Surveillance & Security News for April 2019

In today’s technology-driven markets, a platform is a business model that connects producers and consumers in an interactive ecosystem. Some examples of platforms are Uber and Airbnb, which have disrupted and transformed traditional markets. Isn’t it time to deploy the platform model in the physical security industry? That’s the goal of the Open Security & Safety Alliance (OSSA), a non-profit organisation. Interactions and exchange The book ‘Platform Revolution&rsqu...

Cybersecurity involves a variety of risks and vulnerabilities to the enterprise, from distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks to phishing to USB drives. Companies may also be at risk from use of interactive kiosks, or even from cyberattacks against traveling executives. Preventing phishing and cyberattacks The 'Management Hack' service is designed for C-level executives, such as CEO, CFO or event CIO Phishing is a fraudulent attempt to gain sensitive information such as user names, passw...

There’s no question that the popularity of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) security and home automation products is on the rise. The reasons for the growth in DIY sales are numerous, including increased awareness of home automation products, fast set-up, limited (if any) installation costs, and interoperability with other smart security products. In fact, with the parallel rise of smart home hubs like Alexa and Google Home, many people are opting to attempt the set-up of smart home devices without an...

Milestone Systems delivered significant and satisfactory financial results in 2018. The Group’s net revenue increased to DKK 934 million from DKK 881 million in 2017, while the operating income (EBIT) grew to DKK 195 million from DKK 171 million. In 2018, Milestone Systems made strategic investments in several areas. The company also decided to accelerate innovation by increasing its development capacity by 45 per cent by the end of 2019. Innovative video technology solutions “Mark...

Security expert Abloy UK has unveiled an innovative new global vision, ‘Abloy - For Trust’, and announced an exciting collaboration with Finnish racing icon Valtteri Bottas, to strengthen its renewed brand. ‘Abloy - For Trust’ This new vision has seen Abloy revitalise its core brand values and position itself for continued growth in the future. The Abloy branding has also been refreshed to better represent its modern digital offering. The Abloy branding has also been re...

ProdataKey (PDK), an innovator of cloud-based networked and wireless access control products and services, releases a whitepaper that explores why widespread adoption of mobile credentialing in conjunction with access control systems has lagged behind other smart phone applications, and how new technologies promise to overcome barriers related to a security/convenience trade-off previously inherent in such solutions. By virtue of their processing power, smart phones can provide superior encrypt...

A century after the ABLOY brand invented disc detainer technology, the company is still reimagining the future of security. In Finland, the ABLOY PULSE ecosystem now delivers highly encrypted, electronic access control via self-powered cylinders, padlocks and electronic keys — with no need for batteries or any external power supply. A thirst for sustainable solutions grows in all walks of life — including security. In a recent survey for ASSA ABLOY’s “Wireless Access Con...

As physical security systems increasingly resemble the architecture of an IT (information technology) network, the cybersecurity risks are increasing. Sometimes hacks in physical security go unrecognised because of poor detection. Here's part two of our Cybersecurity series.  Going forward, the physical security industry should adopt the same principles as the information security market, embracing new elements such as risk assessment and certifications. A change in culture is needed to al...

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, present a range of threats, from the careless and clueless to the criminal. While many incidents may seem harmless, the threat to any location at any time depends on a range of factors. Drones are inexpensive for criminals to buy or make, and there are continuously improving battery, airspeed, and payload capabilities. UAVs can also fly without an RF signal to jam or hack. Fortunately, sensor technologies including radar are available for security ag...

Simultaneous suicide bombings at several churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on April 21 were of a scale, sophistication and level of coordination that hasn’t been seen since 9/11. Nine suicide bombers targeted three churches and three hotels on Easter morning, and the resulting casualties numbered 359 dead, including 45 children, and about 500 injured. The complexity of the attacks suggests the bombers received help from an outside organisation, likely the Islamic State (IS). Sadly, securit...

Pulse Secure, global provider of secure access solutions to both enterprises and service providers, has been recognised as a technology leader and among the top three performers in Network Access Control (NAC) according to research by Quadrant Knowledge Solutions. The NAC market, estimated at nearly $1.3 billion and growing by 27.6 percent per year, is driven by workforce mobility and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), global regulations, automated threat response and Internet of Things (IoT) securi...

Fermax is delighted to have been able to offer an ideal, cost effective solution to allow installation partners to complete a successful upgrade of a large apartment complex in Nottingham. Working with its approved partner FSE Security systems and involving over 90 apartments at Marina Park Nottingham, the challenge was to upgrade an old third-party audio only system to a modern audio-video system with the minimum of disturbance to residents and without incurring excessive high cost. By using...

USAV, a division of PSA, has announced the addition of Patrick C. Whipkey as the director of USAV. In this role, Whipkey will directly impact the success of USAV by cultivating relationships with integrators, manufacturers, service provider partners and associations within the network, as well as managing programs and collaborating with the management and executive teams on the overall strategic direction of USAV. Security industry veteran Prior to joining PSA, Whipkey spent ten years with IMS...

The school gate is more than just a physical barrier. The moment a child passes through, the school assumes their duty of care. That’s why regulations in France stipulate schools must verify the identity of everyone who enters. And the gate is where SMARTair now begins its work at Lycée Kreisker, in Brittany. This large, mixed-age school had high standards for a prospective new access control system. The security of the site and safety of students and staff who use it every day was...

Brian Ishikawa has always kept tight control over his video surveillance system, allowing only authorised personnel within his corporate security division to access video footage. So it was a change for Ishikawa, Senior Vice President and Director of Corporate Security for the Bank of Hawaii, to get used to the idea of authorised staff from the bank’s branch division being able to review video for operational, compliance and marketing-related purposes. The insights collected from the vide...

Cloud platforms and applications are becoming prevalent across security solutions. In the simplest terms, cloud systems store and access data and programs over the Internet instead of using an on-premises computer server. The cloud is a metaphor for the Internet. This technology helps security integrators provide managed services and the advantages of off-site systems and services to customers, which is why cloud computing is often mentioned among the 'megatrends' in the physical security indu...

Security industry stakeholders from across the subcontinent have descended upon Mumbai for the 8th edition of Secutech India, which opens its doors today at the Bombay Exhibition Center. Taking place from 25 – 27 April, the fair offers business, networking and sourcing opportunities for India’s commercial security, smart home and fire safety sectors. In addition, plenty of educational value can be gained through the fairs fringe events, which include a fire safety training and two fu...

NatWest has rolled out the UK’s first biometric payment card trial. The card is provided by Gemalto and is using Fingerprints’ T-shape sensor module and newly-announced software platform for payments. Its ultra-low power consumption means that the card does not need to feature a battery, as it borrows power from the contactless POS terminals, and superior biometric performance ensures both security and convenience for its user. This is the first trial in the UK, a leading and pionee...

In an already inspiring line-up, Infosecurity Europe, Europe’s number one information security event, is delighted to announce that renowned broadcaster and author Kate Adie will be delivering the opening Keynote at this year’s event on Tuesday 4 June (10.15-11.05am). Also announced is Jamie Bartlett, bestselling author of The People Vs Tech, The Dark Net & Radicals and Senior Fellow and former Director of Demos who will open day 2, Wednesday 5 June (10.15-11.05am) and former CE...

Connected Technologies LLC, maker of the award-winning Connect ONE cloud-hosted security management platform, has added Mobile Badge to its wide range of value-add features and capabilities included in the turnkey system interface. Designed for schools, campuses, construction sites, clubhouses or other locations with a changing, fluid population, Mobile Badge puts credentialing identification management on the user’s phone, similar to a traditional physical badge. Mobile Badge can be used...

Synesis introduced a high precision AI solution which enables regular CCTV cameras to count the number of available and occupied parking spots in the visible area in real time. Unlike existing analogues, the Smart Parking module based on the bound of deeply trained neural networks and computer vision allows to solve three major problems simultaneously: a real-time monitoring and notification, compatibility with parking lots of any scale and configuration, and minimisation of control resources....

Security industry stakeholders from around the world are readying themselves for a productive three days of business in Taipei, as the countdown to the 22nd edition of Secutech enters its final few weeks. On top of the business and networking opportunities that Secutech creates, the fair also plays a crucial role for information exchange within the security industry. This year, the fair’s fringe programme will cover all of the most important topics for the Asian market, including the appli...

Terrorism is amongst the more unyielding security threats worldwide, but a report on global terrorism from the Institute for Economics & Peace, Sydney, Australia, provides reason for optimism, especially outside the world’s terrorism hot spots such as Iraq and Afghanistan. Europe is the region with the biggest improvement from the impact of terrorism and has recorded a marked fall in terrorist activity. The number of deaths in Western Europe fell from 168 in 2016 to 81 in 2017. Turkey...

According to a recent survey of more than 1,000 U.S. and U.K.-based CISOs by the Ponemon Institute, 59 per cent of companies said they have experienced a data breach caused by one of their vendors or third parties. With large organisations today having upwards of 100,000 third-party vendors to manage, and small organisations having a significant sub-set of that, managing third-party vendor risk is an important part of an organisation’s overall cyber-health. KnowBe4, the provider of the wo...

When we say Code Handle is an easy way to add PIN security to any interior door, we mean it. From the minute you open the box, Code Handle makes upgrading internal door security simple. Code Handle is a secure handle with a built-in PIN keypad. It adds reliable electronic security to any sensitive interior door. With Code Handle, you don’t need an expensive access control system. There are no cumbersome keys to carry or track. Its secure PIN code makes sure only authorised people can unlo...

Executives from Johnson Controls, Microsoft Corp. and the Middle East’s sustainability pioneer, Bee’ah, have announced an agreement to enhance Bee’ah’s new headquarters located in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, with a sweeping array of artificial intelligence (AI) and smart building solutions powered by Microsoft. Digital Vault Johnson Controls will work with Microsoft to outfit the new building with intelligent edge systems Using its Digital Vault offering and extende...

Parekh Integrated Services Pvt. Ltd (PISPL) is in the business of providing high-quality logistics services that give customers a competitive advantage in the Indian market. Established in 1981, PISPL is a one-stop shop logistics and supply chain service provider in India offering storage and distribution services, freight forwarding, transportation, information technology and cold chain management solutions along with other value added services to multiple industry verticals. Video surveillan...

ISC West, the largest converged security and public safety trade show in the Americas, concluded its 2019 event in Las Vegas this past Friday. ISC West, in collaboration with premier sponsor Security Industry Association (SIA), experienced overwhelming success with over 950 exhibitors and brands, including 200 new for 2019, plus over 30,000 industry professionals, 85+ SIA Education@ISC sessions, 20+ special events and networking opportunities and more. Reflecting the market trend and urgency fo...

ISC West 2019 is in the industry’s rear-view mirror, and what a show it was! The busy three days in April offered a preview of exciting technologies and industry trends for the coming year. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What was the big news at ISC West 2019?

Cybersecurity has become a major element – and a major source of discussion – in the physical security marketplace as a result of the rise in networked systems. And we may still not be talking enough about cybersecurity. Here is part one of our Cybersecurity series. “Cybersecurity requires everyone in the security industry to be playing offense and defense at the same time, every single day,” says Bill Bozeman, President and CEO of PSA Security Network. “It needs t...