Outdoor video analytics

The dome cameras, which are highly resistant to corrosion and acid, are designed to be deployed in challenging industrial environments where chemicals are used, as well as for transport and off-shore applications. Constructed of SUS316L standard stainless-steel, the new domes share a long list of innovative features built into other cameras in the award-winning open platform Wisenet X series, which when it was released in 2017, redefined the standard for high definition cameras. Supercharged by the most powerful DSP chipset ever incorporated into a full camera range, Wisenet cameras are equipped with the premier 150dB Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) technology and the innovative motorised varifocal F0.94 low light lens. Wisenet X series cameras Wisenet X cameras also feature H.265 compression and WiseStream II, a complementary compression technology which dynamically controls encoding, balancing quality and compression according to movement in the image. Bandwidth efficiency is improved by up to 99% compared to current H.264 technology when WiseStream II is combined with H.265 compression. This ensures that Hanwha Techwin’s new Wisenet X series is one of the most bandwidth friendly camera ranges available. The four new models are: Wisenet XNP-6320HS 2MP 32x network PTZ dome camera Wisenet XNV-6120RS 2MP Vandal resistant IR dome camera Wisenet XNV-6080RS 2MP Vandal resistant IR dome camera with motorised varifocal lens Wisenet XNV-8080RS 5MP Vandal resistant IR dome camera Ultra-robust camera domes “We have developed these new stainless-steel products in order to meet the needs of end-user clients who operate in difficult operating conditions but wish to benefit from the innovative technology incorporated into the Wisenet series,” said Bob (H.Y.) Hwang Ph.D., Managing Director of Hanwha Techwin Europe. “System integrators who install these ultra robust camera domes can do so safe in the knowledge that they will be effective regardless of whether they are used for security, health & safety or production monitoring purposes.”

ExtraHop, global provider of analytics for security, is upending the SOC status quo at the Black Hat USA 2018 Conference. The company will be showcasing its Reveal(x) network traffic analytics (NTA) solution at Booth 1004, demonstrating how real-time analytics and machine learning eliminate the dark space within the enterprise. ExtraHop has received industry recognition from Gartner, EMA, and Ovum as these and other major industry organisations recognise the need for NTA at enterprise scale. Black Hat USA 2018 The ExtraHop booth at Black Hat USA will feature a series of industry thought leadership presentations from Phantom, Ixia, and others speaking on the rapidly emerging role of NTA in the enterprise SOC, the importance of TLS 1.3 decryption for security visibility, and the power of orchestration automation. Special sessions will occur throughout the day at Booth 1004 on August 8 and 9, 2018. "Security teams are drowning in alerts and many are left without the resources they need to stay ahead of attackers," said Bryce Hein, SVP of Marketing at ExtraHop. "Threat hunting in the modern attack landscape is not possible without enterprise-class network traffic analytics, making NTA a must-have for the modern enterprise SOC." Reveal(x) network traffic analytics ExtraHop Reveal(x) significantly reduces dwell time by highlighting late-stage attack activities and shining light on the darkspace in the enterprise ExtraHop Reveal(x) significantly reduces dwell time by highlighting late-stage attack activities and shining light on the darkspace in the enterprise—the hard-to-see areas of the network along the east-west corridor. Through comprehensive analysis of network traffic, Reveal(x) automatically identifies attack behavior, delivering high-fidelity insights into threats to critical assets. By merging insights into investigative workflows, Reveal(x) helps security operations teams shrink detection and response times, disrupt threat activity, and identify ways to reduce the attack surface. Analyst Recognition ExtraHop was listed as a Sample Vendor in the Gartner "Hype Cycle for Threat-Facing Technologies, 2018" report. ExtraHop was named in the Network Traffic Analysis (NTA) category. According to the Gartner report, "NTA solutions are valuable tools that assist network security professionals in the detection of compromised endpoints and targeted attacks that have not been seen in the past. These tools have limited blocking ability, or none at all (because they are implemented outside of the line of traffic), but they are effective in shortening the incident response window and reducing the dwell time of malware." The recent analyst report from EMA titled: Radar Report for Network-Based Security Analytics: Q3 2018 identified ExtraHop Reveal(x) as a ‘Value Leader’ and ‘Vendor to Watch,’ noting that, ‘Reveal(x) exhibited strong functionality due to its impressive feature differentiation, out-of-box reporting, and high-performance sustained data capture and processing.’ Leading European analyst group Ovum touted Reveal(x) in a recent report stated, “It analyzes all network interactions, applying machine learning to detect abnormal behavior, and then automates basic functions to streamline threat investigations. The launch of Reveal(x) takes ExtraHop into the network detection and response (NDR) market.” Customers Choose Reveal(x) Global 2000 customers are already using ExtraHop Network Traffic Analytics to modernise their programs and protect their enterprises Global 2000 customers are already using ExtraHop Network Traffic Analytics to modernise their programs and protect their enterprises. A top provider of life insurance in the United States is using Reveal(x) as the cornerstone of their next-generation SOC, while other ExtraHop customers report improving their security visibility by as much as 75 percent and reducing time to detect threats by as much as 95 percent. Industry Accolades Reveal(x) has also won numerous cybersecurity industry awards in the last six months including the AI Breakthrough Award for Best AI Solution for CyberSecurity, 2018 Fortress Cyber Security, Best of Citrix Synergy 2018, and was named to the 2018 JMP Securities Super 70 List.

The technology at the heart of the Wisenet Biometrics and Retail solutions, which have been jointly engineered by Hanwha Techwin and analytic specialists A.I Tech, has won the Business Intelligence category in the Benchmark Innovation Awards 2018. The awards are designed to recognise and reward innovative thinking and the delivery of benefits through advanced security solutions. They are run by Benchmark Magazine, the monthly publication which is widely regarded as the “Which” magazine for the electronic security industry. AI-Tech video analytics A Benchmark test team and an independent panel from the security industry judged products and solutions from across 10 technology areas, with A.I Tech’s A.I. Tech video analytics winning the Business Intelligence category against stiff competition from the other short-listed finalists. Wisenet Biometrics and Retail solutions, which are supplied ready to work out-of-box, are designed to enable small retail chains, as well as small outlets such as convenience stores, CTNs and petrol stations, to gain a greater understanding of the type and numbers of people who visit their stores. Wisenet open platform cameras “We are very pleased that A.I. Tech’s innovative video analytics technology has been recognised in the form of this high profile, prestigious award,” said Bob (H.Y.) Hwang Ph.D., Managing Director of Hanwha Techwin Europe. “This further justifies our strategy of working in close partnership with specialist application developers, such as A.I. Tech, in order to deliver on our promise to continually develop new, innovative solutions which make good use of our high performance Wisenet open platform cameras.”

Senstar announced that Senstar Symphony (formerly Aimetis Symphony) has received Lenel factory certification and joined the Lenel OpenAccess Alliance Program (OAAP). Senstar Symphony interfaces with the OnGuard access control system, providing customers with an enhanced platform for security monitoring. Access control verification “Senstar has completed required factory testing at Lenel to validate the functionality of its interface to the OnGuard system. Symphony allows users to verify access control events directly through the operator client,” said John Marchioli, OAAP product management, Lenel. “We look forward to their continued involvement in the Lenel OpenAccess Alliance Program.” “Users can easily video-verify their OnGuard access control events inside Symphony, allowing them to use one interface for all of their security monitoring,” said Justin Schorn, vice-president, product management at Senstar.  Senstar Symphony Symphony is a software platform that allows control of an entire video surveillance system from one central location. Users can connect and configure cameras, monitor open spaces, utilise video analytics and use centralised cloud management for multi-site deployments. Senstar acquired Aimetis, the creator of Symphony, in April 2016. Since that time, the two companies have worked in parallel to continue to provide advanced perimeter intrusion detection systems, video management systems and analytics solutions. Over the coming months, Senstar and Aimetis will become one company, resulting in reduced complexity, improved performance and unified support.

Where does the time go? Before you know it, here we are at mid-year reflecting on an eventful first half of 2018 in the physical security market. It’s also a good time for our Expert Panel Roundtable to pause and look ahead at what we might expect in the second half of the year. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What technology development will have the greatest impact in the second half of 2018?

ExtraHop, global firm in analytics for security and performance management, has announced a partnership with Kite Distribution to connect UK enterprises with the advanced security insights that shed light into the dark spaces left by other security tools. Situational intelligence and automated investigation ExtraHop Reveal(x) delivers situational intelligence and automated investigation enabling enterprises around the globe to tap into their network for the most complete, objective source of insight into the threats and vulnerabilities that threaten enterprises. Using real-time data analytics for automatic discovery, Reveal(x) can classify every asset in the environment and monitor the traffic flow at up to 100 Gbps to extract more than 4,000 features. Advanced machine learning applied to those features and correlated against critical assets delivers high-fidelity alerts, reducing noise and keeping security teams focused on protecting the most critical assets. Advanced machine learning Kite Distribution is one of the fastest growing distributors in the UK, with an experienced team that has quickly built a reputation for offering unrivalled levels of support to resellers and vendors. The value-added distributor specialises in bringing innovative and disruptive technologies to the UK channel, with the goal of driving incremental value. Kite is a value-added distributor offering us a deeply aligned and relevant partnership that will extend our leadership in real-time security IT analytics"“Kite is a value-added distributor offering us a deeply aligned and relevant partnership that will extend our leadership in real-time security IT analytics to bring more security to enterprises in the UK,” says Christian Stanford, Head of EMEA channel sales at ExtraHop. “The team at Kite have deep experience in bringing disruptive, breakthrough security technologies to market and we’re thrilled to be working with them to bring Reveal(x) to a greater set of customers looking to protect their networks from security threats.” Real-time analytics “ExtraHop has become the leader in the real-time analytics space and boasts both cutting edge technology and a growing channel,” says Kip Tumber, Director for Kite Distribution. “The solution is a perfect addition to our portfolio and the last several years’ within the UK market has given ExtraHop an ever-expanding level of adoption which we plan to enhance through an active program to educate and support an expanded channel community.” The security analytics market size is estimated to grow from USD 2.83 billion in 2016 to USD 9.38 billion by 2021, according to analyst firm MarketsandMarkets. Kite Distribution will support the entire ExtraHop portfolio including the recently launched ExtraHop Reveal(x). ExtraHop UK customers include Liberty Global (Virgin Media), Sportingbet and Portsmouth NHS Trust.

Cherokee Nation Entertainment (CNE) is the gaming and hospitality arm of the Cherokee Nation, operating multiple casinos and hotels across northeast Oklahoma, USA, including the prestigious Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa. Concerned that their security team was spending an overly large number of person-hours reviewing video recordings searching for a single person of interest, CNE sought to reduce the time it took to review security footage, so their security team could remain focused on proactive tasks, and optimise their day-to-day efficiency. CNE also wanted to obtain and assess accurate data on occupancy and visitor trends for business intelligence purposes. Furthermore, CNE wanted to be alerted to security-related events in real-time, in order to handle security issues as they developed.  savVi’s video surveillance solution                                   CNE selected savVi, Agent Vi’s on premise video analytics solution, due to the wide range of video analytics capabilities that savVi offers. Over 1,000 savVi licenses were purchased, allowing cameras at CNE’s ten Oklahoma-based casinos to be enabled with different combinations of real-time event detection, video search and business intelligence capabilities. CNE utilises the video search capability most widely – to enable rapid search through the surveillance video to pinpoint events of interest – and therefore video search capabilities are enabled on the majority of cameras at the sites. Business intelligence capabilities are mostly deployed around the various gaming machines, and at entrance and exit points, to show traffic patterns and real-time people counts. Real-time event detection capabilities are used largely for the high-security areas to ensure that CNE’s security team is informed regarding situations, as they unfold. savVi is deployed through integration with a range of Axis network cameras, primarily the AXIS P3225 and Q3505 fixed cameras, the AXIS P5635, Q6044 and Q6045 PTZ cameras, and for outdoor vehicle search, the AXIS Q3708 fixed camera with three sensors. CNE uses Milestone XProtect Corporate Video Management System (VMS), which is fully and seamlessly integrated with savVi, a Milestone Certified Solution. savVi’s video search capabilities allow for verification of personal injury claims by customers who may be trying to defraud the casino savVi’s real-time event detection savVi’s video search capabilities are of considerable importance to CNE. There is a prevailing need for the casinos to be able to swiftly locate specific events within masses of footage (“incident remediation” as it is known within the entertainment industry). Among other things, this allows for verification of personal injury claims by customers who may be trying to defraud the casino. Previously, the security team’s time was heavily occupied by observing hours of footage in search of a specific person or incident. savVi now enables CNE to run the search automatically, allowing far more effective use of the operators’ time, and reduced search time from as much as 16 hours for a single search, down to a matter of minutes.  savVi’s real-time event detection capabilities are primarily used by CNE to ensure a safer and more secure environment within the casino parking facilities. By immediately alerting to any suspicious event, such as people loitering or cars moving in an unauthorised direction, the security team can monitor events and act accordingly as they unfold. savVi’s heat mapping capabilities savVi also allows CNE to gather and analyse essential business intelligence data on occupancy and visitor trends. savVi delivers accurate headcounts, meaning that the security team is constantly aware of how many people are on-site and using the casino facilities. This provides essential knowledge in the case of an emergency where a facility might need to be evacuated, and also helps prevent over-crowding. By utilising savVi’s heat mapping capabilities, CNE has knowledge of which areas of the casino are more heavily populated, and at what times. CNE can then leverage the data collected in a number of ways, including negotiating leasing deals for externally-owned casino equipment and knowing which internal locations require heavier investment of machines and personnel. This puts CNE well ahead of its competitors, as it is one of, if not the, first gaming company to employ Business Intelligence through video analytics. SavVi’s deployment in CNE’s casinos is an endorsement of the great benefit that savVi’s video analytics capabilities" savVi’s video analytics capabilities “It was savVi’s swift and effective video search that caught CNE’s attention when searching for an enhanced security solution, in particular due to the automated query ability,” said Joshua Anderson, Director of Surveillance and Technology, Cherokee Nation Entertainment. “We have been extremely impressed with savVi’s capabilities and the quality of its performance, and fully expect savVi to increase efficiencies and provide true ROI which will have a major impact on the bottom line.”  “Cherokee Nation Gaming Commission’s approval of savVi’s deployment in CNE’s casinos is an endorsement of the great benefit that savVi’s video analytics capabilities offer to gaming concerns,” commented AJ Frazer, VP Business Development, Agent Vi. “Having selected to deploy the full range of savVi video analytics functionalities, savVi offers CNE valuable insights into the activities and customer experience at their multiple sites, benefitting both CNE and their customers.”

It was over a century ago that Charlotte Hungerford Hospital (CHH) was founded, as a gift by industrialist Uri T. Hungerford. The vision was to create a community hospital that would serve as a beacon of hope and a place of comfort for the ill and injured. 100 years later, that same community spirit has helped CHH evolve into a vibrant, independent, affordable healthcare network that delivers a comprehensive range of healthcare programs and services for over 100,000 lives in Northwestern Connecticut. A challenging safety diagnosis Avigilon has made us more efficient as we don’t have to spend much time sifting through large amounts of video” Charlotte Hungerford Hospital prides itself on supporting patient and staff safety in all hospital areas and locations. Several years ago, they found themselves with an outdated security system that lacked quality video coverage and recording capabilities. CHH struggled with reliable video playback and faced frequent system crashes. As a result, the hospital’s security operators were often unable to provide accurate evidence during forensic investigations and many liability claims and hospital incidents went unresolved. CHH needed a cost-effective, comprehensive security solution that could protect patients and staff across multiple locations while still being flexible enough to scale with the hospital’s growing needs.  Avigilon AI & Analytics technology With a desire to improve its legacy surveillance system, CHH looked to Avigilon’s advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology and video analytics to meet their security needs. CHH began a multi-phase upgrade that included installing over 100 Avigilon cameras with self-learning video analytics, deploying AI-based Avigilon Appearance Search technology and using impulse radar technology with the Avigilon Presence Detector (APD) Sensor. Avigilon Appearance Search technology – a sophisticated deep learning AI search engine – helps CHH quickly locate a specific person or vehicle of interest across all cameras both inside the hospital and care centers as well as outside parking lots. This technology provides CHH’s operators with enhanced situational awareness, enabling fast event response and helping to save time and effort during critical investigations. To protect areas of the hospital where cameras cannot be installed, CHH installed the Avigilon Presence Detector (APD), a discreet impulse radar device with self-learning radar analytics that scans, learns, and continuously adapts to its environment. Avigilon Presence Detector sensors Our Security Department’s mission at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital is the safety of our patients, visitors, and employees” Capable of detecting persons who aren’t moving or are hidden, the APD sensors help improve situational awareness for CHH staff, and are used in areas where cameras are not permitted, such as restrooms or change rooms. When integrated with Avigilon Control Center (ACC) video management software, APD sensors alert CHH operators of human presence while still maintaining privacy. Avigilon H4 cameras were used throughout the hospital to provide exceptional image quality and built-in self-learning video analytics, which provides accurate detection and notification of movement of people and vehicles. CHH also deployed HD Multi-sensor cameras which provide up to four camera views per camera installation, using only one camera license and network drop. This allows CHH’s staff to efficiently cover all angles in order to detect, verify, and act on potential security events across the hospital’s premises. Avigilon H4 and HD multi-sensor cameras At the core of CHH is a desire to help the community and still serve as the beacon of compassion it was founded to be 100 years ago. With these values in mind, the hospital’s mission when it comes to security is the safety of patients, visitors, and employees. Avigilon’s AI solutions have helped achieve this by moving the CHH system from legacy to advanced and providing effective monitoring around the clock while also helping to create operational efficiencies. Since deploying ACC software, CHH’s operators spend significantly less time reviewing recorded video, allowing them to focus on proactive event response. Working with Avigilon, Charlotte Hungerford Hospital has a roadmap for continued growth and exceptional patient safety.

With a number of terrorist attacks having taken place around the world in the past days, city surveillance has become a crucial issue with top priority for the local and central governments. Surveon city solutions provide product lines including high reliability cameras with excellent image quality, feature-rich VMS with video analytics function, and RAID NVR with large storage capacity for 365+ days non-stopping recording. These comprehensive solutions help governments to build good foundations to improve social order, crack down on crimes, and protect citizens from horrible attacks. High reliability cameras Generally speaking, the governments might encounter some major challenges when designing a suitable surveillance system, such as heat, humidity, and temperature changes in outdoor environment. Under such circumstances, Surveon provides cameras with excellent image quality and lowest RMA rate to handle all kinds of outdoor condition. "Surveon’s industrial designed and 100% own manufactured cameras have made us feel confident about this project. The cameras are now being used for a few years with an average failure rate of less than 0.03% which is really impressive." said Chan, the surveillance project manager of Kaohsiung. Surveon NVRs provide large capacities for 365+ days non-stopping recording, extended IP storage, and RAID function for zero video loss The data retention of recorded video is particularly important to the planning and acceptance of city projects. Surveon NVRs provide large capacities for 365+ days non-stopping recording, extended IP storage, and RAID function for zero video loss.  Enterprise VMS In addition, Surveon intuitive VMS offers features such as video analytics, offering police units powerful yet easy to use solutions for city surveillance. By paired with Surveon enterprise VMS, the solutions provide robust prevention, preparedness, detection, and quick response measures. Surveon city solutions have been successfully applied in some major cities in Taiwan and Mongolia. “With Surveon’s E2E solutions, from 3-megapixel IP66 cameras, hardware RAID NVR, clustered storage, to enterprise VMS, we are now better equipped to monitor the entire district and protect the community against illegal activities.” said the Sükhbaatar district police officer in Mongolia.

To provide a practical solution to the monitoring of transportation infrastructure, where maximum situational awareness is paramount, Bosch Building Technologies has combined the innovation behind its video security cameras with the video management expertise of Intelligent Security Systems (ISS).  ISS is a global developer of video management and video intelligence solutions. The video management platform, SecurOS, focuses on securing large mission-critical applications, such as industrial and manufacturing sites, transportation systems, banks, sports arenas, retail locations, and campuses and office complexes. ISS’ differentiating video intelligence and image analytics solutions, whether it is Face Capture & Recognition (SecurOS FACE), License Plate Recognition (SecurOS AUTO License Plate Recognition), or Container Character Recognition (SecurOS CARGO), provide effective monitoring solutions to the transportation sector. The capabilities stretch to large-scale entry and exit points such as ports, borders and airport car parks  Surveillance challenges Transportation security provides surveillance challenges in varying degrees of situation and scale, so effective license plate recognition is crucial. From tunnels and bridges, where a situation can change in seconds, to regulating traffic flow into a city and capturing a profile of each vehicle, Bosch and ISS can provide answers to the questions that matter. Has a particular vehicle been permitted access to a specific area? Has that vehicle been stolen? What’s the insurance or toll subscription status? Has that vehicle been authorised to operate as a taxi? The capabilities even stretch to large-scale entry and exit points such as ports, borders and airport car parks.  Vehicle monitoring Monitoring which vehicles are entering an area, and checking their legitimacy to be there, has never been more critical. Having the capability to capture license plates of every vehicle moving in the designated area gives users complete awareness of traffic flows and usage patterns, allowing them to configure and manage their monitoring preferences efficiently and permit secure data exchanges with other operational management systems and services for efficient infrastructure alignment.  If driving conditions were perfect all-year round, the job of an operations manager, for example, would be quite straightforward. But the reality is quite the opposite. That is why the ISS certified Bosch cameras responsible for capturing this data are incredibly robust and built to produce usable images 24/7 in the harshest conditions, including after dark by employing a supplementary infrared light. The selected cameras have a special License Plate Recognition (LPR) mode which is developed in collaboration with ISS to deliver accurate information even when faced with the challenges of glaring headlights and fast-moving vehicles. Interpreting video data directly at source helps to improve levels of security substantially and can also offer clear business advantages  SecurOS AUTO license plate recognition High standards are applied to the quality of the images captured. By incorporating the SecurOS AUTO License Plate Recognition (LPR/ANPR) solution, Bosch and ISS can provide several unique benefits for users, including the ability to accurately capture license plate information at 210 km/h (130 mph) in all kinds of weather conditions, including light fog, rain, and snow. Furthermore, utilising advanced algorithms results in a level of accuracy that can distinguish letters from numbers (so an “8” is not mistaken for a “B,” for example) which is a crucial advantage, particularly in emergency situations. The partnership with ISS supports Bosch’s belief that the logical next-step for security is to enable customers to repurpose the vast amounts of video data that they now can capture. Interpreting video data directly at source helps to improve levels of security substantially and can also offer clear business advantages.

Gatwick Airport is the UK’s second largest airport and the most efficient single-runway airport in the world. It serves more than 228 destinations in 74 countries for 45 million passengers a year on short and long-haul point-to-point services. It is also a major economic driver for the UK, contributing £5.3 billion to national GDP and generating 85,000 jobs nationally. As a key national infrastructure and major transport hub, Gatwick Airport takes the challenge of maintaining the safety and security of its passengers, visitors and employees seriously. It delivers on this challenge through people and process change, combined with powerful technology enablement and a standardised set of operational procedures and ways of working. This brings together the airport security and operations teams, Sussex Police, Border Force and many more interested parties. Qognify Situator is the technology enabler at the heart of the Gatwick Airport Integrated Security project Gatwick Airport Integrated Security The aim of the Gatwick Airport Integrated Security project was to use all available security elements to deliver a fully automated and rapid response solution for this state-of-the-art facility. Qognify Situator is the technology enabler at the heart of the Gatwick Airport Integrated Security project. It provides a consolidated view and full management of any situation or emergency. The additional integration of Qognify’s Suspect Search real-time video analytics proprietary software to this closely integrated network of security systems, means Gatwick Airport is now able to rapidly identify and pinpoint a suspected criminal/terrorist, or find a lost person in real-time. Suspect Search real-time video analytics A key aim of the project was the standardisation of operations and management across the airport. Security teams throughout the terminals and facilities collaborate effectively, ensuring the full safety of people and assets, along with full compliance and auditing abilities. The whole project helps to support smooth operations and minimise downtime in an intensely busy environment. The power of the CCTV solution is that it gives Gatwick Airport superior situational awareness" By using a combination of Qognify’s situational management and real-time video analytics solutions, the airport has the most powerful, automated and rapid response security system. From fighting terrorism, to combatting crime, or locating misplaced items and even finding a lost child, the security team at Gatwick Airport can now identify any issue and mobilise to wherever it is needed faster than ever before. Robin Lomax, IT Project Manager, CCTV Refresh Project Gatwick Airport explains: “The power of the CCTV solution is that it gives Gatwick Airport superior situational awareness and allows us to command, adapt and respond to any security event, before, during and after it occurs. It enables a quicker speed of response; a more appropriate size of response and it allows us to play back and learn lessons from the incident after the fact.”

To protect its assets and infrastructure, Orange Group, telecommunications companies in Cameroon, has specified and deployed iVMS software, NVRs, decoders and IP cameras from Hikvision, a global supplier of innovative video surveillance products and solutions. Consolidating its leading position in the 23 million population central African country, Orange Cameroon is progressively substituting voice and SMS applications by data communications and value-added services, expanding its 3G and 4G coverage, and upgrading its access network. This move is set to greatly enhance Orange’s network capabilities for new applications and the development of high and very high-speed broadband. Furthermore, Orange Cameroon leads the way in providing mobile payments, thanks to numerous innovations in its Orange Money service, including the Orange Money Visa card. Servitel delivered an effective solution that would provide an answer to the security and management issues being faced  Remote access management Wanting to provide an effective solution to the frequent problem of theft of stock at many Orange sites, and the requirement to help better manage remote access to some key sensitive areas, along with confirming the locations and status of its employees, Orange Cameroon enlisted the help of Servitel. Based in Douala (the seaport and economic hub of Cameroon), Servitel is a specialist systems integrator. To address the issues raised by Orange Cameroon, Servitel, who are adept in the supply of integrated security equipment, communications and network management solutions, worked with the head of security for Orange, to deliver an effective solution that would provide an answer to the security and management issues being faced. Networked surveillance solution Using information derived from a study of the initial proposed eleven Orange sites by the Orange Group security team, and utilising staff feedback, after much consideration, the first phase of the new surveillance system specification was developed and approved. The eleven Orange locations to be covered by the networked solution would include the company’s HQ in Douala, its technical HQ, commercial HQ, and Orange retail and technical sites in 10 cities throughout Cameroon. At the majority of locations covered by the new surveillance system, a mix of entrances and exits, fence line perimeters, tops of buildings, and internal areas were all chosen to be monitored.The efficient H.264+ algorithm also reduced the amount and cost of storage hardware needed"  Multi-site surveillance system Linking the multi-site networked surveillance system internally via Cat6a cable and microwave video transmission to the central control room located at Orange’s HQ, a mix of over 300 Hikvision HD cameras were installed by Servitel. “Even for a highly experienced Mobile Telecom Provider, building a remote IP CCTV network to link to a remote central Control Room is a real challenge in Africa, as there is no existing interurban optical fibre network to utilise,” explained Gregory Ancelin, Director at Servitel.  “So, for this multi-site system, we installed microwave links. We then needed to consider how we would maximise the limited broadband bandwidth available, this is where the Hikvision solution really came in to its own. The Hikvision cameras’ use of the very efficient H.264+ encoding technology enabled the transmission of 1080P HD quality images but using only half the bandwidth of cameras using standard H.264." "The efficient H.264+ algorithm also reduced the amount and cost of storage hardware needed by requiring only half as much disk storage space, and the cameras themselves are very competitively priced considering their high-spec and high quality,” Gregory added. With high-capacity local storage, events and local recordings are maintained safely, and available for retrievalHikvision cameras and NVRs Providing the comprehensive high-quality video surveillance coverage and facilities management that Orange required, the mix of Hikvision camera models installed included, DS-2CD4212F-IS 1.3MP Low-light IR Bullet, DS-2CD2722FWD 2MP WDR Vari-focal Dome, and DS-2DF8236IV-AEL 2MP Ultra WDR Smart PTZ network cameras. At each remote site, the Hikvision cameras are integrated with the access control system, to allow remote verification of entry and access doors, with some access points used to trigger camera snapshots of users.  Local remote site continuous recording is facilitated by Hikvision DS-9600NI-H8 Series NVRs, with built-in network protocol for connectivity with Hikvision and other camera manufacturer IP products. Local recording plays an essential role within the multi-site system, primarily because the data connection between the remote sites and the control room can sometimes be lost for relatively long periods, interrupting live monitoring. But with high-capacity local storage, events and local recordings are maintained safely, and available for retrieval when the connection with the control room is resumed. Combined internal and external IP video solution The mix of internal and external IP cameras specified was installed across three phases and devised to address the varying range of surveillance scene conditions encountered across each of the eleven Orange sites. The mix of technology specified directly addressed issues such as bright-backlit scene lighting, total darkness and the need for wide-area coverage.  At the central control room in Douala, supporting 24/7 live monitoring and reporting of incidents to the Orange security department, Hikvision DS-96128NI-E24/H Embedded NVRs were specified to provide up to 8 Megapixel resolution recording and playback of the multi-site networked surveillance system. Hikvision’s Blazer Pro (256-channel) all-in-one server was also deployed to provide a comprehensive and powerful surveillance video management solution, along with Hikvision DS-6408HDI-T Series decoders, used to provide video stream decoding for a high-resolution 20 x 32” monitor screen video wall. Search and playback of specific events enables control room operators to provide the Orange security team with snapshots or video footage Post-event video investigation Utilising the powerful Hikvision surveillance capability, if and when an event occurs, depending on its severity, control room operators notify the Orange security department with the precise nature and level of the event taking place, furnishing them with detailed information and enabling them to take the appropriate course of action. Post-event investigation is also catered for by the system, where search and playback of specific events enables control room operators to provide the Orange security team with snapshots or video footage whenever requested.  Fewer security personnel Since the system went live, it has contributed a positive impact on the business, with multiple acknowledged security benefits across the Orange estate. “Orange were able to cut their operational costs by reducing the number of required security personnel,” commented Gregory. “Some incidents have already been caught on camera, including incidents related to loss of stock from some sites.” “Regarding the system specification, prior to the Orange Group project we had previously used Hikvision successfully for many other clients, and we were confident that the solution we proposed combined very competitive cost, with superb quality and performance, which was a crucial factor in securing this multi-site contract.” Looking to the future, the Hikvision based scheme has been deemed a great success, and as such, a complimentary phase two installation has been specified and works begun to extend the coverage to further Orange sites across Cameroon.