Network monitoring

Luxury travel safari experts at Discover Africa have announced the launch of HerdTracker, a groundbreaking AI-powered app designed to predict the movements of the Great Migration in East Africa up to 12 months in advance. By leveraging advanced machine learning techniques, HerdTracker is set to transform wildlife tracking and safari planning.  HerdTracker HerdTracker offers an unparalleled experience for both travelers planning their dream safari and wildlife enthusiasts keen to follow the majestic Great Migration from the comfort of their homes. This innovative app allows users to track the movements of over 2 million animals, including wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles, across the Serengeti and Masai Mara, offering real-time updates and precise predictions.  Optimising wildlife viewing The app combines ten years of sightings data to accurately map the movements of these migrating animals The app combines ten years of sightings data to accurately map the movements of these migrating animals. Users can easily access the most recent locations of the wildebeest herd, plan their safari trips around peak migration times, and even receive recommendations for the best safari camps and lodges to optimise their wildlife viewing experiences.  Virtual safari experience HerdTracker has already captivated over 10.6 million viewers, streaming incredible wildlife moments such as giraffes giving birth, massive wildebeest river crossings, and dramatic crocodile attacks. For those unable to travel, the app provides a virtual safari experience, bringing the wonders of the Great Migration directly to their screens.  AI prediction model The core technology behind HerdTracker's success is its sophisticated AI prediction model. The app employs the DBSCAN clustering algorithm organises historical sightings data into clusters based on proximity The app employs the DBSCAN clustering algorithm, a machine-learning technique that organises historical sightings data into clusters based on proximity. This method allows HerdTracker to pinpoint areas where wildlife sightings are densely packed, offering high accuracy in predicting future movements.  Wildlife movement data Andre Van Kets, co-founder of Discover Africa and HerdTracker, explains, "The DBSCAN algorithm is particularly effective for our purposes because it can handle the complex, irregular patterns seen in wildlife movement data." "It helps us identify clusters of sightings and predict where the herds are likely to move next, providing invaluable insights for both travellers and conservationists."  Wildlife tracking and safari planning By using this advanced algorithm, HerdTracker not only identifies dense clusters of animal activity but also detects outliers sightings that don't fit into any cluster. HerdTracker not only identifies dense clusters of animal activity but also detects outliers sightings This capability is crucial for understanding the nuances of migratory patterns and predicting future movements with greater precision. Van Kets adds, "This AI technology is a game-changer for wildlife tracking and safari planning. Our algorithm's ability to identify clusters of sightings and predict movements offers unprecedented accuracy and reliability."  User-friendly interface The app’s user-friendly interface makes it accessible to everyone, from seasoned travellers to those simply fascinated by wildlife. Users can explore detailed heatmaps showing the most likely future paths of animals, plan date-specific trips, and receive updates on significant wildlife events.  Once-in-a-lifetime experience Visitors understandably want to plan around the best possible place and time to witness the Great Migration While safari bookings have reflected a 65% increase in average spending, Discover Africa Safaris estimates that the cost of an African safari can vary between £640 to £1,600 per person per day, depending on the season and level of luxury (excluding flights). As a once-in-a-lifetime experience, visitors understandably want to plan around the best possible place and time to witness the Great Migration, driving the demand for innovative tools like HerdTracker.  Travel innovation Andre Van Kets concludes, "We’re proud to be the first to innovate in this space and utilise the valuable data we've collected to help as many people experience the beauty of the Great Migration – whether that's from the comfort of their sofa or the front-row seat of an open safari vehicle." "It's a testament to our commitment to redefine travel innovation and deliver unparalleled experiences to all." 

Darktrace, a pioneer in cybersecurity AI, has released its UK State of AI Cybersecurity Report, which surveyed over 200 security pioneers and practitioners across a broad array of industries. The research asked security pioneers their thoughts on the threats facing their businesses following the widespread adoption of AI, which has increased the speed, sophistication, and success of cyber attacks. Report findings Almost three-quarters (71%) of businesses are already seeing AI-powered cyber threats significantly impact their organisations, and almost all (92%) expect these threats will continue to trouble their organisations in the future. Respondents are particularly concerned that the threats will increase the volume and sophistication of exploits targeting known vulnerabilities (rated 3.73/5 in terms of concern level). Lack of preparedness 95% of respondents in the UK are not confident in their organisations’ ability to defend against AI-powered attacks While there is an awareness of these threats, the vast majority (95%) of respondents in the UK are not strongly confident in their organisations’ ability to defend against AI-powered attacks, and a half (48%) feel they are not adequately prepared for what’s to come. This lack of preparedness is a challenge for UK businesses given the rising prevalence of large-scale AI-driven attacks in the country, with high-profile targets falling victim such as Barclays and HSBC. AI-powered threats The UK faces the third highest number of attacks in the world, behind only the US and Ukraine. Half of UK businesses experienced some sort of breach or attack last year, including 74% of large businesses. However, on the global stage, Darktrace’s research found that other countries feel even less prepared to defend against AI-powered threats. Based on their security capabilities currently in place, Japan is the most unprepared (90%), followed by Australia (78%), Germany (78%), Netherlands (73%), Singapore (72%), UAE (71%), Spain (59%), France (54%) and the US (54%). AI-powered security tools British security professionals are aware that the best way to defend and protect their businesses from AI-driven threats is by having AI-enabled defences. 98% of security stakeholders believe that AI-driven solutions will boost their defences, and the majority (72%) are significantly or extremely confident in the ability of AI security to stop AI-powered threats. Two thirds (64%) consider adding AI-powered security tools to supplement their existing solutions as their top priority for improving their defences against AI-powered threats, with upping their cyber readiness as their second highest priority. Proactive approach to cybersecurity 65% of professionals are confident that AI-powered solutions will be able to stop AI-powered threats automatically AI-powered solutions are often the answer to improving cyber readiness. By using AI within security stacks, teams can take a more proactive approach to cybersecurity, where security teams and AI work in lockstep to protect businesses and improve resilience. Two in three (65%) British security professionals surveyed are confident that AI-powered solutions will be able to stop AI-powered threats automatically, reducing alert fatigue and freeing up time for security teams to consider their wider security strategy. System breach Hanah Darley, Head of Threat Research, commented, “We’ve seen time and time again that cybercriminals are using AI to infiltrate businesses at a faster and more accurate rate." "For businesses, it’s becoming a near inevitability that hackers will try to breach their systems and this is shown by three-quarters of those in the UK having already been impacted." AI within security stacks "The best way forward for security professionals is to play hackers at their own game and embrace AI within security stacks." "AI can automate time-consuming tasks, uplifting security teams to be able to think strategically and plan their next line of defences. At a time when the UK is a highly attractive target for attacks on the global stage, there’s no better way to secure a business.” Platform-based security measures When asked about their business’ security solutions, most (86%) respondents reported that their organisation prefers to purchase security capabilities as part of a broader platform instead of individual point products. The majority (89%) are also very confident that platform-orientated approaches are more effective at stopping threats than collections of point products. Over three quarters (79%) also consider reducing the cost and complexity of their cybersecurity stack as a key objective at their organisation.

There is much discussion amongst telecommunications companies about the automation journey of networks, and rightly so because artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and pressure on carriers to increase margins from connectivity whilst protecting prices, are proving powerful agents for change in their market. Impact of hybrid connectivity However, there’s one other development that is not receiving enough attention, and that’s the impact of hybrid connectivity - the bonding of networks. Here, Tristan Wood, UK MD of Livewire Digital, explains why this could prove in the maritime sector (in fact, in most others too) to be the biggest disrupter of all. Multiple networks and route traffic The cost of airtime has always been an important consideration for the user A PwC industry survey in 2023 cited that nearly half of the telecom CEOs polled worldwide predicted existential threats unless their companies adapted to the changing market. Add that other B2B operators are rapidly moving into the connectivity space and it’s easy to see why the battle for revenue could get nasty. At present, the dominant broadband communications in maritime remains satellite, and yet the cost of airtime has always been an important consideration for the user. This is where true hybrid comes in, the ability to bond multiple networks and route traffic via the most effective network. NexusWave Enter Inmarsat’s newly launched NexusWave, a “unified multi-dimensional network, delivering high-speed service, unlimited data, and global coverage at sea – all through a single provider.” This combines the traditional GEO satellite connectivity with more cost-effective and efficient services, such as Low Earth Orbit satellite (LEO) with terrestrial LTE cellular services when within range of coastal cell sites. Generative AI tools But let the company return for a moment to where it started, which is autonomy on the networks because this seems to be where so many telecom companies are putting much of their efforts.  These are a new generation of networks that use generative AI tools to self-monitor their operations and resolve technical issues, on-demand and beyond pre-defined design bounds. Undoubtedly this could revolutionise the telephony and the connectivity markets on a level never seen before. Automating tasks A key factor is how quickly the established players – and the less established ‘disrupters’ – will be in implementing Whatever the pace of take-up, the pathway from networks that automate tasks within pre-defined limits – Level 3 autonomy – to networks that can adapt to the unknown – Level 5 – is inevitable. A key factor is how quickly the established players – and the less established ‘disrupters’ – will be in implementing it, and to what extent. Manual maintenance and monitoring According to TM Forum, the global industry association for service providers and their suppliers, most telcos (84%) are not even at Level 3 autonomy for their networks, which means they are somewhere between manual maintenance and monitoring at one end, and closed-loop operations with partial and selective artificial intelligence (AI) in very specific environments at the other. According to the Capgemini Research Institute, most telcos aspire to reach at least Level 3 autonomy by 2028. Why does all this matter? With autonomy, come benefits, not just in terms of quality of service (QoS) and experience (QoE), but also commercially. Through various autonomous network initiatives implemented over the past two years, many telcos worldwide have harvested improvements in operational performance, by as much as 20%, and operational expenditure (Op Ex) by 18%. The economics alone stack up. Adaptive and dynamic network For telcos embracing satellite and cellular, or any other networks in their proposition, the benefits will be even greater The company simply doesn’t have time to go into the technical detail of implementing autonomy, be it fixed line, cellular, or satellite network, but the broad principles will be pretty adjacent. These may include customer-facing conditions such as subscriber churn and behaviour predictive analysis, predictive maintenance, network slice optimisation (i.e., customising their networks for different applications and customers), adaptive and dynamic network policies, and network failure prediction, among many others. Taken together, however, the benefits can and indeed should be enormous. However, for those telcos embracing satellite and cellular, or indeed any other networks in their proposition, the benefits will be even greater. Which leads us nicely back to hybrid. Welcome to a three-dimensional world So far, the company has been talking about introducing autonomy in a vertical sense, across a linear network, whether on land it may be a fibre or 5G, for instance. As the company has already seen, introducing AI and automation into national networks like these at scale, is a colossal enough task on its own, notwithstanding the additional challenge that many if not most countries class networks as critical national infrastructure (CNI), meaning that stability and compliance are not just good to have, they are legal obligations. However, if the company are talking about true hybrid connections, not just failover and redundancy, which are not the same things and have few of the benefits of hybrid - then the company are moving conceptually from the vertical integration of autonomy to the three-dimensional. Seamless connection At its core, true hybrid networks become ‘heterogenous’ – turning a single bonded connection - fixed line, cellular, satellite, emergency services network, whatever the underlay or infrastructure – into one seamless connection. The benefits of which, for the user, are off the grid. In short, with true hybrid, the company are talking about ubiquitous, always-on, guaranteed connectivity, and intelligent management of physical, virtual and financial resources to suit an almost limitless range of conditions. In government and business-critical environments, this is even more important because lives and livelihoods could be at stake as well. And as Inmarsat’s NexusWave shows, the maritime sector will be amongst the first to cash in on the benefits. It's Hybrid but not as users know it This architecture creates a virtual overlay that bonds underlying private or public WAN connections Central to hybrid is SD-WAN - a technology that uses software-defined networking concepts to distribute network traffic across a wide area network, or WAN. This architecture creates a virtual overlay that bonds underlying private or public WAN connections, such as fibre, wireless, satellite, or cellular. As a result, hybrid SD-WAN networking can agnostically combine and transition between these networks. In this way, multiple network technologies are able to work seamlessly together, actively sharing the load and resources, by combining, and binding together a potentially unlimited variety of bearers into a single ‘pipe’. Optimise performance and reduce costs Delivering a faster and, crucially, more reliable service, a hybrid platform adapts to a range of potential variables, depending upon each bearer’s performance and any other environmental conditions affecting it, to optimise performance and reduce costs. Similar to how voice calls are routed for minimum cost, settings in a hybrid environment can be adjusted to use the most cost-effective option, like prioritising cellular over satellite if it works well enough. This saves money by making the best use of the most cost-effective capacity.  Future connectivity services The same approach should be taken for QoS to ensure important applications perform well despite limited network capacity and changing bandwidth and latency. Being able to integrate existing with future connectivity services is a powerful proposition that can enable more efficient systems, workflows, and people, and there are many underlying communication technologies willing to pick up this baton. Addressing coverage, bandwidth, reliability, and cost No single network service can address the exponential demand for seamless connectivity Despite recent advances in telecommunications technology - from 5G and disruptive low-cost LEO satellite services – no single network service can address the exponential demand for seamless connectivity on the move.  Nor is there any provider that can offer a single comprehensive solution that can address coverage, bandwidth, reliability, and most importantly cost. Monetisation of hybrid is coming The concept of agnostically making use of any carrier network, based on location, cost, or quality of service, should dramatically reduce the impact of the problem, and yet awareness and the application of ‘bonding’ hybrid technology are nowhere near where they should be as machines and people demand ever faster ‘always-on’ connectivity. The market opportunities are seemingly unlimited for the adoption of true hybrid. Designed to meet the challenges presented by a fast-moving train traveling through different areas of network coverage, smart networking enables a dynamic connection through various operators using a range of underlying communication technologies such as 3G, 4G, 5G, Wi-Fi, and satellite. Intelligent connection Many other industries spanning defence, space exploration, connected and autonomous vehicles, emergency services, telehealth, cloud-based HPC, as well as AI and machine learning, require more than just connectivity; they demand an "intelligent connection." This unstoppable process is ushering in significant opportunities for telecommunications companies (and OEMs, and many other technology-driven enterprises besides) to revolutionise their operations, and the same applies to consumer services.  Automation and AI Wider applications of automation and AI in many other realms of life are forcing players to scale up and/or hasten From connected, intelligent and software-defined vehicle manufacture to aircraft as a service, smart aircraft and mobility, the speed of change and the wider application of automation and AI in many other realms of life are forcing players to scale up and/or hasten increasing horizontal consolidation of the sector. In short, hybrid is here to stay, and users can read a free report on this very subject of how telcos could be impacted. At the crest of the wave As mentioned earlier, maritime operators have long been exposed to an ever-greater need for both data and speed of connection onboard their vessels, running in parallel with the problem of ensuring ubiquitous connectivity regardless of location. Couple this with the challenge of security and efficiency of communications and it’s easy to see why the history of maritime connectivity has been beset with multiple, fragmented systems and data caps, limited speeds, and patchy coverage, not to mention the growing need to counter cyber-attack. Inmarsat’s NexusWave meets all these challenges, and sitting at the heart of this is RazorLink, a British invention already in use on land in defence, first responder, and commercial sectors, which uses SD-WAN to bond, control and harmonise maritime network connectivity, efficiency, and cost. So, what’s the issue here for telecommunication companies? Big money will eventually follow the adoption of true hybrid. If true hybrid enables customers to be network agnostic, which it does, then everything is up for grabs But if enterprises large and small are following B2B service providers who bundle connectivity with their services such as desktop management and enterprise mobility; cloud-based solutions and software as a service (SaaS), the market risks even greater fragmentation. If true hybrid enables customers to be network agnostic, which it does, then everything is up for grabs. Embedding true hybrid and cash Surely, it makes sense for telcos to make the first move and to do so early before others move into this space.  While they are at such a crucial pivot point for the survival of their business models, it makes sense for telecommunication companies to embed true hybrid and cash in on the huge market opportunities it brings with it.

The Buncombe County Public Safety Communications Centre (BCPSC) became the 145th Emergency Communications Centre (ECC) in the United States and the 13th ECC in the state of North Carolina to implement the Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP).  Launched in 2011 as a public-private partnership, TMA’s ASAP service is designed to increase the accuracy and efficiency of calls for service from alarm monitoring centres to Emergency Communication Centres (ECCs).   Agreement with MCP TMA signed a multi-year managed services agreement with MCP in June Buncombe County went live on June 21st and 22nd with the following alarm companies: Rapid Response Monitoring; Vector Security; Alert360; Securitas; Quick Response; Brinks Home Security; Dynamark Monitoring; ADT; Protection One; Guardian Protection; National Monitoring Centre; Vivint; Johnson Controls (Tyco); Security Central; United Central Control; CPI Security; and Affiliated Monitoring. TMA signed a multi-year managed services agreement with Mission Critical Partners (MCP) in June to power the growth of its ASAP Service. The goal of the new partnership with MCP is to expedite the expansion of the ASAP Service and drive the development of a cloud-based solution. The next-generation solution will allow for the real-time sharing of rich data, including camera video streams, live location, health information, photos, and interior blueprints, dramatically improving situational awareness for emergency responders.

AMG Systems, the pioneer in highly robust connectivity and transmission solutions for IP Video, is seeing increasing demand for the skills of its growing Professional Services team which has been accumulating expertise in custom network design, configuration and deployment with a view to serving systems integrators – enabling them to deliver highly secure, scalable and available networks for more customers installing AMG Systems’ UK-manufactured industrial edge switches. As a Juniper Networks partner, AMG Systems can offer a complete network solution under one roof. AMG Professional Services is able to design, configure and test the entire network from edge devices (AMG’s specialty), right through to the core network powered by Juniper’s technology. This simplifies the process for clients and allows AMG to provide a more comprehensive, end-to-end professional service. AI-powered network solutions AMG Professional Services has been building up its team of experienced network engineers Toby Featherstone, Technical Services Manager, AMG Systems, explained: “By combining our expertise in edge network design for security systems with Juniper’s industry-pioneering secure and AI-powered network solutions we can deliver superior network designs for our clients.” AMG Professional Services has been building up its team of experienced network engineers alongside its market-pioneering networking products for several years now. This preparation means that the AMG Professional Services team is now ready to respond rapidly and effectively to whatever network design, configuration, hardening and deployment work that it is assigned. Network design services AMG Professional Services can also provide consultancy for the initial phases of a project when security threats are being determined and vulnerability assessments are being carried out. The team is structured to allow customers to use as much, or as little, help as they require. So, customers can elect to outsource design and network configuration projects end to end, or instead bring AMG’s expertise in for specific roles such as network hardening or testing prior to a new physical security system going live. The team is structured to allow customers to use as much, or as little, help as they require AMG Systems increasingly acts as a strategic partner for installers and systems integrators that need to optimise surveillance and other management and operational systems, using existing network infrastructure wherever possible. So, from day one, AMG Professional Services has the technical expertise and capacity to offer full network design services, pre-and post-sales support, full low- and high-level network design, as well as providing testing and training facilities. Configuration of network infrastructure Steve Clarke, Managing Director of AMG Systems, said: “With the advent of AI and increasingly sophisticated video analytics built into surveillance cameras, plus audio analytics in smart sensors and increasing complexity of networks, all challenged by the proliferation of bad actors attempting to disrupt critical services which depend increasingly on those networks, it became increasingly clear to us that focusing on robust design and hardened configuration of network infrastructure met a growing market need. So, it’s the right time to expand AMG Professional Services. Our skills are set to experience unprecedented demand.” Toby Featherstone of AMG Systems, added: “We can lead from the pre-sales stage to make sure networks are designed robustly, with redundancy – working all the way through to configuration and testing stages to ensure prompt reliable and scalable solutions are delivered on time and under budget." Zero networking skills Featherstone added: “If you go back just 15 years nearly all surveillance systems were analogue CCTV-based. Zero networking skills were needed in this market then." "However, today AMG Systems increasingly finds itself filling network skills gaps particularly in the UK and Ireland as customers increasingly want to take advantage of the latest intelligent devices which are highly dependent on well configured, highly secure, robust and available networks.”

Innodisk, a pioneering global AI solution provider, has officially inaugurated Phase II of its R&D and production centre in Yilan, Taiwan. In response to the massive market demand driven by the edge AI wave, Innodisk has transformed the manufacturing plant into the group's AI core base. With the increased production capacity, Innodisk is ready to collaborate with global clients to deploy edge AI solutions. At the same time, Innodisk is also inviting global tech talent to join its teams around the world. Innodisk's innovative development Gearing Up Production to Drive AI Business Growth The year 2024 marks a period of innovative energy for Innodisk, with the simultaneous launch of new products and technologies. The latest manufacturing plant will begin production on various edge AI products, focusing on three core technologies: "AI Acceleration,” “Vision-Driven,” and “Custom Integration.” For "AI Acceleration," Innodisk's subsidiary Aetina recently launched the NVIDIA MGX Server, the group's first edge AI server. Innodisk also introduced industrial-grade CXL 2.0 memory and E1.S/E3.S edge server SSDs for AI and high-speed edge computing. "Custom Integration" displays group's core spirit of small-volume, diverse, and highly customised keys "Vision-Driven" showcases Innodisk's innovative development in edge AI machine vision, including the pioneering MIPI over Type-C extension patent technology for embedded cameras. "Custom Integration" embodies the group's core spirit of small-volume, diverse, and highly customised solutions. With the accelerated development of global edge AI and the increased production capacity of the manufacturing plant, Innodisk expects to speed up the realisation of innovative technologies and enable the effective deployment of products and AI solutions in practical scenarios. Demonstrating edge AI solutions in practice Innodisk set an AOI AI secondary inspection key for smart manufacturing to enhance production While promoting smart transformation for clients, Innodisk is also implementing these practices by transforming its production centre into a model for smart manufacturing and management. Collaborating with Aetina, NVIDIA, and through the Metropolis for Factories framework, Innodisk developed an AOI AI secondary inspection solution for smart manufacturing to enhance production line efficiency. Additionally, Innodisk's subsidiary Millitronic, in collaboration with Schneider Electric and ASPEED Technology, developed a panoramic smart visualisation remote management solution for the plant's data centre.  This solution transforms traditional on-site inspections into real-time remote management, displaying data and enabling remote monitoring. Furthermore, the iCAP Air solution, announced this year, will connect multiple sensors to measure temperature, CO2, and other air indicators, providing real-time alerts for abnormal values and facilitating prompt facility management. This comprehensive application will ensure employee health and product quality. Creating a base for training AI talent With the inauguration of the Phase II manufacturing plant, Innodisk is focusing on recruiting AI-related talent. The company, which has locations in the USA, Europe, Japan, China, and more, invites global tech professionals to join its team. This expansion supports Innodisk's goal of promoting innovation and advancing edge AI solutions worldwide.

Amidst the challenges of a prevailing economic downturn, the retail sector finds itself grappling with an unparalleled rise in incidents of shoplifting, theft, and burglaries. The disconcerting scenes witnessed on London’s Oxford Street in August 2023,​ where crowds gathered, looting as many stores as possible, sent shockwaves across the nation’s retailers. This alarming surge in retail crime has put retailers on high alert, as they contend with a rising tide of security concerns.  Shoplifting concerns Recent data from the Union of Shop Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW), has raised alarming concerns: shoplifting rates have surged by an unprecedented 24%.​ In the first half of 2023 alone, there were approximately 8 million reported shoplifting incidents. With the ongoing burden of the cost of living crisis and the approaching festive season, it is expected that these figures will keep surging.  Implementing robust security measures Theft and prevention strategies cost retailers approximately £2 billion in 2021/2022 While more help from the Government to support retail workers and the businesses shoplifters target is certainly needed, the implementation of robust security measures will significantly contribute to deterring these crimes from occurring in the first place. British retailers spend millions on tools to deter and catch shoplifters inside stores, from CCTV and security guards to electronic tagging and alarms. The Grocer reported that theft and prevention strategies cost retailers approximately £2 billion in 2021/2022. Despite these initial costs, other threats are at play beyond the shop floor. Break-ins by criminal gangs For many large town centre stores and supermarkets, and units in retail parks, the rear doors and delivery areas are commonly targeted by criminal gangs. It’s not uncommon for thefts to occur from pallets or cages that have been unloaded from lorries and sit waiting to be moved into the building. After-hours break-ins are a risk for all store owners too, particularly over the festive season when a lot of high-value stock has been delivered to shops and supermarkets. Addressing anti-social behaviour  The additional fencing was deemed an essential measure to safeguard the community Anti-social behaviour also poses a challenge for retailers. In 2022, an Aldi based in Derby​ invested in security fencing to protect staff and deter loitering groups. The additional fencing was deemed an essential measure to safeguard the community, as dangerous items were frequently found outside the store, including weapons and hypodermic needles.  So how do physical security solutions such as fencing and gates help better protect retail establishments such as supermarkets and edge-of-town retail park shops? Fencing and gates: a critical component of retail security  1. Risk assessment and target hardening  A thorough risk assessment will identify potential weak spots that require protection. ‘Target hardening’ involves implementing physical security measures that become more robust as they approach the target. This helps deter intruders while ensuring ease of access for customers and staff.  2. Effective perimeter security  Opt for difficult-to-climb security fencing that provides a robust obstacle against thieves, vandals, and intruders Selecting fencing solutions according to the potential threats, site characteristics, and topography is crucial. It is important to specify fencing that strikes a balance and maintains a welcoming appearance while safeguarding external areas of the store or warehouse from potential harm and unauthorised access. Solid fencing which provides concealment can help to conceal expensive goods and remove them as a target for opportunistic theft.  Opt for difficult-to-climb security fencing that provides a robust obstacle against thieves, vandals, and intruders. I recommend selecting a sufficiently tall and robust fence such as an acoustic barrier. Its noise-reducing properties are often beneficial for these types of sites too.  3. Controlling vehicular speeds and access  To enhance security, consider controlling vehicular speeds and access. One effective approach is the installation of bollards at the ends of traditional high streets. This practice is already commonplace as a means of safeguarding against hostile vehicle attacks, but it can also play a pivotal role in preventing quick getaways of vehicles involved in potential heists. Additionally, employing road blockers and sliding gates at the rear entrances of delivery areas would serve to fortify security further. These measures can help in delaying vehicles, allowing for necessary checks to be conducted.  4. Balancing security with aesthetics  The presence of high-security fencing can also make a site more of a target for vandals and burglars Another challenge is avoiding creating an imposing presence, especially important for areas situated near residential communities. The presence of high-security fencing can also make a site more of a target for vandals and burglars. To minimise this risk consider specifying timber fencing and traffic barriers to secure car parks, providing both security and a welcoming atmosphere for shoppers.  Taking an integrated approach Combine secure perimeter fencing with effective lighting in places with shaded areas and at doors, gates, and shop windows, alongside Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems (PIDS), and strategically placed CCTV. These measures will hinder unauthorised entry and escape, increasing the likelihood of detection and apprehension.  Prioritising employee wellbeing  Installing robust security fencing, complemented by CCTV, good lighting, and guarding, creates a safe environment Installing robust security fencing, complemented by CCTV, good lighting, and guarding, creates a safe environment for employees. This not only safeguards their well-being but also provides peace of mind that they are protected effectively in the case of a burglary or crime.  When selecting security products for retail sites, it is advisable to opt for items that have undergone rigorous testing and carry relevant certifications for their security level. Each component should meet industry-specific standards for its intended purpose and originate from manufacturers accredited under ISO 9001:2015. This ensures a high standard of quality and reliability in safeguarding the premises.  High-quality security fencing As the cost-of-living crisis continues, crime rates increase, and the festive season approaches, the time to act and implement on-site security is now. By investing in comprehensive security measures, retailers can protect their assets, employees, and customers, ensuring a safer and more secure shopping environment for all. High-quality security fencing is also a sound investment, that requires little or no maintenance once installed. The best fencing solutions are extremely weather-resistant, and won’t suffer from rust or corrosion. With all sectors preparing to ride the rapids of recession in the coming year, improving on-site security while selecting cost-effective measures, is one surefire way to protect your people, your property, and your profits from harm. 

The average business owner or investor has some kind of security precaution in place, especially in the after-hours when there are fewer deterrents to inhibit criminal activity. Security guards, video surveillance systems, motion sensor lights, or even just fake cameras placed around the property are some of the common options people choose.  Future of overnight security Smart business owners are starting to realise, however, that some of these traditional security measures are becoming antiquated and no longer cutting. The now and future of overnight security is in remote guarding. Pioneered by companies like Los Angeles-based Elite Interactive Solutions, which was founded back in 2007, remote guarding is revolutionising the overnight security business. Minimising criminal activity Remote guarding is fast becoming the most popular choice among commercial end-user property owners Remote guarding utilises a combination of cutting-edge technology, “digital guards,” highly trained security agents, and local law enforcement if and when necessary to minimise the potential of criminal activity. For those adequately enlightened to its overwhelmingly impressive crime prevention capabilities, remote guarding is fast becoming the most popular choice among commercial end-user property owners to secure and protect their investments. What Is remote guarding?  Remote guarding is a revolutionary concept and increasing trend in security systems that utilises a combination of methods to effectively analyse potential threats to property. Cameras and/or other monitoring devices running highly advanced algorithmic software are installed in strategic areas or vulnerable places onsite and remotely located security agents are immediately notified of any activity within a designated perimeter of the property. A blend of AI, cybersecurity, and video analytics When properly deployed by an expert provider, the technology stack includes a proprietary blend of video analytics, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and more. Done right, “noise” is effectively filtered out, allowing agents to act on legitimate alerts and achieve zero false alarms communicated to first responders. Today, there are a lot of terms and descriptions tossed around about remote guarding, remote video, virtual guarding, etc., but those attributes must be present to represent the true definition of the offering and its many virtues. Realtime situational awareness Many systems have a two-way speaker that allows the security agent to give a verbal warning When specially trained security agents are alerted to trespassers, possible intruders, or other suspicious activity, they analyse the situation in real-time and determine the necessary level of action. Many systems have a two-way speaker that allows the security agent to give a verbal warning, known as a voice-down, to the individual(s) that they are being watched. Most perpetrators, often believing the response is emanating directly from security personnel on the property itself rather than from a remote command centre, flee immediately. However, if the threat persists, the security agent enlists local law enforcement to get on the scene.  Customised remote guarding When properly deployed, remote guarding systems are also customised to specific properties. A team of consultants visits the client’s property to evaluate its vulnerabilities and where to best place cameras and/or other monitoring devices for system efficacy. Traditional security shortfalls  According to Keith Bushey, a retired commander for the Los Angeles Police Department, there is much frustration between law enforcement officers and potential victims of crime due to the historically unreliable performance of traditional burglar alarm systems and central monitoring stations. He states about 90% of security-related calls are false alarms, a problem that has been well-documented through the years. Onsite challenges When a legitimate emergency does occur, the perpetrators have often already done their damage When a legitimate emergency does occur, the perpetrators have often already done their damage and/or escaped by the time law enforcement arrives.  Onsite security guards are not the remedy either as they bring their own set of issues and challenges.  Unexpected costs Traditional security systems can also have unexpected costs. The cost is not only in the security guards’ paycheck or the cost of the equipment itself. The cost comes when an actual incident occurs. In worst-case scenarios, the security guard(s) are injured, the business suffers inventory loss, and/or damage is sustained to the property.  The medical and other costs for the security guard(s), the loss of inventory, property damage, deployment of law enforcement resources, and possible fallout of legal expenses all add up. Even in the best-case scenario, false alarm expenses incur if law enforcement is dispatched. These, among many others, are some of the primary issues that remote guarding resoundingly answers as a superior alternative. A bounty of benefits Remote guarding systems have been proven to cut costs and be more effective than traditional security systems. Even though the monthly monitoring costs of remote guarding are significantly higher than traditional intrusion detection system monitoring, the much higher effectiveness in crime reduction, elimination of false alarms, and augmenting or replacement of manned guards result in a substantially higher return on investment (ROI) to the end user. Easy tracking of threats The security cameras already have their image captured on record, making them easier to track down For example, case studies have demonstrated reduced security costs for clients by 60%, on average. These reductions have come from the costs of security staff, inventory, or property loss, plus saving money on insurance premiums and deductibles. The nature of remote guarding reduces the risk and costs of false alarms, with professional security agents able to determine an actual threat before law enforcement is called. In a rare instance when a perpetrator escapes before law enforcement arrives or can detain the individual(s), the security cameras already have their image captured on record, making them easier to track down and identify. Reduction of false alarms The significant reduction in false alarms is greatly appreciated by law enforcement, as it allows them to focus on real emergencies or crises. Better relationships are also developed between clients and law enforcement, as remote guarding systems are highly reliable in providing accurate and real-time information to officers as they approach the scene. In short, it assists law enforcement in doing their job more effectively, as well as more safely thanks to having eyewitness information before engaging in an active crime scene.  Partnership When you combine the decreased cost with the increased efficiency and success rate, it is easy to see why many commercial end-user property owners across the country are making the shift to remote guarding. It’s also an outstanding opportunity for professional security dealers and integrators to partner with a remote guarding services provider to bring a superior solution to their end customers and pick up a recurring monthly revenue stream in the process.

It’s no secret that the data security sector is constantly changing. It has an annual CGR of about 12.3%. Future trends in data security Much of this has to do with the rise of cybercrime in recent years, with reports showing that cyberattacks happen as often as every 39 seconds. To combat the growing rate of cybercrime, data security has been on the rise. As we journey further into this era, it becomes evident that a spectrum of significant trends is molding the future of data security. This exploration delves into a selection of these trends, unraveling their importance and the potential implications they carry  1. AI security tools will increase  Artificial Intelligence is also being used in the development of smart attacks and malware The introduction of Artificial Intelligence in the data security industry brought significant changes, especially in cybersecurity. AI has been the golden standard for face detection, natural language processing, automated threat detection, and automated security systems. Additionally, Artificial Intelligence is also being used in the development of smart attacks and malware, bypassing even the latest security protocols in data control. And as time progresses, AI security tools will flourish and dominate the scene. Let’s take a more in-depth look at three of the top AI security tools. Targeted attack analysis tool  Manufacturers utilise targeted attack analysis tools to uncover targeted and stealthy attacks. Artificial Intelligence can be applied to the program’s capabilities, processes, and knowledge. For instance, Symantec launched this tool to combat the Dragon 2.0 attack in 2022. The phishing attack reprimanded multiple energy companies while trying to gain access to their operational networks. Targeted Attack Analysis Tools can analyse incidents and look for similarities from previous situations. They also help detect suspicious activities and collect all the necessary data to determine whether a specific action is malicious. Intercept X tool  Results from the Intercept X Tool feature high accuracy and a low false positive rate Sophos, a British security hardware and software company, launched the Intercept X Tool. It engages a neural network that records and analyses data like a human brain. Sophos’ Intercept X Tool can extract features from a single file and perform a deep analysis. It detects malicious activities within 20 milliseconds. Plus, it’s also trained to work on bi-directional sharing and real-world feedback of threat intelligence. Results from the Intercept X Tool feature high accuracy and a low false positive rate.  IBM Watson Technology  IBM’s QRadar Advisor uses IBM Watson Technology, a unique AI tool for fighting cyber attacks. Artificial Intelligence can auto-investigate activities and indicators for potential exploitation or compromise. With cognitive reasoning, IBM Watson Technology can present critical insights to accelerate the response cycle. Security analysts can utilise this technology to search for threat incidents, reducing the risk of letting them fly under the radar. 2. Blockchain as a security solution  It guarantees no points of failure or hackable entrances that can expose datasets inside the system Blockchain is a type of distributed ledger technology (DLT) that aims to establish trust within an untrusting ecosystem. Today it’s one of the most robust cybersecurity technologies in the industry. Blockchain utilises a decentralised ledger system, but your team members can still gain access to transparent information in the cloud. Members can also record, pass along, and view necessary transactional data in the blockchain. The entire blockchain process maintains data integrity within the system while establishing trust among team members. It guarantees no points of failure or hackable entrances that can expose datasets inside the system. Cybersecurity, biometrics Cybersecurity primarily benefits from these features because blockchain can create a secure and robust wall between data and hackers. On top of that, blockchain ledgers can include biometrics like fingerprints and retina scans. These prevent hackers from accessing any private data. Because blockchain is decentralised, it also limits hackable data. Together with the technology’s record-keeping system, each node is provided insight into data manipulation exposing real-time cybercrime attempts.  3. Increased and widened access control  Without access control, expect your company to be open to security issues, including theft, data loss, and breach of data Access control is critical in data security. More than a valuable security tool, business leaders can use access control to regulate people accessing any given resource. A company with an IT security setting can control who has the liberty to edit certain files. One of the primary goals of access control is to minimise threats or attacks to organisations and businesses to keep people and data secure. Without access control, expect your company to be open to security issues, including theft, data loss, and breach of data protection laws. Benefits The benefits of increased and widened access control include: Identifying who can access and control your data at specific time intervals. Protecting data from overwriting, accidental deletion, and malicious intent. User permissions that can be readily changed. Compliance and regulation with data privacy laws. Central management of access to data through a reporting portal or a dashboard.  Multi-factor authentication Access control comes in various types and systems, so it’s critical to know the features of what you’re looking for. The most common type is multi-factor authentication or MFA. It involves multiple steps before logging in, requiring the user to enter other relevant information besides the password. Some other examples of information include biometrics, answering a security question, or entering a code sent to the user’s email address. Two-factor authentication, role-based access control Two-factor authentication further prevents unauthorised entries that can result in unnecessary data possession Two-factor authentication further prevents unauthorised entries that can result in unnecessary data possession.  Another type of access control is role-based access control. In this setup, only one individual can set up access guidelines and grant permissions to specific team members within an organisation. 4. Greater use of the zero-trust security model  The zero-trust security model is a framework that requires every user within and outside the organisation to undergo authentication, authorisation, and validation. These are all essential to ensure proper security configuration before access is granted to the company’s applications and data. A zero-trust model assumes that anyone can cause data breaches and that a traditional network edge is not taken into effect. Moreover, it addresses the following modern-day challenges: Hybrid cloud environments. Security of remote workers. Ransomware threats.  This framework utilises the combination of multiple advanced technologies, including:  A risk-based multi-factor authentication. Endpoint security.  Identity protection.  Cloud workload technology.  The zero-trust model uses all these innovative tools for system identification, user verification, access consideration, and system security maintenance. Constant validation and monitoring Enforcing strict policies and compliance with data privacy laws are also essential Additionally, it also considers data encryption, email security, and asset verification before establishing connections with applications. The architecture of a zero-trust framework requires constant validation and monitoring of the users and the devices they are using. Enforcing strict policies and compliance with data privacy laws are also essential. More importantly, the zero trust architecture requires all organisations to be aware of all their available services and accounts to gain complete control of data handling and manipulation. 5. Increased privacy regulations  Privacy regulations and policies guide organisations in proper data control, handling, and security. These policies guide organisations in proper data control, handling, and security. As a responsible business owner, you must comply with these regulations to avoid legal issues. With cybersecurity attacks becoming common, expect increased and stricter privacy regulations to be released in the next few years. While current policies are still taken into effect, various modifications and adjustments will occur to compete with the rising numbers of data breaches, thefts, data loss, and more.  California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) Currently, the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) is the most comprehensive legislation on state data privacy. It only started to take effect on January 1, 2023. The CPRA introduces the following principles: Broad individual consumer rights. Significant duties of people who need to collect sensitive and personal information. Additional definitions of data privacy and security. An individual’s duties include releasing information about data collection to concerned data subjects and proper access, correction, and deletion of information. Final thoughts  2023 is a big year for data security. Trends such as increased adoption of zero-trust policies, a greater reliance on AI security tools, and the implementation of blockchain as a security solution are all things we expect to see shortly.  Staying up-to-date with these trends is important for keeping your business current and ensuring that you’re adhering to new and changing regulations. Doing so can give you an edge over the competition and keep you out of legal hot water.

Companies at GSX 2023 emphasised new ways that technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the cloud can address long-standing issues in the security market. Among the exhibitors at the event in Dallas were companies seeking creative ways to apply technology, lower costs, and make the world a safer place. Reflecting on the exhibition, here are some additional takeaways. Expanding AI at the edge  i-PRO is a company reflecting the continued expansion of edge AI capability in the security market. Today, more than half of the company’s lineup supports AI at the edge so the customer has a wide choice of form factors when seeking to leverage the feature set.  AI processing relay, extended warranty i-PRO is increasing their warranty period from 5 to 7 years, which could be a lifetime warranty in some cases I-PRO also has an “AI processing relay” device that accepts non-AI video streams and applies edge analytics. AI has progressed from a high-end technology to a feature available in a variety of cameras at different price points. i-PRO is also increasing its warranty period from 5 to 7 years, which could be a lifetime warranty in some cases depending on a customer’s refresh schedule and lifecycle management. Active Guard, MonitorCast The company’s video management system (Video Insight) is continuing to build new features including “Active Guard,” an integrated metadata sorter. Their access control platform, MonitorCast, is a Mercury-based solution that is tightly integrated with Video Insight. Their embedded recorders now have PoE built in.  “We can move at a faster pace to fill out our product line since leaving Panasonic,” says Adam Lowenstein, Director of Product Management. “We can focus our business on adapting to the market.” Emphasis on retail and other verticals  Shoplifting is a timely issue, and retail is a vertical market that got a lot of attention at GSX 2023. “We see a lot of retailers who are primarily interested in protecting employee safety, but also assets,” says Brandon Davito, Verkada’s SVP of Product and Operations. “Shrinkage is a CEO-level priority.”  “Retailers are getting more engaged with security posture, instead of letting perpetrators walk,” Davito adds. Intrusion detection Verkada has an intrusion product that will notify a central station if there is an alarm On the alarm side, Verkada has an intrusion product that will notify a central station if there is an alarm, and operators can review videos to confirm the alarm. Other capabilities seeking to discourage trespassers include sirens, strobes, and “talkdown” capabilities.  International expansion Verkada continues to expand internationally with 16 offices in all, including Sydney, Tokyo, and London. The core value proposition is to enable customers to manage their onsite infrastructure more simply, including new elements such as PTZ cameras, intercoms, and visitor management. Verkada emphasises ease of use, including a mobile application to allow access to be managed across the user base. Forging partnerships “We are committed to the channel and industry, and we continue to build relationships and expand our reach,” says Davito. Among the industry relationships is a new partnership with Convergint, which was hinted at during the show and announced later the same day. They are also expanding their partnerships with Schlage, Allegion, and ASSA ABLOY.  Working with other verticals They offer new features for K -12 schools, and a new alarm platform is easier to deploy and manage Verkada has also found success across multiple other verticals, notably healthcare, where they integrate with an electronic medical records system. They offer new features for K-12 schools, and a new alarm platform is easier to deploy and manage. They are integrating wireless locks to secure interior doors in schools, looking to secure the perimeter, and installing guest management systems. Transitioning the mid-market to the cloud  Salient is squarely focused on the “mid-market,” a large swath of systems somewhere between small businesses and enterprise-level systems. Pure cloud systems are not as attractive to this market, which has a built-out infrastructure of on-premise systems. Adding a camera to an existing system is easier and less expensive than tying it to the cloud. Benefits of cloud It’s a market that may not be ready for the pure cloud, but there are benefits to be realised from adding a cloud element to existing systems. “We are continuing to augment our premise-based solutions with added cloud capabilities and flexibility,” says Sanjay Challa, Salient’s Chief Product Officer.  The feedback Salient hears from their customers is “I want to own my data.” The hybrid cloud approach offers the right mix of control, flexibility, and unit economics. Cloud add-on capabilities We want to provide the flexibility for customers to go full-cloud as it becomes more economically attractive" Cloud add-on capabilities include bringing more intelligence about system operation to the user via the cloud. Over time, Salient expects to sell more cloud-centric offerings based on feedback from integrators and customers. “We want to provide the flexibility for customers to go full-cloud as it becomes more economically attractive over time,” says Challa.  Vaidio AI technology Salient seeks to be a transition pioneer to help customers realise the path to the cloud. Their approach is “crawl, walk, run,” and helping customers make the transition at each stage. Salient has added AI to its product offering, incorporating Vaidio AI technology from IronYun into a powerful suite and broad array of on-premise analytics, which are gaining traction. The seamless approach makes it easy for customers to embrace AI analytics, although Salient remains broadly committed to open systems. Addressing ‘soft’ features for integrators AMAG is in the process of enhancing its product line with the next generation of access control panels. However, “product” is just part of the new developments at AMAG. In addition to “hard” features (such as products), the company is looking to improve its “soft” features, too; that is, how they work with the integrator channel. Integrator channel Rebuilding a process to make your organisation more efficient, is relatively easy; it just takes a lot of persistence" “We have the depth of our legacy customer base we can learn from, we just need to close the feedback loop quicker,” says Kyle Gordon, AMAG’s Executive Vice President of Global Sales, Marketing, and commercial Excellence, who acknowledges the value of reinstating face-to-face meetings after COVID. “We are laser-focused on nurturing our integrator channel,” he says.  “Developing new features takes time, but rebuilding a process to make your organisation more efficient, that’s relatively easy; it just takes a lot of persistence,” says Gordon. More cohesive internal communication is another useful tool, he says.  Disrupting the cloud based on price  Wasabi is working to make cloud applications less expensive by offering a “disruptive” price on cloud storage, $6.99 per terabyte per month (80% less than hyperscalers). Contending “hyperscalers” like AWS are charging too much for cloud storage, Wasabi is using its own intellectual property and server equipment co-located in data centres around the world. Wasabi sells “hot cloud storage,” which refers to the fact that they only have one tier of storage and data is always accessible. In contrast, a company such as AWS might charge an “egress fee” for access to data stored in a “colder” tier.  Cloud storage “We saw that several video surveillance companies had not yet adopted cloud storage, and we saw an opportunity to make it easy to use,” said Drew Schlussel, Wasabi’s Senior Director of Product Marketing. “We just install a little bit of software that allows them to store data in the cloud and bring it back from the cloud.” Performance, protection (cybersecurity), and price Wasabi works with integrators, resellers, and distributors and also integrates with VMS companies Wasabi works with integrators, resellers, and distributors and also integrates with VMS companies such as Genetec and Milestone. Emphasising performance, protection (cybersecurity), and price, their data centres are certified to SOC 2 and ISO 27001 standards.  Faster throughput for weapons detection Xtract One is a young company focusing on weapons detection in a time of accelerated concern about gun issues post-COVID. Founded in Canada and based on technology developed at McMaster University, Xtract One has found a niche in providing weapons detection at stadiums and arenas. These customers already have budgets, and it is easy to shift the money to a newer, faster technology. Madison Square Garden in New York City is among its customers.  Cost savings solution Xtract One can increase throughput to 30 to 50 people per entrance per minute (compared to 5 to 6 people per minute when using metal detectors). The solution doesn’t require anyone to empty their pockets and the system alarms on items beyond guns and knives. Using Xtract One allows customers to reduce the number of screening lanes and security staff, providing additional cost savings, all while getting fans through the screening process in half the time. Purpose-built sensors The system uses purpose-built sensors looking for specific characteristics, such as reflective and density properties In addition to stadiums and arenas, Xtract One, formerly Patriot One, is also getting “inbound” interest from schools, hospitals, manufacturers, and other verticals that makeup 50% of their business. “We’re on a rocket ride, mainly because the weapons issues are not going away,” says Peter Evans, CEO and Director at Xtract One. The system uses purpose-built sensors looking for specific characteristics, such as reflective and density properties, all correlated by an AI engine.  Providing early warning of violence ZeroEyes is another company focused on weapons detection. Their AI gun detection system works with video images to identify if someone is “brandishing” (carrying) a weapon. In other words, the system does not detect concealed weapons. Identifying someone carrying a weapon provides early warning of a possible violent act. Increased response with AI-enables images Images are identified by AI and sent to a monitoring centre where a human confirms the image before contacting first responders. Knowing the location of a shooter enables staff to lock entry points, move people to safety, and direct first responders. The company was founded to leverage existing camera views to stop mass shootings and gun violence by reducing response times. 

A pioneer in the access control sector since 1971, AMAG Technology is looking to the future and the next generation of products that will expand its services to customers. “In our vision, we have advanced approaches that will not only provide our partners with advanced technologies but also ones that are easier to install with tools to expand their services,” says David Sullivan, who was appointed President of the venerable access control company in September 2022. New challenges at AMAG Sullivan brings a new outlook to the AMAG business, a part of Allied Universal, and a new vision to lead the company into the future. We caught up with David Sullivan to discuss his new challenges at AMAG and the journey ahead as the company looks to the future. Q: How does your background inform your approach to leading AMAG? I believe that it helps me to define a vision for AMAG that will be unique and on the leading edge of our industry David Sullivan: With the exception of only a few short years, my career has been in access control. I have experience with several systems and have had the privilege to manage several successful access control companies. As a result, I bring a great deal of experience into my role at AMAG. I believe that it helps me to define a vision for AMAG that will be unique and on the leading edge of our industry. Q: How would you describe AMAG’s journey over the last several years and how do you see the future? Sullivan: Prior presidents of AMAG always shared their leadership vision and direction with senior leaders located in the United Kingdom. This had an impact on the full direction of the business, sometimes limiting its ultimate success. Before I became a part of AMAG, these senior leaders that were located in the UK retired, placing for the first time the full management responsibilities of the president. This has allowed me to integrate the business into a single team, with single objectives, and a single vision. We expect to begin to reveal this new vision in the coming weeks. We are excited about the future of AMAG and believe we will surprise the industry with our new products and approach in the coming months and years. Q: How important is it that a manufacturer provides both hardware and software solutions? How does AMAG’s approach (in general) differentiate it in the market? We can design the complete solution, providing functionality that others may find more difficult to accomplish Sullivan: Regardless of the manufacturer, we all provide hardware and software. An access control solution is not complete without both. Some of us choose to make our panels, and others do not. Those who are dependent on third-party suppliers are restricted to the developments and direction of that company, and while it might be perceived to be an open technology, it still is proprietary to the hardware manufacturer. AMAG has controlled its manufacturing of panels from day one. The result means that we can design the complete solution, providing functionality that others may find more difficult to accomplish. Q: How does the breadth of AMAG’s product suite provide advantages to customers and/or integrators? Sullivan: AMAG’s product portfolio is unique and provides the end user with an end-to-end identity management solution from one company. Our Control Room PSIM, Symmetry CONNECT Identity Management Solution, Symmetry Access Control, and Symmetry GUEST solutions all integrate to provide the user with a broad set of features and capabilities from a single provider. There is no finger-pointing when we come to support your system. We hold full responsibility for making it work and can quickly provide a resolution to any application difficulties the user may be experiencing. Q: How does AMAG address the divide between on-prem and cloud systems? How do you help customers make the transition and/or plan for the future? We are in the early stages of developing our next generation of access control in which we intend to provide on-prem Sullivan: In our current product portfolio, we have three products that are cloud-based. Our mobile credential platform (Symmetry Mobile), our visitor management solution (Symmetry GUEST), and our physical identity and access management solution (Symmetry CONNECT) are all offerings that operate in the cloud. We are in the early stages of developing our next generation of access control in which we intend to provide on-prem, web client, and cloud-based offerings. One of the primary objectives is to ensure that the large installed base of systems that are out there today will be able to migrate not only to our next generation but as well to the cloud if the client so desires. Q: What is AMAG’s approach to mobile credentialing? Sullivan: As an access control provider, adding Symmetry Mobile credentialing to our portfolio just made sense. We want our customers to have a forward-thinking solution with the opportunity to save money not only on the physical badges but the cost of printing and distributing badges. Mobile credentials can be easily issued and revoked remotely, reducing administrative overhead, and eliminating the need for physical inventory management. Organisations can centrally configure what devices are used and the read range for each type of device and operating system, thus providing flexibility. Symmetry Mobile offers a customised questionnaire that controls access and reduces liabilities. Q: What has surprised you the most in your first year or so leading AMAG? Not many companies are blessed with such a broad portfolio that is supported by a resource-rich company Sullivan: I wouldn’t say I was surprised by this as much as happy to see, but I would say that the quality of our people was a pleasant surprise. As well, the AMAG product offering is broad and has some unique elements. When coupled with the depth of the resources that we have in AMAG, I know that we are second to none. Not many companies are blessed with such a broad portfolio that is supported by a resource-rich company that has so many talented people. Q: Please describe your dealer channel, and how you are seeking to expand it. Sullivan: The AMAG products are sophisticated and typically are installed for higher-end applications. With this sophistication comes a need to be well able to install such a solution. We have a strong group of certified and loyal partners who help us to deliver these enterprise solutions. We desire to provide our existing partners with updated and competitive systems to offer to their end users. Q: What is the security industry’s (and/or AMAG’s) biggest challenge in the next five years? We need to find ways to provide both our channel partners and the customers with solutions that are easily integrated Sullivan: I believe that the advancements that we are seeing in technology provide our industry with the opportunity to truly change how security is provided to our collective customers. As we advance these solutions, we will need to do so responsibly and in a way that helps the channel’s abilities. We need to find ways to train our partners to both install and support these more complex solutions. At the same time, we need to find ways to provide both our channel partners and the customers with solutions that are easily integrated, moving away from proprietary closed systems to open and cohesive solutions. This will ensure that the users get the best, and most complete solutions. Q: What does the industry as a whole misunderstand about AMAG -- time to set the record straight! Sullivan: Well, I am not ready to openly share where we are heading. We are in the process of putting together some advanced approaches to how we will do business with our partners. We are focused on providing tools that will enhance their services to their customers, and with products that are leading edge. I can only state that all should keep their eyes on AMAG, because over the next few years, we are going to surprise some people, and more importantly make our loyal partners quite powerful.

Matter is a new open-source interoperability standard that will simplify the connectivity of smart home systems, including security.  The growing popularity of the Matter 1.0 standard was evident at the large Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January in Las Vegas, where the standard was heavily promoted by companies including Google, Amazon, and Samsung. A flood of Matter-connected products is on the horizon for ship dates in the second half of 2023. Evolve, and manage IoT standards Creating the standard is the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), formerly the Zigbee Alliance, which changed its name in May 2021. With 300 companies as members, CSA seeks to create, evolve, and manage Internet of Things (IoT) technology standards through a well-established, collaborative process. CSA promotes the benefits of global, open standards, and the value of the IoT to customers and consumers, and seeks to break down the barriers to broad access and adoption of IoT technologies and solutions. Matter The new brand name Matter was launched in May 2021 to designate the standard formerly known as Project CHIP (Connected Home over IP), developed by CSA member companies including Apple, Google, Samsung, and Amazon. There are currently 800 devices and apps certified to the new smart home standard, including various smart home equipment (except video cameras, which will be included in a major release in the fall of 2023). Matter version 1.0 was initial launch in October 2022. Matter 1.0 release Twice a year moving forward, Matter plans a minor release each spring and a major release each fall As part of the Matter 1.0 release, authorised test labs are open for product certification, the test harnesses and tools are available, and the open-source reference design software development kit (SDK) is complete, thus enabling new products to be brought to market. Twice a year moving forward, Matter plans updated releases, a minor release each spring and a major release each fall. Smart home interoperability Currently, a variety of CSA working groups are addressing various aspects of interoperability in the smart home, including issues such as data privacy, security, energy management, and health and wellness, says Christopher LaPré, CSA’s Head of Technology. “Implementing elements requires that the standards alliance be able to multitask on several tracks,” says LaPré. Some development is centering around connectivity and the need for a “hub” to which multiple systems can communicate and incorporate an “identity” to regulate the availability of information to various systems. The standards will enable both do-it-yourself (DIY) systems and devices deployed by professional installers. Addressing privacy requirements The new development will be guided by what installers need to succeed in the home automation" Ecosystems depend on the availability of some type of “identity” to meet privacy requirements. Rules must be implemented across the ecosystem that deploys a “trust system” to ensure privacy. Solving the challenge involves getting all the major players to the table at the technical level to meet the bar from the business and technology perspective. “Integrators and retailers will play a role as Matter continues to evolve,” says LaPré. “New development will be guided by what installers need to succeed in the home automation market.” Matter-certified devices There is still work to be done to expand the 800 certified devices to function throughout the Matter ecosystem and to add new devices over time. One goal is to simplify an integrator’s solution using fewer hubs (and possibly a single hub) to provide a wide variety of services. The timeline of adding new Matter-certified devices may be delayed by the availability of equipment in the global supply chain, says LaPré. Flexibility Multi-admin provides for the simultaneous operation of devices in multiple smart home systems A multi-admin feature of Matter enables more flexibility for multiple ecosystems. A core feature of Matter, multi-admin provides for the simultaneous operation of devices in multiple smart home systems. Accordingly, family or household members could operate the device with the digital assistant or smartphone app of their choice. A bridging protocol helps to tie existing systems together.  Amazon, Apple, Comcast, Google, SmartThings, and the Connectivity Standards Alliance came together in 2019 to develop and promote this new standard, joined by fellow Alliance board member companies IKEA, Legrand, NXP Semiconductors, Resideo, Schneider Electric, Signify, Silicon Labs, Somfy and Wulian. Smart device communication Currently, member organisations span all sizes, across a range of business categories. More than 1,700 Member individuals participate in bringing the Matter specification, reference implementations, testing tools, and certification programs to life. Matter's underlying network technologies are Wi-Fi and Thread. Wi-Fi enables Matter devices to interact over a high-bandwidth local network and allows smart home devices to communicate with the cloud. Thread provides a mesh network within the home. Both the Wi-Fi Alliance and Thread Group partnered with the Connectivity Standards Alliance to help realise the vision of Matter.

One of India's fastest-growing entertainment networks, renowned for its iconic brands, offers a diverse array of experiences across multiple platforms. This network profoundly impacts the Indian entertainment landscape, engaging audiences through its on-air, online, on-ground, cinema, and merchandise properties. With a portfolio of over 30 channels, it captivates audiences nationwide with a variety of programming, including general entertainment, movies, sports, youth content, music, and children's genres. Additionally, the network has been successfully producing and distributing acclaimed Hindi and regional films in India for over a decade. Challenge/requirements The client required a unified communication solution, prioritising emergency communication, for over 500 users. Future scalability was a crucial factor as well. A major challenge involved integrating Matrix devices with existing SIP-enabled systems. Their key requirements were as follows: Unified Communication Solution: Implement a system that ensures seamless connectivity across various devices via a single unified communication platform. Mobility: Guarantee connectivity for users on the go. SIP Integration: It was essential to integrate Matrix devices with the existing SIP-enabled systems to maximise investment efficiency without revamping the current infrastructure. Emergency Communication: Provide features that facilitate contacting emergency services during times of distress. Redundancy: To minimise or eliminate downtime, particularly during emergencies, redundancy was a critical requirement. Solution Matrix, in collaboration with Space Office Systems (I) Pvt. Ltd., created a Unified Communication solution that integrated existing devices with Matrix devices via SIP. This solution included the ANANT unified communication server, standard SIP desk phones, and the VARTA softphone. The deployment was carried out as follows: The server-based PBX, ANANT, housed in the server room, provides LAN and WAN connectivity with the crucial feature of redundancy. The media house utilised ANANT's LAN connectivity, facilitated by a network switch that allowed multiple devices on the premises to access IP connectivity. The network switch, connected to ANANT via LAN, provides connectivity for SPARSH VP510 and SPARSH VP210 phones, along with the VARTA softphone. Moreover, a connection through the router facilitates SIP integration with third-party devices via the SIP trunk. Results Emphasising SIP integration of Matrix devices with existing systems optimised investments The results included significant enhancements to their communication capabilities. Collaboration was streamlined through a unified communication solution, and mobility was boosted with VARTA. Emphasising SIP integration of Matrix devices with existing systems optimised investments. Overall, the solution markedly improved operational efficiency with advanced calling features. Now, let's delve into the specifics of the solution provided. Collaboration: The unified communication solution, featuring the server-based PBX ANANT, enabled seamless teamwork between office-based and mobile staff through VARTA. This ensured uninterrupted transfer and reception of information. Investment Optimisation: The SIP integration with Matrix Solution seamlessly integrated into the existing network infrastructure, meeting the client's uncompromising requirement. This integration effectively utilised current resources, eliminating the need for additional investments. Operational Efficiency: The redundancy offered by ANANT ensured minimal to no downtime, enabling smooth information flow and greatly enhancing workflow efficiency. This capability was especially critical during emergencies and related communications. Modern Features: The office now enjoys enhanced capabilities with Matrix Standard SIP desk phones such as SPARSH VP210 and SPARSH VP510. These include advanced call routeing, integration with global directories, VPN connectivity support, thereby significantly bolstering the media house's communication capabilities. The Matrix solution empowered the media house to elevate its communication capabilities with advanced call features. Notably, it excelled in emergency communication functionality, provided scalability for future needs, and seamlessly integrated with third-party devices through SIP.

In 1899, the Texas Legislature authorised the formation of the Southwest Texas State Normal School, which opened in San Marcos four years later. At the time, the school’s mission was to prepare Texas public school teachers, but over the years, it has undergone several expansions and name changes to reflect its evolution into the major multi-purpose university Texas State has become. From its humble beginnings located in a single building, Texas State’s original San Marcos campus has grown to cover a 485-acre campus that is home to 267 buildings, as well as an additional 5,038 acres of recreational, instructional, farm and ranch land. The university added a second campus in Round Rock, which has grown from 15 temporary buildings to a 101-acre campus with state-of-the-art facilities. Electronic key control systems Texas State’s student population has kept pace with its physical expansion, growing from 303 in 1903 to more than 35,546 in 2013 – marking the 16th consecutive year of enrolment growth for the university. Texas State reviewed its security policies and chose the need to execute electronic key Anticipating major physical and population growth to continue into the future, Texas State reviewed its security policies and determined the necessity of implementing electronic key control systems in sensitive areas. Based on its size, the understanding was that as many as 85 of these systems could potentially be needed as part of this initiative. Aggressive construction campaign Texas State was faced with a particularly challenging growth-related issue in September 2013, as its freshman enrolment surged to more than 5,000. Like many universities, Texas State requires its freshmen to live on campus, which it sees as a tool for retention. That policy seems to be working, with approximately 80 percent of freshmen living on campus technically returning for the following semester. To accommodate the growing ranks of on-campus residents, the university has pursued an aggressive construction campaign, building a new residence hall complex every two years to house approximately 600 additional students with plans to break ground this fall on a third new housing complex. In all, Texas State spent more than $190 million on new or renovated buildings, with more construction planned into the foreseeable future. Update key management policies Maintenance staff members would often reach for the key to a particular building they needed to access With a large number of individuals requiring access to so many facilities, the university recognised that key management had the potential to become a high-risk issue and determined to become proactive in reducing that risk. Maintenance staff members would often reach for the key to a particular building they needed to access, only to find it was already checked out. They would then be forced to go through the time-consuming – and frustrating – process of determining who had the key last and tracking that person down to retrieve it. The decision was made to update key management policies and practices to make them more efficient and effective. “We’ve been especially happy with the KeyWatcher’s access and reporting capabilities, and the system’s reporting tools make reviewing events and issues incredibly simple,” Kyle Estes Associate Director of Housing for Facilities Services Texas State. Options for key management systems To combat these problems and increase the security and effectiveness of its key management, Texas State charged its University Police Department and other stakeholders with undertaking an extensive review of the available options for key management systems on the market. This exhaustive process involved gathering research from printed materials and online research, having discussions with current customers of the various vendors, and listening to on-site presentations from the companies under consideration. At the conclusion of its review of key control cabinets and systems, Texas State chose KeyWatcher Touch from Morse Watchmans. This exhaustive process involved gathering research from printed materials and online research The main factors that led Texas State to choose KeyWatcher Touch systems were its robust feature set and competitive pricing. The school was also impressed by Morse Watchmans’ receptiveness to its specific needs – a six-digit user ID, for example – and ability to implement changes quickly. Access to support was also a main consideration, so Texas State appreciated that the system was produced domestically by a company with a 130-year history. Enterprise management capability Of the KeyWatcher systems to be implemented, the largest number were to be deployed for Texas State’s Department of Housing and Residential Life, which provides housing and services to approximately 7,000 residents in 25 facilities. The department also operates a facilities service group consisting of 110 full-time employees and a staff of 170 building paraprofessionals. The department also operates a facilities service group consisting of 110 full-time employees Because of the personnel changes the department experiences on an annual basis, the system’s enterprise management capability has been a valuable feature, as have its robust reporting capabilities, says Kyle Estes, Texas State’s Associate Director of Housing Facilities Services. Having keys available in each residence hall for use by maintenance staff has made the department more efficient and reduced their liability; staff no longer need to carry multiple master keys across campus for different buildings. Centralised management features “Because the system automatically generates a log of who has each key, we’ve been able to establish much better employee accountability for key usage,” Estes says. “The ability to set a maximum duration that each key can be checked out and to receive alarms when that limit is exceeded has eliminated the problem of having keys unnecessarily checked out and as a result inaccessible when someone needs them.” Ease of use and centralised control parts fed by the system’s web capabilities All KeyWatcher Touch systems deployed at Texas State are connected to the university’s network and interface with its card access and email systems. The ease of use and centralised management features provided by the system’s network capabilities have streamlined the once cumbersome process of generating reports and reviewing incidents. One particular feature, the ability to access the system from anywhere, has made the system even more effective, Estes says. Earliest adopters of KeyWatcher Touch As one of the earliest adopters of KeyWatcher Touch, the Housing and Facilities Department served as a test case of sorts for the system. Based on the success the department has had, combined with its continued rapid growth and expansion, Texas State University’s 85-system implementation is ongoing. As more systems are added, expansion will be a consideration moving forward, but Estes doesn’t anticipate that being a problem. “We’ve found that expanding these systems is fairly easy and doesn’t involve time-consuming processes that could delay implementation of key management for particularly sensitive areas,” Estes says. “Overall, the system has been very reliable, and the support staff has been very responsive and regularly available to help resolve the very few minor issues we’ve encountered in a timely manner."

Around production environments, the main concern was always the efficiency of the production output. The risks of operational technology (OT) cybersecurity were unknown for many years. However, that all changed as the need for knowing what is connected, where it’s connected, and how it’s connected became imperative.  As cybersecurity is a necessity for oil and gas, the integrity of the OT network is very crucial for the safety and operation of the Motor Oil refinery. OT cybersecurity plan Learn how Honeywell engineers and Motor Oil engineers collaborated to build out the most efficient OT cybersecurity plan with two priorities at the forefront: maintaining network security and being able to provide a safe and healthy workplace. “Honeywell was the organisation that had cybersecurity experts who were able to reach our target. With our OT DCS engineers, their mentality, and existing collaboration with Honeywell engineers, we had a solid foundation to build on,” Ioannis Minoyiannis, Head of Automation, Motor Oil.

The airport, named after a notable historical figure, serves as a key transportation hub for both domestic and seasonal international flights in its region. Serving over 11 lakh passengers a year, it ranks as one of the busiest airports in terms of passenger and aircraft movements. The terminal building at this airport is spread over 26,936 square metres and has 14 check-in counters, four immigration counters for departures, and six immigration counters for arrivals. Located near major transportation arteries, it offers convenient access to travellers from various directions. Business scenario They required a robust video surveillance solution that could ensure 24x7 recording capabilities With a growing number of passengers and flights at the airport, a new terminal was recently constructed at this airport. To facilitate the security of passengers and staff at this terminal building, they required a robust video surveillance solution that could ensure 24x7 recording capabilities. Without adequate surveillance coverage, this airport was vulnerable to security threats such as perimeter breaches, theft, vandalism, and terrorist activities. Challenges Ensuring passenger and staff safety: Being one of the busiest airports in the state, the absence of a video surveillance system was risking the safety of passengers and staff from potential threats like theft of personal belongings or other such criminal activities. Continuous monitoring with redundancy: The airport wanted continuous 24x7 monitoring with a dual setup ensuring that surveillance operations continued uninterrupted even in the event of equipment failure or maintenance downtime. Ensuring cargo safety: The airport faced challenges in ensuring the safety and security of cargo pioneering to risks such as theft, tampering, and damage during handling and transportation processes. Regulatory non-compliance risk: Without adequate surveillance systems, the airport was facing the risk of non-compliance with security regulations, which could lead to penalties and legal liabilities. Solution The entire airport terminal was covered with Matrix Project Series Bullet, Dome, and PTZ Cameras to provide extensive coverage.  Matrix Project Series Bullet IP Cameras were deployed in/at: Outdoor public spaces such as drop-off zones and walkways: To monitor crowd movements and enhance overall security. Cargo handling areas: To monitor the loading and unloading of cargo and ensure compliance with security protocols. Matrix Project Series Dome IP Cameras were deployed in/at: Main entrances and exits: To monitor the flow of passengers and detect any suspicious behaviour. Check-in counters: To oversee passenger interactions and baggage handling. Baggage claim areas: To monitor baggage claim areas and prevent theft or tampering of luggage. Retail areas: Placed in retail shops and duty-free zones to deter shoplifting and ensure security for both customers and staff. Matrix PTZ Cameras were deployed at: Elevated structures overlooking runways and aprons: To provide a panoramic view enabling operators to zoom in on specific aircraft or incidents. These cameras also aided in monitoring critical infrastructure such as control towers, fuelling stations, and power substations, providing close-up views for detailed inspection and surveillance. Monitoring and managing video surveillance SATATYA SAMAS - Video Management Software was deployed at two sites within the terminal Matrix SATATYA SAMAS - Video Management Software was deployed at two locations within the terminal. The first location served as a primary control centre for monitoring and managing video surveillance feeds, and coordinating security responses. The second location served as a secondary control centre. This could be used in case of failures or emergencies at the primary control centre, ensuring the continuity of surveillance operations. Also, different users at two different locations could manage and monitor the camera streams, if needed.  Products offered SATATYA SAMAS PLT (1 No.):  Enterprise Video Management Software  Matrix Licence Dongle 200  (1 No.): USB Dongle to Run Matrix SATATYA SAMAS   SATATYA SAMAS CAM20 (3 Nos.): Licence for Adding 20 Additional Cameras SATATYA SAMAS CAM5 (2 Nos.): Licence for Adding five Additional Cameras SATATYA SAMAS USER10 (1 No.): Three Concurrent User Licence for Smart Client and Mobile Client SATATYA CIDR20MVL12CWP (52 Nos.): 2MP IR Dome Motorised Varifocal 2.8-12 mm with Audio  SATATYA CIBR20MVL12CWP (14 Nos.): 2MP IR Bullet Motorised Varifocal 2.8-12 mm with Audio  SATATYA PZCR20ML33CWP (9 Nos.): 2MP PTZ Camera 33x Zoom with Audio  Benefits The superior image quality enabled security personnel to identify potential threats quickly Matrix IP Cameras provided full coverage at the new terminal building. The superior image quality enabled security personnel to identify potential threats quickly. The motorised varifocal lens in Matrix IP Cameras enabled zooming in for specific details when required. Matrix PTZ IP Cameras provided 360° surveillance and up to 33x zoom, providing perimeter security at the airport. Matrix IP Cameras are cyber-secure, complying with the OWASP ASVS 4.0 L2 norms, certified by STQC, Delhi. This helps in safeguarding sensitive surveillance footage, maintaining network integrity, and complying with stringent cybersecurity regulations. Matrix IP cameras are also NDAA compliant, which helped in meeting the regulatory standard requirements at the Airport. The dual setup of Matrix Video Management Software helped in providing redundancy to the surveillance system, ensuring continuous monitoring and recording even in the event of equipment failures, network disruptions, or other unforeseen circumstances. It also allowed for distributed monitoring and management capabilities, enhancing overall surveillance effectiveness. Features like Day Highlights and Time-lapse in Matrix Video Management Software aided airport security teams in leveraging intelligent search functionalities to conduct thorough investigations quickly.

As the UAE's economy progressed, its territory became the world's experimental zone for pioneering construction technologies. The continuous rise of the construction industry has introduced a large number of labourers to stations on construction sites.  How to systematically manage workers under regulations, while ensuring the rights and interests of both workers and enterprises is the main problem currently faced by NGC on its way forward. The customer Nael General Contracting (NGC), founded in 1998, is one of the UAE's premier construction companies. Its core areas of expertise include the Design and Execution of Turnkey Construction Projects, Steel Structures, Aluminum & Glassworks, Interior Fit-out, Hard & Soft landscapes, MEP infrastructure, and Facilities Management. Based on 25 years of safe working life, NGC currently has more than 9,000 employees and has successfully contracted not limited to 250 projects. “NGC is seeking the best intelligent attendance solution for one of its construction sites with nearly a thousand workers.” To this end, NGC consulted Anviz's long-term partner Xedos.  The challenge Workers' attendance management on and off work is bitterly chaotic without intelligent attendance Workers' attendance management on and off work is bitterly chaotic without intelligent attendance equipment. Workers' shifts are unreasonable and shift coordination is formidable.  There are even abundant irregularities such as punching in on behalf of others and tampering with attendance data without permission. So labourers take the fairness of wage calculations with a grain of salt.  Need for an intelligent and complete attendance solution “At the same time, the human resources department spends at least 10 hours per month sorting out the clock data of nearly a thousand employees to output monthly results reports." "The financial department also demands to settle workers' compensation based on attendance reports. It leads to continuous delays in salary payments. It is urgent to seek an intelligent and complete attendance solution."  The solution Simplify attendance while outputting cloud reports  FaceDeep 3 & CrossChex Cloud can cover the above needs and submit a satisfactory solution to NGC Based on ensuring the attendance management of nearly a thousand labourers, while also meeting the output of centralised visual reports and reducing labour costs, FaceDeep 3 & CrossChex Cloud can cover the above needs and submit a satisfactory solution to NGC.  NGC's site manager said, "Attendance at the construction site is not transparent, and most workers are often worried about whether their salary for the next month will be recorded in their accounts. There has even been chaos in paid attendance, which has brought a lot of trouble to the normal operation of construction." FaceDeep 3, CrossChex Cloud Based on high-precision liveness face detection and dual-camera lenses, FaceDeep 3 can accurately identify workers and complete personal attendance verification under any environmental conditions,  preventing the use of fake faces such as videos and pictures to check in. The CrossChex Cloud implements hierarchical management and designs administrator operation logs to record their action lines, effectively eliminating the unhealthy trend of tampering with records for personal gain. Attendance visualisation reports Integrate through CrosssChex Cloud and SQL DATABASE to synchronise each employee's attendance records NGC's Finance Minister said, "Every month some workers appeal against errors in attendance records, but there is nothing we can do about the large amount of confusing data records."  Integrate through CrosssChex Cloud and SQL DATABASE to synchronise each employee's attendance records, and automatically generate attendance visualisation reports. Real-time updates Administrators and employees can make attendance management transparent by viewing reports at any time.  The cloud system is equipped with shift and schedule management functions that administrators can adjust in real time according to the construction progress. Workers can apply for make-up attendance to achieve flexible management.  Key benefits Convenient and worry-free attendance experience  The efficient attendance system ensures a quick clock-in experience and simplifies the attendance process. Cloud visual reports make it easy to calculate workers' salaries.  Reduced human resource costs  Cloud visual reports make it easy to calculate workers' salaries. For the HR department, there's no longer a need to manually sort out large amounts of attendance data.  Client's quote “The person in charge of NGC said, "The attendance plan tailored by Anviz for us has received unanimous praise from all employees." "It reduced more than 85% of the labour costs spent on worker attendance management and saved the company nearly 60,000 dirhams per month."

HID, the worldwide pioneer in trusted identity solutions, announces that Royal Jersey Laundry has introduced a new tracking feature of HID’s linen management platform at each of its 5-star hotel customer sites to guarantee that drivers drop off and collect precise linen stock and that costly errors are avoided. Linen tracking This new feature replaces a paper-based system used by drivers for the management of cages filled with clean/soiled linen delivered/collected at customer sites. It provides detailed end-to-end tracking of linen cages across multiple customer locations throughout the whole cycle of washing, packing, delivery, and collection, a complex process given that 550,000 pieces are laundered each week for numerous clients. Royal Jersey Laundry Royal Jersey Laundry works with most five-star hotels in London including The Dorchester, The Carlton Tower Jumerah Founded in 1915, Royal Jersey Laundry is one of the few cleaners servicing the luxury hotel sector. Based in a 25,000 square-foot purpose-built facility in Dagenham, rebuilt in 2021 for £15 million after a fire, it works with most five-star hotels in London including The Dorchester, The Carlton Tower Jumerah, The Peninsula London, and The Ritz. Need for constant communication Supporting the five-star segment is demanding given the constant communication required between the hotel and laundry, exacting standards, and the quantity and range of items to be laundered. This includes duvets, sheets, towels, and bath robes along with smaller items such as foot mats, drink coasters, shaving towels, and dry cleaning for guests themselves. Royal Jersey Laundry operates 24/7, employs 150 staff members, and washes 40 tons of linen per day.  Maintaining laundering schedule Five-star hotels prefer to use linen they own with five sets kept of everything, allowing them to maintain a schedule  In contrast with budget and mid-level hotels, five-star hotels prefer to use linen they own with five sets kept of everything, allowing them to maintain a rigorous laundering schedule and ensure guests always receive fresh, cleaned linens. “An average 300-bed hotel will have around 30,000 items of linen which will cost around £250,000,” says James Lincoln, Royal Jersey Laundry’s managing director. “The volume of linen is so high and it’s always moving such that accurate inventory control was a major challenge verging on the impossible.” HID cloud-based RFID linen management system Before the HID cloud-based RFID linen management system, everything was done manually. Laundry staff would check items off ironing/folding machines, a wholly error-prone process, and log the quantities on pieces of paper. The operational overhead for the laundry was exacerbated as the various linen items from the different hotels had to be kept separate, too. “Linen is everywhere: on beds, in cupboards, in transit, and at the laundry, yet no one had full insight into stock levels and, when things went missing which often happened, typically we’d get blamed,” says Lincoln. Real-time linen inventory management LinTRAK tags are sewn into linen items by laundry staff or linen manufacturers during the production process To address these problems, Royal Jersey Laundry installed a real-time linen inventory management system from HID combining LinTRAK® RFID tags, a full set of RFID equipment including table-top and conveyor-belt scanners, one RFID portal and one cabin scanning unit, and cloud-based Acuity software.  The discrete LinTRAK tags are sewn into linen items by laundry staff or linen manufacturers during the production process. Some hotels also use LinTRAK tags to manage staff uniforms and restaurant linens such as napkins and tablecloths. HID LinTRAK textile tags Around 40% of Royal Jersey Laundry hotel customers have transitioned to the HID linen management solution and connect via Acuity’s web portal. Once cleaned, the linen is packed into cages, and scanned in seconds through HID’s RFID cabin station. Items are automatically counted, with delivery notes generated including billing information. HID’s Acuity software integrates with the laundry’s Sage accounting software to generate invoices. Benefits of textile tags The implementation of HID LinTRAK textile tags, RFID stations, and the Acuity software platform has radically changed how Royal Jersey Laundry operates, delivering a range of benefits: Fast Return on Investment: Since the installation of the HID equipment in 2019, the system has already paid for itself given the efficiency and productivity gains. Better use of people resources: Laundry and housekeeping staff no longer waste time on dull and resource-intensive activities like manually counting linen. They have been redeployed to more productive work, generating 10-20% savings in labor costs. Better visibility of stock levels: As hotels know exactly the location and quantity of linen, they are better able to cater to peak demand, reducing linen expenditures by up to 30%. Improved responsiveness and customer satisfaction: Access to in-depth data generated by the Acuity platform means the laundry can quickly answer customer queries. “We give hotels complete transparency about where their linen is in the cleaning and delivery cycle. There are just no grey areas anymore,” says Lincoln. Increased security of expensive linen assets: While theft of linen at five-star hotels is rare, it does happen. RFID tagging enables better monitoring of expensive bedding and towel investments. Enhanced reliability and productivity: Operations are more efficient as RFID-enabled items can never be lost or misplaced. Furthermore, digital scanning results in faster processing of items. “We’re effectively two businesses: the laundry itself and a logistics operation. We run a mixed fleet of lorries and electric vans which nip in and out of London three times a day picking up and delivering garments for hotel customers using us for guest work,” adds Lincoln.

There is safety in numbers, or so the expression goes. Generally speaking, several employees working together tend to be safer than a single employee working alone. Even so, some environments require that workers complete their jobs alone, thus presenting a unique combination of security vulnerabilities. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defines a lone worker as “an employee working alone, such as in a confined space or isolated location.” We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How can security technologies help to protect "lone workers?" 

In the United States, they are called licence plate recognition (LPR) systems. In Europe, the more common term is automated licence number-plate recognition (ANPR). In either case, the systems provide capabilities that can benefit a range of applications from schools to municipalities to parking lots. Newer technologies can even identify vehicle colour, type, make and model. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What's new with licence plate recognition (LPR) and/or automated number-plate recognition (ANPR) systems?

Video storage has come a long way since rooms full of VCRs stored video from an entire system of cameras. Video storage equates to data storage, and there are multiple options ranging from hard disk storage to the cloud to storage on each individual camera using SD cards. Increasingly, cloud-based storage is an attractive option to store video footage conveniently and safely. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How is expansion of video storage capabilities impacting the security industry?