Nicaragua News

Hardware vs. software-based surveillance recorders: which is best for you?

Coming of age: storage devices have evolved to better record, manage and play back high-quality images Video surveillance and security technology continues to come of age. The sophistication of cameras that have moved to high-definition, high-resolution, megapixel imagery has transformed what users see on playback and greatly enhanced the usability of recorded video feeds. As the evolution continues, from the early days of grainy footage and barely recognisable images to HD, F...

Networking basics for security professionals: Transmission limitations

Transmission of video and PoE power for IP security cameras over infrastructures can be confusing. Network infrastructures are designed using twisted pair cabling that we refer to as CAT (short for Category) cable, also referred to as UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair). Security systems, coming from an analogue environment, have historically transmitted over coax cable, and with the use adaptors can transmit over CAT cabling, which can be further broken down into single pair twist...

Design CPTED from the start – Don’t try to add it later

CPTED focuses on designing crime prevention into buildings and campuses In recent years, jurisdictions across the United States have enacted ordinances or codes requiring the use of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). Enforcement of these measures arises through required jurisdictional review and approval of CPTED measures in the design drawings. CPTED has emerged in recent years as an effective crime prevention and security technique that focuses on design...

Security identity crisis: What’s in a name?

Whether you are a contractor, installer, dealer or systems integrator depends on where you live and how you are perceived by the real world Because I have been in the industry for a considerable amount of time, I have seen quite a few changes, albeit the bulk have come over the last five or so years. Before that, the advent of the digital dialer was our big innovation – that tells anyone with any history in the industry just how far back I go! But today, change is fast a...

Multiple high-value markets are embracing video analytics

The aviation and transportation industries are using video analytics to provide operational cost savings and performance enhancement Video analytics are now increasingly being used for the critical infrastructure, airports, transportation and city surveillance sectors, among other high-value markets. These markets need robust video analytics solutions that can be integrated into an overall security solution to deliver totally reliable results without any significant level of n...

Taking another look at video analytics

Video analytics allow users to automate the use of video and extract more value Almost anyone in the video analytics market will admit that the capabilities of the technology were initially oversold. The first generation of analytics simply didn’t work as promised, and an undercurrent of distrust of the technology in general still haunts the market. Ironically, video analytics capabilities have now matured into a robust and dependable option for a variety of applications...

What is the most surprising development you have seen in the security marketplace in the last 12 months? What is the impact of that development?

This week brought a big surprise to the security and video surveillance market; specifically, the announcement of Canon’s plans to acquire iconic IP camera manufacturer Axis. But surprises happen all the time, especially in a dynamic, technology-driven market like physical security. Those who have been involved in this market for many years have often been surprised, for better or worse, at the various twists and turns over time. It’s part of what keeps life interesting! This week, w...

IFSEC expands its team to continue to grow internationally

Peter Poole and Tristan Norman has been appointed as Sales Director and Head of Business Development Security & Fire, respectively IFSEC Global Security & Fire Portfolio is pleased to announce expansion plans to continue to grow the worldwide show IFSEC International. Peter Poole has been appointed as Sales Director and will be responsible for all commercial activity across the portfolio whilst leading the sales team and the network of global agents to continue to...

Milestone certifies BCDVideo Nova Server and Storage Series with XProtect VMS

BCDVideo’s enterprise-grade VRP solution has been designed for maximum performance on a Milestone XProtect platform Milestone Systems, the open platform company in IP video management software (VMS), has now tested and reported performance component certification of BCDVideo’s Nova Server and Storage Series. IT infrastructure, server, storage and client platforms are integral parts of networked video management deployments, so any miscalculations of the serve...

The impact of austerity on security budgets in Europe

With elections due later this year in the UK, Spain and Switzerland, attitudes to the prevailing political landscape of austerity are changing rapidly. Are physical security budgets in the public sector ever protected from cuts, and what is the outlook for our industry? Consider the landscape: A left-leaning party has come to power in Greece on an anti-austerity platform and with the stated intention of halving the country’s €315bn debts. Angela Merkel, the German Chanc...

White House incident draws attention to threats from drones

Drone is a toy with a bright future—until it causes a catastrophe Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, are today’s gizmo du jour. A recent Bloomberg article reported that Amazon alone is selling more than 10,000 a month, and with prices as low as $50, it’s a toy with a bright future—until it causes a catastrophe. Consider the January incident at the White House when a drunken National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency employee lost control of a quadcopter...

Canon left clues on Axis acquisition bid

Surprise – shock, even – was the initial reaction of most in the industry to the announcement earlier this week of Canon’s intent to acquire Axis. Maybe it was the (apparent) suddenness of the move, or its scale ($2.8 billion!) that caught us off guard. Maybe it’s the continuing ripples the move is likely to cause through the industry that has us still talking about it. It’s clearly the biggest story in our market in years. But after you think about it a couple of...

Future optimistic for enhanced usage of security systems in transportation

Better, faster networking plays into the optimistic outlook for the transportation vertical Our market has plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the future of security systems in the transportation vertical. “Given the advances in processing power and technology, we can only imagine what the capability of an IP camera will be in five years,” comments Anthony Incorvati, business development manager, critical infrastructure and transportation, Axis Communications....

Canon-Axis acquisition: IHS Analyst Jon Cropley responds

Canon's purchase of Axis could be the start of a series of acquistions in 2015 This is a massive development in the video surveillance equipment market. Until last year, Canon was a small player in this market. However, back in August 2013, it revealed big ambitions when its CEO, Fujio Mitari, spoke about security cameras becoming an “important pillar” for the company and the market having “limitless possibilities for growth”. Then in June 2014, C...

Canon's shocking acquisition of Axis: is security industry turning tide?

Have we entered the age of the security company "open marriage?" I used that phrase just a few days ago in relation to the Panasonic-Video Insight acquisition. Now the phrase springs immediately back to mind related to the truly shocking news today about Canon buying Axis, which last year bought video management system supplier Milestone.Is it possible for a video management company and a camera company to be owned by the same company and yet remain "open?"That was the premise when Canon bought...

Axis set to unveil new products as IoT market beckons

Is Axis Communications getting ready to expand its business beyond IP video cameras and even access control? A recent comment by Axis founder Martin Gren appears to suggest as much. In a Q&A sponsored by Memoori Research, Gren was asked about “adjacent markets that will merge with IP video” as they relate to the Internet of Things (IoT). Here is his answer: “If you’re talking about IoT, you’re talking about all types of intelligent sensors. Our DNA (at Axis) is...

Canon to buy Axis Communications for $2.8 billion

Canon Inc. has made a public offer to the shareholders of Axis Communications to transfer all of their shares in Axis to Canon for a consideration of SEK 340 in cash per share in the Company. The total value of the offer is approximately $ 2.8 billion. If the offer is accepted this will be the Canon's biggest acquisition to date. Axis has released a statement of the Board of Directors in relation to the offer. Based on a financial short and mid-term perspective, the Board of Directors have conc...

Onboard surveillance offers high-quality video for transportation vertical

In-vehicle technology allows security officials to view live footage from the bus’ cameras during an emergency One of the biggest security opportunities in transportation is onboard surveillance for buses and trains. While most transit organisations have invested heavily in video security for facilities such as terminals and stations, far fewer have taken the next step and installed IP cameras on board vehicles, says John Recesso, strategic business development manager,...

Plenty of available money could foreshadow more security M&As

Given a readily available supply of investment money to the security industry, might we see even more mergers and acquisition (M&A) activity in the coming year? Such appeared to be one message as the Security Industry Association (SIA) Investment Trends Committee presented an update on security-related capital markets, M&A and investment information. In the “middle market loan market,” where all but the top several security industry companies might look for money, there are...

Boon Edam launches BoonAssist TQ manual revolving door

Boon Edam Inc. announces the launch of BoonAssist TQ, a new manual revolving door that provides an ease of use previously not available in manual revolving doors. BoonAssist TQ offers the unique combination of three features: “push and go” power assistance, speed control, and positioning, also known in the industry as quarter pointing. The new door was developed in response to customers asking for a revolving door that offers comfort, intuitive operation and safety, where an automat...

Vanderbilt preparing to finalise acquisition from Siemens

The sale of Siemens’ Security Products to Vanderbilt is expected to close by the end of March, and already the owner-to-be is making good progress to form a new stand-alone company. Notably, the pending transaction is not a sale of company shares but rather a sale of assets, in this case product lines in the access control, CCTV and intrusion categories. In effect, a company is being created to manage those assets, and Vanderbilt has been working for the last several months to create the...

Networking basics for security professionals: Network switch bandwidth limitations

Any part of a transmission infrastructure has a dramatic impact on system performance We often view network switches as transparent transmission products. What goes in comes out. In reality, nothing is further from the truth. In this article, Neil Heller - Vice President, Vigitron, Inc. highlights that any part of a transmission infrastructure has a dramatic impact on transmission and, therefore, on system performance. At the very least a network switch can be viewed as a piec...

Camera apps usher in a new era in surveillance system design

Of the many benefits offered by new and advanced IP video surveillance cameras, the ability to easily customise these devices with third party apps has the potential to change the landscape in video surveillance system design and implementation. By providing the ability to customise individual cameras with the specific functionality desired for every specific camera location, camera apps not only increase functionality where needed, they deliver tremendous savings on a system-wide...

What are the current limitations of cloud-based systems? How will the situation change over the next five years?

There’s a cloud hanging over the security market. Or rather, The Cloud is portending great change for our market (and other markets, too). But with all the talk about cloud-based systems, limitations still linger along the path to optimum implementation in the security market. We asked our panelists to reflect on those limitations and look ahead five years to how the situation is likely to change. From bandwidth and connectivity challenges, to geographic limitations and even a need to chan...

The Internet of Things: what does it mean to installers and integrators?

loT will assist installers and integrators to position themselves as total solution providers and professional connectivity consultants to consumers  The buzz over the Internet of Things (loT) isn’t likely to subside anytime soon, given recent developments over consumer adoption of network-connected technologies. According to the 2014 State of the Internet of Things Study from Accenture Interactive, 69 percent of consumers plan to buy an in-home device in the next...

Need help choosing an access control system?

Overwhelmed by too many choices for an access control system? Where do you start? Always seeking to help, SourceSecurity.com asked access control suppliers to describe what differentiating characteristics set their systems apart from others in the market. AMAG: Easy migration, simple pricing model AMAG’s Symmetry platform includes access control, photo ID badging, visitor management and digital video server software, all standard in an integrated solution. The pricing model...

Challenges of convergence with fire systems

The obstacles preventing convergence with fire systems appear substantial The IT network began as a dedicated structure within a building or facility. From this starting point, we have seen telephones, HVAC, access control and increasingly CCTV/video residing on the same platform. If today’s facility managers were offered a new building with separate networks for each type of subsystem, they would react with incredulity. The exception is fire protection, where the life-...

US electric grid: Exposing complexities that make it vulnerable

The smarter the grid becomes, the more risks it will encounter Hollywood collided with couch-dwelling gamers this Christmas because of the hack on Sony’s computer system, allegedly committed by North Korea. Immediately, security experts began to wonder if a nation state or a terrorist group might try and hit the U.S. electric grid. The answer is likely yes, but it wouldn’t be the first time or the last, and the grid, smart or not, is extremely complex and interwove...

Arecont Vision camera captures robber’s face: Image "couldn’t be clearer"

“The quality couldn’t be clearer – something the police hope will help capture the criminal you are about to see.” The local news report then shows an image from the surveillance camera video of an ATM robbery in Arlington, Texas. The video depicts a black Kia automobile rolling up to a Wells Fargo ATM, and the 21-year-old female driver makes a withdrawal. The video then shows a robber sneaking around the ATM and surprising the victim. He’s holding a cell phone in...

BCDVideo releases SMARTcontrol Management Software for its video recorder and access control server platforms

BCDVideo announced the release of their SMARTcontrol Management Software (SMS). SMS is an evolution in health monitoring for physical security technology for both BCDVideo’s video recorder and access control server platforms. BCDVideo will be making this a standard no-charge feature on its entire Nova Series platform, effective in February. SMS is a comprehensive, easy-to-use program which serves as a mission-control centre inside the product. Its key feature is that it sends alerts based...

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