Video management software

Motorola Solutions announced the newest addition to its video security and analytics portfolio, the Compass Decision Management System™ (Compass). Compass provides organisations with security intelligence that helps users prevent human error by outlining standard procedures, automating incident reporting, and highlighting key performance indicators to achieve effective and consistent outcomes.  Real-time event response By enabling security managers to customize step-by-step procedures that guide their teams, Compass advises on how to best respond to real-time events such as intercom calls, intrusion and fire alarms, video analytic events, or addressing a technical issue. This is aided by video streams and audio calls so that users can provide prescriptive and consistent responses to incidents. Video management and access technologies In addition, Compass integrates with Motorola Solutions’ video management and access control systems to improve the consistency and effectiveness of their team’s responses. By integrating with Avigilon Control Center, Avigilon Access Control Manager, Pelco VideoXpert, and IndigoVision Control Center, Compass becomes a key element of a combined solution of video management, access control, and decision management.  Effective and efficient Compass with video management and access control solutions can help organisations gain full visibility " “Motorola Solutions is delivering the technologies that companies need to achieve their security goals,” said John Kedzierski, senior vice president of Video Security & Analytics at Motorola Solutions. “By combining Compass with our video management and access control solutions, organisations can gain full visibility into their security operations and enable them to be efficient and effective in every response.” The introduction of Compass is a part of Motorola Solutions’ ongoing commitment to the integration of security technologies that remove system silos and simplify workflows to provide unparalleled safety, efficiency and productivity. 

Eagle Eye Networks, the global pioneer in cloud video surveillance showcases solutions for its reseller partners serving enterprise and multisite customers at ISC West 2021. The show will take place from July 19-21.  Eagle Eye Networks resellers comprise small independents, regionals, as well as larger nationals. “Our resellers brought more enterprise and multisite customers during the pandemic, and we are seeing this trend continue unabated in the first half of 2021 as vaccination rates rise and North America returns to work,” said Dean Drako, CEO of Eagle Eye Networks. Investments in cloud surveillance solutions According to a report from research organisation Gartner, businesses around the globe are expected to spend $304.9 billion on public cloud services in 2021, representing an 18.4% increase over 2020. Organisations are hastening their digital business transformation plans spurred on by on-demand, scalable cloud models that achieve cost efficiency and business continuity, the report said.  At ISC West, current and prospective customers are invited to stop by Booth 11047, where the Eagle Eye Networks team will be on hand to discuss how a true cloud video surveillance platform can reliably meet the requirements of enterprise customers while delivering cybersecurity assurance, business intelligence, and importantly, the flexibility to change and scale systems to ensure investments are future-proof. AI and surveillance offerings Eagle Eye offers:  Technical, cybersecurity, customer service, and sales expertise and support from a global organisation. Eagle Eye’s knowledgeable staff and resources are in regions across North America and around the globe to serve our valued customers.  Video surveillance with artificial intelligence (AI) which offers limitless possibilities for keeping communities secure and engaged, helping business improve operations and customer service, and enabling manufacturers to build higher quality products in safer environments. New products such as the Eagle Eye 4G, Direct-to-Cloud Body Camera for the commercial market which extends a video surveillance system to improve staff safety and accountability, trigger an immediate response and provide valuable evidence, all while protecting assets and keeping communities safe. Eagle Eye Networks Open API platform that enables integration such as Licence Plate Recognition so users can easily manage access to gates and barriers, and search images, videos, and information with a centralised system, and access control so that security professionals can manage events in real-time with streamlined access control and video surveillance from a single user interface.

According to the latest report, from research organisation – Omdia, Genetec Inc, a globally renowned technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence solutions, has once again been recognised as the fastest-growing access control software provider in the world. The report shows Genetec displacing traditional access control vendors, and claiming the number two position globally (up from 4th in 2019). Access control software provider “While the global access control software market was hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and declined in 2020, Genetec grew by more than 30% globally, gaining ground in both the Americas region and becoming a top 10 vendor in EMEA,” said Bryan Montany, Physical Security Analyst at Omdia. Genetec credits its continued growth to the strength of its unified security platform, Security Center, which features access control solutions that easily tie in with video surveillance, ALPR, analytics, and more. Traditionally a proprietary market, the access control industry has now shifted to a more open one with customers looking to migrate to a cyber-secure open-architecture access control solution that allows them to choose hardware that is best suited to their needs. Security Center Synergis Security Center Synergis connects to a large and growing selection of third-party access control devices As a truly open system, Security Center Synergis, connects to a large and growing selection of third-party access control devices. This allows organisations to choose the hardware that addresses their security needs and objectives, while avoiding the long-term setbacks of closed solutions. Seamlessly unified with video and other security systems, Synergis delivers operational and security insights, there by leading to more informed decisions and improved operations. Upgrading to latest support technology  With Synergis, organisations can upgrade to the latest supported technology at any time, move at their own pace, and work within their available budget. Synergis is designed to evolve with a customer’s changing needs, simplifying their migration process, while providing a return on their investment. “While many traditional access control vendors have gone through mergers and acquisitions to maintain market share, Genetec has grown organically, taking a radically different approach with innovative, nonproprietary solutions that meet the needs of this rapidly transforming market,” said Guy Chenard, Chief Commercial Officer, Genetec, Inc. #1 in video surveillance software According to another recently published Omdia report (Video Surveillance & Analytics Market Share Database – 2021, Genetec was recognised as #1 in video surveillance software globally, outpacing market growth, in both VMS and Windows-based recorders categories. These figures coupled with the company’s global growth in access control software, underscore its market leadership and the benefits of a unified platform.

ONVIF, the renowned global standardisation initiative for IP-based physical security products and solutions company, has released Profile D, a new profile that addresses interfaces for access control peripheral devices, providing the market with an additional tool for building modern and secure IP-based integrated video and access control systems, using ONVIF. Profile D Profile D is designed to provide ONVIF interoperability for peripheral devices such as locks, credential/biometric readers, PIN pads, licence plate recognition cameras, door phones, sensors and displays. These types of peripherals commonly require specific integrations between products from different vendors, to be able to incorporate them into an access control management platform. “Users are increasingly looking to incorporate additional technologies into their access control systems for use in innovative ways, such as bar code reading cameras for visitor management or video door stations for intercom applications,” said Patrik Björling, Chair of the ONVIF Profile D Working Group. Meeting demand for interoperability Profile D provides a standardised way to satisfy this demand for interoperability" Patrik Björling adds, “Profile D provides a standardised way to satisfy this demand for interoperability, which can in turn drive additional opportunities for more use cases for peripheral devices.” Using Profile D, a peripheral device, such as a wireless lock or licence plate recognition camera, can pass credential identifiers to a securely located Profile D conformant client, such as an access control unit or management software. Client or controller The client or controller, which stores access rules, schedules and credentials, can then take the access decision and send a command back to the peripheral device, to either grant or deny access, display a message or request additional input, such as a PIN code. Having sensitive information on a separate controller in a secured area enhances security. Communications between the device and client are secured using ONVIF security protocols, such as TLS. Profile D specification The Profile D specification enables a conformant client to configure a conformant device with the necessary data, such as which door and access point the device is responsible for, as well as to configure a list of allowed or blocked credential identifiers in a device that supports this capability. ONVIF Profile D complements Profile A and Profile C in enabling standardised communications in an IP-based electronic access control system. Profile D devices can also support video profiles, such as Profile T and Profile M to enable an integrated video and access control system using ONVIF interfaces. ONVIF-conformant devices Such devices include a door phone that combines a reader and lock with audio/video intercom, or an IP camera Such devices include a door phone that combines a reader and lock with audio/video intercom, or an IP camera with a relay output connected to a lock that can be used by a guard to visually identify a visitor and remotely unlock the door. Founded in 2008, ONVIF is a well-recognised industry forum driving interoperability for IP-based physical security products. The organisation has a global member base of established camera, video management system and access control companies and more than 20,000 profile conformant products. ONVIF profiles In addition to Profile D, ONVIF offers Profile S for streaming video; Profile G for video recording and storage; Profile C for physical access control; Profile Q for improved out-of-the-box functionality, Profile A for broader access control configuration, Profile T for advanced video streaming, and Profile M for metadata and events for analytics applications. ONVIF continues to work with its members to expand the number of IP interoperability solutions that ONVIF-conformant products can provide.

3xLOGIC, Inc., a globally renowned provider of integrated, intelligent security solutions, will be attending ISC West 2021, taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada, from July 19-21, 2021. The company will be demonstrating its innovative security solutions, including its new Gunshot Detection Solution, which was named best new product in the Law Enforcement/Public Safety/Guarding Systems category of the 2021 SIA New Product Showcase. Self-contained gun detection device Rather than utilising microphones, infrared sensors, or complex analytics, the self-contained device relies on simple concussive force recognition sensors to detect gunshots. When a gun is fired, the bullet creates a shockwave as it exits the barrel of the gun and travels through the air. This shockwave creates a unique concussive force that the 3xLOGIC solution is able to detect. Because the solution can be integrated with video, access control, and intrusion systems, it can provide early alerting and insights into an event, allowing first responders to de-escalate an active shooter situation quickly. VIGIL CLOUD 3xLOGIC will also be demonstrating VIGIL CLOUD, which expands the company’s ecosystem into the Cloud with features designed to harness the power, scalability, and ease of use that are all hallmarks of cloud services. Building on 20-plus years of experience recording and managing video, VIGIL CLOUD provides end-users with the ability to view, manage, and share video from anywhere, at any time, on any device. VX-5M20-B-RIAL camera The VX-5M20-B-RIAL camera offers a remote zoom lens, 5 MP resolution, and a visible light lens filter The company will also be showcasing its licence plate capture camera, which is designed for scaled-down applications, in which post-event investigations require precise imaging, to identify licence plates. The VX-5M20-B-RIAL camera offers a remote zoom lens, 5 MP resolution, and a visible light lens filter that allows IR light band to pass. This allows the camera to effectively and accurately capture licence plates day or night for video review post-event. ISC West 2021 In addition to product offerings, 3xLOGIC will participate in an educational session – ‘Cloud Security Made Powerful, Simple, and Secure: The True Advantages of a Natively Developed Cloud Solution’ – as part of the SIA Education@ISC programme, at ISC West 2021. This session aims to provide insights into how developed-for-the-cloud solutions are uniquely equipped to address business owners’ new expectations, growing challenges, and ever-changing network and data security considerations. The session is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, July 20, at 1:15 p.m.

Maxxess (MAXXESS Systems, Inc.) is targeting increasing demand across the Middle East and North Africa regions for affordable, seamlessly integrated systems and visitor management solutions, with the appointment of Issam Alhamadam as Business Development Manager (BDM) for the MENA region. He joins the company at a time of exciting growth for its eFusion and eVisitor technology, with a number of major projects in the pipeline. The market is being boosted by a drive towards diversification across the Gulf States and a progressive focus on running buildings more carbon-efficiently. Deploying integrated solutions “The acceleration we are now seeing is being driven by demand for more efficient operations, enabled by powerful yet simple-to-implement integrated solutions that eliminate gaps in security and automate, and standardise processes,” said Issam Alhamadam, who brings with him more than a decade of experience working on access, video, and security projects with major vendors in the region. Issam Alhamadam adds, “As customers look to streamline their operations and adapt to fast-changing market conditions, increasingly they appreciate the benefits of being able control all their systems from a single, user-friendly interface. At the same time, they understand the importance of achieving a low total cost of ownership and identifying solutions that give them long term value and sustainability.” eFusion technology eFusion technology enables comprehensive, seamless integration of security and building systems eFusion technology enables comprehensive, seamless integration of security and building systems, plus front-of-house services, in diverse industries and settings, ranging from hotels and hospitality to healthcare, education, transportation and logistics, and mixed-use developments. The technology’s feature-rich access control software can be integrated with a wide range of best-in-breed systems and technologies, video surveillance, fire, intruder, building management and other security, safety and site-specific applications and hardware. In the hotel and hospitality sectors, eFusion is now favoured by customers because of its off-the-shelf integration to leading hotel management software. This allows front-of-house and back-of-house teams to work seamlessly, enabling reception staff to securely check-in guests and authorise room and leisure access, while delivering in-room dining, housekeeping, concierge, and other services more efficiently to ensure an enhanced guest experience. Secure and efficient visitor management Maxxess eVisitor enables secure, efficient management of visitors, including staff, contractors, guests, and the public, with pre-bookings, streamlined identification and verification processes that ensure smooth arrivals, car parking and meeting room access. Crucially, eVisitor now also gives customers a range of hygienic, frictionless, and touchless tools, including mobile access control, which allows authorised visitors to pass through security with QR codes or at the simple wave of a hand, or tap on their smartphones. MENA expansion plan “We’re delighted to welcome Issam to the Maxxess family,” said Lee Copland, the Managing Director for the EMEA region at Maxxess, adding “He joins us at a particularly exciting time, when much of the region is embarking on major government-backed and transformational programmes. Issam’s experience and industry knowledge will support our regional expansion plans and he’s already working closely with our network of consultants and systems integrators on some of the most important projects that we’ve delivered so far.”

Prices and delivery times for essential components in CCTV systems are being driven up as demand soars from other industries. Secure Logiq’s Robin Hughes explains the current state of the market. Challenges Component shortages and supply chain challenges are a hot topic in just about every industry based on semi-conductors and silicon chips right now, and security is no exception. It’s common knowledge that the global Covid lockdown caused a shutdown in the mining of silicon and spherites as large industries such as motor manufacturing cancelled or postponed their chip orders – this has caused a supply gap that every industry is feeling. However, there is a second challenge that is hitting the security sector particularly hard, and it may not be one you are expecting – cryptocurrencies. Cryptocurrencies and security When people discuss cryptocurrencies and security, thoughts often turn to cybersecurity and ransomware payment tracking. But the issue for the majority of the security industry comes from crypto mining. When it comes to cryptocurrencies, GPUs are intrinsic for ‘proof of work’ mining GPUs (Graphics Processing Units) are a key component in CCTV, they decode images and display them onto screens. With the increase of video analytics, these have also become key to running the complicated algorithms required for creating the metadata and presenting it in a meaningful way for end-users. However, when it comes to cryptocurrencies, GPUs are intrinsic for ‘proof of work’ mining. Demand for GPUs When Bitcoin prices were relatively low, it was hard to justify the cost of a GPU and the associated power consumption for Bitcoin mining applications. But as the price of Bitcoin has increased exponentially, demand for GPUs to do the number-crunching has grown dramatically causing a major shortage and huge price hikes. This rise in prices is not correlated with an increase in technological performance on the new GPUs, it is entirely a case of demand outstripping supply and a resulting bidding war. To put this in context, cards are currently going new for around twice the original price and manufacturers simply cannot keep up with the demand. Chia On top of this, there is a new cryptocurrency creating a new threat to a different part of the CCTV industry. A new ‘environmental’ cryptocurrency called Chia has dispensed with the processing power and electricity demands of traditional GPU mining, instead of utilising the spare storage space on hard drives (HDD) to verify blockchain transactions (‘proof of space’). The demand for this particular cryptocurrency has to date called on 30 Exabytes of storage since May this year – that’s 30 Billion Gigabytes of data, and it’s not just HDDs, high-capacity SSDs are also in demand. This is causing massive hard drive supply issues globally, thus rocketing prices for those that are available. HDD consumption The security industry sits comfortably in the ‘Big data’ category and with storage retention times running from 30 days to 6 months Of course, this has a particularly large knock-on for the CCTV market. There is nothing more data-intensive than video, other than multiple streams of HD video. With this in mind, the security industry sits comfortably in the ‘Big data’ category and with storage retention times running from 30 days typically up to 6 months and longer in some regions/applications, the CCTV market consumes more HDDs than many other markets. Growth of data centres While you would think that this would make security an important area for HDD manufacturers, our market is a relatively small player. IT vendors will always focus on their core customers, and the rise of the gaming market, as well as the growth of data centres due to remote working in the pandemic, has created a more important sector to serve – and these customers will always come first. Imagine the daily storage space required if 5 Billion people uploaded just one image a day to ‘the cloud’! Component manufacturers These factors combined with the lack of raw materials leading to longer lead times for component manufacturers mean that the prices for hard drives and GPUs are likely to remain inflated well into 2022 while factories play catch up on the backlog. The market for IT hardware is currently strong enough to continue even with the increase in component prices and the extended lead times for products. If you can get your hands on any HDDs, the delivery times from most distributors are around 6-8 weeks. Increased delivery times All of this has had a serious impact on the security industry. CCTV projects are now facing the combined issue of increased delivery times and higher costs. Many manufacturers, integrators, and distributors are doing their best to absorb the price increases where they can, but this is unsustainable over the long term. So what can be done? Second-hand applications Some people are getting more creative by purchasing from the second-hand market Some people are getting more creative by purchasing from the second-hand market. However, it is unlikely that commercial applications will be willing to risk potential downtime or data losses by using second-hand components that have been pushed hard for months on end mining cryptocurrencies. Making early purchases While I can’t comment on what other manufacturers have done, at Secure Logiq we have been watching this market trend closely. We always try to keep a close eye on anything that has the potential to significantly impact our manufacturing capabilities and try to offset any potential challenges with early purchases before the impact is fully felt. As such, we have been able to secure enough products to continue manufacturing as normal for more than six months. Increased demand as a challenge While we have this existing stock to meet current and anticipated orders, we continue to scour the market for any available stock to make sure we are at the top of the list when any fresh products come on the market. This has meant that throughout our 10-year history we have never failed to deliver a customer order within 7-10 working days. The delays with component manufacture and the ongoing increased demand will continue to present a huge challenge to the CCTV and wider security industry. However, good planning and intelligent design will allow projects to remain on track. Security technology manufacturers are not alone in this challenge, but the dual-threat is perhaps unique. It will take a while for this threat to be overcome, but with robust planning and by paying close attention to the market forward-thinking CCTV manufacturers can still deliver projects for their clients.

The global biometrics market has been recently developing rapidly, and this trend will continue shortly. If in 2018 its volume was estimated at $23.4 billion, according to the forecast of the analytical company BCC Research, the market size may increase to $71.6 billion with an average annual growth rate of 23.2 % by 2024. Fingerprint scanning, facial recognition, iris, vein, and voice technologies are expected to be implemented at the fastest pace. The analysis is based on the revenue indicators of key players depending on segments, including hardware, software, and integration. Biometric electronic documents Another analytical Agency, Acuity Research, estimates that the number of biometric electronic IDs will increase by about 3.5 billion electronic documents in the world. Moreover, more than half of the UN member States issue biometric passports. Government and private contracts of Canada, the United States, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Lithuania, Hungary, Bangladesh, Senegal, and other countries are examples of implementation of programs for the transition to biometric electronic documents. Government organisations in various countries believe that biometrics is one of the most effective ways to identify refugees and those who cross the border. Now there are a lot of projects which are based on biometric technology. Biometric identification system Perhaps one of the most ambitious is the Aadhaar project being implemented in India Perhaps one of the most ambitious is the Aadhaar project being implemented in India. It is a biometric identification system that contains the data of more than a billion people. The database contains about 10 billion fingerprint templates, two billion iris templates, and a billion photos. There is another ambitious project at the Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where RecFaces company has implemented a passenger facial identification ready-made solution, that helps the security guards to receive notifications about airport visitors in just a few seconds and increase the efficiency of security services at least by 30%. The introduction of biometric identification of passengers aimed at increasing the level of airport security, as well as quickly obtaining information about the detection of wanted persons, stored in the long-term archive. Automated control gates As another example, face match is used at border checks to compare the portrait on a digitised biometric passport with the holder's face. In 2017, Thales company was responsible for supplying the new automated control gates for the system of Automated Fast Track Crossing at External Borders at Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. This solution has been devised to facilitate evolution from fingerprint recognition to facial recognition This solution has been devised to facilitate evolution from fingerprint recognition to facial recognition during. Governmental systems, SmartCity, airports projects using identification technologies day by day become our reality and influence the growth of the biometrics market globally. Countries are studying the experience of each other and adopting it. Paperless payment technologies The global market of biometrics will shift all industries, starting from the transportation facilities especially airports, where a transition from traditional VMS and ACS to paperless biometric self-Boarding systems will be carried out. Sports facilities will see the development of paperless payment technologies at cash desks, and the banking sector — the payment systems with remote customer identification. HoReCa will transfer from staff time tracking systems to biometric payment systems, biometric check—in systems and the use of biometric identifiers. To sum up there are two most significant drivers of this growth are surveillance in the public sector and numerous other applications in diverse market segments.

Several major players vigorously employ biometric recognition technologies around the globe. Governments use biometrics to control immigration, security, and create national databases of biometric profiles. Being one of the most striking examples, the Indian Aadhaar includes face photos, iris, and fingerprints of about 1.2 billion people. Financial institutions, on their part, make use of biometrics to protect transactions by confirming a client's identity, as well as develop and provide services without clients visiting the office. Besides, biometric technology ensures security and optimises passenger traffic at transport facilities and collects data about customers, and investigates theft and other incidents in retail stores. Widespread use of biometrics Business, which suddenly boosted the development of biometrics, is an active user of biometric technology Business, which suddenly boosted the development of biometrics, is another active user of biometric technology. Industries choose biometric systems, as these systems are impossible to trick in terms of security, access control, and data protection. Being in demand in business, these three tasks are also relevant for the industry. However, the use of biometrics at industrial sites is discussed unfairly seldom. Therefore, it is the face identification that is the most convenient there, as workers often use gloves, or their hands may be contaminated, and the palm pattern is distorted by heavy labour. All these features make it difficult to recognise people by fingerprints or veins and significantly reduce identification reliability. Therefore, industries seek facial recognition solutions. Thus, let us demonstrate the application of face recognition technology at different enterprises, regardless of the area. Facial recognition use in incident management Facial biometric products are known to automate and improve the efficiency of security services by enriching any VMS system. These systems provide an opportunity of instantly informing the operator about recognised or unrecognised people, and their list membership, as well as save all the detected images for further security incident investigation. Furthermore, some sophisticated facial biometric systems even provide an opportunity to build a map of the movements of specific people around a site. Besides, it is relevant not only for conducting investigations but also in countering the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Identifying and tracking COVID-19 positive cases Therefore, if an employee or visitor with a positive COVID-19 test enters a facility, the system will help to track his/her movement and identify his/her specific location. It will also help to take the necessary measures for spot sanitary processing. Thus, the introduction of biometric facial recognition at the industrial enterprise can improve and speed up the incidents’ response and investigations without spending hours watching the video archive. Access control system to secure physical assets The right access control system can help industries secure physical and informational assets The right access control system can help industries secure physical and informational assets, cut personnel costs, and keep employees safe. Facial recognition systems may enrich access control systems of any company by providing more security. As biometric characteristics, by which the system assesses the compliance of a person with the available profiles in the database, cannot be faked or passed. The human factor is also reduced to zero, due to the fact that while identity documents can be changed, the inspector can make a mistake or treat his/her task carelessly, be in collusion with an intruder, the biometric system simply compares a person in front of the camera with the biometric profiles database. Biometric facial identification software For example, RecFaces product Id-Gate, a specialised software product for reliable access control to the site, checks the access rights by using biometric facial identification alone or in conjunction with traditional IDs (electronic passes, access keys, etc.), which means that there is almost a zero probability of passing to the site by someone else's ID. The access control system’s functionality allows one to strictly account the number and time of all the facility’s visitors and also track their movement. When unauthorised access is attempted or a person from the stop list is detected, Id-Gate sends an automatic notification to the access control system and operator. Enhanced data and information security Even despite the division of access to different industrial enterprise areas, the security service needs to provide independent information system security. Employees with the same facility access rights may have different access rights to data. However, in that case, a personal password is not enough, as an employee may forget it, write it down and leave it as a reminder, tell a colleague to do something for him/her during the vacation, or just enter it at another person’s presence. Password-free biometric authentication systems make the procedure user-friendly and secure Password-free biometric authentication Password-free biometric authentication systems make the procedure user-friendly and secure. Such systems usually provide an option of two-step verification when successful password entry is additionally confirmed by biometric recognition. Hence, it is particularly relevant due to the current lockdown in many countries. To sum up, the application of biometric technologies solves several issues of the industry, such as: Optimises and partially automates the work of the security service, as it provides reliable identification and verification of visitors/employees, reduces the amount of time spent on finding a person on video and making a map of his/her movements, without spending hours on watching video archive in case of investigation. Provides a high level of reliability and protection from unauthorised access to the enterprise and the information system. Provides a two-step verification of the user/visitor (including password and biometric data) and almost eliminates the risk of substitution of user data/ID.

Growth is accelerating in the smart cities market, which will quadruple in the next four years based on 2020 numbers. Top priorities are resilient energy and infrastructure projects, followed by data-driven public safety and intelligent transportation. Innovation in smart cities will come from the continual maturation of relevant technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), fifth-generation telecommunications (5G) and edge-to-cloud networking. AI and computer vision (video analytics) are driving challenges in security and safety, in particular, with video management systems (VMSs) capturing video streams and exposing them to various AI analytics. Adoption of disruptive technologies “Cities are entering the critical part of the adoption curve,” said Kasia Hanson, Global Director, Partner Sales, IOT Video, Safe Cities, Intel Corp. “They are beginning to cross the chasm to realise their smart city vision. Cities are taking notice and have new incentives to push harder than before. They are in a better position to innovate.” “Safety and security were already important market drivers responsible for adoption of AI, computer vision and edge computing scenarios,” commented Hanson, in a presentation at the Milestone Integration Platform Symposium (MIPS) 2021. She added: “2020 was an inflection point when technology and the market were ripe for disruption. COVID has accelerated the adoption of disruptive technologies in ways we could not have predicted last year.” Challenges faced by cities Spending in the European Union on public order and safety alone stood at 1.7% of GDP in 2018 Providing wide-ranging services is an expanding need in cities of all sizes. There are currently 33 megacities globally with populations over 10 million. There are also another 4,000 cities with populations over 100,000 inhabitants. Challenges for all cities include improving public health and safety, addressing environmental pressures, enabling mobility, improving quality of life, promoting economic competitiveness and reducing costs. Spending in the European Union on public order and safety alone stood at 1.7% of GDP in 2018. Other challenges include air quality – 80% of those living in urban areas are exposed to air quality levels that exceed World Health Organization (WHO) limits. Highlighting mobility concerns is an eye-opening statistic from Los Angeles in 2017: Residents spent an average of 102 hours sitting in traffic. Smart technology “The Smart City of Today can enable rich and diverse use cases,” says Hanson. Examples include AI-enabled traffic signals to help reduce air pollution, and machine learning for public safety such as real-time visualisation and emergency response. Public safety use cases include smart and connected outdoor lighting, smart buildings, crime prevention, video wearables for field agents, smart kiosks and detection of noise level, glass breaks and gunshots. Smart technology will make indoor spaces safer by controlling access to a building with keyless and touchless entry. In the age of COVID, systems can also detect face mask compliance, screen for fever and ensure physical distancing. 2020 was an inflection point when technology and the smart cities market were ripe for disruption, Kasia Hanson told the MIPS 2021 audience. Video solutions Video workloads will provide core capabilities as entertainment venues reopen after the pandemic. When audiences attend an event at a city stadium, deep learning and AI capabilities analyse customer behaviours to create new routes, pathways, signage and to optimise cleaning operations. Personalised digital experiences will add to the overall entertainment value. In the public safety arena, video enables core capabilities such as protection of people, assets and property, emergency response, and real-time visualisation and increased situational awareness. Video also provides intelligent incident management, better operational efficiency and faster information sharing and collaboration. Smart video strategy Intel and Milestone provide video solutions across many use cases, including safety and security Video at the edge is a key element in end-to-end solutions. Transforming data from various point solutions into insights is complicated, time-consuming and costly. Cities and public venues are looking for hardware, software and industry expertise to provide the right mix of performance, capabilities and cost-effectiveness. Intel’s smart video strategy focuses around its OpenVINO toolkit. OpenVINO, which is short for Open Visual Inference and Neural network Optimisation, enables customers to build and deploy high-performing computer vision and deep learning inference applications. Intel and Milestone partnership – Video solutions “Our customers are asking for choice and flexibility at the edge, on-premises and in the cloud,” said Hansen in her presentation at the virtual conference. “They want the choice to integrate with large-scale software packages to speed deployment and ensure consistency over time. They need to be able to scale computer vision. Resolutions are increasing alongside growth in sensor installations themselves. They have to be able to accommodate that volume, no matter what causes it to grow.” As partners, Intel and Milestone provide video solutions across many use cases, including safety and security. In effect, the partnership combines Intel’s portfolio of video, computer vision, inferencing and AI capabilities with Milestone’s video management software and community of analytics partners. Given its complex needs, the smart cities market is particularly inviting for these technologies.

The cloud is here to stay. Its resilience and ability to connect the world during during the COVID-19 pandemic has proved its worth, even to the uninitiated who have now witnessed first-hand the value of connected systems. Video and access control as a service provides a flexible and fluid security and business solution to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving industry, where the changing threat landscape means investing in the cloud is an investment towards success. This article will look back at our articles in 2020 about the growing popularity of cloud solutions for physical security, with links to the original content. Product offering While most people agree on the definition of “cloud,” there are several points about the terminology that may require clarification. Private cloud or public cloud? VSaaS or unlimited storage for video? Beyond the basics, the terms become foggy, reflecting a variety of notions about how cloud services fit into the broader physical security marketplace. As cloud usage becomes more popular, it’s important that marketers be precise in their terminology, and that integrators and end users be diligent in understanding the specifics of available product offerings. Different meanings “The cloud has many different possible connotations, depending on the context,” says Yu Hao Lin of Rasilient Systems, one of our Expert Roundtable panelists. For example, corporate CIOs will more likely understand the cloud to be a private cloud platform. As such, the public cloud is a ubiquitous term while the private cloud is more specified. Cloud system security Security of cloud systems is an ongoing discussion in the industry, especially how cloud system cybersecurity compares to that of on-premise systems. Our Expert Panel Roundtable weighed in on this question. “While both kinds of security systems serve their purpose, it can be argued that the streamlined updates that are commonplace with cloud-based solutions may put them at more of an advantage when it comes to data security,” says panelist Eric Widlitz of Vanderbilt Industries. “Also, most reputable cloud-based solutions are running in secured data centers by companies such as Google, Microsoft or Amazon, so you also get to take advantage of all the security layers they have protecting your data.” Hybrid cloud video security solution A growing list of cloud players reinforces the importance of the cloud in the future of physical security There are several relatively new companies pushing cloud in a big way. Verkada is fast-growing company currently currently focusing to deliver an all-in-one hybrid cloud video security solution powered by edge processing inside the camera. The growing list of cloud players reinforces the importance of the cloud in the future of physical security. Combining AI and cloud video One company investing in the cloud is Eagle Eye Networks, which has raised $40 million of Series E funding from venture capital firm Accel to finance the realisation of their vision to combine AI and cloud video. The money will allow Eagle Eye to continue its steep growth curve and leverage AI on its true cloud platform to reshape video surveillance. “The investment will make video surveillance smarter and safer for end-users,” says Ken Francis, President. Eagle Eye offers an application programming interface (API) to enable the integration of best-in-breed third-party AI and analytics systems to leverage the video. Eagle Eye is also investing in its own AI development and hiring additional development and customer service personnel. Hirsch Velocity Cirrus and MobilisID Identiv introduced the Hirsch Velocity Cirrus cloud-based Access Control as a Service (ACaaS) solution and MobilisID smart mobile physical access control solution. Hirsch Velocity Cirrus is an optimal solution for both end-users and integrators, with lower upfront costs, reduced maintenance, enhanced portability, and the future-proof assurance of automatic security updates and feature sets.  MobilisID is a smart mobile physical access control solution that uses Bluetooth and capacitive technologies to allow frictionless access to a controlled environment without the need to present a credential. Advantages and disadvantages Advantages of cloud-based physical security technologies are many, when supporting staff  The advantages of cloud-based physical security technologies are many, and have wide-ranging applications for all areas of the transport sector; across stations, transport hubs and vehicles. When used to support staff and complement existing processes, such systems can prove invaluable for transport professionals in helping to create a safer working environment, promoting confidence among personnel and passengers, and assuring passengers who are fearful about the current pandemic that all possible precautions are being taken during their journey. 5G supporting cloud-based applications 5G is the first communication environment that is cloud-native. As such, such, 5G networks will support cloud-based applications in a way that 4G, 3G and 2G can’t support. For instance, sensors (e.g. in a manufacturing plant) often have small internal storage and rely on synced devices (e.g. gateways) to interact with the cloud. Soon, these sensors will be able to work more efficiently, interacting with the cloud via the ultra-low latency and the edge computing capabilities supported by 5G networks. Increasing use of IoT Unlike current IoT services that make performance trade-offs to get the best from these existing wireless technologies, 5G networks will be designed to bring the high levels of performance needed for the increasing use of IoT. It will enable a perceived fully ubiquitous connected world, with the boosted capacity offered by 5G networks transferring exponentially more data at a much quicker rate.

As the new Chief Executive Officer of Milestone Systems, Thomas Jensen pledges to continue the company’s focus on protecting people and assets and to help organisations gain insight and optimise their business processes. Seeking to fulfil Milestone’s mission to ‘Make the World See,’ Jensen will maintain Milestone’s approach of being an open video management system (VMS) platform and having an open company culture. End-user communities “I will also be working to expand Milestone’s VMS into new areas and applications —for example, to monitor beach erosion as the climate continues to warm up around the world,” says Jensen. “I believe the future of VMS is about bridging the gap between security and applications that go beyond security.” Jensen’s previous experience in the IT industry contributes to his understanding of the entire channel Jensen’s previous experience in the IT industry contributes to his understanding of the entire channel. His experience as a generalist – extending beyond IT – enables understanding of the business side of things in addition to the skills, strengths and motivations of the people who work at Milestone, its channel, partner networks and the end-user communities. People-first approach “One crucial thing my career taught me is the importance of your team members,” he says. “A former manager once told me that success is the sum of the success of your team. And, luckily, Milestone already has a strong culture and people-first approach. This is one of the things that attracted me to this job.” The new CEO plans to spend his first 90 days building relationships and getting to know the company and the team members. He will be present in conversations with all Milestone people as well as partners and system integrators. “I want to ensure there is continuity and resilience so that my joining Milestone is a seamless transition,” Jensen says. “Furthermore, my focus will be to further build on the strengths of Milestone to create long-term sustainable growth.” Video-enabled insights Jensen sees security through two lenses: on one hand, protecting people and property, and on the other, providing video-enabled insights for public and private companies to be able to make better decisions. On the protection side, businesses have room to grow as technologies move to provide more affordable, more powerful, and more interoperable solutions. A transformative element in the future evolution of video management is the cloud Regarding video-enabled insights, there is great potential, and Milestone is forging deeper relationships with partners and system integrators of important verticals such as cities, education, transportation, and retail. A transformative element in the future evolution of video management is the cloud, which will advance the deployment of technologies across the board. Best software integrations “I will be spending time working with our organisation and partners to evolve Milestone’s cloud strategy and cloud partnerships to address the opportunities that lie ahead,” says Jensen. “I also think that Milestone’s belief in being open and giving integrators and end-users the freedom to choose the best software integrations available in the market is a philosophy that we've held dear from the very beginning — and this will become critical in the future as VMS solutions continue to evolve.” Safer business environment As the COVID-19 pandemic has raged on, Milestone Systems has continued its operation as usual, deploying safety measurements as needed to protect both employees and the partners they work with. COVID-19 has impacted everyone, every business and every government and organisation around the world, says Jensen. We’re working with our partners to design a safer business environment with VMS-enabled solutions" “I think it taught us all a lesson in empathy and how we need to respect differences in behaviour, regulations and compliance, customs and even each other,” he says. “At Milestone, we’re working with our partners to design a safer business environment with VMS-enabled solutions for social distancing, queue management, and contact tracing.” Creating security solutions “The past 50 years of digital technology and the past 20 years of IP technology have taught us that technologies eventually converge, and in some cases merge,” says Jensen. “Sometimes functions merge and channels converge, other times it’s the networks that come closer together, but none of this is absolute and universal.” “This is why we need to listen and learn from each other and be respectful of differences in the industry and the channel—particularly cultural and regional differences.” Jensen adds: “The technology company of the future — which I believe Milestone is becoming — will not dictate solutions but will instead partner with IT and security stakeholders to create security solutions that meet each customer’s unique challenge and environment.”

Hanwha Techwin a global supplier of IP and analog video surveillance solutions announced that We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort has selected Hanwha cameras for its new state-of-the-art video surveillance system. First established as a bingo-hall style building by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation in the early 1990s, the facility received approval to be revamped into a fully-fledged gaming facility in 2017. To ensure the safety of staff and visitors, this also included a new video surveillance system. Quality cameras When it came time to build the new facility, the Tribal Regulatory Agency, having learned from its earlier attempts, knew they had to find a vendor that wouldn’t let them down. Explains Lee Brown, Lead Surveillance Technician for the Fort McDowell Tribal Regulatory Agency, “We were looking for a manufacturer that had a variety of camera offerings to give us what we wanted and that also had a good reputation for quality.” They found what they were looking for with Hanwha Techwin. Camera coverage The cameras available from Hanwha Techwin enabled them to choose the right camera for every situation The number of cameras available from Hanwha Techwin was a key differentiator for the We-Ko-Pa Resort as it enabled them to choose the right camera for every situation. The range of options was especially important when it came time to design camera coverage for the slot floor in the new facility. This area proved to be challenging in part because it was designed to be flexible and modular. The new design allows the Casino to be dynamic in terms of where they place machines. The challenge then was how to ensure coverage of every machine even as they move around daily. Flexible 4k cameras They initially considered attaching cameras to the ‘cloud’ ceiling so that they could be moved as the configuration changed. But, because it floats below a concrete ceiling, this was not possible. The Casino decided instead to use the higher resolution P series 4K cameras and place them strategically throughout the space. Says Brown, “We had to give very careful consideration to where we placed our cameras. We wanted high quality and flexibility to avoid having to reconfigure and reinstall cameras all the time. The image quality with the Hanwha Techwin cameras gave us the edge we needed to work within our ceiling constraints.” WDR technology The new Casino has over 800 Hanwha Techwin cameras, including the XNV-8080R, PNV-9080R, and PNF-9010R models The new Casino has over 800 Hanwha Techwin cameras, including the XNV-8080R, PNV-9080R, and PNF-9010R models. According to Brown, their favorite feature is the quality they deliver at low bitrates. He says, “The majority of our cameras face intense and volatile lighting changes against a backdrop of complex scenery with many moving objects. Hanwha Techwin cameras and their advanced WDR (Wide Dynamic Range) technology can easily be configured to accommodate these conditions without sacrificing quality or producing obnoxious data streams.” Wisenet wave VMS While part of the interest in Hanwha Techwin was based on the build and image quality of the cameras and variety of the offerings, the Casino was also drawn to the Wisenet WAVE VMS (Video Management System). Says Brown, “We were attracted to the WAVE VMS because our virtualised server and client operating systems are 100% Linux based, and the WAVE client and server applications are well supported on Linux. It works exceptionally well with the Hanwha Techwin cameras and other devices, like HDMI encoders and third-party cameras.” Live central monitoring WAVE also helps operators with live monitoring. As part of their daily routines, operators at the Casino have to actively watch a variety of events and occurrences, including deliveries and vendors on site. Says Brown, “The layout system in WAVE makes it easy for us to organise our cameras into groups. So, when an operator follows someone through the Casino, rather than thinking in terms of which camera covers which machine or specific area, they think more in terms of the geography of the location.” Motion detection To reduce the storage requirements for video surveillance footage, they use motion-based high/low recording Every casino must comply with strict retention requirements in part because forensic examination and maintaining a clear chain of custody are extremely important. At the We-Ko-Pa Resort, they have a one-week minimum retention rate with some cameras keeping video for 30 days. Currently, We-Ko-Pa has 500 terabytes (TB) of redundant ZFS-based network storage. To reduce the storage requirements for video surveillance footage, they use motion-based high/low recording. Explains Brown, “We use motion detection to save on storage. If no motion is detected in a frame, the camera is set up to record at very low quality and low frame rate. If the camera detects motion, then the recording automatically shifts to high-quality mode.” Video surveillance system Moving forward, the Casino is excited about future possibilities for their system, including people counting and using their WAVE VMS to make data-driven decisions. The Casino and Tribal Regulatory Agency aren’t the only ones who recognise the outstanding features and functionality of their new Hanwha Techwin system. The Arizona Department of Gaming, which provides specific mandates for gaming operators in the state, is also impressed. According to Brown, “We have even received compliments for our video surveillance system from the state inspector who was quite impressed with the image quality and the smoothness of the recordings.”

The Palmetto Plaza Shopping Mall, an iconic shopping center located in Cali, Colombia, opened its doors in 2004 thanks to the support of a group of entrepreneurs from the region who dreamed of a place where local residents and tourists can find a wide range of commercial services and entertainment offerings. Need for a video surveillance solution  To ensure a safe environment in the shopping center, mall officials sought a comprehensive video surveillance solution that can monitor the areas in and around the mall, including its square, corridors, parking lots, and the surrounding roads. Dahua Technology, in cooperation with its partner in Colombia - Fortox Security Group - a security consultant with a nationwide presence, jointly designed an AI-enabled Smart Retail Solution that replaced the shopping mall’s old CCTV analog system. Addressing the challenges  The migration project from the analog CCTV to a networked system began with the design and implementation of structured cabling – using both fiber optics and copper – until the right and suitable CCTV solution is determined.  The Palmetto Plaza Shopping Mall entrusted Fortox as its security consultant tasked to search for a technology that can facilitate the important steps toward the optimization and operation of the mall in the service of the city. Dahua’s AI-based portfolio   Dahua offers AI applications within its portfolio, which allowed to transcend to a  system dedicated to security & control " "When conducting the evaluation of the solutions offered in the market, we decided to work with Dahua because the company offers artificial intelligence applications within its portfolio, which allowed us to transcend from a system dedicated solely to security and control, to a system which will also contribute to other areas of the shopping center, integrating the Smart Retail solution into the circuit, and offering BI statistics to the mall for further analysis.”  “In addition, we integrated the temperature monitoring solution and visualisation control into the system using a Dahua video wall,” explains Mr. Efren Mauricio Matabanchoy Romo, Project Engineer at Fortox Security Group. IP, dome, and PTZ cameras  Dahua Technology provided 111 pcs of high-resolution IP cameras, panoramic cameras, dome cameras, and pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras with 30x optical zoom capability for the project.  The Dahua cameras were installed in strategic locations to provide comprehensive security for employees and customers. The video feed, which is transmitted to the central monitoring stations inside the mall through a private network, can assist the security personnel in identifying emergencies, vandalism, and other situations where a quick response from the security team is necessary. Real-time monitoring solution  The video surveillance system was designed to capture high-quality HD images, combined with advanced technologies to support embedded intelligence functions, such as sending an alert to the monitoring center when it detects abandoned or missing objects, unauthorised entry into a prohibited area, as well as facial recognition and other defined activities.  The cameras support multi-streaming that allows images to be recorded and monitored with real-time high resolution The cameras also support multi-streaming that allows images to be recorded and monitored with real-time high resolution so that operators can have a clear and well-defined view of both live and recorded footage. IP video surveillance system  Dahua Technology and its dedicated engineering team carried out the construction of this design by utilising its high-quality hardware and software products, with a great focus on solving the pain points of the shopping center and generating an added value to its visitors and internal customers.  Mr. Chao Wu, General Manager of Dahua Technology Colombia, said, "As a result of excellent teamwork, we were able to implement more than an IP video surveillance system. We designed a solution with the latest technology and artificial intelligence unique in the city of Cali, which allows the Palmetto Plaza to provide greater security to its visitors and trade merchants.” 24/7 monitoring features  In terms of security, through the Dahua equipment installed by Fortox, the Palmetto Plaza is now able to perform 24/7 monitoring and intelligent data analysis.  "Likewise, through the Dahua Smart Retail Solution unique in the city of Cali, we generate added value to the merchants who have placed their trust in Palmetto Plaza. Smart Retail is not only a solution that guarantees maximum security for customers in the shopping centre.”  “It is also a revolutionary new tool for Big Data statistics that is suitable for the mall´s management, allowing them to make efficient and correct decisions depending on the situation”, Mr. Wu added. Security management  The Dahua Smart Retail Solution has significantly improved the security management of the Palmetto Plaza Shopping Mall. By increasing the resolution of the cameras, the visual records of the CCTV system are now optimised and strengthened.  By increasing the resolution of the cameras, the visual records of the CCTV system are optimised & strengthened The updated network system provides video recordings with HD resolution, allowing operators to better control and manage the entire system. It also offers artificial intelligence analytics such as face recognition focused on security, business intelligence focused on real-time statistics of the number of shoppers in the mall, and monitoring of behavior within its facilities. CCTV network system In addition to its video surveillance products, Dahua Technology also contributed to the system migration project of the Palmetto Plaza, transforming its analog CCTV system to a CCTV network system with higher resolution cameras, 360-degree views, and artificial intelligence analytics.  Dahua Technology also provided complete technical support and commercial services that include training operators and managing configuration settings.  “We had devices that already completed their useful life. These devices did not meet our security needs due to their low resolution and constant failures,” says Mr. Juan Diego Guzman, Security Director of Palmetto Plaza Shopping Mall. Surveillance capability  For Sandra M. Navas P, General Manager of the Palmetto Plaza Shopping Mall, this technology has generated more confidence among visitors and merchants.  "The beginning of this system implementation has put us at the forefront of Colombian retail in terms of video surveillance capability, and has also allowed us to achieve a level of satisfaction in terms of security higher than 92%." Furthermore, this system has allowed Fortox as a security company to integrate into a single technology the requirements requested by the client, successfully delivering the required services needed in the shopping centre.

Teleste will provide an on-board solution to Alstom for the Marseille metro network in France, ordered by the Aix Marseille Provence Metropole, AMP.  Teleste’s deliveries will include onboard TFT displays as well as systems for passenger information, public address, CCTV, and wireless train-to-ground functions for 38 4-car driverless metro trains, with an option for an additional 5 vehicles. The system deployments will start in 2021, and the first trains will enter into service in 2024. Flexibility and efficiency in metros “Introducing automated services to metro networks will increase flexibility and efficiency in operation, while also setting high requirements for the train technology, especially when it comes to real-time train to the ground transmission of audio, video, and passenger information content.” “Our onboard systems are well-equipped to meet the challenge by enabling reliable, real-time connectivity between moving trains and the ground system, reinforced by seamless integration also with third-party systems." "We are pleased that Alstom selected our solution for their project and are looking forward to providing a safe and smooth travel experience for the passengers of Metro Marseille,” commented Jarkko Vehkala, Head of the Rolling Stock Manufacturers business line at Teleste. Driverless metro operations Teleste’s on-board solution seamlessly supports fully automated, driverless metro operations Teleste’s on-board solution has been designed for the seamless support of fully automated, driverless metro operations, which will be taken into use in the Marseille metro by the end of 2026. This means that the trains will then be controlled without any staff on board from the operator’s train control system, and a reliable interface between the new and legacy systems will be deployed. Seamless remote operations Teleste’s solution meets the requirements by seamlessly combining onboard systems such as a public address, CCTV, and the delivery of passenger information with an advanced train-to-ground transmission system. This allows the operator to manage onboard operations remotely while, for example, getting 24/7 access to live camera views from the metro cars to ensure the safety and security of passengers during their journey. Also automatic and manual offload of video recordings, system diagnostics as well as automatic updates, and version control of the train software are enabled. With interfaces to third-party systems, the solution also empowers seamless operation of the onboard functionalities as part of larger transport ecosystems.

NSE IT Limited (NSEIT) is a global technology enterprise that focuses on delivering excellence in complex digital environment, primarily in banking, insurance, capital market ecosystem and online examination. NSE IT Limited The firm has three distinct business units - Digital Transformation, Digital Examinations and Cyber Security and is powered by a workforce of 1500+ professionals that are certified technology and business domain experts. With 20+ years of experience, the firm is renowned for its expertise across large scale complex digital implementations. Apart from providing seamless next-generation solutions to industries, the firm is running India’s largest network of 229 test centres. The firm has worked with more than 150 customers across India, the US and the Middle East. Central management of IP cameras NSE IT was in requirement of a video surveillance solution that could manage their 450 IP cameras centrally NSE IT was in requirement of a video surveillance solution that could manage their 450 IP cameras centrally. Also, they wanted a solution that could help them control all the devices through a single system and not multiple systems to control multiple devices. Next, a major challenge for them was the search for a system that could provide them with zero downtime. Furthermore, they wanted a system where multiple users could simultaneously log in to the system and monitor the premises, without the other one getting logged out. Matrix SATATYA SAMAS solution  Matrix delivered its proactive security solution, SATATYA SAMAS - developed on cutting-edge technologies that can monitor up to 65,535 cameras and can connect up to 1000 users in the system. The solution provided NSE with centralised control over all their surveillance devices. Also, it eliminated a major challenge of zero downtime. SATATYA SAMAS offers redundancy by switching to a redundancy server or failover server, where if the server or network fails, the redundant server will start recording the video footage automatically. The selected IP devices will be shifted to the redundant server in less than 60 seconds. Again, SAMAS provided them with the benefit of concurrent user login. With an additional user licence, the client could add multiple users who could simultaneously log into the system and monitor the premises. Results: Centralised control and monitoring of all IP cameras Continuous monitoring without any server failure Increased transparency and productivity Storage optimisation Products and solutions offered: SATATYA SAMAS LE - Video surveillance software for large enterprises SATATYA SAMAS CAM50 - Additional camera licence for 50 cameras SATATYA SAMAS USER1 - Additional user licence for smart client/mobile application SATATYA SAMAS AUP - Video surveillance software annual upgradation

Qognify has announced that VisionHub is being trusted and relied upon by six departments at the University of Vermont - one of the oldest universities in the U.S. The VMS+ is fully integrated and operational across the University’s on-campus install base of 459 video channels (predominantly AXIS IP cameras) and CBORD’s CS Access system. It has been instrumental in helping to reduce unnecessary on-site attendance, as part of the University’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. VisionHub VisionHub is a VMS+ that enables organisations in critical and highly regulated environments to effectively and efficiently respond to security threats, and mitigate the impact of incidents. It centralises, integrates and organises core physical security systems and sensors into a single video-centric interface, providing heightened situational awareness and powerful incident response management capabilities. Senior Equipment Technician at the University of Vermont, Robert Cochran, explains the reason for deploying VisionHub. Robert said, “We looked closely at different PSIM systems and while they were powerful, they were also very expensive and didn’t match our requirements. What we ideally wanted to find was a VMS that was capable of being our core security management system.” Video surveillance and access control integration During an emergency operations event, VisionHub is the only interface we need to assess the situation and respond" The University is realising many benefits from having its surveillance cameras and access control tightly integrated. These range from managing real-time emergency events to conducting post-incident investigation and daily on-campus surveillance. “During an emergency operations event, VisionHub is the only interface we need to assess the situation and respond,” stated Robert Cochran, adding “We can view live and recorded camera feeds, as well as access transactions and door information, providing us with a clear real-time picture of people and crowd movement. If any intervention is required, we can control the opening and closing of doors. All of this is done within the one single clear and easy-to-use system.” Remote monitoring live camera feeds Recently, the University undertook a project to provide administrative staff working at the Fleming Museum of Art, Vermont's most comprehensive collection of art and anthropological artifacts, with the ability to monitor live camera feeds remotely. Robert Cochran adds, “VisionHub has been instrumental in helping to reduce unnecessary on-site attendance, as part of our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, from a day-to-day maintenance perspective the VisionHub Web Client is perfect, as it eliminates the need for technicians to move around the campus, as upgrades and authorisations can all be centrally managed off-site.”

Gujarat Medical and Education Research Society is an initiative taken up by the State Government of Gujarat to improve the Human Development Index in the state by establishing new medical colleges. This, in turn, will increase the availability of qualified doctors and ensure the spread of health care services and medical knowledge. GMERS Ahmedabad is also one such initiative. Spread across five buildings, the campus has a hospital setup with a capacity of 720 beds. Challenge faced Centralised monitoring and management - Being aware of the various security challenges that an education hub faces, GMERS Ahmedabad had already installed 400+ cameras to secure the campus. However, they faced difficulty while centrally monitoring the entire system. Also, since the campus is divided into five buildings, it was challenging to manage all at once. Real-time security - Due to the large area, it was difficult to extend quick and real-time security to various parts of the campus. Being a medical college, they needed a technically sound system that could provide notifications in real-time during critical situations. Matrix VMS VMS allowed the flexibility of incorporating other brand’s cameras and integration with other security systems Matrix offered SATATYA SAMAS as the solution. It is a video management software that provides a common platform for all the existing security systems. Existing 400+ cameras were configured in the software and thus, could be centrally monitored from a dedicated room. Apart from this, VMS allowed the flexibility of incorporating other brand’s cameras and integration with other security systems as well, like Fire Alarms. User-control Moreover, with the availability of user-based control, it was ensured that the surveillance system is being managed by the right security personnel. For example, the security guard was restricted to viewing rights, and only the IT personnel was given administrator rights. This assures data security. SMS and Email alerts for notification were also configured to provide prompt support in case of urgency. Furthermore, features like E-Map enabled swift notifications about the health status of cameras and devices. Results Unified platform for centralised control Instant aid during urgency The flexibility of future expansion

Perimeter security is the first line of defence against intruders entering a business or premises. Traditionally associated with low-tech options such as fencing, the field of perimeter security has expanded in recent years and now encompasses a range of high-tech options. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the latest trends in perimeter security technology?

Artificial intelligence is more than just the latest buzzword in the security marketplace. In some cases, smarter computer technologies like AI and machine learning (ML) are helping to transform how security operates. AI is also expanding the industry’s use cases, sometimes even beyond the historic province of the security realm. It turns out that AI is also a timely tool in the middle of a global pandemic. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How is artificial intelligence (AI) changing the security market?

Traditionally, dealer-installers and/or integrators provide the front line of support to end user customers after a sale. Because integrators assemble and provide the “solution” – often using products from multiple manufacturers – they are most familiar with the total system and can troubleshoot any problems. However, manufacturers may be better equipped to deal with specific problems after a sale and also to provide a variety of resources to end-users. It’s a delicate balance, and the best approach may be dependent on the product or even the market. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What is the role of manufacturers in providing support to end user customers after the sale?