Promise Technology - Experts & Thought Leaders

Toshiba Electronics Europe GmbH (Toshiba) announces a new video that showcases its successful partnership with PROMISE Technology to deliver enhanced data storage capabilities to CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, home to the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The video explores how the collaborative partnership has been instrumental in fulfilling CERN’s mission by delivering robust storage systems and cutting-edge hard drives to support its groundbreaking research. Robust and reliable data storage The LHC’s collision detectors, which run 24/7, generate approximately 1TB of data per minute, necessitating robust and reliable data storage. Since 2008, CERN has used PROMISE Technology’s 24-bay JBOD VTrak J5800 HDD enclosures, with some of the earliest systems still operational. CERN has also used Toshiba’s Enterprise Capacity HDDs, starting with capacities of 4TB over ten years ago to the MG09 Series Enterprise Capacity 18TB HDDs. Storage capacity This storage system has reached a capacity of more than one Exabyte, which is one thousand Petabytes During this time, the two companies supported CERN in scaling up the storage capacity at its central data centre, which sends this data to more than 170 research institutes around the world for analysis. This storage system has reached a capacity of more than one Exabyte, which is one thousand Petabytes or a million Terabytes, realised with more than 120,000 HDDs sitting in more than 4,000 JBOD enclosures. VTrak J5960 Building on this success, PROMISE Technology developed a new 60-bay JBOD model, the VTrak J5960. The JBOD storage system incorporates 'Greenboost' technology, a suite of energy-saving innovations that can reduce power consumption by up to 30%. In the HDD application lab, Toshiba completed early testing of PROMISE Technology’s 60-bay JBOD with its Enterprise Capacity MG10 Series 20TB HDDs, and confirmed data- and cooling performance and power efficiency, which aligns with the global push towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly data management practices. Storage, reliability, and efficiency About this collaboration achievement in data storage Eric Bonfillou, Deputy Group Leader of CERN’s IT Fabric group states, “In our quest to unravel the mysteries of the universe, we need partners who understand the importance of data storage, reliability, and efficiency with solutions tailored to our unique needs.” “The energy crisis is now a real challenge to all enterprises, including CERN,” Alice Chang, Chief Marketing Officer, PROMISE Technology. “The VTrak J5960 offers a well-rounded solution to solve this dilemma, and we are confident that Toshiba’s Enterprise Capacity HDDs, installed and operated in this JBOD, will support CERN’s future need for growing data storage capacity in a reliable and energy-efficient way.” Cost-effective and energy-efficient “At Toshiba, we are very proud to support CERN’s activities with Enterprise Capacity HDDs,” says Rainer W. Kaese, Senior Manager of Business Development, Storage Products Division at Toshiba. “We continue to develop higher capacities, up to 30TB and beyond, as HDDs are and will remain essential for storing the exabytes of data that CERN and the entire world produce in a cost-effective and energy-efficient manner.” Future of data storage While the video celebrates the collaborative work with CERN, the focus remains on the technological advancements and the future of data storage at the research facility. Toshiba and PROMISE Technology are committed to providing solutions that ensure the LHC’s research continues without interruption, contributing to the understanding of the universe.

Surveillance storage provider PROMISE Technology (or 'PROMISE') will debut its new Vess A8000 Series, a robust and intelligent that perfectly balances customers’ rising needs for larger storage capacity and high-quality surveillance video performance, at the 23rd Intersec showcase in Dubai from Jan 16-18, 2022, stand S1-H16, Hall SAEED 1. The Vess A8000 Series strengthens the PROMISE Surveillance portfolio, enabling its security and surveillance customers to grow with data-intensive digital trends such as the use of Intelligent Video Analytics (IVA) and artificial intelligence (AI) in real-time monitoring. Comprehensive surveillance solutions “PROMISE has been bringing purpose-build and customised IP video data solutions to surveillance customers around the world in the past decade,” said Alice Chang, Chief Sales Officer, PROMISE Technology. “Given the rapid pace of growth and needs within the global surveillance industry, our strengths in adaptability and compatibility are our commitment to our customers and partners to tackle the emerging challenges and opportunities with PROMISE comprehensive surveillance solutions.” The Vess A8000 Series comprising of the Vess A8120, A8600 and A8800 models The Vess A8000 Series comprising of the Vess A8120, A8600 and A8800 models, comes equipped with the PROMISE expertise in data storage and experience in working with tier-one surveillance ecosystem partners to ensure the most reliable, flexible, and trustworthy solutions for surveillance projects in different scales. Processor intensive applications The Vess A8120 is a versatile appliance performing one of three roles: management server, recording server, or IVA server. This 1U 4-bay rack-mounted appliance is designed for operating reliability and performance in surveillance projects worldwide. Vess A8120 will be coupled with external storage hardware Vess R3600 to demonstrate the extensive throughput of up to 1000 Mbit/s when paired with other products. With the hardware advancements including PCI slots suitable for dual CPU option or a GPU card used for video analytics or other processor-intensive applications, Vess A8600 and A8800 are specially engineered for video recording and Intelligent Video Analytics (IVA) applications. In addition, Vess A8600 and A8800 are available with PROMISE proprietary SmartBoost™ technology which is proven itself the benefit of total cost ownership in thousands of large-scale surveillance deployments worldwide. Video surveillance products The A8000 Series is compatible with other PROMISE storage offerings Both Vess A8600 and Vess A8800 specifications are unparalleled, with the Vess A8600 boasting 64 TB and Vess A8800 at a massive 96 TB, and huge scale-up potential up to 432 TB that provides customers flexibility for future growth. The A8000 Series is compatible with other PROMISE storage offerings. Capacity can be seamlessly added to an existing setup as needed using VTrak D5000/E5000/J5000 or Vess R3000/J3000 external storage hardware connected via a 12GB/s SAS interface. The Intersec Dubai will be live and in-person this year, allowing PROMISE to showcase its multitude of video surveillance products. Intersec Dubai 2022 participants will be among the first in the world to view PROMISE’s brand new Vess A-Series surveillance solutions, as Vess A8120, Vess A8600, and Vess A8800 will be made available to the market in Q2 of 2022. Storage expansion solution Meanwhile, PROMISE’s newly announced Green JBOD VTrak J5960 will be displayed at booth S1-F20 to offer the energy-saving storage expansion solution to surveillance customers for high-capacity data management demand. Moreover, as the proven record of continued efforts in integrated solutions with ecosystem partners, PROMISE is proud to showcase three live demos with its partners: the Vess A8020 with Digifort for ATM banking solution, the Vess A3120 with NetworkOptix for Linus-based projects, and the Vess A8120 and R3600 with Axxonsoft for AI solutions.

PROMISE Technology, an enterprise storage solutions provider, is forecasting massive growth for large data storage, green technology and data compliance following surveillance trends unveiled at the International Security Conference (ISC West) 2021, held in Las Vegas recently. At ISC West, PROMISE Technology noted that the focus was very much on Smart Cities and Artificial Intelligence, mainly as a result of the ‘new norm’ brought along by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has brought into focus the necessity for security and video surveillance amid the ‘new norm’ - be it for tracking close contacts, containing new clusters and mutations, or vaccine passports. Access control products In tandem with this increased digitisation, many ISC West participants are offering products that cater to governments and property developers speeding up and reactivate pending smart city projects as economies around the globe recover. This contactless multimodal biometric access control products, touchscreen panels that offers unified home automation and security monitoring and space management systems. The integration of AIoT allows autonomy while increasing efficiency, foresee challenges and opportunities With an increase of smart cities, some ISC exhibitors focused on helping systems run smoothly with Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) which is a key component in businesses to streamline decision making processes with the aid of gathering, analysing and interpreting data without the need of costly and significant system resources. The integration of AIoT allows autonomy while increasing efficiency, foresee challenges and opportunities, and scale proportionately according to the devices connected. Global surveillance industry The large amount of data emerging from the predicted increased surveillance results in a surge of data and requires efficient and large storage solutions to ensure a high efficacy rate. To address the demand for both larger storage and offer enhanced integration, PROMISE Technology converges physical security systems to leverage the accumulating amounts of data being produced. “PROMISE Technology has seen and supported first-hand major changes in the global surveillance industry over the last decade from traditional CVR all the way to AVR (Analytic Video Recorder). We will continue to converge physical security systems to leverage the accumulating amounts of data being produced. For example, our patented SMARTBOOST software provides optimised software features and FRU hardware design to eliminate storage equipment bottlenecks,” said Alice Chang, Chief Sales Officer of PROMISE Technology. Daily business operations PROMISE Technology has also dedicated an entire R&D team over the last 30 years to develop RAID solutionsPROMISE Technology has also dedicated an entire R&D team over the last 30 years to further develop Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) solutions to improve efficiency for daily business operations which provides a solid engine to handle complicated data management requirements in the surveillance industry. This effort is coupled with PROMISE’s focus on eco-friendliness. Noting that incredible amounts of power is necessary to back the new trends, brands are expected to put extra emphasis on green technologies to conserve energy, save costs and keep enterprises as environmentally conscious as possible. PROMISE is also predicting that with AI and IoT devices creating large troves of personal data, the focus on cyberthreats as well as to protect privacy concerns has never been higher. Video surveillance products Thus, there is now a growing concern among manufacturers to provide National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA)-compliant video surveillance products. “PROMISE Technology has made persistent endeavors in green production and compliance with government regulations, resulting in solid business results over the past 30 years. We consistently offer high-quality, reliable government-compliant solutions. By putting customer data protection and security first, we hope to bring peace of mind to our customers and partners worldwide,” said Chang. Large data storage solutions along with ‘green’ technology and strict compliance are only some of PROMISE’s solutions for the global audience. With expected surveillance industry boom in the ‘new norm,’ PROMISE is keeping a close eye on developments to ensure its solutions are in line with different local demands and evolving requirements to provide surveillance companies with tools to tackle new challenges.

Security Essen 2018, held in Messe Essen, Germany, promised attendees a newly modernised trade show with a simplified layout and more interactive experience. Compared to previous years, halls were reorganised by technology area, with aisles laid out to make more direct pathways for attendees. The fair welcomed 950 exhibitors and more than 36,000 trade visitors from the global security market. Several manufacturers mentioned that footfall had been lighter than expected, but that the show had delivered on its promise to welcome more international visitors, in particular from the Middle East region. Exhibitors also grumbled about higher costs for booth space. Key security industry exhibitors Exhibitors expressed concern that the absence of key players reduced overall foot traffic Exhibitors praised the bigger aisles, which made it easier for visitors to navigate the show. However, some were unsure whether this was due to a better layout or simply because the show was missing key exhibitors. Notably absent were access control provider Dormakaba, security solutions company Honeywell, and surveillance providers Geutebruck and Dallmeier. Exhibitors expressed concern that the absence of key players reduced overall foot traffic. Security Essen hosted a particularly strong access control presence. Halls 2 and 3 were home to companies from across the access control and mechatronics spectrum. Sponsorship by EVVA covered the west entrance. The locking systems manufacturer, which celebrates its 100th anniversary next year, boasted significant floorspace. Exhibitors were pleased with the large access and locking presence, commenting that London-based IFSEC International tends to be dominated by video surveillance providers. EVVA, which celebrates its 100th anniversary next year, boasted significant floorspace Deep learning and artificial intelligence The push toward artificial intelligence (AI) in physical security continues, although the tone at Security Essen seemed to be shifting beyond hype and more toward how the technology can actually add value. For example, Hikvision’s cameras boasted more intelligence and processing power, and the company emphasised faster-paced product cycles. Customers ultimately do not buy AI – they buy benefits and solutions VIVOTEK embraced artificial intelligence as the biggest trend in the industry. The company demonstrated its latest deep learning technology for crowd detection applications. For Dahua, artificial intelligence allows users to easily search metadata in a video, including age and behaviour. Dahua demonstrated its solution for the transportation market, which is able to learn if a bus or train driver is falling asleep at the controls. However, some manufacturers chose not to focus on artificial intelligence. Representatives from Brivo and Eagle Eye Networks highlighted that customers ultimately do not buy AI – they buy benefits and solutions. Historically, video analytics were oversold and underdelivered, and the same could happen to AI if the term is overused in marketing security solutions. VIVOTEK embraced artificial intelligence as the biggest trend in the industry The German market & GDPR While the fair welcomed an increase in international visitors, many stands offered a distinctly German flavour. Exhibitors catered to German customers’ preference for data protection and high levels of privacy. Visitors were welcomed to the show by banners from Genetec, emblazoned with the slogan “Privacy matters… So, remember to forget me.” The video security provider’s stand demonstrated this concept more tangibly, via its Privacy Protector Module.  The surveillance software, which is certified with the European Privacy Seal (EuroPriSe), monitors events while automatically pixelating people and vehicles in real time. If an incident occurs, an authorised operator can securely access the unaltered video. Visitors were welcomed to the show by banners from Genetec Other companies also acknowledged issues of privacy and cybersecurity. Hikvision noted that Europe is more regulated, which limits the implementation of the company’s products compared to those used in China. Dahua emphasised that its data for the German market is stored in Frankfurt to meet demands for data protection. IDIS made a point of saying there are no backdoors to their products. The deep learning products are easy to use and 96% accurate, says the company. FLIR has developed a cybersecurity hardening document, and strives to be transparent about cyber issues, including a web landing page where customers can raise any concerns. Vanderbilt is also pushing the cloud as a way forward with its ACT365 cloud-based access and video solution. Users are not intimidated by the cloud anymore since we all use it in our personal lives, says the company. Also on the access control side, EVVA were clear on the security of their AirKey mobile access system, which uses technology based on internet banking, double encryption and high-quality hardware. As well as demonstrating its SAROS thermal camera, FLIR strived for cybersecurity concerns to be addressed by customers Taking a broader view Nedap views security as being about allowing people to focus on their daily lives and work, safe in the knowledge that security is being taken care of. At the show, Nedap launched its new slogan ‘Security for Life’, stating that “true security is when you don’t have to think about it”. Nedap’s global client program represents a long-term commitment to projects. They are having more discussions with clients about risk management through standardisation and centralised policy.Solutions – as opposed to products – were also a focus at Security Essen, as at IFSEC before it Clients remain with Nedap because they keep investing in the platform, constantly updating the code and simplifying it to improve scalability for organisations, says the company. Nedap had one of the few double-decker booths at Security Essen. Solutions – as opposed to products – were also a focus at Security Essen, as at IFSEC before it. HID Global touted their extensive use of partnerships to provide solutions. SeeTec highlighted their move away from products to a more solution-based approach. FLIR, perhaps best known as a thermal camera company, were pushing their solutions approach to markets including intelligent traffic, smart city, video management and PSIMs.  Nedap had one of the few double-decker booths at Security Essen Vertical markets in focus As vertical markets go, retail was big, and several players were offering some type of retail solution. Retail – along with banking, finance and transportation – was among Hikvision’s vertical markets of choice. Dahua's new panoramic cameras stitch together the image inside the camera instead of on the server SeeTec’s retail solution combines EAS with business intelligence and heat mapping. Dahua’s retail offerings include people counting and emotion detection, which can correlate with weather data, for example. Genetec also showcased a range of retail solutions. Technology improvements announced at Security Essen include FLIR's more robust FB6 series thermal line, Promise Technology's SMARTBOOST technology improved playback performance, and Videotec's cameras with better night performance. The extended 50m range of Optex's intrusion detection laser sensor reduces the need for cameras. Dahua's new panoramic cameras stitch together the image inside the camera instead of on the server. The Hanwha Techwin booth featured Korean flags and a “Korean at heart” motto to set the company apart Signs of the U.S. congressional ban There were signs at Security Essen of an impact of the recent U.S. ban on use of Hikvision and Dahua equipment in government installations, although both big Chinese manufacturers maintained a high profile at the German show. For example, the Hanwha Techwin booth featured Korean flags and a “Korean at heart” motto to set the company apart. Chinese camera manufacturer Uniview were keen to stress that they are not owned by Chinese government (neither is Dahua). Uniview’s all-IP camera line offers high resolution, low-light, multisensor and fisheye options, and AI software provides facial recognition, object detection, and fire and smoke detection at the edge. The company aims to increase its global presence with more international branch offerings and international factories.

The Middle East security market provides a healthy opportunity for manufacturers who can capitalise on the region’s key verticals. Intersec’s 20th edition show focused more on solutions than on products, including solutions for the growing retail sector and an infrastructure market requiring ruggedised equipment to stand up to harsh environments. Intersec hosted security, safety and fire protection exhibitors from over fifty countries at Dubai’s spacious International Convention and Exhibition Centre on 21st - 23rd January. For the security market, the show was an opportunity to demonstrate how the industry’s latest technologies can benefit end-users in the UAE and globally. While the show hosted many impressively-sized stands from key security players, these tended to reflect the ongoing shift from a product-centric market to a focus on customer problems and solutions. Rather than filling the floorspace with an abundance of products, many brands chose to showcase how their flagship solutions could function in real-world applications. Retail surveillance delivers ROI Numerous companies opted to highlight their retail solutions – a key vertical for Dubai, which is known for its elaborate city shopping hubs. The Axis Communications stand allowed visitors to experience its network video offerings for the retail sector, including integrations with Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) and Point of Sale (POS) technologies. Solutions on show reflected how security systems are increasingly expected to provide a tangible return on investment: With options for queue management and people counting, Axis video technology can be used to provide business intelligence and improve the customer experience, as well as enhancing safety. IP video manufacturer Vivotek also showcased its latest retail offering, including fisheye cameras with built-in crowd detection and heatmap technology, which can help retail managers analyse customer traffic patterns and highly frequented areas. The panoramic nature of Vivotek’s IP cameras makes them ideal for collecting comprehensive data from retail stores.    MOBOTIX CEO Thomas Lausten demonstrates how the company’s dual modular camera delivers high-quality images in extreme weather conditions IP video in extreme conditions The MOBOTIX stand was also less product-driven than at past shows. Instead, the focus was on how the manufacturer combines intelligent IoT technology and robust materials to address real end-user needs. CEO Thomas Lausten, who joined the company in June 2017, was on-hand to demonstrate how the company’s dual modular camera continues to deliver high-quality images in extreme weather conditions including ice, rain and sand. Rugged solutions were a big theme across the show floor. This is unsurprising given Intersec’s location in Dubai – the Middle East provides ample opportunity for the security market to capitalise on large outdoor projects, including the oil and gas industry. Video surveillance manufacturer Videotec showcased its latest HD PTZ cameras built to withstand harsh outdoor environments. The stand hosted an immersive ‘Experience Centre’, where the company’s flagship PTZ cameras moved in sync to a rolling video, demonstrating their use in vertical markets including oil and gas, marine surveillance, and critical infrastructure. Video surveillance manufacturer Videotec showcased its latest HD PTZ cameras built to withstand harsh outdoor environments MENA security market requirements Storage provider Promise Technology showcased its latest portfolio of surveillance solutions, including a cloud-based infrastructure optimised for growing IP video requirements. The manufacturer also introduced its new Vess A700 network video recorder series. This latest NVR offering specifically targets medium- to large-scale applications such as banking and industry. Such a solution is ideal for the growing Dubai market, where strict legislation requires a video retention time of 180 days. Intersec is set to return to Dubai from 20th - 22nd January 2019. Organisers expect over 1,300 exhibitors from across to globe to come together for a bigger, wider ranging and more innovative show.

The number of security cameras in use today is growing exponentially. At the same time, resolutions are getting higher and higher. These two factors are placing heavy demands on servers and storage equipment. Of course, the capacity of these systems is also increasing, but that alone does not make the equipment truly suitable for the most demanding applications - such as camera surveillance. A video stream is not comparable to 'normal' data, for which storage systems are usually designed. This article will explore how these issues can be addressed. Hard drive challenges A hard disk residing in a video storage system has a tough life. On a daily basis, large amounts of data are written and read and all sectors are continuously filled to the maximum. A hard disk designed for office applications is not able to manage this work. At first everything seems fine, but anyone closely monitoring the stored images will notice that 'frame drops' are the rule rather than the exception. The buffers cannot handle the huge amount of data, which leads to data being lost. These lost images can be reference images within the compression algorithm, thus leading to the loss of complete fragments. Not useful if a robbery has just occurred and the perpetrator cannot be identified because the hard drive had a hiccup. A lot of effort is put into countering these problems through the associated servers and storage systems. Compression is used to reduce the amount of data, cameras are made intelligent so no capacity is lost through unimportant images, and more and more storage is taking place in the camera itself. All of these methods have disadvantages which can be avoided by using a suitable video storage system. Support for large camera systems Compression, for example, is at the expense of quality and should therefore be limited. Intelligent cameras fail if the criminal is even more intelligent. And in-camera storage works well - until the camera is pulled from the wall. With the right server, these risks are avoided and the user is assured of a reliable camera system. What makes a server or storage system suitable for use with video? Technology that offers support for a large number of cameras, eliminates frame drops and contributes to highly stable operation is needed. Of course, high storage capacity is important, but at least as essential is a high processing speed. In addition, several features are needed that increase the reliability of the entire system. Allowing input from alarm systems means that cameras can be activated when an intruder is detected For example, a so-called RAID configuration ensures that continuity does not depend on one disk. Multiple disks do the same work, so it does not matter if one or even two failures occur. The administrator gets a signal and can easily replace the malfunctioning disk without losing data, and it is not necessary to take the system temporarily ‘offline’. It’s true that these are features that many ‘normal’ servers and storage systems also have. Sequential Pattern Recording What are some other things to consider when making servers or storage systems compatible with video? For one - an efficient way to store the images. With just one camera it is not all that complicated, however, the efficient storage of images from 128 cameras may be considered a big challenge. With a feature known as Sequential Pattern Recording, images can be stored according to a logical pattern. If they are stored in this manner, much less movement of the write heads of the disks is required. In addition, images should first be stored in a buffer, which smooths peaks in the amount of data. The buffer gradually sends the images to the disc so that the quality of the stored images does not suffer from sudden peak loads that occur in, for example, the panning or zooming of cameras. And not only do the images become more stable, this method also extends the life of the disks. Storage systems designed for normal data are oftennot very convenient to use Predictive Playback Reading of the images should not be done at the expense of saving the images, and a feature known as Predictive Playback ensures this. Reading also requires a lot of system capacity. Predictive Playback determines a few seconds in advance which images are required to display. As soon as there is enough processor capacity left, processing is done. This produces an excellent display of images while the capturing of new images by the writing headers continues unhindered. Remote Active Service Even the most reliable technology can fail- and additional security, such as in the form of Remote Active Service, is needed. The ‘health’ of the system should be continuously monitored. If certain parts have difficulties with their job, display failures or even malfunction, the customer should be informed so that immediate repairs can be made. This will allow critical processes to proceed unimpeded. In addition to not being fully reliable, storage systems designed for normal data are often not very convenient to use. Systems specifically designed for connecting cameras and installing Video Management Software are preferred, especially if they are easy to use, install and configure. Allowing input from alarm systems is another desirable feature, as this means that cameras can be activated when an intruder is detected or an emergency door is opened. Large storage capacities (preferably up to 100 Terabytes) are also strongly suggested. Servers and storage systems with the features described above are out there - ready and able to go beyond ‘normal data’ and bring the performance and reliability required by IP video surveillance. Contributed by Promise Technology