ACRE - Experts & Thought Leaders

St. Andrew’s House is a Boarding Home for International students in St. Andrew’s School. The school is a government-aided Anglican boys’ secondary school in Potong Pasir, Singapore. It was founded in 1862. The house had a standalone access control system that had stopped working to their satisfactory standard. As such, the decision was made by the school to upgrade the school’s security to an entirely new system. No specification for the project was provided. ACTpro access control and Bluetooth readers Wincheer (Winchester Security Services Inc.) managed the security system upgrade for St. Andrew’s. Wincheer selected Vanderbilt’s ACTpro access control and Bluetooth readers. In the Asian market, pricing always plays an essential factor in deciding what product to choose. And, as Vanderbilt’s ACTpro is exceptionally competitively priced, it was the ideal product to meet this project’s requirements. The primary function of ACTpro at the boarding home is monitoring the safety of their students in accommodation. ACTpro keeps audit trails in the boarding home, by monitoring and recording fob activity for time and attendance. ACTpro also produces diagnostic reports on door status. ACTpro smartphone app The ACTpro smartphone app offers ultimate flexibility for St Andrew’s House Campus security can provide pin codes, access fobs, and cards to students. These credentials can be easily enabled or disabled remotely if required. Moreover, ACTpro can be managed on desktops, laptop tablets, and smartphone devices. The ACTpro smartphone app offers ultimate flexibility for St Andrew’s House. It ensures convenient connectivity to the system day or night. Thanks to the app, the security managers no longer need to visit their premises out of hours, with quick access to the system's pulse from the palm of their hand. They can also enable and disable alarms, lock and unlock doors, authorise users, and check who’s in and out. Muster reports In the event of a fire or other emergency, ACTpro can automatically unlock all doors, in order to allow students to reach safety. The ACTpro muster report gives the security campus a real-time list of all campus accommodation students. When students exit their accommodation and swipe out, the muster report automatically updates. A muster report can also be generated directly from the ACTpro smartphone app. ACTpro access control solution “I have been working with Vanderbilt for many years. I know the company well and trust their ACTpro access control solution. I always send my project requirements to Vanderbilt first for a consultation. I have a comfortable working relationship with them”, stated Mr. Berg Kok of Winchester Security Services Inc.

The PSA Network (PSA), the world's largest consortium of professional systems integrators, will host its annual convention October 14–17 in Marco Island, Florida, at the JW Marriott Beach Resort. The event is exclusive to PSA's network of security integration members and owners. Attendees will travel from across the country to attend top-tier education sessions, network with peers and participate in planned excursions in paradise. PSA Convention 2024 “Our team has worked hard to ensure PSA Convention 2024 is an exceptional event,” said Matt Barnette, president and CEO of PSA. “From the educational lineup to the networking opportunities, PSA members will be impressed. We cannot wait to see the impactful conversations and collaborations that will emerge.”  Data-driven insights Jeremy Bess and Patrick Luce will assign attendees with data-driven insights to cut the noise Josh Linkner will headline PSA Convention with his keynote address on how small, everyday innovations can drive oversized results. In this inspiring, timely and high-impact keynote, Linkner will show attendees how to de-risk the creative process, build the capacity to unlock breakthrough transformations and gain the creative confidence to take responsible risks. Likewise, economists Jeremy Bess and Patrick Luce will empower attendees with data-driven insights to cut through the noise. The presentation will connect the microeconomic dynamics of the security markets with the core economic phenomena that PSA integrators deal with every day. Key technology partners Another excellent dynamic of PSA Convention is the opportunity for integrators to make personal connections with key technology partners. Sponsors of this year's event include: Aiphone Ai-RGUS AirSight Altronix AMAG Technoogy Arxys ASSA ABLOY BCD Bosch Security and Safety Systems ComNet by acre security Digital Watchdog Hanwha Vision HID IML Security Solutions LenelS2 Pelco SECLOCK Snellings Walters Velasea VICON Windy City Wire Zenitel Zitko If they are a PSA member interested in attending PSA Convention 2024, visit the PSA Convention website. Registration includes a three-night hotel stay if they register before September 23. 

The Security Industry Association (SIA) has announced the schedule, speaker lineup and program for the 2024 Securing New Ground (SNG), the security industry’s executive conference, taking place October 8-9 at the Westin New York Grand Central in New York City. At SNG 2024, the security industry will gather for top-level information sharing, networking and business analysis. This year’s Securing New Ground conference will shape industry trends and offer opportunities to engage with the pioneers who are driving the future of security. Insights for the security industry The 2024 program will explore current and cutting-edge issues, like how digital change will reinvent The 2024 program will explore the most current and cutting-edge issues, like how digital transformation will reinvent corporate security operations and the future of mobile credentials; share investment insights for the security industry; showcase in-depth one-to-one interviews with top executives in the industry; and foster new connections through interactive sessions and dynamic roundtable discussions. “SIA is thrilled to present a stellar lineup of security industry executives at the 2024 Securing New Ground conference – a highly anticipated program featuring the top security luminaries, innovators and pioneers and examining the most critical business and security topics in our industry,” said SIA Board of Directors Chair Scott Dunn. “This year’s conference will offer attendees a variety of candid, insightful conversations on the most current trends, shifts and challenges in global security and how the industry’s pioneering players are navigating these changes and plenty of opportunities to network, share information and form meaningful connections with other security visionaries.” Highlights of the 2024 SNG program A keynote address from Phil Mackintosh, chief economist and senior vice president at Nasdaq, about how market conditions and financial indicators will impact the U.S. and global economies. Compelling executive conversations with Rob Aarnes, president of ADI Global Distribution; Sergio Castillejos, vice president and general manager of Honeywell Commercial Security; Ann Fandozzi, CEO of Convergint; Steve Jones, CEO of Allied Universal; Filip Kaliszan, CEO and co-founder of Verkada; Masato Nakao, CEO of i-PRO; George Oliver, chairman and CEO of Johnson Controls; and Pierre Racz, CEO of Genetec. Trends and challenges in global security Executives speaking in the event program represent major industry sectors like access control, video surveillance, systems integration, distribution, finance, security staffing, identity, critical event management, data sharing, and more. The conference program will see the return of the popular “View From the Top” session on major trends and challenges in global security, featuring top executives from integration, product manufacturers and the practitioner's voice. Security Megatrends session Security Megatrends session that forecasts pioneering trends expected to change the industry over the next one to five years Also returning is the ever-insightful Security Megatrends session that forecasts pioneering trends expected to change the industry over the next one to five years, along with the Investment Insights panel that breaks down the numbers behind industry investments, mergers and acquisitions activity, lending and private equity. The conference will also see the presentation of the 25 on the RISE Awards winners, a recognition program for young pioneers in the security industry, nominated by their peers as rising stars in security. The full agenda is available and a current list of speakers is also available on the conference website. SNG 2024 sponsors  For the first time in 2024, included in the ticket to Securing New Ground is an exclusive evening reception and a can’t-miss evening dinner event featuring a dynamic presentation from an inspiring guest speaker to be announced soon. Registration for SIA members is $1,145 (a savings of $850 off the regular rate). Security practitioners are invited to attend for $495, and government security pioneers are provided complimentary access. SNG 2024 is supported by sponsors ACRE, ADI, Allegion, ASSA ABLOY, Axis Communications, Bosch, Convergint, Eagle Eye Networks, Genetec, Hanwha Vision, HID, Honeywell, Imperial Capital, i-PRO, M.C. Dean, M.C. Dean, Milestone, Raymond James, SAGE Integration, Securitas Technology, SwiftConnect, Verkada, Vivotek, Wachter, Wavelynx and Wesco; industry supporters ISC Security Events and PSA; and media partners Access Control Executive Brief, International Security Journal, Security Business, SecurityInfoWatch, Security Journal Americas and Security Technology Executive.

As the backbone of community welfare, healthcare facilities cater to crucial public needs from emergency care to specialised medical treatments, and due to its position as a significant facet of the world's critical infrastructure, the healthcare sector faces a multitude of challenges in ensuring patient and visitor security, managing high traffic, and safeguarding sensitive data. Medical sites, such as large hospitals and urgent care clinics, see a wide variety of patients, medical staff, administrative teams, and visitors throughout the day. In addition to protecting patients, visitors, and staff, healthcare environments must protect medical and patient data, ensure immediate response to urgent medical events, and maintain 24/7 operations. Security challenges   Cloud-based solutions have made their mark on healthcare security, offering unparalleled scalability Addressing the security challenges presented by 24/7 availability and high patient and visitor traffic calls for a merging of technology, processes, and security strategies that go beyond what a typical security infrastructure would look like.  Cloud-based solutions have made their mark on healthcare security, offering unparalleled scalability, accessibility, and integration capabilities. These advancements address the multifaceted demands of healthcare organisations, ensuring seamless around-the-clock operations while prioritising patient care and safety.  Enhancing operational efficiency to save lives Cloud-based access control solutions have revolutionised how healthcare security professionals approach collaboration within medical facilities. These solutions offer unparalleled accessibility and insight into patient and visitor security information and access logs, improving coordination among security teams and leading to more accurate monitoring and response to developing medical events. By managing and operating access control solutions via the cloud, healthcare facilities can implement effective physical security measures while ensuring seamless collaboration among staff to deliver the highest medical care possible to patients across facilities.  Physical access controls Cloud-based access control systems allow users to securely access and manage physical access controls Cloud-based access control systems allow multiple users to securely access and manage physical access controls and visitor management data simultaneously, enabling them to keep track of patient movements as they are transferred throughout the facility or between different facilities. For larger hospitals or medical campuses with multiple facilities hosting access controls via the cloud empowers users with the ability to find patients and patient data in an instant, as well as opening the door to collaborate with teams separated by long distances, ensuring all team members have access to the information they need to continue saving lives. Scaling the way to top-notch care Healthcare institutions are constantly growing and changing in response to evolving industry regulations and standards, and the access control solutions these organisations rely on should be able to scale to meet their changing needs. To ensure their access control systems can keep up with these growing demands, healthcare security professionals can invest in access control solutions hosted in the cloud to avoid the tedious hardware constraints that come with traditional on-premises solutions. Cloud solutions offer significant levels of scalability, enabling healthcare organisations to adjust their storage requirements and computing resources based on changing requirements on the fly. This capability for flexibility ensures users can manage large amounts of data without significant upfront investments in hardware. Cloud-based access control solutions Cloud-based access control solutions provide healthcare organisations with the flexibility they need to expand their access In addition to compliance with changing regulations, cloud-based access control solutions provide healthcare organisations with the flexibility they need to expand their access control platform across a growing campus or multiple buildings. Larger healthcare facilities typically consist of multiple sites of varying sizes across diverse landscapes, each with distinctive security needs.  Systems hosted in the cloud provide scalability and flexibility for user organisations, allowing security teams to modify or expand upon their security infrastructure as needed without spending on costly new hardware. This adaptability is crucial for helping address varying risks over multiple sites, providing security personnel the flexibility they need to ensure patient safety over long distances. Ease of use for security teams To truly understand the value of a cloud-based access control system, healthcare security professionals must consider the long-term savings and ROI these solutions provide by bolstering operational efficiencies and enabling unprecedented scalability.  These systems ensure compliance with changing standards and deliver a simplified user experience across platforms, prioritising security and ease of use for security teams across the healthcare sector.

Headlines of violence in our schools are a reminder of the need to keep educational institutions safe. In fact, if there is a positive aspect to the constant bombardment of headlines, it is that it keeps our attention perpetually focused on how to improve school security. But what is the role of physical security systems? As the new school year begins, we asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: Are schools safer because of physical security systems? Why or why not? 

Sharing data between security and building management devices can provide a route to maximise building usage and minimise costs. In today's Internet of Things (IoT) environment, tying together a variety of systems is easier than ever. For an update, we asked this week's Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the benefits of integrating security technology with building management systems (BMS)?