Vistacom - Experts & Thought Leaders

Vistacom, a provider of audiovisual, communications, and control room solutions, announces the addition of Robert Schlegel as its new Director of Control Room Sales. In this role, Schlegel will be responsible for sales growth nationally, as well as spearheading sales strategy, building key partnerships, and overseeing a team of account managers. “It’s a particularly exciting time to bring Rob on board,” said Angela Nolan, Chief Executive Officer of Vistacom Inc. Control room technology solutions Angela Nolan adds, “The Vistacom Control Room Solutions sales team has not only continued to expand integrated command and control room technology solutions in target markets and regions, but they have also built a solid foundation of trust and expertise amongst our clients and vendor partners.” Over the past five years, Vistacom has more than doubled its annual control room business Over the past five years, Vistacom has more than doubled its annual control room business, with an approximate sales growth average of 250% since 2017. “We’re forecasting continued and sustainable growth throughout 2023; we have the right pieces in place in all corners of operations, from rockstar engineering and programming teams to incredibly skilled and savvy technicians,” said Angela Nolan. Physical security professional Schlegel brings subject matter expertise in command and control, enterprise security, and life safety. With an established track record in new business generation, fostering strategic relationships, and driving profitable revenue growth, Angela Nolan adds, “He’ll be instrumental in both the expansion of integrated solutions sales and supporting the go-to-market trajectory of Vistacom SecureView™, our new all-in-one command centre kit.” As a certified ASIS International physical security professional (PSP), Schlegel has over 10 years’ of experience in sales management, engineering design, and program management, delivering complex integrated technology solutions within energy, critical infrastructure, transportation, healthcare, and manufacturing environments. Cultivating valuable partnerships Joining Vistacom after about 4 years with Johnson Controls, Schlegel held the position of Area Sales Manager for Security Solutions, where he managed the Advanced Services security sales teams in the mid-Atlantic region, a division responsible for helping companies deploy and optimise enterprise-wide, complex physical security technology integrations. Prior to his position at Johnson Controls, Schlegel was the Director of Sales and Marketing at CSi (Integrated Security & Communications), a role which evolved out of his experience managing CSi’s engineering group as Director of Engineering, where he oversaw the successful implementation of integrated systems encompassing audiovisual, access control, video surveillance, perimeter, and asset protection, fire alarm and other life safety systems. “Vistacom Control Room Solutions has built a reputation of quality and trust, values that align with my own fundamental professional commitments, and are key ingredients for success. I’m looking forward to joining the Vistacom team, driving new business, and cultivating valuable partnerships.”

HiveWatch, a physical security software company reimagining how organisations keep their people and assets safe, has announced its latest customer wins, including an average 14-minute reduction in time to resolve an incident, from 15 minutes to 1 minute, and a significant reduction in false alarms. These results, taken directly from established HiveWatch customers, are driving increased interest and spurring greater investments in hiring, across the company’s diverse workforce. Customer wins: fewer false alarms, faster response HiveWatch customers have reported significant wins related to false alarms, time to resolution, and response times, including: One customer reported that prior to leveraging the HiveWatch Security Fusion Platform, there was a 15 minute average time to resolve an incident, from acknowledgment to closure. After implementing HiveWatch, the weekly average is 1 minute. One customer had so many incoming alarms that they determined the organisation would need six times the number of operators they currently have per day, in order to respond to every alarm. Implementing HiveWatch saved the customer budget in hiring additional operators and those on duty were able to spend less time reacting to alarms. With these results, the customer was able to free up 58% of their operators’ time to work on more proactive and customer-facing security measures. Through the data provided by device health monitoring, one customer was able to have their systems team address the root cause of 30% of their false alarms, just within the first 60 days of using the HiveWatch Security Fusion Platform. Positives of using the HiveWatch Operating System HiveWatch customers have reported seeing significant gains from the use of the HiveWatch Operating System" “HiveWatch customers have reported seeing significant gains from the use of the HiveWatch Operating System in their global security operations. With fewer false alarms and 15x faster resolution times, operators were able to respond to threats quicker and contribute to more proactive security work,” said Jordan Hill, Head of Product, HiveWatch. Jordan Hill adds, “Reducing noise, connecting disparate systems, and increasing operational efficiency through security-focused design and performance analytics are foundational first steps for our customers in building future forward physical security programmes. If you think these results are impressive, we're just getting started.”  HiveWatch achieves SOC2 Certification In line with the company’s goal to provide a secure way to streamline GSOC operations, HiveWatch recently completed its System and Organisation Controls (SOC) 2 Type 2 certification, which serves as a baseline for building best practices for data security. While this is an accepted standard, HiveWatch exceeds it. This is together with the addition of Nick Vigier, a seasoned technology and security leader focused on innovation, as a vCISO for the company. Highest quality industry standards “The SOC2 certification allows HiveWatch to establish itself in the market as a company that operates with the highest quality industry standards – and serves as a baseline for our focus on building secure practices across the organisation,” said Ryan Schonfeld, Founder & Chief Executive Officer (CEO), HiveWatch. Ryan Schonfeld adds, “It’s an external validation of our dedication to security and compliance, which helps build trust for our customers in the work we do and processes we have in place.” HiveWatch sees double-digit growth with focus on DE&I The company has invested in growing its business to more than 60 employees, has a new office in El Segundo, California As HiveWatch continues to build its client base and offering, the company has invested in growing its business to more than 60 employees, has a new office in El Segundo, California, USA, fitted for growth, and is heavily focused on hiring top talent with diversity, equity, and inclusion in mind. “DE&I for us is not a talking point. It’s ingrained in everything that we do and it’s how we’ve structured the company from day one,” said Cameron Khani, the Head of Talent Acquisition, HiveWatch. Transparency in the hiring process Cameron Khani adds, “We have an offer acceptance rate of 94%, which is a testament to our dedication in making sure we’re transparent through the hiring process – from pay transparency to clear next steps.” So far in 2022, HiveWatch has participated in their local Hermosa Beach Pride event, had a day of learning on Juneteenth, and is gearing up their plans for Hispanic Heritage Month, to name just a few ways in which they’re assuring their diverse workforce feels supported at all times. New appointments to enhance operations HiveWatch recently added Senior Product Manager, Jon Harris, who joined The Hive from Latch, as well as customer adoption specialists, engineers, account executives, and security operations centre operators. We’re poised to build on the security programmes businesses already have in place" Ryan Shonfeld adds, “As HiveWatch grows and the industry embraces the unique approach we have to physical security, we’re poised to build on the security programmes businesses already have in place - To make them better, more efficient and more streamlined.” The HiveWatch team at GSX 2022 He continues, “We’re doing all of this with a dedication to inclusivity, innovation, and a focus on helping organisations become more operationally efficient, no matter where they are in building their security programmes.” The HiveWatch team will attend Global Security Exchange (GSX) 2022, which is taking place in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, from September 12 to September 14, 2022, where they will host a unique event atop a historic Atlanta rooftop, alongside major global security companies, such as Ava Security, SiteOwl, and Vistacom.

Vistacom Inc., a global provider of audiovisual, communications and control room solutions, has announced the availability of its brand new and improved Vistacom SecureView all-in-one command centre kit, the most straightforward and intuitive of its kind. Vistacom SecureView Vistacom SecureView is an affordable, pre-engineered video wall and display solution that makes easy self-assembly a reality for small and medium operations centres, with best-in-class products, expert remote support and a number of factory-tested configurations to choose from. Video walls and displays play a critical role in helping control room operators gather data, assess potential risks, and engage in intelligent, proactive response. Right out of the box, Vistacom SecureView provides operators with a single-pane-of-glass view of operations across their infrastructure and enables the seamless assimilation of data feeds, while creating a more simplified workflow. Tested by Vistacom Control Room Solutions All technology components are pre-configured and tested by Vistacom Control Room Solutions technicians All technology components are pre-configured and tested by Vistacom Control Room Solutions technicians, at the factory, prior to shipping and sent to site with an easy-to-follow guide that effectively enables DIY installation by security integrators or end users. It includes a two-year warranty with comprehensive remote support directly through the Vistacom Managed Services Team. “Today’s security operations centres demand efficiency and intuitiveness, to maintain an effective and intelligent security posture,” said Dan Gundry, the Managing Director of Vistacom Control Room Solutions, adding “Using vetted, best-in-class command centre technology, our team has thoughtfully selected, engineered and packaged the most reliable visualisation solution that enables operators, to view real-time data in a single operational picture.” Powerful video wall processor Vistacom SecureView features a powerful video wall processor that provides flexibility and superior performance in a small form factor, high-quality 24/7-rated displays in multiple sizes and configurations, a 7” tabletop touch panel with user-friendly interface, and convenience options including wall or floor mounting, audio system add-ons, and ergonomic sit/stand operator consoles. Angela Nolan, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vistacom Inc., said “This simplified technology offering allows us to empower our customers and partners by putting them in the driver’s seat and removing the complexities associated with larger, more demanding integrations.” Scalable command center solution Angela Nolan adds, “At its core, Vistacom SecureView is a foundational, yet scalable command centre solution that delivers hassle-free situational awareness and streamlines operator decision-making.” Interested parties can check Vistacom SecureView for the first time and learn more about Vistacom's integrated command centre solutions at Booth #L28 at the 2022 International Security Conference & Exposition (ISC West), which will be held from March 22-25, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Dark video images contain little or no information about the subject being surveilled. Absence of light can make it difficult to see a face, or to distinguish the color of clothing or of an automobile. Adding light to a scene is one solution, but there are also new technologies that empower modern video cameras to see better in any light. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: what impact does lighting have on the performance of video systems?

The advent of a truly new market for the physical security industry is a rare occurrence. Particularly rare is a new market that is both fast-growing and provides an environment that is not just conducive to application of physical security technologies but that actually demands it. Such is the case with the market for legalised marijuana. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: what are the security challenges of protecting the cannabis industry?

We are slowly returning to normal after the COVID-19 pandemic that has swept the world.  The journey to normality is going to see a large number of changes, and the physical security arena is set to be front and center in both implementing changes to keep the rest of the organisation safe and within their own policies and procedures. Our return to work journey can be broken down into a number of areas for consideration. This is by no means an exhaustive list but will highlight the areas in which a security team can offer valuable insight and direction, and also some areas that end users may wish to consider as security leaders. Processes and procedures Employees returning to a site is going to be a major step for any organisation, and this is where security leaders are going to be called upon to help. In these times of enforced social distancing, lockdown procedures, deep cleaning and personnel interaction protocols, each COVID protection program has a process to follow and this is the first place a security operations team may lend their experience. Physical security is built upon and relies on procedures and processes that must be strictly followed to be successful. These processes may be translated into the wider organisation to help minimise confusion as the site becomes more populated. It is also a good time to review your own policies and procedures to ensure that they are adapted to meet the needs of the organisation as people return to work. It is likely that you will have to increase the number of patrols or guards at access points, and you may have a new investigative process to consider for track-and-trace requirements, should there be a positive COVID-19 result. Monitoring The Security Operation Center (SOC) is likely to become an even more important part of the day-to-day operations on site. It acts as the centralised point for monitoring and incident management and may be subject to greater strain, incidents and demands than before. Ensuring that your SOC is suitable and equipped to handle these operations is key. While you may not have enough security staff to actively monitor your entire camera estate, video analytics provide a key ally. Many VMS manufacturers have simple video analytics built into their software, but there are specific tools available to help detect infractions around social distancing: people counting in a specific area to avoid over-crowding and a de facto fail on the social distancing measures; mask or PPE wear detection to ensure that people are appropriately dressed for their own protection; and people movement monitoring makes sure your employees aren’t bypassing the one-way system that you’ve implemented. An alert can be set up to identify when employees get within 6 feet of each other A particularly useful technique here is object distancing, where an alert can be set up to identify when employees get within 6 feet of each other for an extended period of time, aiding you in social distancing requirements. A second is built on wrong direction monitoring and will ensure that the one-way systems you create are being followed by staff and public alike as the analytic is capable of determining direction of travel for a pedestrian. A more advanced analytic may be the detection of PPE and ensuring that staff are wearing the appropriate masks and protective gear, although this is relatively dependent on strong camera positions and ensuring that the field of view is appropriately configured. There are a number of options to integrate with your access control systems, both physical and technology based. Thermal cameras and temperature probes may be used at entry points to ensure that anyone with a fever isn’t admitted to a location (although be careful when selecting a thermal camera and do thorough research on the temperature variation that it is able to detect). Human-to-human interaction Your physical security team is often the first human point of contact for your employees and often the most important. It may be necessary to increase your patrol and guard workforce temporarily to ensure that all entrances are covered and that entry procedures are tightened up or enhanced. I am confident that employees won’t mind an extra minute or two at the entrance for the improvement in their own health and wellbeing. If you do have an incident, perhaps where an employee is felt to be breaking the rules by not distancing appropriately, or ignoring mandated procedures, then your guard and patrol teams become vital peacekeepers in defusing and de-escalating the incident. Those same team members should also be trained in incident control and investigation, and with a well configured security environment (surveillance, electronic access control, personnel checks, etc.), they should form the basis of the track and tracing process of all staff that were on site and in contact with an infected employee should the worst happen and you have a positive COVID test returned. Protecting your security personnel Physical security operations team should be fully equipped with appropriate PPE This leads to my final point: your physical security operations team should be fully equipped with appropriate PPE, both while on patrol and in the SOC. Installing plexiglass panels between monitoring stations and spacing the monitoring stations appropriately should be the minimum first step. If your team is large enough, implementing a split A and B team is another possibility, with no interaction or risk of cross contamination between the teams, and a deep cleaning of the SOC and each guard station at the end of every shift. This ensures that you’ve covered at least 50% of your personnel in case of a COVID-positive event to keep operations moving, but also helps to create a contained working environment for this critical security function. If you have the space and the equipment, creating a secondary SOC, or engaging a remote GSOC (Global SOC) provider will improve your monitoring capabilities (GSOC companies are usually equipped with the latest video monitoring technologies) and reduce the risk of cross contamination. As you’ve read, there are many ways in which your physical security operations team can aid you in a successful return to work, playing a vital function in monitoring, managing and interceding in your organisation. One final note: thank you to those front-line personnel for their tireless efforts in keeping us safe and healthy.