Industry Voices

Streamlining access while also giving private, valuable data the security it needs: This is the balancing act that every data centre manager faces. The answer could be simpler than they think: Choosing the right electronic access control solution, integrating it, and maintaining flexibility for every data centre user, visitor, customer, and temporary contractor. Data security breach A breach in data security can cause severe financial damage. According to IBM’s latest “Cost of a Da...

Sustainable development has universally become a top priority, and transitioning to a net-zero world is a major challenge. Net-zero means cutting greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible, and a growing coalition of countries led by the United Nations has set far-reaching targets that cover about 76% of global emissions. That includes China, and its "dual carbon" goal to see its national CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and then achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. In the security in...

Situations can arise when a facility manager needs to lock down their premises remotely. With mechanical security, this is, of course, impossible. Likewise, many existing wireless electronic access control systems cannot lock down efficiently or even at all. SMARTair Wireless Online access control helps facility managers sleep better at night: Not only can they lock down from anywhere; they can do so intelligently by opening, closing, or maintaining access to individual doors or zones to deal w...

Entering 2022, the world continues to endure the pandemic. But the security industry has, no doubt, continued to shift, adapt, and develop despite things. Several trends have even accelerated. Beyond traditional “physical security,” a host of frontiers like AI, cloud computing, IoT, and cybersecurity are being rapidly pioneered by entities big and small in the industry. By all appearances, the security industry is in a stage of redefining itself. It is moving from mere security and...

The past couple of years has been undoubtedly challenging for everyone. With the pandemic still looming everywhere, people have somewhat learned to adjust to the new normal. And with it, a wave of new technologies have emerged. According to an IEEE study, Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, cloud computing and 5G are just some of the technologies set to take center stage in 2022. As a pioneer video-centric smart IoT solution and service provider, Dahua is constantly innovating and d...

The use of thermal cameras in safety and security applications has been associated traditionally with critical sites such as utilities, airports, or chemical plants where detecting a human heat signature could have significant implications. These sensitive facilities could justify the higher costs associated with thermal cameras since there was a need for particularly sophisticated security systems. Perimeter protection Today, the price of thermal cameras has decreased substantially while...

Cold weather can wreak havoc on the video surveillance system, but making sure that the cameras can survive the winter is sometimes an afterthought that occurs only when below-freezing temperatures have hampered their performance. Here is a handy checklist to keep the security solution up and running during the coldest months of the year. Select a high IP rating Cameras in cold climates need a weather-rated enclosure of at least IP66 to withstand harsh weather like snow and sleet. In addition,...

With smart city and building technology on the rise, to make our urban infrastructures data-driven, efficient and more liveable, there has been a focus on the place of video technology. Peter Greener, the Key Account Manager at Milestone Systems reports that the uses of video and sensor tech go beyond security. Its efficiency for other purposes is growing, mainly due to new infrastructures and pressure on city services. Investing in video and sensor technology When developers invest in video a...

Video cameras have been a mainstay of the security industry for many years, ever since they were first used during World War 2. Throughout the decades, video technology has evolved far beyond the basic functionality that many people associate with camera networks. Video cameras have been a mainstay of the security industry for many years, since they were first used by the German army, during World War 2, to record secret V2 rocket testing. Wide use of video cameras The United States followed s...

Profound changes have occurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic and therein lies opportunity. As Steve Jobs once said, ‘Innovation is the ability to see change as an opportunity – not a threat.’ For the rail sector, changes on the horizon are to be embraced as a way to make services more efficient and protect passengers and workers. Rail remains one of the safest forms of transport. However, there are still risks that need to be mitigated. For example, 2020 was the worst summer in...

Milestone’s Australian team recently played a major part in helping the AFI – Australian Football International – get their latest major event day off the ground. Milestone sponsored the United Nations team at the World Footy Nines tournament, who wore shirts with the Milestone logo throughout the competition. The AFI Footy Nines was the brainchild of Brian Clarke, who had a vision to make the game of Aussie Rules more accessible and promote community spirit at a grassroots le...

It is estimated that more than 80% of a product’s environmental impact is determined by its design. Hence, getting it right from the beginning is better than trying to improve an existing product. ASSA ABLOY’s approach is to embed sustainability in product development from the very start. Only by understanding the full life-cycle impact of each solution, can we truly tackle the embodied and operational carbon within our built environment. This approach demands new ways of thinking,...

When it comes to panoramic cameras, there are a number of options on the market to choose from. Some include multiple sensors in a single housing. Others produce panoramas with a single camera sensor. Each of these has the strengths that allow it to shine in particular situations. The challenge is to know which is best suited for which particular application. But have no fear: we’re going to answer that question to help make sure you get the most out of our panoramic cameras. Combining v...

In mission-critical operations, details matter. Even small reductions in response times and efficiency improvements can help mitigate the impact of incidents and even save lives. When setting up an operations centre or control room, the approach needs to be both detailed and holistic to ensure maximum efficiency. It's vital to consider not just immediate needs but also future trends which will ensure your mission-critical infrastructure is set up for success today and for years to come. Helpin...

As I reflect on the recent Red Dot awards that Ava Security won for high design quality and innovation in video security, I’m reminded of the power of simplicity. I’m not sure if Steve Jobs called his approach to design, design thinking, but I believe he would agree with the philosophy. Ava Security takes a similar, simplistic, and human-centric approach to the design of its video security cameras. Human-centric approach to the design Design thinking is a process for creative prob...

Mobile access is impacting how we interact with buildings and manage their security. For users, a device they already carry unlocks doors and other openings digitally. For facility managers, this same device manages access more securely, for multiple sites if required. Businesses benefit from time-saving security management at a lower total cost. Nearly two-thirds of organisations have already adopted mobile access control — or plan to within two years. According to analysts Omdia, mobile...

In most cases, active shooter incidents are predatory in nature, involving planning and preparation, as they are not impulsive. They often begin with a personal grievance, real or imagined, and are the endpoint of a smoldering crisis, rather than a sudden crisis, in which the perpetrator simply snaps. COVID-19 pandemic effects It is difficult to imagine a better example of a smoldering crisis than the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The catastrophic event has now taken the lives of more than 3 mill...

Taking the first step into electronic access control may seem intimidating. Yet, as businesses of all sizes and from every industry have discovered, choosing the right system quickly translates to time and money savings. Daily access management tasks become faster or even automated. Time pressures impact every department in the workplace, including security and facility management. To achieve more with limited resources both time and money is an ever-present challenge. Limitations of mechanica...

Over the course of the coronavirus pandemic, it became increasingly clear that having a system in place to manage critical events is crucial to maintaining safety and success across the private sector, however the same holds true for governments and federal spaces. As we experience an increase in active shooter situations, terrorist attacks, severe weather conditions, IT outages, and cyber-attack incidents, an agency’s ability to act quickly and appropriately is vital. Successful deployme...

2020: A year that will most certainly never be forgotten. While challenging, we can all agree that with challenge oftentimes comes growth. While it’s true that organisations and individuals alike experienced truly unprecedented times, many people wonder: What is the takeaway from all that? Is it important to have a plan for operational resilience in times of chaos, or simply be willing to adapt and adjust as one goes? The answer: both. About Operational Resilience  1. Critical even...

The new ‘Internet of Things’ world is characterised by millions upon millions of connected devices. With more insecure devices and network access points than ever before, ‘Secure-by-Design’ principles are essential for protecting against growing cyber security threats. Internet-of-Things (IoT) world Over the last few years, digital technologies have transformed the world, affecting all sectors of business activity and daily life. The result is an Internet-of-Things (IoT...

Physical security information management (PSIM) is a category of software that is designed to integrate multiple unconnected security applications, enable automation of workflows and processes, and provide control over devices through a unified user experience. Enables proactive problem solving  It can operate as a platform dedicated to physical security or as part of a broader Critical Event Management (CEM) capability. It collects and correlates events from existing disparate security...

The retail industry in India is one of the fastest-growing in the world. According to the Indian Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), it is also the fifth largest and preferred retail destination globally. With the number of large format stores from major retailers on the rise comes the question of security. Traditionally, each brick-and-mortar store would have a local security centre or room in the store where one or two security personnel will sit. At a broader level for a retail chain, this model...

Video, thanks to tech advancements, can offer so much more than surveillance and security. Here’s Brett Hansen on how it’s ushering in a new era of occupational health and safety. While individual state and territory governments enforce and regulate workplace health and safety rules, there is no doubt that our country plays host too many inherently dangerous occupations across mining and resources, energy, manufacturing, logistics, and many more industries.  Video has a large r...

This question is key in today’s security world, when focusing on security cameras. As part of the IoT world, security cameras of today are playing important roles not only in the security area, but also in providing intelligence to accelerate operational efficiency and decision-making in many other business areas. As they become smarter and more complex, their cybersecurity risks also grow. In recent years, the world experienced several examples of cybersecurity incidents with cameras, wi...

Genetec Inc., a technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence solutions, shared its top five predictions for the physical security industry in 2021. Physical security technology Innovative security solutions will help businesses thrive post pandemic - While the world remains optimistic for 2021, organisations will need to remain creative about how they use, update, and redeploy their security systems across their facilities. This will allow them...

In spite of a highly unusual 2020, the security industry’s constant transformation has not stopped. Several significant shifts in the use of technology are even accelerating, for example the increasing of multi-perception technologies, the convergence of security systems, the popularity of artificial intelligence, and the rise of cloud solutions. These changes are expanding and reshaping the scope of the security industry, from keeping people and assets safe to creating more secure, effic...

Most likely, tenants and visitors to your coworking space value agile, modern solutions. In other words, pretty much the opposite of mechanical lock-and-key technology. Thankfully, there is an intelligent security alternative that won’t blow your budget or create renovation chaos. One forecast suggests flexible workspaces in the EMEA region will number around 17,000 by 2022. Coworking provision is a dynamic market, with increasingly fierce competition for a user base that knows what it wa...

Organisations worldwide are witnessing the power of cutting-edge video to drive a return to business as (almost) usual. But while the technology itself is vital, it’s only one part of the process. In this blog, we explore the Health, Safety and Welfare Policy that businesses should operate alongside their technology investment. Intelligent AI-powered cameras Intelligent AI-powered cameras provide vital screening services to organisations striving to get people back to business. These cam...

Organisations worldwide are witnessing the power of cutting-edge video to drive a return to business as (almost) usual. But while the technology itself is vital, it’s only one part of the process. This article explores the Health, Safety and Welfare Policy that businesses should operate alongside their technology investment. Intelligent AI-powered cameras provide vital screening services to organisations striving to get people back to business. These cameras can measure someone’s s...