Security devices

The Security Industry Association (SIA) announces the 2019 keynote and featured speakers for Securing New Ground (SNG), the security industry’s annual executive conference taking place at the Grand Hyatt New York in Manhattan October 29-30. SNG 2019 will feature keynote remarks from Dr. Steven T. Hunt, chief expert for work and technology at SAP; George Oliver, chairman and CEO of Johnson Controls; and Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). Significant security risks and threats SNG gathers the brightest minds in the security industry and offers a carefully curated program" Additionally, the 2019 conference will include featured presentations from Steve Jones, CEO of Allied Universal, and Brian Tuskan, senior director and chief security officer (CSO) at Microsoft Global Security; and a panel of CSOs and senior security executives from major industries and public safety highlighting significant security risks and threats and how executives mitigate them. “Each year, SNG gathers the brightest minds in the security industry and offers a carefully curated program that inspires these leaders about the potential of the global security industry,” said SIA CEO Don Erickson. “We are thrilled that these top security luminaries from some of the nation’s leading companies will be joining us at SNG 2019 and look forward to diving deep into the most critical industry trends.” Innovative workforce management methods In the conference’s opening keynote presentation, The Human Side of Security, Hunt will explore the impact of integrating security methods into workforce management systems. This session will examine the interaction between security risks, employee psychology, workforce management and information technology and illustrate how physical and information security risks can be mitigated through the use of innovative workforce management methods and technologies. Additionally, attendees will enjoy a keynote-style executive interview featuring Oliver and hosted by SIA Chairman Scott Schafer. This conversation will highlight major industry trends and market drivers and share insights into how one of the security solutions firms — delivering both security technology products and security integration services — is navigating evolutions in technology, business models and customer needs. Managing corporate risk Jones will explore how the business of security is evolving during the session No Off Season In the presentation Consumer Trends Destined to Shape the World, Shapiro will showcase what trends in innovation and consumer preferences are poised to shape the globe and your business. Shapiro is president and CEO of the CTA, the U.S. trade association representing more than 2,200 consumer technology companies and which owns and produces the CES show. In an interview-style session format, Jones will explore how the business of security is evolving during the session No Off Season: Managing Corporate Risk in an Era of Uncertainty. Jones – who, in addition to his role at Allied Universal, authored the book No Off Season – will share insights into what corporate leaders are seeking from security teams and how he has applied leadership lessons to grow his firm while remaining focused on the ultimate goal: managing his clients’ risk and protecting their reputations. Providing end-to-end enterprise security In the session Defining the Future of Security, Tuskan will share his vision on technology, strategy and where the security industry is headed. As CSO for one of technology firms and with a global footprint, Tuskan has a view of security that serves as not only a vision, but also a great example of how strategy and technology can work together. SNG attendees will enjoy Expecting the Unexpected: Security Leaders Speak!, a dynamic panel discussion Tuskan will also discuss the importance of having a strong relationship with the chief information security officer in providing end-to-end enterprise security. Additionally, SNG attendees will enjoy Expecting the Unexpected: Security Leaders Speak!, a dynamic panel discussion featuring Karen Frank, director of global security at Pratt & Whitney; Brad Hegrat, security principal director at Accenture; Andrea Schultz, director of strategic security programs and policy at the National Football League; Trisha Stein, director of administrative operations at the Detroit Police Department; and moderator Pierre Trapanese, CEO of Northland Controls. Small business security These CSOs and senior security executives from major industries and public safety will share perspectives on the significant security risks and threats in their sectors and how they’re mitigating those concerns while keeping an eye on future risks. Other highlights of SNG 2019 will include discussions on the future of consumer and small business security, what politics and policy mean for security businesses, investment insights for the security industry and managing corporate risk; topic-focused thought leadership roundtables; and a lively networking reception. SNG 2019 will be held at the Grand Hyatt New York, and attendees will be offered a special discounted rate at the hotel; the room block will close on Friday, October 11.

In the wake of recent allegations that ATM locks worldwide are vulnerable to new side-channel attacks, Sargent and Greenleaf (S&G), a manufacturer of high-quality electronic ATM locks, recently conducted vulnerability testing to provide insight and identify ways ATM owners and operators can protect their machines against side-channel attacks. Side-channel attacks, which can exploit internal components of electronic locks, first emerged in 2015 and continue to plague electronic lock users today. In a nutshell, attacks are most effective when access, information and speed are present. Exposed external connection points If the hacker can quickly and easily gain access and make a connection, a breach is more likely to happen" “If the hacker can quickly and easily gain access and make a connection, a breach is more likely to happen,” states Travis Ferry, an engineer with Sargent and Greenleaf and part of the core team that conducted the company’s vulnerability testing. Ferry immediately noted that ATM locks with exposed external connection points render the attacks more likely, with some locks vulnerable to being hacked in as little as five minutes. “Theoretically, a hacker could still get access to an ATM lock with a solid ring around it,” Ferry continues, “but, it would take time, and these attackers rely on speed to accomplish a breach.” High-level findings to the industry The company’s vulnerability testing also examined the type of electronic information stored within ATM locks and found that some locks retain complete static access codes in certain modes of operation without requiring touch keys for access. S&G’s report states that once hackers obtain an access code, it’s easy to open the lock and gain entry to where the ATM’s cash is stored. S&G released high-level findings to the industry in September that could better protect ATMs S&G released high-level findings to the industry in September that could better protect ATMs around the United States and the world. “Millions of ATMs are deployed globally,” said Devon Ratliff, Director of Engineering for Sargent and Greenleaf. “People want to feel secure about their money and cash-in-transit companies need to know their machines are safe from compromise.” Minimising access and encryption information Among the many suggestions from the S&G report, the top recommendations include adding tamper-resistant solid ring housings to ATM locks, minimising access and encryption information stored in the locks, and implementing multiple layers of authentication through one-time codes, touch keys and time windows. “Today’s ATM owners and operators have a lot to contend with,” Ratliff says. “Threats like side-channel attacks and jackpotting aren’t just theoretical; they result in real losses and significant downtime for these businesses.” Ratliff recommends that ATM owners and operators secure their machines with locks designed to deter side-channel attacks and consider adding accessories like ATM hood protection as well. “We can’t predict the future,” Ratliff concludes, “but, we can be pro-active and stay responsive to the threats we face today.”

NEC Corporation, a pioneer in the integration of IT and network technologies, announces that its face recognition technology achieved the highest matching accuracy in the Face Recognition Vendor Test (FRVT) 2018 performed by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), with an error rate of 0.5% when registering 12 million people. NEC's technology ranked No. 1 in NIST testing for the fifth time, following its top placement in the face recognition testing for video in 2017. The high performance of NEC's technology is reflected in the test results which placed the company significantly ahead of the runner-up. Convenience of biometric authentication technology The use of face recognition technology is rapidly expanding across a wide range of fields throughout the world In recent years, the growing convenience of biometric authentication technology, improved security awareness, and the remarkable development of artificial intelligence (AI), have driven companies around the world to begin adopting biometric authentication technology. Specifically, the use of face recognition technology is rapidly expanding across a wide range of fields throughout the world. Face recognition technologies are now being used in areas that require high reliability, convenience and long-term use, such as identity verification and national infrastructure, transaction settlements, bank account establishment, and passport verification. 49 organisations, including companies from the United States, China, Russia, Europe, and Japan, participated in the NIST's FRVT 2018, where the evaluation of face recognition accuracy was performed. Reducing the identification error rate These tests are the most rigorous and fair benchmarks implemented by the NIST as each organisation is required to submit and be evaluated on programs that were developed during the same period. By performing multi-stage matching, an impressive search speed of 230 million matchings per second was achieved. NEC aims to further expand the scope of this technology's application to include store transaction settlements Furthermore, leveraging NEC's deep learning methods to significantly reduce the identification error rate, NEC accurately matched images of a subject taken over a 10 year interval with an error rate that was 4 times lower than the runner-up. Going forward, NEC aims to further expand the scope of this technology's application to include store transaction settlements, services in public facilities, such as buses, railways, airports, city offices, and hospitals; and helping to protect and care for children and the elderly. Biometric identification solutions Based on the NEC Group AI and Human Rights Principles established in April of this year, NEC gives top priority to the consideration of privacy and respect for human rights when using AI and biometric data. NEC also aims to contribute to further improvements in the usability of biometric identification and video analytics technology, including face recognition. "NEC's portfolio of biometric identification solutions, 'Bio-IDiom', which includes face recognition technology, is critical to the ways that NEC is helping to build safer and more productive societies as part of the 'NEC Value Chain Innovation'," said Hitoshi Imaoka, NEC Fellow at NEC Corporation. "These technologies create new value by sharing information on the status of communities, things, and processes across the entire value chain, and are a meaningful source of growth in our Mid-term Management Plan 2020 and 'NEC Safer Cities', which support the realisation of safe, secure, efficient, and equal cities."

Milestone Systems is committed to protect people and assets and optimise businesses. With the Milestone Community Kickstarter Contest, Milestone invites innovators to help them create technology that will make the world a better place. Milestone Systems has built an open platform for vision-based technology software working with applications that create benefits across areas such as security, transportation, emergency response, traffic optimisation and even in wildlife. The Milestone Community Kickstarter Contest is a unique opportunity for coders, developers, individuals and organisations to discover new applications and capabilities that that can ‘plug in’ to the XProtect® VMS product family.   Opportunity to innovate new solutions “Milestone Systems enables an open platform community that drives collaboration and innovation in the development and use of network video technology,” says Bjørn Skou Eilertsen, Chief Technology Officer at Milestone. “We believe that developers will change the world. Our MIP SDK can help them do this. It offers developers the opportunity to innovate new solutions and use our powerful VMS platform as the engine.” The winning concept can be an integration, added functionality, widget or code that extends the use of VMS The winning concept can be an integration, added functionality, widget or code that extends the use of VMS in any useful capacity. Participating developers can create a visual tool, a device trigger, a base for analysing data or to measure information that can be applied in new ways. The two requirements are that the solution is integrated with the Milestone XProtect VMS, (and possibly using the MIP SDK), and that the idea must be the contestant’s own intellectual property. Powerful open platform software “We see technology as a tool. We believe that great things can come from offering our powerful open platform software to a world of innovators to use to make their imaginations tangible. We are open to innovation and are looking for solutions we have yet to imagine that can make the world a better place,” says Community Engagement Manager Jasleen Rehal, Milestone Systems. Three finalists will be given free entry and an exhibitor booth at the annual Milestone Integration Platform Symposium event (MIPS) in 2020 which is happening at the USA and the United Arab Emirates, where the winner will be announced and rewarded with a prize valued at USD 65,000. Innovators may post questions about integration challenges on the Milestone Developer Forum.

The cybersecurity industry is being called upon to improve awareness and understanding of mental health by Cyber Security Connect UK (CSCUK), the industry forum for cybersecurity professionals, as part of World Mental Health Day on Thursday 10 October. One in four people in the UK will have a mental health problem at some point and anxiety and depression are the most common mental health problems. They are often a reaction to a difficult life event, such as bereavement, but can also be caused by work-related issues. Greater understanding of mental health Cybersecurity specialists often experience periods of intense pressure when dealing with cyberattacks" Recent surveys suggest that three out of every five employees are experiencing mental health issues because of work. Martin Smith, Cyber Security Connect UK Conference Chair and Chairman and founder of The Security Company and SASIG, said: “Cybersecurity specialists often experience periods of intense pressure when dealing with cyberattacks.” “Employers should have greater understanding of mental health and take steps to eradicate the stigma associated with it. It is so important that CISOs (chief information security officers) recognise the dangers to their own wellbeing and develop strategies to maintain a healthy work/life balance, for themselves and the teams they lead.” Top-level cyber security professionals Wellbeing and mental health will feature at Cyber Security Connect UK (CSCUK), the conference and industry forum for CISOs, which takes place from 13-15 November and will be held in Monaco. More than 300 top-level cyber security professionals are expected to attend the second edition of CSCUK. It is organised by the same team that produces the Les Assises de la Sécurité conference and offers a unique opportunity for delegates who participate in an insightful programme, with expert roundtables and partner workshops.

ETSI is pleased to announce the creation of a new Industry Specification Group on Securing Artificial Intelligence (ISG SAI). The group will develop technical specifications to mitigate threats arising from the deployment of AI throughout multiple ICT-related industries. This includes threats to artificial intelligence systems from both conventional sources and other AIs. The ETSI Securing Artificial Intelligence group was initiated to anticipate that autonomous mechanical and computing entities may make decisions that act against the relying parties either by design or as a result of malicious intent. Conventional cycle of networks risk analysis The conventional cycle of networks risk analysis and countermeasure deployment represented by the Identify-Protect-Detect-Respond cycle needs to be re-assessed when an autonomous machine is involved. The intent of the ISG SAI is therefore to address 3 aspects of artificial intelligence in the standards domain: Securing AI from attack e.g. where AI is a component in the system that needs defending Mitigating against AI e.g. where AI is the ‘problem’ or is used to improve and enhance other more conventional attack vectors Using AI to enhance security measures against attack from other things e.g. AI is part of the ‘solution’ or is used to improve and enhance more conventional countermeasures. Developing technical knowledge Three main activities will be undertaken and confirmed during the first meeting of the group The purpose of the ETSI ISG SAI is to develop the technical knowledge that acts as a baseline in ensuring that artificial intelligence is secure. Stakeholders impacted by the activity of ETSI’s group include end users, manufacturers, operators and governments. Three main activities will be undertaken and confirmed during the first meeting of the group. Currently, there is no common understanding of what constitutes an attack on AI and how it might be created, hosted and propagated. The work to be undertaken here will seek to define what would be considered an AI threat and how it might differ from threats to traditional systems. Hence, the AI Threat Ontology specification seeks to align terminology across the different stakeholders and multiple industries. Prioritising potential AI threats ETSI specifications will define what is meant by these terms in the context of cyber and physical security and with a narrative that should be readily accessible to all. This threat ontology will address AI as system, attacker and defence. Data is a critical component in the development of AI systems, both raw data, and information This specification will be modelled on the ETSI GS NFV-SEC 001 ‘Security Problem Statement’ which has been highly influential in guiding the scope of ETSI NFV and enabling ‘security by design’ for NFV infrastructures. It will define and prioritise potential AI threats along with recommended actions. The recommendations contained in this specification will be used to define the scope and timescales for the follow-up work. Data is a critical component in the development of AI systems, both raw data, and information and feedback from other AI systems and humans in the loop. Developing data sharing protocols However, access to suitable data is often limited, causing a need to resort to less suitable sources of data. Compromising the integrity of data has been demonstrated to be a viable attack vector against an AI system. This report will summarise the methods currently used to source data for training AI, along with a review of existing initiatives for developing data sharing protocols and analyse requirements for standards for ensuring integrity in the shared data, information and feedback, as well as the confidentiality of these. The founding members of the new ETSI group include BT, Cadzow Communications, Huawei Technologies, NCSC and Telefónica. The first meeting of ISG SAI will be held in Sophia Antipolis on 23 October. Come and join to shape the future path for secure artificial intelligence!

Today, the world is connected like never before. Your watch is connected to your phone, which is connected to your tablet and so on. As we’ve begun to embrace this ‘smart’ lifestyle, what we’re really embracing is the integration of systems. Why do we connect our devices? The simplest answer is that it makes life easier. But, if that’s the case, why stop at our own personal devices? Connection, when applied to a business’ operations, is no different: it lowers effort and expedites decision making. Integrating security systems Systems integration takes the idea of connected devices and applies it to an enterprise Systems integration takes the idea of connected devices and applies it to an enterprise, bringing disparate subcomponents into a single ecosystem. This could mean adding a new, overarching system to pull and collect data from existing subsystems, or adapting an existing system to serve as a data collection hub. Regardless of the method, the purpose is to create a single, unified view. Ultimately, it’s about simplifying processes, gaining actionable insights into operations and facilitating efficient decision-making. Although integration is becoming the new norm in other areas of life, businesses often opt out of integrating security systems because of misconceptions about the time and resources required to successfully make the change. So, instead of a streamlined operation, the various security systems and devices are siloed, not communicating with each other and typically being run by different teams within an organisation. Time-intensive process When systems are not integrated, companies face a wide range of risks driven by a lack of transparency and information sharing, including actual loss of property or assets. For example, a team in charge of access control is alerted to a door being opened in the middle of the night but can’t see what exactly is taking place through video surveillance. Without integrated systems they have no way of knowing if it was a burglar, an equipment malfunction or a gust of wind. Without integration between systems and teams, the ability to quickly put the right pieces in front of decision makers is missing. Instead, the team would have to go back and manually look for footage that corresponds with the time a door was open to figure out which door it was, who opened it and what happened after, which can be a time-intensive process. Integrating access control and surveillance systems Theft and vandalism occur quickly, meaning systems and users must work faster in order to prevent it This slowed response time adds risk to the system. Theft and vandalism occur quickly, meaning systems and users must work faster in order to prevent it. Security systems can do more than communicate that theft or vandalism occurred. Properly integrated, these systems alert users of pre-incident indicators before an event happens or deter events altogether. This gives teams and decision makers more time to make effective decisions. Integrating access control and surveillance systems allows for a more proactive approach. If a door is opened when it’s not supposed to be, an integrated system enables users to quickly see what door was opened, who opened it and make a quick decision. Integrated solutions are more effective, more efficient and help drive cost-saving decisions. Ideally, companies should establish integrated solutions from the start of operations. This allows companies to anticipate problems and adjust accordingly instead of reacting after an incident has occurred. Security camera system Although starting from the beginning is the best way to ensure comprehensive security, many companies have existing security systems, requiring integration and implementation to bring them together. Typically, companies with established security systems worry about the impact to infrastructure requirements. Is additional infrastructure necessary? How and where should it be added? What financial or human resources are required? These concerns drive a mentality that the benefits gained from an integrated solution aren’t worth the costs of implementation. Thankfully, this is becoming less of a problem as security providers, like Twenty20™ Solutions, work to offer adaptable solutions. With flexible options, operators don’t worry about adding or replacing infrastructure to align with a provider’s model. This allows users to monitor camera footage and gate traffic from one system If a company has an existing security camera system, but identifies a need for access control, a modern integrated solution provider can supply the gates for access points and equip the gates and cameras with the technology to connect the two. This allows users to monitor camera footage and gate traffic from one system. This model also spares operators additional costs by using a sole vendor for supplemental needs. Overall management of security While a single, unified system is beneficial for cost saving, it can also help the overall management of security. The ability to view all operating systems in one dashboard allows security personnel to manage a site from any location, reducing the expense and effort required to manage a system. The mobile world today means security directors no longer need to be in a centralised operations center to see alerts and make decisions. This simplifies processes by allowing users to quickly see an alert, pull up a camera, delete a user or check an access log from a phone. Modern networks are secure and accessible to those with permissions, without requiring those users to be physically present. Consolidating security systems is the first step companies can take toward streamlining work, information and costs. The next step is integrating all sites, both remote and on-grid. Energy and communication technology The integration of sites and systems turns mountains of data and information into actionable intelligence Traditional methods demanded two systems: one for on-grid facilities and another for off-grid locations. With advancements in energy and communication technology, the need for multiple systems is gone. Data from remote sites can be safely and securely fed into an existing system. These remote locations may gather, distribute and manage data in a different manner than a connected system due to the cost of transmission via remote connections (i.e., cellular or satellite connection). The end result, however, is a consistent and holistic view of operations for the decision maker. The integration of sites and systems turns mountains of data and information into actionable intelligence. With connected devices monitoring occurrences at individual sites, as well as events across locations, the data tells a story that is unhindered by operational silos or physical space. Identifying patterns and trends Instead of providing 10 hours-worth of footage that may or may not be relevant, system analytics can provide users with the specific set of information they need. Incidents once discarded as ‘one-off’ events can now be analysed and data-mapped to identify patterns and trends, directing future resources to the most critical areas first. Consumers are increasingly expecting everything they need to be right where they need it – and businesses are right behind them. The current generation of security professionals are increasingly expecting the simplicity of their everyday personal tasks to be mirrored in enterprise systems, which means giving them the ability to see what matters in one place. A unified system can provide just that, a single view to help simplify processes, promote cost saving and accelerate decision making.

The statistics are staggering. The death tolls are rising. And those who now fear environments that were once thought to be safe zones like school campuses, factories, commercial businesses and government facilities, find themselves having to add the routine of active-shooter drills into their traditional fire drill protocols. The latest active shooter statistics released by the FBI earlier this year in their annual active-shooter report designated 27 events as active shooter incidents in 2018. The report reveals that 16 of the 27 incidents occurred in areas of commerce, seven incidents occurred in business environments, and five incidents occurred in education environments. Deadly active-shooter events Six of the 12 deadliest shootings in the country have taken place in the past five years Six of the 12 deadliest shootings in the country have taken place in the past five years, including Sutherland Springs church, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the San Bernardino regional center, the Walmart in El Paso and the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, which have all occurred since 2015. Although these incidents occurred in facilities with designated entry points common to churches, schools and businesses, the two most deadly active-shooter events since 2015 were the Route 91 Harvest music festival shooting in Las Vegas that left 58 dead and the Pulse nightclub killings in Orlando where 49 perished. As Christopher Combs, special agent in charge of the FBI field office in San Antonio, Texas, said during a news conference following the August 31 mass shooting in Odessa, Texas that claimed seven lives: “We are now at almost every two weeks seeing an active shooter in this country." Active shooter incidents Between December 2000 and December 2018, the FBI’s distribution of active shooter incidents by location looks like this: Businesses Open to Pedestrian Traffic (74) Businesses Closed to Pedestrian Traffic (43) K-12 Schools (39) Institutions of Higher Learning (16) Non-Military Government Properties (28) Military Properties—Restricted (5) Healthcare Facilities (11) Houses of Worship (10) Private Properties (12) Malls (6) What the majority of these venues have in common is they all have a front entrance or chokepoint for anyone entering the facilities, which is why any active-shooter plan must include a strategy to secure that entry point. Situational awareness in perimeter and door security Preventing people with the wrong intentions from entering the space is the goal" According to Paul Franco, an A&E with more than 28 years of experience as a consultant and systems integrator focusing on schools, healthcare and large public and private facilities, that while active shooter incidents continue to rise, the residual effect has been an increase in situational awareness in perimeter and door security. “Certainly, protecting people and assets is the number one goal of all our clients. There are multiple considerations in facilities like K-12 and Healthcare. Preventing people with the wrong intentions from entering the space is the goal. But a critical consideration to emphasise to your client is getting that person out of your facility and not creating a more dangerous situation by locking the person in your facility,” says Franco. High-security turnstiles “Schools today are creating a space for vetting visitors prior to allowing access into the main facility. Using technology properly like high-security turnstiles offer great benefits in existing schools where space constraints and renovation costs can be impractical.” What steps should they be taken when recommending the proper door security to ensure the building is safe As a consultant/integrator, when discussions are had with a client that has a facility in a public space like a corporate building, government centre or industrial facility, what steps should they be taken when recommending the proper door security to ensure the building is safe and can protect its people and assets? For Frank Pisciotta, President and CEO of Business Protection Specialists, Inc. in Raleigh, North Carolina, a fundamental element of his security strategy is making appropriate recommendations that are broad-based and proactive. Properly identifying the adversaries “As a consultant, my recommendations must include properly identifying the adversaries who may show up at a client’s door, the likelihood of that event occurring, the consequences of that event occurring, determining if there are tripwires that can be set so an organisation can move their line of defence away from the door, educating employees to report potential threats and creating real-time actionable plans to respond to threats. A more reactionary posture might include such thing as target hardening such as ballistic resistant materials at entry access points to a facility,” Pisciotta says. Veteran consultant David Aggleton of Aggleton & Associates of Mission Viejo, California recommends that clients compartmentalise their higher security areas for limited access by adding multiple credential controls (card + keypad + biometric), along with ‘positive’ access systems that inhibit tailgating/piggybacking such as secure turnstiles, revolving door and mantrap if your entrances and security needs meet the required space and access throughput rates. Integrated solution of electronic access control Defining a single point of entry in some public facilities is becoming the new standard of care according to many A&Es and security consultants, especially in a school environment. This approach allows a concerted effort when it comes to staffing, visitor monitoring and an integrated technology solution. The bottom line remains: most buildings are vulnerable to a security breach A proactive stance to securing a door entryway will use an integrated solution of electronic access control, turnstiles, revolving doors and mantraps that can substantially improve a facility’s security profile. The bottom line remains: most buildings are vulnerable to a security breach, so it’s not a matter of if there will be a next active shooter tragedy, it’s only a matter of where. Enhancing access control assurance “There is no easy answer to this question,” says Pisciotta referring to how a secured entrance can deter an active shooter. “There have been at least two high-profile incidents of adversaries shooting their way into a facility through access control barriers. So, if the threat so dictates, a ballistic resistant might be required.” He concludes: “There is obviously no question that turnstiles, revolving doors and man traps enhance access control assurance. Electronic access control is easy to integrate with these devices and providing that credentials are secure, approval processes are in place, change management is properly managed and the appropriate auditing measures in place, access control objectives can be met.”

There’s a lot of hype around the term ‘digital transformation.’ For some, it’s the integration of digital technology into everyday tasks. For others, it’s the incorporation of innovative processes aimed at making business optimisation easier. In most cases, digital transformation will fundamentally change how an organisation operates and delivers value to its customers. And within the security realm, the age of digital transformation is most certainly upon us. Technology is already a part of our day-to-day lives, with smart devices in our homes and the ability to perform tasks at our fingertips now a reality. No longer are the cloud, Internet of Things (IoT) and smart cities foreign and distant concepts full of intrigue and promise. Enhancing business operations We’re increasingly seeing devices become smarter and better able to communicate with each other These elements are increasingly incorporated into security solutions with each passing day, allowing enterprises the chance to experience countless benefits when it comes to enhancing both safety and business operations. The term ‘connected world’ is a derivative of the digital transformation, signifying the increasing reliance that we have on connectivity, smart devices and data-driven decision-making. As we become more familiar with the advantages, flaws, expectations and best practices surrounding the connected world, we can predict what issues may arise and where the market is heading. We’re increasingly seeing devices become smarter and better able to communicate with each other through the IoT to achieve both simple goals and arduous tasks. Within our homes, we’re able to control a myriad of devices with commands (‘Hey Google...’ or ‘Alexa...’), as well as recall data directly from our mobile devices, such as receiving alerts when someone rings our doorbell, there’s movement in our front yard or when a door has been unlocked. Analytics-driven solutions The focus is now shifting to the business impacts of connectivity between physical devices and infrastructures, and digital computing and analytics-driven solutions. Within physical security, connected devices can encompass a variety of sensors gathering massive amounts of data in a given timeframe: video surveillance cameras, access control readers, fire and intrusion alarms, perimeter detection and more.As the data from each of these sensors is collected and analysed through a central platform, the idea of a connected world comes to fruition, bringing situational awareness to a new level and fostering a sense of proactivity to identifying emerging threats. The connected world, however, is not without its challenges, which means that certain considerations must be made in an effort to protect data, enhance structured networking and apply protective protocols to developing technology. Physical security systems We can expect to see the conversations regarding data privacy and security increase as well As the use of connected devices and big data continue to grow, we can expect to see the conversations regarding data privacy and security increase as well. Connectivity between devices can open up the risk of cyber vulnerabilities, but designing safeguards as technology advances will lessen these risks. The key goal is to ensure that the data organisations are using for enhancement and improvements is comprehensively protected from unauthorised access. Manufacturers and integrators must be mindful of their products' capabilities and make it easy for end users to adhere to data sharing and privacy regulations. These regulations, which greatly affect physical security systems and the way they're managed, are being implemented worldwide, such as the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). In the United States, California, Vermont and South Carolina have followed suit, and it can be expected that more countries and U.S. states develop similar guidelines in the future. Technology is already a part of our day-to-day lives, with smart devices in our homes and the ability to perform tasks at our fingertips now a reality Automatic security updates Mitigating the concerns of the ‘connected world’ extends beyond just data privacy. IoT technology is accelerating at such a pace that it can potentially create detrimental problems for which many organisations may be ill-prepared - or may not even be able to comprehend. The opportunities presented by an influx of data and the IoT, and applying these technologies to markets such as smart cities, can solve security and operational problems, but this requires staying proactive when it comes to threats and practicing the proper protection protocols. As manufacturers develop devices that will be connected on the network, integrating standard, built-in protections becomes paramount. This can take the form of continuous vulnerability testing and regular, automatic security updates. Protocols are now being developed that are designed to ensure everything is encrypted, all communications are monitored and multiple types of attacks are considered for defensive purposes to provide the best security possible. IoT-connected devices Hackers wishing to do harm will stop at nothing to break into IoT-connected devices Built-in protection mechanisms send these kinds of systems into protection mode once they are attacked by an outside source. Another way for manufacturers to deliver solutions that are protected from outside threats is through constant and consistent testing of the devices long after they are introduced to the market. Hackers wishing to do harm will stop at nothing to break into IoT-connected devices, taking every avenue to discover vulnerabilities. But a manufacturer that spends valuable resources to continue testing and retesting products will be able to identify any issues and correct them through regular software updates and fixes. ‘IoT’ has become a common term in our vocabularies and since it’s more widely understood at this point and time, it's exciting to think about the possibilities of this revolutionary concept. Providing critical insights The number of active IoT devices is expected to grow to 22 billion by 2025 — a number that is almost incomprehensible. The rise of 5G networks, artificial intelligence (AI) and self-driving cars can be seen on the horizon of the IoT. As more of these devices are developed and security protocols are developed at a similar pace, connected devices stand to benefit a variety of industries, such as smart cities. Smart cities rely on data communicated via the IoT to enhance processes and create streamlined approaches Smart cities rely on data communicated via the IoT to enhance processes and create streamlined approaches to ensuring a city is well-run and safe. For example, think of cameras situated at a busy intersection. Cameras at these locations have a variety of uses, such as investigative purposes in the event of an accident or for issuing red-light tickets to motorists. But there are so many other possible purposes for this connected device, including providing critical insights about intersection usage and traffic congestion. These insights can then be used to adjust stoplights during busy travel times or give cities valuable data that can drive infrastructure improvements. Physical security market The impact of connected devices on cities doesn’t stop at traffic improvement. The possibilities are endless; by leveraging rich, real-time information, cities can improve efficiencies across services such as transportation, water management and healthcare. However, stringent protections are needed to harden security around the networks transmitting this kind of information in an effort to mitigate the dangers of hacking and allow this technology to continuously be improved. Whether you believe we’re in the midst of a digital transformation or have already completed it, one thing is certain: businesses must begin thinking in these connectivity-driven terms sooner rather than later so they aren’t left behind. Leveraging smart, connected devices can catapult organisations into a new level of situational awareness, but adopting protections and remaining vigilant continues to be a stalwart of technological innovation within the physical security market and into the connected world.

ADT Commercial have grown organically in double digits since 2016, in addition to growing through 15 acquisitions completed since the merger of ADT and Protection One. Acquisition of integrator companies such as Red Hawk Fire and Security and Aronson Security Group have expanded ADT Commercial’s presence geographically to more areas of the country. Most of the employees of the acquired companies have stayed with ADT and “helped to create a corporate culture and a good place for employees to work,” says Dan Bresingham, Executive Vice President of ADT Commercial. Happy employees ensure good customer service. Enterprise resource planning Bresingham will lead ADT Commercial as it becomes a separate business unit in 2020 “We adapt to where our clients want us to be,” adds Joe Sanchez, Senior Vice President of Customer Operations of ADT Commercial National Accounts. “We take a strategic approach as we determine how adaptive our customers are going to be to the new technology.” I caught up with ADT Commercial at the GSX trade show in Chicago. Bresingham tells me ADT Commercial has benefitted from the calibre and breadth of leadership talent that have come along with the various acquisitions, including Mike McWilliams of Red Hawk, Bob Dale of Protection One, and Phil Aronson of Aronson Security. The transitioning of internal systems such as enterprise resource planning (ERP), billing and customer repair software will further steamline the ADT Commercial operation in the next several months. Bresingham will lead ADT Commercial as it becomes a separate business unit in 2020. We caught up with ADT at the GSX trade show in Chicago Providing new opportunities for regional integrators Additional acquisitions are also likely; in fact, growth is likely to accelerate. ADT Commercial offers a national footprint that can provide new opportunities for regional integrators it brings into the fold. New acquisitions will continue to fill out ADT’s skillset requirements in specific geographic areas where more expertise is needed. Security directors have a small staff and we help them know what they should be looking at in terms of data" “The industry doesn’t change a lot,” says Bresingham. “The technology just gets better, faster, and cheaper. As a service provider we take the best technology and combine it to provide the best solutions. We’re product-agnostic. Most of our jobs are down-and-dirty, doing the same things, but we’re pushing ourselves to be the best every day at the basics.” An emphasis at ADT is to provide customers ‘actionable’ data compiled from their various security systems. “We have a range of customers,” says Sanchez. Managing networks and video remotely “From small businesses to large data centers, there is no electronic system we cannot do. We are adaptable, from providing basic intrusion all the way to more sophisticated elements. Security directors have a small staff and we help them know what they should be looking at in terms of data.” “Our customers are our ‘true north’,” says Sanchez. A strong relationship with clients forms the basis for ADT Commercial’s success. Helping customers track data utilises ADT Commercial’s eSuite account management system, homegrown software that compiles and analyses various customer data inputs. It also allows the ability to manage networks and video remotely. “We built it from scratch for customers. It’s a web-based system that helps them manage their business,” says Bresingham. “We hold ourselves accountable. We don’t hide from data, we encourage it.” Monitoring refrigeration units The solution is different in every case, just as every customer is uniqueIn addition to data from customer systems, eSuite can compile local weather information, crime statistics and other information that can help provide trending information to guide a customer’s business. The system’s flexibility enables ADT to provide the data each customer needs. ADT helps customers manage their business beyond the security department, too. “We do a lot of things in environmental control, monitoring refrigeration units and making sure humidity and temperature readings are correct,” says Sanchez. Leaving a door open could cause product loss at a pharmaceutical company, for example. In the food industry, a freezer malfunction could cause huge losses. In either case, an alarm can draw attention to the problem in a timely manner. Other customers face regulatory requirements that demand an audit trail of compliance, which ADT’s systems can provide. At the end of the day, ADT asks customers ‘What’s your security need?’ The company then adapts and assembles its solutions using internal resources and outside vendors, to meet that need. The solution is different in every case, just as every customer is unique.

Ethics is a particularly important subject in an industry such as fire and security because the result of unethical actions might make the difference in life and death. For example, if an employee acts unethically when servicing a fire extinguisher, the result could be to burn down the building. Although ethics is not a common topic of discussion in the fire and security industry, perhaps it should be. Chubb Fire and Security is a company that provides an example of how an emphasis on ethics can benefit a company, their employees, their customers and the whole world. Fire safety and security risks “The fire and security industry is different than others because lives and people’s safety are on the line,” says Harv Dulay, Director of Ethics and Compliance at Chubb Fire and Security. “Our purpose is to protect clients from fire safety and security risks. This is a business where no one should take short cuts. It is important to do the right thing all the time, every time, and it’s about protecting lives and property.” At Chubb, we have a code of ethics, our ‘bible,’ that is issued to employees when they start" “At Chubb, we have a code of ethics, our ‘bible,’ that is issued to employees when they start,” says Dulay. “Within the bible are core fundamental rules about what’s acceptable and not acceptable. We lay it out for employees very specifically. They understand and embrace the code of ethics, which is based on trust, integrity, respect, innovation and excellence.” “If you get those right, the business moves in the right direction. A key piece of our ethics policy is based on trust. We relate to others with openness, transparency, and empathy. It makes Chubb a better place to work and enables us to provide better service to customers.” Fire audit For Chubb, ethics is not just theoretical, but ethical concepts play out every day in practical ways. An example might be an engineer who goes to a customer’s site and is asked to do a task that is outside his or her duties and/or not allowed under the ethics policy. The pressure might be even greater if the employee is struggling to meet a sales figure. The code of ethics addresses specific situations and outlines the behaviour that is expected. In another example, a customer asked a Chubb technician to forge a certificate saying the customer had previously passed a fire audit in order to validate his previous year’s insurance. Showing ethical integrity, the technician was able to cite the company’s Code of Ethics and refuse to do it. The technician also reported the situation to his Ethics and Compliance Officer. Customers benefit, too. Delivering ethics excellence It’s a message heard from the top down, from everyone in the company" One of Chubb’s sales associates immediately reporting a situation in which all the tenders and competitors’ prices were visible as they prepared a tender for upload to a customer portal. Not only did the sales associate deliver ethics excellence by reporting the issue, he also helped a grateful customer who thereby avoided anti-trust issues, says Dulay. “Ethics is not just a current issue,” says Dulay. “It’s embedded in our values and has been since the beginning. Ethics is making sure people do the right things.” Ethics is integrated into the Chubb business model, and everyone knows what is expected of them. “It’s a message heard from the top down, from everyone in the company.” On-line training modules Ethics discussions begin for employees at Chubb when they join the company; clear instructions about ethics are included as part of employee induction. There are nine modules of ethics training during employee orientation, and a discussion with an Ethics and Compliance Officer is part of the onboarding process. The training program includes information about ethics, company expectations around ethics, where to go for questions about ethical issues, and details of the anonymous ombudsman program. Additionally, field staff are trained by their supervisors via regular face-to-face ethics toolbox talks. Office staff complete a series of on-line ethics training modules regularly. A series of supervisor-led trainings encourage managers to deliver face-to-face ethics training to their team, citing real-life examples. Healthy discussions are encouraged to deal with any ‘gray areas.’ Worldwide implementation of data security Some 14,000 employees globally have multiple options when it comes to reporting an issue Dulay estimates that ethics and compliance officers spend about half their time answering questions and clarifying for employees what’s expected in the code of ethics. Some 14,000 employees globally have multiple options when it comes to reporting an issue, and there are full-time Ethics and Compliances Officers in every country where Chubb does business. A reflection of Chubb’s global approach to compliance is their worldwide implementation of data security requirements of Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR); the company saw the benefits of the program for any jurisdiction. Training and education are part of Chubb’s investment in ethics. For example, a recent module on ‘respect in the workplace’ covered the need to create a company culture in which everyone feels respected. “Training and continuous communication are embedded in the organisation,” says Dulay. Managing potential conflicts proactively “We invest in the process,” says Dulay. “We have had employees who left the company and then come back. They realised the importance of ethics and rejoined us. We start with the foundation that we would rather lose business than give up our ethical standards,” says Dulay. Some business is not worth getting if you don’t adhere to your values" “We won’t abandon our policies even if there is money at stake. Some business is not worth getting if you don’t adhere to your values. We manage potential conflicts proactively by creating and instituting methods in which employees have access to tools they can use to be successful and adaptable in times of change,” says Dulay. “Also, we will not tolerate retaliation against any employee who reports wrongdoing – regardless of the outcome of the investigation.” Forming good ethics behaviour And while there is no specific monetary value assigned to good ethical practices, success can be measured. “We measure it by people’s conduct, the number of cases we have, and awareness,” says Dulay. “It’s good for employee morale, and it’s good for customers and our business. It’s not measurable, but it is fundamental for business and customers.” “The work we do as a company can impact people’s lives so it is important that everyone has an understanding of the importance of their role,” says Dulay. A common misconception about ethics is: “If no one is watching, it must be ok.” However, Dulay says it is the things employees do when no one is watching or checking in on them that form good ethics behaviour. During training, Chubb emphasises that ethics is about doing the right thing, all the time even if no one is watching.

For the security market, the ‘fine ranging’ capabilities of ultra-wideband (UWB) technology opens up a range of new uses based on the ability to determine the relative position and distance of two UWB-equipped devices with pinpoint accuracy – within centimetres. UWB is more accurate and secure, even in challenging environments full of interference, compared to narrow band wireless technologies. UWB technology transmits a large amount of data over short distances using a small amount of energy. It will be used in seamless access control, location-based services, and device-to-device services across industries including smart homes, cities, retail services, and healthcare. Increasing the accuracy of ranging measurements UWB technology will support any application that benefits from knowing the precise location of a connected deviceUltra-wideband is a mature radio technology that transmits information spread over a large bandwidth, as described by the IEEE 802.154 standard. A new, enhanced amendment to the standard – IEEE 802.15.4z – focusses on improvements to existing modulations to increase the integrity and accuracy of ranging measurements. Moving forward, UWB technology will support any application that benefits from knowing the precise location or presence of a connected device or object. This reflects a move from data communication to secure sensing. New capabilities of UWB are largely unfamiliar to the market, but a new Consortium – the FiRa Consortium – has a mission to educate the market, provide use cases, and promote UWB technology. Delivering interoperability across devices “With a consortium, we can better deliver interoperability across devices, software, and chipsets,” says Ramesh Songukrishnasamy, Director and Treasurer of the FiRa Consortium, and SVP & CTO of HID Global. “This creates a frictionless experience for the user, which is vitally important with a new technology. People are more likely to adopt emerging technology when it runs smoothly without interruptions or errors.” The FiRa consortium is ensuring new use cases for fine ranging capabilities can thrive" An industry consortium can create a UWB ecosystem of interoperable technologies instead of individual companies launching products that consumers struggle to make work together, says Songukrishnasamy. “Simply, the FiRa consortium is ensuring new use cases for fine ranging capabilities can thrive.” Founding members of the FiRa consortium ASSA ABLOY and HID Global, pioneers in secure access and identity solutions, are founding members of the consortium. Their technology manages access to physical and digital places, things, and identities. Another founding consortium member, NXP Semiconductors, is a pioneer in secure connectivity solutions for embedded applications. Other founding members are Samsung, which creates top-of-the-line TVs, smartphones, wearables, and other connected devices; and the Bosch Group, a global supplier of technology and services that is at the forefront of IoT innovations. Sony Imaging Products & Solutions Inc., LitePoint and the Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA) are the first companies to join the newly formed organisation. Immune to radio frequency interference UWB is also immune to radio frequency interference, so it functions in high traffic settingsUWB introduces higher levels of accuracy in positioning capabilities and increased security for ranging data exchange compared to existing technologies. Fine ranging with UWB technology can localise devices and objects to 10 centimetres of accuracy with or without line of sight. UWB is also immune to radio frequency interference, so it functions in high traffic settings. These capabilities will enable a variety of use cases like secure, hands-free access control in hospitals, location-based services for ride sharing, and targeted marketing for retailers. FiRa will demonstrate UWB technology at upcoming trade shows. The FiRa Consortium aims to build on IEEE’s work with an interoperable high rate physical layer (HRP) standard, including defining an application layer that discovers UWB devices and services and configures them in an interoperable manner. The consortium also plans to develop service-specific protocols for multiple verticals and define necessary parameters for applications including physical access control, location-based services and device-to-device services. Promoting the adoption of UWB solutions     As a consortium, FiRa is not just setting standards but actively championing use cases for UWB technology. Creating the consortium addresses the need to develop interoperability and implementation standards; brings key players together to create a rich UWB ecosystem; allows for the sharing of intellectual property; and promotes the adoption of UWB solutions. The FiRa Consortium is committed to educating and promoting new use cases" “Since UWB is a mature technology with new potential uses, there is a general lack of awareness of potential applications that take advantage of the technology,” says Songukrishnasamy. “The FiRa Consortium is committed to educating and promoting new use cases.” The FiRa name comes from Fine Ranging to highlight UWB technology’s use cases and distinction from older UWB technologies and solutions. Enhanced security in challenging environments Fine ranging powered by UWB can outperform other technologies in terms of accuracy, power consumption, robustness in wireless connectivity, and security, especially in challenging, high density environments. UWB previously served as a technology for high data rate communication and as such was in direct competition with Wi-Fi. Since then, UWB has undergone several transformations: UWB has evolved from an OFDM-based data communication to an impulse radio technology specified in IEEE 802.15.4a (2ns pulses with Time of Flight); and A security extension being specified in IEEE 802.15.4z (at PHY/MAC level) makes it a unique secure fine ranging technology. Moving from data communication to secure ranging allows ‘spatial context capability’ to be utilised by a variety of applications: seamless access control, location-based services, and device-to-device (peer-to-peer) services. Information is available at firaconsortium.org.

When you’re securing premises in Iceland, you need a reliable system that can cope with both plummeting temperatures and low-light levels. Hikvision cameras were used in such a solution – chosen by Securitas Iceland to secure a harbour for customer Samskip in Reykjavik. Global logistics company Samskip is one of the larger transport companies in Europe with offices in 24 countries in Europe, North and South America, Asia and Australia. They operate an extensive network of container services to and from Iceland, along with refrigerated cargo logistics and international forwarding around the world. Special kind of surveillance system One of their locations is a harbour in Reykjavik, which includes warehouses. Operating in sub-zero temperatures and with low-light even in daytime for some of the year, Samskip needs a special kind of surveillance system. When temperatures are as low as -30˚C, electronics can become unresponsive, or stop working completely When temperatures are as low as -30˚C, electronics can become unresponsive, or stop working completely. These are also the temperatures where maintenance is more challenging – these are not ideal environments for technicians to be working outside. The biggest snow depth ever recorded in Iceland was 279cm in North Iceland in March 1995, for example. Although this was the worst winter ever recorded, it gives an idea of the potential extremes. There are also snow storms and the high wind chill factor to contend with. Providing clear images in failing light Low light in the winter months means that solutions in Iceland need to be better able to provide clear images in failing light. During winter, Iceland’s high latitude means shorter days - the longest day in the middle of December has only 5 hours of light, for example, with the sunrise at around 11am and sunset between 3 and 4pm. Despite these unique conditions, Samskip needed to have a good overview over all that is happening around the harbour complex, both inside and outside. Specifically, they needed to be able to trace products and goods in the warehouse. Iceland’s security provider, Securitas, rose to the challenge, providing a solution using more than 150 Hikvision products, including PanoVu and DarkFighter® cameras. All these cameras can operate to a temperature of -30˚C. Identifying potential issues The PanoVu cameras provide excellent wide angle surveillance to cover as much of the area as possible. DarkFighter technology is a popular choice in Iceland because it gives clear, useful images even in the lowest of light scenarios. The smart function on the cameras means that operators are able to identify potential issues by analysing people's behaviour. The solution included Seagate’s high-stability Skyhawk drives, especially developed for surveillance applications They can also trace a product between locations and see its condition at receipt and delivery, enhancing both security and business efficiency. To complement the Hikvision solutions, Securitas chose Seagate as their preferred storage vendor with their Skyhawk. The solution included Seagate’s high-stability Skyhawk drives, especially developed for surveillance applications. Providing reliable security Skyhawk surveillance drives are equipped with enhanced ImagePerfect™ firmware to deliver ultimate reliability and zero dropped frames, and SkyHawk Health Management, a software designed for prevention, intervention and recovery. Bergvin Þórðarson, Samskip’s Security Manager, says: “The cameras meet the requirements for analysis of people and merchandise. We are confident with both Hikvision and Securitas – in both their product and people. We know that they will fix any issues and react quickly if there’s a problem.” Securing large areas can be a challenge all on its own, but the addition of potentially crippling weather conditions means a security solution needs to be robust. Hikvision cameras were up to the challenge and provided reliable security for the entire operation.

Carlisle Support Services are pleased to announce that they have been awarded a 3 year contract to provide Manned Security and Stewarding services to the All England Lawn Tennis Club (Championships) Limited (AELTC). The AELTC is one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious private members’ tennis clubs and the home of The Championships, Wimbledon, one of the sporting events. Building a good working relationship In addition to the 24-7/365 Site Security, Carlisle will also be providing in excess of 350 event staff during the two weeks of The Championships. Adrian White, Operations Director at Carlisle, said: “We are delighted and honoured to be working with this Iconic venue.” “Already we have built a good working relationship with the AELTC Security Team and we understand the culture of the venue and the goals they are looking to achieve. Wimbledon is a unique event and location, for 50 weeks of the year it is a tennis club and for 2 weeks of the year it takes centre stage in the sporting calendar.” Understanding the contrasting needs of the service “Our experiences with other major sporting venues that have similar calendars, such as Ascot and Lords, meant we understood the contrasting needs of the service. We are really looking forward to a positive working relationship” Stephen Grainger, AELTC Head of Security, said “We are delighted to have selected Carlisle Support Services to deliver an important component of our security provision for both our year-round operations and The Championships and we look forward to working with them and our other providers.”

Financial institutions require reliable IP video surveillance systems that provide high-performance, quality, and scalability. Unfortunately, with limited budgets, many financial institutions are still utilising outdated appliances. When security is not a priority, they are putting themselves at risk for fraud, theft, and data breaches. Security Integrators have an opportunity to help financial institutions by upgrading their systems with an up-to-date NVR server and overall video surveillance system which significantly increases performance and mitigates risk. Modern video surveillance system Integrators should utilise BCDVideo’s IP video surveillance appliances which are built for each unique project Budgets can vary depending based on the size of the financial institution. Since not all banks and credit unions have the same security budget as large institutions, it can be challenging to upgrade to a modern video surveillance system. To save on the overall cost, generic or often referred to as white-box solutions are viewed as the only reasonable option. Many white-box solutions are made without performance or quality in mind and built with miscellaneous parts. Ultimately, the end-user suffers from an unreliable system without extended warranties and support all because of short-term savings. White-box solutions are not the only option. Security Integrators should utilise BCDVideo’s IP video surveillance appliances which are purpose-built for each unique project, regardless of size. Giving customers greater security Most of their appliances offer a 5-year Keep Your Hard Drive warranty that lowers total cost of ownership. Standard warranties request that a failed hard drive be returned to the manufacturer during replacement. KYHD warranty gives customers greater security, compliance enablement, and complete control over their data BCDVideo understands that sensitive data could be compromised when the hard drive leaves the site, which is why they offer a Keep Your Hard Drive warranty. KYHD warranty gives customers greater security, compliance enablement, and complete control over their data. Security Integrators can feel confident quoting any project knowing they can turn to a live video surveillance expert to help them with network design or storage calculations. Mission-critical configurations Choose from a portfolio of products from entry level to enterprise to mission-critical configurations as well as a variety of supported architectures. There are three ways to get into contact with BCDVideo: call, email, or submit your request online. BCDVideo is the single source to troubleshoot any implementation or warranty issue. With post-sale support, save time and resources by not having to call multiple manufacturers to troubleshoot issues. Experts are on hand to answer questions or troubleshoot a system via remote access. Reduce your total cost of ownership over 5-years with BCDVideo’s lifetime tech & global on-site support warranty, in addition to a guaranteed response.

With 15,000 visitors per day, and a watch list of about 3,000 people, the casino faced an impossible task to recognise persons of interest in real time. Surveillance staff manually detected only 5–7 known persons per week and was looking for an automated face recognition system to support two separate requirements: Detecting voluntarily excluded patrons to promote responsible gambling and to avoid compliance fines associated with allowing these people to play Detecting banned persons or people on the lookout list for loss prevention and security. Fully managed services At peak times, the system sees 20 persons per second in front of all cameras Cognitec offers the Face VACS-VideoScan Enterprise Solution as a fully managed service that allows the casino to benefit from the technology at affordable cost and with low implementation effort. The system for this casino includes the software, installed on three redundant servers, and 29 Cognitec C5 cameras at various entrances and in walkways. Some cameras have been installed to blend into the wall design, and not disrupt the overall casino decorum. At peak times, the system sees 20 persons per second in front of all cameras. The software stores the appearances of all persons for 30 days, collecting an average of 1 million faces. After this time window, all images, videos and biometric templates are deleted. Taking optimal photos with a hand-held camera When the surveillance team receives an alert, they verify the facial match, and send the person details to the database administrator. The security team receives the confirmed alert on a mobile device to discreetly find and approach the person on the floor. For new enrolments, staff have been instructed on taking optimal photos with a hand-held camera For new enrolments, staff have been instructed on taking optimal photos with a hand-held camera. The technology has been optimised to generate a high rate of true alerts while generating the lowest possible count of false alerts. The surveillance team evaluates the image pairs in an alert within seconds, and discards the alerts with questionable match results. Face recognition services The system currently generates up to 30 correct alerts per day. Self-excluded problem gamblers are now detected at a much higher rate, resulting in a significant reduction in fine payments compared to the past with traditional detection methods. Observing such reliable system performance has convinced the client to add more cameras to the system and implement the technology at additional locations. The casino also considers to use the technology for underage detection and VIP recognition. Furthermore, the casino has the option to report visitor demographics and statistics that help planning for staff resources and casino capacities. While Cognitec continues to provide reliable, fully-managed face recognition services, the casino continuously reaps the benefits: a secure environment for customers and staff, a profitable business, and support from the community.

Abdullah A. M. Al-Khodari Sons Company is a multifaceted contracting company in Saudi Arabia. This company conducts business in diverse sectors such as civil engineering, roads and bridges, railways, buildings and infrastructure, water and waste water treatment, oil-gas and pipelines. It has 25 construction sites across Middle East. Managing time-attendance, shifts, overtime and leaves of 20,000 employees at different locations was a challenging process for them. They wanted a centralised time-attendance solution that would enable them to manage attendance data from a central location and speed up the payroll process. Project Highlights Time-attendance solution for 25 construction sites Access control solution for 25 sites Centralised attendance management for 20,000 employees Managing time-attendance data Al-Khodari is engaged in wide spread construction activities with 60 construction sites in the Middle East Al-Khodari is engaged in wide spread construction activities with 60 construction sites in the Middle East. Managing time-attendance, shifts, leaves and overtime of 20,000 employees at different locations is very time consuming and a tedious task. Previously, the customer was using Hand geometry solution, which was very time consuming. Workers also found it difficult to place their palms in the proper position. Managing time-attendance data of all employees on a central level was also becoming difficult for the company. Furthermore, the head office was using a different time-attendance solution in comparison to other sites. The head office processed the salary of employees after receiving an attendance summary from each of their branches. The process of salary calculation with respect to working hours and overtime of each employee took around 10 days. Moreover, there were chances that the attendance data was inaccurate, leading loss of efficiency and employee dissatisfaction. To overcome such challenges, the company required a centralised time-attendance and access control solution which could be managed and controlled from the head office. Faster and accurate salary calculation After discussing all of their problems and requirements Matrix offered web based COSEC CENTRA time-attendance and access control solution for their multi located branches across the Middle East. It automated all time-attendance processes right from recording entries to processing salaries. COSEC CENTRA access control solution allows controlling access on three simultaneous dimensions – user, zone and time. COSEC CENTRA server is installed at the head office to where attendance data of all locations are collected Optical fingerprint based time-attendance and access control terminal COSEC DOOR FOP was installed to mark the attendance and get access using fingerprint credentials. As per assigned access rules and time-attendance policies, access is allowed or denied, and event data would be pushed from all devices to the COSEC CENTRA server in real-time. COSEC CENTRA server is installed at the head office to where attendance data of all locations are collected centrally. Various types of time-attendance reports and charts can be generated for faster and accurate salary calculation. Error free time-attendance Time required for salary calculation reduced by 30% Productivity increased by 20% Control of all sites through a live monitoring window Error free time-attendance and overtime data Database management of all employees Centralised report generation Products installed COSEC DOOR FOP - optical fingerprint and RF card based door controller COSEC ENROLL FINGER - fingerprint enrolment station COSEC LE PLATFORM - web based application software platform COSEC LE TAM - time-attendance and leave management module COSEC LE ACM - access control module COSEC LE USER10000 - 10000 user license for LE platform

The sensor solutions provider HENSOLDT has delivered the 300th equipment set for the MUltifunctional Self-protection System (MUSS) of the German Army’s new ‘Puma’ infantry fighting vehicle. Thus, deliveries currently amount to 1,500 devices, comprising 1.200 sensor heads and 300 central units. HENSOLDT is under contract to deliver in total 342 MUSS equipment sets by 2020 to primes Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall. Apart from that, HENSOLDT’s Optronics subsidiary provides the ‘Puma’ programme with weapons optronics systems, periscopes and driver sighting systems. Enhanced possibilities for protecting armoured vehicles Electronic protection systems like MUSS are opening up enhanced possibilities for protecting armoured vehicles from attacksMUSS was the Active Protection System (APS) selected for the UK DSTL MEDUSA Programme which was delivered by QinetiQ in the UK and Australia. The MUSS was successfully integrated onto the British Army Challenger 2 MBT by BAEs and the capability extensively trialed by serving British Army personnel during the Op User Trials. “Electronic protection systems like MUSS are opening up enhanced possibilities for protecting armoured vehicles from attacks, as is already the case for aircraft or helicopters,” said Thomas Müller, CEO HENSOLDT. “Compared to conventional solutions, we are able to increase the protection level considerably without adding weight or risking collateral damage around the vehicle.” MUSS drastically reduces the likelihood of a hit by antitank guided missiles or laser-guided ammunition and is the only operational soft-kill active protection system for ground vehicles worldwide. It achieves a level of protection which is not possible for the same total weight with passive armour while avoiding collateral damage. Detects approaching missiles and laser beams The warning sensors detect approaching missiles and laser beams aimed at the vehicleEach MUSS system consists of four warning sensors, a central unit, an infrared jammer head, jammer electronics and a smoke grenade launcher. The warning sensors detect approaching missiles and laser beams aimed at the vehicle. The central unit activates an infrared jammer, which interferes with missiles’ guidance systems, and/or initiates the use of pyrotechnic countermeasures. An active protection system like MUSS defeats threats before they strike a vehicle, by sensing them and providing a ‘soft’ response based on jamming or obscuration of the guidance mechanism with no risk of collateral damages. Moreover, MUSS is a discrete solution, which has no significant influence on the vehicle radiation as it features only passive sensors and an infrared Jammer with short activation time, not detectable either in visible or in thermal image spectrum. Expert for decades in self-protection sensors and systems, HENSOLDT delivers major components for the electronic self-defence systems of platforms in the air, sea and land domain.

Video analytics are undergoing a fundamental change in the market as machine learning enhances their accuracy while expanding their capabilities. But what are those expanded capabilities and how are they impacting the operation of security and video systems? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What new video analytics are having an impact in the market and how?

There will be more artificial intelligence, more machine learning, video systems with more capabilities, and all of it will add greater value to our solutions. Those are among the expectations of our Expert Panel Roundtable as they collectively look ahead to the remainder of 2019. One unexpected prediction is that AI will not prove to be a game changer – at least not yet. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What will be the biggest surprise for security in the second half of 2019?

The ability to treat patients in a secure environment is a base requirement of hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Whether facilities are large or small, security challenges abound, including perimeter security, access control of sensitive areas, video surveillance, and even a long list of cyber-risks. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the security challenges of hospitals and the healthcare industry?