Network monitoring

Doug Dickerson has joined Razberi Technologies as CEO to propel its growth in the video surveillance security arena. He brings more than 25 years of technology industry experience to the role. Founder and former CEO Tom Galvin has been appointed chief product officer to spearhead continued development of the technology he originally invented. “I’m excited to be joining Razberi at this opportune time, because we see in the news every day the importance of securing our digital and physical infrastructures from hackers. Companies are also facing significant challenges managing video surveillance more effectively,” said Dickerson. Dickerson will focus on expanding sales of Razberi solutions across geographies and vertical markets such as energy, finance, city surveillance“Razberi has developed a unique set of solutions that enterprises across the globe are using to monitor their infrastructures and automatically secure their video surveillance and Internet of Things (IoT) devices.” Expanding sales of Razberi solutions Dickerson will focus on expanding sales of Razberi solutions across geographies and vertical markets such as energy, finance, city surveillance, and more. These types of customers increasingly depend on Razberi’s data centre, edge, and rugged applications to secure their critical assets and scale with them. The company sells through a growing list of security integrators and value-added resellers.  “The addition of Doug as CEO gives us one of the industry’s best management teams and shows that Razberi continues to attract top talent to our team,” said Galvin. “His experience will be invaluable, because the growth in video surveillance and IoT devices has organisations facing security vulnerabilities and manageability challenges they’ve never experienced before. I look forward to working with Doug to help more customers take advantage of our technology.” Implementing cybersecurity best practices CameraDefense hardens IP cameras, networks, and other IoT devices, defends the VMS, and provides 24x7 cyber threat monitoringBuilding upon Galvin’s invention of the Razberi ServerSwitchIQ appliance, Razberi has continued to innovate with award-winning products such as Razberi CameraDefense. This solution enables security pros to consistently implement automated cybersecurity best practices without requiring additional firewall products and special expertise. CameraDefense hardens IP cameras, networks, and other IoT devices, defends the video management system (VMS), isolates the camera network, and provides 24x7 cyber threat monitoring. Doug Dickerson has held leadership roles in both start-up and large public companies. Most recently, he served as CEO of Coban Technologies, a video SaaS company offering artificial intelligence-based mobile video systems. Before that, Doug was president of Danaher Tektronix Communications, a network management software and hardware company.

IP communications enabler Softil today releases its Outlook 2019 for the Mission Critical Communications industry. For Softil, enabling Mission Critical Communications (MCC or MCX) will be its fundamental mission for the year ahead accelerating the transition to 21st century technologies for people whose jobs help and save the lives of others. "Softil sees 2019 as the year when MCC solutions and services finally get into the hands of First Responders be they the armed forces, police, ambulance or other emergency service groups, as well as professional radio users in the fields of transportation and mining among others," says Sagi Subocki, Softil's Vice President, Products and Marketing. "The year will see First Responders and professional radio users becoming better supported in their tasks through the applied use of technology." Dual-mode devices The emergency worker's device is not an interworking appliance, but instead, it can simply allow users to be connected to both worlds - simultaneously The year 2019 will see First Responders begin supplementing the humble radio so trusted by multiple generations of firefighters, police officers and emergency workers over the years with smartphones. At first, these might also be dual-mode devices, combining LMR and LTE capabilities. Once smartphones become commonplace in MCC, all will be able to work faster and better. It is nice to envision how new generation of the technology replaces the old generation in a blink of an eye - just like you see in the movies. This is not how it happens in real life - the old and new must peacefully coexist for a while. Moreover, they do not just coexist, but rather interwork. The emergency worker's device is not an interworking appliance, but instead, it can simply allow users to be connected to both worlds - simultaneously. High speed rail networks We should see LMR devices being extended with MCPTT capabilities first before full-blown MCX devices completely replacing them. Softil predicts that quite a few dual-mode radios will appear on the market during 2019. Mission Critical Communications for trains, commonly referred to as LTE-R, are already deployed, but on a limited scale. Today, South Korea is leading the railway world with new MCC LTE-R terminals deployed on its high speed rail networks. However, as the standards for MCC for Railroads are in the final stages with 3GPP Release 15 providing the base, and Release 16 defining the necessary changes in architecture, Softil expects many more LTE-R trials and deployments over the next 2-3 years - especially as GSM-R (old communication technology for trains) will sunset in 2025. Unassociated videos The console will become the critical element in the interconnection of the LMR and MCX worlds and be in service before the end of 2019 The Dispatch Console is a critical element of emergency communications - someone has to have a ‘10,000 foot view’ of everything happening with First Responders in real time to coordinate all activities. This is where the dispatch console operator comes into play. As MCC over LTE trickles onto the front line in 2019, dispatch consoles will manage video streams, video communication, chats and more. The console will become the critical element in the interconnection of the LMR and MCX worlds and be in service before the end of 2019. It is essential to keep track of what is happening on the front line - we need to create records of all the activities of emergency workers at all times. In the past, voice and some unassociated videos were recorded, but in the new MCX world, there is a mass of data that needs to be recorded and archived. Provide reliable connectivity This spans audio, video, chat, location and much more from a vast array of supplementary data from ‘Life-saving things’, commonly known as IoT devices. The industry will see the first recording solutions appearing in 2019 as they are critical for the overall MCS umbrella. In the mining industry, communication is a key element of the ecosystem and on a par with all the sophisticated machinery and tools in use. MCC over LTE new communication capabilities, such as video, chat and file exchange, offer great advantages to miners over the traditional radio. However, common LTE towers cannot provide reliable connectivity inside mines and such deployments will require private LTE. Softil expects pilot Private LTE with MCS (Mission Critical Services) setups to go into trials in 2019, with full-scale deployments in 2020/2021. Offering greater speeds 5G developments are advancing quickly, driven by the insatiable appetite for speed, bandwidth and full QoS/QoE spectrum of humans and machines alike 5G developments are advancing quickly, driven by the insatiable appetite for speed, bandwidth and full QoS/QoE spectrum of humans and machines alike. Core 5G trials are already under way around the world, but that doesn't affect MCX at the moment. However, Softil expects to see some alignment of MCX technologies with 5G networks and architectures in the next 3GPP Release 16 (due December, 2019) and further enhancements in Release 17. The year 2021 will most likely will be the year when MCX will commercially start running on top of 5G, offering greater speeds and capabilities. ProSe is the 3GPP standard for direct, or so-called Device-to-Device communications. This is essential for MCC as it is always possible that in the course of emergency operations, the macro network will become unreachable. First responder smartphones In this event, First Responders must still be able to communicate with each other, so this is a critical need to make daily use of MCX over LTE possible. The year 2019 might be the year when ProSe begins its journey. However, thanks to dual-mode devices, LMR will still be there for device-to-device communications. Voice controls are not new - Siri and Alexa have been helping with everyday tasks for several years now, but as First Responder smartphones appear, Softil expects that voice controls will be elevated to the next level of importance in 2019 with commands such as ‘alert all my group members,’ ‘show me the map,’ ‘start recording my video,’ and ‘switch my primary camera’ becoming commonplace - all while wearing gloves. Early market trials MCC over LTE devices will get into the hands of users adding the ability to use special goggles with embedded screen and eye control Climbing mountains or even stairs is done one step at a time. MCC over LTE devices will get into the hands of users adding the ability to use special goggles with embedded screen and eye control. This is already available in many virtual reality (VR) games and will become a natural extension. Softil does not expect VR UI to become mainstream in 2019, but some early market trials should see the light. Emulating the Black Mirror anthology TV series that explores how humanity's greatest innovations and darkest instincts collide, Softil expects that adding Augmented Reality capabilities to VR UI goggles will emerge in 2020/2021. Looking at a person's face, a car's license plate or a store's name, these smart goggles will quickly produce and visualise all the information available on any person or object. Practical solutions The Internet of Things (IoT) is a vast space of tiny sensors, devices, modules and systems - all communicating with each other and producing petabytes of data aided by AI capabilities to make sense of it all in real time. Nothing is immediate with IoLST, but expect some interesting trials to begin in 2019, and practical solutions coming to market in 2022-2025 When it comes to the world of public safety and emergency communications, IoLST holds tremendous promise, offering capabilities such as detection of ‘shots fired,’ ‘officer down,’ the ability for a firefighter in a building to take control over sprinkler systems and emergency valves from his/her MCX handset, and to connect and communicate with any car or infrastructure on the road (collectively known as V2X) and much more. Nothing is immediate with IoLST, but expect some interesting trials to begin in 2019, and practical solutions coming to market in 2022-2025. Unbreakable trust relationships Blockchain technology allows the establishment of strong, secure and unbreakable trust relationships amongst a large enclave of ‘things’ Every industry has jumped on the blockchain bandwagon looking for practical use and applications for such a promising technology. Without any regards to the blockchain, MCC is currently living its own revolution in moving from the traditional radio to broadband technology. Once broadband MCX becomes mainstream, the public safety and emergency communications industries will look into blockchain technology as a possible solution to streamline and simplify day-to-day operations. It is unlikely that blockchain powering First Responder communication solutions happens before 2023, if at all.

ONVIF, global standardisation initiative for IP-based physical security products held its annual membership meeting in early November this year, with an overview of important activities of 2018 and perspective on the year ahead. Attendees heard presentations on the final release of Profile T in 2018, an advancement which represents how ONVIF keeps pace with technological advancements that affect product development and interoperability between IP-based physical security products. Profile T for advanced video streaming In an acknowledgement of its 10th anniversary, ONVIF chairman, Per Björkdahl highlighted the forum’s achievements over the past decade, including an overview of the six ONVIF profiles, with emphasis on the newly released Profile T for advanced video streaming. Collectively, the profiles provide support for the more than 10,000 conformant products that are increasingly included in various bid and specification processes in projects around the world. Björkdahl also cited the continued involvement of ONVIF as part of the work of the International Electrotechnical Commission’s TC79 for international standardisation. ONVIF also recognised the contributions of four individuals from various ONVIF technical committees for their work on different profiles and committees. Fredrik Svensson of Axis and Dora Han of Hikvision were recipients of the ONVIF award, which acknowledges individuals and companies who have made significant contributions to ONVIF. As chairman of the Profile T Working Group, Svensson was a leading force in the development and successful final release of the Profile T specification. Han received the award for her extensions to the specification, and for supporting the development of other members’ extensions to the specification. 2018 ONVIF Distinguished Service Awards recipients One of two 2018 ONVIF Distinguished Service Awards was given to Baldvin Gislason Bern of Axis  One of two 2018 ONVIF Distinguished Service Awards was given to Baldvin Gislason Bern of Axis for his role in developing and proofing the evolution concept as chair of the Technical Services Device Test Tool Evolution. Joining him in receiving this award is Dr. Hasan Timucin Ozdemir of Panasonic, who served as chairman from 2009-2018 of the ONVIF Video Enhancement Working Group, which is responsible for formulating and prototyping new features for the ONVIF specification. “All of our honorees have shown their significant and long-term commitment to the organisation as a whole, and in turn have directly and positively impacted the work of ONVIF,” said Björkdahl. “The success of our organisation would not be possible without the innovative contributions and hard work of our members, and for that, we say thank you.” Defining video surveillance and access control standards ONVIF Technical Committee Chairman, Hans Busch of Bosch, spoke to members about the specification development roadmap and its alignment to the standardisation activities within the IEC TC 79 working groups for video surveillance and physical access control standards. Technical Services Committee (TSC) Chair Andreas Schneider of Sony gave an overview of the committee’s work on new and existing profiles, client and device test tools, updates to the conformance process and tools and Developers’ Plugfests. Founding members Axis, Bosch and Sony automatically retain seats on the Steering, Technical and Technical Services CommitteesONVIF Communication Committee Chair, Tim Shen of Dahua provided a recap of ONVIF communication efforts in 2018, with a continued focus on market education about the specific profiles through presence at industry events and media activity. He also reported on the success of the first ever ONVIF Open Source Spotlight Challenge that took place earlier this year. The results of the annual elections for committees of ONVIF were announced by Kevin Schader, ONVIF Executive Director. Re-elected to the ONVIF Steering Committee were Mayur Salgar of Honeywell and Stuart Rawling of Pelco by Schneider Electric. For the Technical Committee, Hanwha Techwin’s Sujith Raman, Pelco by Schneider Electric’s Steve Wolf, and Tyco Security Product’s Stephen Serplus were re-elected, while Hikvision’s Dora Han joined the committee as a new member. Bob Dolan of Anixter and Giri Guntipalli of Honeywell were re-elected to the Technical Services Committee, along with new member Marwan Obeidat of Pelco by Schneider Electric. Tim Shen of Dahua, Jens Berthelsen of Hikvision and Xinming Kang of Honeywell were re-elected to the ONVIF Communication Committee, while Cathy Zhou of Huawei joined the committee as a new member. Founding members Axis, Bosch and Sony automatically retain seats on the Steering, Technical and Technical Services Committees. IP-based physical security solutions expert Founded in 2008, ONVIF is a leading and well-recognised industry forum driving interoperability for IP-based physical security products. The organisation has a global member base of established camera, video management system and access control companies and more than 10,000 profile conformant products. ONVIF offers Profile S for streaming video; Profile G for recording and storage; Profile C for physical access control; Profile Q for improved out-of-the-box functionality, Profile A for broader access control configuration and Profile T for advanced streaming. ONVIF continues to work with its members to expand the number of IP interoperability solutions that ONVIF conformant products can provide.

Check Point announces a technology integration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) Security Hub, a unified security service, which centralises view and management for security alerts. This integration, together with the addition of Dome9 to the CloudGuard portfolio, following its recent acquisition by Check Point, allows enterprises to access multi-layered security and nearly continuous compliance capabilities from the central console of AWS Security Hub. By leveraging AWS Security Hub, Check Point can provide a nearly seamless experience to customers in providing additional protection to their AWS environments against advanced cyber-threats in real time and mitigating compliance risks at any scale. Enhanced threat prevention CloudGuard IaaS adds contextual information such as asset tags, security groups and availability zones to dynamically update security policies AWS Security Hub provides users with a comprehensive view of their high-priority security alerts and compliance status by aggregating, organising, and prioritising alerts, or findings, from multiple AWS services, such as Amazon GuardDuty, Amazon Inspector, and Amazon Macie as well as from AWS Partner Network (APN) security solutions. The findings are then visually summarised on integrated dashboards with actionable graphs and tables. The Check Point CloudGuard solution natively integrates with AWS Security Hub to provide customers with better visibility into gaps in their security and compliance posture, and context-rich security intelligence for enhanced threat prevention. CloudGuard IaaS adds contextual information such as asset tags, security groups and availability zones to dynamically update security policies and provide AWS Security Hub with visibility into threat alerts based on deep event correlation and rule-based cloud intrusion detection. To complete the picture, customers leveraging the CloudGuard Dome9 solution can analyse and respond to events triggered by its sophisticated nearly continuous compliance and governance framework. Continuous network monitoring Enterprises using it benefit from powerful features that prevent 5th generation cyber-attacks in their hybrid environments. These features include: Threat prevention of both North-South and East-West cyber-attacks based on contextual awareness and attribution of network traffic to cloud-native ephemeral services Real-time alerts on network vulnerabilities, with nearly continuous network monitoring and alerting based on easily customisable policies Comprehensive visibility into cloud assets and security configurations Nearly continuous compliance monitoring and enforcement of security posture Fully integrated security capabilities, including firewall, IPS, application control, IPsec VPN, antivirus, anti-bot and more Unified management of security policies across hybrid environments (datacenter, private and public clouds) Manage cloud environments Check Point has been at the forefront of cloud security automation solutions that have built deep integrations with a broad range of AWS security services" “AWS is a leader among cloud services providers, delivering powerful security capabilities that help enterprises deploy and manage cloud environments with enhanced security features at scale,” says Itai Greenberg, Vice President of Product Management at Check Point Security. “Check Point has been at the forefront of cloud security automation solutions that have built deep integrations with a broad range of AWS security services. We are privileged to offer integration with AWS Security Hub to deliver comprehensive visibility into ongoing security and compliance risks, and end-to-end workflows to mitigate risks.” “We are happy to have Check Point as a launch APN Partner integrating the CloudGuard IaaS solution with AWS Security Hub,” said Dan Plastina, Vice President, Security Services, Amazon Web Services, Inc. “Check Point offers advanced threat prevention capabilities to AWS customers. The integration with support for AWS Security Hub makes it even easier for our shared customers to access and act on their cloud security insights.”

Exeter based supplier of electronic security solutions, Advanced Security Alarm Protection (ASAP), have been awarded ‘key partner’ status with Dahua Technology – a renowned global solutions provider in the video surveillance industry. As a key partner, ASAP will be able to offer the most advanced video surveillance systems available to customers across the South West and further afield including the latest network video recorders and high definition cameras. These can be installed to benefit all commercial sectors from finance and government to retail and leisure. ASAP – Dahua Technology collaboration ASAP have been providing security solutions to businesses across the South West since 1979 and offers a full design, installation and maintenance service to include intruder alarms, CCTV, access control, fire alarms and fire extinguishers. In 2018, a state-of-the-art CCTV control room, demonstration suite and training centre was designed and built at ASAP’s Exeter Headquarters In 2018, a state-of-the-art CCTV control room, demonstration suite and training centre was designed and built at ASAP’s Exeter Headquarters, enabling the newest systems and latest technologies to be demonstrated to clients. Cutting-edge security technology On the announcement of the partnership, Managing Director of ASAP, Andy Fairbanks, commented: “We are continually looking to provide clients with the best possible security solutions and our partnership with Dahua emphasises that commitment.” “Dahua is one of the leading providers of video surveillance equipment in the world and we’re delighted to be offering our customers the chance to experience their range of cutting-edge security technology.” Second-ranked global video surveillance provider Employing over 16,000 employees globally, Dahua’s security solutions, products, and services are used in over 180 countries and regions. The company focuses on quality, reliability and stability and since 2014 has ranked second in the global video surveillance equipment market. As key partners, ASAP will continue to offer full design, installation and maintenance services for electronic security systems, safe in the knowledge that their security provision is of the highest standard available. Dahua’s Sales Director, Steve Norman, added: “I have been impressed with ASAP’s commitment to providing the best possible electronic security solution to end users and look forward to supporting their ambitious growth plans across the South West and further afield.”

Hanwha Techwin has further strengthened its premium Wisenet P series with the introduction of the ultra-high definition PNM-9320VQP which, with 4 sensors and a separate integral PTZ camera, is designed to provide a highly cost-effective solution for detecting and tracking objects over wide open areas. Ultra HD megapixel camera The option of exchangeable 2- and 5-megapixel lens modules enable the camera sensors built into the H.265 Wisenet PNM-9320VQP to work together to seamlessly capture 360-degree images of up to 20-megapixel resolution. In addition, the PNM-9320VQP’s 2-megapixel 32x PTZ camera element is automatically triggered to zoom in and track a moving object or move to a user-configured preset position, when the motion detection function of the multi-directional camera detects activity. “By placing a PTZ camera at the centre of the PNM-9320VQP we are able to provide a highly affordable and efficient solution for city and wide area surveillance applications such as car parks, shopping centres and warehouses,” said Uri Guterman, Head of Product & Marketing for Hanwha Techwin Europe. “As well as installation and maintenance costs being significantly lower, end-users are able to avoid incurring the higher capital costs of using 5 separate cameras to cover an area and achieve the same level of functionality.” PTZ cameras The IK10 vandal and IP66 weather resistant PNM-9320VQP is equipped with a Gyro sensor which offer accurate stabilisation The PTZ camera benefits from the world’s best Wide Dynamic Range (WDR), which performs at up to 150dB to accurately produce images in scenes that simultaneously contain very bright and very dark areas, as do the 2-megapixel lens modules. The 5-megapixel lens module options come with 120dB WDR. The IK10 vandal and IP66 weather resistant PNM-9320VQP is equipped with a Gyro sensor which offer accurate stabilisation when a camera is disturbed by wind or vibrations, resulting in more stable images. Additional key features include 5 built-in SD card slots to help keep data safe in the event of network disruption, defog, which makes corrections to blurry images which are captured in foggy conditions and Lens Distortion Correction (LDC) compensates for the image distortion that can occur with wide angle lenses. WiseStream II compression technology The multi-streaming PNM-9320VQP supports H.264, H.265 and MJPEG compression. Bandwidth efficiency is improved by up to 99% compared to current H.264 technology when H.265 is utilised with WiseStream II, a complementary compression technology which dynamically controls encoding, balancing quality and compression according to movement in the image. Hanwha Techwin has also just introduced the Wisenet PNM-9000VQ multi-directional camera, which with 4 exchangeable lens modules that together seamlessly capture 360-degree images of up to 20-megapixel resolution, shares many of the PNM-9320VQP’s features, but does not have a built-in PTZ camera.

Market dynamics are changing the U.S. residential security market, creating new business models that better appeal to the approximately 70% of households without a security system. Smart home adjacencies have helped revitalise the traditional security industry, and alternative approaches to systems and monitoring for the security industry are emerging, including a new batch of DIY systems. Growth in the residential security market and its position as the channel for smart home solutions have attracted numerous new entrants. Telecoms, cable operators, and CE (consumer electronics) manufacturers are joining traditional security players as they compete to fulfill consumer demand for safety and security. Connected products also provide a layer of competition as consumers must decide whether having category devices such as doorbell video cameras, networked cameras, and other products suffice for their security. Increasingly competitive landscape Smart home services can provide additional revenue streams for the security industry For instance, IP cameras are a highly popular smart home device rooted in security, and Parks Associates estimates 7.7 million standalone and all-in-one networked/IP cameras will be sold in the U.S. in 2018, with $889M in revenues. Product owners may feel their security needs are fulfilled with this single purchase, as such dealers and service providers are under increasing pressure to communicate their value proposition to consumers. Categorically, each type of player is facing competition uniquely—national, regional, and local dealers all have a different strategy for overcoming the increasingly competitive landscape. Smart home services can provide additional revenue streams for the security industry. In Parks Associates’ 2017 survey of U.S. security dealers, 58% report that smart home service capabilities enable extra monthly revenue. Almost half of dealers also note they have to offer smart home devices and services in order to keep up with their competition. While white-label devices are acceptable in some instances, dealers need to integrate with hero products whenever possible when those exist for a category. For dealers who have added smart home devices and services are all potential benefits and good for business Improved customer engagement That 2017 survey also revealed 36% of security dealers that offer interactive services report security system sales with a networked camera and 16% report sales with a smart thermostat. For dealers who have added smart home devices and services, enhanced system utility, increased daily value, and improved customer engagement with the system are all potential benefits and good for business. Security has served as the most productive channel for smart home solutions, mainly because the products create natural extensions of a security system’s functions and benefits, but as smart home devices, subsystems, and controllers expand their functionality, availability, and DIY capabilities, many standalone devices constitute competition to classical security. Particularly viable substitute devices include IP cameras, smart door locks, smart garage doors, or a combination of these devices. Products that are self-installed offer both convenience and cost savings, and these drivers are significant among DIY consumers—among the 6% of broadband households that installed a security system themselves, 39% did it to save money. Enhance traditional security Self-installable smart home devices may resonate with a segment of the market who want security While many security dealers believe substitute offerings are a threat, some dealers do not find such devices an existential threat but instead view them as another path to consumer awareness. They argue that the difference between smart product substitutes and traditional security is that of a solution that provides knowledge versus a system that gives one the ability to act on that knowledge. A common theme among professional monitoring providers is that a homeowner who is aware of events happening in the home does not necessarily have a secure and protected household. For example, a Nest camera, a DIY product, notifies a consumer via smartphone about events in the home when it detects motion, but only when the notification is opened and identified will a consumer be able to act on the related event. Self-installable smart home devices may resonate with a segment of the market who want security but are unwilling to adopt professional monitoring; however, providers can leverage these devices to enhance traditional security features and communicate the value of professional monitoring. Smart home devices and features, while posing a threat to some security companies, are a potential way forward to increased market growth Increased market growth A key counterstrategy for security dealers and companies is to leverage their current, powerful role as the prime channel for smart home devices. Many security dealers now include smart home devices with their security systems to complement their offerings and increase system engagement. For example, as of Q4 2017, nearly 70% of U.S. broadband households that were very likely to purchase a security system in the next 12 months reported that they want a camera to be included as part of their security system purchase. In response, many security system providers now offer IP cameras as optional enhancements for their systems. Smart home devices and features, while posing a threat to some security companies, are a potential way forward to increased market growth. Security dealers have an opportunity to become more than a security provider but a smart home solutions provider rooted in safety. Provide status updates Comcast has entered both the professionally monitored security market and the market for smart home services The alternative is to position as a provider of basic security with low price as the key differentiator. Comcast has entered both the professionally monitored security market and the market for smart home services independent of security. It has discovered that monetising smart home value propositions through recurring revenue becomes increasingly challenging as the value extends further away from life safety. Since the security industry remains the main channel for smart home services, security dealers are in a unique position to leverage that strength. Value propositions must shift from the traditional arming and disarming of a system to peace-of-mind experiences that builds off the benefits of smart devices in the home to provide status updates (e.g., if the kids arrived home safely) and monitoring at will (e.g., checking home status at any time to see a pet or monitor a package delivery). These types of clear value propositions and compelling use cases, which resonate with consumer and motivate them to expand beyond standalone products, will help expand the home security market.

By now your organisation should know the drill. To keep your enterprise safe from unauthorised access you take the basic precautions: create strong passwords that are not re-used and are updated frequently, use updated anti-virus software, employ host and network-based intrusion detection and prevention, data encryption, etc. etc. However, complacency has no place in cybersecurity. Hackers are working round-the-clock to outwit your most ardent security professionals. Here are a few specific vulnerabilities that require immediate and constant attention to stay safe in a hostile security world. Protect against burst attacks You may be aware of DDoS, or distributed denial of service attacks. In fact, Cisco writes that these online attacks — where high-volume traffic floods a system’s servers, making web traffic extremely slow — grew 172% in 2016. But in the last few years, Cisco documents how "burst attacks", a type of DDoS attack that floods traffic in short bursts at random times over a prolonged period, has skyrocketed. They claim that in one study, 42% of the companies faced a burst attack in 2017. Burst attacks change vectors throughout an attack, making it difficult to create a signature to block the attack According to Radware, on-premises DDoS protection needs to adapt to counter these often less than one-minute attacks. While the majority of these solutions detect burst attacks, they write that "most of them limit the rate of bad (and legitimate) traffic to a certain threshold, resulting in a high level of false positives." One big challenge is burst attacks change vectors throughout an attack, making it difficult to create a signature to block the attack. They recommend adopting two key solutions: 1) a behavioural DDoS protection system that utilises machine learning algorithms to identify the patterns of burst attacks, and 2) measuring the degree-of-attack (DoA) surface, which looks at the bandwidth or rate of a specific type of traffic and the percentage of a given type of traffic out of the entire distribution of traffic. If an attack rates high in both the bandwidth and percentage parameters, then it gets a high DoA surface score, showing that a burst attack likely occurred. Prioritise network infrastructure Nefarious actors have been exploiting both enterprise level and small/home office and residential routers For companies with in-house information technology staff, network infrastructure usually gets plenty of attention. Proper configuration, maintenance and security are often key considerations for infrastructure due to its importance to the business. What about smaller entities? Do you have a small switch or router you either purchased or leased from your internet service provider? If so, when was the last time you updated it? In Alert TA18-106A, the United States Computer Emergency Response Team (US-CERT) shares information dating all the way back to 2015 on how nefarious actors have been exploiting both enterprise level and small office/home office and residential routers and switches. If you haven’t changed passwords and updated the software/firmware on these devices yet it should be near the top of your priority list. Hide sensitive web pages from search engines Search engines are an easy first step for someone looking to exploit your environment. They can conduct searches of your known web presence, looking for pages which might not have been meant for the general public but are still accessible. Using robots.txt pages can be excluded from search engine crawlers. Entrepreneur.com suggests checking out a tutorial from SEObook.com to learn more about how you can do this. Keep in mind this will only deter the most basic attackers as more sophisticated attackers will conduct manual searches. Update passwords on your IoT devices Data at rest is important, but data in transit is just as important to encrypt, particularly sensitive information It is shocking how many IoT devices are used in our daily lives, such as security and video conference cameras, cars, and smart sensors, but also contraptions you probably forgot are now connected to the internet, such as garage doors, appliances, etc. Tom’s Guide gives a good list of the many things you should remember to update. Use encryption to protect data in transit Encryption your data at rest – when it is stored somewhere – is incredibly important. However, your encryption efforts should not stop there. Data in transit is just as important to encrypt, particularly sensitive information. This could include communication between your websites and applications or even just communications within your company. Unencrypted information is at risk to an eavesdropper on your network. To prevent the data from being usable to potential eavesdroppers, ensure you are using encrypted connections such as HTTPS, SSL, TLS, FTPS, etc.

The rise to prominence of smart cities should not go unnoticed. To the untrained eye, you might not realise just how connected your city is and how it’s helping your everyday life. From crossing the road to monitoring water levels, technology is allowing cities to think quicker and act smarter. Data-driven decisions A recent whitepaper by ABI Research has revealed that the total global cost-saving potential offered by smart cities stands at more than $5 trillion. This shows how technological improvements to the places we live offer a significant opportunity to not only improve our personal lives and wellbeing, but to also ensure our cities are able to continue contributing to the wider economy. One of the major areas of technology that is going to shift how we interact with our cities is the Internet of Things (IoT). One benefit will be the ability to use video surveillance to analyse data on large crowds at sporting events The IoT already accounts for swathes of technology and devices operating in the background. However, we’re increasingly seeing these come to the forefront of everyday life, as data becomes increasingly critical. In an IDC study sponsored by Seagate, Data Age 2025 estimates that by 2025, nearly 20% of data will be critical to our daily lives and nearly 10% of that will be hypercritical. Data is no longer just going to provide simple insights and recommendations, it is going to be making decisions that impact the fabric and quality of everyday life. Analysis and application The decisions that this critical data is attached to must be made quickly. A living, breathing city must constantly be monitoring, assessing and utilising data in order to ensure it keeps people safe and mobile. A prime example of this is in the Dutch city of Almere, where the local police force and parking management teams are using surveillance technology to improve congestion and manage traffic flow. This is hugely important when 20% of city traffic is caused by drivers circling around trying to find a parking space, according to Stuart Higgins, Strategic Lead - Cisco Impact. While older cities such as London may not be as equipped with new technology like modern cities, such as Dubai, an appreciation of the different ways individual cities can adopt technology is vital. For those that have the right infrastructure, one key benefit will be the ability to use video surveillance to analyse data on road congestion, or even large crowds at sporting events or national ceremonies. Using this data to spot patterns of behaviour will enable city planners to develop long term solutions to ensure city life runs smoothly. Instant access to connected devices By 2025, an average connected person anywhere in the world will interact with connected devices nearly 4,800 times per day — that’s one interaction approximately every 18 seconds.   As access to data becomes the central component to a functioning smart city, the way data is stored has become more important than ever It isn’t just new-paradigm services such as Uber that are causing this. Increasingly, the ability to instantly access data relevant to many aspects of our lives will drive our interactions with these devices, and industries around the world are undergoing a digital transformation motivated by these evolving requirements. The benefits of data access is best shown through Project Green Light in the US city of Detroit, where the police department has partnered with gas stations across the city and the community to improve the quality of life within the neighborhood. The result is a strengthened relationship between public services and private businesses operating in the area. As access to data becomes the central component to a functioning smart city, the way data is stored has become more important than ever. When it comes to surveillance in our cities, the need for not only the technology but the hardware to analyse this data is of imperative importance. Real time data storage availability The growth of real-time data will cause a shift in the type of storage needed in the future – with fast, uncompromised access to data being non-negotiable. Data Age 2025 predicts that by 2025 the global datasphere will grow to 163 zettabytes. The security of our data and how it is stored will be the foundation to any future smart city strategy That’s ten times the 16.1ZB of data generated in 2016. This increase in data will propel the need for data to be available in real-time to heighten the focus on low-latency responsiveness from enterprise edge storage, as well as from the endpoints themselves. The rise in edge computing exemplifies how this demand is already present. The stakes are rising and with them, the critical importance of our data’s veracity and timeliness. It is important to identify city-wide data partnerships, architecture, and standards for effective and safe data sharing when developing a data strategy. Securing stored data It’s important to note that the security of our data and how it is stored will be the foundation to any future smart city strategy, ensuring that safety, regulatory, speed and access requirements are all met. Securing the data that underpins life as we know it is circular, not linear. Every company that creates, uses or touches data has to have a role in keeping it secure and should be the backbone of any smart city. What’s evident however is that digital transformation is shaping the surveillance industry and in turn how our cities operate. As a result, data is the fuel that will ensure the impact is a positive one. People, government and businesses all contribute to the cities of today, so no one can afford to ignore the shift we are seeing. The cities that utilise surveillance data when considering any changes to their infrastructure will ultimately become the cities of tomorrow, not only future-proofing, but prospering in the data-driven age.

More good news for exhibitors on the second day of the Global Security Exchange (GSX) in Las Vegas. Brisk attendance continued early in the day, and then slowed somewhat in the afternoon, but most comments from exhibitors were positive. Exhibitors such as Lenel were “thrilled” with the show, and noticed the steady, good traffic and lots of sales leads. Lenel’s position at the front of the hall probably helped. New developments in mobile credentialing are a big trend at GSX, and Lenel’s BlueDiamond mobile credentials are traveling on a new path, so to speak. The access control company is introducing the idea of “Pathways” as a way of automatically signaling intent to a Bluetooth-enabled smart phone to open a door. A recognisable “pathway” is programmed into the phone, based on signals from nearby readers and locks and also geolocation signals. The system recognises when a user travels along the pathway and automatically signals the correct door(s) to be opened along the way without the user having to touch his smart phone.A recognisable “pathway” is programmed into the phone, based on signals from nearby readers, locks and also geolocation signals Providing a lightweight alternative “When you trigger a pathway, it’s signalling intent to open the door,” says Greg Berry, Vice President Mobile Credentialing, Global Security Products, for United Technologies, parent company of Lenel. “Pathways are customised to a user’s needs and are the common places you are going all the time.” A user who walks the same path daily to the door of an office will find that door opens automatically. Previously using mobile credentials has been “slightly more work than using a badge,” says David Weinbach, Manager of Identity and Product Innovation for Lenel. “Now with Pathways, it’s less work than using a badge.” Specifically, a user no longer has to take out his phone and push a button to signal intent. “Rather than trying to emulate the badge, you create an experience that is better than the badge,” adds Berry. “We want to change the paradigm and turn the market on its ear.”New browser-based clients are being released with each new version of OnGuard software Other news from Lenel includes the release of more mobile and browser-based clients for OnGuard to be used for greater convenience alongside the Window-based clients. Providing a “lightweight” alternative enables some of the functionality of the Windows client in a format that is easy to access on the go. New browser-based clients are being released with each new version of OnGuard software. Cloud-hosted systems using Microsoft Azure are also among the plans for OnGuard, which ultimately will offer on-premises and cloud options. There’s not much comment from the Lenel folks about their parent company United Technologies’ plan to acquire S2 Security, which was announced days before the show. They would only say that the acquisition is waiting for regulatory approval, and that the expectation is that the two companies’ products will be complementary, given S2’s focus on the SMB (small and medium-sized business) market and Lenel’s strength at the enterprise level. The acquisition strategy is to grow both businesses. More details to come about the new combined company. Modern network infrastructure NVT Phybridge, a PoE connections company located near the back of the hall, also reported steady booth traffic on Day 2. “There are lots of customers and partners here,” said Steven Fair, Executive Vice President. “We are pleased with the quality of people, but not overwhelmed with the quantity.” FacePRO AI facial recognition is used for real-time searches of terror suspects or criminals throughout a location NVT Phybridge, which provides IP networking products for the telephony industry as well as security, is focused on networking concepts at GSX, in particular the changing requirements for network infrastructure in the age of IoT. We are pleased with the quality of people, but not overwhelmed with the quantity.” Fair uses the term “Modern LAN” to describe the new, changing requirements and in consideration of the specific networking needs of each edge device, whether cameras, sensors, or door access control devices. “Start with the edge device — what does it need from the network? What are its needs and have there been any innovations to enable you to connect to the network more economically?” asks Fair. There is also a green aspect to designing network infrastructure. Can existing equipment, such as coaxial or single twisted-pair cabling, be used, and thus save on disposal costs of the used cabling as well as lowering installation costs? Among NVT Phybridge’s offerings that can serve the changing networking needs in the IoT era is Smart Path PoE, which offers smart power, smart network access and secure connections. The CLEER family of products provides ethernet over existing coaxial cabling to enable easy transition from analogue to IP cameras. The PoLRE products supply ethernet and power to travel over a single unshielded twisted pair cable with reach over 400 metres. The products have been used recently to transition a series of cruise ships from analogue to IP video without having to replace cabling and spending only two days in dry dock for the installs. A new focus away from AI Panasonic is looking to apply AI-based capabilities to vehicle recognition in the near future, with the ability to identify vehicle characteristics Deep learning and artificial intelligence (AI) seem to be taking a lower profile at this show, perhaps signaling the end of the hype. Companies that mention AI point to specific products that use the technology and are currently available. For example, Panasonic is featuring its FacePRO AI-based facial recognition system. The system uses face images captured from video — grabbing up to 30 to 35 faces a second as video is recorded. The system saves the best of those face images, eliminating extensive duplication, as thumbnails, which are linked to the video footage where the faces appear. To find video in which a face appears, the operator merely drags-and-drops the thumbnail image and commands the system to “go fetch” video that contains that face. The system then produces a timeline showing where the face appears in the feed from each video camera on the premises, so an operator can track the movements of a suspect throughout a facility. The tool helps to simplify and shorten the workflow of locating a suspect in real-time and is affordable for a wider range of uses beyond the traditional airports or high-end applications.  The FacePRO software is offered on any Panasonic camera, and works with a separate FacePRO server that is integrated with the video recorder. The system can be added easily to existing systems and is useful for such applications as real-time searches for terror suspects or other criminals throughout a location. Panasonic is also looking to apply AI-based capabilities to vehicle recognition, too, in the near future, with the ability to identify vehicle characteristics such as color, type of vehicle and direction of travel. On the VMS side, Panasonic is transitioning its Video Insight software to a modular approach, tailoring solutions for a growing range of vertical markets, such as transportation and retail, all using “plug-ins” that enhance operation of Video Insight software. No additional license fees are involved That’s just a sampling of what I saw on Day 2 of the show. I have more to share in a final show report, including what I see tomorrow on the final (shortened) day.

Wireless locks offer specific advantages for access control end users and integrators, and some of their value has yet to be realised in the market. Wireless locks expand the range of applications for electronic locks to complement traditional wired systems. They offer flexibility and scalability. They save on integrators’ labour costs. They even provide opportunities for integrators to earn recurring monthly revenue (RMR). A recent Allegion panel discussion highlighted the value, opportunities and untapped potential of wireless locks. Allegion panellists elaborated on some of the many advantages of wireless locks, including the following: Providing more system flexibility It’s a time of change in corporate and institutional environments. Customers are trying to manage a smaller operating budget with more people and more multi-use applications. Building applications are changing more frequently. Wireless locks can be used to convert more mechanical applications to electronic, but they are not necessarily real-time and/or monitored applications.Customers are trying to manage a smaller operating budget with more people and more multi-use applications For example, a wireless lock could be installed on a seldom-used door, such as a storage closet, to avoid the need to manage keys. The flexibility of wireless locks also would allow that same door to be transitioned to communicate with a network via WiFi, or it could be used for real-time communication in a monitored system. “It’s much more flexible if one product can do about six different things,” says Brad Aikin, Allegion’s Channel Led Business Leader, Integrator Channel. New product approaches enable intelligence to be added after the fact to existing wireless locks, thus further increasing flexibility. Designing systems that are scalable “We now have products that can start from very basic applications, and then build capabilities through systems and integrations all within one device,” says Mark Jenner, Allegion Market Development Director. Offering a useful complement to wired systems Once you understand how to deploy the wireless technology, the efficiencies of it from a labour perspective are pretty amazing” Wireless is not a “silver bullet” – not for every application, says Aikin. “I think it is an incremental opportunity,” he says, and more likely to drive conversion of existing mechanical locks than to transition wired electronic systems. “You’re just looking to get a more efficient credential, and to get rid of that master key system, or to dramatically shrink it down,” he adds. “Wireless is an example of how the integrator can do more, not just differently, but have more conversations and help their end users. They are not things the end-users are going to ask for inherently; these are latent needs. They are not going to bring it up.” Allegion panellists elaborated on some of the many advantages of wireless locks Less labour involved in installations “Once you understand how to deploy the wireless technology, the efficiencies of it from a labour perspective are pretty amazing,” says Robert Gaulden, Allegion Project Based Business Leader, Electronic Access Control. “Integrators can deploy two additional jobs in a day because they are on and off jobs more quickly. There are huge benefits, depending on what environment you are in.” Labour is a significant cost for integrators – finding, retaining and training good employees. Any new efficiencies in terms of labour – such as the simplified installation of wireless locking systems – is a saving grace for integrators.Providing remote firmware updates is another way to provide ongoing service without being invasive or disruptive to the end user environment “We see a lot more adoption from our customer base once they become comfortable with how to use the wireless technology,” says Gaulden. New opportunities for RMR There is a shift among integrators away from one-time installations and toward a recurring monthly revenue (RMR) model in which the integrator manages all aspects of the system over time for a monthly fee. Wireless systems can help to simplify that transition by lowering costs. Managing interior doors and locks can add value and incremental revenue, says Jenner. Providing remote firmware updates is another way to provide ongoing service without being invasive or disruptive to the end user environment. “We support that from the product perspective, but developers and software companies need to take advantage of it,” says Devin Love, Allegion Market Development Manager. “It’s an important feature for the end user, but we are still navigating through the world of wireless adoption.” “No one wakes up in the morning and thinks ‘I am going to buy a lock today,’” says Aikin. “We need to ensure we are having conversations about security needs, but also about how to deploy the technology to make it easier to manage and have more flexibility,” says Aikin.

As Internet of Things (IoT) devices go, networked video cameras are particularly significant. Connected to the internet and using on-board processing, cameras are subject to infection by malware and can be targeted by Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. Hacking of cameras also threatens privacy by allowing unauthorised access to video footage. The performance of hacked cameras can be degraded, and they may become unable to communicate properly when needed. Ensuring cybersecurity is a challenge, and the fragmented structure of the video surveillance market contributes to that challenge. A variety of companies are involved in manufacturing, integrating, installing and operating video systems, and cybersecurity threats can enter the picture at any stage. “It’s not always clear who is responsible,” says Yotam Gutman, vice president of marketing for SecuriThings, a cybersecurity company. “However, the only entities who can ensure cybersecurity are the security integrator and the service provider. They will bear the financial pain and are willing to pay for cybersecurity. An extra $1 or $2 per camera per month is not expensive.” SecuriThings’ “lightweight software agent” runs in the background of video cameras, sending information to an analytics system in the cloud IoT device security management At the recent IFSEC trade show in London, SecuriThings unveiled its IoT Device Security Management (IDSM) approach to enable integrators to ensure cybersecurity. Founded in 2015, the company has around 20 employees in Tel Aviv, Israel, and operates a sales office in New York City. SecuriThings’ “lightweight software agent” runs in the background of video cameras, collecting metadata on camera processes and connections and sending information back to an analytics system in the cloud. Drag-and-drop deployment enables a camera to begin generating data within seconds and requiring only two mouse clicks. The cloud system analyses data, pinpoints abnormalities, identifies new users, detects multiple entry attempts and tracks other camera processes to identify any cyberattacks. It monitors all devices, gateways, users and APIs to detect threats in real-time and mitigate the threats based on a pre-determined security policy. Machine learning tools also analyse more subtle activities that can indicate insider abuse. For example, a user support center can identify if cameras are being accessed improperly by employees, thus preventing insider abuse. Certified vendor agnostic software SecuriThings is working with camera manufacturers and video management system (VMS) manufacturers to certify operation of its software agents with various camera models and systems. Working through integrators, such as Johnson Controls, is the fastest route to market, SecuriThings has determined. The system can be added after the fact to existing installations for immediate monitoring and remediation, or it can easily be incorporated into new systems as they are launched. “We have a strong sales team in the United States focusing on bringing the technology to more local and national integrators,” says Gutman. Certification ensures SecuriThings’ software agent can be installed in most modern camera models without negatively impacting operation; the software is vendor agnostic. Another eventual route to market is to work with camera manufacturers to install the SecuriThings software agent in cameras at the factory. In this scenario, the system can easily be “clicked on” when cameras are installed. The SecuriThings cloud system generates a dashboard that tracks system activities to identify any cybersecurity threats IoT Security Operations Center SecuriThings operation is transparent to the VMS, and the company works with VMS manufacturers to ensure the code operates seamlessly with their systems. Cloud analytics generate a dashboard that tracks system activities, and/or a managed service monitors the system and notifies customers if there is a problem. “We monitor it from our IoT Security Operations Center, a fully managed service that ensures the real-time detection and mitigation of IoT cyber-threats,” says Gutman. “We found that end-customers don’t have the manpower to monitor the system, so our experts can guide them.”Access control and cloud-based access control will be the next systems under cyberattack, and they are almost as vulnerable" A benefit for camera manufacturers is the ability of a system like SecuriThings to “level the playing field” on issues of cybersecurity, says Gutman. The approach provides a higher level of cybersecurity confidence for integrators and users, including those using cameras that have previously had cybersecurity problems such as “back door” access. SecuriThings has certified its software for use with Hikvision cameras and is in the process of certifying with Dahua, says Gutman. “Western manufacturers say their products are more secure, but we can help all camera manufacturers prove that they are just as secure,” says Gutman. “Integrators and users can log into a device and see all the activity.” Securing connected devices from cyber threats Beyond video, SecuriThings’ products target the full range of connected devices in the Internet of Things (IoT). The SecuriThings security solution enables real-time visibility and control of IoT devices deployed in massive numbers in smart cities, physical security, building automation, home entertainment and more. Video surveillance is an early focus because of market need, an opportunity to gain traction, and the critical nature of security applications. But the challenges are much broader than video surveillance. “We are seeing similar risks to other devices,” says Gutman. “Access control and cloud-based access control will be the next systems under cyberattack, and they are almost as vulnerable. If you can disable the access control system, you can cause a lot of problems.” Other connected devices that could be at risk include building automation and heating and cooling (HVAC) systems.

Globally-renowned Pay on Foot parking systems manufacturer, DESIGNA, has worked with the White Rose shopping centre in Rhyl, North Wales, to update its car parking system to the company’s advanced ABACUS software and equipment. Contactless card payment The installation included new state-of-the-art entrance and exit terminals accepting tap in/tap out contactless card payment technology After many successful installations abroad, the shopping centre is the first DESIGNA site in the UK to have installed its new tap in/tap out contactless credit card technology. The installation included new state-of-the-art entrance and exit terminals accepting tap in/tap out contactless card payment technology. There are also three full pay stations, a DBS server, manual pay station and intercom. All of this helps improve the efficiency and security of the car park, which is popular with shoppers due to its seafront location. As the first part of the shopping experience, the convenience and availability of a car park is crucial to the overall service and satisfaction of a customer. DESIGNA recognised this and developed ABACUS, an advanced car park access system that intelligently integrates various elements to create the ultimate system that is highly reliable and requires less maintenance. It can also cope with large volumes of traffic while providing the highest level of monitoring to ensure a secure parking environment. ABACUS car park access system The parking system is barrier controlled and makes use of DESIGNA barcode ticket technology. In addition to the standard ticket technology, the car park offers the facility to tap in/tap out using a contactless credit card. This operates with a unique identifier from the credit/debit card as a substitute for a ticket for the duration of the stay at the car park. When the customer presents a contactless card on entry, it recognises them and by tapping again at the exit it automatically calculates the tariff and allows payment to take place at the exit. The system has three pay on foot machines which accept coins, notes and credit cards. With more than 30 stores, White Rose shopping centre, Rhyl’s number one shopping destination, has a wide range of quality stores. Located in the centre of the town, White Rose is a short walk from Rhyl’s seafront, railway station and sea aquarium, and has direct access car parking for 300 vehicles. The centre previously had a chip coin solution installed on site. Advanced ticket machines The biggest advantage of having the DESIGNA system in place is the easy payment method" Sue Nash, Centre Manager at the White Rose commented, “The biggest advantage of having the DESIGNA system in place is the easy payment method. The advanced ticket machines make it possible to pay using several means, therefore reducing the problem of queuing at the pay machines and having to pay with change. Another payment option we now have is the facility to pay through mobile devices and via contactless cards.” She continued, “The majority of people move around with credit cards rather than cash and having a versatile payment option in the car park makes for a painless process. The maintenance of the system at our local level was extremely important to avoid costly and timely engineer callouts. Simple things like ticket and coin jams, system resets are now extremely easy to resolve as is the exchange of entry tickets when required. I would certainly recommend the DESIGNA system to others and we are extremely pleased with the results.” Car parking ease and convenience Specifier Andrew Bailey, of Parking Ideas, commented, “Parking Ideas is a complete car parking and transportation consultancy that helps institutions, property owners, landlords and managing agents develop and optimise their assets. I have worked with the White Rose shopping centre for a number of years and following a competitive tender found that DESIGNA’s systems best suited the client’s requirements.” He continued, “The ABACUS system is good value, commercially viable and ticked all the right boxes for the White Rose. It is very important to have the facility to pay by card, so the payment terminals having this feature are vital to the centre and have made all the difference to the running of the car park. Parking Ideas has been in the parking industry for more than 15 years, so we have worked with DESIGNA before and are very happy with the end result.”  DESIGNA ticket terminals The car park’s entrance and exit are installed with DESIGNA In+ and Out+ ticket terminals so that using the site is fast and easy The car park’s entrance and exit are installed with DESIGNA In+ and Out+ ticket terminals so that using the site is fast and easy. The advanced terminals operate on the lowest energy consumption of their class with the ability to hold more tickets than before, with the bin adapting itself to the fill quantity. Customers are greeted with excellent user-friendliness due to the simplicity of the equipment and illuminated display with clear instructions. The four-way barcode readers also ensure visitors can insert their ticket any way round into any of the pay stations around the site. DESIGNA Pay on Foot machines For payment, three of DESIGNA’s new Pay on Foot machines are in place in the car park. This allows customers to pay for their visit before returning to their car and exit the car park more quickly. The pay station is deliberately designed to allow disabled customers to pay freely without assistance. Each of the pay stations is installed with an interactive monitor that makes it easy to pay and offers several different languages. Shopping centre management has full control of the ABACUS system through the DBS server, with a manual pay station (MPS) to allow them to create or override payments. The control room also links with the ticket and payment terminals via a DESIGNA VoIP Intercom to assist customers if required. Global implementation DESIGNA has more than 15,000 systems installed globally across a wide range of car park situations DESIGNA’s parking systems are used in a number of impressive shopping centres around the world. These include the Dundrum shopping centre in Dublin, the Mid Valley Megamall in Malaysia and the Mall of Emirates in Dubai. In the UK the Belfry shopping centre in Redhill, the Woolshops shopping centre in Halifax and the Wellgate centre in Dundee have also benefited from the ABACUS system. Recognised worldwide for its high quality and intelligent systems, DESIGNA has more than 15,000 systems installed globally across a wide range of car park situations, including shopping centres, airports and hospitals. ABACUS is one of the company’s innovations and demonstrates the endless possibilities available to car park operators. The future-proof technology allows for expansions of premises or new property acquisitions by allowing additional systems to be added to the network. In its many global applications, ABACUS has proved to be an effortless system for both operators and users and is a great investment for companies looking to the future.

Immersive Display Solutions, Inc. (IDSI) announced that it has selected the Barco F70 for its advanced dome display project. Using thirteen F70-4K6 projectors per dome and featuring the powerful Barco Pulse electronics processing platform and unique Single Step Processing (SSP) pixel-shifting technology, the integrated solution from IDSI will support high-performance fast jet pilot training. This selection continues the successful relationship which has been built between IDSI and Barco over many years and has produced some of the highest quality display systems in the industry. Barco F70-4K6 display projector The F70-4K6 is a high performance, robust laser-phosphor projector with sealed optics and minimal number of moving components inside. This construction enables rugged performance that ensures stability and predictability over the 60,000-hour lifetime of the product. 4K resolution is achieved using the high bandwidth Barco Pulse electronics platform and the proprietary SSP technology. All this leads to the delivery of exceptionally sharp and detailed dynamic imagery allowing trainees to detect moving objects at long distances and totally immersing them into the perfect simulation experience. The team at IDSI is well-respected throughout the industry for their precision, quality, and low-risk approach to program requirements “Our relationship with Barco is built on performance, support, and trust,” says George Forbes, President and founder of IDSI. “When we decide on which projector to use for a project, we consider much more than the technical performance- which has to be there. We know we can rely on Barco, and that the entire Barco Simulation team from top-down is behind us, and that is a big factor in who we choose to partner with.” IDSI-Barco partnership “The team at IDSI is well-respected throughout the industry for their precision, quality, and low-risk approach to program requirements,” says Dave Fluegeman, VP, Simulation at Barco. “Our teams have always integrated very well, and when there is a seamless approach and singular focus to a project, the likelihood of success is always very high.” Recently IDSI won the ‘Small Business of the Year’ award after careful selection by the MS&T judging panel and votes by the simulation and training industry. The honor was awarded for their way of leveraging human capital, innovation and agility to grow and meet client needs, all while cultivating and growing technical and social influence in the community. The Barco F70-4K6 in turn received an honorable mention as an Outstanding Innovative Product that has positively impacted the client’s ‘way of doing business.’

Network Rail is keeping a close eye on work being carried out at its Ambergate rail site with the help of the advanced technology built into the latest generation of video surveillance dome cameras. Images captured by Wisenet XNP-6040H PTZ domes manufactured by Hanwha Techwin are being streamed to a Network Rail control room, enabling operators to monitor the progress of work being carried out at various locations throughout the Ambergate site in order to minimise walkouts and ensure compliance with its health & safety regulations. Reduce site walkouts Network Rail required several site monitoring systems to provide them with live video streams of their Ambergate rail site. These live streams would be used by Network Rail to attain a better oversight of progress, asses safety on site, and reduce site walkouts. Inside Out Group were awarded the contract to provide four separate monitoring systems for the Ambergate site, after being invited to participate in a tender process. With the rail improvement work being carried out in remote locations, the camera systems also required standalone power sources" “This was an interesting, as well as a challenging project to work on in that the monitoring systems needed to be sufficiently robust to be able to work in tough track side conditions,” said Jay Dale, Head of Time Lapse for Inside Out Group. “With the rail improvement work being carried out in remote locations, the camera systems also required standalone power sources without any reliance on generators. We met with staff from Network Rail to establish their exact site monitoring needs. This helped us give detailed advice and recommend specific CCTV products that fit Network Rail’s needs.” Accurate image stabilisation Although the CCTV installation tender was a national one, the first site highlighted was Network Rail’s Ambergate work site. After evaluating cameras from a number of different manufacturers, Inside Out Group decided to specify the 2 megapixel Wisenet XNP-6040H PTZ domes for all the required camera locations. Image quality was a major factor in the decision, as was the Wisenet XNP-6040H’s relatively low operating power requirements.  The vandal-resistant and weatherproof H.265 Wisenet XNP-6040H domes have an auto-tracking PTZ feature which enables operators to monitor close up detail of any site activity. This ensures that Network Rail can remotely control the systems and focus on different areas of site that they need to see. The Wisenet XNP-6040H dome’s are also equipped with gyro sensors for more accurate image stabilisation if they are disturbed by wind or vibration, whilst built-in SD memory card slots enable the short term storage of video in the event that there is any network disruption.  Minimise installation time Working closely with Network Rail’s S&C North Alliance Doncaster team and with the help of distributors Norbain, Inside Out Group were able to have all the cameras delivered to site and working within 48 hours of the commencement of the project. Each of the four systems are battery powered, negating the need for any costly cabling and the cameras have been attached to existing site structures which helped minimise installation time. H.265 compressed live video streams captured by the Wisenet XNP-6040H domes are being transmitted over fast 4G mobile network to the control room H.265 compressed live video streams captured by the Wisenet XNP-6040H domes are being transmitted over fast 4G mobile network to the control room, with secure logins also enabling authorised personnel to remotely access the video via their smartphones, tablets and laptops. Additionally, Inside Out Group also installed one of their durable time lapse systems on site. This system was primarily used for film production purposes, as Network Rail were also keen to visually showcase Ambergate’s rail works as a production. Monitoring solutions Inside Out Group have received positive feedback from senior staff within Network Rail in respect of the quality of the systems installed and for organising the installations within the required tight timescales. In particular, high praise has come from members of the S&C North Alliance Doncaster team, with Alliance Director, Neil Johnson noting that the captured images ‘are crystal clear’ and Project Manager, Rachel Cox stating that the systems are ‘working brilliantly’. “Following on from the installation of the four systems, we have continued to work closely with Network Rail so that we can obtain feedback from staff on their experiences of using the live video, said Jay Dale. “This will help us going forward to optimise benefits we can offer Network Rail from these type of monitoring solutions.”

Videowall technology supplied by Ultimate Visual Solutions (UVS) is at the heart of a new security control room at iNTU Trafford Centre. High-end videowall technology The new facility helps ensure 30 million annual visitors have a safe and enjoyable time at what is the single best-known and most iconic retail and leisure destination in the UK. Burnley-based UVS, formerly eyevis UK, provides video wall displays and audio-visual solutions to a range of clients across the UK. UVS Full HD Videowall As part of the new state-of-the-art facility, UVS installed a 7.2m wide by 2.7m high videowall As part of the new state-of-the-art facility, UVS installed a 7.2m wide by 2.7m high videowall, made up of 24 eyevis 55-inch XSN extremely narrow bezel LCD screens with Full HD resolution. The displays offer 1920 × 1080 pixels, direct-LED backlight technology, a mechanical bezel width of only 3.5 mm between two displays and a brightness of 500 cd/m2. The installation also includes a control room meeting space featuring a videowall made up of four eyevis 46-inch XSN screens with 3.5mm bezel. Netpix 4900 videowall controller Both videowalls connect to a Netpix 4900 videowall controller configured for multiple analogue video feeds, IP video feeds, graphic PC data and web browsers. iNTU security staff, who monitor the centre and liaise with visitors, will be able to send live videos from their tablets directly back to the video wall to share incident video with security staff. Video monitoring and visitor management iNTU Trafford Centre is a retail and leisure destination and it is important that the control room has the latest videowall technology" UVS managing director Steve Murphy said: “iNTU Trafford Centre is a retail and leisure destination enjoyed by millions of people each year and it is important that the control room has the latest videowall technology.” He adds, “We are delighted to have been involved in such a prestigious and important project.” Lee Barlow, Security Manager, iNTU Trafford Centre said “The security and safety of our customers, retailers and staff is our number one priority so having a control room that allows us to keep them safe is really important. The new videowall and meeting room screens allows us to do just that and we are really happy with them.” New control room with videowall The new control room was designed and refurbished by Intech Solutions, which specialise in technical and control room furniture including full control room fit-outs in the UK and worldwide. UVS also worked to deliver the videowall with its security integrator partner, Nottinghamshire-based Quadrant Security Group.

Brazilian infrastructure company Companhia Energética de Pernambuco (CELPE) is the main supplier of electricity in the country’s Northeastern state of Pernambuco. Headquartered in the state capital Recife, one of the most important economic and urban hubs in the country, CELPE serves a population of more than 8,8 million inhabitants in the 184 municipalities of Pernambuco. As part of the Brazilian government’s commitment to clean energy, the CELPE grid also contains several hydropower plants at rivers across the state. Detecting and deterring power thefts Providing electricity to private customers and industrial clients in the expansive region requires a 136,762 kilometers distribution network and 4,386 kilometers of transmission lines. As critical parts of the power infrastructure, CELPE operates 240 substations across Pernambuco. But as most of these stations are located in remote areas, the last few years saw an alarming increase of vandalism and theft of expensive power cables. Looking to safeguard its vital infrastructure, CELPE needed an integrated security solution that achieved three goals: firstly, keep out criminals and alert police upon security breaches. Secondly, provide seamless access control for the 300 maintenance teams in the field. And thirdly, connect fire alarm, communications, and voice evacuation on an integrated system that allows for remote management from CELPE headquarters. Bosch video security and intrusion detection systems  For video security, Bosch installed its AUTODOME IP starlight 7000 HD cameras, integrated via the Bosch Video Management System (BVMS) As a one-stop solutions provider, Bosch won the contract for equipping sixteen substations with video security systems, access control, communications, fire alarm and voice evacuation as well as intrusion alarm connected on the Building Integration System (BIS). For video security, Bosch installed its AUTODOME IP starlight 7000 HD cameras, integrated via the Bosch Video Management System (BVMS). The fire alarm revolves around smoke and heat detectors, while for voice alarm and evacuation, Plena Mixer Amplifiers are connected to driver loudspeakers. All systems and cameras are monitored by security personnel at the company’s control center in Recife. IP cameras with built-in video analytics For added security, selected cameras feature built-in video analytics to automatically set off intruder alarms and alert authorities. The system also fulfills the key customer requirement for remote management via the management system BIS (Building Integration System), including administration of user credentials and access rights for the 300 maintenance teams serving various substation sites. Successfully installed at sixteen stations in Pernambuco, the Bosch solution has proven to be an asset for CELPE and its personnel. Aside from safeguarding valuable infrastructure against criminals, the system has also streamlined communications among the service teams in the region by including elements such as conferencing and automatic alerts for fires and intrusions through a messenger system. The remote management of user access rights at the substations has enhanced the overall service level and prevented security breaches. Satisfied with the end-to-end solution, CELPE has now commissioned Bosch to equip approximately 240 electrical substations over the next years.

Global provider of digital and analog cable television, broadband internet, and fixed telephony in Serbia, SBB brings nearly a decade of experience in serving the largest customer base in Serbia and Montenegro. SBB is a part of the United Group, which operates in six countries of the former Yugoslavia, with sibling companies Telemach, Total TV, NetTV Plus, and more. Their services bring the most popular news, sports, films, children’s programs, and a variety of other content to their growing audiences. As the world continue to advance in the technological development and use of the Internet, companies like SBB play a crucial role in connecting people with each other and with the rest of the world – in the sharing and enrichment of vast varieties of information. Comprehensive surveillance solution As SBB’s business and customer base grow, so does its need to expand and upgrade the video surveillance systems at its numerous retail locations As SBB’s business and customer base grow, so does its need to expand and upgrade the video surveillance systems at its numerous retail locations. Nowadays, security in and around the locations is a given, while more important uses of video surveillance technology is monitoring and analysing customers coming into the store. With useful analytics on customer numbers, lengths of stay, peak times, and frequency of customer visits, the company will be able to improve human resources management, maximise the efficiency of services in the stores, and minimise security risks, all the while saving on costs. To do this, the company needs to upgrade its video surveillance setup from traditional CCTV systems to automated, smart solutions that not only facilitates state-of-the-art security but also accuracy in people counting, ease of setup, convenient storage, smooth and fast content transfer, and high video quality. It must also be easy to manage for the company’s information and security divisions to do their best at their jobs in this day and age. Netiks-VIVOTEK collaboration to equip SBB Netiks is a global distributor of network and communication equipment in Serbia and Montenegro and has been SBB’s partner of choice to bring its surveillance systems to the next level. The main focus of the current stage of upgrades is installing more than 50 of the latest FD8166A ultra-mini fixed dome network cameras cross the company’s retail locations which get 450,000 visitors every month and setting up the VAST 2 software to make everything work in perfect unison. FD8166A network cameras VIVOTEK’s people counting solution is a smart-edge video analytic function that delivers real-time, bi-directional counting data On the hardware side, the FD8166A has compact, low profile, yet stylish design that fit right into modern, sleek spaces of the retail locations, both on the perimeters and inside the stores. After the easy transition process from traditional equipment, aided by the built-in IEEE 802.3af compliant PoE technology the camera’s 2-megapixel CMOS sensor started capturing 1920x1080 resolution video at 30 FPS. With WDR enhancement and 3D Noise Reduction that come with the cameras, the information and security staffs can tap into crisp and clear images even in extremely bright and dark environments. The defogging capability further defends against adverse weather conditions. VIVOTEK’s people counting solution is a smart-edge video analytic function that delivers real-time, bi-directional counting data across a large field of view. With this function, counting and monitoring data are directly computed rather than relying on a dedicated computer. SBB applied the 2D people-counting solution to count and monitor its visitors. To date, the solution has achieved 98% accuracy. The system stores the data for 90 days and issues push notifications to relevant operators. To ensure uninterrupted access to information on security and flow, the camera supports H.264 compression, which significantly reduces data size, conserving network bandwidth and enabling real-time monitoring of all camera systems across the company’s retail scene. VAST 2 IP VMS Powering this advanced setup at SBB is also the VAST 2 software, which was also introduced to upgrade SBB’s surveillance system. VAST 2 is VIVOTEK’s top-shelf IP video management software (VMS). Behind the stylish, intuitive UI are a suite of functionalities that make the work of the staff easy and effective. VCA report and Smart Search in particular have driven the company's analytical efficiency to unprecedented heights. As central management software, VAST 2 is designed to oversee all surveillance products, which means that the system will be able to scale to more of the company’s retail locations as well as grow with the company's prosperous future expansion.