Security devices

Abloy UK is delighted to announce that its Digital Transformation team has been awarded CLIQ Competence Centre by ABLOY certification, becoming the only approved centre of excellence for CLIQ in the UK and Ireland, and one of only six certified CLIQ Competence Centres globally. Abloy believes the future of locking and access control is a combination of digital communications and precision mechanical products. For several years the company has invested in developing CLIQ technology to deliver the best range of solutions to meet the increasingly complex and demanding requirements of the market. Provide technical expertise The centres have been audited by experts from Finland to ensure the teams meet and maintain the high standards required At the core of this strategy has been the creation of a number of centres of excellence, with teams trained and equipped to provide technical expertise and professional service and support for CLIQ technology. The centres have been audited by experts from Finland to ensure the teams meet and maintain the high standards required. These include: Technical expertise: Technical knowledge of CLIQ products and CLIQ Web Management software. Customer and service expertise: Detailed pre-order planning and on-going technical support to maximise customer satisfaction. Commercial expertise: Business Strategy and long-term customer support. Master key capabilities - Expertise and procedural knowledge of Master key systems for Eplanner and CLIQ Web Manager usability. Production expertise: Production processes and security related to CLIQ located in the state-of-the-art factory in Willenhall. Deliver comprehensive service Achieving CLIQ Competence Centre certification exclusively positions Abloy UK as the only authorised CLIQ service and support centre in the UK & Ireland. To continue further development of this initiative, Abloy has strengthened its team, recently adding three people to the sales and technical departments to provide the resources needed to deliver comprehensive service and support for CLIQ customers. I’m delighted to award Abloy UK certification as CLIQ Competence Centre by Abloy making them the 6th Centre of Excellence for CLIQ" Mervi Hiltunen, Solution Manager for Abloy Oy, says: “Abloy Oy is continuing to invest globally in CLIQ technology, and we believe it’s equally important to make sure the teams that support our customers are trained and equipped to provide professional expertise and service. I’m delighted to award Abloy UK certification as CLIQ Competence Centre by Abloy making them the 6th Centre of Excellence for CLIQ.” Electromechanical locking solutions “In 2019, Abloy aims to expand the network of CLIQ Competence Centres in North America, South Europe and APAC to become recognised as the first class service and solution provider also in these market areas.” Pip Courcoux, Sales & Product Manager CLIQ Systems for Abloy UK, adds: “Innovation is all about new ideas, creative thoughts and imagination in either products or services.” “It’s not enough just to have a market leading product, at Abloy we recognise that as the market place adapts to new technologies, threats and opportunities, our service to our customers must also change. This certification by Abloy Oy endorses our capability to provide first class services and ensure that we maintain and grow our position as the leader of electromechanical locking solutions in the UK and Irish markets.”

Arcules, a provider of integrated video cloud as a service, will host an Open House at the company’s headquarters in Irvine, Calif., to provide security and IT leaders, and resellers with the opportunity to learn more about the company. Attendees will have the chance to explore the Arcules cloud-based video service offering, gain insight into its ideas for future technological developments, and meet with key members of the leadership and sales teams. Maximising system uptime Hosted in collaboration with Milestone Systems and Google Cloud, the event extends upon the Arcules mission: to allow customers and partners to further their knowledge and understanding of cloud services, connected devices, and how business insights can be achieved using integrated video cloud technology. The Arcules Integrated Video Cloud Service combines untapped video and sensor data with the latest technologies in cloud, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to deliver actionable business and security intelligence for modern organisations. The cloud-based service is designed to ensure security, scalability, streamlined operations, and bandwidth management — all from a single, easy-to-use interface. It also reduces the burden and cost of system management, providing automatic software updates, maximising system uptime, and ensuring the most up-to-date version is available to users at all times.

The Security Industry Association (SIA) has named Dr. Elizabeth (Elli) Voorhees as its new director of education and training. In this role, Voorhees – who previously served as director of certifications and compliance for the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) – will drive all education and certification program activity for SIA and through SIA’s partners in support of the SIA membership and larger industry goals. Provide learning opportunities The areas of education, training and certification have exponential growth potential in today’s rapidly evolving security industry" As director of education and training, Voorhees will spearhead the SIA Education@ISC conference programs for ISC West and ISC East and Certified Security Project Manager (CSPM) certification and expand SIA’s portfolio of key education, training and career development initiatives. “The areas of education, training and certification have exponential growth potential in today’s rapidly evolving security industry,” said Voorhees. “I look forward to working with SIA’s global network of security professionals to develop educational programs and provide learning opportunities for SIA’s membership and the greater security industry.” In her most recent role at NCS4, Voorhees led the Certified Sport Security Professional (CSSP), Certified Sport Venue Staff (CSVS) and Sport Event Security Aware (SESA) certification and assessment programs; oversaw all aspects of program development, maintenance and compliance for individual and organisational performance assessment programs; and maintained accreditation through the American National Standards Institute for the CSSP certification program. Security management workforce Elli has an incredible understanding of proven methods for delivering exceptional learning and development content" She holds a Ph.D. in human capital development from the University of Southern Mississippi, where her dissertation identified core competencies for sport and event security management professionals and proposed various human resource development strategies to equip the current and future security management workforce with the knowledge, skills and abilities needed for an effective job performance. “Elli has an incredible understanding of proven methods for delivering exceptional learning and development content that will help professionals at all levels of security businesses become stronger contributors to their company’s success.” “Elli shares our vision to grow and expand SIA’s education offerings into a true SIA Center of Excellence that provides resources to address existing educational gaps while also preparing our members to stay ahead of future marketplace and technology trends,” said SIA CEO Don Erickson. From educational offerings at the ISC shows to the CSPM program, SIA’s workforce development initiatives and scholarships, SIA helps shape the talent of our industry.

Zhiyun, globally renowned gimbal brand for cameras and smartphones, has announced its plan to attend at Mobile World Congress 2019 in Barcelona. At the Zhiyun booth, visitors can experience Zhiyun’s latest and revolutionary stabilisers the CRANE 3 LAB and WEEBILL LAB as well as a rich assortment of accessories aimed at allowing filmmakers to reach new heights with their footage. Additionally, Zhiyun is pleased to announce that the WEEBILL LAB has been awarded the prestigious iF Design Award from a large panel of professional judges. This amazing news comes on top of the its latest updates that make it fully compatible with Nikon’s brand new Z6 and Z7 cameras. Finally, Zhiyun’s Smooth 4, with full integrated support in FiLMic Pro, allows smartphone users to shoot movie-quality footage with their phones and Zhiyun’s latest stabiliser. CRANE 3 LAB – professional DSRL stabiliser CRANE 3 LAB is Zhiyun’s latest stabiliser for DSLRs, and one of the major revolutions on the stabiliser market The CRANE 3 LAB is Zhiyun’s latest stabiliser for DSLRs, and one of the major revolutions on the stabiliser market. Featuring huge payload support, up to 4.5kg and great compatibility with a huge range of DSLR cameras and lenses, The Crane 3 LAB supports wireless image transmission of the camera’s video via Wi-Fi. Another highlight of the CRANE 3 LAB is its synchronous zoom and focus system, a hardware control system for lenses which can be operated through the control rockers and wheel on the CRANE 3 LAB, or through the ViaTouch Control System on a tablet or smartphone. WEEBILL LAB – compact camera stabiliser The WEEBILL LAB is Zhiyun’s new stabiliser created specifically for mirrorless cameras, recognised with the internationally renowned iF Design Award 2019. The WEEBILL LAB excels at ease of use through its Balancing System 2.0 which offers quick lock latches for all axes for quick and perfect setups. The rubber-coated tripod that comes along with the WEEBILL LAB can also be used as an extra handle to use the WEEBILL LAB in underslung mode, which adds immensely to the flexibility of the stabiliser and makes it a great choice for those looking for an ergonomic grip for long days in the field. With new features like Vortex mode, Control Lock, which prevents accidental button pushes when the gimbal is in underslung mode, and support for new camera series like Nikon’s Z6 and Z7, the WEEBILL LAB quickly becomes the default choice for filmmaking enthusiasts around the globe.

UVS launches a unique new product to help a growing number of security and CCTV monitoring centres connect their outdated CCTV systems to modern, high specification video walls and displays. The ExDec Decoder and Software Suite, developed and launched by video wall and visual display solutions experts UVS (Ultimate Visual Solutions), was devised to help clients still using old-style IP encoders to turn the video signal from analogue CCTV cameras into a digital signal. Custom cropping algorithms The ExDec Software Suite performs the required ‘bespoke’ IP decoding via a high-powered multi-output small form factor PC It has already been used to help two high-profile security clients deal with the transition to upgraded video wall displays, where there were both proprietary IP streams and ONVIF compatible systems using the Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP). The ExDec Software Suite performs the required ‘bespoke’ IP decoding via a high-powered multi-output small form factor PC. The outputs are then integrated within a UVS video wall controller, using unique custom cropping algorithms. Each individual decoded IP stream can then be selected and displayed anywhere on the video wall, alongside any standard RTSP stream or any other source type. CCTV monitoring systems Managing director Steve Murphy explained that the ExDec Decoder and Software Suite was devised after UVS was asked to install a video wall for a high security establishment in central London where there was a mixture of IP encoders, including many old legacy IP based video encoders which, due to their age, were not capable of being upgraded to ONVIF RTSP streams. He said: “This is a growing problem which more and more clients are sleepwalking into by continuing to use outdated systems within their security and CCTV monitoring systems. The UVS ExDec Software Suite is unique and runs silently in the background, seamlessly managing the display of the individual ‘bespoke’ IP streams in the operator selected positions on the video wall. As with all sources, these IP streams can form part of any wall pre-sets and can be resized / placed accordingly.” Audio visual solutions eyevis UK changed its name to Ultimate Visual Solutions (UVS) last September following the acquisition of eyevis GmbH by the Leyard group The UVS ExDec Software Suite offers seamless integration of non-standard or proprietary IP streams and allows the display of all types of IP video and other source types on to a single video wall canvas. It offers up to 64 data streams decoded simultaneously, using a single device, and is scalable to suite the number of streams required. UVS, formerly eyevis UK, is based at Business First Burnley Business Centre and provides video wall displays and audio visual solutions to a range of clients across the UK. It has also opened a new London demonstration venue at Woburn Place, a short walk from Euston Station, to cope with increased demand for its technology. eyevis UK changed its name to Ultimate Visual Solutions (UVS) last September following the acquisition of eyevis GmbH by the Leyard group. The rebranding has allowed the company to offer an expanded range of products and services and remain at the forefront of providing turnkey solutions for all types of audio visual and visual display applications. 

STANLEY Security, one of the security providers, launches a new Dealer Programme aimed at independent installers looking to expand their businesses without the risks associated with rapid growth. The new STANLEY Security Dealer Programme provides installers with the considerable competitive benefits that come from being associated with a major global brand, backed up by national security infrastructure and expertise, whilst maintaining their independence. The Programme will enable partners to capture new growth opportunities in both commercial and residential security by helping them stand out in a competitive market place and by providing their customers with a wider range of security solutions and services than would be possible for a smaller, regional company. Customer satisfaction These security solutions include an array of products and systems for both home and business security These security solutions include an array of products and systems for both home and business security that have been heavily invested in by STANLEY Security and that are available at reduced costs as a result of the company’s substantial purchasing power. The range of services available to companies in the STANLEY Security Dealer Programme is equally impressive and includes STANLEY Assure in-house financing (a key consideration for end users and a major selling point); a Customer First Team, set up to provide top rate customer satisfaction; plus a selection of security monitoring options from a self-service app to STANLEY’s Category 2 NSI Gold Standard BS5979 accredited Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC). Lead generation support Under the STANLEY Security Dealer Programme, partners continue to work with their customers as before, but with STANLEY Security supporting them and providing the customer after-sales and service support. In other words, the dealer makes the sale, supplies and installs the equipment. STANLEY Security buys the service contract from the dealer and pays multiples based on the terms of the contract. To maximise ROI, the STANLEY Security Dealer Programme features fast onboarding, including training on STANLEY products and services and a certification process. Once certified, and with a partner agreement in place, dealers reap the rewards of affiliation with STANLEY Security. An attractive incentive programme is in place as part of the scheme, along with quick payments, a dedicated, experienced remote support team, lead generation support in the form of marketing and sales tools, and ongoing training to ensure dealers are kept up to date with the latest developments in security. Independent security companies Stanley Security’s dealer support is light years ahead of the competition" “The STANLEY Security Dealer Programme is the best of both worlds” comments Dan Hindley, STANLEY Security UK Channel Manager. “Independent security companies continue to use their skills in sales and installation, but with the added advantage of our expertise in designing, delivering and servicing security solutions. They get to fast track their business without the pain points and we have the benefit of extending our customer reach.” The STANLEY Security Dealer Programme model has already proven successful. “Stanley Security’s dealer support is light years ahead of the competition. We’re proud to be a Stanley Dealer as it reassures our clients that they’re in the best hands,” comments Trevor Williamson Operations Manager at TRECC. The STANLEY Security Dealer Programme will officially be launched on the 21st February at Security TWENTY 19 Birmingham, at the Hilton Metropole Hotel at the NEC, and supported by a wide media launch.

The extensive analysis and discussion preceding any decision to implement a new physical security solution – whether it’s hardware, software or a combination of both – often focuses on technology, ROI and effectiveness. When it comes to deciding what type of security entrances to install at your facility, you will almost certainly also consider the aesthetics of the product, along with throughput and, if you’re smart, you’ll also look into service concerns. Each of these factors has its important place within the evaluation process, and none should be overlooked as they all have a significant effect on how well your entrances will perform once they are installed. Culture influences door solution decisions How significant will the change from current entrances to security entrances be for employees? Still, one additional factor actually trumps everything: if you have not considered your organisation’s culture in choosing a security entrance, you may be missing the most important piece of the puzzle. Culture is a part of every other decision factor when selecting an entry solution. Before you make a decision about what type of entrance to deploy, you need to consider and understand the values, environment and personality of your organisation and personnel. For example, how significant will the change from current entrances to security entrances be for employees? If people are accustomed to simply walking through a standard swinging door with no access control, this will be a culture change. Beyond this, whether you are considering a type of turnstile, a security revolving door or possibly a mantrap portal, simply walking through it will be a significant change as well. Training employees on door security You’ll want to know whether employees have ever used security entrances before. If these types of entrances are in place in another part of the facility, or in a facility they’ve worked in at an earlier time, the adjustment will not be as great as if they’ve never used them at all. Consider, too, how your personnel typically react to changes like this in the organisation or at your facility. They may be quite adaptable, in which case there will be less work to do in advance to prepare them. However, the opposite may also be true, which will require you to take meaningful steps in order to achieve buy-in and train employees to properly use the new entrances. With the increased importance of workplace security, discussing new entrances with  workforces will help maintain a safer environment Communicate through the decision-making process All of this will need to be communicated to your staff, of course. There are a number of ways to disseminate information without it appearing to come down as a dictate. Your personnel are a community, so news about changes should be shared rather than simply decreed. As part of this process, you’ll need to give some thought to the level of involvement you want for your staff in the decision-making process. Finally, do not overlook the special needs among your personnel population. You undoubtedly have older individuals on staff, as well as disabled persons and others who bring service animals to the office. Entrances need to be accessible to all, and you never want to be in the position of having a gap in accessibility pointed out to you by the individual who has been adversely affected. New security entrance installation By communicating early and often with your personnel, you can alleviate a great deal of the anxiety Once you have made the decision about which security entrances to install, training your personnel on how to use the new security entrances – both before and after the installation – will help to smooth the transition. Because workplace security is such a big issue right now, it makes sense to discuss the new entrances in the context of helping to maintain a safer environment. They will prevent violent individuals from entering, decrease theft, and most of all, promote greater peace of mind during the workday. If you can help them take control of their own safety in a responsible way, you have achieved much more than just a compliant workforce. By communicating early and often with your personnel, you can alleviate a great deal of the anxiety and concern that surrounds a significant change in the work environment. Schedule group meetings Consider your employees; what type of communications do they respond best to? A few suggestions to educate staff on the benefits of the new entrances include: Typically, you would communicate a general message 2-3 months in advance and then provide more specific information (for example, impacts to fire egress, using certain entrances during construction) in a follow up message closer to the installation date. Schedule group meetings to: announce the rationale for increased security, share statistics on crime, review the new security changes that are coming, show drawings/photos of the new doors/turnstiles, and show the orientation videos available from the manufacturer. These meetings are an excellent way to work through user questions and directly address any concerns. Once the installation of a new security system is complete, it is a good idea to have an "ambassador" on board to help employees use these new systems Ensure you monitor public areas If you are implementing a lot of new changes, such as a new access control system, new guard service and security entrances, you might consider hosting a ‘security fair’ on a given day and have the selected vendors come for a day with tabletop displays to meet employees and answer questions during their lunch. This could be a great way to break the ice in a large organisation. Make user orientation videos (provided by the manufacturer) available in several ways, for example: Intranet Site Monitors in public areas—lounges, cafeteria, hallways, etc. Send to all staff as email attachments Immediately after installation, once the doors or turnstiles are operational but before they are put into service, train ‘ambassadors’ on how to use the door/turnstile. Have these people monitor and assist employees during peak traffic times. What is the ultimate success of the installation? By communicating clearly and openly with your population you can greatly facilitate adoption and satisfaction If you have thousands of employees, consider dividing them into groups and introduce the new entrance to one group at a time (Group A on Monday, Group B on Tuesday, etc.) to allow a little extra orientation time. Place user education ‘quick steps’ posters next to the door/turnstiles for a few weeks to help employees remember the basic steps and guidelines, e.g., ‘stand in front of the turnstile, swipe badge, wait for green light, proceed.’ Ask your manufacturer to provide these or artwork. While there are always going to be people who are resistant to change, by communicating clearly and openly with your population you can greatly facilitate adoption and satisfaction. Your responsiveness to any issues and complaints that arise during and after the implementation is equally fundamental to the ultimate success of the installation.

It’s not surprising that people are nervous about the security of newer technologies, many of which are part of the Internet of Things (IoT). While they offer greater efficiency and connectivity, some people still hesitate. After all, there seems to be a constant stream of news stories about multinational corporations being breached or hackers taking control of smart home devices. Both of these scenarios can feel personal. No one likes the idea of their data falling into criminal hands. And we especially don’t like the thought that someone can, even virtually, come into our private spaces. The reality, though, is that, when you choose the right technology and undertake the proper procedures, IoT devices are incredibly secure. That said, one of the spaces where we see continued confusion is around access control systems (ACS) that are deployed over networks, particularly in relation to mobile access, smartcards, and electronic locks. These technologies are often perceived as being less secure and therefore more vulnerable to attacks than older ACS systems or devices. In the interest of clearing up any confusion, it is important to provide good, reliable information. With this in mind, there are some myths out there about the security of ACS that need to be debunked. The fact that these devices communicate with an ACS via Bluetooth or Near Field Communication (NFC) leads to one of the main myths we encounter Myth #1: Mobile credentials are not secure The first myth we have to look at exists around mobile credentials. Mobile credentials allow cardholders to access secured doors and areas with their mobile devices. The fact that these devices communicate with an ACS via Bluetooth or Near Field Communication (NFC) leads to one of the main myths we encounter about the security of credentialed information. There is a persistent belief that Bluetooth is not secure. In particular, people seem to be concerned that using mobile credentials makes your organisation more vulnerable to skimming attacks. While focusing on the medium of communication is an important consideration when an organisation deploys a mobile credentialing system, the concerns about Bluetooth miss the mark. Bluetooth and NFC are simply channels over which information is transmitted. Believing that Bluetooth is not secure would be the same as suggesting that the internet is not secure. In both cases, the security of your communication depends on the technology, protocols, and safeguards we all have in place. So, instead of wondering about Bluetooth or NFC, users should be focused on the security of the devices themselves. Before deploying mobile credentials, ask your vendor (1) how the credential is generated, stored, and secured on the device, (2) how the device communicates with the reader, and (3) how the reader securely accesses the credential information. When you deploy smartcard technology as part of your ACS, you should choose the latest generation, such as MiFARE DesFIRE EV1 or EV2 and HID iCLASS SEOS Myth #2: All smartcards are equally secure The question “how secure are my smartcards?” is a serious one. And the answer can depend on the generation of the cards themselves. For example, while older smartcards like MiFARE CLASSIC and HID iCLASS Classic offer better encryption than proxy cards and magstripe credentials, they have been compromised. Using these older technologies can make your organisation vulnerable. As a result, when you deploy smartcard technology as part of your ACS, you should choose the latest generation, such as MiFARE DesFIRE EV1 or EV2 and HID iCLASS SEOS. In this way, you will be protecting your system as well as your buildings or facilities. Some traditional readers and controllers can also pose a serious risk to your organisation if they use the Wiegand protocol, which offers no security. While you can upgrade to a more secure protocol like OSDP version 2, electronic locks are a very secure alternative worth considering. It is also important to understand that not all smartcard readers are compatible with all smartcard types. When they are not compatible, the built-in security designed to keep your system safe will not match up and you will essentially forego security as your smartcard-reader will not read the credentials at all. Instead, it will simply read the non-secure portion—the Card Serial Number (CSN) —of the smartcard that is accessible to everyone. While some manufacturers suggest that this is an advantage because their readers can work with any smartcard, the truth is that they are not reading from the secure part of the card, which can put your system and premises at risk. Using electronic locks can help protect facilities and networks through various security protocols, including encryption and authentication Myth #3: Electronic locks are more vulnerable These days, there are still many who believe that electronic locks, especially wireless locks, are more vulnerable to cybercriminal activity as compared to traditional readers and controllers. The concern here is that electronic locks can allow cybercriminals to both access your network to get data and intercept commands from the gateway or nodes over the air that would allow them access to your buildings or facilities. The reality is that using electronic locks can help protect facilities and networks through various security protocols, including encryption and authentication. Additionally, because many of these locks remain operational regardless of network status, they provide real-time door monitoring. This means that many electronic locks not only prevent unauthorised access but also keep operators informed about their status at all times, even if a network goes down. Outdated technology and old analogue systems are more vulnerable to attacks When it comes to deploying electronic locks, it is important to remember that, like any device on your network, they must have built-in security features that will allow you to keep your information, people, and facilities safe. Be prepared to unlock future benefits Ultimately, the information in your IP-based ACS is at no greater risk than any other information being transmitted over the network. We just have to be smart about how we connect, transmit, and store our data. In the end, maintaining the status quo and refusing to move away from old technology is not a viable option. Outdated technology and old analogue systems are more vulnerable to attacks. The reason it is so important to debunk myths around ACS and, at the same time, get people thinking about network security in the right way is that network-based systems can offer an ever-increasing number of benefits. When we deploy new technology using industry best practices and purchase devices from trusted vendors, we put ourselves and our networks in the best possible position to take full advantage of all that our increasingly connected world has to offer.

The oil and gas market is driven by a number of technology trends, political issues, waves of supply and demand, and regulations. At times, it seems like the market is in a constant state of ebb and flow, with business affected by traditional drivers, such as government mandates and operational efficiencies, and other non-traditional markers, like challenging weather conditions (consider the 2017 hurricane season as an example). Additionally, the global economy continues to grow, propelling increased energy demand. But like nearly every other market today, the oil and gas market is on the brink of a sea change. According to Deloitte’s 2018 outlook on oil and gas, “the digital revolution is here.” The sheer volume of information and data generated by digital devices, such as those associated with the Internet of Things, will allow producers to leverage rich data and combine it to deliver smart, efficient solutions. The rise of digital technologies is unleashing new ideas across the oil and gas industry and even though we are in the beginning stage of being able to harness the power of these types of technologies, innovative ideas are emerging — all designed to support the core business, reduce internal investments, deliver products faster, boost efficiencies, and enhance safety. Maximised operations and increased ROI This ongoing growth propels energy producers to embark on extensive exploration and production activities to meet increased demand This is welcome news because there are a number of challenges facing the oil and gas industry, from improving reserve replacement and ensuring workplace safety to reducing operating costs and limiting downtime. All of these objectives must be achieved while maximising operations and increasing overall return on investment. Never has it been more crucial for critical infrastructure organisations to demonstrate a focus on safety, security, and collaboration. Here's why: Growth and demand According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, world energy consumption will grow by 56 percent between 2010 and 2040. This ongoing growth propels energy producers to embark on extensive exploration and production activities to meet increased demand. As energy-centric organisations look to emerging markets or remote regions to source production, safety becomes even more mission-critical to their success. Compliance Continuous demand is only one challenge; compliance with industry and government regulations is another significant hurdle that must be maintained or there is risk of production shutdowns. For example, the Department of Homeland Security’s Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) impose comprehensive federal regulations for high-risk chemical facilities, requiring organisations to conduct vulnerability assessments. This is just one of many regulatory procedures sites must follow to conform to environmental protections, safety precautions, and safe handling of hazardous materials. As energy-centric organisations look to emerging markets or remote regions to source production, safety becomes even more mission-critical to their success Threat protection, mitigation, and collaboration In addition to meeting the requirements of regulatory procedures, mitigating risk in this industry propels leaders to develop stringent strategies to ensure robust protection of people, property, and assets, effective and efficient response to incidents when they occur, and procedures and protocols to ensure business continuity in emergency situations. Energy providers require comprehensive safety planning and technology systems that can augment the capabilities of on-site and remote personnel. In recent years, video solutions have become the standard for monitoring facilities, assets, and employees, and now these organisations require enterprise-class solutions that can help gather intelligent data that allows for enhanced security and safety efforts but also focus on processes that enhance operational efficiencies. Cyber-attacks are becoming increasingly more complex and sophisticated in the oil and gas market IT security is also a concern. Cyber-attacks are becoming increasingly more complex and sophisticated in the oil and gas market. An IT breach can cause operational havoc, risk to the public, and damage to an organisation’s brand. Adopting a continuous improvement approach to a security strategy safeguards and helps protect valuable company information and reduces the likelihood of an incident. Also, collaboration between IT and physical security leaders and the correlation of both departments' data makes it much easier to identify a potential breach before havoc ensues. The digital age With the rise of the digital revolution and the demand for data to improve insight, oil and gas producers and businesses need to find new ways to capture data, correlate it as needed, and then leverage it to make the most informed decisions. Software platforms are being used in a wide variety of applications to provide a single pane-of-glass view that allows operators to gain critical insight into operations. By collecting intelligence from digital sensors, such as video surveillance cameras, open-source Web intelligence, building systems, crowdsourcing, weather sensors, mobile devices, and more, operators can detect potential risks and manage and respond to situations more efficiently. Furthermore, information can be shared easily with multiple agencies, employees, citizens, and first responders — especially valuable in the event of a safety incident where rapid response is paramount. By creating a single enterprise-wide view across disparate systems and technologies, organisations experience improved response times, lowered operational costs, and increased employee safety. Cyber, traditional security, digital devices, and situational awareness technologies combine to deliver an integrated, automated, and adaptive architecture to efficiently mitigate advanced threats in real time or forensically Traditional command centers Intelligent solutions, such as those derived from the idea of artificial intelligence, help organisations make sense of vast amounts of data. These integrated applications, such as advanced video analytics and facial recognition, can automatically pinpoint potential breaches and significant events, and send alerts to the appropriate personnel, departments, and agencies. These solutions can be powerful in unifying disparate command center technologies within the oil and gas industry, fusing critical data input from emergency calls and responder activity to enhance situational awareness. With traditional command centers relying mostly on call and radio updates, visibility can be limited, but new digital platforms enable operators to oversee a situation and engage with and direct the response force. Overall, these types of automated functions deliver a simplified and modernised operating environment. The future is the Intelligent SOC Oil and gas facilities can implement a proactive approach to safety and better mitigate threats and protect assets All of these digital solutions are designed to take center stage within the Intelligent Security Operations Center (ISOC). To combat advanced, multi-stage threats, oil and gas facilities are transforming the traditional SOC into the next-generation unified ISOC with an integrated platform for detection, investigation, communication, and response. Cyber, traditional security, digital devices, and situational awareness technologies combine to deliver an integrated, automated, and adaptive architecture to efficiently mitigate advanced threats in real time or forensically. Energy providers operate in challenging, fast-moving environments in which opportunities, requirements, and regulations can vary widely, change quickly, and evolve significantly over time. As the idea of the digital age continues to transform this market, new technologies will be more widely used to improve business operations from exploration and extraction to transportation and distribution. With the right technology, strategic partnerships, and enhanced situational awareness, oil and gas facilities can implement a proactive approach to safety and better mitigate threats and protect assets, while continuing to focus on achieving business goals that will sustain supply and demand for years to come.

Security is among the defining topics at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2019 this week in Las Vegas. More than 4,500 exhibiting companies are participating, including some 1,200 startups, highlighting the next wave of innovation in consumer electronics – and security. Twenty-four product categories at CES feature solutions to transform how consumers live, work and play. Technologies being highlighted include 5G connectivity, artificial intelligence (AI), augmented and virtual reality, smart homes, smart cities, and machine intelligence. Video is an important element at CES. This year, the focus is on intelligent video. For example, Eyecloud.ai, Santa Clara, Calif., is displaying a home security camera with on-device face recognition that uses AI. Powered by a 12-core Intel Movidius VPU (video processing unit), the camera combines AI-on-the-edge with easy setup and wirefree operation for up to six months per battery charge. On-device artificial intelligence On-device AI is the next big trend in smart home surveillance, and deep neural networks will drive the future of do-it-yourself home automation SimCam, an Intel partner, demonstrates how the Intel Movidius VPU can turn a security camera into ‘the ultimate vision-based sensor’. On-device AI is the next big trend in smart home surveillance, and deep neural networks will drive the future of do-it-yourself home automation. A variety of other residential video systems are also on display at CES. For example, Swann Security is displaying 4K wired security systems featuring Google integration, a wireless smart security camera with True Detect heat-based PIR (photo infrared) motion detection, a video doorbell and chime with two-way talk, and indoor and outdoor wi-fi cameras with Alexa integrations. Intelligent automotive solutions Camera system-on-chip (SoC) company Ambarella is introducing the new CV25 camera SoC at CES. It combines advanced image processing, high-resolution video encoding and CVflow computer vision (video analytics) processing in a single, extremely low-power design. The CVflow architecture provides Deep Neural Network (DNN) processing required for a new generation of affordable and intelligent home monitoring, professional surveillance and aftermarket automotive solutions. CV25 offers half the performance of Ambarella’s previously released CV22 chip, but the new chip’s lower cost will bring intelligent cameras to a price point desirable for home systems. All Ambarella’s chips have hardware-based cybersecurity. A suite of advanced cybersecurity features protects against hacking, including secure boot, TrustZone, and I/O virtualisation. Based on 10nm ultra-low power processing technology, the CV25 chip is optimised for wirefree cameras applications that require long battery life and small form factors. Camera system-on-chip (SoC) company Ambarella is introducing the new CV25 camera SoC at CES Virtual security guards Elsewhere, the Deep Sentinel home security system applies video and AI to predict residential break-ins ‘before they happen’. The Pleasanton, Calif.-based tech startup uses ‘AI-infused security cameras’ to keep an eye on your home. Three wireless 1080p full HD cameras provide night vision and PIR motion sensing, connected by a smart hub. Using proprietary artificial intelligence, the cameras act as virtual guards, watching activity around a house and providing alerts to situations that may lead to burglaries, break-ins, package thefts and other dangers. My Safe Patrol is an AI-driven platform that analyses data aggregated from security personnel, citizen alert systems and IoT smart devices, and responds with geolocated alerts in real-time. My Safe Patrol effectively supports the security/safety ecosystem of a building, a campus, a city or a district through a dynamic dashboard that helps command and control operations manage and deploy security plans. AI-integrated devices Showcased solutions include Smart Living integration of video surveillance applications to enable real-time two-way audio and video streaming simultaneously MicroVision, Redmond, Wash., showcases an interactive display engine for AI-connected devices, providing an integrated solution for projected display and interactivity through multi-point touch and air gestures. MicroVision’s new consumer 3D LiDAR engine provides high-fidelity spatial awareness to smart home hubs, for input to smart devices such as lighting, security, entertainment, and thermostats. The Internet of Things (IoT) is another big topic at CES, and ThroughTek Co., Ltd., Taiwan, demonstrates IoT developments to transmit voice, video and data over both wide- and narrow-band channels in smart home applications. Showcased solutions include Smart Living integration of video surveillance applications combined with voice assistant to companion robots, wireless doorbells, and battery cameras to enable real-time two-way audio and video streaming simultaneously. Advanced Capacitive Touchscreen Decayeux Group, a European manufacturer of mailboxes and high security doors, is displaying MyColisBox, a secure and connected parcel box delivery system designed to provide online shoppers a secure pickup point accessible by a PIN code sent via SMS message to a smartphone. Walter is the new mobile app for MyColisBox. Kwikset, a division of Spectrum Brands, showcases its smart lock portfolio – including three new smart locks – in the CES Smart Home Marketplace. Kwikset is showing the SmartCode 888, Kwikset Convert, Obsidian, and new designs of the SmartCode 914 and SmartCode 916, as well as a new wi-fi lock. Baldwin, Kwikset’s ‘luxury lock’ sister company, is offering a preview of its new TouchScreen Collection, launching this summer, available in five styles and featuring Advanced Capacitive Touchscreen technology. The Internet of Things (IoT) is another big topic at CES, with many companies demonstrating IoT developments Cyber security standards Privacy is increasingly a concern in the consumer space, and Private Discuss, from PIMAN Security, is a premium, secure, white label communication solution. Their active AI-powered defense architecture provides encrypted audio and video calls, messaging and file sharing. It renders a confidential, secure messaging platform that adheres to the highest standards of cybersecurity. FLIR provides virtual reality demonstrations at their CES booth, allowing attendees to put on a virtual fire helmet and try out a FLIR camera in a real-world residential fire response scenario. Participants may also use a FLIR optical gas imaging camera virtually to stop fugitive emissions in a natural gas refinery. Booth visitors may also take “thermal selfies” to post on social media.

Open Options, based in Addison, Texas, provides a truly open access control architecture that will strengthen the ACRE portfolio and increase the breadth of solutions offered by the global provider of security systems. The acquisition of Open Options is also an opportunity for ACRE to focus on growth opportunities in North America and “balance the scales a bit,” says Joe Grillo, CEO of ACRE, which significantly grew its reach in Europe, the Middle East and Africa with the acquisition of Siemens Security Products in 2015. “Open Options is also a company that's growing, is profitable and fits seamlessly into our vision for the access control space in which we operate,” says Grillo. Independent operations The strength of Open Options in the Southwest provides significant additional coverage for ACRE in that region of the United States The Open Options brand will continue to operate independently under the ACRE umbrella. Open Options CEO and Founder Steve Fisher will continue in his role as leader of the company, says Grillo. “There is a strong and competent management team in place that will continue to provide leadership going forward.” Open Options’ open-architecture access control solutions will add value to the solutions ACRE already offers under the Vanderbilt brand. In a market that has traditionally been proprietary, the open-platform solution offered by Open Options helps deliver more opportunity to offer customers a full-scale solution based on their needs, says Grillo. In addition, due to its origin as a Texas-based company, the strength of Open Options in the Southwest provides significant additional coverage for ACRE in that region of the United States. Technical and financial resources On the other hand, ACRE provides a greater level of technical and financial resources that Open Options can utilise to help them grow even faster. These resources were not as available to the company if it remained independent, Grillo notes. ACRE’s divestiture of Mercury Security in 2017 facilitated this investment. As discussions began earlier this year, ACRE realised the potential of adding to its access control portfolio in the North American market, says Grillo. Open Options and Mercury have been "partners" for 20 years; Mercury provides hardware panels for Open Options systems. Each company will manage and make decisions about their reseller channels independently “The Mercury brand continues to be a strong one, so we're interested in continuing to nurture that relationship, and in fact we have become a larger and stronger partner to Mercury as ACRE,” says Grillo. “After owning Mercury for a number of years, we had the understanding of the company, the product portfolio and the partner relationships that defined it, so we were confident that the deal would be a positive one for the ACRE brand.” Meeting customer needs “Open Options and Vanderbilt share some customers already and we can leverage that by gaining more share of their business while providing them with a portfolio that will meet a broader set of customer needs,” says Grillo. “Where possible, we can look for synergies in channel partners that are not currently shared to provide access to both brands. This will be a benefit to Open Options, Vanderbilt and our customer base. However, importantly, each company will manage and make decisions about their reseller channels independently.” Are there more acquisitions on the horizon for ACRE? “We're always looking for opportunities that fit into the nature of our business,” says Grillo. “Companies that have growth potential and share similar go-to-market strategies and visions for the future are of particular interest to ACRE. "We're still operating in a highly fragmented market, so we're going to see continued consolidation in both access control and beyond, which means ACRE will be looking for the right opportunities to follow along that path.”

The Global Security Exchange (GSX) seems smaller this year, which is not surprising given the absence on the show floor of several big companies such as Hikvision and ASSA ABLOY (although their subsidiary HID Global has a big booth). A trend affecting the number of companies exhibiting at GSX 2018, and other trade shows, is industry consolidation, which is impacting the show even beyond the fewer exhibitors this year in Las Vegas. GSX is the new branding for the trade show formerly known as ASIS. There was an impressive crowd of visitors waiting for the show floor to open Tuesday morning; the conference part of the program began on Monday. After the attendees filed through the doors, the foot traffic seemed brisk throughout the morning, and was somewhat steady until the end of the first day. Exhibitors as a whole seemed pleased with the first day and cautiously optimistic about the rest of the show. Acquisitions and consolidation HID Global announced on the first day that they will acquire Crossmatch - emphasising the impact of consolidation Emphasising the impact of consolidation on the industry as a whole, and on this show, was an announcement from HID Global on the first day that they will acquire Crossmatch, a biometric identify management and secure authentication solutions provider. It’s a comparatively large acquisition for the company specialising in trusted identity solutions.   Just days earlier, another acquisition also seemed to confirm the trend when UTC Climate, Controls and Security — the owner of Lenel — announced an agreement to acquire S2 Security. The fruits of another recent acquisition was on display at the GSX 2018 hall, where Isonas took its place near the front entrance as part of the Allegion booth, just three months after the global security provider acquired the ‘pure IP access control company.’ Isonas is well positioned in two of the three fastest growing segments of the access control market — IP hardware, which is growing 41 percent per year globally, and access control as a service, or ‘cloud’ technology, which is also outpacing the overall access control market. Allegion also has the third fast-growing segment, wireless locks, covered with its Schlage brand. "New avenues of growth" The early days of new ownership is opening fresh opportunities for both organisations as Allegion seeks to leverage Isonas’ intellectual property and the smaller company finds new avenues of growth in the larger organisation, says Rob Lydic, Isonas Global Vice President of Sales. Motorola joined Avigilon in a higher profile role at their booth, emphasizing consolidation in the industry Lydic sees a likelihood of additional acquisitions in the near future in the security space, given the large amount of capital currently available to be deployed, and the large number of entrepreneurial companies looking to make the leap, as Isonas did, from a small booth at the back of the hall to front-and-center as part of a big industry player. Another reflection of consolidation: Motorola Solutions is taking a much higher-profile role in the Avigilon booth. In addition to signage, ownership by Motorola is also impacting the Avigilon product offerings. For example, the Motorola Ally security incident management and communications system has been integrated with Avigilon’s analytics-based event detection, and is being positioned to serve the enterprise market. The system simplifies security operations with a single platform that allows access to critical data, including video and access control systems, directly from any web-enabled device. Another reflection of consolidation: Motorola Solutions is taking a much higher-profile role in the Avigilon booth Avigilon is displaying Motorola Solutions’ CommandCenter Aware integrated with Avigilon’s systems for use with public safety applications to provide dispatchers and intelligence analysts with video feeds, incident details, alerts, data mapping and responder location. Avigilon has also integrated its AI-driven Appearance Search technology with its Access Control Manager system, so video searches can be performed based on a badge credential. The system can automatically pull up any information, whether video or events in the access control system, based on the badge information. It can also be used to search for lost badges, or to view where a person is located in the building. Avigilon introduced an AI appliance that allows existing cameras to be integrated with Appearance Search The company introduced an AI appliance that allows existing (non-Avigilon) cameras (up to 20 two-megapixel cameras) to be integrated with Appearance Search. Also, the next generation of analytics allows detection of more things, such objects a person may be holding, or detection based on what they are wearing. The growth of the cannabis market Although attendees at GSX are generally understood to be more end users than integrators, Joe Grillo, CEO of ACRE, the parent company of Vanderbilt Industries and ComNet, says he sees little difference in attendees at GSX compared to the ISC West show in the spring. “We see all our resellers here,” he says. Grillo noticed that Day One booth traffic was “not consistently busy, but steady.” Grillo says ACRE expects to be active again soon in the mergers and acquisitions market. The company has grown through six acquisitions since its founding, and has had one divestiture (when it sold Mercury Security to HID last fall). Since selling Mercury, ACRE has been ‘back in the buying mode,’ just looking for the right opportunity, says Grillo. New markets are a theme at GSX, and one of the biggest new opportunities is the cannabis industry. Marijuana has been legalised in dozens of U.S. states, and Canada is on the verge of legalising the drug. March Networks works with multiple cannabis operators to provide video solutions, point-of-sale transaction data, and customer analytics March Networks is among the companies targeting the cannabis industry in a big way. Already across the U.S., March Networks works with multiple cannabis operators to provide video solutions, point-of-sale transaction data, and customer analytics. The business intelligence solutions also aid compliance in the highly-regulated industry. March Networks provides radio frequency identification (RFID) tag to track plants throughout the channel, and tracking is integrated with video systems to provide correlated video views. A couple of exhibitors mentioned to me the need for commercial companies to deploy a comparable level of automation as their employees are accustomed to in the smart home environment. That suggests a need for things such as smartphone integration and voice commands. One exhibitor putting its toe in the water is Hanwha Techwin, which showed an Amazon Echo device used to control a video management system (VMS) with voice commands. Could the simple integration be a preview of the future of control rooms, where security officers merely talk to their equipment rather than operating controls? We’ll be talking to more companies (and maybe a few machines) on Day Two of the show, and will be reporting what we hear.

On December 11 to 16, 2018, the 14th FINA World Swimming Championships was held at the Olympic and International Expo Center in Hangzhou, China. Nearly 1,000 world swimming stars from 178 countries and regions competed here, creating a new glory with breaking 9 world records and 22 event records. The Chinese team won three gold medals, five silver medals and five bronze medals with the total medal number ranking the third in the world. The World Swimming Championships is one of the world's highest-level international swimming events. It is also the highest-standard individual international sporting event ever held in Hangzhou. For an international sporting event of this scale, the safety and security of the venues are of paramount importance. Security monitoring equipment As an important guarantee force for the security of the World Swimming Championships, Dahua Technology ensured the event’s safety with the host spirit and a great sense of responsibility. Dahua Technology once again shouldered the mission of guarding international events after successfully guaranteeing the G20 Hangzhou Summit. Dahua Technology provided a complete set of professional intelligent security monitoring equipment and system solutions In the periphery and outside of the venue, important entrances and exits, various passages and commanding points in the venues and security commanding headquarters, Dahua Technology provided a complete set of professional intelligent security monitoring equipment and system solutions, assisted the security department to establish security command headquarters, refined the security deployment of the venues and realized the full coverage of security monitoring from the periphery to the stadium and from the bottom to the commanding heights, facilitating the safe and smooth host of the 2018 Hangzhou FINA World Swimming Championships. Intelligence equipment At the venue of the 2018 Hangzhou FINA World Swimming Championships - the surrounding area and interior of the Hangzhou Olympic and International Expo Center, Dahua Technology has teamed up to deploy a number of professional intelligent HD PTZ cameras, fiber cameras, bullet cameras, domes, transmission and other intelligence equipment, covering all areas within the venue, which helped the security department to control all corners inside and outside the stadium in real time so that to ensure the safety of the venue and the event. Dahua Technology combined the requirements of ‘first-class venue facilities, first-class organization guarantee, first-class opening and closing ceremonies, and first-class city image’ in the Championships, focused on key links and built a set of intelligent security video management system with the support of advanced technology platform. Integrated control system It integrated control system, storage and management, and enjoyed the advantages of simple deployment and operation, flexible combination, excellent performance, and a high level of security and stability. It turned the cameras inside and outside the stadium into ‘smart brains’ to guarantee the safety of every corner of the Championships, meeting the high-level security needs of the event. Dahua Technology set the command and dispatch of the security department as the core At the security command headquarters of the site, Dahua Technology set the command and dispatch of the security department as the core, with high-definition tiled LCD screens as the display carriers and brought more intuitive and flexible display and control to the security management of the venues before and after the event to ensure the real-time handling, efficient command and visual control of the entire venues, thus winning the praise of the security department leaders. Display control equipment On the evening of December 16, the 2018 FINA Annual Awards Ceremony was held at the Hangzhou International Expo Center. As a ceremony of the most authoritative awards, with the largest scale and the greatest number of world-class swimming athletes in the global water sports field, Dahua Technology assisted the security units to reuse a large number of equipment around the venue, including intelligent cameras, storage, management platforms and display control equipment, making sure the ceremony was successfully being held. As an essential force in the escort 2018 World Swimming Championships, Dahua Technology actively devoted to the security work. Stationed professional and technical personnel were responsible for on-site equipment support, achieving zero failure of the equipment, successfully completion of the tasks, and winning the praise of the security department leaders.

Allot Communications Ltd., a global provider of innovative network intelligence and security solutions for service providers and enterprises worldwide, announces that Safaricom will be implementing a convergent network solution for its fixed and mobile customers. The tailored Allot solution features network analytics, advanced charging capabilities as well as Network Security and protection against DDoS. “We have a long and valued relationship with Allot,” said Thibaud Rerolle, Safaricom’s Chief Technology Officer. “With the visibility, control and security solutions provided by Allot, we will deliver added value with heightened quality of experience and protection to our customers from the rising cybersecurity threats, including DDoS attacks, phishing and Cryptojacking.” Protect service availability Proactively optimise network resources and customer service plans to maximise revenues By activating Allot’s network intelligence and security technologies, Safaricom is now better able to: Protect service availability and quality by blocking inbound and outbound DDoS attacks, Enhance quality of experience (QoE) through improved streaming quality, Proactively optimise network resources and customer service plans to maximise revenues, Turn detailed network, application and user data into actionable insights to drive customer satisfaction, and Save on CAPEX costs “Safaricom joins several of the world’s largest global Tier 1 operators with its deployment of Allot,” comments Ran Fridman, EVP Global Sales at Allot. “I am confident the combined DDoS Secure and NetworkSecure convergent solution will bring value to Safaricom and its customers through a better, safer user experience as well as protection against a variety of online threats.”

Genetec Inc., a technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence solutions announces that the South Grand Community Improvement District (CID) in St. Louis, Missouri is using the Genetec Stratocast cloud-based video monitoring system to deter license plate theft in its parking lot and provide video access to the local police department to help reinforce security. License plate theft One of the services offered by the South Grand CID is free parking. At any time of the day, drivers can park in a central parking lot to visit businesses or residents. While this lot has always been convenient and safe, license plate theft was troubling nearby areas. Video recordings are sent over a wireless network which connects to the South Grand CID main office To deter license plate theft in their own community, the South Grand CID board decided to add video surveillance to the lot. Currently, three cameras monitor the entire 90-space parking lot. Video recordings are sent over a wireless network which connects to the South Grand CID main office, just a few blocks away from the lot. With this cloud-based video monitoring system, Rachel Witt, Executive Director at South Grand CID, can quickly and easily view video from anywhere, at any time. Cloud video system “Using the cloud video system, I am able to find and view the video in seconds. I can narrow down my search based on dates and time and watch the event unfold with all camera feeds up on the monitor. It’s really that simple,” commented Witt. Only two weeks after installing the Stratocast video monitoring system, a visitor reported that their license plates had been stolen. “The visitor provided a description of the car, and a timeframe in which the incident likely happened. Using the Stratocast system, I was able to find and view the video in seconds. I could clearly see the suspect enter the lot, remove the plates and leave in his own car. Since the police are very busy here, I was able to bookmark the video recording and then notify them that the video was ready,” said Witt. View video recordings Stratocast has made it easy for the South Grand CID to give video access to local police so that when a crime is reported in the district, officers can immediately begin to conduct investigations without leaving their desks. While the South Grand CID manages and owns the Stratocast solution, officers can log into the system and view video recordings when required While the South Grand CID manages and owns the Stratocast solution, officers can log into the system and view video recordings when required. This is enabled by the Genetec Federation feature, which gives an organisation access to manage multiple independent Genetec systems as one. A memorandum of understanding was signed so each parties’ responsibilities are clear. Better sense of safety “Instead of driving over and picking up a DVD, officers can directly access video from our cameras to see what happened. Not only does it help speed up investigations, it saves officers’ valuable time,” continued Witt. The installation of Stratocast is not only helping to reduce license plate theft but it is also helping residents and visitors feel safer than ever. “Business owners, residents, and visitors have a better sense of safety when they know cameras are up. But they also need to know that we’re equipped to respond quickly to any disturbance. And that’s what Stratocast helps us achieve. With the addition of Stratocast, we’re able to show everyone that we have strengthened the security in our community,” concluded Witt.

CNL Software, a provider of Physical Security Information Management (PSIM) software, is pleased to announce that its award-winning PSIM technology was used to support a multiagency security program for Super Bowl LIII. The company’s IPSecurityCenter PSIM solution is installed in the Atlanta Police Department’s Video Integration Center (VIC) and helps secure the city and surrounding metro area, keep the metro area’s transportation networks and systems safe, and to help law enforcement personnel make sense of the huge volume of video intelligence that is generated day-to-day and during large-scale events like Super Bowl. Provide law enforcement Atlanta is no stranger to hosting large-scale events, which includes a previous Super Bowl, and has invested in a multitude of surveillance, analytic, data fusion, and communications systems and technologies in recent years. The City has also established an innovative public-private partnership, known as Operation Shield, that effectively leverages the surveillance assets and infrastructure of other participating Atlanta metro area departments and agencies, including the City’s Metro Atlanta Rail and Transit Authority (MARTA) and Hartsfield Jackson International Airport, and the City’s business community, while also bridging communication gaps between and across them. IPSecurityCenter by CNL Software integrates these disparate systems in the Atlanta Police Department’s VIC to provide law enforcement IPSecurityCenter by CNL Software integrates these disparate systems in the Atlanta Police Department’s VIC to provide law enforcement and other public safety professionals with the data and video intelligence they need to effectively respond to incidents before they arrive on scene. Crowd size monitoring “Estimates are that nearly one million people travelled to Atlanta for Super Bowl Week. As with all major events, ensuring public safety and security is a big job and huge concern,” comments Mike Mostow, General Manager – Americas at CNL Software. “IPSecurityCenter was installed in the VIC by the Atlanta Police Department to provide the real-time situational awareness and decision support they need to ensure public safety and security during large-scale special security events like Super Bowl LIII.” IPSecurityCenter PSIM is installed in some of the largest public safety and security programs in some of the world’s largest cities. The platform enables the most intelligent integration of the widest range of disparate public safety, security, emergency management, and homeland defence system and sensor technologies, including video and video analytics, facial recognition, license plate recognition, crowd size monitoring, gunshot detection, chemical, biological, radiological/nuclear and explosives detection, geospatial mapping, and asset tracking.

Oooguruk drill site (ODS), is an important location for Caelus Natural Resources Alaska, LLC. Over 30 million barrels of oil have already been produced from Oooguruk since 2008, but the drill site in Alaska’s North Slope region is also frequented by polar bears. An intelligent security system helps to spot them. The technology has to recognise the animals as early as possible and function reliably. This entails defying the extreme conditions north of the Arctic Circle in temperatures reaching as low as minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit/minus 40 degrees Celsius and a two-month period of darkness every year. Caelus Natural Resources Alaska, LLC is therefore relying on an innovative security system from Bosch. Exceptional challenge Our ultimate goal is the protection of personnel and the polar bears" “Our ultimate goal is the protection of personnel and the polar bears, and we want to do that in the way that has the least impact on the polar bears”, explains John Hellén, Health, Safety and Environmental Manager at Caelus Natural Resources Alaska, LLC. Bosch solved the exceptional challenge using the MIC IP fusion 9000i camera. It combines robust design with Intelligent Video Analytics and was developed specifically for use in extreme conditions. Eleven of the cameras have already been installed on ODS; five others are at the planning stage. The Bosch-trained engineers performed the uncomplicated installation in the shortest possible time. Difficult weather conditions The intelligent camera is fitted with a solid metal casing and Bosch starlight technology. Even in the most difficult weather conditions and low light, the system produces high-quality images. “Within two weeks of installing the cameras, we recorded two events of polar bears on ODS. The images were crystal clear.” We even have one camera installed 100 feet/30 meters from the ground, and the resolution is shockingly good" “We even have one camera installed 100 feet/30 meters from the ground, and the resolution is shockingly good,” explained Dale Hoffmann, former Land Manager for Caelus Natural Resources Alaska, LLC. Another advantage of the MIC IP fusion 9000i is the built-in Intelligent Video Analytics. The integrated function processes and interprets data directly at the source. Thermal imaging technology Polar bears can be detected early by the cameras thanks to their thermal imaging technology – even when the animals are swimming or are far off in the distance. As soon as a hazard is recognised, the Bosch cameras´ tracking function is automatically triggered and personnel are notified. The necessary safety measures can therefore be put in place quickly and efficiently. Bosch’s innovative solution has increased safety for humans and animals on ODS – regardless of the time, light or weather conditions. Personnel can also be deployed more efficiently: “We no longer need to rely on someone watching the cameras to see the polar bears,” says John Hellén.

Control and instrumentation specialist, CMR Philippines, has won undisclosed contract to supply and install advanced building management, CCTV and fire detection and alarm systems at one of the South East Asia’s pharmaceutical manufacturers. The work, undertaken at Unilab Pharmaceuticals’ new oral medicines and capsules Delta Amherst plant production plant in Laguna, Binan, sees the design and installation by CMR of facility-wide Siemens Apogee BMS, Siemens Cerberus FDAS and Hikvision CCTV systems. Comprehensive package The advanced computer-based BMS system will be used to control and monitor the 22,000 sq. ft plant’s mechanical and electrical installations and equipment such as ventilation, lighting and power systems. CMR is also providing engineering and testing services as part of a comprehensive package of technical support CMR is also providing engineering and testing services as part of a comprehensive package of technical support, which covers the installation, programming and commissioning of advanced CCTV and FDAS capabilities. The systems will provide improved safety and security for Unilab employees working at Laguna as the manufacturer looks to expand its capabilities through new investment in state-of-the-art manufacturing and production facilities. Critical operational requirements Unilab produces a wide range of prescription and consumer health products covering all major therapeutic segments. Many of these products are sector brands across the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Myanmar. Rojel Rivera, general manager at CMR PH, said: “We are a valued and trusted supplier to Unilab and other regional manufacturers, providing cost effective and precision engineered system-based solutions.” “We are building a strong reputation as a first-class supplier to customers such as Unilab, who are looking for technologies to meet critical operational requirements, alongside high levels of reliability and performance in demanding production environments.”