Veracity - Experts & Thought Leaders

barox Kommunikation AG, the global manufacturer of professional standard switches, PoE media converters and IP extenders, is proud to announce its inclusion in the new Harper Chalice demonstration HUB - opened at Harper Chalice headquarters in Coventry. Part of the Vitaprotech Group, Harper Chalice are experts in perimeter security solutions, manufacturing, supplying and installing specialist electronic perimeter security systems. They offer a complete range of modular and scalable solutions, with systems used to protect varied sites from the highest level of security threat, through to commercial, single-site applications. Integrated product solutions Visitors to the new protest HUB will see the barox range defined with a full product showcase The new Harper Chalice demonstration HUB features displays of integrated product solutions across multiple vendors, all targeted towards the high security/CNI (Critical National Infrastructure) space and showcasing NPSA-approved PIDS/hatch detection and Access Control systems, as well CAPSS-approved PSIM/VMS solutions. Visitors to the new demonstration HUB will see the barox range represented with a full product showcase. Offering a ‘hands-on’, real-time user experience, multiple barox industrial switch options can be configured to illustrate seamless third-party integration to cameras, perimeter detection, access control and multiple different PSIM and VMS platforms. Long-term technical relationship Product vendors include Advancis, Genesys by ISM, Genetec, Milestone, Prysm, Synectics, Velocity Vision, Veracity, TDSI, Hanwha, 360 Vision Technology and many more. barox’s inclusion in the new HUB stems from a long-term technical relationship between the two businesses, with both companies part of the successful CNI Security Group. CNI security applications CNI stakeholders can visit a single location to experience the many different integrated technologies The ethos of the CNI Security Group, to promote synergy between partner businesses with tailored product solutions for deployment in the high security/CNI space, is realised at the HUB, with real-time physical demonstrations available for evaluation by integrator and end-user customers. At the HUB, CNI stakeholders can visit a single location to experience the many different integrated technologies suitable for CNI security applications. Users can experience barox 10G switch options, alongside multiple switch and media converter alternatives, including those suitable for sub-station installation. Access control systems Partner manufacturers’ cameras, perimeter detection solutions and access control systems complete the showcase - all displayed and controlled through multiple different control platforms, to give a genuine hands-on experience of an end-to-end solution designed specifically for High Security, CNI, and Rail applications. The centre is also available to be used as a comprehensively equipped conference facility for customer meetings. “We’re thrilled to be offering a world-class demonstration facility to benefit our installer, solution integrator, end-user and specifiers customers,” says Adam O’Reilly, Managing Director of Harper Chalice." HUB’s extensive solutions The centre is also available to be used as a fully equipped conference facility for client meetings O’Reilly added: “The Harper Chalice demonstration HUB has been designed to demonstrate integrated solutions across multiple vendors, whilst also showcasing NPSA-approved PIDS/detection and hatch systems, with the idea that all CNI stakeholders can visit just a single location to see the many different integrated technologies available for CNI security applications." “As part of the HUB’s extensive solutions offering, our long-term technical partner, barox, will be showing multiple industrial switch options and their unparalleled depth of third-party control system integrations.” CNI security innovation Sara Fisher, barox International Market Development Specialist commented: “barox is delighted to have been selected to be part of the Harper Chalice HUB initiative, a ‘centre of excellence’ for CNI security innovation. It’s fabulous to have the opportunity to showcase our technologies alongside other ‘best in class’ partner manufacturers in the security industry."  "Feedback from the market has been very positive and we look forward to welcoming our clients and contacts to the HUB soon, to see the power of barox products in action.” PoE video switches  barox products are currently employed within many high security, high profile and Critical National Infrastructure sites both in the UK and overseas.  For more information on the barox range of managed and unmanaged industrial media converters and professional PoE video switches designed specifically for CNI security applications.

Infosecurity Europe, the most influential information security event running at ExCeL London from 4-6 June 2024, announced Mindgard, a start-up specialising in cyber security for AI, as the winner of the UK’s Most Innovative Cyber SME 2024 contest. The annual competition saw Nipun Gupta, Head of Product and Stefan Trawicki, Founding Machine Learning Engineer, Mindgard, presented with the award live at the event on the Innovation Stage on Wednesday 5th June in the Cyber Innovation Zone. Panel of cybersecurity experts selected Mindgard from fourteen finalists in the annual hunt for the UK’s Most Innovative Cyber SME. Cyber risk to AI systems Mindgard shows a free online tool for makers to act red teaming by evaluating the cyber risk Mindgard, founded in 2022 at world-renowned Lancaster University, was recognised for its innovation in AI with the Mindgard AI Security Labs. Built upon years of world-class research and development, Mindgard offers a free online tool for engineers to perform red teaming by evaluating the cyber risk to AI systems, including large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT.  As well as derisking a wide range of AI deployment scenarios, the tool marks a major advance in the cyber threat educational tools available to engineers. Mindgard's AI Security Labs As enterprises rapidly develop or adopt AI to gain competitive advantage, they are exposed to new attack vectors that conventional security tools cannot address. Mindgard's AI Security Labs lifts the lid on exposure to ML attacks faced by model developers and user organisations. These risks are predominantly undetected due to the complexity of identification and the lack of the specialised skills needed. Current AI penetration tests require months of programming and testing by hard-to-find and highly expensive teams, leaving businesses unaware of the likely impact of any disruption. Repeatable AI security testing The results provide insight on what is the current “art of the possible” in AI attacks Mindgard's free AI Security Labs automates the threat discovery process, providing repeatable AI security testing and reliable risk assessment in minutes, allowing engineers to select from a range of attacks against popular AI models, datasets and frameworks to assess potential vulnerabilities. The results provide insight on what is the current “art of the possible” in AI attacks and the likelihood of evasion, IP theft, data leakage, and model copying threats. Dr. Peter Garraghan, CEO of Mindgard and Professor at Lancaster University commented: “We are thrilled to have been recognised for this award and it is a testament to the importance of how AI has been received by the UK market. Component for AI adoption Garraghan added: “Cyber security is a critical component for AI adoption. Organisations are either frantically trying to get AI/GenAI out the door without considering security repercussions, or blocking its deployment entirely due to unknown cyber risks, leaving them unable to unlock its commercial value. This is the gap we aim to fill." “We are grateful to Infosecurity Europe for creating this opportunity to demonstrate our innovation that swiftly identifies and remediates security vulnerabilities within AI.” Impressive list of past winners The prestigious match, open to micro, small and medium cybersecurity firms registered in UK The prestigious contest, open to micro, small and medium cybersecurity businesses registered in the UK, saw 14 of the UK’s most creative and original information security businesses shortlisted and competing for the title. The finalists were: 2T Security, Cyber Mentor Dojo, Cyber Tzar, ECG.ai, ESProfiler, Ethicronics, Gorilla Technology Group, Mindgard, Nova Blue Technologies, Oakdoor Hardware Security Solutions, Overe, Phoenix Security, Quantum Dice and Veracity Trust Network.  Mindgard joins an impressive list of past winners including ANGOKA (2023), TryHackMe (2022), CAPSLOCK (2021), Hack the Box (2019), KETS Quantum Security (2018), Check Recipient (now trading as Tessian) (2017), Device Authority (2016) and Geolang (2015). Change of cybersecurity technologies Nicole Mills, Exhibition Director at Infosecurity Group, comments: “Mindgard has been chosen for their ability to push the boundaries of cybersecurity and their relentless pursuit of groundbreaking solutions. Their commitment to innovation, whilst up against tough competition, has not only set them apart from their competitors, but showcases the pace and change of cybersecurity technologies and the need for continued innovation." "The accolade recognises this and serves as a catalyst for growth, inspiring others to revolutionise and stay one step ahead of emerging threats and challenges.”

Mayflex, the distributor of Converged IP Solutions, has appointed Francesco Bellavia in the role of Director of Sales for Security. Francesco (or Frankie as he prefers to be called) brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience in the distribution of security products having worked for several distributors in his career, more recently as the Divisional Director for Nimans in the South. Mayflex leadership team Frankie has a charismatic personality, has lots of good ideas and the drive and determination" Ross McLetchie, Sales Director at Mayflex commented, “We are delighted to welcome Frankie to the team, his experience in distribution was key to his appointment. Having his knowledge and proven success in pioneering sales teams, working with multiple vendors and ensuring the best customer experience, really stood out.” He continued, “Frankie has a charismatic personality, has lots of good ideas and the drive and determination to lead our established team of external security professionals. Working together with myself and other members of the Mayflex leadership team, we are excited about the year ahead and growing our security business.” Mayflex works with best-of-breed manufacturers Ross McLetchie adds: “At Mayflex, we have chosen to work with a small number of best-of-breed manufacturers to ensure our teams fully understand each range and can provide the best service and support to our customers." These currently include: Avigilon Alta, Avigilon Unity, Axis, Hikvision, Indigo Vision, Milestone, Mobotix, Paxton, Pelco, Raytec, Secure Logiq, Suprema, Veracity, VSS and Wavestore. Francesco (Frankie) Bellavia commented, “I’m excited to join Mayflex and to lead the external security sales team. Having competed against Mayflex for many years, I’m looking forward to bringing my experience and ideas to shape the team and the way that we work.”  In the first few weeks, Frankie will undergo a comprehensive induction to bring him up to speed on everything that is Mayflex and particularly around the security business. For further details on the full range of security products distributed visit the Mayflex website.

Rapid changes in the physical security market this year have largely overshadowed one arena where change has slowed down in 2017 – mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Although there were no “mega-mergers” as in years past (such as Axis-Canon and Johnson Controls-Tyco, M&A activity still made headlines last year on SourceSecurity.com. In 2017, we wrote about M&A news involving companies such as HID Global, Eagle Eye Networks, ADT, and Honeywell.    Here’s a look at the Top 10 M&A stories in 2016, as reported by SourceSecurity.com: 1. HID Global acquires Mercury Security HID Global, a subsidiary of ASSA ABLOY specialising in trusted identity solutions, agreed in 2017 to acquire Mercury Security, an OEM supplier of controllers for physical access control. Mercury Security has over three million controllers installed at tens of thousands of sites worldwide, including at more than 90 of the Fortune 100 companies. Mercury’s intelligent controllers, interface boards and software complement HID Global’s readers, smart cards and mobile IDs for opening doors.  2. ASSA ABLOY acquires August Home Smart Locks ASSA ABLOY signed an agreement to acquire August Home, a leading smart lock business in the United States, reinforcing the company’s position in the residential smart door market. The acquisition includes expansion into complementary smart locks, video doorbells and comprehensive solutions for home delivery. August was founded in 2013. It is headquartered in San Francisco, California. 3. Eagle Eye Networks buys Panasonic CameraManager One of the largest companies in the cloud video sector, Eagle Eye Networks, aggressively expanded its offerings to the fast-growing market, and its geographic reach, with acquisition this year of Panasonic’s cloud-based video business, including the CameraManager and NuboCam brands. The acquisition expands Eagle Eye Networks’ coverage in the European region, where the CameraManager system is popular, and will include two additional data centres, to be added to EagleEye Network’s existing global network of seven data centres. The acquisition also includes existing CameraManager coverage in Latin America and Asia. 4. dormakaba acquires Stanley Black & Decker’s Mechanical Security Stanley Black & Decker agreed to sell the majority of its Mechanical Security businesses to dormakaba for $725 million in cash. The sale included the commercial hardware brands of BEST Access, phi Precision and GMT. The remaining part of the Mechanical Security businesses, Sargent and Greenleaf, was not included in the sale. 5. ADT Acquisitions include cybersecurity firm ADT, provider of security and automation solutions for homes and businesses in North America, announced the acquisition of DATASHIELD, one of the country’s fastest growing cybersecurity companies. Now operating under the brand ADT Cybersecurity, this service is positioned to provide Enterprise and Mid-Market businesses with Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services to combat advanced cyber threats in real time. The acquisition in November closed out a busy year for ADT on the M&A front, including acquisition of commercial security systems integrators Protec in the Pacific Northwest, Gaston Security in Emporia, Va., and MSE Corporate Security in Branchburg, N.J. 6. Honeywell acquires Nextnine Another big player making a move in the cybersecurity sector was Honeywell, which completed acquisition of Nextnine Ltd., a privately held provider of industrial cyber security solutions. The business is being integrated into Honeywell’s Industrial Cyber Security group and will strengthen Honeywell’s capability to offer multi-vendor, multi-site secure remote access, monitoring and support to protect industrial control systems and critical infrastructure against a growing threat of cyber-attacks. 7. HID Global buys Arjo Systems In addition to buying Mercury Security, HID Global also expanded its business in physical and digital identity solutions for secure government ID applications in 2017 with the acquisition of Arjo Systems. The move gives HID Global broader capabilities to deploy electronic identification (eID) and ePassport solutions for government programs. The acquisition also brings together complementary strategies, customer bases and offerings that have strong synergies to support continued innovation for government-to-citizen ID customers. 8. Allied Universal acquires ALERT Protective Services Allied Universal further expanded its footprint in North America with the acquisition of ALERT Protective Services, a residential community security firm based in Sarasota, Florida. Like Allied Universal, ALERT Protective Services offers integrated security systems and uniformed security professionals to work in tandem with a complete security program at community gatehouses, concierge desks, or security command centres.  9. Veracity buys iComply software company Veracity, a provider of transmission, storage, and display solutions for IP video, announced in 2017 the acquisition of iComply, a software provider of integrated command and control security solutions. The agreement includes all operational staff, software, intellectual property, ongoing business, and also iComply’s sales and support subsidiary in India. Veracity will maintain iComply as a separate business and expand its operations. Veracity planned to sell software based on icomply’s technology under the Veracity brand in the U.S. market, but will keep the separate brands in the United Kingdom, where icomply is better known. 10. Robotic Assistance Devices acquired by On the Move Systems Robots came on the security scene in a high-profile way in 2017. On the M&A front, Robotic Assistance Devices (RAD), north American master distributor for SMP featuring exclusive power and other special technology, and a North American distributor for SMP Robotics, announced its acquisition by On the Move Systems (OMVS). The merger with OMVS allows RAD access to capital to scale its product portfolio and further increase its market position as a leader in the robotic guard market.

Veracity, the Scottish company specialising in IP video transmission, storage and display, has made a small but significant acquisition that has the potential to impact its business profoundly, according to the company. Known for its COLDSTORE surveillance storage system and other video products, Veracity is expanding its scope with the acquisition of I-Comply Ltd. (icomply), a provider of command-and-control software whose UK customer base includes universities, hospitals, cities and power and water utilities.   Veracity and icomply have previously worked together on several projects, so the technologies are already integrated, and Veracity plans to leverage the acquisition to introduce a new command-and-control product line to the US market, likely to be announced around ISC West. Icomply command-and-control software Icomply’s product is a command-and-control software system (sometimes called a PSIM, or physical security information management system). Veracity plans to sell software based on icomply’s technology under the Veracity brand in the US market, but will keep the separate brands in the United Kingdom, where icomply is better known. Icomply has existing integrations with many third-party systems from international brands, including major access control, video management, fire and alarm systems such as Bosch, Honeywell, Axis and Hanwha Techwin. Entering the US market, Veracity expects to add additional sales support and maintenance personnel, and a development team will expand integrations to third party systems that are more common to the US market. In addition to command-and-control functions, the software offers a suite of modules to provide functions such as key management, lone worker protection, mapping, and guard tour management. The configuration of the system to be introduced into the US market is still to be determined. Potential growth Icomply has about 20 employees, which will be added to Veracity’s 50 employees. The icomply team will remain, and will move into larger premises near Leeds (UK). At current sales levels, icomply will make up about 10 percent of Veracity’s revenue, but hopes are high for rapid growth. Alastair McLeod, group CEO of Veracity, says the small company has plenty of unrealised potential. He projects sales could double this year, and then double again in 2018 (admittedly from a small base) – and that doesn’t even count any potential sales in the United States. “We know the engineers, and the product has developed considerably until it is now mature. The architecture is quite elegant, which makes it easy to add on modules.” “We have worked with this company for some years, know them, have done projects with them,” says McLeod. “We know the engineers, and the product has developed considerably until it is now mature. The architecture is quite elegant, which makes it easy to add on modules.” The acquisition will provide icomply the needed cashflow and capitalisation to jump-start sales, and to deliver needed technical support and rapid response to customer requests, he adds. Stability and longevity are important elements in the command-and-control systems market, notes McLeod: The systems are seen as a long-term investment that involves integrating various systems over a five- to 10-year period. “The backing of Veracity will make more customers comfortable moving to icomply,” McLeod notes. The icomply acquisition also includes a subsidiary in India that will boost Veracity’s presence in that market. Technical resources in India will help Veracity grow in the lucrative Middle East market, just a short plane flight away, where the need for long video retention times are a great fit for Veracity’s existing video storage products. Moving away from commoditisation McLeod sees the acquisition as a reflection of the need for companies in the security industry to move away from commoditised products. It will expand Veracity’s presence from one of supplying components to the system to supplying complete integrated solutions. “With this acquisition, we are moving up-market in terms of being able to supply whole systems,” he says. “And it’s a category that cannot be easily commoditised. There is an element of customisation and services. We want to become a part of the market that has more stability and resistance to price cutting.” “We want to control our own destiny,” McLeod says. “Our customers are asking us for a complete system – for everything to come from Veracity. They know the vagaries of buying bits from several companies – what if something doesn’t work? We can now approach customers that want an integrated solution.” The all-cash acquisition was closed in December 2016.

UK citizens will vote on June 23rd 2016 on whether to remain within the European Union A significant aspect of the four-month operation leading to the capture in March of Salah Abdeslam, Europe’s most wanted man, is that French and Belgian police worked alongside each other with minimal protocol complications since the countries are not only geographical neighbours but members of the European Union. Abdeslam was arrested for his alleged involvement in the Paris attacks of last November. Joint operations between UK and European security forces On June 23rd (with a touch of congruity for our sector since it’s the last day of IFSEC) UK citizens will vote on whether to remain in the European Union. Nobody should ignore the fact that the Union is an economic community and began as a common market for trade in coal and steel. And yet, suggesting that the outcome of the referendum is anything other than crucial for physical security in Europe would strike most observers as naïve. Prime Minister David Cameron has weighed in on the possible consequences: “When it comes to terrorism, when it comes to security, when it comes to our borders, we are better off, we are stronger inside a reformed EU.” Certainly the recent bomb attacks in Brussels underline concerns about terrorism throughout Europe. French President Francois Hollande also warns: “I don’t want to scare you, I just want to say the truth – there will be consequences.” Of course it would be overstating the case to suggest that a "Leave" vote will bring an end to cooperation between UK security forces and European counterparts since police forces first began sharing information (though not necessarily resources) when Interpol was formed in 1923. The European Union is not the only backdrop to these matters, and the UK is currently tackling people smugglers by sending amphibious vessels to the Aegean Sea between Turkey and Greece in a NATO (as opposed to EU) initiative. Such joint exercises would continue even after an “Out” decision on Brexit. Tightening border control security measures However, the whispers from Paris on the security ramifications of a departure by the UK are teetering between ominous hints and naked threats. Currently, Britain is allowed to have its own border control officers at major French ports such as Calais and, as a reciprocal measure, French-run passport control is the first checkpoint you reach when taking your car to France from Dover. This arrangement is in fact the result of a bilateral treaty dating from 2003 and nothing to do with the European Union, but Monsieur Hollande has already made it clear that should my compatriots vote “Leave” then this cosy entente cordiale will become toast or “pain grillé.” With even responsible liberal-leaning media outlets reporting that the Calais “Jungle” transit camps contain would-be jihadists, it seems that UK security is under immediate threat. As security professionals, we all subscribe to the “layered protection” principle. If Dover and other ports on the English side of the Channel become our first opportunity to scrutinise people then border control is clearly weakened, and the Brussels attacks emphasise the need that it be strengthened. The recent bomb attacks in Brussels and Paris have heightened concerns of terrorism. What ramifications would Brexit have on security cooperations in Europe? Other security issues of Brexit Unity usually produces strength, and UK voters may want to heed US General Philip Breedlove, senior NATO commander in Europe, who now believes that Russia and Syria are “weaponising” the possibility of terrorists posing as refugees or economic migrants in order to destabilise Europe. Surely at a time when there is a credible threat of this magnitude, UK voters should forget the clichéd contentious trade issues such as farming subsidies and alleged “wine lakes” and “butter mountains?” The prospect of Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad joining forces in this manner is more worthy of our immediate attention and should be a factor as voters debate where to put their X on the ballot slip come June. This article has begun with the macro issue of border control and national security. There is a raft of additional subjects to be considered. Major topics will be international legislation on location of CCTV cameras, regulations on retention of footage, collection of biometric data and the sharing of information between EU and non-EU states. There is also the small matter of a £1.5bn Anglo-French drone project that may create the next generation of unmanned combat aircraft. Repercussions of a "Leave" note on security powerhouses A “Leave” vote would undoubtedly produce economic uncertainty, but our sector would hardly be alone in this. One footnote, however: the UK will go to the referendum polls as a single country but a “Leave” vote may hasten a split into two. If the decision is to leave but a totalling up of votes in Scotland shows that the Scots wish to stay in Europe, then the Scottish Nationalist Party will demand another chance to devolve and then become a European Union member state. England and Wales will face the prospect of security powerhouses such as IndigoVision and Veracity being part of a separate economic territory. A vote to leave would not produce the mare’s nest you might expect in terms of certifying products and documenting working methods. CE markings certify compliance with EU legislation but make no claim as to point of manufacture. Similarly, our industry’s increasing use of International Standardisation Organisation (ISO) practice to show responsible quality control and concern with environmental impact will be unaffected by the referendum vote. The ISO has no affiliations with the European Union, pre-dates it having been formed in 1947 and is based in Switzerland, which is not an EU member and unlikely to become one anytime soon.