IronYun - Experts & Thought Leaders

IronYun, a pioneer in Vision AI for security, safety, and enterprise operations, announced its board of directors has named Salesforce and ServiceNow veteran Marshall Tyler as its new Chief Executive Officer. Tyler’s appointment follows a period of 3x growth at IronYun, reflecting increasing demand for the company’s Vaidio® AI Vision Platform, which transforms conventional video into actionable visual intelligence. Prior roles of Tyler  Tyler joined IronYun as COO in 2024 after serving as Chief Strategy Officer at ClickUp Tyler joined IronYun as COO in 2024 after serving as Chief Strategy Officer at ClickUp. He has led large, cross-functional initiatives at several fast-growing software companies, translating customer needs into effective go-to-market programs. At ServiceNow, he successfully launched a cross-functional program to unify sales, product, engineering, and marketing efforts that drove record growth across key industries. At Salesforce, he helped make Latin America the company’s fastest-growing region. Next level of growth and innovation “Marshall’s exceptional track record driving growth at scale for global enterprise software companies is exactly what our company and our customers need at this stage,” said Paul Sun, former CEO of IronYun and now Founder, President. “We’ve built a great company with strong market momentum and a customer focused culture. Under Marshall’s leadership, we will take the company to the next level of growth and innovation.” Role in industry initiatives IronYun plays a prominent role in industry initiatives, leveraging his decades of leadership in the field Sun will remain with the company, continuing to advise customers and ensuring IronYun plays a prominent role in industry initiatives, leveraging his decades of leadership in the field. He will also support Tyler in expanding Vaidio’s capabilities as the company taps new markets interested in the platform for its flexibility and advanced analytics.  Vaidio addresses challenges IronYun’s Vaidio platform has been rapidly adopted by organisations of all sizes due to its accuracy and flexibility in real-time detection, forensic video search capabilities and data-driven insights. By turning raw video into a rich source of intelligence, Vaidio addresses challenges like public safety, asset protection, and operational optimisation with a single, scalable solution. Vaidio AI Vision platform Vaidio has gained recognition for usability, high performance, and rapid time to value As organisations worldwide adopt Vision AI to help drive decisions and improve experiences and outcomes, Vaidio has gained recognition for usability, high performance, and rapid time to value. “There is immense opportunity ahead because the Vaidio AI Vision platform acts like an ROI multiplier across both security and operations,” said Marshall Tyler, CEO and President at IronYun. New era of visual transformation Tyler added: “We’re playing to win – and we’re opening up a new era of visual transformation for our customers. Not only do their existing cameras become instantly smarter, but they can also see more and do more with their video data than they ever thought possible.” IronYun will showcase the Vaidio AI Vision Platform at the upcoming ISC West conference. Attendees can learn more and meet Marshall and the IronYun team at Stand 7117.

IDIS will showcase its expanded range of video surveillance technologies at Intersec 2025 (14-16 January, Dubai World Trade Centre). New products and end-to-end solutions will be ideal for a broad range of regional applications, from critical infrastructure and large-scale developments to commercial applications, including hospitality, leisure, retail, and banking. Latest offerings from IDIS IWS, which makes building and deploying dynamic video walls of any type and size simple and fast The latest offerings from IDIS, the largest manufacturer of trusted South Korean-made video tech, include the new Edge AI Camera Plus range; Omni-Directional Multi-Sensor 20MP and 32MP cameras; 5MP IR PoE Extender cameras; and a range of industrial-grade, explosion-proof, and mobile solutions suitable for the most demanding sites where harsh conditions can occur.  Also on show will be the IDIS Intelligent Wall Station (IWS), which makes building and deploying dynamic video walls of any type and size simple and fast. Performance of IDIS Deep Learning Analytics In addition, IDIS will highlight its track record of building customised solutions for challenging projects—a proven capability now strengthened by collaboration with technology partners, including Ironyun, to enhance the performance of IDIS Deep Learning Analytics (IDLA).  Intersec will also see the IDIS Middle East team formalise its partnership with Secure Logiq to provide advanced storage solutions for large-scale projects. New IDLA Pro event functions IDIS A-Cut Monitoring enables automatic image cropping and intuitive attribute search IDIS will unveil its new Edge AI Camera Plus range, offering users a host of tools to improve real-time surveillance operations and footage search and playback. For example, IDIS A-Cut Monitoring enables automatic image cropping and intuitive attribute search. New IDLA Pro event functions are set to drive even greater operational efficiency for busy security and public safety teams, enabling proactive 24/7 surveillance. A prominent feature at this year’s show will be IDIS’s Omni-Directional Multi-Sensor Cameras, including IR models, built to withstand challenging environments and provide high-resolution multi-directional surveillance in locations where it’s vital to have an all-round view. IDIS’s most advanced analytics functions These cameras deliver powerful image capture even in challenging light conditions and total darkness while supporting IDIS’s most advanced analytics functions. Reducing the number of stand-alone cameras needed to achieve 360° visibility results in lower costs and more streamlined configuration. IDIS will also showcase its unmatched I-Mobile Solution for mass transit applications, including light rail and private and public sector bus fleets. Since it was developed and launched in the U.S. in 2005, IDIS has built on I-Mobile’s unique capabilities to continuously improve safety, security, and efficiency, which will be an ideal fit for existing and planned transit applications in the Middle East. Options for video system expansion IDIS shows systems integrators easier and faster options for video system growth with a patented system Encompassing cameras, 4K recorders, accessories and IDIS Solution Suite VMS, I-Mobile enables live monitoring and recording of vehicle interiors and exteriors and combines robust video capture with GPS tracking and vehicle information systems data, including location and speed. As well as improving safety for drivers and passengers, the solution delivers valuable insights for optimising service levels, efficiency and fleet management. With its recently launched 5MP IR PoE Extender Cameras, IDIS will also show systems integrators easier and faster options for video system expansion with a patented system that relays power from one camera to another, eliminating the need for individual Power Sourcing Equipment (PSEs) and enabling longer cabling runs ideal for large perimeters, car parks, and public spaces. Most advanced video solutions “At Intersec 2025, IDIS will demonstrate our most advanced video solutions and newly built-out solutions and new camera ranges, ideally positioned to serve applications across the region,” says Dennis Choi, General Manager, IDIS Middle East & Africa. “We will focus on developing stronger partnerships with systems integrators and end-users and highlighting the benefits of our collaboration with pioneering complementary technology developers to continue to deliver end-to-end solutions that deliver an industry best low total cost of ownership.” Visit stand S1-H23 at Intersec 2025 to talk to the team of video tech experts and get a hands-on demonstration.

IDIS will showcase its expanded range of video surveillance technologies at Intersec 2025 (14-16 January, Dubai World Trade Centre). New products and end-to-end solutions will be ideal for a broad range of regional applications, from critical infrastructure and large-scale developments to commercial applications, including hospitality, leisure, retail, and banking.   New IDIS offerings The latest offerings from IDIS, the largest manufacturer of trusted South Korean-made video tech, include the new Edge AI Camera Plus range; Omni-Directional Multi-Sensor 20MP and 32MP cameras; 5MP IR PoE Extender cameras; and a range of industrial-grade, explosion-proof, and mobile solutions suitable for the most demanding sites with harsh conditions. The IDIS Intelligent Wall Station (IWS), which makes building and deploying dynamic video walls of any type and size simple and fast, will also be on show.  Customised solutions Intersec will also see the IDIS Middle East team formalise its partnership with Secure Logiq In addition, IDIS will highlight its track record of building customised solutions for challenging projects, a proven capability strengthened by collaboration with technology partners, including Ironyun, to enhance the performance of IDIS Deep Learning Analytics (IDLA).  Intersec will also see the IDIS Middle East team formalise its partnership with Secure Logiq to provide advanced storage solutions for large-scale projects.  Edge AI Camera Plus range IDIS will unveil its new Edge AI Camera Plus range, offering users various tools to improve real-time surveillance operations, footage search, and playback. For example, IDIS A-Cut Monitoring enables automatic image cropping and intuitive attribute search. New IDLA Pro event functions are set to drive even greater operational efficiency for busy security and public safety teams, enabling proactive 24/7 surveillance.   Omni-Directional Multi-Sensor Cameras A prominent feature at the 2025 show will be IDIS’s Omni-Directional Multi-Sensor Cameras, including IR models, built to withstand challenging environments and provide high-resolution multi-directional surveillance in locations where it’s vital to have an all-round view.  These cameras deliver powerful image capture even in challenging light conditions and total darkness while supporting IDIS’s most advanced analytics functions. Reducing the number of stand-alone cameras needed to achieve 360° visibility results in lower costs and more streamlined configuration.  I-Mobile Solution IDIS will also showcase its unmatched I-Mobile Solution for mass transit applications, including light rail and private and public sector bus fleets. Since it was developed and launched in the U.S. in 2005, IDIS has built on I-Mobile’s unique capabilities to continuously improve safety, security, and efficiency. This makes it an ideal fit for existing and planned transit applications in the Middle East.  Live vehicle monitoring and recording Encompassing cameras, 4K recorders, accessories, and IDIS Solution Suite VMS, I-Mobile enables live monitoring and recording of vehicle interiors and exteriors and combines robust video capture with GPS tracking and vehicle information systems data, including location and speed. In addition to improving safety for drivers and passengers, the solution delivers valuable insights for optimising service levels, efficiency, and fleet management.  5MP IR PoE Extender Cameras IDIS will show systems integrators easier and faster options for video system expansion with a patented system With its recently launched 5MP IR PoE Extender Cameras, IDIS will also show systems integrators easier and faster options for video system expansion with a patented system that relays power from one camera to another, eliminating the need for individual Power Sourcing Equipment (PSEs) and enabling longer cabling runs ideal for large perimeters, car parks, and public spaces.    “At Intersec 2025, IDIS will demonstrate our most advanced video solutions, newly built-out solutions, and new camera ranges, ideally positioned to serve applications across the region,” says Dennis Choi, General Manager, IDIS Middle East & Africa. End-to-end solutions “We will focus on developing stronger partnerships with systems integrators and end-users and highlighting the benefits of our collaboration with pioneering complementary technology developers to continue to deliver end-to-end solutions that deliver an industry-best low total cost of ownership.”  Visit stand S1-H23 at Intersec 2025 to talk to our team of video tech experts and get a hands-on demonstration.

Our Expert Panel Roundtable is an opinionated group. However, for a variety of reasons, we are sometimes guilty of not publishing their musings in a timely manner. At the end of 2020, we came across several interesting comments among those that were previously unpublished. Following is a catch-all collection of those responses, addressing some of the most current and important issues in the security marketplace in 2021.

As the multi-billion-dollar market for artificial-intelligence-based video analytics continues to grow, so does the number of video analytics solution providers. In Q3 of 2018, Stockholm-based consulting company Memoori identified 128 active companies in the supply chain for AI video analytics [i]. This list is far from exhaustive, considering how analytics has been gaining interest and becoming mainstream in 2020, with users expecting more accurate alerts based on object detection instead of motion detection, hardware providers developing more powerful but compact chip sets for deployment, and more startup solution providers carving out their niche in the market.   Given so many choices, the question arises as to how a system integrator can evaluate and select the best solution for his customer. Although the criteria vary for each vertical, there are some key metrics to consider across the field: Open platform Ease of use Robustness and reliable performance Versatility Good support and integration Low total cost of ownership 1. Open platform Open platform allows the user to have complete flexibility, avoid being locked into any particular manufacturer, and utilise the best-of-breed solution available in each category. Analytics has been gaining interest and becoming mainstream in 2020 In 2019, an IPVM survey shows that 51% of system integrators always prefer an open platform to an end-to-end solution (i.e., all components including camera, VMS, analytics, etc. provided by one manufacturer), and 24% select open platform or end-to-end depending on customer requirements [ii]. For analytics, as the users commonly have an existing infrastructure, investing in a technology overhaul would be too expensive. An open-platform analytics product, i.e., a camera-agnostic, VMS-agnostic, and computer-server-agnostic product, will add value to the existing infrastructure within a reasonable budget. Open platform also makes it easier and more cost-efficient to upgrade each component when necessary. 2. Ease of use One of the main reasons and goals of applying AI to security is to help the user automate the process of watching hours and hours of surveillance videos, extract useful information and send alerts when necessary. In other words, AI should make it easier for the user to operate the security system. Thus, a good AI video analytics solution must be easy to set up and connect to the existing infrastructure, easy to use on a daily basis, and easy to scale with the expansion of the business. Let us examine each point in more details: Easy to set up: a turn-key, plug-and-play solution helps save time and money. The system integrator can spend a couple of hours instead of days to help the customer set up. In both 2018 and 2020, the most common reason that integrators cited for choosing a solution is that “it just works” [iii][iv]. Easy to use: an intuitive, no-learning-curve user interface allows the customer to make the solution second-nature, maximize its utility and gets the highest return on investment. The best-case scenario is that everyone in the user’s organisation, e.g., every police officer in a city police department, can use the solution on a daily basis, not limited to a technical staff with rigorous training. Easy to scale: the solution must be designed to seamlessly scale in different ways: number of cameras (e.g., from a few to a few thousands); deployment locations (e.g., can we access data in our branch office in another city? how about another country?); types of device and deployment (e.g., body-worn cameras, in-vehicle, control center, cloud). 3. Robustness and reliable performance Traditional VMD (video motion detection) -based analytics have many limitations and false alarms, so AI-based analytics were developed, primarily to identify different objects in the videos with high accuracy. However, such accuracy must be achievable in different real-life environments. The best solution does not let low lighting, snow and rain, spider crawling in front of the cameras, etc., interfere with human intrusion detection or license plate recognition at night. In the case of temperature detection, users should be able to walk by the system at a normal pace without removing the mask to minimise disruption and maximise worker efficiency. A more robust solution means less time and resource spent on false alarms. 4. Versatility A versatile, feature-rich, multi-functionality video analytics is the most effective choice for system integrators in the long term. Not limited to only object detection, AI can be trained to recognise higher levels of details (e.g., faces, age, gender, license plates), track objects (including people and vehicles), and detect certain behaviours (e.g., loitering, theft). In other words, a more versatile analytics solution can recognise more types and behaviors of objects for more use cases. Most users have certain pain points today and are looking for only one or a few solutions. However, as the organisation grows, new situations and requirements may arise, which call for new detection functions in video analytics. The costs and complexity will add up quickly if each solution has only one function. A few examples: An LPR camera may be perfect for the need to record all license plates today, but if the police wants to find a black Toyota Prius with “A23” in the plate number, a solution that can detect the plate number, vehicle make and model will save much more time and effort. Intrusion detection based on the ability to distinguish human from other moving objects (e.g., animals) is only the first step. What if the user needs an alert for people that enter a construction zone without a hard hat and safety vest? The answer is an AI solution that can grow its repertoire. In the current pandemic, business must adopt temperature screening, distancing detection, occupancy detection, and mask detection; a solution that can provide all four analytics in one platform is clearly more useful than four individual solutions, not to mention whether the solution can be repurposed after the pandemic has been resolved. 5. Good support and good integration One of the main reasons that system integrators might select an end-to-end solution instead of an open-platform one is technical support: more responsiveness and less finger-pointing. In terms of responsiveness, good technical support is a part of the ease of use, where the system integrator and the user can rest assured that any question can be answer via email or a phone call to the manufacturer. A more robust solution means less time and resource spent on false alarms In terms of having a one-stop-shop solution to reduce finger-pointing, good support means the manufacturer can provide easy integration to 3rd-party systems, which includes API interface support. One example is access control. Video analytics is a great tool to enhance access security (e.g., face recognition to open doors for employees; LPR for parking management; weapon detection linked to automatic locked-down system), but only 24% of video surveillance systems today are integrated with access control [v]. Two of the main reasons: (1) integration is expensive, and (2) the systems are not compatible. Both hurdles can be overcome if the analytics solution bridges the gap between cameras and access control system via its API. 6. Low total cost of ownership These six criteria help both the system integrator and the end-user save time, money, and effort Cost is always a determining factor, especially in the SMB market [vi]. Customers’ expectations are high, and higher-resolution cameras are decreasing in price and increasing in numbers, which means more data to process than ever. A good analytic software solution is not only capable of many functions, its algorithms are efficient enough to fit more into the same server specs, and it does not require expensive cameras to have good accuracy, thereby increasing cost saving for the entire system. In summary, these six criteria help both the system integrator and the end-user save time, money, and effort and get the most out of video analytics in the long run. A high-performance, versatile, turnkey solution is already a reality with today’s technology, and it will only continue to improve, so there is no reason to settle for less. [i] Memoori, The Global Market for Intelligent Video Analytics 2018 to 2023, 2018 [ii] IPVM, Open vs. End-to-End System: Statistics 2019, November 11, 2019 [iii] John Honovich, IPVM, Favorite Video Analytic Manufacturers 2018, April 2, 2018 [iv] IPVM, Favorite Video Analytic Manufacturers 2020, February 25, 2020 [v] Brian Rhodes, IPVM, Access Control and Video Integration Statistics 2020, October 8, 2020. [vi] Brian Karas, IPVM, Low Cost, Low End Competitors Challenge SMB Surveillance Market, September 1, 2017

News reports and opinion columns about face recognition are appearing everyday. To some of us, the term sounds overly intrusive. It even makes people shrink back into their seats or shake their head in disgust, picturing a present-day dystopia. Yet to others, face recognition presents technology-enabled realistic opportunities to fight, and win, the battle against crime. What are the facts about face recognition? Which side is right? Well, there is no definitive answer because, as with all powerful tools, it all depends on who uses it. Face recognition can, in fact, be used in an immoral or controversial manner. But, it can also be immensely beneficial in providing a safe and secure atmosphere for those in its presence.  Concerns of facial recognition With the increased facial recognition applications, people’s concerns over the technology continuously appear throughout news channels and social media. Some of the concerns include: Privacy: Alex Perry of Mashable sums up his and most other peoples’ privacy concerns with face recognition technology when he wrote, “The first and most obvious reason why people are unhappy about facial recognition is that it's unpleasant by nature. Increasing government surveillance has been a hot-button issue for many, many years, and tech like Amazon's Rekognition software is only making the dystopian future feel even more real”. Accuracy: People are worried about the possibilities of inaccurate face detection, which could result in wrongful identification or criminalisation. Awareness: Face recognition software allows the user to upload a picture of anyone, regardless of whether that person knows of it. An article posted on The Conversation states, “There is a lack of detailed and specific information as to how facial recognition is actually used. This means that we are not given the opportunity to consent to the recording, analysing and storing of our images in databases. By denying us the opportunity to consent, we are denied choice and control over the use of our own images” Debunking concerns  The concerns with privacy, accuracy, and awareness are all legitimate and valid concerns. However, let us look at the facts and examine the reasons why face recognition, like any other technology, can be responsibly used: Privacy concerns: Unlike the fictional dystopian future where every action, even in one’s own home, is monitored by a centralised authority, the reality is that face recognition technology only helps the security guard monitoring public locations where security cameras are installed. There is fundamentally no difference between a human security guard at the door and an AI-based software in terms of recognising people on watchlist and not recognising those who are not. The only difference is that the AI-based face recognition software can do so at a higher speed and without fatigue. Face recognition software only recognises faces that the user has put in the system, which is not every person on the planet, nor could it ever be. Accuracy concerns: It is true that first-generation face recognition systems have a large margin for error according to studies in 2014. However, as of 2020, the best face recognition systems are now around 99.8% accurate. New AI models are continuously being trained with larger, more relevant, more diverse and less biased datasets. The error margin found in face recognition software today is comparable to that of a person, and it will continue to decrease as we better understand the limitations, train increasingly better AI and deploy AI in more suitable settings. Awareness concerns: While not entirely comforting, the fact is that we are often being watched one way or another on a security camera. Informa showed that in 2014, 245 million cameras were active worldwide, this number jumped to 656 million in 2018 and is projected to nearly double in 2021. Security camera systems, like security guards, are local business and government’s precaution measures to minimise incidents such as shoplifting, car thefts, vandalism and violence. In other words, visitors to locations with security systems have tacitly agreed to the monitoring in exchange for using the service provided by those locations in safety, and visitors are indeed aware of the existence of security cameras. Face recognition software is only another layer of security, and anyone who is not a security threat is unlikely to be registered in the system without explicit consent. The benefits In August 2019, the NYPD used face recognition software to catch a rapist within 24 hours after the incident occurred. In April 2019, the Sichuan Provincial Public Security Department in China, found a 13-year-old girl using face recognition technology. The girl had gone missing in 2009, persuading many people that she would never be found again. Face recognition presents technology-enabled realistic opportunities to fight, and win, the battle against crimeIn the UK, the face recognition system helps Welsh police forces with the detection and prevention of crime. "For police it can help facilitate the identification process and it can reduce it to minutes and seconds," says Alexeis Garcia-Perez, a researcher on cybersecurity management at Coventry University. "They can identify someone in a short amount of time and in doing that they can minimise false arrests and other issues that the public will not see in a very positive way". In fact, nearly 60% Americans polled in 2019 accept the use of face recognition by law enforcement to enhance public safety. Forbes magazine states that “When people know they are being watched, they are less likely to commit crimes so the possibility of facial recognition technology being used could deter crime”. Saving time  One thing that all AI functions have been proven to achieve better results than manual security is speed. NBC News writes, “Nearly instantaneously, the program gives a list of potential matches loaded with information that can help him confirm the identity of the people he’s stopped - and whether they have any outstanding warrants. Previously, he’d have to let the person go or bring them in to be fingerprinted”. Facial recognition can also be immensely beneficial in providing a safe and secure atmosphere for those in its presence With AI, instead of spending hours or days to sift through terabytes of video data, the security staff can locate a suspect within seconds. This time-saving benefit is essential to the overall security of any institution, for in most security threat situations, time is of the utmost importance. Another way in which the technology saves time is its ability to enable employees (but not visitors) to open doors to their office in real time with no badge, alleviating the bottleneck of forgotten badge, keycode or password. Saving money A truly high-performance AI software helps save money in many ways. First, if the face recognition software works with your pre-existing camera system, there is no need to replace cameras, hence saving cost on infrastructure. Second, AI alleviates much of the required manual security monitoring 24/7, as the technology will detect people of interest and automatically and timely alert the authorities. Third, by enhancing access authentication, employees save time and can maximise productivity in more important processes. The takeaway AI-enabled face recognition technology has a lot of benefits if used correctly. Can it be abused? Yes, like all tools that mankind has made from antiquity. Should it be deployed? The evidence indicates that the many benefits of this complex feature outweigh the small chance for abuse of power. It is not only a step in the right direction for the security industry but also for the overall impact on daily lives. It helps to make the world a safer place.