Network monitoring

RecFaces, a global developer of enterprise-grade facial biometric software, announces a major update of Id-Time, its facial recognition solution for workforce time management, attendance control, and operational visibility across enterprise facilities. The new version represents a significant evolution of Id-Time, transforming it into a full-featured workforce time management and monitoring tool for organisations with complex structures, distributed sites, shift-based schedules, high people flow, and strict requirements for accuracy, automation, and control. Facial recognition solution At the centre of the release is a complete biometric time and attendance module, now built directly into the product. Companies can manage planned schedules, timesheets, attendance reports, overtime, undertime, breaks, violations, absences, and automatic notifications in one interface. This allows HR teams, security departments, facility managers, and executives to see a complete picture of employee attendance and workforce discipline without relying on fragmented systems or manual reporting. Id-Time is now also powered by an upgraded version of a facial recognition algorithm ranked among the Top 5 globally by NIST. The latest version significantly increases identification accuracy and consistency, particularly in challenging conditions such as poor lighting, high people flow, or partial face visibility. This ensures faster and more reliable recognition performance in real-world enterprise environments. Real-time monitoring One of the key additions in the new Id-Time is real-time monitoring and diagnostics of events across a facility. The product now includes specialised dashboards for security teams, HR departments, and managers, helping them monitor system load, terminal status, camera performance, database diagnostics, and the number of people on site. This capability gives organisations not only better control over workforce attendance, but also a clearer understanding of what is happening at their facilities at any given moment. For example, in an emergency situation, security teams can use Id-Time to check how many people are located in a specific area and support evacuation or response procedures with more accurate information. Workforce time management The updated version also introduces custom and informative reports for workforce time management. Users now have access to more than 10 report types, including worked time summaries, attendance reports, overtime and undertime reports, detailed and summary violation reports, visitor reports, and presence monitoring. Reports can be exported in Excel, CSV, and PDF formats, making data ready for payroll processing, HR analysis, or integration with external systems via API. Another important new feature is visitor flow monitoring. Id-Time can now count and analyse visitors separately from employees, including their time on site, first and last passage, and daily statistics. One-time visits are recorded automatically, while temporary profiles can be deactivated according to schedule. This gives organisations a more accurate view of both employee and guest presence at their facilities. Biometric workforce management According to Farida Baichora, Product Owner at RecFaces, the update was developed around real customer needs and practical business scenarios: “At RecFaces, we always build our products around the needs of our clients. While working on this Id-Time update, we analysed customer requests, market expectations, competitor capabilities, and real user experience, and brought all of this into one product vision. As a result, we created a solution that helps businesses save time, reduce costs, and clearly see what is happening at their facilities. This release is not only about new functionality — it is about making biometric workforce management more practical, flexible, and valuable for everyday operations. We will continue collecting user feedback, improving the product, providing human technical support, and releasing updates based on real business needs.” Geographically distributed facilities The new Id-Time also offers an expanded biometric profile and a flexible organisational structure. Organisations can manage employee photos, departments, positions, profile types, vacations, sick leaves, and different attendance policies for different groups. The solution supports complex corporate hierarchies, including departments, cities, countries, and distributed organisational structures. For enterprise and distributed deployments, RecFaces has introduced several important infrastructure improvements. Id-Time now supports Debian GNU/Linux 13.5 “Trixie”, giving customers more flexibility when choosing a corporate Linux server platform. The release also includes an offline mode for trackers, or video preprocessing servers, which is especially important for geographically distributed facilities. If connection with the central core is temporarily lost, identification events are processed and stored locally, then automatically synchronised with the central server once the connection is restored. Flexible notification templates The notification system has also been enhanced. New mechanisms for Email and Webhook notifications provide guaranteed delivery, flexible notification templates, and ready-to-use configurations for key scenarios, including access events, labor discipline control, system monitoring, password recovery, compromise alerts, and SMTP checks. Alongside these functional and technical updates, RecFaces has significantly improved the Id-Time interface. The redesigned navigation, compact table mode, optimised filtering, hotkeys, favorites, improved dark theme, updated SMTP/Email and Webhook settings, CSV import improvements, and a more intuitive organisational hierarchy make everyday use faster and more convenient for administrators, managers, HR specialists, and security teams. With this release, Id-Time becomes a comprehensive biometric workforce time management solution that combines facial recognition, attendance control, real-time monitoring, visitor analytics, flexible reporting, and enterprise-grade infrastructure capabilities in one product. The update reflects RecFaces’ commitment to customer-centric innovation and to developing practical biometric software that helps organisations strengthen control, improve efficiency, and make better operational decisions.

barox Kommunikation announce a collaboration with Octave, enabling Octave Coda Video users to simplify their device and network management via integration with the barox range of Ethernet switches. Driving superior performance and resilience for physical assets and critical infrastructure, Coda Video, Octave’s enterprise-grade Video Management System (VMS), is proven to meet the most demanding of high security environments.  What barox features can be integrated? Eliminating the need for separate network management tools, the barox integration with Coda Video supports the most commonly used industrial managed and PoE‑enabled barox switches specified within security and critical infrastructure environments. Integration into the Coda Video VMS via the Event Interface plugin allows connectivity to barox switches to provide real‑time monitoring of the switches, network and device status, where  Coda Video displays a map of all IoT devices, alarms and events. In addition, centralised configuration and diagnostics and tight linkage between network events and video/sensor workflows can all be realised. Focusing on operationally relevant network and power features, the barox integration with Coda Video includes per‑port PoE monitoring and On/Off control, where for example, if a network camera fails to respond, the barox switches can be used to autonomously send a re-boot command - saving invaluable camera downtime and in many cases,  bringing the device back online, to resolve the issue without the requirement for engineer involvement. Furthermore, advanced functionality of power consumption monitoring per connected device, network and link status, device and cable alarms and SNMP‑based health and status metrics can all be accessed to help simplify operations and support - to greatly enhance the efficiency of Coda Video surveillance networks. Benefits for technology users   The barox integration with Coda Video allows system users to perform key network-related actions through a single pane of glass. Operators gain an overall system view with visibility into switch status, device connectivity and network alarms.  Modern security systems increasingly rely on IP‑based edge devices such as cameras, sensors, intercoms and IoT equipment. While these devices are mission‑critical, the network infrastructure powering them has traditionally been a blind spot. Whether the application involves IP surveillance cameras, intercom systems, access control, fire and intrusion or other PoE‑powered IoT field devices, the barox integration with Coda Video is well suited for the critical infrastructure, transportation, industrial, smart city and utility sectors. For integrators and stakeholders, the integration benefits include faster commissioning and troubleshooting, reduced on‑site maintenance visits, a unified view of networks, devices and sensors, and easier compliance with SLA and uptime requirements. Authority comments “Ethernet switches play an integral role in security infrastructure. In effect, they are the nervous system of any enterprise video management system,” says Sunil Mudholkar, vice president of physical security products for Octave. “By integrating barox network intelligence with Coda Video, we extend situational awareness beyond cameras and sensors to the very infrastructure that powers them – enabling a truly proactive and resilient security operation.” “The integration between barox industrial network switches and Coda Video was developed to enhance interoperability,” says Rudolf Rohr, barox co-founder and managing partner. “It enables network‑level visibility, control and diagnostics directly inside Coda Video, allowing operators to manage not only video and sensors, but also the health of the underlying infrastructure from a single environment.”

Amthal has been awarded a planned maintenance contract to cover Barnet and Southgate College across all its three sites, to ensure a reliable, rapid response and coordinated approach for the benefit of staff, students and visitors. Barnet and Southgate College is a large further education provider operating across three main campuses in Barnet, Southgate and Colindale. The college supports a diverse student population across academic, vocational and technical programmes, with sites that include teaching blocks, workshops, specialist learning environments and high footfall communal areas. Core operational requirement Given the scale and movement of people across the estate, maintaining robust life safety and security systems is a core operational requirement. Amthal was selected to cover the college’s intruder alarm, fire alarm, Paxton access control and IP CCTV systems across all three sites. The scope of works includes routine maintenance, system monitoring and ongoing technical support to ensure all systems remain compliant, fully operational and aligned with the college’s safeguarding and estates strategy. Coordinated maintenance planning Pritesh Dattani, Soft Facilities Manager at Barnet and Southgate College said: “Managing life safety and security systems across three busy campuses requires a joined-up approach. We consolidated maintenance under a single provider to ensure consistent performance, improved visibility and reduced fragmentation across systems and sites.” “At this scale, reliability, fast fault response and coordinated maintenance planning are essential to minimise disruption to teaching and campus activity. Having Amthal in place gives us confidence that fire, intruder, access control and CCTV systems are managed within a consistent framework, supporting safeguarding and operational continuity across the college.” Varying access requirements The complexity of the estate is reflected in the scale of the systems in place. The intruder alarm infrastructure spans 800 circuits across 10 monitored panels, providing coverage across multiple buildings and departments with varying access requirements. The fire alarm system comprises 1,569 devices connected through 15 networked panels, designed to ensure early detection and coordinated response across densely occupied learning environments. Access control is managed through 483 Paxton controlled doors, supporting controlled movement across campuses while allowing operational flexibility for staff and students. In addition, 452 IP CCTV cameras provide visual coverage across key internal and external areas, supporting safeguarding, incident review and day to day site management. Maintaining overall system integrity Amthal is now also supporting installation works delivered through the college’s contractors, helping ensure new systems integrate effectively with existing infrastructure and maintain overall system integrity as the estate develops. David Williamson, Business Development Manager at Amthal Fire & Security, added: “This contract reflects the importance of maintaining fully integrated life safety and security systems across a large multi site education environment. Our focus is on ensuring all systems are maintained in a way that supports reliability, compliance and operational continuity across the college estate. By working closely with the college and their contractors we can help ensure both existing infrastructure and new installations continue to operate as a connected and dependable system across all three campuses.”

ALE International, operating under the trade name Alcatel-Lucent, a provider of secure networking and communications solutions, hosted the ALE AI Forum 2026: Enabling Indonesia’s Intelligent Digital Infrastructure in Jakarta. The event facilitated exchanges about critical topics, like the need for secure, resilient, and AI-ready digital infrastructure which has become increasingly critical. Today, organisations across Indonesia indeed accelerate Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption and digital transformation initiatives. Future of enterprise operations The exclusive forum brought together ICT leaders, innovators, business decision-makers, and technology partners to discuss how AI, intelligent networking, and modern data center technologies are reshaping the future of enterprise operations and digital infrastructure in Indonesia. The event featured keynote presentations on Indonesia’s evolving AI landscape, industry discussions on real-world AI deployment, and innovation showcase sessions highlighting integrated solutions from Alcatel-Lucent and its technology ecosystem partners. Participants also explored how organisations are leveraging AI-driven operations, intelligent automation, and advanced analytics to modernise networks, optimise data center performance, and improve operational resilience. Shared practical experiences During the interactive dialogue sessions, industry leaders shared practical experiences on implementing AI across enterprise networks and data center environments to simplify operations, enhance visibility, and support increasingly data-intensive workloads. Discussions also highlighted how AI is transforming enterprise infrastructure into intelligent, automated, and adaptive ecosystems capable of supporting future digital growth. “Artificial Intelligence is no longer just a vision for the future — it is becoming a business necessity for organisations that want to remain competitive, agile, and resilient. Through the ALE AI Forum, we aim to help organisations in Indonesia better understand how to adopt AI strategically by building digital infrastructure that is intelligent, secure, scalable, and data-driven. At Alcatel-Lucent, we are committed to simplifying operational complexity while enabling innovation at scale through secure networking, intelligent automation, and integrated communications solutions,” said Novse Hardiman, Country Manager of Alcatel-Lucent Indonesia. Simplifying infrastructure operations Alcatel-Lucent’s AI-enabled portfolio is designed to help organisations modernise infrastructure more effectively through intelligent network management, advanced analytics, automation, and secure communications. By simplifying infrastructure operations and improving visibility across digital environments, Alcatel-Lucent enables enterprises to optimise data center performance, reduce operational complexity, strengthen digital resilience, and accelerate AI adoption initiatives. As organisations continue to manage growing volumes of data and increasingly complex digital environments, AI-ready infrastructure is becoming essential to maintaining operational reliability, cybersecurity, business continuity, and long-term sustainability. Support business transformation The forum also reinforced the importance of collaboration between technology providers, enterprises, and the public sector in accelerating Indonesia’s digital economy. By bridging strategy with implementation, the ALE AI Forum aims to help organisations translate the potential of AI into measurable business outcomes and meaningful societal impact. According to Gartner, global AI spending is projected to reach US$2.5 trillion in 2026 and increase to US$3.3 trillion in 2027, with AI infrastructure accounting for the largest share of spending, followed by AI services and AI software. In Indonesia, AI investments are expected to contribute US$366 billion to the national GDP by 2030, driven by sectors such as manufacturing, e-commerce, and financial services. “Organisations that will succeed in the future are those able to adopt AI meaningfully to support business transformation and operational agility. At Alcatel-Lucent, we continue to work closely with customers and partners to deliver flexible and secure solutions that support organisations at every stage of their digital transformation journey,” said Novse Hardiman, Country Manager of Alcatel-Lucent Indonesia.

AMG Systems has announced the release of the AMG840 Series Network Server Appliance, a high performance 1U rack mount platform designed for advanced network monitoring, critical infrastructure, and security led applications. Engineered in the UK and USA and manufactured in the UK, the AMG840 Series is purpose-built to support AMG Net-Hawk, AMG’s network monitoring and management platform. The appliance is also available in entry-level configurations, enabling system integrators and end users to deploy custom operating systems, storage, and applications. Key compliance requirements Tom Exley, AMG Technical Director, details “The AMG840 Series supports Intel® 12th and 13th generation Core™ processors, including i3, i5, i7, i9, and Celeron options, and up to 64GB DDR4 memory. High speed connectivity is delivered via six 2.5Gb RJ45 ports and four 10Gb SFP+ ports, enabling deployment in high bandwidth environments such as transportation networks, utilities, public safety systems, enterprise security, and industrial infrastructure.” Designed for continuous operation, the platform features dual redundant, hot-swappable power supplies, commercial-grade operating temperatures from 0°C to +50°C, and a robust metal chassis designed for 19-inch, 1U rack installation. The system supports Windows and Linux operating systems and meets key compliance requirements, including NDAA and TAA. Reduced integration time Pre configured AMG840 models are available with AMG Net Hawk software pre installed, enabling rapid deployment and reduced integration time, while entry-level models provide maximum flexibility for specialist applications. The AMG840 Series is available now through AMG Systems and authorized partners worldwide. AMG believes in advancing transmission technology and that having products in stock and being fully supported by the AMG design team gives AMG customers worldwide a measurable advantage in today’s competitive marketplace. AMG Systems offers an extensive line of fiber optic, copper, and wireless Ethernet, video, and data transmission equipment that is uniquely designed to meet the needs of the Security, Intelligent Transportation Systems, Utility, and Industrial markets.

Hot on the heels of last month’s exciting news release announcing the Gallagher Command Centre integration, and now further expanding their unrivalled integration partner portfolio, barox is delighted to announce its new Hanwha Vision integration.  Visitors to The Security Event will be able to see the new integrations showcased on barox stand, 5/F100, alongside several of the Ethernet switch manufacturer’s other market leading partner brand integrations and latest additions to their Ethernet switch lineup. Transforming the operability, management and support of leading VMS and PSIM systems, barox partner integrations enable a host of unique capabilities. Site management platform Covering every aspect of access control, security networks, and network infrastructure, barox’s seamless integration with Gallagher Security’s award-winning site management platform, Command Centre, provides users with unparalleled monitoring and diagnostics capability. Through the integration with Gallagher Security, system operators can access powerful, advanced network management capabilities directly from within Gallagher Command Centre. This capability includes full network topology visualisation for sophisticated diagnostics and rapid fault resolution, remote reboot of IP devices and switch ports directly within the Command Centre interface, SNMP trap alerts, including security and cyber alerts (sent directly into Command Centre), and automatic discovery and configuration prompts for connected devices. Network health monitoring Other market partner integrations on show at the barox stand include those for Genetec, Milestone, Genesys by ISM and the latest addition from barox, Hanwha Vision. For users of Hanwha Vision’s Wisenet WAVE VMS, this new barox integration brings the essential barox capabilities within their control, including extensive diagnostics, PoE management, CPU temperature analysis, and network health monitoring - all presented within a user-friendly barox intuitive GUI. For Genetec Security Center users, this barox integration was the first of its kind and one of the manufacturer’s most popular to date. Featuring deep level integration, this integration is now installed across an extensive range of high security projects and applications across the globe. Increasing operational efficiencies Also on show will be the integration capability with ISM – Genesys, the NPSA approved, CAPSS certified command and control platform. Commenting on how barox can proactively minimise support resources, increase operational efficiencies and reduce security risks, by combining the barox switch range with integrated VMS/PSIM Management Platforms, Rudolf Rohr, barox Co-founder & Managing Partner said: “The operational benefits to be gained from the deployment of barox integrations includes reduced engineering visits to site, lower maintenance support costs, and improved health & safety outcomes.” “Showcasing our advanced integration capabilities and cyber security features, as well as sophisticated network diagnostic tools, visitors to the barox TSE stand will be able to learn why barox switches have become the solution of choice for public space, CNI, utilities, transport hubs, data centres, Government, military, oil & gas and other high security applications.” Network diagnostic tools “We are really excited to be exhibiting at TSE again this year and particularly looking forward to catching up with all our fabulous clients and partners, who have trusted and supported us to take barox’s business to new heights across the UK, Eire and beyond,” says Sarah Moss, barox Sales Manager UK & Eire. “This year marks a significant growth period for barox with both existing and a raft of new technology partnerships set to broaden barox’s reach exponentially across new International markets and sectors. And watch this space! We have more big news announcements coming in 2026 - which is set to be a landmark year for barox.”

In today’s connected world, attacks are more likely to target digital than physical entry points. From ransomware and firmware tampering to remote hijacking, AI-driven phishing and automated vulnerability discovery, the nature of threats is evolving rapidly, and no industry can afford to neglect them. As our industry has moved from mainly mechanical to increasingly digital solutions, we have long recognised the importance of constantly monitoring and assessing the risks we face. This means not only meeting mandatory regulations but also voluntarily adopting international standards such as ISO 27001, which protects data and systems through a structured and independently audited framework. Today’s fast-changing risk environment is also why the EU introduced the Network and Information Security Directive 2 (NIS2) – to raise the bar for cybersecurity across Europe. But what do measures like NIS2 and the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) mean in practice? How does the rise of AI fit in? And most importantly, what should our industry be doing to stay secure in such an unpredictable digital landscape? The new regulations Compliance is not just about meeting regulations, it is also a competitive advantage NIS2 is reshaping cybersecurity expectations by setting higher standards to reduce risk, improve transparency, and protect data and services. Alongside it, the CRA introduces mandatory requirements for products with digital components. This makes “secure by design,” regular updates, and compliance checks essential before products can enter the EU market. For companies in our industry, responsibilities now extend well beyond internal systems. Organisations must also ensure that suppliers and service providers comply, with regular risk assessments forming a central part of the process. The consequences of falling short are severe, ranging from significant fines and audits to the potential withdrawal of products from the market. For our customers, the message is clear: security must be built in from the start. Compliance is not just about meeting regulations, it is also a competitive advantage. At ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions EMEIA, security is part of our DNA.  We embed these standards into everything we do, giving customers solutions they can trust to be compliant and resilient.  The rise of AI  Artificial intelligence is transforming the digital security landscape and it cannot be separated from the regulatory framework shaping our industry. With AI advancing rapidly and new regulations coming into force, we have established a digital compliance framework to stay ahead of the curve and use AI as an enabler for improving security and achieving compliance. On one hand, AI brings powerful benefits, including more intelligent monitoring, faster anomaly detection, and smarter tools for operational efficiency. These capabilities directly support NIS2 and the CRA, particularly in the areas of proactive risk management and incident response.  AI and building cybersecurity standards On the other hand, AI introduces new risks. The attack surface is expanding and threats such as deepfakes and smarter phishing create serious threats that regulators are determined to address. Both NIS2 and the CRA emphasise continuous monitoring, transparency and accountability, principles that must now also guide the responsible use of AI.    At ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions EMEIA, we see AI not just as a risk to mitigate, but as a capability to strengthen resilience and trust. That is why we are embedding strong governance practices around AI and building cybersecurity standards into every stage of product development. By doing so, we help our customers align with new regulations while ensuring AI serves as a tool for greater security and confidence. Trust and compliance Beyond our own operations, we are also committed to supporting customers on their compliance journey At ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions EMEIA, we are taking NIS2, the CRA and the rise of cyber-threats seriously, ensuring compliance and enhancing trust with all our customers. We have reinforced supplier oversight, streamlined incident reporting, and embedded cybersecurity into every stage of product development and lifecycle management. Our teams also conduct ongoing risk assessments and post-incident reviews, ensuring that lessons are learned and improvements are made. By taking these steps, we not only meet regulatory requirements but strengthen the resilience of our supply chain and the trust customers place in us. Beyond our own operations, we are also committed to supporting customers on their compliance journey. Initiatives such as our recently released whitepaper “Enhancing Cyber–Physical Resilience with Digital Access Solutions” and a detailed NIS2 whitepaper developed in Germany last year provide clear, practical guidance. By showing what these regulations mean in practice and how intelligent access solutions can directly support compliance, we aim to make the path forward less complex and more achievable for our customers. Looking ahead The days when security threats to businesses and products were only physical are long passed. Today, we find ourselves in a world where the digital realm poses even more serious and constantly evolving challenges. It is therefore crucial that, as an industry, we take the necessary steps to meet the directives of NIS2 and the CRA and also constantly monitor the rise of AI. Only by doing so can we protect our customers, preserve our reputations, and build the trust that defines true leadership in security.

From where I sit in talking to security pioneers every day, the traditional Global Security Operations Centre (GSOC) stands at a critical inflection point. Security teams are up against challenges in staffing, operational efficiency, and more threat complexity, which means “thinking outside the box” is becoming critical. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as more than a buzzword in these situations; it’s becoming a game-changing force multiplier in security operations. Reaching a breaking point Today's GSOCs face a perfect storm of operational challenges. Security operators, typically earning between $20-40 per hour, require extensive training periods lasting weeks or months as a result of the numerous applications they’re tasked with using. Yet the industry grapples with insane turnover rates of 100-% to 300% annually, creating a costly cycle of continuous recruitment and training. Meanwhile, operators are drowning in video feeds and alarms, leading to fatigue, missed incidents, and delayed response times. Practical applications for AI The reality of many GSOCs, however, is a disjointed mess of multiple applications The GSOC is the centre of an organization’s security and in a perfect world, all of the data related to safety across multiple facilities flows through there, giving operators a clear picture of what’s going on at any given time. The reality of many GSOCs, however, is a disjointed mess of multiple applications. Think about all the platforms needed to respond to a single incident – access control alarm, video to verify, standard operating procedures (SOPs) stored on a shared drive, radios to get a hold of a guard to dispatch, finding a list of emergency numbers and corresponding it to where the incident is happening, and manually logging the results. Steps into a single platform Not only is there a case for unifying all of these steps into a single platform that pulls in data from various sources, but layering response with AI-enabled technology to achieve the following: Real-time video analysis and threat detection. AI-enabled systems are revolutionising surveillance operations by simultaneously monitoring multiple video feeds, detecting and classifying objects, people, and behaviours in real-time. The technology excels at identifying suspicious activities such as loitering, abandoned objects, or unauthorised access attempts, automatically alerting operators to potential threats – or even identifying false alarms that can take human operators away from the work they’re doing – all while maintaining vigilance across numerous camera feeds. Intelligent alarm management. One of AI's most immediate impacts is in addressing the chronic problem of false alarms. By analysing multiple data points simultaneously, AI technology can intelligently filter and verify alerts, dramatically reducing false positives that traditionally consume valuable operator time. An AI GSOC operator, for example, can assess an incoming alarm and either identify it as a real threat (then escalate to its human supervisors) or use SOPs to determine that the alarm is false, providing feedback and reasoning that’s collected and assessed. This intelligent triage ensures security teams focus on genuine threats rather than chasing false alarms, significantly improving response efficiency. Automated incident response. When security incidents occur, AI systems can instantly gather relevant data from multiple sources – including video feeds, access control logs, and sensor data – to generate preliminary incident reports and initiate appropriate response protocols. This automation ensures consistent application of security procedures while maintaining detailed documentation for compliance and analysis purposes. Predictive analytics and pattern recognition. By analysing historical data, AI systems can identify patterns that might indicate emerging security risks before they materialise. This includes detecting unusual access patterns, anomalies in foot traffic, or behavioural patterns that suggest potential future security threats, enabling proactive rather than reactive security measures. The benefits to the business While AI can be used in so many ways to reduce false alarms, create more efficiencies, and help GSOC operators elevate their roles to be more strategic, there is still a stigma associated with its use. However, a lot of the conversations around this kind of investment can be elevated to reflect positively on the business, which can help achieve more buy-in from leadership. Here are some of the ways: Operational improvements: Dramatic reduction in false alarm rates through intelligent verification systems that analyse multiple data points simultaneously Response times cut significantly through automated triage and threat assessment protocols Standardised and consistent application of security protocols across all shifts and incidents More efficient resource allocation through AI-driven staffing recommendations based on historical patterns Expanded security coverage without proportional staffing increases, enabling monitoring of multiple locations simultaneously Enhanced incident documentation through automated report generation and data collection Improved situational awareness through real-time correlation of multiple data sources Reduced training time for new operators through AI-assisted guidance systems Better compliance management through automated protocol enforcement and documentation Business impact: Significant cost savings through reduced false alarm response and more efficient staffing Decreased liability exposure through comprehensive incident documentation and consistent protocol application Enhanced regulatory compliance through automated record-keeping and standardised procedures Improved risk management through predictive analytics and early warning capabilities Better return on investment for security technology through integrated AI-driven optimization Increased scalability of security operations without proportional cost increases More robust business continuity through improved threat detection and response Enhanced protection of critical assets through constant AI monitoring Personnel impact: Reduced operator burnout through automation of routine and repetitive tasks Enhanced job satisfaction as operators focus on strategic decision-making rather than routine monitoring Improved work-life balance through more efficient resource allocation New career development opportunities in AI-enabled security operations Better retention rates through reduced stress and increased job engagement Enhanced skill development as operators learn to work with advanced technology Improved team collaboration through AI-assisted information sharing More effective decision-making support through AI-driven insights Greater operator confidence through AI-backed verification of security events AI and the road ahead Integration of AI into the GSOC is about more than simply technological advancement While security historically hasn’t changed as quickly as its cyber counterparts, its evolution is imminent. Integration of AI into the GSOC is about more than simply technological advancement; it’s a seismic shift in how organisations approach security operations. The future of this is in the partnership between human expertise and AI capabilities, where technology handles routine monitoring and initial threat assessment, allowing security personnel to focus on complex decision-making and strategic security initiatives. Transformation of security operations For security pioneers looking to implement AI in their GSOCs, success lies in thoughtful integration that considers both technical requirements and human factors. By carefully balancing automation with human oversight, organisations can create more effective, efficient, and responsive security operations that deliver tangible value to the enterprise. The transformation of security operations through AI isn't just about doing more with less – it's about doing better with what we have. As threats become more sophisticated and security demands continue to grow, AI-enabled GSOCs will be better positioned to meet these challenges while delivering enhanced protection for people, assets, and operations.

In today’s world, almost any electronic security system holds the potential to become a gateway for cybercriminals. With physical security and cybersecurity increasingly entwined, security professionals aren’t doing their job unless they take all possible precautions to lock down unauthorised access to camera systems, access control platforms, intercoms, and other network-based security devices and solutions. Let’s explore the many steps companies should take throughout their security technologies’ lifecycle – from choosing a vendor all the way through device decommissioning – to avoid making the common mistakes that leave systems, and the networks they reside on, vulnerable to attack and sabotage. Prepurchase phase: Laying the groundwork for cybersecurity 1. Conduct a Vendor Risk Assessment IT departments often rely on the same Vendor Risk Assessment criteria they use for evaluating IT equipment manufacturers when considering the suitability of physical security vendors. While commonalities exist between how to assess these disparate solutions, there are also differences that require distinct scrutiny. For example, device endpoints within physical security systems run on custom Linux Kernels and therefore do not utilise standard Linux distributions like Red Hat, Ubuntu, or Debian. IT divisions often rely on the same Vendor Risk Assessment criteria they use for evaluating IT kit A comprehensive evaluation should examine how each security solutions manufacturer handles its software development life cycles. Ideally, vendors should adhere to a recognised framework when developing both their platform management and device-specific software. In 2021, Executive Order 14028 made it a bit easier for companies to evaluate vendors by providing guidelines for evaluating software security, the practices of the software developer, and methods to demonstrate conformance with secure practices, specifically referencing the NIST SP 800-218 Secure Software Development Framework. In short, a good vendor should have documentation that explains everything it’s doing to address cybersecurity from development, through releases and ongoing maintenance. 2. Obtain Software Update Schedules The frequency with which manufacturers update their software varies. Each company is different. If you’re their customer, it shouldn't matter whether the vendor schedules updates every six months, three months, or more often than that. What does matter is that you know what to expect and have a plan for how to deal with that reality. For example, if updates only occur every six months, under what conditions are patches released to address vulnerabilities that emerge between updates? Customers must understand how often they'll be updating the software on their devices and ensure they have the resources to make it happen. Make sure stakeholders agree, upfront, who will be performing the software updates. Will it be the integrator who installed the system, the physical security system staff, the IT team, or the end user? Keeping an entire system current is a huge challenge, but a non-negotiable responsibility. Manufacturers who don't issue frequent releases and patches put the onus on customers to handle mitigation efforts on their own. In these instances, IT departments must be prepared to employ network segmentation, firewalls, security whitelists/blacklists, and other methods to protect their systems until a patch is released. If a company's security team has typically updated firmware only when something breaks, these additional responsibilities most likely require greater collaboration with IT departments and a shift in how security systems are managed. 3. Know the Warranty Terms and Duration of Software Support Organisations should understand the warranty policies for the devices they purchase Organisations should understand the warranty policies for the devices they purchase. Even more important is knowing when a device's software support will expire. Software support should extend well beyond hardware coverage. For example, if a camera has a five-year hardware warranty, customers should reasonably expect an additional five years of software support. When that period ends, companies must plan on replacing the device – even if it still works well. Without software updates, the device lacks vulnerability support and becomes too risky to remain on the network. Manufacturers should be transparent about their warranty and software support policies, helping organisations plan for device replacements that align with cybersecurity needs. 4. Request a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) During the pre-discovery process, customers should request a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) that provides a detailed inventory of the software running on each device, including open-source components. By revealing what software is "under the hood," the SBOM allows IT departments to be vigilant in protecting the company's systems from exposed vulnerabilities. For example, a customer should understand how Transport Layer Security (TLS) is being handled to secure a security solution's web server if it’s an open-source component like OpenSSL. 5. Assess Vulnerability Disclosure Practices CNA manufacturers represent the gold standard in cybersecurity practices Understanding how a manufacturer handles vulnerabilities is essential. Ideally, they should be a Certified Naming Authority (CAN) and report common vulnerabilities and exposures (CVEs) to national vulnerability databases such as NIST and MITRE. Doing so automatically includes any disclosed vulnerabilities associated with their devices in vulnerability scanners' databases.  CNA manufacturers represent the gold standard in cybersecurity practices, but most security manufacturers do not reach this level. At a minimum, the vendors you choose to work with should have an email notification system in place to alert customers to new vulnerabilities. Remember – email notifications are only as reliable as the employees managing them, so investigate whether the manufacturer has a strong track record of keeping up with such communications. Ask to speak with customer references who have been using the solution for an extended period to ensure the vendor is diligent in its communications. Configuration phase: Ensuring a secure setup 1. Use Hardening Guides Once a device is purchased, configuring it securely is the next critical step. Manufacturers should publish hardening guides that detail the security controls available for their products and recommended practices for implementation. Between the features offered by the vendor and your company's own cybersecurity policies, make sure all possible encryption options are activated. Using HTTPS is vital for ensuring secure communication with devices. Many physical security devices default to HTTP to accommodate customer-specific network topologies and certificate management. Failing to implement HTTPS can leave sensitive metadata unencrypted and vulnerable to interception. 2. Consider Advanced Encryption Protocols Protocols are necessary to protect video data in transit from cameras to the VMS Some solutions offer built-in encryption protocols, like MACsec, which makes it impossible for data to be compromised as it is transmitted over the network. HTTPS is still necessary to secure the connection to the devices’ webservice, but while customers set up and configure their devices, MACsec will keep network data safe. Additionally, if you want to encrypt video streams, consider protocols such as Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol (SRTP), which secures the transmission of audio and video data over the Internet, or tunnelling methods like Secure Socket Tunnelling Protocol (SSTP), which encapsulate data packets for safe transmission between two points, even if the network is insecure. Such protocols are necessary to protect video data in transit from cameras to the Video Management System (VMS). Encryption should also extend to the VMS hard drive where video is stored. There are different methodologies to do that, but ultimately the goal is to encrypt data in transit and in storage. 3. Implement Remote Syslog In the case of a breach, each device maintains a set of logs that are useful for forensic investigations. However, if a device gets hacked, its log may not be accessible. Best practices dictate that companies should set up a remote Syslog server that maintains a copy of all device logs within a central repository. In addition to providing redundant data for investigations, a Syslog offers IT systems an efficient way to look for anomalies. Cybersecurity teams will receive immediate notification for events like unsuccessful login attempts so they can quickly figure out what's happening. Who is trying to log in? Why on that particular device? 4. Practice Healthy Password Hygiene Ideally, organisations should move towards using Active Directory or Single Sign-On (SSO) solutions One of the most basic and yet overlooked aspects of cybersecurity is the failure to manage user accounts meticulously. Many organisations use the same username and password for all security devices because it's simply too cumbersome to manage a network of devices in which each requires a separate, unique login. It's assumed that the system's primary administrators are the only ones who know the universal password. However, the system becomes vulnerable if anyone within this select group leaves the company and the password isn't changed or deleted right away.  Ideally, organisations should move towards using Active Directory or Single Sign-On (SSO) solutions. This approach ensures that employees throughout a company are each assigned a unique login credential that they use for any systems they use throughout the organisation. When they leave, their passwords and access are universally terminated along with their accounts. If SSO is not an option, regular password changes and prompt account deactivation are critical. Decommissioning phase: Securely retiring devices At some point, physical security devices will reach the end of their useful life. When that time comes, companies must take care in how they dispose of their devices. A good vendor will provide guidance on how to clear memory chipsets and restore factory defaults. Improper decommissioning can lead to severe risks. For example, if an improperly decommissioned device is sold on the secondary market or retrieved from a dumpster, an attacker could gain access to sensitive network configurations and use this information for malicious purposes. Conclusion Deploying physical security solutions involves more than just securing buildings and assets; it also requires robust measures to protect against cybersecurity threats. From assessing vendors and understanding update policies to configuring devices securely and managing decommissioning processes, each step presents potential pitfalls that, if overlooked, could expose organisations to significant risks. By incorporating the techniques discussed into their deployment protocols, organisations can ensure their physical security solutions provide comprehensive physical and digital protection.

As the pioneering security event in the United States, ISC West is truly the global focal point for bringing together professionals across the physical and cybersecurity landscape. The event seeks to showcase innovation in security technology, nurture professional development, and explore the security implications of today’s connected world. Future of security  With the growth of cybersecurity programming and the established Cybersecurity & Connected Internet of Things (IoT) pavilion, ISC West is addressing the future of security head-on. “As the lines between the digital and physical worlds blur, collaboration and shared learning among defenders have never been more critical,” says Mary Beth Shaughnessy, Event Vice President at RX USA, who oversees all aspects of the ISC brand. Shaughnessy previews what’s new at ISC West 2025 and shares other insights in our interview. Q: For long-time attendees at ISC West, what will be the biggest surprise at the 2025 show? Shaughnessy: Long-time attendees know to expect top-tier educational content through the SIA Education@ISC West program (produced by the Security Industry Association (SIA)) in addition to cutting-edge security innovations showcased by 700+ exhibitors. New this year is our focus on technology, training, and education around cyber-physical threats. In today’s connected world, physical and cybersecurity defenders must take a unified, holistic approach to protecting their people, assets, and data. ISC West serves as a bridge between those two worlds, helping organisations tackle the complex security landscape. Q: Presenting a high-profile music concert as part of ISC West is a fun value-add for attendees. Describe how this feature has been embraced by longtime attendees, and the plans for 2025. Shaughnessy: We’re thrilled to announce that the legendary Gin Blossoms will headline the ISC West Concert, sponsored by Wavelynx. This tradition began last year and became a celebrated highlight, offering professionals a chance to unwind and connect with colleagues and peers after a productive day on the show floor. When choosing a performer, we focus on acts that resonate across generations, making the experience both entertaining and memorable for our diverse audience. We are excited to continue this fun and exciting event and networking opportunity. Q: In the past, the education program at ISC West has been seen as secondary to the Expo event. How have you sought to increase the profile of the education program, and what new features will attract more attendees in 2025?   Shaughnessy: We’ve expanded the SIA Education@ISC programming from three to four days, now beginning two days before the expo hall opens. These dedicated education days ensure professionals can engage in thoughtful discussions and gain actionable insights without overlapping with the Expo. This year, we’re proud to partner with RSA to introduce a new “IT for Security Professionals” track while also offering our core tracks, including AI & Digital Transformation, Critical Infrastructure & Data Protection, Cybersecurity & IT, InfraGard National Members Alliance @ ISC, and Video Surveillance. We will also be welcoming powerful keynote speakers — Rachel Wilson, Director of Cybersecurity, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management; Will Bernhjelm, Vice President of Security, Mall of America; and Kate Maxwell, Chief Technology Officer, Worldwide Defense & Intelligence, Microsoft. Q: What else is “new” at ISC West in 2025? Shaughnessy: Our educational programming has grown significantly — this year’s SIA Education@ISC program is our most extensive yet, offering more than 115 sessions led by over 200 distinguished experts. With broader and deeper topics, the program emphasises the critical convergence of cyber and physical security, providing unparalleled insights for today’s security professionals. We are also significantly ramping up our cybersecurity offerings and expect to have more than 50 exhibitors in our Cybersecurity & Connected IoT pavilion with names such as Entrust and Ontic. Q: Networking is a critical aspect of ISC West. How are show organisers working to increase networking opportunities? Shaughnessy: Networking remains a top priority at ISC West, with countless opportunities to build valuable connections. Professionals can join peers at popular spots like The Bridge, The Cyber Hub, and the Career Zone (sponsored by: TEECOM). These spaces offer the chance to learn from industry experts, explore the challenges and innovations shaping the security workforce, and engage in dynamic discussions with peers. Also, returning by popular demand, the ISC West Concert, proudly sponsored by Wavelynx, delivers a vibrant evening of music and networking in a relaxed atmosphere. Together, these experiences ensure networking at ISC West is both impactful and memorable. Q: What is the biggest challenge for organisers of ISC West (and related events), and how are the organisers seeking to address the challenges? Shaughnessy: As with most events, there is a lot of pressure on organisers to ensure there’s “something for everyone,” add meaningful value, and introduce fresh, exciting features. At ISC West, we work to raise the bar each year by expanding our content with more thought pioneers, showcasing a broader range of innovative technologies, and fostering additional networking opportunities. Achieving top-quality results is no small task — it demands careful planning, collaboration, and a dedication to continuous improvement. This means actively listening to the needs of our attendees and exhibitors, staying ahead of industry trends, and ensuring we provide an experience that informs, inspires, and connects the security community.

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.

ANSecurity, a pioneering specialist in network security and wireless solutions, has successfully delivered one of the UK education sector’s first campus-wide Wi-Fi 7 deployments at Sir William Perkins’s School, providing the Surrey-based independent school with a secure, high-capacity wireless infrastructure designed to support its growing digital learning ambitions. Serving around 580 students and 142 staff, Sir William Perkins’s School has fully embedded 1:1 iPad usage into daily teaching. However, the school’s legacy wireless network struggled to cope with the rising density of devices, particularly when large groups connected simultaneously through Apple Classroom. Technical requirements Ensuring secure authentication, safeguarding compliance, and consistent performance across hundreds of devices became increasingly challenging – and other vendors were unable to meet the school’s strict technical requirements. “We spoke to multiple providers, but none were able to implement the solution we envisioned. ANSecurity not only made it possible – they tested it, validated it, and delivered it flawlessly,” said the school’s IT Manager. A structured, consultative approach Introduced by RUCKUS Networks, ANSecurity began by validating the school’s design requirements and conducting extensive lab testing to confirm compatibility with Jamf School’s certificate-based authentication and the school’s existing network architecture. A collaborative deployment plan followed, with a tight three-month schedule carefully aligned to the school holidays to avoid disruption. ANSecurity then deployed RUCKUS Wi-Fi 7 access points and configured Cloudpath to seamlessly issue certificates to nearly 550 school-managed iPads – a capability other vendors could not match. Wi-Fi 7 provides dramatically higher throughput, lower latency, and improved efficiency thanks to technologies such as wider channels and multi-link operation, enabling fast, reliable connectivity even in dense device environments like classrooms. ANSecurity integrated RADIUS and API-driven workflows To support safeguarding and compliance, ANSecurity integrated RADIUS and API-driven workflows to ensure accurate user-to-IP mapping across both the Palo Alto Networks next-generation firewall and the ContentKeeper filtering service. Additional networks were created for BYOD and guest access, with Opportunistic Wireless Encryption (OWE) used to protect traffic on open networks. ANSecurity also assisted in restructuring parts of the network, implementing new VLANs and applying updated firewall policies to ensure the right users and devices could securely access the right resources. Following deployment, a detailed wireless site survey was carried out to confirm optimal signal strength, signal-to-noise ratio, and throughput across both indoor and key outdoor areas of the campus. “The difference in consultative support compared to other vendors was night and day,” said the IT Manager. A high-performance, future-ready outcome The school now benefits from fast, stable, and secure Wi-Fi coverage across the entire campus. The new network reliably supports nearly 800 devices, with the majority operating seamlessly on 5 GHz, and is fully prepared for future upgrades, including WPA3 and 6 GHz Wi-Fi once supported by Jamf School. Integration with existing security solutions ensures all safeguarding, logging, and compliance requirements are met. Improvements to switching, segmentation, and overall network architecture have further enhanced performance and manageability. Cyber Essentials Plus certification Delivered within the agreed three-month window, the project positions Sir William Perkins’s School at the forefront of digital education. Wi-Fi 7 provides the performance headroom needed to support emerging educational technologies – from AR/VR learning to high-bandwidth cloud applications – ensuring the school remains ahead of future digital demands. With upcoming initiatives including Cyber Essentials Plus certification, expanded security controls, and wired network access control, the relationship between the school and ANSecurity continues to deepen, built on trust, technical expertise, and a shared commitment to innovation.

Comelit-PAC LOGOS video door entry monitors have been installed at the luxury Mercantile residential development in just two weeks from quotation to project completion, thanks to the enhanced security technology. Situated in Ropewalks, a central hub in Liverpool, the Mercantile is a cosmopolitan living environment situated at the heart of the city. Featuring 32 one- and two-bedroom apartments together with a collection of penthouses, the development is suitable for buy-to-live and buy-to-let clients. Ideal features and benefits of smart LOGOs monitors With premier interior specification, security specialist on site Digital Vision North West was introduced to Comelit-PAC via its gold partner distributor Moreton Alarms, with the smart LOGOs monitors proving ideal features and benefits to seamlessly blend with their surroundings. Says John Morley of Legacie Developments: “Every aspect of the Mercantile has been designed to be world-class and completed to an impeccable standard to maintain our impressive portfolio of luxury living environments in key UK cities. We knew of Comelit-PAC for its own reputation for high specification solutions and were happy to be introduced to the LOGOs monitors. All 32 monitors were installed quickly and offer our residents impressive features and benefits.” Power and use of NFC communications New Comelit-PAC LOGOS monitor series offers installers ease of use and enhanced functionality The new Comelit-PAC LOGOS monitor series offers installers ease of use and enhanced functionality. By harnessing the power of NFC communications and the dedicated MyComelit app, the LOGOS Monitor was selected over other brands for its high-quality video capabilities, user-friendly interface, and competitive pricing. Says Mark Lewis, Director of Digital Vision North West: “The streamlined design and efficient integration of the LOGOs monitors made it the ideal choice for this residential development. Its real benefit is the use of NFC communications, where we could programme each monitor quickly and efficiently, ready for resident use. From quoting to works completion is a top effort to offer such advanced smart door entry technology; we’ll definitely be using them more in the future.” Innovation and security excellence Tom McCabe of Comelit-PAC added: “Whilst Comelit-PAC is known for our focus on style and design, the LOGOs monitor demonstrates our commitment to innovation and security excellence." "We continuously strive to enhance our product portfolio and simplify the setup process, enabling more installers to offer smart door entry technology with ease. It’s fantastic to see LOGOs installed at such a prestigious project in Liverpool and to witness how its advanced functionality enhances both security and convenience for modern city living.”

Founded in 2020 by a team of energy professionals in Milan, Sunprime is a fast-growing independent renewable energy producer that develops sustainable photovoltaic plants across Italy. Their focus is mainly commercial and industrial (C&I) segment, ground-mounted systems on industrial land and industrial electricity storage systems. Challenges With global initiatives toward green sustainability and carbon neutrality, the demand for photovoltaic power generation construction is growing rapidly. Sunprime's project pipeline currently consists of several projects, many of which are located in very remote and often unattended areas (e.g., Maleo, Lodi Province), making it vulnerable to thieves that steal valuable cables and panels. Securing the vast area of photovoltaic plants requires a comprehensive surveillance system that can monitor the site at all times.  Solution Dahua and Sunprime enabled the project team to come up with an effective design The technical and commercial partnership between Dahua and Sunprime enabled the project team to come up with an effective design, implement cutting-edge technologies and pay great attention to the positioning of the cameras.  In order to safeguard one of the client’s solar power plants covering approximately 70,000 m2, more than 1,500 hybrid cameras (thermal cameras + traditional cameras) equipped with AI algorithms were deployed around the area, actively monitoring for potential intrusion 24/7. Advanced AI algorithms These state-of-the-art Dahua products can stably operate even under harsh weather conditions, making them ideal for outdoor applications. They are equipped with advanced AI algorithms capable of generating accurate alarms while filtering out false positives, which makes monitoring more efficient and more convenient for the client. Dahua AirShield wireless alarm system The signals are managed by row of switches and transmitted to high-resolution recorders In addition, through fibre optics, the video steam from the cameras are sent to the technical rooms in the solar park via Dahua’s industrial switches. The signals are then managed by another row of switches and finally transmitted to high-resolution recorders.  The Dahua AirShield wireless alarm system was also installed in each technical room in the park, providing another level of protection for the central equipment. What’s more, all the systems of Sunprime’s solar parks are now centralised through local routers thanks to the Dahua DSS management software installed in the surveillance operations centre. Results Sunprime’s solar power plant has witnessed how Dahua’s thermal perimeter protection solution can be utilised to safeguard its property and assets located in remote and secluded areas. In addition to early business communication, Dahua has assisted Sunprime from pre-sale stage to the implementation of the products, with plans and designs based on the actual needs of the customer. The high-quality service offered by Dahua has gained praised from the client. “The implementation of this type of systems was made possible thanks to the support of the Dahua projects department, which assisted us from the pre-sale stage up to the implementation of the products,” says Mr. Michele Vianello, Asset Manager at Sunprime. “I take this opportunity to once again thank them for their support throughout the entire project,” he added. After the successful completion of this project on the first site, Dahua has secured new projects for another 80 sites with approximately 20 thermal imaging cameras for each site, generating a total supply of 1,600 thermal imaging cameras.

Genetec Inc., the global pioneer in enterprise physical security software, announced The City of Edinburgh Council is using Genetec™ Security Centre as the backbone of its Smart City Strategy. The software is transforming public safety, city services and urban planning by allowing the council to manage all smart city technologies from a single interface. New applications and technologies The council’s Smart City Strategy focuses on introducing innovative technologies to manage aids The council’s Smart City Strategy focuses on introducing innovative technologies to manage resources more efficiently and improve public services. A key barrier to this vision was the city's outdated public space security system, which lacked the ability to integrate new applications and technologies. With funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and in partnership with North, Edinburgh has launched a state-of-the-art Smart City Operations Centre built on Genetec Security Centre, a unified platform that combines video surveillance, analytics and IoT sensors, through one platform. Open hybrid-cloud architecture “All truly connected Smart Cities start with unified security as success depends on centralising your operations under one platform. Otherwise, every new IoT device deployed will make you data-rich but information poor,” comments Ben Durrant, Account Executive, Genetec Inc. "Our platform differs from conventional alternatives because of its open hybrid-cloud architecture that offers the flexibility and functionality needed to evolve and keep pace with new requirements.” Capabilities beyond physical security The system not only supports day-to-day functions and the control of large-scale events With a unified platform in place, Edinburgh has been able to expand CCTV coverage in public spaces and enable secure data sharing with partners like Police Scotland, the Fire Service, and Transport for Edinburgh. The system not only supports day-to-day operations and the management of large-scale events such as the Edinburgh Fringe, the Royal Military Tattoo, and the Hogmanay celebrations, but it also extends its capabilities beyond physical security. Security Centre ecosystem Andrew Foster, MD, Public Services at North comments: "The Security Centre ecosystem allows us to gather and visualise useful data sets from advanced analytics IoT sensors on how the city is actually being used by residents and visitors." "This enables the council to make more informed decision making on how Edinburgh can become even safer, greener and better maintained." Improved quality of footage The council credits the software with saving hundreds of man hours that were yet spent manually The council credits the software with saving hundreds of man hours that were previously spent manually trawling through surveillance footage. As well as with helping it to more than double the number of viewing requests from Police Scotland that it can positively respond to. The improved quality of footage submitted as evidence is also expected to increase the number of early guilty pleas, reducing the time police officers must spend attending court to give evidence. Smart City strategy “The benefits for Edinburgh residents are massive. Enhanced public safety, improved services, optimised traffic flow, better infrastructure and city planning,” concludes Gavin Brown, Head of Network Management & Enforcement, Edinburgh City Council. “Genetec and North have proved instrumental in helping deliver our Smart City strategy.” 

EQUANS were engaged by Alfred Health to deliver an AV upgrade to their Centre for Health Innovation (CHI), where clinical staff and students can use simulation to develop skills and practice procedures in a safe learning environment, with the aim of capturing clinical and learning events for review, assessment and debrief. In addition, the facility also required the capacity to host workshops and networking events from major clinicians and health professionals. Centre for Health Innovation (CHI) CHI caters to all health specialties and can accommodate training in a variety of simulated environments, such as ICU, emergency, high dependency units, operating theatre and recovery rooms, ward spaces and procedure rooms. The Solution – CAE LearningSpace solution The system allows for up to 12,000 hours of video and audio recording EQUANS deployed the CAE LearningSpace solution. Based on a multi room enterprise grade IP platform, the local recorders in each of the training areas seamlessly upload to a central management and redundant storage server. The system allows for up to 12,000 hours of video and audio recording, live view from any network connected browser enabled workstation, and annotations of points of interest in real time. EQUANS deploys a Crestron touch screen and table kit EQUANS also deployed a Crestron touch screen and table kit for control of the learning space display, in addition to the cloud control via the CAE Learning Space One Hardware. The implementation of a Revolabs discrete microphone system provides users with great audio collaboration. The Benefit Immersive simulation-based education is used to facilitate teamwork and clinical management skills for multidisciplinary teams and individuals. The collaborative space allows clinical and innovation experts to use the latest technology and learning methods to facilitate courses and workshops, plus the recording and evaluation of usability research into new health technologies and processes. Participants are then able to practice procedures and hone clinical skill without patient risk, and have access to ratified technology that ultimately improves patient care. Overview Key facts: Deployed the CAE LearningSpace solution 12,000 hours of video and audio recording, live view and real time interactions

About a year and a half ago, Peter de Jong introduced Dahua to Fred Koks, General Manager of KITT Engineering. Since then, Dahua, KITT Engineering, and Ocean Outdoor have completed five joint projects. Follow-up appointments for the next two projects are already scheduled.  Looking back  "Let's see what happens" was Fred's reaction when introduced to Dahua. ''We evaluate our portfolio with suppliers every year,'' he explained. "We have to. So much is changing and new technology is developing incredibly fast. You have to keep up." He knows better than anyone how mobile the market is. "Among suppliers of LED screens, there is a constant battle for market position and new technology. We all know the big providers and the market pioneers. But it is not necessarily that they are also at the forefront of technology."  Working in collaboration Erwin van Domselaar, Operations & Project Manager at Ocean Outdoor, says his company dares to blindly trust the expertise of Koks and his people when choosing a particular type of LED screen. "KITT Engineering is our technical supplier. They are very good at distinguishing good products from bad ones, and we trust them completely. When they have a product they see a future in, they discuss it with us to see if we can take on a project together with it."  Shopping centre - Koperwiek In Dahua's case, that first project is a screen in a shopping centre called Koperwiek – an indoor shopping centre with more than a hundred fashion-related shops – located in Capelle aan den Ijssel. "That was a relatively small project," Erwin recalls. "The screen was not too big. But the initial learnings and experience with the screen were very good before we started. And the installation itself went off without a hitch. Exactly what we expected from this product." Shopping centre - Sterrenburg Soon, a second project was launched. This time in a shopping centre called Sterrenburg in Dordrecht. "Here, not everything went smoothly right away. Not regarding the screen, but its coincidence with the shopping centre's renovation. They had just finished." "All the walls had been neatly plastered and at that moment we asked if a new cable could be drawn. Fortunately, all this was eventually dealt with and solved in a very pleasant cooperation with the project developer, but it took some time."  Pure craftsmanship  The third and fourth projects are true masterpieces. In Hoofddorp, KITT Engineering installed a corner screen. "A unique screen for us," says Erwin. "It is the first screen that goes around a corner. It is half a meter that goes around the corner, fitting in super nicely with the surroundings." "On paper, a huge screen of forty square meters, but when you stand there, you don't notice it because it blends in so well with the surroundings. We are always looking for something new and surprising. And a screen that turns around the corner offers a lot of new possibilities. For example, in terms of 3D content." The screen turns around the corner Fred adds, "The screen doesn't just go around the corner, it goes around the corner seamlessly. KITT is always trying to bring novelties forward so we've had corner screens before. But that was in art projects and things like that where requirements are a lot lower." "In the process, we were able to try out various techniques and we also found out that the products we had at our disposal at that time were not one hundred percent ready."  Cold corner "Then Dahua came up with a prototype, we were very pleased with the 'cold corner' as we call it. It is LED on LED, without a seam."   To understand how clever this feat of engineering is, it's worth realising that the margin you have to make the image seamless is the space between two LEDs. Millimeter work, on a length of ten by five meters.  Zuidplein shopping centre "The fourth project was placing a screen in the atrium of Zuidplein shopping centre in Rotterdam," Peter says. "The screen was placed against a glass elevator." "When you see that, [it is] not normal the way it came together. You don't see a cable or anything. Fantastic." Westfield Mall The fifth project collaboration between Dahua, KITT Engineering, and Ocean Outdoor is an LED display screen in Westfield Mall in the Netherlands.   24/7 remote system monitoring In addition to the regular LED screen and the driving system, a screen control and monitoring system was also developed to monitor the primary system at every point. “We want to see remotely how our assets in the country are doing," Fred explains. From the video player to dysfunctional LEDs, everything can be monitored remotely. For instance, it prevents the light intensity from being too high. Something that can have major consequences in outdoor advertising.  

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?