Security systems

Johnson Controls announces that PowerG technology with all the benefits of wired security, but without the wires, achieves the top levels of Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC) certification, making it one of the most reliable security solutions in Canada. PowerG wireless devices are the first to be certified with ULC levels 1, 2 and 3 Commercial Burglary Approval (ULC-S304-16) when installed with PowerSeries Neo or PowerSeries Pro security systems. Simple installations From their long battery life, superior range, and modern product designs to the full suite of solutions they offer, the ULC Commercial Burglary stamp of approval means PowerG products have met the highest standards. This ensures customers are provided with safer, smarter and more secure products with end-to-end encryption. PowerG’s proven robust anti-RF jamming design and 128-bit AES encryption offers an exceptionally high level of protection against digital attacks. “PowerG technology provides customers with the security of wired technology but the convenience of wireless,” said Jennifer Doctor, senior director of Product Management, Tyco Security Solutions. “In the long run, it saves users money and time with simple installations, scalability, and reliability. This industry first ULC certification in Canada is a testament to the potential of unwired systems, and we are thrilled to be leading that charge.” All existing inventory with PowerG transceivers and devices are automatically covered by this certification.

Resideo Technologies, Inc. announces details of its Resideo Premier Security Dealer Program for top professional security and smart home dealers. The new loyalty program will help dealers expand their offerings in the security and smart home markets, while driving value for homeowners. Building on its commitment to the professional channel and drawing from nearly 30 years of successful loyalty programs, the Resideo Premier Security Dealer Program will provide sales and marketing support, training and financial incentives, along with the essential tools and enhanced products that dealers need to differentiate in today’s competitive market. The new program is led by industry veteran Quentin Gunther, who spent more than 20 years as a security dealer, and was designed with input from top security dealers. The program will help Resideo Premier Security Dealers deliver an exceptional smart home experience for homeowners. The program will help Resideo Premier Security Dealers deliver an exceptional smart home experience Navigating smart home technology “We continue to focus on the pro channel and believe security dealers in our program will be best positioned to help homeowners navigate smart home technology, especially as consumers are increasingly looking for professionals to ease the installation process,” said Alice DeBiasio, vice president and general manager, Residential Pro Security, Resideo. “We’ve carefully designed a program that combines some of the features from our previous program that dealers have asked for, along with new tools and resources to help them expand their businesses, while providing greater value to consumers who rely on their expertise to help keep their families safe and secure.” Remote system control “Preventia is a high growth organisation and we’re always looking for the best solutions for our customers to fuel that growth. What attracted us to the Resideo Premier Security Dealer Program was the focus around the growth opportunity across the security and smart home market. With the Resideo brand, it’s even more clear that the focus is on providing customers with a phenomenal experience,” said Aaron Whitaker, founder of Preventia Security in Columbia, Tennessee. Our core customer is the busy mom or dad that needs control of their system from anywhere, anytime" “Our core customer is the busy mom or dad that needs control of their system from anywhere, anytime and becoming a Resideo Premier Security Dealer increases our ability to deliver these solutions. We’re excited about the marketing support from Resideo to establish our brand in the market. We look forward to growing together with Resideo.” Dealer Resource Zone At the centre of the new program is a dedicated portal for dealers – Dealer Resource Zone – that will serve as a one-stop-shop for program details and allows dealers to stay informed on their account status, program participation and progress towards sales goals. Participating dealers will have access to a dedicated phone line for both technical and program support. Key financial rewards include a cooperative advertising program, rebate rewards and product discounts. Key drivers of the program include: Lead Generation – The program delivers key tools to help drive new sales opportunities, including social media content for customer engagement, an ecommerce application for online sales, co-op funding for developing marketing campaigns, and an automated system with streamlined co-op claim process. Sales/Dealer Engagement – The Dealer Development Group (DDG) provides support with business planning, sales growth strategies and sales skills. The technical team will host dedicated training sessions, and program marketing will assist with promotional materials. Networking – The program offers networking opportunities for dealers to exchange ideas and share knowledge and best practices. In addition to the annual CONNECT event, Resideo will host regional events and webinars for participating dealers. Connected Solutions – Dedicated technical and sales training provides members with tools and knowledge to successfully deliver the smart home experience. Since its initial launch, the Resideo Premier Dealer Program has welcomed more than 75 industry dealers to the program. Dealers are selected by Resideo to join the program, and they are required to complete certification and training courses.

The yearly Euralarm Symposium is the place to get insights about where the fire safety and security industry is heading in the near future. The annual event, this year organised on May 13th in Madrid, is all about innovation, legislation, regulation and standardisation, impacting one of the most successful Industries in Europe: electronic security and fire safety. This years’ keynote speaker is Alberto Garcia Mogollon, Head of Innovation Policy with BSI, the British Standards Institution. The symposium, organised by the industry’s main European representative body and trade association, focusses on significant market developments. The event will take place in the Melia Madrid Serrano Hotel in Madrid, Spain, on May 13th. Fire and security professionals, installers, manufacturers, end users, building managers and certifiers will gather in the Spanish capital to discuss the latest trends and developments in the fire safety and security Industry. Trends affecting fire and security industry The focus will be on key trends affecting the fire and security industry, providing participants insight into the latest and upcoming developmentsThe Euralarm Symposium’s broad and inclusive approach will allow the security and fire safety community to discuss a variety of up-and-coming topics impacting the industry. The focus this year will be on key trends affecting the fire and security industry, providing participants insight into the latest and upcoming developments, standardisation and regulations that will shape the future of the sector. Euralarm is thrilled to introduce the keynote speaker for the 2019 Symposium: Alberto Garcia Mogollon. Alberto is the Head of Innovation Policy with BSI, the British Standards Institution. Alberto is BSI’s expert on the role of standards to support innovation. Alberto was recently selected as one of the five experts on the CEN/CENELEC Innovation Steering Committee, which provides strategic direction to the CEN/CENELEC Innovation Plan actions. With his knowledge and expertise, Alberto will shed light on how standardisation can drive innovation, and vice versa. New Euralarm Manifesto The Symposium will address innovation and standardisation and the impact of these themes on our industryThis year's Symposium will also be the moment that Euralarm unveils its new Euralarm Manifesto, outlining strategies and focus areas for 2019 - 2024. It will also address innovation and standardisation and the impact of these themes on our industry. The symposium’s Networking Lunch will start at 12:30. The programme will kick off at 14:00 until 18:00. A Networking Break during the afternoon and a President’s Dinner in the evening (optional) will allow participants to share insights and exchange views on the industry. Professionals who want to participate in the Euralarm Symposium can start their registration for this event at the Euralarm website.

Nortek Security & Control LLC, a provider of wireless security, home automation, access control and health and wellness technology, introduced the 2GIG eSeries, the next generation of the 2GIG security and control ecosystem that includes two all-new GC2e and GC3e panels and a new line of encrypted sensors. The introduction was made at ISC West 2019 in Nortek Security & Control Booth #20015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. According to Nortek Security & Control Vice President of Products Quinto Petrucci, the 2GIG eSeries offers both end-users and dealers an enhanced security and control ecosystem that builds on the reliability and peace-of-mind that are synonymous with the 2GIG name. New encrypted sensors This is a major update to the line, designed to benefit both dealers and their homeowner customers" “This is a major update to the line, designed to benefit both dealers and their homeowner customers,” Petrucci said. “For homeowners, the new encrypted sensors enhance peace of mind, knowing their system is even more secure and resistant to hacks and breaches.” “The new panels deliver an upgraded user experience, including a contemporary new design that will look at home in any setting. For dealers, the encrypted sensors will only communicate with an eSeries panel, which prevents a competitor from taking over an eSeries installation by only installing a new panel.” Glass break sensor Compatible encrypted 2GIG sensors include the Standard Door/Window Sensor, Motion Sensor, Glass Break Sensor, Key Fob Sensor, and Recessed D/W Sensor – with more to come in the near future. And the two new panels support all traditional 2GIG sensors and other legacy 345 sensors for easy system upgrades. “For dealers, this is a best-of-both,” said Petrucci. The new GC2e panel includes a larger, brighter 5” capacitive touch screen, while the GC3e features a 7” touchscreen. Both panels have best-in-class 2-way audio and front-firing speakers for exceptional audio performance. Additionally, the new GC3e panel exclusively includes the 2GIG Smart Areas feature, enabling security partitioning that makes it easier than ever to set up independently protected areas in homes. Simplifying installation Smart Areas delivers greater personalisation and functionality for the end user" Smart Areas delivers greater personalisation and functionality for the end user, while simplifying installation for the dealer. “Think of it as four systems for the price of one,” said Petrucci. "The GC3e panel also includes on-board demo and promo videos that keep users in-the-know and a screen saver mode with slideshows that displays homeowners’ favourite images when alerts and alarms are cleared.” “We have taken our proven GC2 and GC3 panels and added essential features and upgrades to enhance peace-of-mind for the homeowner,” Petrucci concluded, “and we are giving dealers an exceptional new product line to help them win and retain more business.”

Vanderbilt, a global provider of state-of-the-art security systems, announced that they will jointly attend this year’s IFSEC International with sister-company ComNet. The 2019 tradeshow takes place between June 18-20, at ExCeL London. In addition to their flagship products and prominence in open platforms and integrations, both companies, under the ACRE banner, will also highlight their ability to aid customers in every step of their security journey. “From the moment our customers begin doing business with us, we want to deliver exceptional security and transmission solutions that present absolute peace of mind,” explains Ross Wilks, Head of Marketing Communications at Vanderbilt International. Adding weight to this statement, Pauline O’Riordan, Head of Product Management at Vanderbilt, chimes in: “We pride ourselves in supporting clients through every step of their journey. As well as top quality products, this means value-added resources, clear communication and on time delivery. These are core Vanderbilt and ComNet characteristics and are the foundation of our drive to becoming the number one solutions provider in the markets we serve.” Access control and intrusion detection portfolio Two of the latest injections into their service roster are the new e-commerce webshop and LMS On top of Vanderbilt’s complete and award-winning access control and intrusion detection portfolio, containing products such as ACT Enterprise, ACT365, SPC, and SPC Connect, the company’s close relationship with sister-company ComNet means it also has access to an in-depth transmissions and connectivity portfolio. This allows it to easily and swiftly support customers with products and services ranging from hardened Ethernet, commercial Ethernet, extended Ethernet, wireless Ethernet, optical interfaces and power systems. Vanderbilt and ComNet’s drive to become all-round solution companies has seen them harness numerous tools to complement a buyer’s journey from start to finish. These added values include warehousing and distribution channels, in-country engineering, Technical and Sales Support teams, both online and offline orders, returns, and repairs, plus training support. webshop and Learning Management System Two of the latest injections into their service roster are the new e-commerce webshop and the Learning Management System (LMS). The webshop is helping optimise the goal to serve customers 24/7. Accessed through Vanderbilt’s main website, the webshop presents a simplified, intuitive interface that makes it easy to navigate and use. How-to videos assist with any questions that may arise and an improved product hierarchy and centralised Asset Management System (AMS) ensure all support materials are relevant and up to date. The addition of the LMS follows a similar mantra, as it is designed to allow customers remote access to training courses The addition of the Learning Management System (LMS) follows a similar mantra, as it is designed to allow customers remote access to training courses and advanced learning options from anywhere, at any time. The platform includes quick-to-complete modules, quizzes and assessments, and downloadable notes, all equipped to allow customers instant access to resources about principal products in an instant. Supporting customers’ security journey at IFSEC Further expanding on this thinking and direction from Vanderbilt and ComNet is David Sullivan, President of parent company ACRE International: “We look forward to showcasing our ability to account for and support each step of our customers’ security journey at IFSEC this year. We believe these are true value adds that pack a real punch for Vanderbilt and ComNet. “When we stay on top of industry trends, our customers stay on top of industry trends. We want to bring unbridled creativity to our market approach and share this knowledge, insight, and reward with our customers. We believe this is what can make us efficient and competitive in solving multiple customer pain points and being a true “one-stop” shop for all of our customers’ needs,” Sullivan concludes. IFSEC takes place in London between the 18th and 20th of June where Vanderbilt and ComNet will exhibit at Stand No. IF1520.

MOBOTIX, the manufacturer of premium-quality secure IP video systems, is responding to the latest news about the use of non-secure hardware and software in IT or network infrastructures. Global players from the U.S. have already reacted and banned certain manufacturers from public contracts. Australia has also forbidden the use of products from certain manufacturers that are under suspicion of facilitating unauthorised access to data or not being able of warding off hacker attacks via cells on SoCs (System on a Chip). Thomas Dieregsweiler, Head of Product Management at MOBOTIX, confirms that with certain Systems-on-Chips, no reliable protection can be guaranteed when using them. Especially when the basic software is used by third-party SoC vendors, it is difficult to assess the risks for these vendors. SoCs are chips onto which functions of a programmable electronic system (such as an IP-based video surveillance system) are integrated. Reliable protection for the user We use proprietary MOBOTIX software on these processors and retain full control over what the entire system does and is capable of"MOBOTIX only uses high-performance industrial FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays) from well-known American manufacturers for its hardware and image generation chains, providing reliable protection for the user. An FPGA is used for the continuous processing of digital signals such as audio and video signals, neural networks and Deep Learning Algorithms/Artificial Intelligence and makes the system far more invulnerable to hacker attacks and espionage software. “We use proprietary MOBOTIX software on these processors and retain full control over what the entire system does and is capable of,” Thomas Dieregsweiler explains. This approach is a core component of the MOBOTIX ‘Cactus Concept’, a company-wide overall strategy for cyber-secure products and solutions. Alongside numerous technical measures, such as the use of FPGAs, control over the entire value-adding chain is a key factor in implementing the MOBOTIX ‘Cactus Concept’. “We haven’t detected any hacker attacks on our security systems to date,” Thomas Dieregsweiler emphasises. Raising awareness about IT security issues MOBOTIX provides end-to-end solutions that offer significantly more protection than the industry standard In order to prevent security gaps from arising in the first place, the MOBOTIX Security Team regularly checks hardware and software, also in cooperation with internationally recognised penetration test houses. In addition, MOBOTIX offers trainings and webinars to train partners and customers on the topic of security and to raise their awareness for IT security issues. Thus, MOBOTIX provides end-to-end solutions that offer significantly more protection than the industry standard: A consistent security concept including encryption ‘Made in Germany’, which was successfully tested by SySS GmbH, the market leader in Germany in the field of penetration testing.

Johnson Controls recently unveiled the findings of its 2018 Energy Efficiency Indicator (EEI) survey that examined the current and planned investments and key drivers to improve energy efficiency and building systems integration in facilities. Systems integration was identified as one of the top technologies expected to have the biggest impact on the implementation in smart buildings over the next five years, with respondents planning to invest in security, fire and life-safety integrations more so than any other systems integration in the next year. As advanced, connected technologies drive the evolution of smart buildings, security and safety technologies are at the center of more intelligent strategies as they attribute to overall building operations and efficiencies. SourceSecurity.com spoke with Johnson Controls, Building Solutions, North America, VP of Marketing, Hank Monaco, and Senior National Director of Municipal Infrastructure and Smart Cities, Lisa Brown, about the results of the study, smart technology investments and the benefits of a holistic building strategy that integrates security and fire and life-safety systems with core building systems. Q: What is the most striking result from the survey, and what does it mean in the context of a building’s safety and security systems? The results show an increased understanding about the value of integrating safety and security systems with other building systems Hank Monaco: Investment in building system integration increased 23 percent in 2019 compared to 2018, the largest increase of any measure in the survey. When respondents were asked more specifically what systems they we planning to invest in over the next year, fire and life safety integration (61%) and security system integration (58%) were the top two priorities for organisations. The results show an increased understanding about the value of integrating safety and security systems with other building systems to improve overall operations and bolster capabilities beyond the intended function of an individual system. Q: The survey covers integration of fire, life safety and security systems as part of "smart building" systems. How do smarter buildings increase the effectiveness of security and life safety systems? Hank Monaco: A true “smart building” integrates all building systems – security, fire and life-safety, HVAC, lighting etc. – to create a connected, digital infrastructure that enables individual technologies to be more intelligent and perform more advanced functions beyond what they can do on their own. For example, when sensors and video surveillance are integrated with lighting systems, if abnormal activity is detected on the building premise, key stakeholders can be automatically alerted to increase emergency response time. With integrated video surveillance, they also gain the ability to access surveillance footage remotely to assess the situation. When sensors and video surveillance are integrated with lighting systems abnormal activity on the premise can automatically be detected Q: How can integrated security and life safety systems contribute to greater energy efficiency in a smart building environment? Hank Monaco: Security, fire and life-safety systems can help to inform other building systems about how a facility is used, high-trafficked areas and the flow of occupants within a building. Integrated building solutions produce a myriad of data that can be leveraged to increase operational efficiencies. From an energy efficiency standpoint, actionable insights are particularly useful for areas that are not frequently occupied or off-peak hours as you wouldn’t want to heat or cool an entire building for just one person coming in on the weekend. When video surveillance is integrated with HVAC and lighting systems, it can monitor occupancy in a room or hallway. The video analytics can then control the dimming of lights and the temperature depending on occupant levels in a specific vicinity. Similarly, when access control systems are integrated with these same systems, once a card is presented to the reader, it can signal the lights or HVAC system to turn on. In this example, systems integration can ultimately help enable energy savings in the long run. Security and life safety systems contribute to help enable greater energy efficiency and energy savings in the long run Q: What other benefits of integration are there (beyond the core security and life safety functions)? Hank Monaco: Beyond increased security, fire and life-safety functions, the benefits of systems integration include: Increased data and analytics to garner a holistic, streamlined understanding of how systems function and how to improve productivity Ability to track usage to increase efficiency and reduce operational costs Enhanced occupant experience and comfort Increased productivity and workflow to support business objectives Smart-ready, connected environment that can support future technology advancements Q: What lesson or action point should a building owner/operator take from the survey? How can the owner of an existing building leverage the benefits of the smart building environment incrementally and absent a complete overhaul? Lisa Brown: Johnson Controls Energy Efficiency Indicator found that 77% of organisations plan to make investments in energy efficiency and smarter building technology this year. This percentage demonstrates an increased understanding of the benefits of smart buildings and highlights the proactive efforts building owners are taking to adopt advanced technologies. There is an increased understanding that buildings operate more effectively when different building systems are connected As smart buildings continue to evolve, more facilities are beginning to explore opportunities to advance their own spaces. A complete overhaul of legacy systems is not necessary as small investments today can help position a facility to more easily adopt technologies at scale in the future. As a first step, it’s important for building owners to conduct an assessment and establish a strategy that defines a comprehensive set of requirements and prioritises use-cases and implementations. From there, incremental investments and updates can be made over a realistic timeline. Q: What is the ROI of smart buildings? Lisa Brown: As demonstrated by our survey, there is an increased understanding that buildings operate more effectively when different building systems are connected. The advanced analytics and more streamlined data that is gathered through systems integration can provide the building-performance metrics to help better understand the return on investment (ROI) of the building systems. This data is used to better understand the environment and make assessments and improvements overtime to increase efficiencies. Moreover, analytics and data provide valuable insights into where action is needed and what type of return can be expected from key investments.

Should ‘Made in China’ be seen as a negative in security systems and products? It’s an important and complex issue that merits a more detailed response than my recent comment in the Expert Panel Roundtable. For me, there are two sides of the answer to this question: Buying products that have certain negative attributes that are not in alignment with some part of a belief system or company mandate. Buying products that do not perform as advertised or do something that is unacceptable. For integrators and end users making the buying decisions, the drive to purchase products may not be based on either aspect and instead on the product that can do the best job for their business. But for others, a greater emphasis on the ethical implications of purchasing decisions drives decision-making. What is ethical consumption? Ethical consumption is a type of consumer activism that is based on the concept of ‘positive buying’ in that ethical products are favouredEthical consumption — often called ethical consumerism — is a type of consumer activism that is based on the concept of ‘positive buying’ in that ethical products are favoured, and products that are ethically questionable may be met with a ‘moral boycott’. This can be as simple as only buying organic produce or as complex as boycotting products made in a totalitarian regime that doesn't offer its citizens the same freedoms that we enjoy in the United States. Consider the goals of the Boston Tea Party or the National Consumers League (NCL), which was formed to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. Some examples of considerations behind ethical consumption include fair trade, treatment of workers, genetic modification, locally made and processed goods, union-made products and services, humane animal treatment, and in general, labour issues and manufacturing practices that take these factors into account. Increase in ethical consumption The numbers show that ethical consumption is on the rise. In a 2017 study by Unilever, 33 percent of consumers reported choosing to buy and support brands that they believe are doing social or environmental good. In the same study, 53 percent of shoppers in the United Kingdom and 78 percent in the United States said they feel better when they buy products that are ‘sustainably’ produced. There’s clear evidence that products from some Chinese companies suffer from cybersecurity vulnerabilities Though the aforementioned question that sparked this conversation centres around concerns with products made in China, there are many other countries where, for example, governments/dictators are extremely repressive to all or parts of their populations, whose products, such as oil, diamonds, minerals, etc., we happily consume. There are also a number of countries that are a threat in terms of cybersecurity. It may be naive and simplistic to single out Chinese manufacturers. Impact on physical security products Product buying decisions based on factors other than product functionality, quality and price are also starting to permeate the security marketplace. While this hasn't been a large focus area from the business-to-business consumption side, it's something that should be considered for commercial security products for a variety of reasons. Hardware hacks are more difficult to pull off and potentially more devastating" There’s clear evidence that products from some Chinese companies suffer from cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Last fall, 30 U.S. companies, including Apple and Amazon, were potentially compromised when it was discovered that a tiny microchip in the motherboard of servers built in China that weren't a part of the original specification. According to a Bloomberg report, “This attack was something graver than the software-based incidents the world has grown accustomed to seeing. Hardware hacks are more difficult to pull off and potentially more devastating, promising the kind of long-term, stealth access that spy agencies are willing to invest millions of dollars and many years to get.” This, along with many other incidents, are changing the considerations behind purchasing decisions even in the physical security industry. Given that physical security products in general have been lax on cybersecurity, this is a welcome change. Combating tech-specific threats In early January, members of the U.S. Senate introduced bipartisan legislation to help combat tech-specific threats to national security posed by foreign actors and ensure U.S. technological supremacy by improving interagency coordination across the U.S. government. The bill creates the Office of Critical Technologies & Security at the White House, an indication that this issue is of critical importance to a number of players across the tech sector. Members of the U.S. Senate introduced bipartisan legislation to help combat tech-specific threats to national security posed by foreign actors To address a significant number of concerns around ethical production, there are certifications such as ISO 26000 which provides guidance on social responsibility by addressing accountability, transparency, ethical behaviour, respect for stakeholder interests, respect for rule of law, respect for international norms of behaviour and respect for human rights. While still emerging within physical security, companies that adhere to these and other standards do exist in the marketplace. Not buying products vulnerable to cyberattacks It may be counter-productive, even irresponsible, to brand all products from an entire country as unfit for purchasing. Some manufacturers’ products may be ethically questionable, or more vulnerable to cyberattacks than others; so not buying products made by those companies would make sense. The physical security industry might be playing a bit of catch up on this front, but I think we're beginning to see a shift toward this kind of responsible buying behaviour.

When dealing with a substantial, complex security system installation – often covering multiple sites and many hundreds of people – you clearly need a security vendor with the resources and experience to deliver. Smaller security companies may not have adequate means to support the longevity of these projects. This generally isn’t an issue for larger companies, but beware - not all such companies are well placed to deal with large projects; that’s because not all of them have a formal process in place. Large security projects require clear KPIs and targets (including monthly commitments), ongoing review, regular clear communication and a dedicated team for consistency and continuity from start to finish. Major security system Tying yourself to one manufacturer is rarely a good idea when it comes to large and complex security installs If you don’t choose wisely, what you may end up with is company delivering a string of different people from different departments working on your installation at any given time, without a joined up approach. The person responsible for system design, for example, may never see your project when it’s actually being installed, which can lead to a potentially problematic and ultimately unsatisfactory outcome. Whilst every major security system design project will bring about its own set of challenges, the approach taken by the security vendor should remain consistent. Here’s what it should look like at the different stages of the project and what you should expect from your supplier. Tying yourself to one manufacturer is rarely a good idea when it comes to large and complex security installs. Product knowledge Going down this route limits your options and you could end up with a security system that meets the vendor’s product portfolio rather than your needs. That doesn’t mean to say that a security company that is not affiliated to specific manufacturers won’t have close relationships with a range of them. A close relationship can be beneficial in terms of in-depth product knowledge and preferential pricing. What’s most important is that the security company independently test and asses product rather than relying on manufacturers’ claims. They should continually appraise the marketplace to see what’s new and assess the value and relevance of product. They should also have the finger on the pulse of the security sector to identify where the market is going. Team work is essential with large projects not only to get the job done, but also to manage any risk Comprehensive strategy At STANLEY Security we very much focus on identifying technology solutions that minimise financial outlay for a client, such as video analytics. At present we are testing facial recognition systems which have grown in popularity and delivery. A written, comprehensive strategy needs to be in place for the project, including forecasting that considers the longer timescales involved in large, complex projects and includes a ‘what if’ approach to ensure appropriate resource is available. So, for example, if a project looks like it is going to overrun due to unforeseen circumstances, you want to be sure you retain the same team on the project full time and that they are not transferred onto the next contract or dividing their time between the two. Manage any risk Team work is essential with large projects not only to get the job done, but also to manage any risk. Your vendor must have an experienced Major Project Team with a clear structure, so everyone knows their role and you know who you are dealing with at any given time. Although it’s the last stage of the project, Commission & Handover has the potential to be the most difficult and is where costs can escalate If subcontractors are being used by the security company, which is quite usual for very large installations and for particular specialisms (e.g. control room modelling), then a process needs to be in place to manage them and you need to be made aware of this. Although it’s the last stage of the project, Commission & Handover has the potential to be the most difficult and is where costs can escalate. High security requirements This is where the dedicated Major Project Team is vital as they will know the project inside out and have worked on it from start to finish, helping to avoid any end of project issues. Large, complex security systems, especially those with high security requirements, are not easy to deliver. They require skilful, experienced hands, substantial resources in both financial and staffing terms, and a clear, consistent procedure that everyone is fully aware of. Don’t assume that just because you are dealing with a large security vendor they will have all of these in place; think like a security professional and ask to see the evidence!

There are many new technologies at ISC West this year. There are also some tried-and-true solutions on display. More mature products have the benefit of being fully vetted and battle-tested, which may make them a more comfortable choice for security customers. I had a couple of discussions on Day 2 of the show about the advantages, and possible drawbacks, of new products. “To a security director, when you say ‘new,’ he translates that into ‘risk,’” says Bill Spence, VP of Sales, U.S., Canada and Western Europe for HID Global’s Lumidigm biometrics brand. “Anytime you say new, there is a probability of risk. The key is to educate. Education quantifies risk, and an educated customer can make an intelligent decision about risk versus reward.” “We have to take customers from where they are to help them understand new technologies,” says Spence. “We must give them a bridge to that understanding, and education is the bridge.” Lumidigm biometrics integrations An app provides graphics that take installers step-by-step through the installation process HID Global is incorporating Lumidigm biometrics into the new iClass SE RB25F fingerprint reader being highlighted at the show. Two-factor authentication can use either a card or mobile credential along with biometrics; there is no latency; and templates can be stored on a card. Another new offering at the HID Global booth is an augmented reality tool to simplify installation of newer systems that incorporate the more secure OSDP protocol. An app provides graphics that take installers step-by-step through the installation process. Also highlighted at the HID Global booth — and at the booths of turnstile manufacturers throughout the show — are embedded readers that provide tested and certified mobile access control for turnstiles. IClass SE technology is embedded in the iRox-T Turnstile Reader from Essex Electronics. Innovative security technologies There’s a delicate balance at any trade show between creating excitement about new products and educating customers to be comfortable with new technologies. There is some of both at ISC West 2019. In the future, hardware will be a delivery device, not the core of systems “We are on the cusp of change in the industry, and it’s closer than ever,” says Jennifer Doctor, Johnson Controls’ Senior Director, Project Management - Intrusion. “We will see the impact of promised technologies that will come from other industries, such as artificial intelligence. The very definition of security is changing. We are an industry that needs to be risk-averse, and we need to prove out the technology. There is innovation, but we just need to make sure technologies are what the market wants and expects.” “In the future, hardware will be a delivery device, not the core of systems, which will come from intelligence in the software and from services,” she adds. “The products we deliver will enable that.” Have 30 percent of service companies in the U.S. security market jumped into the cloud?  PowerSeries Pro intrusion portfolio Johnson Controls is highlighting the commercial PowerSeries Pro intrusion portfolio, which features PowerG encrypted technology that enables wireless systems that are cyber-secure. The cloud is coming on strong, and one company finding success in cloud systems is Eagle Eye Networks, which has seen 93% compounded annual growth over the past three years. Economies of scale have enabled them to lower subscription prices by 35%, with an extra 10% decrease for customers that pay annually. Ken Francis, President of Eagle Eye Networks, says they are signing up 50 new dealers a month for the cloud video offering. Francis estimates that 30 percent of service companies in the U.S. security market have jumped into the cloud “It’s really heating up,” says Francis. “The general cloud is driving increases in the surveillance cloud.” Jumping to cloud Embracing the cloud and recurring monthly revenue (RMR) requires that dealers transform their businesses to ensure success. Francis says dealers should dedicate sales resources to cloud offerings rather than expect everyone to sell the cloud, and there should be a base commission plan on RMR services in lieu of upfront project fees. March Networks is also showing integration of video with the Shopify cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) system “Talk to professionals about your cash flow and understand how to capitalise on financing partners to ensure cash flow while investing in the RMR stream,” he adds. “And look for ways to reduce your costs to serve the customer base as your RMR increases.” For example, use of remote site diagnostics, configuration and support can avoid the need for expensive “truck rolls” that can undermine profitability. Francis estimates that 30 percent of service companies in the U.S. security market have jumped into the cloud. Alarm companies, which are accustomed to the RMR model, are generally ahead of the curve, while traditional security integrators are lagging. “It’s a requirement to change or die,” he notes. Insight hosted managed service Also, in the area of managed services, March Networks is highlighting its Insight hosted managed service that can provide instant information on video systems located at remote sites, including visibility into firmware versions, camera warranty information, and cybersecurity status of systems. The ability to dive deeply into system status empowers a new recurring revenue stream for integrators. Color-coded icons summarise system status and show pending issues and clicking on the icons provides detailed workflow information. The system can also be offered for smaller systems such as those at convenience stores and quick-serve restaurants. March Networks is also showing integration of video with the Shopify cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) system. The integration enables managers to evaluate POS information, especially anomalies, to determine possible employee theft and other shrinkage issues.

Attendance has been growing steadily year-over-year for ISC West, and the 2018 show exceeded 30,000 total industry visitors for the first time. So it’s safe to expect ISC West 2019, April 10-12 at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas, will be bigger than ever. Preregistration for the 2019 show is on track to bring even more visitors than last year. “This is a show for everyone, for converged security,” says Mary Beth Shaughnessy, Event Director for Reed Exhibitions. “We bring a lot of different verticals together with IT and network security, physical security and robots and drones. It’s one-stop shopping and the number one security show in North America.” Identifying buying influencers The event organisers of ISC West make a concerted effort to bring the industry’s top buyers to the show The event organisers of ISC West make a concerted effort to bring the industry’s top buyers to the show. The ISC West Executive’s Club is a ‘top buyer program’ created to welcome high-level buying influencers who have current projects in the pipeline. The program works throughout the year, networking, researching and identifying buying influencers among end users, integrators, dealers/installers and consultants who are working on current projects. Approximately 1,300 attendees are participating in the program this year. An Executive’s Club member might be an integrator working with several large projects or represent a school system that is building a new campus or retrofitting their systems. During the trade show, these guests get the VIP treatment with a variety of benefits, including a lounge, cocktail receptions, and continental breakfasts. Personalised matchmaking programs ISC West also provides personalised matchmaking programs to bring together these buyers with companies that can meet their needs. The Executive Club members are also led on guided exhibit hall tours, based on product interest, that highlight new and innovative solutions. The program also contributes to ISC West’s goal to grow its end user audience. In this case, it is a group of eager buyers with immediate needs. Another growing aspect of ISC West is its role shaping exhibiting companies’ technology roadmaps, in particular the timing of new product releases. Many new products and technologies are announced at ISC West, and attendees are conditioned to attend the show to see what’s new in the marketplace. “Vendors try and work to get whatever solutions they are promoting together in time for ISC West,” says Shaughnessy. “Vendors know that attendees have fresh budgets and new initiatives early in the year.” Network security products ISC West will partner with the Security Industry Association (SIA) to make educational sessions available April 9-11 ISC West showcases the latest products, services, and technology including access control, video surveillance, disaster recovery, IT security products, network security products, wireless security products, and thousands more helping ensure safety by giving attendees the right tools and defenses to protect against security risks. In addition to the exhibition, ISC West will partner with the Security Industry Association (SIA) to make educational sessions available April 9-11. SIA Education@ISC will kick off the day before the start of the exhibition. The comprehensive program includes 85+ accredited sessions covering a range of industry topics aimed at providing the critical knowledge attendees need to protect and defend against developing threats in today's security landscape.

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

HID Global, provider of trusted identity solutions, announces that the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Grenoble, France has selected HID’s radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and its patented direct bonding technology for automated handling of biological samples at cryogenic temperatures of 196°C (-321° F) in liquid nitrogen. EMBL Grenoble creates high-resolution pictures and 3D atomic models of biological macromolecules using a specialised imaging process called macromolecular crystallography (MX). These images are useful for studying biological materials, developing highly efficient medicine, and fighting cancer more effectively. Limited storage density The images require molecular samples to be prepared in a crystalised form and frozen The images require molecular samples to be prepared in a crystalised form and frozen. Handling these samples is a complex task: tiny crystals must be grown, harvested, frozen on a sample holder at the tip of a tiny needle, and stored in liquid nitrogen at cryogenic temperatures and identified for further processing while remaining cool. Most current sample holders used in MX imaging offer limited storage density and poor initial crystal-positioning, which affects processing and limits the benefits of automated crystal harvesting systems. As a result, EMBL set out to design a storage and identification solution robust enough to function at extreme cold temperatures, but small enough to facilitate high precision and storage density. It also needed to support high-speed, automated handling by robots. Direct bonding technology “The HID Global technology has proven to be reliable against temperature cycling between room and liquid nitrogen temperatures, and the HID team was very supportive in helping us with our new designs,” said Florent Cipriani, Head of Instrumentation Team, EMBL Grenoble. HID’s direct bonding further allows the secure attachment of antennas to chips without the bulk of added modules Embeddable RFID tags and direct bonding technology from HID were chosen for identification in EMBL’s new sample holders due to the tags’ tiny footprint, proven track record to work in cryogenic environments, and ability to be custom designed to meet the needs of EMBL. HID’s direct bonding further allows the secure attachment of antennas to chips without the bulk of added modules, making the units the smallest HF formats available in the market that deliver uncompromised performance. Reliable sample tracking “HID Global’s proven RFID technology has been used in various cryogenic environments for years,” said Richard Aufreiter, Director Product Management, Identification Technology with HID Global. “It was a natural partnership between HID and EMBL to design a tracking system resistant to frosting and other aspects of extreme cold. Our team worked directly with EMBL engineers to ensure the best tracking system was deployed in their newly designed sample storage solution.” With HID technology, EMBL developed two new sample holders optimised for high throughput, precision, and reliable sample tracking of more than 200 thousand crystals per year. The new RFID-enabled sample holders increase throughput by allowing the crystal harvesting, cryogenic storage, and MX beamline feeding process to be fully automated using robot grippers and specifically designed RFID readers. Available memory space in the RFID tags can store additional information about the samples.

Tottenham based Lancasterian Primary School is focused on the delivery of a safe and welcoming learning environment, ‘where everyone is included and creativity is valued.’ The school is persistently seeking new ways to enhance and improve its offer to the children and the local community. The school had an established high-profile intruder alarm system on site and consulted with Amthal to create a maintenance programme that could operate with no disruption to learning timetables. Safe learning and working environment Proactively worked with us to create a maintenance schedule for our intruder alarm" Says Sam Judge, Lancasterian Primary School’s Assistant Site Manager: “The security of our school is naturally a top priority, to ensure staff and pupils can work and learn in a safe environment. We see a careful balance to ensure our focus on creation of a welcoming and nurturing school for pupils and the local community is not overwhelmed.” “It’s something we are consistently reviewing and when we approached Amthal, we were instantly impressed with their understanding of our objectives. They proactively worked with us to create a maintenance schedule for our intruder alarms, to ensure they continue to operate to maximum capacity for the ultimate protection of all who learn with us, and provide total peace of mind and assurance to the site management team.” Well-maintained security system An effective school building security alarm system for which users are fully trained" Mark Golding, Amthal Account Manager added: “Ensuring that pupils, buildings and equipment are protected requires an effective school building security alarm system for which users are fully trained, alarm systems that are regularly maintained and service inspections that are logged and documented.”  A well-maintained system will ensure compliance with building safety regulations and also help to ensure the school passes OFSTED with flying colours. Amthal is thrilled to be working with schools such as Lancasterian Primary to ensure its security for the benefit of staff, pupils and visitors.” Satisfying user needs Independently owned, Amthal Fire & Security is dedicated to satisfying end user needs for security safety and convenience offering design, installation, service and remote monitoring of advanced electronic fire & security solutions, including intruder, Fire, Access and CCTV systems. Amthal Fire & Security is accredited by the Security Systems and Alarm Inspection Board (SSAIB) United Kingdom Accreditation Services (UKAS) and British Approvals for Fire Equipment (BAFE.)

Aston University, Birmingham, is transforming security and safety with the introduction of SafeZone for students and staff on campus and those travelling globally. The SafeZone solution, from CriticalArc, will put users directly in touch with the university’s security control room using their mobile phone, enabling them to request help, trigger an emergency response, receive rapid notifications in the event of emergencies and benefit from a wide range of customer-care services. SafeZone was selected following a detailed comparison of alternative systems, says Mark Sutton, Head of Security and Emergency Planning at Aston University. Resource management capabilities “While some alternatives offered individual features that were attractive, none of them combined all the functions and benefits in the way that SafeZone does,” he says. What we are investing in is a comprehensive solution that allows our security team to engage much more closely with students and staff" “What we are investing in is a comprehensive solution that allows our security team to engage much more closely with students and staff, and to work in a more integrated way with the university’s various departments and within its senior management structure. It also gives us important additional functions including lone worker protection and resource management capabilities.” The technology works by letting Aston’s control room operators pin-point the locations of individuals who elect to check-in using a simple app on their smart phones, including staff, students, service users and members of the security team. Reporting suspicious activity This app makes it easy for students, staff and school’s using the system to communicate directly with security responders, calling for help, asking for advice, reporting suspicious activity etc. And in return security teams can send out alerts and safety instructions to groups or individuals, in specific locations, as individuals or by specified user type. Notifications can range from helpful advice to alerts regarding specific threats. Officers responsible for emergency response management can also monitor activity patterns of those who choose to check-in, seeing where people are gathering during an incident for example. And they can co-ordinate resources, keeping track of where known first aiders are, or seeing exactly how team members are deployed, minute by minute. Significant placements programme The benefits of SafeZone bring together features found in an assortment of systems – including lone-worker protection - making them available in a unified, scalable package. There are also new options for users to collaborate with the growing global network of SafeZone system operators. At Aston University stakeholders such as the students’ union, staff and department heads have been fully engaged in the roll-out of the new system At Aston University stakeholders such as the students’ union, staff and department heads have been fully engaged in the roll-out of the new system. “Safety is a big issue, particularly for city centre campuses,” says Mark Sutton. “Prospective students and parents want to know how well we look after our community, so we see SafeZone as an important new benefit.” Aston also has a growing international reputation and a significant placements programme, with students and staff travelling around the world to work. Safety monitoring With the ability to ‘geo-fence’ any location in the world that has a signal, the university’s security team will now extend the same level of customer care and safety monitoring to all users, whether they are on campus, in accommodation blocks or associated sites around the city, or working abroad, says Darren Chalmers-Stevens, Managing Director EMEA and APAC for CriticalArc. “We are delighted to be working with Aston University’s security and emergency response team to help them provide the best available monitoring and protection for all their people, in all situations and wherever they are. In addition, they are benefiting from a wide set of extra functions which would otherwise have to be purchased separately - including lone worker protection and health & safety compliance.” There are also important, emerging benefits which CriticalArc is developing alongside its community of users, confirmed Darren Chalmers-Stevens. “These were discussed during our recent two-day user group conference in February.”

Manufacturer ROCKWOOL International A.S. has chosen Nedap’s Global Client Programme to secure its offices and factories worldwide. AEOS, the physical security platform by Nedap, installed during the programme, enables ROCKWOOL to establish a truly global security policy and unified work processes. An advanced project rollout, the Global Client Programme is developed for large multinationals and offers several benefits, including standardisation across sites, shorter implementation times and cost efficiencies. Standardising company’s security measures The Global Client Programme connects all of ROCKWOOL’s factories and office premises, and standardises the company’s security measuresROCKWOOL has 28 factories across the world. The Global Client Programme connects all of these factories and ROCKWOOL’s office premises, and standardises the company’s security measures throughout the world. Fokko van der Zee, managing director at Nedap Security Management, says: “The implementation of a standardised security solution across the world is a complex process. It involves a large project spanning many years and involving many stakeholders, and demands a high level of project management. In the absence of a structured program with defined guidelines, a global security rollout is likely to be a stressful execution. That’s why we set up our carefully designed Global Client Programme.” ROCKWOOL Digital Service Lead, Matthew Thorne, agrees: “We’ve worked with Nedap over the past few years and recently became a member of their Global Client Programme. Now we’re equipped with the people and tools we needed to standardise our physical security solution. The Global Client Programme also minimises risk and guarantees compliance. It really meets our needs in every possible way.” Central security platform saves money The programme helps achieve cost savings by avoiding initial setup costs per site and having one central security platform instead of severalThe Global Client Programme is designed to ensure monitoring and control during every step of the rollout process. Timon Padberg, responsible for business development at Nedap Security Management, explains: “The repetitive nature of local site deployments allows us to work with models and templates, such as standard proposal and calculation documents. We can therefore produce a scalable process that ensures uniformity and a consistently high quality of implementation across each site.” By using the Global Client Programme, ROCKWOOL is aiming for uniformity and alignment across all sites. The programme also helps achieve cost savings by avoiding initial setup costs per site and having one central security platform instead of several. Moreover, there are significant savings on operational and maintenance costs due to shared services and economies of scale.

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.”

Our Expert Panel is an opinionated group on a wide variety of topics, and we are dedicated to providing a useful and flexible forum to share those opinions. This week, our panelists address a range of opinions about several self-selected topics, culled from the large number of Expert Panelist responses we have collected in the last year. In this Expert Panel Roundtable article, we will share these varied and insightful responses to ensure they are not lost to posterity!

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

A basic tenet of sales is ABC – always be closing. But it's a principle that most professional salespeople would say oversimplifies the process. Especially in a sophisticated, high-tech market such as physical security, the required sales skills are much more involved and nuanced. We asked this week's Expert Panel Roundtable: What unique characteristics are required of salespeople in the arena of physical security systems?