Security training

Alcatraz, the developer of secure frictionless access control platforms, has named Sarah Lawler-Muzquiz as Director of Channel Sales. Lawler-Muzquiz is the latest addition to the team for Alcatraz – an innovative startup that’s improving access control by delivering secure, frictionless solutions that enhance flow, improve security, reduce overall cost, and work with any access control provider. Based in Los Angeles, Lawler-Muzquiz builds influential, executive-level relationships and drives sales, marketing, account management, and technical training in the engineering, construction, and integrator channels for end users. Developing comprehensive solutions “Although Sarah is new to the team, her passion for our products rivals that of anyone here. We are very excited to have her championing our flagship product the Alcatraz Rock to the extensive list of impressive connections she has made in security over the years,” said Alcatraz Chief Executive Officer and Founder Vince Gaydarzhiev. Lawler-Muzquiz joins Alcatraz from Johnson Controls where she served in various roles “Sarah has a great talent for identifying security needs and developing comprehensive solutions and we know her technical skill – coupled with her enthusiasm for helping businesses improve security – will be a great asset to our customers.” Lawler-Muzquiz joins Alcatraz from Johnson Controls where she served in various roles, including Account Executive for Building/Connected Technologies, Strategic Owner Account Manager, and Sales Engineer. Facial authentication platform Lawler-Muzquiz has a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Technology from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo. “What impresses me most about the Alcatraz Rock 3D facial authentication platform is that it creates harmony for our security systems. The Rock truly enables a frictionless environment – without having to upgrade video management, access control, cameras, or buy more software on top of everything, to push analytics and assume everything ‘will work just fine’,” said Lawler-Muzquiz. “In this time of COVID, how important is it to be able to offer businesses a touchless solution that not only improves security but reduces the spread of germs? Alcatraz is the seismic change the physical security industry needs to make our world a safer place. I could not be more excited to be on the Alcatraz team.”

The ESA Leadership Summit - the strategically efficient annual event for company pioneers in the electronic security and life safety industry - has announced it will take the summit experience virtual in 2020 as ESA Leadership Summit Stay Connected. This virtual event will be held Sept 29 - Oct 1, connecting leaders with the content and contacts they need to thrive amidst uncertainty. The summit will still deliver top-notch education, self-selected one-on-one meetings with vendors and purposeful networking events. “Our ESA Members are continuing to drive value to their customers, evolving with safety standards and enriching their services,” says Merlin Guilbeau, CEO of the Electronic Security Association. “We can’t imagine a year without delivering the valuable content and connections that help them do this.” Interactive virtual platform The virtual #ProSecurity event will deliver all the components the industry has come to love about the one-on-one meeting event, driving premier content to the industry’s pioneers in an innovative and responsible way. “Our world today is seeing a digital transformation and it is incumbent on us to evolve along with it,” says Guilbeau. “I’m working with our team to accelerate and further deliver on a digitally enhanced experience for our industry. We’re taking our sessions, networking events and one-on-one meeting experience to an engaging and interactive virtual platform.” From Sept 29 - Oct 1, the Stay Connected virtual version of the ESA Leadership Summit event will deliver presentations and workshops from The Ritz Carlton’s customer experience experts, sales leadership experts and published author of “Leadership Isn’t for Cowards,” Mike Staver. Weinstock and Jackson award The Electronic Security association will also deliver its annual Weinstock and Jackson award presentations on Wednesday, Sept. 30 and will play host to an interactive trivia night on Tuesday, Sept 29. In addition to the networking, presentations and one-on-one meetings with vendors, leaders from integration and monitoring companies will have the opportunity to watch 15-minute Tech and Service Lightning Presentations from the industry’s vendors. This is yet another avenue the summit provides leaders to stay abreast of the latest services that could help them deliver value to customers. “This is what our industry does. We don’t give up. We adapt,” says Guilbeau.

ADT Commercial – a provider of security, fire, life safety and risk management solutions to commercial customers in the U.S. – announces the hiring of three senior-level security professionals to join ADT Commercial’s Enterprise Security Risk Group (eSRG). The new members of the team boast wide-ranging experience in Fortune 500 companies, healthcare and law enforcement to help commercial organisations as they focus on business continuity, resiliency and adopting best practices in disruptive and uncertain times. Value-based security program “Today’s unprecedented external pressures expose businesses to new risks that require thoughtful planning and expert counsel in public safety, communications, risk, resilience and security,” said Ed Bacco, Vice President of ADT Commercial’s Enterprise Security Risk Group. “These accomplished professionals represent the unparalleled commitment and resources of ADT Commercial’s eSRG and are true innovators who have served in roles similar to many of our customers. They bring a sophisticated, 360-degree view to identify threats, then build custom programs to help manage risk in an increasingly complex world.” Staffed by senior executives with backgrounds in intelligence, business stability, organisational change and technology, members of ADT Commercial’s eSRG independently assess the risks facing its customer organisations, identify the people and process metrics to continuously improve performance, provide managed services to enhance internal staff, build a value-based security program and plan, and create a technology roadmap to make the most of a company’s people and processes. Incident response efficiency Fowler has developed comprehensive training programs on active shooter scenarios and workplace violence Members joining the ADT Commercial Enterprise Security Risk Group (eSRG) include: Chris Fowler has been named eSRG Director of Global Risk Services. Fowler brings more than 25 years’ experience in law enforcement, strategic planning and policy development to the role, and has also served as Brigadier General for the Washington Army National Guard. Fowler has developed comprehensive training programs on active shooter scenarios and workplace violence, and implemented national best practices recognised for their effectiveness by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). In his role as Director of Global Risk Services, Fowler’s varied background in law enforcement will be leveraged to provide key insights for commercial customers in evaluating strategies and solutions to boost incident response efficiency, optimise environmental design and develop crisis management plans. Increasing business performance Patricia Coureas joins ADT Commercial as eSRG Principal Consultant, bringing 30 years’ experience with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as well as a proven track record of success in building and managing global security for a Fortune 500 organisation. Coureas delivered threat prevention and resolution to global business systems in Europe, Latin America and Asia, providing asset protection by identifying vulnerabilities, strengthening incident management and crisis resolution, and ensuring business continuity. Coureas is focused on helping prepare companies for the unexpected, while also minimising risk with a growth mindset to deliver results that preserve and help to increase business performance. Providing healthcare security As organisations across the country work to safely reopen their businesses in our communities" David LaRose enhances ADT Commercial’s presence in the healthcare security arena as an eSRG Principal Consultant, showing industry leadership during his 35 years of experience providing healthcare security, safety and law enforcement solutions to customers. In his role, he’ll advise organisations on considerations to more readily achieve patient and staff safety, quality patient experience, regulatory compliance, enterprise security best practices and enterprise risk management. LaRose is the past president for the International Association of Healthcare Safety and Security’s Board of Director (IAHSS) and currently serves on the ASIS Healthcare Council. “As organisations across the country work to safely reopen their businesses in our communities, the newest additions to our eSRG team mean that ADT Commercial is further poised to assist commercial clients more readily and completely,” said Dan Bresingham, Executive Vice President, ADT Commercial. “Under the guidance of this team, we can help organisations to identify key vulnerabilities and implement policies, technologies and best practices that not only mitigate risk, but help protect business stability and value so they can rebound in times of crisis such as this.”

3xLOGIC, Inc., a globally renowned provider of integrated, intelligent security solutions has announced that it has been busy moving into new office spaces in the midst of these challenging times. If moving wasn’t enough, a dedicated team has completed a re-launch of a new 3xLOGIC website, which went live on July 8th, 2020. 3xLOGIC new offices General Manager of 3xLOGIC, Inc., Brad McMullen, gave a virtual tour (by phone) of the new offices and other spaces. Brad said, “Our new facilities have twice the manufacturing and warehouse space to enable us to expand capacity in line with our rapid growth. Given the current reality, there is a limited number of staff using the new offices, but plans are complete for our expanded team to move in once the time is right.” The offices boast many new capabilities compared to the old space, which includes expanded office space for a Marketing studio, product development teams, customer meeting rooms, and an open floor plan to increase efficiency for the technical and inside sales teams. Solutions Center Planned for the near future is a hands-on training room for more on-site partner learning and a Solutions Center Planned for the near future is a hands-on training room for more on-site partner learning and a Solutions Centre that will be a highly interactive user space to showcase current and future solutions. While the new offices are being readied for the eventual move-in, 3xLOGIC is continuing to invest in resources to further build brand and expand sales. New 3xLOGIC website goes live The new 3xLOGIC website went live just recently after a number of busy months spent doing a total overhaul of the old site. “The new site is focused on the end user experience,” commented Suzi Abell, Senior Director of Marketing at 3xLOGIC, Inc. Suzi adds, “Our former site had a real integrator focus and it served our purposes quite well.  The new site allows us to actively tell our story to the end user community as well to drive demand to our integration partners. Our goal was to create a tool that offers value to both the end-user and the integrator.” Live Chat function One of the most exciting new features is the ‘Live Chat’ function. “We want to connect with customers in real-time, getting them the answers and information they need now and from the right expert,” explained Abell. The overall user experience on the new site is greatly improved, in part powered by the site’s Mobile Responsive design, rather than detecting a specific browser or device type, the website automatically orients itself based on the screen size of the device. A combination of reformatting and re-optimising the site as a whole gives it a practical flexibility that is on par with the best sites in the industry. Expanded ‘Where to Buy’ section There is also an expanded ‘Where to Buy’ section, which highlights 3xLOGIC’s fast-growing network of valued integrator partners. Abell adds, “Our integrators are the lifeblood of our business and now we are providing top-level service and information to those partners, as well as a memorable web experience to the many thousands of potential end users we serve.”

PSA, the consortium of professional systems integrators, announces the call for presentations for PSA TEC 2021 is open. Sessions will be selected that serve a variety of disciplines and focus on emerging technologies, critical issues in the industry and tool development to augment attendees’ knowledge base needed to drive the industry forward. “The speakers we secure for TEC every year are the best in the security and AV industries and a key component to the event’s success,” said Anthony Berticelli, vice president of operations at PSA. “Life has drastically changed in 2020 due to COVID-19 and we anticipate our education line-up will look quite different at PSA TEC 2021 to reflect how systems integrators’ businesses are evolving.” Professional systems integrators TEC, presented by PSA, is the premier education and networking event for all professional systems integrators in the security and audio-visual markets. TEC features education and certification programs, networking, and dedicated exhibit hours designed to advance the skills and expertise of industry professionals nationwide. This premier training venue is open to all industry professionals and is designed to meet the educational needs of all employees within an integrator’s organisation. PSA is accepting submissions to complete the education program with content that provides knowledge TEC 2021 will be held at the Sheraton Downtown Denver in Denver, CO, May 3 – 6, 2021. PSA is accepting submissions to complete the education program with content that provides knowledge for professional systems integrators in the physical security and pro-AV markets or sessions that will help advance their personal skillsets within their professional disciplines. General education sessions Attendee job functions represented at TEC include cybersecurity, leadership/management, marketing, operations, procurement, sales and technical. Proposals are welcome for both certification programs and general education sessions for the security and pro-AV markets. All sessions must be unbiased with no brand or product emphasis and minimise commercial references and overt branding. Submissions are evaluated based on topic relevance, speaker expertise, and originality of the content. Additional guidelines are provided in the call for presentations submission process. Accepted and approved presenters will receive complimentary registration to TEC 2021 and will have the opportunity to solidify their reputation as an industry resource and subject matter expert while expanding their own professional network and gaining access to strategic partnerships. PSA does not pay honoraria or expenses for accepted proposals.

Interface Security Systems, together with Sally Beauty and Whereable Technologies will host a webinar called: ‘5 Actionable Steps You Can Take to Safeguard Your Lone Workers Now’. Recently, a wide range of businesses including retailers, restaurants, banks, hospitality chains, and real estate companies are having to adapt their business models while operating with reduced staff. While lone employees play a critical role in keeping these businesses up and running, they are more at risk of encountering life threats at work. Increasing safety measures In times like these, more attention needs to be placed on increasing safety measures for lone employees. Security professionals are looking at ways in which they can add another layer of protection for their associates when they are working alone, for locations with limited or no existing protection, or to expand security coverage outside a business’ building. This webinar will discuss how to roll out a cost-effective lone worker security strategy to cope with lower staffing levels and the increased risks they are facing. During the one-hour-long event, attendees will learn about: Who is a lone worker and why should businesses worry about them now? How to put in place a lone worker safety policy and why it’s important to do it immediately. How to train lone workers to deal with emergencies and put in place a training What options should be considered when rolling out a lone worker safety solution. Why lone worker safety devices should be integrated with a comprehensive monitoring Key speakers will include: Jim Mires, Vice President Loss Prevention and Safety at Sally Beauty, Jim Van Law, President & Board Member at Whereable Technologies, Matt Smitheman, Sr. Solutions Consultant at Interface Security Systems.

With the postponement of tradeshows and events due to the effects of COVID-19, Vanderbilt and ComNet have taken their high quality, innovative solutions online, directly to their customer base. Through an Online Events and Training resource, you can stay connected with the brands’ top resources and products, as well as join upcoming product webinars hosted by their in-house experts. With a majority of the world currently working from home, businesses must respond to this changing landscape. As such, Vanderbilt and ComNet have turned to online resources to share new product demonstrations and other company news. One cornerstone of the ACRE brands approach was the launch of their Online Events and Training resource page. Ross Wilks, Head of Marketing Communications at Vanderbilt, credits this online resource as the anchor to their communicative success with customers at present. “Through weekly webinars delivered by our in-house experts, Vanderbilt and ComNet have embraced more virtual opportunities to continuously communicate to our customers regarding our latest and most relevant products,” he says. “To date, our webinars have covered a wide range of industry topics such as Why Physical Security and Cloud go together, and The most recent developments in card cloning and reader hacking. Attendance to these online events has proved popular and effective in keeping communication with our customer base open and engaging.” Each webinar ends with a Q&A section, as well as follow-up articles on the most asked questions, plus recordings of the webinars being made available to attendees. As such, the webinar approach has proven a receptive approach for Vanderbilt and ComNet. The Online Events and Training resource acts as a one-stop-shop for all virtual information. Overall, the page outlines the brands’ value-added resources for customers, including the ability to request a remote product demonstration, the availability of free online training, 24/7 access to the Vanderbilt webshop, plus the aforementioned weekly webinars. Vanderbilt and ComNet’s business mantra is built on a foundation of customer-focused core values such as empowerment, collaboration, and high performance and Wilks credits this mentality with their ability to keep information flowing to their base during the present pandemic. “The ACRE brands moved early to kick-start online webinars and ramp up awareness of their already existing online training and shopping options. Now more than ever, it is important to keep customers up to date on the latest offerings,” Wilks explains. “Our commitment has always been to make their customer’s security journey the best possible experience, and that is what this Online Events and Learning page primarily focuses on,” he concludes.

Growing up, I was surrounded by the military way of life as my father was a Captain in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War and my grandfather and uncles all served in the military. Even from a young age, I knew I was going to serve our country. My 22-year career in the military includes serving in the United States Air Force, the California Air National Guard and as a reservist assigned to an active-duty Air Force unit. Training and development operations Over the course of my military career, I held a variety of assignments from starting out as a Gate Guard to becoming a Flight Chief and Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of a Security Forces section. I retired from the military as a Master Sergeant. After my deployment to Afghanistan, I joined Allied Universal as a security director. My 17-year career at Allied Universal encompasses roles including Service Manager and General Manager at the West Los Angeles Branch and leading the Training and Development operations and Fire Life Safety Division. In 2008, I was tasked to develop and implement the company’s Healthcare Division. Attaining meaningful employment opportunities Below are just a few reasons why the physical security sector is a natural fit for military veterans: Self-Discipline and Organisation Coveted in Security Sector - I believe that the skills learned in the military, such as self-discipline and organisation, have provided the necessary tools to be successful. I truly enjoy working with other veterans at my company as we all know that we can count on each other to get the job done right. This bond and sense of commitment to each other is always there. Multi-faceted Career Paths Available - The security sector also offers veterans the ability to attain meaningful employment opportunities with multi-faceted career paths. A veteran’s background and experience are highly valued in this sector and there are many positions to match our skill sets and expertise. The responsibility we have for those in our charge is really not any different than what we have learned in the military. Team Players - Teamwork is a lesson all military veterans learn. In the military, you live and work together, and are taught to support your team members and efficiently collaborate with the people around you. This is an invaluable skill in the security sector whether you are seeking an entry level or management position. No Military to Civilian Decoder Needed - Veterans need a ‘military to civilian decoder’ system to help explain the significance of their military skills and how they translate to the general employment landscape. The physical security sector, however, understands the language of the military and don’t generally require that military responsibilities be coded into language that non-military can understand. Securing mid-level appointments The physical security sector features a wide variety of jobs from entry level, middle management to senior positions. A retired veteran with a pension may look to the security sector for part-time or full-time entry level work. Other former military, who are not eligible for retirement benefits, may secure mid-level appointments with the goal of climbing the ladder to the highest rungs. The flexibility and opportunity are unparalleled in the security sector. Veterans generally enter the workforce with identifiable skills that can be transferred to the physical security world and are often skilled in technical trends pertinent to business and industry. And what they don't know, they are eager to learn - making them receptive and ready hires in physical security environments that value ongoing learning and training.

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.

The drive for learning doesn’t diminish, even in times of a global pandemic. To accommodate the demands of social distancing, more training today happens online. “We have seen unprecedented international demand for our portfolio of online training courses ranging from small installation companies to the largest organisations, across a wide range of sectors,” says Jerry Alfandari, Group Marketing Manager of Linx International Group, a U.K. training firm. “More than ever, businesses are looking to ensure they have the skills in-house to coordinate their response to the changing situation. Individuals are also taking this time to upskill themselves for when we return to ‘normal’ by bringing something with them they didn’t have before. Perhaps unsurprisingly, people are still seeking to better themselves for what will be, eventually, a competitive market.” Expert security training Topics such as CCTV, Access Control, Intruder and Fire Tavcom Training, part of the Linx International Group, provides technical security training delivered by expert tutors on topics such as CCTV, Access Control, Intruder and Fire and also CCTV Control Room and Security Management. Given the practical nature of the courses, the majority have historically been delivered in a state-of-the-art training centre through interactive workshops. However, in order to best protect their staff and learners, and following government guidelines, Tavcom have closed their training centre for the time being. Learners are still able to book into classroom courses for later in the year with a choice of two learning centres now being offered: Hampshire or the recently established training centre in Shipley. For those who prefer to learn online, Tavcom delivers accredited online security training. “Given the situation we are all in at the moment, our online courses have seen an 86% increase in demand over the last several months,” says Alfandari. All online courses offer the same level of support as the classroom courses, with many accredited to BTEC level 3 and 5, catering to professionals of varying skill levels and experience. Improve your professional development “Our online courses remain as accessible as ever, with huge numbers of security systems engineers and professionals seeking to use this [quarantine] time to improve their professional development,” Alfandari says. “We encourage all people to consider the benefits of eLearning and, if they need any advice, to reach out to the Tavcom training team.” It’s more important now than ever before that learners are able to access Tavcom’s online learning programmes and continue in their professional development, he says. To help facilitate learning, the company has discounted 25% off the portfolio of eLearning courses, many of which are BTEC accredited and come with expert tutor support. We are also introducing new interactive ways of teaching traditionally classroom-based courses" “We are also introducing new interactive ways of teaching traditionally classroom-based courses with the aid of Zoom virtual classroom courses, led by our tutors,” says Alfandari. “From the learner’s own home, they will be able to undertake their chosen training course and return to the training centre later in the year to complete the practical assessment.” Skillsets remain in demand Even the most well-prepared organisations with extensive contingency plans have been stunned by the scale and speed of the current situation. Alfandari says: “We are finding especially our Intruder Alarms courses for repair and maintenance engineers have been exceptionally popular; those skill sets remain as in demand as ever in these troubled times.” A sister company, PerpetuityARC Training, offers Security Management BTEC Level 4 and Risk, Crisis and Disaster Management BTEC Level 4 courses that are purposely designed to help businesses and those responsible for security learn how to identify threats, risks and vulnerabilities, and create a comprehensive plan that will enable practical measures to be applied to mitigate the impact. Both courses run via two media: classroom or online and are tutor-supported so learners have a choice according to what best suits their needs and requirements. An online Essential Security Practices course is comprised of 12 modules designed to introduce the essentials of corporate security. Modules can be bought individually or as a whole course and will establish fundamental knowledge of best security practice. “It’s a great starting place if you’re new to security or want to brush up on your expertise,” says Alfandari. Maintaining a security presence is a challenge during a global pandemic. “With people following guidelines by staying at home, we’ve been working hard to drive the message that learning doesn’t stop just because you can’t go out,” says Alfandari. “People may think that because they can’t get to the training centre then they can’t train, but that’s just not the case.” Learning in these unprecedented times Our training centres may be closed for now, but our courses are still very much running" Between Tavcom Training and PerpetuityARC Training, there are more than 20 distance learning courses including ASIS International and The Security Institute, all of which can be accessed at home, at a learner’s own pace. “It’s important that people understand that we’re still here, still available and that we haven’t ‘gone away’,” says Alfandari. “Our training centres may be closed for now, but our courses are still very much running. “ “These are, without doubt, extremely difficult times,” he adds. “We are here for our learners. Our team are working hard behind the scenes to facilitate the best possible learning experience during this time, and we encourage all potential learners to really use this and make the most of it. Whether you want a refresher in security basics or finally to start on that qualification you’ve been putting off, we are here to help you in your professional development.” Rhiannon Limbert, Marketing Coordinator for Linx International Group, contributed to this content.

In addition to providing the Northeast’s largest security trade show, ISC East will include free conference sessions and keynote speeches right on the show floor and several paid workshops. The Nov. 20-21 event at New York’s Javits Center will also include vendor solution sessions from Axis Communications, Hikvision and NAPCO. Wide variety of paid workshops An advantage of the International Security Conference & Exposition in New York is that much of the programming is complimentary to registered attendees, and location of the sessions on the show floor means attendees don’t have to leave the exhibition to take in a session. The paid workshops include technology sessions about cyber terminology for physical security integratorsThe paid workshops include an Active Shooter Workshop and technology sessions about cyber terminology for physical security integrators; and basic installation and configuration of video surveillance solutions. An OSDP (Open Supervised Device Protocol) Boot Camp Short Course will also be offered. As a smaller show, the topics of ISC East conference sessions are broader and of more general interest, rather than organised into focused “tracks” as at ISC West. Attendance at sessions can provide continuing education (CE) credits with organisations that partner with ISC East – one credit for each hour-long session. Attendees can use their Certificate of Attendance from any session to self-report their education hours to relevant industry bodies: ALOA (AEU education credits), ASIS (CPE continuing professional education credits) and NICET (CPD Continuing Professional Development points). An advantage of the International Security Conference & Exposition in New York is that much of the programming is complimentary to registered attendees Keynote sessions at the Main Stage The Main Stage will be the venue for keynote sessions delivered by Deanne Criswell, Commissioner, New York City Emergency Management (on Day 1 – Nov. 20); and Angela Stubblefield, Chief of Staff at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) (on Day 2 – Nov. 21). The two SIA Education@ISC East educational theaters on the show floor will be booked up both days with a variety of interesting topics. A new session covers penetration testing for physical security, presented by Michael Glasser of Glasser Security Group. A session on LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensors will be presented by Frank Bertini, UAV and Robotics Business Manager, Velodyne LiDAR. Another popular topic is Safe Cities, and FLIR will present a session on moving from secured to smart cities with intelligent, connected systems. New addition is Active Shooter Workshop  The Active Shooter Workshop is a new addition to the ISC East programme. It has been a popular session at ISC West for three years now. At ISC East, presenters of the workshop will be David LaRose, System Director Public Health, Lee Health; and Ben Scaglione, Director of Healthcare and Security Programming, Lowers and Associates. At the end of the workshop, an additional hour of programming will be the “Stop the Bleed/Save a Life” session presented by Jerry Wilkins, Co-Owner of Active Risk Survival. The Main Stage will be the venue for keynote sessions delivered by Deanne Criswell, Commissioner, New York City Emergency Management, and Angela Stubblefield, Chief of Staff at the Federal Aviation Administration Woman in Security event A Women in Security Forum breakfast event will be held on Nov. 21 (Thursday). It’s the second annual event and this year will focus on diversity and inclusiveness in the workplace of the future. Valerie Anderson, President of Boon Edam, will lead a discussion on “Diversity 2.0: Next Steps for Creating an Empowered Workforce”Moderator Valerie Anderson, President of Boon Edam, will lead a discussion on “Diversity 2.0: Next Steps for Creating an Empowered Workforce”. Panelists are Lisa Terry of Allied Universal, Andrew Lanning of Integrated Security Technologies, Elaine Palome of Axis Communications and Dawne Hanks of Milestone. The Women in Security event is likely to attract up to 100 attendees. SIA’s Women in Security is an active organisation, with monthly meetings and a newsletter that recognises prominent women in the security industry. “It’s really a group for both men and women,” says Mary Beth Shaughnessy, Event Director, ISC Events at Reed Exhibitions. “There are many programmes, recruiting efforts, and professional and networking opportunities. They are a robust group of people who are active in making a difference. It’s important to support women in the security industry, which is 95% male, and to develop a new generation of women to be a part of the industry’s future.” The keynote addresses at ISC East will also highlight two high-profile women.

Video, access control and visitor management are among the technologies that are enabling greater safety and security at hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Video surveillance systems enable hospital management and security professionals to know what goes on in and around a medical facility. Recording images in high resolutions (megapixels and gigapixels) is becoming more and more important in healthcare, says Jason Ouellette, Product Line Director – Access Control, Tyco Security Products. Video event management software Video analytics are now being leveraged for patient tracking, asset tracking, and operational purposes If an incident occurs in a medical facility, the security staff has to be able to identify faces easily and accurately. Storage and costs have to be considered, of course. With technology improving and prices decreasing, video solutions can even be used for purposes beyond traditional security. For example, video analytics are now being leveraged for patient tracking, asset tracking, and operational purposes, and captured video can be used to defend against liability claims. What’s next? Video analytics will continue to be a valuable addition to any surveillance infrastructure due to its ability to address patient needs, operational efficiencies and early risk detection, says Brandon Reich, Senior Director of Surveillance Solutions, Pivot3. Through video event management software (VEMS), hospitals can customise the statistics that are relevant to their individual buildings or campuses without having to spend extra time or money on rigorous employee training. Data capture form to appear here! Real-time access control security updates Furthermore, once healthcare facilities are able to digitise all of their patient records, secure any of their ingress and egress points with real-time access control security updates, and fully transition from analogue to IP video surveillance cameras, VEMS systems that house analytical software will be able to multiply the benefits offered to hospitals, not just in real time, but in planning ahead for future risk, expansion and safety protocols. It is vital to implement integrated and innovative access control solutions With large, complex facilities, directors of security at hospitals struggle with controlling access to various levels of the facility, according to Eric Widlitz of Vanderbilt Industries. To manage the risks that hospitals face and ensure a comprehensively protected atmosphere for patients and staff, it is vital to implement integrated and innovative access control solutions. For example, ease of access with controlled entrances is vital to medical crash teams, as is the need for a zonal access control lockdown in the event of a contagious disease outbreak. Strict access limitations Different hallways, rooms, floors and waiting areas within a hospital require different amounts of restriction, and sensitive materials, such as medical files, controlled substances and sterile environments (such as operating and procedure rooms) all necessitate an additional layer of protection. Access control in particular has advanced significantly to offer healthcare facilities the ability to control access remotely, through mobile applications, confirm identity quickly and easily and program varying levels of access for visitors, patients, doctors and staff. One area that is recently experiencing rapid growth – and drastic change – is the securing of narcotics within healthcare facilities, says Robert Laughlin, CEO and Chairman, Galaxy Control Systems. In the past, all medicine was controlled in a central pharmacy located somewhere in the hospital or health facility. These pharmacies were highly secured areas, with strict access limitations; only authorised staff could get near the medicine stocks. Fiber optic communication lines For vehicle access control, medical centers and hospitals prefer beam barricades and shallow foundation barriers To improve the speed of delivery, and to have the necessary medicines ready at hand for in-patients without retaining a large delivery staff, the current trend is to have distributed pharmaceutical closets or carts that hold medicines much closer to the intended patients. For vehicle access control, medical centers and hospitals prefer beam barricades and shallow foundation barriers, according to Gregg Hamm of Delta Scientific. Manual beam barricades are installed at the Fort Bragg Veterans Administration Hospital in North Carolina to shut down certain areas of the facility when a higher alert is sounded. They will stop a 15,000-pound vehicle traveling 50 mph. The Navy Hospital in San Diego uses high speed, high security and very shallow foundation barricades to control all vehicles going in and out of the facility. With their extremely shallow foundation, they obviate the concerns of interference with buried pipes, power lines and fiber optic communication lines. They will stop a 15,000-pound vehicle traveling 50 mph. At the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, even stronger shallow foundation barriers are used for traffic control and protection. These barriers will destroy a 65,000-pound (5.4 million foot-pounds) dump truck traveling 50 mph and continue to stand. Physical access control systems Controlling visitors to hospitals and healthcare facilities can directly impact security Controlling visitors to hospitals and healthcare facilities can directly impact security. Traditional methods of visitor management, such as paper visitor logs and handwritten badges are insufficient given today’s variety of security challenges. A hospital using paper-based systems cannot easily cross-check information, confirm patient information, check visitor names against up-to-date watch lists, or visually confirm identity. An increasingly popular and important application is secure and simplified visitor management, integrated with the physical access control systems (PACS). Today’s visitor management systems enable the screening, badging and tracking all visitors or, at a minimum, those visiting critical areas or during ‘after hours’ periods, Quickly identify inappropriate visitors One other growing technology is the ability to link to internal or governmental watch lists, to quickly identify inappropriate visitors before they gain access to the facilities. For example, Visitor Management systems can be configured to perform a Sex Offender search in both Children’s Hospitals and Pediatric areas, further decreasing the likelihood that someone of the list could gain access. Wayfinding is indoor navigation to guide a person step-by-step on the way to a desired destination HID Global and Phunware Inc. are addressing the need of healthcare institutions to deploy standardised technology to provide a better wayfinding and visitor engagement experience inside the hospital, across campus and even in parking lots. The companies are collaborating to improve the experience for hospital patients and visitors to find their way within medical facilities, using wayfinding on their mobile phones. Wayfinding is indoor navigation to guide a person step-by-step on the way to a desired destination. Enterprise-level mobile wayfinding “It’s easy for visitors and patients to get lost in hospitals, and every time they do it puts appointment times and patient satisfaction at risk,” says Rom Eizenberg, Vice President of Sales, Bluvision, part of HID Global “With our location-aware app on a mobile device, we equip the visitor to get instant, turn-by-turn navigation that creates a better experience than that which is currently available on the market.” HID’s healthcare IoT solution-enablement platform simplifies the delivery of real-time location of clinicians, patients and devices. The platform is enabled by Bluvision (part of HID Global). Phunware’s Multiscreen-as-a-Service (MaaS) platform also provides enterprise-level mobile wayfinding, engagement, data and more for other vertical markets, including retail, residential, hospitality, media and entertainment and more. Missed the rest our healthcare mini series? Read part one here and part two here.

STANLEY Security, one of the UK’s security providers, is pleased to announce it will be providing its round the clock safety monitoring and emergency response management services to Blackline Safety customers across the UK and Europe. Blackline Safety is a supplier of wirelessly connected gas detection and lone worker monitoring products. Blackline’s technology monitors for atmospheric hazards and the wellbeing of personnel working alone, whether in populated areas, indoors within complex facilities or remotely. Safety monitoring services A key part of its service is live 24/7 monitoring and wireless gas detection, helping teams working in hazardous environments by responding to emergencies in real-time and managing efficient evacuations. STANLEY Security will take over the role of safety monitoring services for Blackline in the UK Under this new partnership, STANLEY Security will take over the role of safety monitoring services for Blackline in the UK, Netherlands and Belgium this month, with a further seven countries in Europe throughout 2020. STANLEY Security will additionally provide backup support for Blackline’s Calgary-based Safety Operations Center, increasing protection for the Blackline’s North American customers. Smooth transition of monitoring and response services The choice of partners was, in a large part, due to both companies being BS 8484:2016 accredited and has made the transition of 24/7 monitoring services near seamless.  BS 8484:2016 is the Code of Practice for the Provision of Lone Worker Services, which advises on best practice when seeking a solution to reduce and/or eliminate the risk to staff operating away from the ability of colleagues to provide direct assistance. Blackline Safety Europe is the only manufacturer of gas detectors to achieve this standard. To further ensure the smooth transition of monitoring and response services, STANLEY Security has established a continuous training programme for employees across Europe.  The training not only ensures operatives have in-depth knowledge of Blackline’s emergency response protocols, products and features, but are kept up to date at all times.

Air Partner plc ('Air Partner"), the global aviation services group, has launched a unique new product, Air Partner Protect, in response to the emergence and spread of COVID-19 ("coronavirus"). The Group has recently carried out a number of evacuations on behalf of the UK government, and has seen increased demand from customers looking for similar services with enhanced safeguarding measures in place. Air Partner Protect The fast-moving and widespread nature of the disease has presented a unique and challenging set of circumstances in which to travel around the world, and individuals, governments and businesses alike are facing unforeseen hurdles as new restrictions and regulations are put into place. Air Partner Protect has been specifically curated to mitigate risk for customers flying during the coronavirus outbreak Through its broad and varied service offering, Air Partner is able to provide customers with global tailored solutions that meet multiple aviation requirements at the same time. Air Partner Protect has been specifically curated to mitigate risk for customers flying during the coronavirus outbreak, while offering expert advice and reassurance. Enhanced Security Screening Air Partner's dedicated Safety & Security division Redline can provide its own security operatives and equipment to carry out security screening where it is not available through the normal channels due to infection concerns. Air Partner works with approved operators to ensure aircraft and crew comply with recommended procedures around coronavirus (in addition to the stringent health and safety processes already in place). This includes ensuring aircraft have been deep cleaned and crew is following strict hygiene precautions.  Quick response evacuation and emergency medical support Using its exceptional relationships with operators globally, Air Partner can offer an extremely fast solution to evacuate any number of people from anywhere in the world, as evidenced by its recent work with the government's Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO). Air Partner's partnership with Northcott Global Solutions (NGS) provides customers with a quick and professional response to medical issues, emergency or routine, wherever they are in the world, 24/7. COVID-19 monitoring, updates and advice Working with partner NGS, the Air Partner team is kept fully briefed on all coronavirus developments, so that they can keep customers up to date on all the latest information and advice relating to their flights. Air Partner always monitors all of its customers' flights from start to finish, and the team can be reached 24/7, 365 days a year, for added reassurance. Bespoke safety solutions Customers are concerned and we have launched Air Partner Protect in response to growing demand" Commenting on the launch of Air Partner Protect, Air Partner CEO Mark Briffa said, "Coronavirus continues to affect communities around the world and global travel and transportation are becomingly increasingly challenging as new measures are brought in to try and limit the spread of infection. Customers are understandably concerned and we have launched Air Partner Protect in response to growing demand." Mark adds, “As a global aviation services group, we are already able to offer bespoke solutions spanning Charter, Consultancy & Training and Safety & Security so that customers can source everything in one place. Air Partner Protect goes one step further by ensuring that customers are safeguarded as much as possible when using our services at this difficult time." Fully-integrated solution Air Partner's collaborative and holistic approach was demonstrated when the Group supported the FCO's recent evacuation and repatriation of UK and Irish nationals onboard the cruise ship quarantined off the coast of Yokohama in Japan. The Group Charter, Freight and Redline teams worked together to deliver a fully-integrated solution for the multi-faceted project, which involved evacuating 32 people in line with all Public Health England health and safety protocols, security screening these passengers and their baggage ahead of the flight from Tokyo to the UK, and transporting cargo.

Valdosta Regional Airport in Valdosta, Georgia offers three daily commercial flights to and from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, along with general aviation. The airport contains three runways, two of which are used by commercial aircraft. The airport offers ground transportation, free parking, a Subway restaurant, and many other services such as hangar space and flight training to name a few. Previously, Valdosta Regional Airport operated a legacy Matrix access control system. The proprietary system, including the readers, panels and software, was outdated, making it difficult and expensive to obtain replacement parts. Building automation systems Looking for an open solution, Valdosta Regional Airport turned to Allcom Global Services for their expertise and upgraded to AMAG Technology’s Symmetry SR Retrofit Access Control system with HID readers. “Symmetry integrates into various video, intrusion and building automation systems,” said Kevin Cioffi, vice president, Allcom Global Services. Valdosta has more freedom to research competitive pricing and alternative options" “By choosing an open system, Valdosta has more freedom to research competitive pricing and alternative options. We are thrilled they have chosen Allcom. We gutted all the circuit boards and changed them to the Symmetry panels,” said Tim Register, operations manager/airport security coordinator, Valdosta Regional Airport. “We kept the antennas and how the data was transmitted. All the mounts stayed the same; we just swapped in Symmetry and it worked.” Integrating different technologies Symmetry controls access to the perimeter of the airport including the vehicle access gates and all outside doors facing the Security Identification Display Area (SIDA). The SIDA includes all areas that have access to the commercial apron and tarmac. The SIDA also requires a reader with a PIN-plus-card swipe to open, which make up 75% of the airport’s readers. The remaining Airport Operations Areas (AOA) require only a proximity card swipe to open, which are mostly internal doors and the main entrance. Thirty-two new HID proximity card readers were installed in total. To get the open system the airport required, Valdosta Regional Airport replaced older panels with Symmetry SR panels. As the Symmetry system changes or expands, integrating different technologies or adding more readers will be easy and less expensive. More economical approach The simple job of creating a badge for a user was cumbersome and time consuming with their old system The security operators found Symmetry much easier to learn and use, saving money and hours in training time. The simple job of creating a badge for a user was cumbersome and time consuming with their old system. With Symmetry, badges are created on demand, onsite, with no hassle or extra charge. “Symmetry provided us a more economical approach to facilitate the same thing we used to do with a more expensive, proprietary system,” said Register. “It is much easier to create a badge with Symmetry.” Life flight helicopter Airport authority employees, TSA, airline employees, fixed based operators, life flight helicopter and fixed wing aircraft are all protected by Symmetry. In addition to the perimeter, Symmetry controls access to all work areas within the airport and to the hangars located inside the perimeter fence. “An incident happened one Sunday morning where a car hit a pole and brought the power down,” said Tim Register. “If we were operating the Matrix system, it would have been down for hours. Our Symmetry system was only down minutes.”

Norfolk and Suffolk Constabularies have purchased nearly 4,000 Sepura SC21 TETRA radios in a joint force investment, equipping their officers with powerful, compact critical communication devices. The decision to invest in Sepura radios followed a thorough trial by both forces, from which users gave the SC21 their enthusiastic approval, and a comprehensive business case analysis, covering support, pricing and evolution of the product. Allowing clear communication The SC21 is a compact version of Sepura’s SC20 radio, combining high levels of robustness and functionality without compromising on performance. This was backed up by users on the trial, who praised in the SC21 in particular for its rich, clear audio, allowing clear communication even in noisy environments, as well as the compact design which takes up a minimum of space on an officer’s uniform. Officers also praised the excellent battery life and robust design of the radio, while commentating that the intelligent user interface made it quick and easy to perform primary functions. T/Assistant Chief Constable Steve Mattin, Joint Protective Services Lead, welcomed the rollout saying: “Good communications is fundamental to our policing service and the SC21 will provide us with the support we need to give the best policing service we can to our communities.” Installation of charging equipment The SC21 is part of Sepura’s SC Series of radios, featuring hand portable and mobile radios “After considering the options available to us it was clear that Sepura’s SC21 was the unanimous choice of both our front line officers and our operations teams. Sepura’s support is outstanding and they are working closely with us to help manage our transition to the new devices, including assisting with training and the installation of charging equipment, ensuring that our staff will be fully prepared for the transition.” Says David Woods, Joint ICT airwave specialist for Norfolk and Suffolk Constabularies. “We have seen many UK organisations adopt SC Series radios from Sepura as they look to equip their users with modern, powerful devices to support their operations. The SC21 is unique in the market in having such advanced features in a compact device and as such offers both Suffolk and Norfolk Constabulary users the best of both worlds.” Says Dawn Griffiths, Business Development Manager at Sepura. The SC21 is part of Sepura’s SC Series of radios, featuring hand portable and mobile radios, supplemented by powerful applications and flexible accessories to support public safety officers communicate efficiently. Sepura are the supplier to UK police forces as well as many other police forces in Europe and throughout the world.

Air Partner plc, the global aviation services group, worked alongside the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to deliver a unique, fully-integrated and holistic solution for the evacuation and repatriation of UK and Irish nationals onboard the cruise ship quarantined off the coast of Yokohama in Japan. The project was complex, challenging and time sensitive, made more demanding by the requirement for the FCO to carry out the security screening of all passengers and their baggage in Tokyo before they could board the flight back to the UK. Throughout the planning phase and operational delivery, employees from across the Air Partner Group worked closely with the FCO, the operating airline, the Department for Transport (DFT) and the Spanish Civil Aviation Authority to obtain the numerous authorisations and approvals needed to complete the project on time. Optimally configured airline Air Partner’s Group Charter team chartered a Boeing 747-400 to carry out the flight from Tokyo Haneda to Boscombe Down in the UK, ensuring that the aircraft was optimally configured. The upper deck was designated for crew rest only to clearly segregate the evacuees and the flight crew, and there was also a separate section in the nose of the aircraft that could be used as an isolation zone for passengers. Redline mobilised its security experts from its rapid deployment team (RDT) within two hours of the project Redline Assured Security (“Redline”), Air Partner’s recently acquired Safety & Security division, endorsed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), and the UK Department for Transport (DFT), worked hand in hand with the FCO on all matters pertaining to security clearances and the security screening of passengers and their baggage in Tokyo. Rapid deployment team Redline mobilised its security experts from its rapid deployment team (RDT) within two hours of the project being given the go-ahead and arranged for them to be deployed to Tokyo on the positioning flight from Madrid on 20 February, along with the necessary scanning equipment. The Group’s Freight team worked alongside Redline to charter a Metroliner freighter to transport the equipment directly from Redline’s National Security Training Centre at Doncaster Sheffield Airport to Madrid ahead of this. The operatives were appropriately attired in protective clothing at all times. The evacuation flight departed Tokyo Haneda at 07:57 on Friday 21 February (local time) and arrived into Boscombe Down in Wiltshire at 11:41 on Saturday 22 February (local time), carrying 32 passengers safely home. Fully-integrated solution  This was a multifaceted and time sensitive project and I am immensely proud of the work our colleagues undertook" Mark Briffa, CEO at Air Partner, commented, “Unfortunately, the spread of Coronavirus has continued at pace and our thoughts remain with everyone affected. We were pleased that we could play a role in the FCO’s mission to swiftly and safely repatriate British and Irish nationals quarantined on the cruise ship in Japan. Our Group Charter and Safety & Security divisions were in a unique position to deliver a fully-integrated solution to make this happen.” “This was a multifaceted and time sensitive project and I am immensely proud of the work our colleagues undertook to ensure 32 UK and Irish nationals onboard the ship could return to the UK. By offering this holistic solution, which combines Charter and Safety & Security, with appropriate international accreditations and approvals in place, we are ideally placed to meet our customers’ diverse aviation requirements in fast-moving crisis situations.” Yokohama cruise ship evacuation “We continue to work with customers to provide our range of aviation services in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak and remain on standby to assist in any way we can.” The Yokohama cruise ship evacuation follows a project earlier in which Air Partner flew medical supplies to Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, and evacuated over 300 British and EU nationals from the city.

C-TEC’s powerful new Quantec Surveyor2 Cloud-based data management software has been installed at Croft House Care Home in Yorkshire. With its capacity to generate reports on busiest shifts, call response times, most frequently visited rooms and more, the owners and managers of the facility, Victoria and Giles Bateman say that Surveyor2 has revolutionised operations at their family-run residential care home, recently rated outstanding in care by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Covering different time periods Said Victoria Bateman: “Providing outstanding care is fundamental to our core values and we are constantly asking for feedback from our residents. One area we identified as being vital to our residents feeling safe in their environment is their use of our Quantec addressable call system. The ability to make a call to a carer for help and be responded to in a timely fashion is very important to them and therefore very important to us too.” We’ve been able to monitor and analyse the use of our call system on a daily, weekly and monthly basis" “Since Surveyor2 was installed, we’ve been able to monitor and analyse the use of our call system on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. We can print a variety of reports, covering different time periods, so we can see which of our 29 residents are calling, at what times of the day and, most importantly, our response times to those calls. We can also see, via the user dashboard, all live call system activity so we are aware of any potential issues before they become a problem.” Secure cloud-based system “Minimum and maximum response times have been set for each type of call, via the KPI (Key Performance Indicator) settings facility, to allow us to pinpoint where we need extra staff at busy times or identify areas where further training is required. We can also see which residents require more time, again allowing us to plan and allocate staff in the most effective way.” “Reports highlighting how often individual residents call has helped us identify times when they feel more anxious and we have been able to address those concerns.” A secure Cloud-based system, Surveyor2 also allows email notifications to be sent to Croft House’s management team so they can monitor response times when not on site. Recognising areas of improvement As the system has remote access capabilities and displays ‘real-time’, call, reset and room occupancy information, the senior member of staff on shift can view the status of all current calls and respond accordingly if a call is taking too long to be answered. Our staff are all aware that we monitor response times and that they are accountable for their actions" Says Giles Bateman: “Our staff are all aware that we monitor response times and that they are accountable for their actions. Teams and different shifts are rewarded for excellent response times and areas of improvement recognised. Overall the system allows us to feel confident that our residents are receiving timely help when they ask for it.” Easy-to-use addressable call system Says Kelly Flaherty, Deputy Manager at the home: “Surveyor2 has proved invaluable to us in reassuring patients, their relatives and regulatory authorities that we are delivering the highest standards of care and, during future inspections, will provide vital evidence that we are responsive, effective and caring, that all our residents are safe and that our facility is extremely well led and organised.” Surveyor2 is designed to work with Quantec, C-TEC’s powerful yet easy-to-use addressable call system. With its flexible call routing, multiple call levels and laptop programmable systems controller, the system can be tailored to suit the exact operational needs of any building.

The new year is several weeks old, so it is safe to say that many of our New Year resolutions have fallen by the wayside. Despite the limited success of our personal resolutions, the new year is a great time to take stock, look ahead, and plan to make 2020 the best year yet. Thinking about our industry as a whole, we asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What should be the security industry’s “New Year’s resolution?” 

People are an essential component of any physical security system. Automation hasn’t taken over completely yet! But how has innovation changed the skillsets security operators need to operate systems effectively? The two elements – technology and manpower – must operate seamlessly and hand-in-glove to ensure that modern systems live up to their full potential. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How does technology innovation in security systems impact the skillsets needed by security operators and officers?

Technology advancements often come with new terms and definitions. The language of our marketplace evolves to include new words that describe innovations in the industry. In the skilled hands of marketers, terms intended to be descriptive can also take a new element of ‘buzz,’ often presaging exciting developments that will drive the future. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable:  What new buzzword have you heard, and what does it mean for the industry?