Security cameras

Canadian-based video surveillance and business intelligence front-runner March Networks® announced the completion of its acquisition by Delta, a global pioneer in power and thermal management solutions. Through its subsidiary Delta International Holding Limited B.V., Delta acquired 100% of the shares in Infinova (Canada) Ltd., owner of March Networks, from Infinova International Ltd. About March Networks Headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, March Networks is a global pioneer in enterprise video surveillance and video-based business intelligence solutions. The company works with many Fortune 500 businesses including leading banks, retailers, and transit agencies, as well as commercial and government organisations. With Delta, March Networks will accelerate its transition toward cloud video surveillance services" “With Delta’s support, March Networks will accelerate its transition toward cloud video surveillance services,” said March Networks President and CEO Peter Strom. “We’re excited to be working with Delta as our new parent company, and we look forward to the projected growth of the cloud video market.” Video surveillance and automation solutions The acquisition of March Networks is expected to strengthen Delta’s presence in the video surveillance market beyond VIVOTEK, of which it owns a majority stake. It will also complement Delta’s building automation solutions. March Networks will continue to operate as an independent brand, while the existing March Networks executive management team, led by Strom, remains in place. Houlihan Lokey acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Infinova and March Networks for this transaction.

ACRE, a global pioneer providing state-of-the-art security systems, announced the strategic acquisitions of Feenics and Matrix Systems. Cloud and integrated security The acquisition of Feenics brings cloud-based access control solutions to ACRE’s rapidly growing network of global customers while also expanding its portfolio to support the growing demand for cloud-based security solutions. Matrix enables ACRE to expand the addressable market for the company’s technology portfolio, offering customers a broader breadth of reliable, integrated access control and video surveillance technologies designed to meet evolving business and security requirements. Cloud-hosted platform Keep integrates native visitor management and a RESTful API that allows integration of complementary systems Feenics develops Keep, a cloud-hosted platform that provides extreme scalability, unprecedented flexibility, and advanced security with its ACaaS applications. It integrates native visitor management and a RESTful API that allows simple integration of complementary systems and devices, resulting in a lower total cost of ownership.  “We are extremely excited about joining forces with the ACRE organisation,” said Sam Shalaby, Founder and CEO, Feenics. “ACRE has positioned itself as the technology leader in the delivery of trusted and reliable global security solutions. We share a common mission of constantly seeking new ways to best support the evolving needs of today’s mission-critical security environments.” Access control and security management For more than 40 years, Matrix Systems has been committed to protecting people, property, and assets through the delivery of security solutions and services tailored to the unique needs of its customers. It provides comprehensive access control and security management technologies to well-known organisations, such as Miami International Airport, The Ohio State University, Cleveland Clinic, and General Electric.  “ACRE was an ideal fit for our business because we share a commitment to making sure our customers receive excellent service and support,” said Bruce Rogoff, CEO, Matrix. “Additionally, our clients gain access to an innovative and compelling roadmap that builds on the proven Matrix product line with ACRE’s expertise in security.” Integration of brands “Our goal is to bring the industry’s best technology innovators into our network of brands,” said Joe Grillo, CEO, ACRE. “Feenics’ cloud architecture and Matrix’s simplified approach to integration have helped both brands build significant loyalty from a wide range of customers in rapidly growing markets, and we look forward to supporting both brands’ continued growth.” Shalaby will remain with Feenics as its CEO, and Matrix management will join the ACRE team. Imperial Capital served as a financial advisor to Feenics. The financial details of the respective transactions were not released. 

Userful Corporation, a globally renowned provider of software-defined networking solution for the enterprise AV-over-IP market, has been named the leader in global sales of software-defined AV-over-IP, by Maia Research. The 2021 report recognises Userful Corporation as a pioneer in the market, offering software-based solutions that can be deployed across non-proprietary hardware. Software-defined AV-over-IP The research uncovered that the enterprise AV-over-IP market is one of the fastest-growing segments in the IT industry, forecasted to grow from the current US$ 3 billion to US$ 51 billion by 2027, a 60 per cent 5-year CAGR. As a SaaS solution provider within the enterprise AV-over-IP market, Userful Corporation is disrupting the industry, changing the traditional CAPEX model. Maia Research 2021 report Maia Research 2021 report also asserts that UserfuI Corporation is a pure software AV-over-IP solution Maia Research 2021 report also asserts that UserfuI Corporation is a pure software AV-over-IP solution, which can promote centralised management of the visual network, improve scalability and security, and reduce the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). “We are at a time of great transformation, both digital and visual,” said John Marshall, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Userful Corporation, adding “This recognition further asserts Userful’s leadership within the enterprise AV-over-IP market.” He further said, “It is an exciting time to be at the forefront of a rapidly growing industry, as our software-defined networking solution paves the way for growth through the transition from legacy, proprietary hardware-based solutions to software-defined, standards-based platforms.” Multiple awards winner The results of this study build upon Userful Corporation’s continued recognition as an industry leader, with its award wins earlier in the year, including winning Gold at the IT World Awards, as well as a Gold International Business Stevie Award for its Visual Networking Platform in the (PaaS) category.

Teledyne has announced the release of the ITC Category 1 Thermography Qualification preparation course for achieving qualification as a category 1 certified thermographer. Teledyne FLIR ITC Category 1 Thermography Qualification course explains the basics of infrared, how to operate an infrared camera under different conditions and for various purposes, how to appropriately judge a measurement situation in the field and how to identify potential error sources to enable participants to undertake infrared inspections following written guidelines and report the inspection results. ITC Category 1 Thermography Qualification course The ITC Category 1 Thermography Qualification course covers: Introduction to thermography Camera operation Basic physics of heat Basics of infrared physics Thermal pattern recognition and infrared applications Infrared temperature measurement techniques Qualitative and quantitative thermography Inspection routines and reporting Hands-on laboratory sessions Examination The content of the course complies with the requirements of ISO 18436-7 standard. Part No. - ITC-CER-5101 Duration of course - 35-40 hours (4-5 days)

Vision-Box, a world pioneer in seamless travel, automated border management, and electronic identity management solutions, will be participating at the World Aviation Festival (WAF) being held at ExCeL London, between the 1st and 2nd of December. Digital identification technology At the festival, Jeff Lennon, the Vice President of Strategic Sales and Global Partnerships at Vision-Box will be speaking at a panel on Biometrics and Automation on the 2nd of December at 11.30 am GMT, discussing how advances in digital identity and automation technologies can help leverage seamless/touchless experiences and speed the industry’s recovery. The panel will address a range of subjects, including overcoming data and privacy challenges with digital identification technology, timelines for a self-sovereign identity for air travel, the impact of the pandemic on the expectation of automated processes at airports, roadmap for industry stakeholder collaboration, and the full potential of biometric technology beyond security. Automated biometric and contactless technologies The travel sector has rapidly changed over the last year more than it ever did over the last decade" Speaking about his participation at the World Aviation Festival, Jeff Lennon, the Vice President of Strategic Sales and Global Partnerships at Vision-Box said, “I am delighted to be coming to London and participate at the WAF at an important moment for the aviation industry. The travel sector has rapidly changed over the last year more than it ever did over the last decade, and as we continue to chart a recovery from the pandemic, it has been very clear that we need to re-install the confidence in the travellers.” “Our automated biometric and contactless technologies are now at the front and centre of this movement, demonstrating the possibilities of providing a safe and seamless passenger experience.” Panellists at WAF 2021 Jeff Lennon will be joined on the panel by Catherine Phillips, Innovation Architect Technology Heathrow Airport Ltd; Maurice Jenkins, CIO, Miami Dade County; Tony Chapman, Director, Industry Affairs, Alliances, and Strategic Initiatives, Collins Aerospace; Pablo Lopez Loeches, Head of Technological Surveillance Department, Aena; Emiliano Sorrenti, CIO, A.D.R. and moderated by Billy Shallow, Director of Innovation and Technology, Airports Council International Europe, ACI EUROPE. Contactless solutions With 2021 drawing to a close, Vision-Box’s participation at the World Aviation Festival comes at an important moment for the industry – as it navigates the challenge of COVID-19 and charts a recovery for 2022. To help airports, airlines, and border forces safely operate during COVID-19 and beyond, Vision-Box has been implementing seamless and automated biometric contactless solutions for clients including London Gatwick, the UK Home Office, New York JFK, AirAsia, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Emirates Airline, Dubai International Airport, and Schiphol.

Irisity AB (publ), an AI video analytics provider, continues its international expansion with the appointment of Marc Sanders as Sales Director for GCC, based in Abu-Dhabi, UAE. It continues its international expansion, opening a new sales office in the United Arab Emirates. The office, based in Abu-Dhabi, will be headed by Marc Sanders who will be responsible for managing the company’s sales activities in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE. Work experience Irisity's product suits the needs of customers across the smart city, school security, and elderly care" “We are thrilled with the opening of a dedicated sales office in the UAE and the appointment of a well-recognised and accomplished security professional as Marc Sanders. We believe our vast product offering will suit the needs of customers across multiple verticals including smart city, transportation safety, school security, and elderly care”, comments Marcus Backlund, Irisity CEO. Sanders brings over a decade of sales and technical experience in security systems, video, and AI applications, previously holding positions of Technical Sales Manager for Briefcam in GCC and Systems Applications Manager of Abu-Dhabi Monitoring and Control Centre. AI video analytics “I’m very excited to join Irisity and be part of its international expansion initiative. Through my work in the GCC over the past decade, I’ve seen the market for AI video analytics grow and it is starving for mature and comprehensive solutions that Irisity and Agent Vi can now offer”, commented Marc Sanders, Irisity Sales Director GCC. The UAE sales office will serve customers across the GCC region and will offer comprehensive AI video analytics products from Irisity’s portfolio, including products from recently acquired Agent Vi. The new UAE office is the fifth office within the Irisity Group, in addition to the offices in Sweden, Israel, the USA, and Singapore.

In the new era of work, our relationship with the workplace is defined by flexibility and mobility. Employees are working across the home, office, and blended spaces more than ever before, as well as working varied hours to suit the modern work schedule.  This new hybrid workforce model holds the potential for more diverse talent and better productivity, but it also comes with its challenges – one being how to ensure security, health, and safety in the workplace.  Strong and smart security ecosystem While nearly one-third of companies report that they’ve implemented a hybrid model, according to a recent survey by STANLEY Security, many still have much to do to prepare their office for the future.  Building a strong – and smart – security ecosystem is crucial in preparing for the future. As such, businesses should consider technologies that help protect their people, as well as safeguard their assets, optimise their operations, and secure their network. 1)Protect your people  Implementation of a security ecosystem combines health, safety, and security hardware and software solutions seamlessly Nearly 60% of mid-market and enterprise businesses across the UK and US report that the health and safety of their employees and customers are a primary concern when implementing modern and hybrid working models.  This begs the question: How can businesses create a safe and healthy work environment when 59% are planning to bring employees back on-site in some capacity within the next 18 months? The answer lies, in part, in the implementation of a security ecosystem that combines various health, safety, and security hardware and software solutions seamlessly. Integrating platform Nearly half (46%) of business decision-makers say they are interested in adopting an integrated platform such as this. This means integrating traditional and digital security solutions, then leveraging the data and insights they produce to further enhance the workplace experience. Take this example:  With employees and visitors moving in and out of the office at different times, a business may lack oversight of occupancy or density levels, people flow, workspace scheduling, visitor check-in processes, and more. However, with visitor management, access control, and other building/business systems integrated, employees can reserve a workspace for a specific date and time and be granted access to the building. Leveraging AI and machine learning Visitors can pre-register, answer a health screening questionnaire, and receive a mobile credential before arriving. Once the visitor arrives on-site, the system can alert the respective department – all without the close contact typically required for traditional visitor check-in processes. When layering artificial intelligence and machine learning on top of the data, a business may identify trends in people flow and opportunities to optimise congested areas. They may also see that certain rooms within the building get more use than others and leverage these insights to manage their space more effectively.  All of this is powered by a security ecosystem that can help a business better protect its people while realising other benefits in the process. 2) Safeguard your assets Businesses are concerned about the security of their assets when it comes to the hybrid workforce model Even more, businesses are concerned about the security of their assets when it comes to the hybrid workforce model. About 72% of leaders say this is, in fact, their primary concern with the hybrid approach.  This figure isn’t surprising when you consider the impact of the pandemic, which left many businesses closed either temporarily or permanently, with few people allowed on-site to manage facility operations.  As a result of the pandemic, we saw tech adoption accelerate at an astonishing rate – simply because businesses had to implement cloud and remote technologies to survive during a time when buildings were closed indefinitely.  Remote management and visibility This was particularly true for security solutions, such as cloud video surveillance and cloud access control solutions like wireless IoT-connected locks. Nine out of 10 businesses (91%) report that they have already implemented cloud security technology; of those, nearly half (48%) stated that this was due to the pandemic. These technologies allow for remote management and provide visibility into business operations at the same time. In a retail setting, for example, cloud video surveillance allows businesses to identify and track not only criminal activity, but also foot traffic patterns, peak operating hours, staff shortages, and more.  Loss prevention strategy When integrated with the retailer’s point-of-sale (POS) system, businesses can gain greater insights into their traffic counts, end cap effectiveness, loyalty card activity, and a variety of POS exceptions, such as high-dollar transactions, repeated transactions, excessive returns, employee discounts, and more. For retailers especially, a security ecosystem means a more efficient loss prevention strategy that helps safeguard assets and profits. 3) Optimise your operations The “future of work” is still very much a work in progress, but one thing is clear: Businesses are looking for ways to increase efficiencies, drive cost savings, and, ultimately, optimise their operations – especially now with the challenges posed by price inflation. A relatively untapped opportunity for businesses to achieve these goals lies within their security infrastructure. Security technology and solutions gather incredibly rich data which, when unlocked, can help businesses understand how their buildings are being used, when the busiest times are, where there are highly trafficked areas, and more.  Leveraging cloud video surveillance systems, businesses could identify emerging staff training needs Cloud video surveillance systems For example, by leveraging the insights produced by cloud video surveillance systems, businesses could identify emerging staff training needs, which could ultimately result in improved employee satisfaction and reduced attrition. However, much of this data sits untouched within the infrastructure, leaving businesses unaware of the opportunities in front of them. 44% of businesses that currently use a cloud security system for its primary use say they want to know how else this technology can be utilised, and an additional 20% aren’t even aware that it could be used in other ways. AI and analytics The interest in adoption is promising for the office of the future, especially when we see that the majority of businesses (78%) would consider using AI and analytics technologies to optimise their operations, helping their business to operate more effectively and efficiently.  The increase in adoption of cloud technology – paired with the rise in interest in AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics – could make it possible for businesses to uncover invaluable insights from their security infrastructure and leverage them to adapt and build business resilience. 4) Secure your network Advanced technology help businesses improve their cybersecurity, making it harder for hackers to gain entry With cyber threats becoming more prevalent, businesses are increasingly looking to secure their networks and protect their data. More than half (54%) of those surveyed expressed interest in using AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics to secure their network by identifying and eliminating cybersecurity threats.  Advanced and automated technology can help businesses improve their cybersecurity, making it harder for hackers to gain entry to the larger corporate network. Modern cybersecurity tools that use AI and machine learning can detect anomalies in network traffic or alert and act on suspicious behaviour.   Cybersecurity software For example, if an IoT device suddenly begins broadcasting and establishing connections with multiple devices, cybersecurity software could detect this abnormal behaviour, send an alert, and suspend traffic or quarantine an endpoint immediately – saving precious time during a potential breach.  A single data breach could result in widespread distrust from workers and customers, potentially leading to decreased business as well as litigation issues. As such, businesses need to take action to update and strengthen their defences so that they can avoid downtime and continue to operate with peace of mind.  Prepare your business for the future Businesses will continue to look for more ways to extract value out of their existing infrastructure, including their security technology. For many, the tools to do so are already in place, it’s just a matter of unlocking the insights with a security ecosystem.  With such an ecosystem – one that helps protect a business’ people, assets, and network, while optimising operations – companies can better safeguard the future of their workspaces and usher in the new era of work with confidence. 

Metal theft is nothing new, but the impact of the pandemic has left many in financial uncertainty, couple this with the rising price of metal, and one result is an increase in the level of acquisitive crime. It seems there is no limit to the types of materials stolen. Just recently, lead stolen from church roofs has caught the media’s attention again, but this type of theft reaches to more commonplace materials too, including steel, cast iron, and aluminium, and even items like street signs and fencing panels. As such, publically accessible infrastructure could be left vulnerable if measures aren’t taken to properly protect them. Perimeter fencing solution Begin this process by thoroughly checking and assessing the perimeter fencing of the site. Here, you’re looking for any signs of tampering or wear and tear, and checking if the fencing is still robust. If the fixings in fencing systems can be removed easily, the entire perimeter fencing solution risks being compromised with little effort. Both the fixings themselves, and the metal fence panels they secure can be targets for theft, and if stolen would significantly reduce the security on and around the site. The connectors, fittings, and fixings are arguably the most integral part of any security fencing installation The connectors, fittings, and fixings are arguably the most integral part of any security fencing installation. They’re responsible for holding the fencing and gates together and keeping them in place. Remember, fencing solutions will only be as robust as the components used to hold them together, if these have inherent flaws, the fencing and gates in question will be more vulnerable to attack. Equal level of protection This is because poor quality fixings can often be easily broken or removed by their design or placement, so it’s best to steer clear. Further, while fencing labelled as ‘quick and easy installation’ may sound cost effective, if it takes no time to install, it’s likely it will also be quick to take down, defeating the purpose of perimeter fencing. There’s a multitude of varying types of fixings available on the market, and it’s important to remember that not all fencing and gates provide an equal level of protection. Below we take a closer look at fixings that should be avoided where possible. Standard head screws Standard head screws and bolts. This can be extended to anything that looks like it can be easily removed with a screwdriver or drill. Security Torx or ‘Star’ screws. These were once an effective tamper-proof fixing, however, in more recent times the driver bits have become more readily available in most DIY toolkits, and as such these fixings are now far from secure. Installing screws on the outside of the fence line. Leaving the fixings accessible from the outside of the fence ultimately means you’re exposing them to anyone and everyone, authorised or not. This enables them to attempt to remove the fixings without the added deterrent of having to climb the fence and risking being caught. Low quality fixings. All fixings should be galvanised or stainless steel to ensure they don’t rust away. Tamper-proof fixings Vertical bar fencing and metal railings have concealed bolts and screws So now we know what not to specify, let’s take this one step further and discuss some of the most effective design components found in fencing systems. Look for security fencing with ‘tamper-proof fixings’. We believe this is so essential, that all Jacksons metal fencing is produced using these in one form or another. Vertical bar fencing and metal railings have concealed bolts and screws, while the welded mesh panels have tamper-proof screws with unique heads that can’t be loosened or fastened with normal tools. Be wary when specifying fencing types such as steel palisade fencing; not only does this type of fencing hinder surveillance and provide an unattractive aesthetic, but the bolts and rivets are also very easily accessible meaning it isn’t very secure. Twin wire panels V mesh and twin wire panels can be attached to posts in different ways. Most commonly this will be via the use of clips. These vary in the level of security they provide, for example, generic mesh clips secured with generic Torx screws can be easily removed using a standard toolkit. However, there are other products on the market which make use of anti-vandal connectors and tamper-proof fixings. Once tightened, the hexagonal part of the nut breaks off, leaving a smooth dome These fixings can only be accessed from the secure side of the fence, significantly improving the level of security. Shear nuts are arguably one of the most secure fixings which should ideally be used on gate hinges. They are a type of breakaway nut which are almost impossible to remove once installed. Once tightened, the hexagonal part of the nut breaks off, leaving a smooth dome that is hard to grip with normal tools. Knit mesh fencing With tightly knit mesh fencing such as 358 mesh, panels can be fixed to the posts in different ways, but again not all ways are secure. Some manufacturers use smaller clips and screws/bolts, however, the clips are susceptible to damage – being so small, and it also leaves the edge of the panels exposed to tools that could prise the panel away from the posts. Close-knit mesh panels with clamp bars and tamper proof bolts are highly secure. Concealed panel to post connectors and tamper proof bolts help to further enhance the security of the fencing, these are commonly used in vertical bar and metal railings. Highly secure finish Here rails are sleeved onto the pales and welded for a seamless, highly secure finish. There are no bolts or rivets that could be removed to enable swing pales to be set aside and gain access. The role that fixings and connectors play is absolutely crucial to the level of security of the perimeter fencing. This article touches on the myriad of different options available on the market, but if in doubt, don’t hesitate to consult an expert on what type of components should be used when specifying fencing and gate solutions for your specific project.

In the field of access control, face recognition has come a long way. Once considered too slow to authenticate people's identities and credentials in high traffic conditions, face recognition technology has evolved to become one of the quickest, most effective access control identity authentication solutions across all industries. Advancements in artificial intelligence and advanced neural network (ANN) technology from industry leaders like Intel have improved the accuracy and efficiency of face recognition. However, another reason the technology is gaining traction is due to the swiftly rising demand for touchless access control solutions that can help mitigate the spread of disease in public spaces. Effective for high volumes Face recognition eliminates security risks and is also virtually impossible to counterfeit Modern face recognition technology meets all the criteria for becoming the go-to solution for frictionless access control. It provides an accurate, non-invasive means of authenticating people's identities in high-traffic areas, including multi-tenant office buildings, industrial sites, and factories where multiple shifts per day are common. Typical electronic access control systems rely on people providing physical credentials, such as proximity cards, key fobs, or Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones, all of which can be misplaced, lost, or stolen. Face recognition eliminates these security risks and is also virtually impossible to counterfeit. Affordable biometric option Although there are other biometric tools available, face recognition offers significant advantages. Some technologies use hand geometry or iris scans, for example, but these options are generally slower and more expensive. This makes face recognition a natural application for day-to-day access control activities, including chronicling time and attendance for large workforces at construction sites, warehouses, and agricultural and mining operations. In addition to verifying personal credentials, face recognition can also identify whether an individual is wearing a facial covering in compliance with government or corporate mandates regarding health safety protocols. Beyond securing physical locations, face recognition can also be used to manage access to computers, as well as specialised equipment and devices. Overcoming challenges with AI So how did face recognition become so reliable when the technology was once dogged by many challenges, including difficulties with camera angles, certain types of facial expressions, and diverse lighting conditions? Thanks to the emergence of so-called "convolutional" neural network-based algorithms, engineers have been able to overcome these roadblocks. SecurOS FaceX face recognition solution FaceX is powered by neural networks and machine learning which makes it capable of authenticating a wide range of faces One joint effort between New Jersey-based Intelligent Security Systems (ISS) and tech giant Intel has created the SecurOS FaceX face recognition solution. FaceX is powered by neural networks and machine learning which makes it capable of authenticating a wide range of faces and facial expressions, including those captured under changing light, at different resolution levels, and varying distances from the video camera. Secure video management system A common face recognition system deployment begins with IP video cameras that feed footage into a secure video management system connected to a video archive. When the software initially enrolls a person’s face, it creates a "digital descriptor" that is stored as a numeric code that will forever be associated with one identity. The system encrypts and stores these numeric codes in a SQL database. For the sake of convenience and cost savings, the video server CPU performs all neural network processes without requiring any special GPU cards. Unique digital identifiers The next step involves correlating faces captured in a video recording with their unique digital descriptors on file. The system can compare newly captured images against large databases of known individuals or faces captured from video streams. Face recognition technology can provide multi-factor authentication, searching watchlists for specific types of features, such as age, hair colour, gender, ethnicity, facial hair, glasses, headwear, and other identifying characteristics including bald spots. Robust encryption SED-compatible drives rely on dedicated chips that encrypt data with AES-128 or AES-256 To support privacy concerns, the entire system features an encrypted and secure login process that prevents unauthorized access to both the database and the archive. An additional layer of encryption is available through the use of Self-Encrypting Drives (SEDs) that hold video recordings and metadata. SED-compatible drives rely on dedicated chips that encrypt data with AES-128 or AES-256 (short for Advanced Encryption Standard). Anti-spoofing safeguards How do face recognition systems handle people who try to trick the system by wearing a costume mask or holding up a picture to hide their faces? FaceX from ISS, for example, includes anti-spoofing capabilities that essentially check for the "liveliness" of a given face. The algorithm can easily flag the flat, two-dimensional nature of a face mask, printed photo, or image on a mobile phone and issue a "spoof" alarm. Increased speed of entry Incorporating facial recognition into existing access control systems is straightforward and cost-effective Incorporating facial recognition into existing access control systems is straightforward and cost-effective. Systems can operate with off-the-shelf security cameras and computers. Users can also leverage existing infrastructure to maintain building aesthetics. A face recognition system can complete the process of detection and recognition in an instant, opening a door or turnstile in less than 500ms. Such efficiency can eliminate hours associated with security personnel checking and managing credentials manually. A vital tool Modern face recognition solutions are infinitely scalable to accommodate global enterprises. As a result, face recognition as a credential is increasingly being implemented for a wide range of applications that transcend traditional access control and physical security to include health safety and workforce management. All these capabilities make face recognition a natural, frictionless solution for managing access control, both in terms of performance and cost.

The trend of video customers moving to the cloud has reached a tipping point. At the same time, artificial intelligence (AI) is being adopted on a massive scale. Combining the two trends adds a higher level of value than either component individually. Merging the power of AI and the cloud is a driving force behind cloud surveillance company Eagle Eye Networks’ acquisition of Uncanny Vision, an AI and video analytics company headquartered in Bangalore, India. Expensive AI resources Cloud systems empower customers to leverage AI without having to install and program complicated and expensive hardware, in effect stripping away the barriers to entry that customers face when seeking to embrace AI. The cloud also enables customers to share expensive AI resources. One of the key components is ease of deployment – click, click and turn on the AI for any camera" Simplicity of implementation is crucial to the combined value proposition of Eagle Eye Networks and Uncanny Vision. “One of the key components is ease of deployment – click, click and turn on the AI for any camera (in a cloud system),” says Dean Drako, Eagle Eye Networks CEO. There is also a benefit of having AI systems networked, enabling 25 banks to perform facial recognition of customers from a single cloud-based system, he adds. A transition is also under way in the perception of AI. Video surveillance applications While previously it was seen as an add-on to surveillance systems, now it is seen as a very desirable feature on any system. “Centralised management of the cloud benefits the AI database,” says Drako. “In a project built around licence plate recognition (LPR), for example, all the data goes up to the cloud into a single database, and the customer can get a mobile view of everything going on across the world. You can’t do that without the cloud. And AI for LPR is more accurate.” Uncanny Vision’s targeted focus on AI for video surveillance applications was one factor that attracted Eagle Eye Networks to make the acquisition, says Drako. In contrast, some other companies have embraced broader applications of video AI. Uncanny Vision also has more customers using their system in real-world applications than competitors. Finally, the acquisition will help to expand Eagle Eye Networks’ presence in the LPR market, where Uncanny Vision is especially strong. Improving business operations The 60 employees at Uncanny Vision are mostly engineers and programmers Uncanny Vision’s deep learning algorithms enable recognition, identification, and prediction, improving business operations, customer service, and site safety. Applications include smart parking, retail, smart cities, ATM monitoring, worker safety and perimeter security. The 60 employees at Uncanny Vision are mostly engineers and programmers. “These guys understand how to translate AI algorithms to run very efficiently on various types of hardware,” says Drako. “They optimise how they get the code to run so we can implement in the cloud cost-effectively. They do it at a modest cost to make it more accessible. They understand how to deploy software for high performance on low-cost hardware.” For Uncanny Vision, the new ownership provides more reach. “We have a huge channel and a huge brand,” says Drako. “They are strong technical guys who need a sales and solution channel.” Video analytics solutions Even in light of the acquisition, Eagle Eye Networks will continue to provide a selection of third-party AI and video analytics solutions to customers. Use of AI and video analytics is specific to the application and business needs of each customer. Use of AI and video analytics is specific to the application and business needs of each customer In addition to AI functionality, systems need a ‘business logic’ component that drives how that capability is integrated into a system. System needs vary widely by vertical market, and many third-party vendors are focused on a specific vertical and how AI can benefit that market. Recurring monthly revenue “Third parties can provide analytics and the business logic, which is different for a factory, an office building or for a drive-thru restaurant,” says Drako. “The market is looking for many solutions, and one company couldn’t own a majority of them.” To ensure flexibility, Eagle Eye Networks will accommodate third party solutions, deploy their own analytics, or leverage analytics embedded in cameras. For Eagle Eye Networks’ dealer and integrator customers, the expansion into AI presents a new opportunity for recurring monthly revenue (RMR) and provides greater value to customers. Drako says the impact of the acquisition will be global as AI applications grow in popularity worldwide.

Video is an enormous wellspring of unstructured data in the enterprise environment. Finding new ways to use video data requires easy access for analysis. Gone are the days when video was recorded just to be played back later. New computer capabilities can analyse video to provide business intelligence and trends, all of which requires that a lot of unstructured data be captured, stored and kept immediately accessible. It's a driving force for companies specialising in video storage such as Quantum, which is focused on storing and managing unstructured data, including video, photos, music and sound. Managing various analytics “Unstructured data is driving the massive growth in storage today, and video surveillance fits right in there,” says Jamie Lerner, CEO and President, Quantum. As data multiplies in business, matters of storing and accessing the data take on a larger profile. Especially challenging is meeting the need to store and access expanding amounts of unstructured data, such as video. Video is also part of a changing end-to-end architecture in the enterpriseWhereas 10 years ago, video surveillance was all about recording and playback, now the emphasis is much more on an end-to-end approach. In addition to capturing and playing back video, systems have to manage various analytics, archival and data retention aspects as well as recording. Video is also part of a changing end-to-end architecture in the enterprise, including hybrid, cloud and on-premise storage. Video surveillance industry Historically, structured data, such as financial information, was stored to allow future analytics. The same trend extends to unstructured data, such as video analytics. Quantum has expanded its video storage capabilities with acquisition this year of the video surveillance business of Pivot3, provider of a hyperconverged system that provides recording, analysis and seamlessly archives data on a converged platform that is less expensive and easier to manage. In acquiring Pivot3, Quantum is refocusing the smaller company on the video surveillance industry. “We are now focused 100% on surveillance and having the highest quality while being very cost-effective,” says Lerner. “The industry is ready for an IT-forward solution that is totally focused on surveillance. You can’t make a platform all things to all people.” Traditional security customers There is overlap in large stadiums and theme parks, where Lerner sees even more opportunity to expand Pivot3 will also help to expand Quantum’s customer base. The larger company has a history of serving customers in entertainment, movies, television and sports production. The addition of Pivot3’s 500 new customers in large surveillance, transportation and critical infrastructure markets will expand the mix. There is overlap in large stadiums and theme parks, where Lerner sees even more opportunity to expand. Pivot3 also helps to bridge the gap between traditional security customers and the information technology (IT) department. “Pivot3 has a reputation as simple to use,” says Lerner. “My belief is that physical security can run separately [from IT] until you reach a certain size, then IT has to be involved. Pivot3 gives IT people in the security space a product that is well formed and fits into an IT strategy. They are not undertaking a piece of equipment that will be a burden.” Physical security presence Customers expect their infrastructure vendors to provide systems that allow them to “Set it and forget it,” says Lerner. It’s one of the big advantages of cloud computing and also central to Quantum’s approach with their traditional products. “At the end of the day, you want to run a hospital, for example, so you want your systems to be easy to use,” says Lerner. The Pivot3 acquisition will also allow Quantum to expand their physical security presence more broadly and globally. Previously, the geographic reach of Pivot3 was limited by the high cost of placing personnel in diverse locations. Under Quantum, which has been serving global companies for 40 years, the problem disappears. “Quantum has global support on all continents and in more countries,” says Lerner. “It’s a higher level of support, given size and legacy of our organisation.”

A new generation of video cameras is poised to boost capabilities dramatically at the edge of the IP network, including more powerful artificial intelligence (AI) and higher resolutions, and paving the way for new applications that would have previously been too expensive or complex. Technologies at the heart of the coming new generation of video cameras are Ambarella’s newest systems on chips (SoCs). Ambarella’s CV5S and CV52S product families are bringing a new level of on-camera AI performance and integration to multi-imager and single-imager IP cameras. Both of these SoCs are manufactured in the ‘5 nm’ manufacturing process, bringing performance improvements and power savings, compared to the previous generation of SoCs manufactured at ‘10nm’. CV5S and CV52S AI-powered SoCs The CV5S, designed for multi-imager cameras, is able to process, encode and perform advanced AI on up to four imagers at 4Kp30 resolution, simultaneously and at less than 5 watts. This enables multi-headed camera designs with up to four 4K imagers looking at different portions of a scene, as well as very high-resolution, single-imager cameras of up to 32 MP resolution and beyond. The CV52S, designed for single-imager cameras with very powerful onboard AI, is the next-generation of the company’s successful CV22S mainstream 4K camera AI chip. This new SoC family quadruples the AI processing performance, while keeping the same low power consumption of less than 3 watts for 4Kp60 encoding with advanced AI processing. Faster and ubiquitous AI capabilities Ambarella’s newest AI vision SoCs for security, the CV5S and CV52S, are competitive solutions" “Security system designers desire higher resolutions, increasing channel counts, and ever faster and more ubiquitous AI capabilities,” explains John Lorenz, Senior Technology and Market Analyst, Computing, at Yole Développement (Yole), a French market research firm. John Lorenz adds, “Ambarella’s newest AI vision SoCs for security, the CV5S and CV52S, are competitive solutions for meeting the growing demands of the security IC (integrated circuit) sector, which our latest report forecasts to exceed US$ 4 billion by 2025, with two-thirds of that being chips with AI capabilities.” Edge AI vision processors Ambarella’s new CV5S and CV52S edge AI vision processors enable new classes of cameras that would not have been possible in the past, with a single SoC architecture. For example, implementing a 4x 4K multi-imager with AI would have traditionally required at least two SoCs (at least one for encoding and one for AI), and the overall power consumption would have made those designs bulky and prohibitively expensive. By reducing the number of required SoCs, the CV5S enables advanced camera designs such as AI-enabled 4x 4K imagers at price points much lower than would have previously been possible. “What we are usually trying to do with our SoCs is to keep the price points similar to the previous generations, given that camera retail prices tend to be fairly fixed,” said Jerome Gigot, Ambarella's Senior Director of Marketing. 4K multi-imager cameras “However, higher-end 4K multi-imager cameras tend to retail for thousands of dollars, and so even though there will be a small premium on the SoC for the 2X improvement in performance, this will not make a significant impact to the final MSRP of the camera,” adds Jerome Gigot. In addition, the overall system cost might go down, Gigot notes, compared to what could be built today because there is no longer a need for external chips to perform AI, or extra components for power dissipation. The new chips will be available in the second half of 2021, and it typically takes about 12 to 18 months for Ambarella’s customers (camera manufacturers) to produce final cameras. Therefore, the first cameras, based on these new SoCs, should hit the market sometime in the second half of 2022. Reference boards for camera manufacturers The software on these new SoCs is an evolution of our unified Linux SDK" As with Ambarella’s previous generations of edge AI vision SoCs for security, the company will make available reference boards to camera manufacturers soon, allowing them to develop their cameras based on the new CV5S and CV52S SoC families. “The software on these new SoCs is an evolution of our unified Linux SDK that is already available on our previous generations SoCs, which makes the transition easy for our customers,” said Jerome Gigot. Better crime detection Detecting criminals in a crowd, using face recognition and/or licence plate recognition, has been a daunting challenge for security, and one the new chips will help to address. “Actually, these applications are one of the main reasons why Ambarella is introducing these two new SoC families,” said Jerome Gigot. Typically, resolutions of 4K and higher have been a smaller portion of the security market, given that they came at a premium price tag for the high-end optics, image sensor and SoC. Also, the cost and extra bandwidth of storing and streaming 4K video were not always worth it for the benefit of just viewing video at higher resolution. 4K AI processing on-camera The advent of on-camera AI at 4K changes the paradigm. By enabling 4K AI processing on-camera, smaller objects at longer distances can now be detected and analysed without having to go to a server, and with much higher detail and accuracy compared to what can be done on a 2 MP or 5 MP cameras. This means that fewer false alarms will be generated, and each camera will now be able to cover a longer distance and wider area, offering more meaningful insights without necessarily having to stream and store that 4K video to a back-end server. “This is valuable, for example, for traffic cameras mounted on top of high poles, which need to be able to see very far out and identify cars and licence plates that are hundreds of meters away,” said Jerome Gigot. The advent of on-camera AI at 4K changes the paradigm Enhanced video analytics and wider coverage “Ambarella’s new CV5S and CV52S SoCs truly allow the industry to take advantage of higher resolution on-camera for better analytics and wider coverage, but without all the costs typically incurred by having to stream high-quality 4K video out 24/7 to a remote server for offline analytics,” said Jerome Gigot. He adds, “So, next-generation cameras will now be able to identify more criminals, faces and licence plates, at longer distances, for an overall lower cost and with faster response times by doing it all locally on-camera.” Deployment in retail applications Retail environments can be some of the toughest, as the cameras may be looking at hundreds of people at once Retail applications are another big selling point. Retail environments can be some of the toughest, as the cameras may be looking at hundreds of people at once (e.g., in a mall), to provide not only security features, but also other business analytics, such as foot traffic and occupancy maps that can be used later to improve product placement. The higher resolution and higher AI performance, enabled by the new Ambarella SoCs, provide a leap forward in addressing those scenarios. In a store setup, a ceiling-mounted camera with four 4K imagers can simultaneously look at the cashier line on one side of the store, sending alerts when a line is getting too long and a new cashier needs to be deployed, while at the same time looking at the entrance on the other side of the store, to count the people coming in and out. This leaves two additional 4K imagers for monitoring specific product aisles and generating real-time business analytics. Use in cashier-less stores Another retail application is a cashier-less store. Here, a CV5S or CV52S-based camera mounted on the ceiling will have enough resolution and AI performance to track goods, while the customer grabs them and puts them in their cart, as well as to automatically track which customer is purchasing which item. In a warehouse scenario, items and boxes moving across the floor could also be followed locally, on a single ceiling-mounted camera that covers a wide area of the warehouse. Additionally, these items and boxes could be tracked across the different imagers in a multi-headed camera setup, without the video having to be sent to a server to perform the tracking. Updating on-camera AI networks Another feature of Ambarella’s SoCs is that their on-camera AI networks can be updated on-the-fly, without having to stop the video recording and without losing any video frames. So, for example in the case of a search for a missing vehicle, the characteristics of that missing vehicle (make, model, colour, licence plate) can be sent to a cluster of cameras in the general area, where the vehicle is thought to be missing, and all those cameras can be automatically updated to run a live search on that specific vehicle. If any of the cameras gets a match, a remote operator can be notified and receive a picture, or even a live video feed of the scene. Efficient traffic management With the CV52S edge AI vision SoC, those decisions can be made locally at each intersection by the camera itself Relating to traffic congestion, most big cities have thousands of intersections that they need to monitor and manage. Trying to do this from one central location is costly and difficult, as there is so much video data to process and analyse, in order to make those traffic decisions (to control the traffic lights, reverse lanes, etc.). With the CV52S edge AI vision SoC, those decisions can be made locally at each intersection by the camera itself. The camera would then take actions autonomously (for example, adjust traffic-light timing) and only report a status update to the main traffic control centre. So now, instead of having one central location trying to manage 1,000 intersections, a city can have 1,000 smart AI cameras, each managing its own location and providing updates and metadata to a central server. Superior privacy Privacy is always a concern with video. In this case, doing AI on-camera is inherently more private than streaming the video to a server for analysis. Less data transmission means fewer points of entry for a hacker trying to access the video. On Ambarella’s CV5S and CV52S SoCs, the video can be analysed locally and then discarded, with just a signature or metadata of the face being used to find a match. No actual video needs to be stored or transmitted, which ensures total privacy. In addition, the chips contain a very secure hardware cyber security block, including OTP memory, Arm TrustZones, DRAM scrambling and I/O virtualisation. This makes it very difficult for a hacker to replace the firmware on the camera, providing another level of security and privacy at the system level. Privacy Masking Another privacy feature is the concept of privacy masking. This feature enables portions of the video (say a door or a window) to be blocked out, before being encoded in the video stream. The blocked portions of the scene are not present in the recorded video, thus providing a privacy option for cameras that are facing private areas. “With on-camera AI, each device becomes its own smart endpoint, and can be reconfigured at will to serve the specific physical security needs of its installation,” said Jerome Gigot, adding “The possibilities are endless, and our mission as an SoC maker is really to provide a powerful and easy-to-use platform, complete with computer-vision tools, that enable our customers and their partners to easily deploy their own AI software on-camera.” Physical security in parking lots With a CV5S or CV52S AI-enabled camera, the camera will be able to cover a much wider portion of the parking lot One example is physical security in a parking lot. A camera today might be used to just record part of the parking lot, so that an operator can go back and look at the video if a car were broken into or some other incident occurred. With a CV5S or CV52S AI-enabled camera, first of all, the camera will be able to cover a much wider portion of the parking lot. Additionally, it will be able to detect the licence plates of all the cars going in and out, to automatically bill the owners. If there is a special event, the camera can be reprogrammed to identify VIP vehicles and automatically redirect them to the VIP portion of the lot, while reporting to the entrance station or sign how many parking spots are available. It can even tell the cars approaching the lot where to go. Advantages of using edge AI vision SoCs Jerome Gigot said, “The possibilities are endless and they span across many verticals. The market is primed to embrace these new capabilities. Recent advances in edge AI vision SoCs have brought about a period of change in the physical security space. Companies that would have, historically, only provided security cameras, are now getting into adjacent verticals such as smart retail, smart cities and smart buildings.” He adds, “These changes are providing a great opportunity for all the camera makers and software providers to really differentiate themselves by providing full systems that offer a new level of insights and efficiencies to, not only the physical security manager, but now also the store owner and the building manager.” He adds, “All of these new applications are extremely healthy for the industry, as they are growing the available market for cameras, while also increasing their value and the economies of scale they can provide. Ambarella is looking forward to seeing all the innovative products that our customers will build with this new generation of SoCs.”

Harrods Village, a prestigious gated development located on the banks of the River Thames, has teamed up with Interphone to implement a comprehensive maintenance solution for onsite security systems. Under the partnership, the security systems and building technology integrator has enabled Harrods Village to complete essential work and ensure door entry, access control, and CCTV systems are fit for purpose. Addressing the technology challenges “We have worked closely with Interphone to overcome many of the technical challenges we faced. Our previous maintenance relationship was underperforming, so we needed a new partnership approach that operated in the timeliest and cost-effective manner possible,” explains Eve Pickering, Estate Manager, Harrods Village. “Interphone’s ability to understand our requirements and budgets has enabled us to proceed with much needed and long-awaited security system upgrades.” Interphone engineers spent two weeks tracing faults to understand where failures existed and steps to resolve Emergency maintenance Following a competitive selection process, Interphone was awarded the contract for all scheduled maintenance, emergency calls outs and parts. The company undertook a full site survey and proposed a strategy to replace, upgrade, or maintain the problem systems. Interphone engineers spent two weeks tracing faults to understand where failures existed and what steps were needed to resolve the issues. Upgrading door access system As a result, Interphone was able to identify what needed immediate attention and where the life of some aging systems could be prolonged. The decision was taken to update the door entry system at one apartment building due to the lack of available parts while continuing to maintain the access control system. This included the installation of specialist monitors in 63 flats and two entrance panels to provide a reliable and effective experience for residents and visitors. Increasing visibility with IP cameras Four additional cameras have been added to the system, with a further 24 planned to monitor building entrances Interphone also identified issues with cabling, so installed a fibre network to connect the buildings and gatehouse, support IP cameras and create an upgradeable technology infrastructure. Meanwhile, thirty-two IP cameras were initially fitted to increase the visibility across the estate High definition, with wide-angle devices specified for priority areas to deliver multiple streams and zoom capabilities. This was backed up with trip wires to provide alerts to the gatehouse of any prohibited access over external walls. Four additional cameras have since been added to the system, with a further 24 planned to monitor building entrances. Automatic number plate recognition Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) was included in the solution. Harrods Village needed a system to manage capacity and reduce unauthorised usage due to the limited parking available to staff and residents. ANPR camera cameras have been installed at in and out gates, so security staff can better control gate access and provide specified time slots to visitors. Interphone’s recommendations will effectively maintain our systems and target areas of improvement" Centralised system “We now have an achievable plan, based on Interphone’s recommendations that will effectively maintain our systems and target areas of improvement. The infrastructure is now in place to allow us to centralise our systems moving forward, utilise the latest security technology and create greater value for our residents.” “We have already made some giant strides increasing security across the Estate and providing our onsite team with the tools they need,” adds Pickering. Future-proof solution Julian Synett, CEO of Interphone Limited commented, “We have used our proven expertise to help the estates team at Harrods Village overcome the issued it face with aging, legacy security systems.” “Our effective partnership, underpinned by comprehensive maintenance provision, has delivered a future-proofed solution that is supporting continuous improvement and providing complete peace of mind.”

Immervision, the pioneering developer of advanced vision systems combining optics, image processing, and sensor fusion technology announced its ultra-wide lenses will be integrated into IONODES’ PERCEPT body camera. This collaboration will give businesses and the general public greater peace of mind, by providing physical security workers with a body camera that can effectively capture in real-time any potential security threats or issues in high resolution and never miss a detail through a Panomorph lens with 180° field of view. Improving safety “In the physical security industry, the challenge that most companies face with body-worn cameras is that the video fails to effectively capture what’s occurring due to narrow field-of-view and poor image resolution,” said Eric Tasso, President at IONODES. “By selecting Immervision technology and their team of experts, we are providing security, industrial and commercial organisations with the highest-quality wearable cameras to improve safety, enhance security, optimise business processes and provide transparency.” IONODES’ device integrates seamlessly with a GPS receiver and 9-axis motion sensor to stabilise the image  Integration with body-worn IoT device IONODES’ body-worn IoT device is the first of a series of products that combines Immervision’s ultra-wide-angle lens, image processing, and sensor technology with IONODES 4K camera, and connects to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and LTE. IONODES’ device integrates seamlessly with a GPS receiver and 9-axis motion sensor, allowing users to closely follow the field of view in real-time, to stabilise the image and provide location tracking to users, whether for security, prevention, monitoring, or entertainment applications. Advanced vision systems “Over the last 20 years, Immervision has focused on cultivating and perfecting its expertise in advanced vision systems, giving devices in industries such as physical security the ability to truly perceive the world around them,” said Pascale Nini, President, and CEO at Immervision. “Immervision and IONODES are deeply committed to offering the best vision systems in the market for security and surveillance, and we look forward to continuing to make more innovative strides in developing high-quality wearable camera devices and AI-based vision systems.”

Genetec Inc. (‘Genetec’), a technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence solutions announces Westfield UK has standardised on Genetec Security Center across its Stratford City and London sites. Together, the two locations attract over 73 million visitors per year and generate £2.1bn in retail sales. “It was immediately apparent that Genetec would be an important strategic partner for us today and tomorrow,” explains Adrian Howles, Security Manager, Westfield UK. “The platform is comprehensive, intuitive and as part of our five-year strategy, the open architecture gives us so many options.” Unified security platform The unified security platform is already driving cost efficiencies and economies of scale across the centres’ operations, with further plans to extend its use over the next five years. With a shared platform in place, Westfield UK is now able to manage security functions from centralised control rooms, bringing economies of scale and added resilience to its operations. The common interface has also brought greater uniformity to how day-to-day security issues are responded to across the two sites. The ability for Genetec Security Center to support a phased migration of security operations to the cloud also appealed to Mr. Howles. To maximise return on past investments Westfield UK is currently running most of its security infrastructure within its on-site data centres. However, it is already preparing for greater cloud adoption when existing hardware reaches end-of-life. Significant cost efficiencies Another is the adoption of Genetec Mission Control and Genetec Clearance to streamline processes “Knowing the system is cloud-ready and can support centralised monitoring if and when we need it to is very attractive. We can realise significant cost efficiencies and further improve our high levels of security and resilience,” adds Howles. Looking ahead, Westfield continues to push the capabilities of its Genetec systems, looking beyond security to find other ways it can add value to the business as a whole. One example is the integration of the Security Centre with Westfield’s Delivery Management System which has automated the granting of access for pre-approved vehicles in and out of the yard. Another is the adoption of Genetec Mission Control and Genetec Clearance to streamline processes, support operators and simplify the GDPR compliant sharing of video footage internally and with third parties. Front-line security “Front-line security is an all-encompassing role, so we rely on technology to support our people in responding predictably and effectively to whatever gets thrown at them,” concludes Howles. “Westfield UK has consistently demonstrated its ability to thrive within a retail and leisure market that is both dynamic and challenging. We’re proud to support them for the long-term with technology that drives smarter ways of working and even greater efficiency,” says Francesco Serra, Genetec Vice President Sales, Europe.

Sauer-Danfoss designs, manufactures and sells a complete range of engineered hydraulic and electronic components including Hydrostatic transmissions, Mobile electronics, Open circuit products, Orbital motors, Steering components and valves. The company has more than 20 engineering and manufacturing facilities in Europe, the Americas and Asia- Pacific regions with total employee size of more than 6000. Sauer Danfoss India Pvt limited is located at Kesnand, Pune and the unit is mainly into manufacturing of steering components and valves. The company has sales branch offices in Mumbai, Bangalore, New Delhi and Ahmedabad. Issuing TDS certificates Sauer-Danfoss were facing issues with their outsourced consultant for filing the TDS returns and issuing of TDS certificates on a quarterly basis. The company was put in a situation of filing the TDS returns after the expiry of the due date. This would have resulted into a financial penalty for the company. The other issues faced by the company were complaints from suppliers for issuing the wrong TDS certificates The other issues faced by the company were complaints from suppliers for issuing the wrong TDS certificates, TDS deducted details not matching in spite of providing correct information by the company to the consultant. Sauer-Danfoss approached TopSource Worldwide to take over the activity of filing the TDS return and issuing TDS certificates on a quarterly basis. Maker-checker process TopSource Worldwide started filing the TDS returns and issuing TDS certificates on quarterly basis to more than 200 suppliers. TopSource Worldwide experts ensured cross-verification of PAN number each time a new supplier was registered. This was done through NSDL so as to avoid any future complications. Quality checks were done by a separate team for each TDS certificate before issuing to respective supplier(s) ensuring following of a maker-checker process. TopSource Worldwide also did cross verification post filing the TDS returns by verifying the acknowledgement of TDS return filed with NSDL. Information recorded with NSDL was checked to avoid future litigations and take corrective actions wherever required. Supplier's complaints have reduced completely and the company does not face any risk of future litigation with respect to TDS compliances.

In the beautiful marina in the Danish city of Vejle, Vanderbilt’s ACT365, a cloud-based access control and video management system, was recently installed. The brief The marina wanted an access control system that could integrate with their booking system, Harba. Solutions provided There are 750 members with boats in the Vejle marina, and through the Harba booking system, they are issued a 6-digit personal PIN code or a tag. With this PIN code, they can then access and use the facilities of the marina, such as the toilets, showers, laundry rooms, and kitchen. This is done by simply typing their PIN into the ACT365 reader at each entry point of the marina facilities. All services are then automatically billed every month via the Harba booking system. This access control booking strategy ensures that the marina’s facilities are kept free for member use only. Why choose Vanderbilt? Vanderbilt’s ACT365 readers are made of robust polycarbonate housing and are suitable for both indoor and outdoor mounting. The reader controls a single door and uses a voltage-free relay contact. ACT365 has: A modern and user-friendly design A limitless number of users The possibility for short-term access Both RFID tags and smartphone access availability. Main takeaway For non-member boaters who are visiting the Vejle marina, a self-service terminal, the Harba Kiosk, is also available to use. This self-service terminal allows non-members to use their credit cards to pay for the use of the marina facilities.  Similar to the Harba app for members, non-members will receive a PIN code from the Harba kiosk via email or SMS which they can then input into the ACT365 readers.

Institución Ferial de Madrid (IFEMA) Exhibition Centre hosts over 100 events every year including trade shows and business meetings, but also large public events in the fields of sport, culture, and leisure. Boasting an exhibition area that covers 200,000 square metres of covered pavilions, 12 halls, two convention centres, and 14,000 parking spaces, the complex is operated by IFEMA Madrid and is one of the most up-to-date, technologically best equipped exhibition venues in Europe. Visitors from all over the world trust to be in a safe and pleasant environment, which is secured by systems that are state-of-the-art and cover the entire site – indoor and outdoor areas, parking garages and logistics zones. Analogue video system The sheer size of the exhibition grounds, the large number of events in a wide variety of very different setups and a large number of people on site – visitors, exhibitors, service providers, suppliers – require a high-performance, holistic physical security system. IFEMA MADRID required a solution to replace its analogue video system that had reached end-of-life IFEMA MADRID required a solution to replace its analogue video system that had reached end-of-life. It expected the new solution to provide substantial improvements in processing video footage and helping them resolve incidents quickly. Prerequisites included state-of-the-art technology, an open and integrated platform, with easy integration of third-party solutions such as video analytics, access control and LPR and event search. Physical security ecosystem As a public body, IFEMA MADRID launched a public tender for the update of their video system. Qognify together with Sicuralia System and video analytics partner Briefcam, presented the best overall solution, complying with all the customer needs, thus winning the contract. The powerful security functions of Qognify’s Cayuga VMS, as well as its openness to third party software integrations, especially with video analytics, tipped the scales and it was chosen to be at the core of its new video-based security system. To achieve overall surveillance for the entire complex within one system, Cayuga is used as a video surveillance platform to not only expand and upgrade the technology, but also offer complete integration with IFEMA’s physical security ecosystem. Responding to developing situations To date, more than 650 cameras – both fixed and PTZ models – have been installed to improve the security To date, more than 650 cameras – both fixed and PTZ models – have been installed to improve the security and safety on site and to allow for video analysis in critical areas, thus making the video system more efficient and actionable. The VMS’s reliability was key, to ensure the continuous protection of people and goods in coherence with the envisioned growth of the events that take place at the Madrid Exhibition Centre. At the heart of the installation sits a central control room that was designed from scratch. It is here where all information converges – allowing for immediate assessment and response to any developing situations. Video security system The implementation of Cayuga has improved the performance of the video security system, accelerated investigations, and is delivering improved situational awareness. It has helped to produce a better resolution on the video stream, combined with the ability to easily switch from live to recorded video for investigation. All this allows the security team to get a better overview of every situation, while at the same time reducing the number of people needed for monitoring or patrolling. The new system makes easier to provide a higher level of security for exhibitors and for the visitors to IFEMA MADRID.

The death of Michael Brown at the hands of police in Ferguson, Missouri, in August 2014, highlighted to the public, the importance of body-worn cameras. There was no bodycam footage of the Ferguson tragedy. Arguably, it would have shed additional light on the shooting. Since then, body cameras have become a tangible legacy of Ferguson, Missouri. Bodycam footage is seen as providing greater accountability and ensuring an impartial record that can support, or debunk, any claims of police misconduct. Body-worn cameras are also finding their way into broader usage, even including customer service applications. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How important will body-worn cameras be moving forward? 

Keeping prisoners safely housed is among the biggest challenges the security industry faces. Correctional applications of security technology are often more extreme and require a specialised mix of technologies. We asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the video security and surveillance needs in prisons, and how well do technologies meet those needs? Are there any ethical qualms about selling to prisons?

A new generation of security professional is waiting in the wings. They will be faced with unprecedented challenges, as they seek to transform the security marketplace to the ‘next level’. Technology changes ensure the market will be very different 10 years from now and the fresh labour pool will need to be able to meet the host of new challenges. We asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: What exciting career opportunities in the security industry await the next generation?