Public sector security

GET Group North America, global provider of end-to-end solutions for secure credentials with over 20 years of experience in identity management, has announced a partnership with Secure Planet, an I3 affiliated company, which provides facial recognition-based solutions of the highest overall quality, security, and value to U.S. Government, industry and commercial clients. Under the terms of the agreement, Secure Planet’s cutting-edge facial recognition technology will be incorporated in select GET Group NA offerings, including its CoreID Personal Data Management System (PDMS) and its GET mID Digital Identity Solution. Facial recognition solutions  Secure Planet’s facial recognition solutions are developed in the U.S. and built around the state-of-the-art Rank One Computing facial recognition algorithm. They can be deployed in hand-held or man-portable modes depending on customer requirements. Facial extraction and matching from still imagery and videos are available in both modes, in a connected or disconnected environment and over a variety of distances. Secure Planet offers a mid-range facial recognition capability that can leverage facial images captured via streaming video “Secure Planet has led the pack in terms of developing a facial recognition algorithm that provides the highest degree of accuracy, quality and performance,” said Gerald Hubbard, Director of Marketing and Communications, GET Group North America. “By incorporating their technology into our offerings, we will best enable government agencies, motor vehicle departments, municipalities, law enforcement organisations, and corporate enterprises to implement optimal identity management solutions.” Digital identity solutions Secure Planet offers a mid-range facial recognition capability that can leverage facial images captured via streaming video. It can collect and match unconstrained faces from individuals at ranges between five and 350 meters in daylight conditions. Images that are seamlessly extracted from the streaming video can be automatically matched against a database of millions of individuals without a network connection to remote computing resources. Similarly, its mid-range still-image facial recognition solution can collect still-images of unconstrained faces of persons at ranges between five and 350 meters in daylight conditions. “We strive to consistently test and improve our facial recognition algorithm in order to provide the most accurate offering possible,” said Dr. Doug Dyer, Chief Scientist at Secure Planet. “Like us, GET Group is committed to proving the best and most effective solutions for managing identities. The combination of our technologies will allow governments and organisations to help prevent identity fraud and grant correct access to only authorised individuals.”

Johnson Controls introduces the Tyco 360° Radar Detection, a low-cost, early threat detection family of radar sensors that can be easily integrated into existing video management systems for a more complete surveillance solution. Tyco Radar 360° Detection solution An ideal answer for advanced perimeter security needs, Tyco Radar 360° Detection offers long-range protection, which means quicker detection of breaches for areas seeking upgraded perimeter safety, such as power plants, transportation hubs, critical infrastructure and other governmental, industrial and commercial sites. “The addition of radar for detection will help those with perimeter protection concerns take their situational awareness to the next level,” said Peter Ainsworth, product general manager, Video, Global, Building Technologies & Solutions, Johnson Controls. “And knowing it can be easily and cost-effectively integrated into an existing VMS for an end-to-end solution just enhances and simplifies the process.”  Perimeter protection With a high level of power efficiency, onboard signaling and processing, and superior performance in all weather and lighting conditions, Tyco 360° Radar Detection ensures 24/7, 360-degree coverage for sites of all sizes. The radars will be available in 250, 500, and 1,000-meter range sensors, with accessories and management software also available for purchase. Using its slew-to-cue capabilities, the radar can point pan /tilt /zoom (PTZ) cameras to a targeted location for improved surveillance. It will also have the added benefit of quick installation involving less hardware, easy maintenance and a low false alarm rate.

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

BriefCam, global provider of video content analytics and video synopsis solutions, has announced v5.4 of its innovative and extensible video content analytics platform. The latest release advances real-time capabilities, enhances user experience, and accelerates processing performance across all three of the platform’s seamlessly integrated modules. These enhancements further enable customers to rapidly transform video into actionable intelligence. BriefCam is committed to delivering an innovative video analytics platform" “In order to extract the value from their video surveillance investments, it is critical for enterprises and public safety agencies to adopt a comprehensive approach to video analytics as part of their overall surveillance strategy,” said Trevor Matz, BriefCam President and CEO. “BriefCam is committed to delivering an innovative video analytics platform to accelerate investigations, derive quantitative insights for operational decision making, and provide real-time situational awareness for organisations across the globe.” BriefCam’s robust portfolio of critical video analytics solutions, fully integrated and architected for flexible deployment models, is designed to meet the safety, security, and operational efficiency needs of today and tomorrow.  BriefCam v5.4 BriefCam v5.4 exponentially increases on-demand video processing efficiency and performance, delivering over 100% faster throughput than previous versions, while simultaneously improving accuracy for in-the-wild class and attribute classification. New key features include: BriefCam REVIEW | Accelerate investigations: Robust multi-camera search capabilities identify men, women, children, vehicles, and lighting changes with speed and precision. Offering 27 classes and attributes, in addition to face recognition, appearance similarity, color, size, speed, path, direction, and dwell time, providing an ever increasing and powerful set of distinct search combinations. BriefCam RESPOND | Attain situational awareness: Define dynamic rules for count-based alerts that trigger notifications for a specified number of objects or a concurrent number of objects in a predefined period of time. Accelerate time to target with one-click case creation based on an alert, and rapidly review all daily alert events with a video synopsis in minutes. BriefCam RESEARCH | Derive operational intelligence: Rapidly create and customise interactive, intuitive dashboards with chart suggestions that auto-generate reports and Insight Advisor that prioritizes relevant data points. Leverage visual layers to expose object interactions, dwell time, paths, and activity heatmaps. Dynamically build operational intelligence dashboards from both uploaded video files and VMS-based video data. Real-time face recognition BriefCam is pleased to be a certified Milestone Platinum Technology partner and certified Genetec Gold Technology partner BriefCam is slated to demonstrate the full functionality of v5.4, including real-time face recognition and situational awareness capabilities at ISC West 2019 in booth #10125. BriefCam works seamlessly with third-party products, providing partners and end-users alike with freedom of choice, while delivering a disruptive, scalable and easy to use video content analytics platform. BriefCam is pleased to be a certified Milestone Platinum Technology partner and certified Genetec Gold Technology partner. BriefCam v5.4 has won a 2019 Security Sales & Integration MVP Award in the category for Video Surveillance, a 2019 Govies Award in the category for Video Analytics, and a 2019 Secure Campus Award in the category for Video Surveillance Software.

Shown for the first time at ISC West (April 10-12, 2019) in Las Vegas, a range of new network cameras underlines the successful partnership between Sony and Bosch that leverages both companies’ complementary skills in cutting-edge digital image sensing and processing technologies. Rugged dome cameras Sony’s star product at ISC West is the SNC-WL862 Multi-Sensor Adjustable Dome Network Camera. Ideal for high quality ‘all round’ video monitoring in corporate environments and public spaces, it captures detail-packed images with a total resolution of 20 megapixels via four independent five megapixels CMOS image sensors and varifocal lenses. Inside SNC-EMX30 models, Sony’s Exmor CMOS sensor captures Full HD video at 30fpsThis allows to view four different regions of interest simultaneously, simplifying installation and lowering costs by reducing the total number of cameras needed. Offering 360° video coverage from one camera with a single IP address, the rugged SNC-WL862 is armored with a robust IP66 and IK10-rated housing to withstand rain, dust and vandalism. In addition, six brand new EMX-series minidome cameras answer customer demand for smooth, stable images and intelligent analytics at a compelling price. Inside SNC-EMX30 models, Sony’s Exmor CMOS sensor captures Full HD video at 30fps. SNC-EMX50 models upgrade quality and sensitivity even further with a five-megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor. Cameras with an ‘R’ suffix in the model name include an integral infrared (IR) illuminator, delivering clear B/W images in conditions of complete darkness. Video analytics and network security On-board Essential Video Analytics bring extra intelligence to security applications, combining high-resolution images with associated metadata that is most useful to users. Network security is also a key focus, with the cameras’ Trusted Platform Module and latest encryption/authentication measures guarding against malicious attacks. The new SNC HMX72 is a ruggedised 360-degree hemispheric-view camera version that is ideal for outdoor environments In common with the multi-sensor camera, all EMX-series models feature on-board wide dynamic range technology to ensure evenly exposed footage, even in high contrast scenes with bright highlights and dark shadow detail. Intelligent streaming and Intelligent Dynamic Noise Reduction techniques combined with the efficient H.265 codec reduce bandwidth requirements by up to 80 percent and save storage while maintaining superb video performance. Edge recording onto removable microSD card ensures superior reliability in case of network interruptions, while compliance with ONVIF Profiles S, G and T facilitates interoperability with other network video systems. Sony video cameras Complementing the portfolio, the new SNC HMX72 is a ruggedised 360-degree hemispheric-view camera version that is ideal for outdoor environments like railway stations, campuses and pedestrian areas. The market leading quality and reliability of all video security cameras from Sony is backed by a 3-year warranty with fuss-free extension options from Bosch. Registered video security partners can access additional benefits including an Advanced Exchange scheme.

Shot Tracer, the innovator in high-performance, affordably-priced gunshot detection solutions, will be launching a new reseller recruitment program at ISC West 2019 (booth #1092) with a highly attractive on-boarding proposition for qualified dealers. Qualifying resellers can receive a Gunshot Simulator Kit valued at $1,000 when they commit to becoming a Shot Tracer dealer.   Shot Tracer’s Eagle Gunshot Detection System is so advanced, yet it’s simple. It easily integrates with virtually any security, alarm, surveillance and access system via contact closure – or wirelessly via IP integration. In fact, Shot Tracer gunshot detection sensors are as easy to install as a smoke detector, so there’s virtually no learning curve for installing dealers. Our new reseller recruitment program provides security dealers with a very aggressive proposition with an easy point of entry"Additionally, Shot Tracer Eagle is designed for independent operation, eliminating the need for expensive servers or call centres. Resellers will also find that Shot Tracer Eagle provides a highly-profitable new source of revenue earning up to 35% profit on every sensor installed with the potential for additional Recurring Monthly Revenue (RMR). Protecting people and property The new Shot Tracer Reseller Recruitment Program includes an exclusive offer for installing dealers to receive a free Gunshot Simulator Kit, valued at over $1000, which is essential for demonstrating Shot Tracer Eagle Gunshot Detection sensors. Terms and conditions apply for qualifying resellers. “Our new reseller recruitment program provides security dealers with a very aggressive proposition with an easy point of entry,” said Allan Overcast, CEO and President of Shot Tracer Technologies. “As active shooter incidents continue to increase, security professionals across public and private sectors are challenged with the task of providing the most effective and cost-efficient means of protecting people, property and physical assets. Shot Tracer’s proven technology provides the means to do so, while providing resellers with a profitable yet easy way to cultivate new business opportunities.” Advanced sensors to detect gunshots Shot Tracer Eagle provides critical data such as the number of shots fired, along with the largest detection footprint per sensor availableShot Tracer’s innovative Eagle Gunshot Detection System provides the most accurate and cost-effective solution available for interior gunshot detection applications. It features field-proven technology initially developed for law enforcement and military use, employing advanced sensors (not microphones) to detect gunshots. Shot Tracer Eagle also provides critical data such as the number of shots fired, along with the largest detection footprint per sensor available. It’s a solution that users want and need to ensure they have the most proactive measures available to detect and neutralise an active shooter. More important for resellers, Shot Tracer Eagle provides an easy path to entry from both technology and budgetary perspectives.

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

Public spaces in cities and suburbs are important places for community development and promoting outdoor recreation. These areas may include main streets, parks, promenades, band shells and fields. Such locations are often utilised by public event planners for community activities, including summer festivals, wintertime ice skating rink installations, music concerts and art fairs. As the year drew to a close, holiday and Christmas markets as well as major New Year’s Eve events, presented cities with constant public event security needs. The public nature of these events increases risks of incidents with high-speed vehicles that put attendees in danger. Fortunately, there are three ways for public space managers to prevent casualty-causing collisions and further promote the use of local public areas. Developing an effective action plan    When strategising how to react to an alert, think about what time of the year and time of day the event is occurring It is important to have a plan developed before an incident or accident occurs. Warning systems, utilising doppler radar and digital loop technologies, alert guards to abnormal vehicle velocity changes in the surrounding area. Managers of public areas should organise a meeting with public safety authorities and local agencies to discuss what must immediately occur when a high-speed vehicle is approaching a public event. When strategising how to react to an alert, think about what time of the year and time of day the event is occurring. Having such a reaction plan in place combines technology and strategic planning to ensure everyone is on the same page to effectively target a threat and promote overall event safety. Securing public areas  Ideally, there will be no need to implement a well-conceived action plan. After all, taking preventive measures to secure public areas where events take place is important to keep people safe from accidental vehicle collisions and intentional attacks. Protect attendees by clearly separating pedestrian and vehicle locations using security devices such as – Barricades Portable barriers Bollards Install guard booths  Avoid the risk of vandalism and theft, making sure people are safe when walking back to the cars at night by keeping parking areas illuminated with flood lights. Install guard booths with employees who monitor activity in the parking area and who are prepared to react if an alert is triggered. Furthermore, prevent accidental collisions by clearly marking the parking area with informative warning signs and using barricades to direct traffic. These three tips can be used by public area managers to promote security at the next community event. Additionally, the technologies used to secure an event can also be used as infrastructure for year-round security. Installing gates that shut when the public space is closed or using aesthetically pleasing bollards are steps any public area manager can take to promote community safety.

According to the reports of not-for-profit organisation Gun Violence Archive, the year 2018 has seen 323 mass shooting incidents as of November 28 in the United States. This number is 346 for the year 2017 and 382 for 2016 (more statistics are available here), with “mass shooting” defined as cases where four or more people are shot or killed in the same time period and location. While definitions of mass shooting vary with organisations in the US, the count of over 300 incidents per year, or about once per day on average, is simply alarming. It raises public safety concerns, ignites debates and protests, which in turn lead to public unrest and potentially more violence, and increases costs for governments from the regional to federal level. Most importantly, the loss of lives demands not only improvement in post-incident handling and investigation, but also new prevention technologies. Gunshot detection solutions AI weapon detection offers a more efficient alternative to prevent active shooting There are several gunshot detection solutions in the security market, commonly used by law enforcement agencies to detect and locate gun fires. These systems function based on acoustic recordings and analyses and often in combination with signals detected by sensors of the optical flash and shockwave when a gun is fired. However, gunshot detection by nature dictates that the law enforcement can only react to a shooting incident that has occurred. With fast action, law enforcement can prevent the incident from escalating, but lives that are lost cannot be recovered. With the development of artificial intelligence in object recognition, AI weapon detection offers a more efficient alternative to prevent active shooting: AI can visually detect guns based on their shapes before they are fired. The AI is trained to recognise firearms in different shapes, sizes, colours, and at different angles in videos, so that the AI weapon detector can be deployed with existing cameras systems, analyse the video feeds, and instantly notify security staff when a gun is spotted. Comparison of the advantages for law enforcement and public security agencies Legacy gunshot detection using sensors AI weapon detection Reactive measure: detect after guns have been fired Proactive measure: detect before guns are fired Time to action: within 1 second Time to action: within 1 second Unable to provide visual data about shooter(s) Can provide data about shooter(s) based on the camera recording: clothing, luggage (backpack, handbag, etc.), facial features, vehicle Unable to track the location of the shooter(s) before and after shooting because of the lack of sound Can track the shooter(s) using AI Person & Vehicle Tracking, AI Face Recognition, and AI License Plate Recognition False detection caused by similar sound such as fireworks and cars backfiring Minimal to no false detection, as AI can distinguish different types of handguns and rifles from normal objects (umbrella, cellphone, etc.) Require physical deployment of gunshot detection sensors Can be used with existing camera systems, do not require special hardware Complicated to deploy, require highly trained professional Easy to deploy as an add-on to existing video surveillance system - Can integrate with gun-shot detection to create a “double knock” audio and video active shooter alert system Gun-shot detection advantages In addition to advantages for law enforcement and public security agencies, this type of visual-based pre-incident detector has three-fold advantages for the public: Save lives by spotting the shooter before the shooting event. Minimise the chaos entailing an incident: panic and chaos caused by a shooting incident often adds to injury, as people run, fall, trample on others… With an AI weapon detector, when a gun is spotted, the system sends an alert to security staff, who can quickly control the situation in an organised manner and apprehend the intending shooter. Can be added as a SaaS (Security as a Service) component to small business and home surveillance systems, e.g., intrusion detection alerts (home invasion incidents with firearms number over 2500 per year nationwide). For a complete active shooter detection system, video-based AI detector can operate in conjunction with gunshot detectors for enhanced security. Traditional X-ray based weapon detection or metal detection entrance systems are complicated and expensive; with AI video technology, active shooter detection system can be cost-effective, and after all, what price tag can one put on a life? Written by Paul Sun and Mai Truong, IronYun

Keynote speakers will kick off ISC West Day 1 and Day 2. Keynote sessions are open to anyone, and ISC West organisers look for speakers with broad-based appeal, either from the government or related to security strategies, standards and measures. Timely and newsworthy topics are included as a means of educating attendees on the best way to protect their own facilities. On the first day of the exhibition, April 10 at 8:30 a.m., the Keynote Speaker will be William Bryan of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As science and technology advisor for DHS, Bryan leads research, development, innovation and testing and evaluation activities. An Army veteran with 17 years of active military service and three years in the Virginia National Guard, Bryan brings a wealth of experience gained from multiple leadership roles in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of Defense (DoD). Safeguarding public at stadium Butler has been responsible for the personal security of Prime Ministers, Presidents, and members of the British Royal FamilyThe Day 2 Keynote, Thursday at 8:30 a.m., will be given by Russ Butler, Vice President of Security for the San Francisco 49ers and Levi’s Stadium. A former Scotland Yard Police Officer, Butler led a team of specially trained and equipped police officers tasked in the 1980s with safeguarding the public at soccer matches throughout the UK during the height of organised soccer violence. He was also a SWAT Team Leader for Scotland Yard, and has been responsible for the personal security of Prime Ministers, Presidents, and members of the British Royal Family. Butler has been involved in planning and executing notable events such as Super Bowl 50, ‘WrestleMania’ and this year’s College Football Championships. The ISC West conference program, provided by the Security Industry Association (SIA) and branded SIA Education@ISC, is expanding this year to 85-plus sessions, with something for everyone, whether they are an end user, dealer/installer, consultant, or are focussed on a specific vertical market. The conference program speaks to every audience segment at the show. Enhancing organisation’s cybersecurity Attendees will leave the session with a self-created model including concrete recommendations to enhance their organisation’s cybersecurityCybersecurity will be a bigger topic than ever, and among the new speakers will be Johna Johnson, CEO and Founder of Nemertes Research, whose session will enable end user participants to quickly and accurately ‘score’ the maturity of their cybersecurity initiatives. Session participants will use handouts to rate themselves and their current success based on operational metrics, deployment of key ‘bellwether technologies’, and organisational and operational best practices. Attendees will leave the session, planned for April 9 at 10:15 a.m., with a self-created model including concrete recommendations to enhance their organisation’s cybersecurity. Another new speaker will be Hector Alvarez, President of Alvarez Associates, a specialist in workplace violence prevention. His presentation, April 9 at 2:45 p.m., is geared towards security, safety, risk managers and HR staff who are new to threat management/workplace violence, or experienced professionals who can benefit from reviewing the foundational steps. Addressing threatening and concerning behaviour The sessions, on April 10 and 11, provide exhibitors an opportunity to educate and provide demonstrations to their customer base on new technologiesReal-world vignettes will be reviewed, including those with both negative and positive outcomes. The session will enable attendees to recognise the warning signs of individuals on the pathway towards violence, and to identify a range of intervention and response options to address threatening and concerning behaviour. Free Vendor Solution Sessions are another popular feature of the ISC West conference program. The sessions, on April 10 and 11, held in meeting rooms near the exhibit hall, provide ISC West exhibitors an opportunity to educate and provide demonstrations to their customer base on new technologies. They are free to any ISC West badgeholders. Some of the sessions attract large attendance, and preregistration is provided. Presenting companies include Axis Communications, StarLink Fire, FireLink FACP, Hikvision, Intel, Verkada, and IBM.

As the Internet of Things (IoT) and other trends drive the convergence of physical and information security, integrators and end users attending ISC West may be struggling to keep pace with new areas of responsibility and expanding roles in the larger security ecosystem. Help is here. The Connected Security Expo, co-locating with ISC West, focuses on building a holistic security strategy for the connected enterprise. Exhibitors will focus on how physical and information security can be used together to mitigate new and emerging cyber-threats in a hyper-connected world. Connected Security Expo provides attendees access to cutting-edge products and technology in both the physical and IT secure realms. It is clearly a growth factor in the market. Here’s a look at some of the companies on display in the 2019 Connected Security Expo: Integrated video cloud service The AI-powered video analysis software suite delivers high-speed object search and facial classification Arcules provides the Arcules integrated video cloud service, which combines untapped video and sensor data with the latest technologies in cloud, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to deliver actionable business and security intelligence for modern organisations. The cloud-based service is designed to ensure security, scalability, streamlined operations, and bandwidth management — all from a single, easy-to-use interface. Hardware-accelerated solutions BrainChip Inc. is a global developer of software and hardware-accelerated solutions for advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning applications. The AI-powered video analysis software suite delivers high-speed object search and facial classification for law enforcement, counter terrorism and intelligence agencies. PSIM software platform CNL Software Inc. is an open, adaptable, scalable and secure Physical Security Information Management (PSIM) solutions provider. The IPSecurity Center PSIM software platform helps law enforcement, government agencies, the military, public and private critical infrastructure, transportation networks, corporations and campuses to integrate, automate and manage systems, allowing better security intelligence and improved operational efficiency. Facial recognition software IOmniscient Corp. provides facial recognition software that can recognise multiple faces even in crowded and uncontrolled scenes IOmniscient Corp. provides facial recognition software that can recognise multiple faces even in crowded and uncontrolled scenes. Matching faces with an existing database, the system can detect an unauthorised person and track him or her across non-overlapping cameras. Enhance situational awareness Oncam offers 360 and 180-degree video technology. The company has the largest range of wide-angle cameras that are open platform and easy to integrate. Unique dewarping technology allows the creation of award-winning video solutions for stakeholders from the C-suite to the security officer in wide range of industry segments. Oncam’s products greatly enhance situational awareness. Enterprise-class security Pivot3 is a provider of intelligent solutions using hyperconverged infrastructure. Pivot3’s intelligent infrastructure is optimised to deliver performance, resilience, scalability and ease-of-use required for enterprise-class security, video surveillance and IoT deployments. Electronic physical security The UL 2900-1 standard offers general requirements for software cybersecurity for network-connectable productsUL LLC is working to increase the prominence of the Underwriter Laboratories brand in cybersecurity with the UL Cybersecurity Assurance Program (CAP). The UL 2900-1 standard, the standard that offers general requirements for software cybersecurity for network-connectable products, was published in 2016 and in July 2017 was published as an ANSI (American National Standards Institute) standard. The standard was developed with cooperation from end users such as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. National Laboratories, and other industry stakeholders. UL 2900-2-3 – the standard that focuses on electronic physical security/life safety & security industry, was published in September 2017. Proactive automated system Viakoo is a provider of the security industry’s first proactive automated system and data verification solution. Create significant value Vidsys is innovating and accelerating a transition to Converged Security and Information Management or CSIM. The company is committed to educating and supporting customers with their evolving needs to provide a more holistic view of risk and throughout the overall business process re-engineering necessary to create significant value across the entire organisation.

From robots to drones to counter-drone solutions, a range of new technologies will be displayed at ISC West 2019. The Unmanned Security Expo will return, including a dedicated complimentary education theater for attendees offering sessions on a range of topics. UAVs, UGVs and autonomous systems Also included will be demos of the best UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), UGVs (unmanned ground robotics and vehicles) and autonomous systems on the market. The market growth for unmanned technologies being used for security and safety benefits is progressing at a rapid pace. Let’s look at some of the exhibitors in the 2019 Unmanned Security Expo: Cobalt Robotics' robots are purpose-built for a specific use case, providing after-hours support and security for corporate locations Cobalt Robotics' robots are purpose-built for a specific use case, providing after-hours support and security for corporate locations. Indoor environments, which are confined and controlled, present fewer navigation challenges for robots, which can quickly become familiar with the surroundings and navigate easily through an office space. Indoor robots can provide benefits beyond security, too, such as facility management, promoting employee health and safety, and emergency response Compact surveillance radar (CSR) system SpotterRF provides the world’s most advanced compact surveillance radar (CSR) system for affordable wide-area, all-weather perimeter security and small force protection. Incorporated in 2009, the company attained profitability quickly and is ahead of forecasts. Dedrone has remained at the front of the issue of drone threats, integrating installations to military bases, stadiums, public events, and private individuals. The company has expanded its operations to include a new office in Washington, D.C, and has continued to upgrade its DroneTracker software. DroneTracker is the industry’s first airspace security solution that includes automated summary reporting for instant diagnosis of drone airspace activity. Airspace security and drone tracker Magos Systems is a state-of-the-art radar technology and perimeter protection solutions provider Magos Systems is a state-of-the-art radar technology and perimeter protection solutions provider. Founded in 2007 in Israel, Magos first specialised in advanced radar solutions for the military and defense markets. In 2015, Magos’ technology was declassified, allowing the company to focus on developing best-in-class systems for the commercial security market. Today, Magos radars are used in over 30 countries in critical infrastructure, data centers, electric utility sub stations, and oil refineries as well as in other commercial verticals like vineyards and car lots. Now, Magos is positioned to see increased adoption of its solutions in the U.S. Patriot One Technologies Inc. develops solutions to detect concealed weapons, utilising novel radar technologies. Their innovative radar technology provides first responders and security personnel valuable time in active threat scenarios. The technology offers stand-off detection of concealed threats typically employed in public locations. These are just a few of the exhibitors in the Unmanned Security Expo. They represent technologies that will help to shape the future of the security marketplace.

Delta Scientific, global manufacturer of counter-terrorist vehicle control systems used in the United States and internationally, announced that, on February 14, a Delta MP5000 portable barrier stopped a stolen Ford Edge crossover SUV at the North Gate of the Naval Air Station - Corpus Christi. The trespasser had driven across the base to escape but crashed into the Delta unit and erupted into flames. The driver was shot and killed.  Delta MP5000 portable barrier Delta's totally self-contained MP5000 mobile deployable vehicle crash barriers carry a K8 rating "The charred SUV was seen in Navy photographs on top of the MP5000," related Greg Hamm, Delta vice president of sales and marketing. "One photo shows the front of the SUV suspended in the air. Parts of the vehicle are on the ground." Delta's totally self-contained MP5000 mobile deployable vehicle crash barriers carry a K8 rating (M40 ASTM rating), stopping 7.5-ton (6400 Kg) vehicles traveling 40 mph (64 kph). They tow into position to control vehicle access within 15 minutes. No excavation or sub-surface preparation is required. Once positioned, the mobile barricades will unpack themselves by using hydraulics to raise and lower the barriers off their wheels. DC-powered pumps will then raise or lower the barriers. Once the event is over, procedures are reversed, and the barriers are towed away. Temporary, portable barriers Last year, six of the Associated Press (AP) top-10 football schools stayed one step ahead of terrorists and errant drivers on their campuses by identifying vulnerable areas and securing them within minutes with Delta MP5000 temporary, portable barriers. In many situations, such as at the air base, the temporary barriers provide more flexibilities than a permanent solution. Delta always keeps an inventory of the MP5000s for purchase and quick delivery at their manufacturing facility in Palmdale, Calif. In many cases, they are needed for events that come up quickly, such as politician or celebrity visits and other unexpected incidents.

Edesix, a provider of Body Worn Cameras (BWC), announces that it has teamed up with retailer Asda to enhance in-store security. After a successful trial, which began in 2016, there are now over 900 Edesix VideoBadges being utilised in over 250 sites nationwide, with more growth expected in the near future. Edesix collaborated with CBES, Asda's preferred security installer, to design and install a tailored wearable CCTV deployment system perfectly suited to the retail giant's needs. Edesix and CBES worked closely at Asda's national security centre and across four store deployments to provide them with the knowledge and expertise so the cameras could be rolled out in the remaining stores with minimum impact on store efficiency. Improved colleague security Asda has been able to improve colleague security, diffuse aggressive and volatile situations and reduce valued investigation time This system, which is intuitive to use and requires minimum training, has enabled staff to integrate the cameras into their daily working processes with minimal fuss. As a result of this partnering strategy, which relied on both the innovative nature of Edesix's technology and communication between all parties, Asda has been able to improve colleague security, diffuse aggressive and volatile situations and reduce valued investigation time, thus reducing costs. Since the deployment, Asda has proven the viability of these cameras by securing numerous convictions relating to theft and violence against staff. Confrontation preventer Richie McBride, managing director of Edesix, explains: "Asda, along with CBES, identified the need to re-think its key security policy around challenging aggressive behaviour towards staff. In searching for a technology partner, CBES chose Edesix as their BWC provider, to deploy initially to the most affected stores, eventually rolling out to over 250 sites across the UK. The aim was to improve the safety of colleagues in public facing roles and shoppers within the stores, whilst producing compelling evidence when needed." The Body Worn Cameras act as a confrontation preventer, as it is proven that members of the public are far less aggressive to staff members" McBride adds: "The Body Worn Cameras act as a confrontation preventer, as it is proven that members of the public are far less aggressive to staff members if they know they are being filmed." Winning major contracts Edesix, which was recently acquired by US-based security specialists Vigilant Solutions, has enjoyed a great deal of success lately, ranging from winning some major contracts with the likes of UK prisons, Scotrail and South Australian Police, to being named in the Sunday Times Hiscox Tech Track 100 league table. Edesix currently supplies markets across the globe, through direct sales and international partners, to geographies including the UK, Europe, USA, Canada, the Middle East and Australasia.

Teleste Corporation reveals that its S-AWARE platform has been selected by Helsinki City Transport to drive improved situational awareness and safer travelling across the Helsinki metro system. The deployment of the platform will be started in 2019 and the project will be carried out in several phases and be completed at the end of the year 2020. The total value of the deployment will be more than two million euros. “We are delighted to expand our long-term cooperation with Helsinki City Transport on developing smart and safe public transport in the Helsinki metropolitan area. The rapidly growing urbanisation challenges public transport operators throughout the world to find solutions that can provide enhanced operational control and tools to increase safety in public places. Adding situational awareness through intelligent public transport systems is one of the key methods the operators can use to reach the target,” stated Esa Harju, Head of Teleste’s Video Security and Information Business unit. Prioritizing passenger safety Every year, over 80 million passengers and commuters enjoy travelling in the system, which forms the northernmost metro in the world During recent years, the Helsinki Metro has undergone several upgrades and major extensions. Today, it includes more than 20 stations in Helsinki and its neighbouring cities and serves the capital region of Finland with hundreds of thousands of daily rides. Every year, over 80 million passengers and commuters enjoy travelling in the system, which forms the northernmost metro in the world. Keeping the safety and security of the passengers and the entire metro system in mind, Helsinki City Transport is adopting Teleste’s S-AWARE platform to develop their response capabilities and to ensure a high service level, e.g., during possible security failures, alerts and states of emergency, as well as in other complex or critical situations. Safe and attractive travelling experience “Helsinki Metro is being developed to bring seamless mobility to the growing metropolitan area. At Helsinki City Transport, our mission is to continue building an increasingly effective and highly functional metro system that provides a safe and attractive travelling experience for our customers in their everyday life,“ told Ville Lehmuskoski, CEO, Helsinki City Transport. Teleste S-AWARE platform has been designed to help enhance efficiency, safety and security in public transportation, airports, critical infrastructure The Teleste S-AWARE platform has been designed to help enhance efficiency, safety and security in public transportation, airports, critical infrastructure and in the governmental sector. The platform works by collecting real-time information from various subsystems, data sources and sensory inputs, and it displays a unified and real-time view of the whole operational infrastructure. This provides for the improved understanding of what is happening in the surroundings and creates grounds for sharp and efficient decision-making. Smart incident management In addition, the platform can be used to pre-define automated operating procedures for efficient and smart incident management, hence ensuring that corrective action is immediately taken when unexpected incidents occur. The advanced reporting, debriefing and training tools ensure that the system can be used to project future events and be prepared for exceptional situations. Teleste’s deployment to Helsinki City Transport will also enable efficient use of the system for multiple other operators, including the police, fire and rescue forces, Helsinki Regional Transport Authority, and the cities of Helsinki and Espoo. Delivering the right information to the right people at the right time, the system is harnessed with high information and data security that guarantees protection from any unauthorised access.

Vicon Industries Inc. (VCON: OTCQB Venture Market) ("Vicon"), designer and manufacturer of video surveillance and access control software, hardware and components, announced today that Louisa County Public Schools, in Northern Virginia, has completed installation of a district-wide Vicon Valerus video management solution that encompasses its six school buildings and connects nearly 400 cameras. The system includes multiple application servers and NVRs running Valerus VMS software, as well as a wide range of Vicon IP megapixel camera models. The district has opted to share camera access with the Louisa County Sheriff’s Department, whose officers can use iPads and smartphones to immediately call up video through the Valerus VMS interface in case of an emergency. This allows them to visually assess any situation and locate the perpetrator before sending in officers. Vicon sponsored training class The Valerus solution was chosen by Louisa County Public Schools because of Vicon’s willingness to provide the district’s in-house electricians and technical team with as much autonomy as possible in setting up and managing the system. After participating in a Vicon sponsored training class, the district has been self-sufficient in its ability to install, program and troubleshoot Valerus. David Szalankiewicz, LCPS Facilities Director, says "Vicon’s technical team has supported our in-house guys directly with training and certification so that we feel completely in control." Ron Lapsley, Vicon’s Regional Sales Manager who worked on the project, explains, "Vicon understands that the technical capabilities and service needs are different for each customer, and we’re glad to provide the right level of support that makes sense. In many cases, the manufacturer relationship is as important as the product itself in making sure a customer is satisfied."

Genetec Inc., global technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence solutions, announced that its unified platform, Security Center has been integrated with Secure Store, a profit protection and exception reporting solution developed by Appriss Retail. With this integration, retailers can now immediately disprove or validate suspicious transactions by accessing the security video evidence associated with suspected fraudulent activity. Security Center and Store integration Secure Store enables retailers to significantly mitigate losses related to fraud, theft, and operational/systemic breakdowns. Using artificial intelligence and machine learning, Secure Store performs advanced exception modeling from multiple data sources and enables immediate corrective action. US-based retailer, DICK’s Sporting Goods, is using the Security Center platform to monitor over 18,000 cameras across 720 stores and manage 230 cameras and 130 doors at its headquarters. The organisation is now using the joint Genetec/Appriss Retail solution to provide immediate insight, reduce shrink, improve profitability and achieve rapid ROI, as Jacob Gillette, Director of Loss Prevention and Operations, DICK’s Sporting Goods explains: Genetec/Appriss Retail solution The Genetec system, combined with the Appriss Retail Secure Store application gives us capabilities that help speed up our investigations" “The Genetec system, combined with the Appriss Retail Secure Store application gives us capabilities that help speed up our investigations, which has been hugely beneficial to our organisation. Our investigation team can now easily retrieve video from Security Center to validate suspicious transactions that are flagged by the Appriss Retail exception reporting system.” Thanks to the integration of Security Center and Secure Store, retailers can now simply click on the video icon within the Secure Store interface to immediately identify and review the security video related to individual transactions. This allows them to evaluate detailed evidence related to all refunds, transaction items, discrepancies between what is being scanned and what is on the bill, and quickly determine if there was indeed a problem. Importance of video evidence in fraud cases The open architecture of Security Center allows us to work with partners like Appriss to provide comprehensive solutions that benefit our joint end users" “When you investigate fraud, you need to be able to validate questionable behavior. This is why video evidence is so critical. Thanks to our partnership with Genetec, we are now able to provide our customers with immediate insights that allow them to make informed decisions and build defensible cases based on hard evidence,” said Corey Adams Vice President of Global Client Services for Appriss Retail. “We’re pleased to be able to assist retailers with integrations that help make their teams more productive and significantly reduce loss. The open architecture of Security Center allows us to work with partners like Appriss to provide comprehensive solutions that benefit our joint end users,” said Scott Thomas, Director of Retail Market Development at Genetec.

Located one hour outside of London, the borough of Runnymede is a local government district with over 80,000 residents in the county of Surrey. It is one of the most prosperous parts of the London commuter belt and home to some of the UK’s most expensive real estate. In order to enhance public safety, the borough council contracted service provider Safer Runnymede. Working with Nottinghamshire-based systems integrator Central Security Systems, the experts installed a platform combining public safety technology with personal safety services such as care solutions for the elderly. Bosch video security system Today, Safer Runnymede coordinates all connected solutions in a Control Room in the town of Addlestone, where a staff of three operators monitor security feeds from over 500 security cameras deployed around various boroughs within Surrey. Next to public streets in the area, the flexible system also monitors schools, hospitals and other public buildings around the clock. Every year, the team responds to 20,000 incidents from cameras, and the video security system has proven an asset in monitoring traffic, preventing crime, as well as providing evidence and following suspects after incidents. But achieving this level of integration was a challenge. Connecting the solutions via the BVMS allowed Runnymede to become one of the first councils to invest in a fully IP-based infrastructure Initially, the video security system consisted of hardware from several different manufacturers including Bosch – making updates or replacements a time-consuming process – that was networked on a Bosch Video Recording Management (VRM) solution. Looking for a future-proof and scalable system built on an integrated software platform, the officials in Runnymede tasked Bosch to design a fully IP-based security camera architecture. IP video surveillance system Since the Safer Runnymede system already included a Bosch monitor wall plus encoders, cameras, VRM and storage devices, system integrators could leverage the initial investment into a full suite of Bosch solutions. The system now combines new high-resolution AUTODOME IP 4000, AUTODOME IP 7000, MIC IP 7000 moving cameras, and FLEXIDOME IP 7000 fixed cameras, plus older Bosch and third-party analog cameras paired with encoders, decoders, and DIVAR IP 3000, 5000, 6000, and 7000 recorders. Connecting these solutions via the Bosch Video Management System (BVMS) allowed Runnymede to become one of the first councils to invest in a fully IP-based infrastructure. The flexible system design and management has provided an integrated approach to our business delivery" As a result, Safer Runnymede has benefitted from superior image quality delivered by the added network video security cameras, without the need of replacing the complete existing analog video security infrastructure; all in a resilient, easily expandable system at a reduced total cost of ownership (TCO). What’s more, the customer has used the flexibility of Bosch solutions in a deployable video surveillance camera at remote locations. Installed in a custom-built enclosure provided by Central Security Systems, it streams video data from an AUTODOME IP 4000 camera via 4G and sends alerts via SMS to the Control Room upon detecting activity such as illegal waste dumping. Bosch video management system Migrating from a fragmented, analog system to an integrated IP network managed via BVMS (Bosch Video Management System) has proven a forward-facing decision. “The flexible system design and management has provided an integrated approach to our business delivery, allowing us to make better operational decisions and become more dynamic and competitive in the video surveillance marketplace, “says Les Bygrave at Safer Runnymede.

When security topics become a part of current events, it is usually in a negative light. Security generally only becomes news when it fails, sometimes in a dramatic, high profile and tragic way. However, security failures can also shed light on lessons learned and opportunities to improve. Working toward better security can translate into the purchase of more goods and equipment supplied by our market. For additional insights into the intersection of security and current events, we asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: Good news or bad news? How do news reports and/or current events influence the general public’s opinion of physical security?

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

Video cameras are everywhere, and hundreds more are installed every day. Our society appears to be reaching a point of perpetual surveillance. It certainly feels as if we are always being watched even though it is not yet the case. But as cameras are becoming more common than ever, we are also entering a new era of privacy concerns and sensitivities, as evidenced by GDPR and other such initiatives. We presented this quandary to this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: Surveillance cameras can go anywhere, right? Where is it “not OK?”