? No, not now. But it’s mostly solving the simple tasks now, that are replicable. But it is optimising the process, and to become a self-learning mechanism, we are going to see much more of that moving forward.” Exploring the intelligent world The talks of the symposium reflected these thoughts as well. Altimeter’s Brian Solis commented about AI: “We can automate the daily things we do today, or we could use the technology to automate our innovations.” This is clear in Milestone’s theme of ‘exploring the intelligent world’ – the industry has created the foundations of the intelligent, and now companies such as Milestone and their 110 (and growing) new Marketplace partners are exploring them. MIPS EMEA 2020’s location is yet to be determined, but MIPS Bali 2019 will be Tuesday April 2 – Thursday April 4. Milestone will be back in Copenhagen for their Developer Conference October 1 and October 2.

A rapid string of merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions as 2018 passed into 2019 suggests the physical security industry may be on the verge of a busy year of companies buying other companies. Observers have noted a large amount of investment capital currently available to be invested in security M&A, and plenty of entrepreneurial companies are looking to be acquired. Joe Grillo, CEO of ACRE, previously hinted at upcoming M&A activity for his company by the end of 2018, foreshadowing ACRE’s late-year announcement to acquire access control company Open Options, Addison, Texas.The VaaS cloud-based image capture platform includes fixed and mobile license plate reader cameras driven by machine learning Just days later, in the midst of the holiday season, Qognify announced its plan to acquire On-Net Surveillance Systems Inc. (OnSSI) and sister company SeeTec GmbH. Then came an even larger announcement: Motorola has acquired VaaS International Holdings Inc., a data and image analytics company for $445 million. The VaaS cloud-based image capture and analysis platform includes fixed and mobile license plate reader cameras driven by machine learning and artificial intelligence. Most recently, ADT announced yet another acquisition, Advanced Cabling Systems, a technology integration company in the South, thus continuing consolidation on the integration side of the business. There are likely to be further mergers and acquisitions in the video surveillance supply base in 2019 Continuation of the trend In the case of the Qognify and Motorola deals, Jon Cropley, Principal Analyst, Video Surveillance & Security Services, IHS Global Limited, sees them as the next chapter in an M&A trend going back several years. “I think this is a continuation of what we have been seeing in recent years of video surveillance software vendors being acquired,” he says. In the face of intense price competition, vendors have found it increasingly difficult to compete based on hardware features" “In the face of intense price competition, vendors have found it increasingly difficult to compete based on hardware features and are looking at software to offer unique competitive advantages.” In short, he sees it as a continuation of a trend that previously saw Canon acquiring Milestone Systems and Briefcam, Panasonic acquiring Video Insight and Tyco acquiring Exacq. “There are likely to be further mergers and acquisitions in the video surveillance supply base in 2019,” adds Cropley. “However, a spree of large-scale mergers and acquisitions is not expected.” Memoori, another market research firm, forecasts that the value of acquisitions could actually decline marginally in 2019 in value terms but increase in number. This observation is based on Memoori’s charting of physical security deals over the last 18 years. Jim McHale, Managing Director of Memoori, says there have been four cycles of increase and decline in activity, often exaggerated by billion dollar deals in one year such as the merger of Johnson Controls and Tyco of $165Bn in 2016. Access control when combined with identity management is punching well above its weight, and this trend has continued Access control to open systems Only time will tell whether the new year pattern of M&A activity is a coincidence or a harbinger of a busy M&A year ahead “It may be too early to make judgements on the future based on the last four weeks, but there are some interesting points that can be made when compared with our 2018 analysis,” says McHale. “Access control when combined with identity management is punching well above its weight, and this trend has continued. "Acre has been a major contributor and has completed some 10 acquisitions. In general, the access control business has been slow to move to open systems, and hopefully we can expect this trend toward openness to continue as it will give additional growth to the business.” For more commentary from Memoori, see their report “Major Trends in the Global Access Control Market 2018”. Only time will tell whether the new year pattern of M&A activity is a coincidence or a harbinger of a busy M&A year ahead. While past trends may provide a glimpse of what’s coming, there are always new variables. It’s a sure bet the overall trend toward consolidation will continue but predicting the pace and timing of individual transactions is almost impossible. In any case, it will be interesting to watch how 2019 unfolds on the M&A front, among other factors in a changing industry.

Bath and North East Somerset Council (B&NES Council) is extending its Videalert CCTV enforcement platform with the installation of additional cameras for its approved class C clean air zone (CAZ) that gives exemptions to private cars but charges higher polluting buses, coaches, HGVs, LGVs/vans, private hire vehicles and taxis. Videalert was awarded the contract to ensure full and seamless integration with the council’s existing hosted digital video platform which is already being used to enforce a wide range of restrictions including bus lanes, bus gates and permit parking.  Videalert CCTV enforcement platform B&NES Council was one of 28 councils directed by the government to prepare an action plan to urgently reduce high levels of nitrogen dioxide (caused by vehicle emissions) to within EU and national limits by 2021 at the latest. The authority had originally proposed a Class D CAZ, charging all higher emission vehicles, including cars, to drive in the city centre. However, following further ongoing technical work and a public consultation in December - which garnered an unprecedented 8,421 responses - a class C option with additional traffic management, was agreed. According to Chris Major, group manager for Transport and Parking at B&NES Council: “The new charging class C CAZ will achieve compliance by 2021 apart from a single exceedance caused by localised traffic issues. We believe this will be resolved by installing traffic signals at two junctions.” HD ANPR cameras Videalert will be installing HD ANPR cameras to enforce the new CAZ scheme at key road junctions across the designated boundary Videalert will be installing HD ANPR cameras to enforce the new CAZ scheme at key road junctions across the designated boundary. The hosted Videalert platform will automate the management and enforcement of this new zone, providing real-time identification including vehicle make, model, colour and euro standard rating for pre-filtering and updating the whitelist of compliant vehicles held at the edge to minimise transmission costs. Information on non-compliant vehicles will then interface with the UK government’s new national clean air zone database for vehicle validation and payment. The system will also provide detailed analytics and impact analysis highlighting the reduction in non-compliant vehicles entering the zone over time. Support multiple applications Tim Daniels, Sales and Marketing Director at Videalert, added: “The award of this high-profile contract confirms Videalert’s ability to handle the evolving requirements of clean air and low emission zones. It also demonstrates how a single video data platform can support multiple applications, enabling councils to address the challenges of improving traffic congestion and air quality simultaneously.” The CAZ should commence operation at the end of 2020. The daily charge will be £9 for non-compliant taxis, private hire vehicles and light goods vehicles (the minimum standard being euro 6 for diesel and Euro 4 for petrol), and £100 for buses, coaches and HGVs (the minimum standard being euro 6).

Kunsthalle Mannheim is a museum in Germany which contains a major collection of important art. Reliable technology, integrated in a networked solution from Bosch, ensures all-round protection on a total of 3,600 square meters of exhibition and storage space. A special focus of this is optimally safeguarding people and property without interfering with visitors’ encounters with priceless works of art. Customised security solution and integration Since its inauguration in 1909 over a century ago, Kunsthalle Mannheim has acquired a global reputation as a very special place to experience modern art. The complex comprises a building in Art Nouveau style dating from 1907, underground storage rooms, a main building, and the newer Hector Building, completed in 2018. Coinciding with the opening of the Hector Building, a customised security solution installed and integrated by Bosch experts also debuted. The system’s components are almost invisibly connected with the various exhibition areas. The modular alarm system UGM 2040 and around 260 state-of-the-art video cameras monitor the interiors of Kunsthalle Mannheim as well as the open areas around. Fire protection All of the security equipment is controlled by the Building Integration System from Bosch Comprehensive fire protection is provided by a fire alarm system spanning 700 detection points. There are 330 speakers in case it should ever be necessary to evacuate visitors and employees. All of the security equipment is controlled by the Building Integration System from Bosch. Modular alarm system Thanks to this new solution, Kunsthalle Mannheim is facing the future with confidence. The modularity of the alarm system UGM 2040 allows fast, cost-effective implementation of modifications and extensions. Professional service technicians from Bosch regularly maintain it and perform any required repairs to ensure highly reliable operation and low overhead.

As part of a new centrally controlled vehicle security system, The North West Ambulance Service has recently updated the security of its premises at its Lancashire regional headquarters using Nortech’s stainless steel bollards that house Nedap ANPR cameras. The North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) NHS Trust operates around 1,000 vehicles to provide 1.1 million emergency and non-emergency patient journeys. It was established in 2006 by the merger of ambulance trusts from Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside, Cumbria and Lancashire. The Lancashire regional HQ is based near Broughton in Preston. Securing the perimeter Nortech supplied the ANPR camera housed in a robust stainless steel bollard to protect the camera from any potential vehicle knocksThe trust needed to secure the perimeters of their premises at the Lancashire regional HQ and appointed Expert Security UK, Frank Whittle Partnerships and W. Monks Ltd to design and install the new centrally controlled vehicle security system. Expert Security UK approached Nortech in order to integrate the Nedap Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) into the system and new automatic barriers were installed to secure the perimeter and prevent unauthorised vehicles. Nortech supplied the ANPR camera housed in a robust stainless steel bollard to protect the camera from any potential vehicle knocks. As vehicles approach the new barriers, the ANPR reads the number plates and converts each valid number plate into a Wiegand ID string, which it sends to the access control panel in the same way as a standard card reader. The Wiegand number can then be checked centrally for access rights so that vehicle access can be granted or denied accordingly. Preventing unauthorised parking The barrier system is a great security measure for us and has prevented unauthorised parking"Danny Scholfield, Sales Director at Expert Security UK, commented, "We are all delighted with the final result. The system is very fast and ticks all the boxes for us. As we are already using the Net2 system here at the HQ, it is great to see the ANPR integrating into the system without complication. The barrier system is a great security measure for us and has prevented unauthorised parking." The benefits of the Nortech ANPR system is that it integrates with most access control software, avoids the need for manned gates or vehicle tags, allows automatic vehicle identification at between three and six metres and prevents unauthorised vehicle access. Nortech has supplied products and solutions to the security industry for over 25 years as an independent British company. The company uses extensive experience and expertise to create new security products to fit their clients’ needs and designs everything with the customer in mind. 

Integrity Security Group is using SmartTask’s SmartForms to gain added visibility and dramatically cut down on its administrative burden. Having adopted the employee scheduling and mobile workforce management software last year for the provision of proof of attendance, control room management and staff rostering, the company is now using its electronic data capture functionality to streamline a range of operational processes. Initially, SmartForms are being used for vacant property and mobile patrol inspections as well as daily vehicle checks, already saving more than 15 hours of admin a month. SmartTask SmartForms The SmartForms replace previous paper-based processes that were increasingly difficult to manage by the office-based admin team “We are now using the SmartTask SmartForms to help reduce administration, capture critical work data and enforce health and safety procedures,” explains James Chittil, General Manager at Integrity Security Group. “We are constantly looking at clever ways to take advantage of the software’s rich functionality, so we can continue to simplify and enhance the way we operate.” The SmartForms replace previous paper-based processes that were increasingly difficult to manage by the office-based admin team. All reporting for vacant property and mobile patrol inspections – for both scheduled patrols and alarm activations – are now completed using a SmartTask-enabled smartphone. By electronically capturing all relevant information, including photo evidence, Integrity can quickly provide customers with a status update and details of all undertaken work as well as respond to any identified issues. Vehicle checks and fleet management Meanwhile, daily vehicle checks for Integrity’s fleet of vans are now completed using a specially-developed SmartForm, so the company can instantly see if drivers are complying with this health and safety procedure. Any vehicle-related problems or damage can be raised by the driver and actioned immediately by the admin team to mitigate fleet risk. Mileage data is also captured through the software, enabling maintenance requirements to be tracked and scheduled at appropriate intervals. “The SmartForms are enabling us to dramatically reduce paperwork and remove manual processes. This is making it much simpler for both our security officers in the field and our office-based admin team to capture, collate and communicate essential operational data. This is not only helping us make better use of our valuable resources, but also enhance the service we are providing to customers,” added James Chittil. Paul Ridden, CEO of SmartTask commented: “Our experience within the security sector means we are continually developing new functionality that overcome real-world problems for our customers. This is the reason we are working in partnership with a growing number of security businesses who recognise the value they can gain and the benefits they can achieve from using the SmartTask software.” Integrity selected SmartTask to replace an outdated time and attendance system, enabling it to effectively monitor the whereabouts and welfare of staff Lone worker protection Integrity selected SmartTask to replace an outdated time and attendance system, enabling it to effectively monitor the whereabouts and welfare of staff as part of its commitment to lone worker protection. The company is also using the intelligent rostering functionality to streamline internal planning processes, while the interactive dashboard supported the launch of a dedicated, out-of-hours control room operation by providing a live view of all scheduled shifts and expected or missed check calls. SmartTask is an advanced and simple-to-use employee scheduling and mobile workforce management solution that enables security companies to better plan and manage their workers, so they are at the right place, at the right time. The cloud-based software solution combines intelligent rostering, live monitoring and integrated proof of attendance across both static and mobile teams, making it the ideal tool to improve operational control, enhance customer satisfaction, and support duty of care to staff.

Following the recent successful installation of 360 Vision Technology’s new Invictus ruggedised PTZ camera by a north London borough, the same borough has now rolled-out over 100 Invictus cameras across seven Greater London towns. With an early success in prosecuting serious crime following the deployment of Invictus, its highly effective night-time HD quality colour video footage proved to be just one of the useful attributes of the UK manufactured camera, when a recent significant impact by a vehicle to a camera column tested its suitability for roadside deployment. The Invictus camera took the high-speed impact in its stride and showcased its ‘Attack Detect’ feature, automatically resetting to the last viewing position prior to being forcibly moved from its previous viewing direction, and with no damage to the camera or its direct drive PTZ mechanism. Based on our experience, 360 Vision’s Invictus camera was the obvious choice for us to recommend to this important Local Authority customer" Importance of ruggedised cameras Commenting on the broader roll-out of Invictus cameras, DSSL Group’s Works Director, Aaron Stephens, who specified the 360 Vision Technology cameras confirmed: “The importance of selecting a product that is ‘fit for purpose’ when being deployed roadside in a town centre is often overlooked by some companies, who deploy non-ruggedised cameras purely on the basis of cost. If a PTZ camera were to fall from height following an impact, which is a real risk, there would be a substantial public health and safety incident. “At DSSL, we take a holistic view to consider the surveillance needs at each individual location, to ensure that all aspects of camera deployment are taken in to consideration. Based on our experience, 360 Vision’s Invictus camera was the obvious choice for us to recommend to this important Local Authority customer.” The expanded installation takes the total number of Invictus cameras to over 100; and allied to wireless links forming a major part of the system’s infrastructure, comment has been made regarding the superb quality of the Invictus camera video over wireless infrastructure. Simplified surveillance operation Our close technical partnership with 360 Vision Technology has enabled deep systems integration and control of the Invictus cameras"In a market often dominated by imported Far East products, the integration of Genetec Security Center and high-performance Invictus PTZ cameras has proven the effectiveness of two Commonwealth technology providers. Commenting on the camera/control technology collaboration, Genetec Country Manager, Paul Dodds said: “Our close technical partnership with 360 Vision Technology has enabled deep systems integration and control of the Invictus cameras. Genetec Security Center unified platform and Omnicast video surveillance has been used to seamlessly blend full Invictus camera menu control, within a single intuitive interface. 360 Vision cameras are a Genetec certified product on our supported device list. This successful deep integration has simplified the London borough’s surveillance operation and effective management. We value all of our technology partnerships, and especially with manufacturers such as 360 Vision Technology, who offer reliability with their Invictus PTZ cameras, as illustrated here across seven north London towns.” Reducing carbon footprint With a focus on reducing carbon footprint, we are continually working towards reductions in camera power consumption"Adrian Kirk, Strategic Account Director at 360 Vision commented on the green credentials of Invictus, which was a factor in the overall decision by DSSL to specify the camera: “With a focus on reducing carbon footprint, we are continually working towards reductions in camera power consumption. “On larger projects like this, the savings on energy and reduction in associated pollution offers significant advantages over Far East camera alternatives, helping Local Authority end-user system operators to meet their carbon footprint reduction goals. “With a host of performance and user centric operational benefits, Invictus is well placed to feature extensively in future Local Authority upgrades, as customers look at total cost of ownership and the need to ensure CCTV equipment deployed road side is fit for purpose.”    

MARSS NiDAR system has been selected to secure and protect a critical national infrastructure (CNI) site in the form of a major dam facility. The NiDAR command and control (C2) system has been selected to integrate a thermal camera and a sonar system to protect the dam from potential underwater and surface approaches. NiDAR is an advanced long-range surveillance system designed to protect maritime and land-based critical infrastructure from air, surface and underwater approaches. Tracking objects in real time NiDAR is sensor agnostic, enabling it to integrate with any existing hardware or systems, and due to its modular design, not only does it meet the current contract needs, but it also offers the flexibility to meet any future expansions or requirements. NiDAR can track, monitor, detect, classify, and respond to multiple objects, 360° in real time NiDAR can track, monitor, detect, classify, and respond to multiple objects, 360° in real time, of over 1000 known and unknown, air, surface and underwater objects thanks to the software algorithms. It can intelligently analyse and rank unknown objects to determine potential threat levels and automatically trigger the appropriate alert. When the user determined warning and alarm zones are breached the system can automatically or manual deploy integrated countermeasures to deter potential approaches and de-escalate threats. Enhanced awareness picture The intuitive C2 interface provides an enhanced awareness picture, in real-time, through a touchscreen user interface and multi touch control. Rob Balloch, Sales Director of MARSS said, “NiDAR was chosen for this critical national infrastructure as it is robust and suited to all environments, however challenging. Its high availability and reliability, low maintenance and cost effectiveness makes it the perfect choice for any future growth, or change of requirements, with minimum disruption.”

The year ahead holds endless promise for the physical security industry, and much of that future will be determined by which technologies the industry embraces. The menu of possibilities is long – from artificial intelligence to the Internet of Things to the cloud and much more – and each technology trend has the potential to transform the market in its own way. We tapped into the collective expertise of our Expert Panel Roundtable to answer this question: What technology trend will have the biggest impact on the security market in 2019?

The concept of how security systems can contribute to the broader business goals of a company is not new. It seems we have been talking about benefits of security systems beyond “just” security for more than a decade. Given the expanding role of technologies in the market, including video and access control, at what point is the term “security” too restrictive to accurately describe what our industry does? We asked the Expert Panel Roundtable for their responses to this premise: Is the description “security technology” too narrow given the broader application possibilities of today’s systems? Why?

They say that every choice has a cost. It's a basic principle that, economically speaking, nothing is free. If it doesn't cost actual money, it may be expensive in terms of time, attention and/or effort. These are interesting observations to keep in mind as one peruses the various "free" video management system (VMS) offerings available on the market. Some are provided by camera companies to unify their products into a "system", even if it's a small one. Other free VMS offerings are entry-level versions offered by software companies with the intent of the customer upgrading later to a paid version. For more insights, we asked this week's Expert Panel Roundtable: What is the value of “free” video management systems (VMSs) and how can a customer decide whether “free” is the right price for them?