Human area network

Cohesity announced a deepening of its cyber resilience collaboration with IBM. The enhanced relationship will accelerate the development of essential cyber resilience capabilities to address organisations' critical need for increased data security and resilience across hybrid cloud environments. With this announcement, Cohesity completes its Series F financing, with IBM joining NVIDIA as a strategic investor. Cyber resilience platform The most recent Cost of a Data Breach report sponsored by IBM Security shows the global average cost of a data breach in 2023 was $4.45 million, a 15% increase over the previous three years. To help clients tackle this issue head-on, IBM has delivered Cohesity capabilities into IBM’s end-to-end cyber resilience platform, IBM Storage Defender, strengthening customers’ ability to recover from data breaches and cyber-attacks. IBM has delivered Cohesity capabilities into IBM’s end-to-end cyber resilience platform “IBM is a powerful partner in the enterprise cloud and IT infrastructure market. They bring decades of expertise to our relationship, in addition to their investment in our business to help fund incremental research and development to offer customers even stronger cyber resilience,” said Sanjay Poonen, CEO and President, Cohesity. “We’re thrilled that IBM is working with us as we continue to help combined customers detect threats rapidly and maintain operations during an attack to avoid business interruptions.” Comprehensive policy-based protection “Data breaches continue to be one of the biggest threats organisations face to advancing business outcomes,” said Ric Lewis, SVP, Infrastructure at IBM. “We’re excited to deepen our collaboration with Cohesity to bring clients innovative end-to-end software-defined solutions designed to increase their cyber resilience and help avoid business interruptions.” DataProtect converges multiple-point products into a single multicloud platform deployed on-premises Cohesity’s collaboration with IBM has brought Cohesity DataProtect together with IBM’s Storage Defender Solution to help their joint customers protect, monitor, manage, and recover data. Cohesity DataProtect is a high-performance, secured backup and recovery solution. It is designed to safeguard the data against sophisticated cyber threats and offers comprehensive policy-based protection for the cloud-native, SaaS, and traditional data sources. DataProtect converges multiple-point products into a single multicloud platform deployed on-premises or consumed as a service. Automated recovery functions IBM Storage Defender leverages AI and event monitoring across multiple storage platforms through a single pane of glass to help protect organisations' data layer from risks like ransomware, human error, and sabotage. Additionally, IBM Storage Defender is anticipated to include a cyber vault and clean room features with automated recovery functions designed to help companies restore business-critical data in hours or minutes from what used to take days.

Entrust, a global pioneer in trusted payments, identities, and data security, announced that it has completed its acquisition of Onfido, a global pioneer in identity verification. With this completed acquisition, Entrust now provides the industry's most comprehensive portfolio of AI-powered, identity-centric security solutions. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Onfido’s technology Attacks on identity are on the rise, with nearly two-thirds of data breaches caused by compromised credentials. This is only becoming more prevalent as AI-powered fraud becomes more accessible through technologies such as generative AI-enabling more sophisticated attack vectors. According to its recent report, Onfido saw a 3,000% increase in deepfakes and a five-times increase in forged identities over the past year. Onfido saw a 3,000% increase in deepfakes and a five-times increase in forged identities Onfido’s technology fights fire with fire, utilising AI to deliver reliable liveness detection and spot deepfakes, video spoofs, masks, and similar identity theft tactics. Over the last year and a half, Onfido prevented over $6 billion in potential fraud. Identity-centric security capabilities “This acquisition comes at an inflection point in the industry,” said Todd Wilkinson, president and chief executive officer, Entrust. “With the acquisition of Onfido, our customers can leverage global-pioneering identity verification technology to meet the new challenges of cybersecurity in the age of AI." "Identity-centric security is the starting point for Zero Trust frameworks and ensures a company’s cyber defence is best positioned to meet today’s threats. Entrust now provides the broadest identity-centric security capabilities in the market, which combine with strong encryption technologies to enable the evolution to Zero Trust.” Identity verification solutions Founded in 2012, Onfido makes it easy for people to access services through digital verification. Prior to being acquired, the company had over $140 million in annual revenue and more than 500 employees. Onfido’s over 1,200 customers globally include some of the world’s pioneering financial institutions, e-commerce, gambling and gaming companies, and sharing economy platforms. Capabilities form automated shield defences, with a layered, improved policy to fake detection Entrust will service a range of business requirements by leveraging Onfido’s cutting-edge identity verification solutions across the Entrust portfolio, including its biometrics, AI/machine learning, and no-code orchestration capabilities. Capabilities include automated security defences, with a layered, enhanced approach to fraud detection, using AI developed in-house to verify genuine identities. With its updated and new solutions, organisations can turn to Entrust to secure digital-first experiences for customers, citizens, and their workforces, while complying with global regulations and reducing fraud. Opportunities for a variety of industries Entrust solutions provide immediate opportunities for a variety of industries, including financial services and identity access management: Financial Services: Digital onboarding for financial services and payments starts with real identity, verifying the person and their credentials. Financial services and payments companies will now be able to onboard trusted customers, authenticate them, and issue debit cards in a matter of minutes while reducing their fraud exposure and remaining compliant with international regulations and standards. Identity Access Management (IAM): Entrust will integrate Onfido’s AI-powered tools into its existing IAM solutions to protect critical assets and transactions with enhanced authentication, leveraging biometrics and digital certificates. To see these solutions in action and learn more about Entrust’s new capabilities with Onfido, visit at the RSA Conference at booth #5361N in Moscone Centre, North.

Cohesity, a pioneer in AI-powered data security and management, announced Cohesity Gaia, a first-to-market AI-powered enterprise search assistant that brings retrieval augmented generation (RAG) AI and large language models (LLMs) to high-quality backup data within Cohesity environments. Cohesity Gaia will be made generally available on March 15. The conversational AI assistant enables users to ask questions and receive answers by accessing and analysing their vast pools of enterprise data. When coupled with the Cohesity Data Cloud, these AI advancements transform data into knowledge and can help accelerate the goals of an organisation while keeping data secure and compliant. Cohesity has announced plans with the three largest public cloud providers to bring their LLM services to Cohesity Gaia. Proposition of Cohesity Data Cloud The underlying architecture of Cohesity Data Cloud manages and secures data with a unique blend of performance, extensibility, and scale. Cohesity Gaia extends the value proposition of Cohesity Data Cloud even further:  By building a RAG AI solution on Cohesity’s multicloud platform, Cohesity will be able to seamlessly provide RAG AI conversational search experiences across cloud and hybrid environments that will allow enterprises to gain deeper insights into their data and make informed decisions in the future, no matter where their stored data resides.  Cohesity maintains a fully indexed backup of all files, across all workloads, and at all points in time. This robust capability supports the creation of AI-ready indexes for rapid conversational search and responses, providing enterprises with quick and accurate results. Initially, Cohesity will support Microsoft 365 and OneDrive data and will expand to more workloads over time. The unique architecture of Cohesity Gaia ensures that all indexed data is immediately available for reading without the need for backups to be reconstructed. This allows the Cohesity Data Cloud to function like a data lake, providing businesses with real-time access to their data for analysis and decision-making. The Cohesity Data Cloud employs granular, role-based access controls and zero-trust security principles, ensuring that only authorised users and models have access to the necessary data. This not only protects sensitive information but also helps enterprises maintain compliance with various regulatory requirements. Integrating AI capabilities Cohesity Gaia swamps these challenges by merging AI stuff within a client backup environment Enterprises looking to utilise LLMs often face several challenges. Developers must first create more copies of data, thereby increasing the threat footprint for an attack. What’s more, the data may be incomplete or dated.  Finally, this approach requires additional time and resources, and puts an added burden on the system’s performance. Cohesity Gaia overcomes these challenges by integrating AI capabilities within a customer’s backup environment. Myriad of use cases Cohesity Gaia helps organisations make better, faster decisions across a myriad of use cases, such as: To assess an organisation’s level of cyber resilience. To quickly perform financial and compliance audit checks. To answer complex legal questions. To serve as a knowledge base to train new employees. Available for analytics and insights “Enterprises are excited to harness the power of generative AI but have faced several challenges gaining insights into secondary data, including backup, archived and vaulted data – because every approach requires re-hydrating the data, and painfully waiting weeks for the data to be available for analytics and insights. Cohesity Gaia dramatically simplifies this process with our patent-pending approach using Retrieval Augmented Generation,” said Sanjay Poonen, CEO and President, Cohesity. “With Cohesity Gaia, for the first time in our industry, companies will be able to leverage generative AI to query their data in a virtually seamless way. Our approach delivers rapid, insightful results without the drawbacks of more manual and risky approaches. In short, it turns data into knowledge within seconds and minutes.” Use of generative AI  “We are an international materials research and manufacturing company, with research centres in many locations, and our researchers speak different languages,” said Ryan Reed, head of IT Products and Services, JSR Corporation. “We want to be able to use generative AI to quickly discover if work done at one location might apply to other projects. Cohesity Gaia allows us to query our rich store of research data and quickly find relevant work. It will also allow our researchers to use their native language to query the system. This could prove incredibly valuable in accelerating the rate of our research and discovery.” Collection of AI capabilities The basis of these AI creations is the idea of “responsible AI,” with goods and frameworks At the core of Cohesity AI technologies is Cohesity Turing, a patent-pending collection of AI capabilities and technologies integrated into Cohesity’s multicloud data management and security platform, that provide operational and data insights. The foundation of these AI innovations is the concept of “responsible AI,” with capabilities and frameworks that enable customers to introduce AI to backup data securely and safely at scale. All Cohesity Turing solutions adhere to these responsible AI principles: Transparency: Protect access to the data with role-based access controls. Promote transparency and accountability around access and policies. Governance: Ensure the security and privacy of data used by AI models and the workforce—so the right data is exposed only to the right people (and models) with the right privileges. Access: Integrate indexed and searchable data securely and easily while ensuring data is immutable and resilient. Reason for the cost increases “It is important to understand that Cohesity Gaia does not retrieve data like a search engine; it answers questions,” said Greg Statton, office of the CTO – Data & AI, Cohesity. ”For example, if you notice a rise in costs in a region, typically, you would search for dozens of invoices, review and compare them, and see if you can discover the reason for the cost increases. It could take hours, days, or weeks to resolve. With Cohesity Gaia, you simply ask, ‘Why have costs increased in the region?’, and Cohesity Gaia will pull the relevant data from your stored data, analyse it, and return an answer to your question. It’s that simple.” Power of AI search “Cohesity is the first data security and management vendor to bring the power of AI search to enterprises with the Cohesity Gaia AI search assistant. Gaia leverages generative AI with the latest RAG enhancements to enable conversational search across secondary protected data,” said Russ Fellows, vice president, The Futurum Group Labs. “Gaia enables companies to quickly leverage their existing stored data with the power of generative AI, while preserving data security and compliance. With Cohesity Gaia, customers can quickly turn data into insights, without the complexity of creating an AI application themself, or worrying about their data privacy and security.” Cohesity Gaia Virtual Event Cohesity Gaia Virtual Event at 10 AM, PT, February 28th. Please attend this virtual event to learn more about Cohesity Gaia, the industry’s first generative AI-powered conversational search assistant. Participants include: Major AI product advancements from Greg Statton, Office of the CTO, Cohesity.  Insights from Ryan Reed, head of IT Products and Services, JSR Corporation, about the AI functionality he’s most excited about. An executive conversation with Manuvir Das, VP, of Enterprise Computing at NVIDIA; Marco Casalaina, VP of Products, Azure AI at Microsoft; and Sanjay Poonen, CEO and President at Cohesity about their vision for generative AI and the pivotal role of an enterprise AI platform.  A live demo showing AI’s value to the data and analysis.

Cohesity, a pioneer in AI-powered data security and management, announces Cohesity Gaia, a first-to-market AI-powered enterprise search assistant that brings retrieval augmented generation (RAG) AI and large language models (LLMs) to high-quality backup data within Cohesity environments. Cohesity Gaia will be made generally available on March 15. The conversational AI assistant enables users to ask questions and receive answers by accessing and analysing their vast pools of enterprise data. When coupled with the Cohesity Data Cloud, these AI advancements transform data into knowledge and can help accelerate the goals of an organisation while keeping data secure and compliant. Cohesity has announced plans with the three largest public cloud providers to bring their LLM services to Cohesity Gaia. Cloud and hybrid environments The underlying architecture of Cohesity Data Cloud manages and secures data with a unique blend of performance, extensibility, and scale. Cohesity Gaia extends the value proposition of Cohesity Data Cloud even further: By building a RAG AI solution on Cohesity's multicloud platform, Cohesity will be able to seamlessly provide RAG AI conversational search experiences across cloud and hybrid environments that will allow enterprises to gain deeper insights into their data and make informed decisions in the future, no matter where their stored data resides. Cohesity will maintain a fully indexed database of all files, across all workloads, and at all points in time. This robust capability supports the creation of AI-ready indexes for rapid conversational search and responses, providing enterprises with quick and accurate results. Initially, Cohesity will support Microsoft 365 and OneDrive data and will expand to more workloads over time. The unique architecture of Cohesity Gaia ensures that all indexed data is immediately available for reading without the need for backups to be reconstructed. This allows the Cohesity Data Cloud to function like a data lake, providing businesses with real-time access to their data for analysis and decision-making. The Cohesity Data Cloud employs granular role-based access controls and zero-trust security principles, ensuring that only authorised users and models have access to the necessary data. This not only protects sensitive information but also helps enterprises maintain compliance with various regulatory requirements. Integrating AI capabilities Developers must first create more copies of data, thereby increasing the threat footprint for an attack Enterprises looking to utilise LLMs often face several challenges. Developers must first create more copies of data, thereby increasing the threat footprint for an attack. What's more, the data may be incomplete or dated.  Finally, this approach requires additional time and resources, and puts an added burden on the system's performance. Cohesity Gaia overcomes these challenges by integrating AI capabilities within a customer’s backup environment. Compliance audit checks Cohesity Gaia helps organisations make better, faster decisions across a myriad of use cases, such as: To assess an organisation’s level of cyber resilience. To quickly perform financial and compliance audit checks. To answer complex legal questions. To serve as a knowledge base to train new employees. Power of generative AI “Enterprises are excited to harness the power of generative AI but have faced several challenges gaining insights into secondary data, including backup, archived and vaulted data – because every approach requires re-hydrating the data, and painfully waiting weeks for the data to be available for analytics and insights. Cohesity Gaia dramatically simplifies this process with our patent-pending approach using Retrieval Augmented Generation,” said Sanjay Poonen, CEO and President, Cohesity. “With Cohesity Gaia, for the first time in our industry, companies will be able to leverage generative AI to query their data in a virtually seamless way. Our approach delivers rapid, insightful results without the drawbacks of more manual and risky approaches. In short, it turns data into knowledge within seconds and minutes.” Research and manufacturing company “We are an international materials research and manufacturing company, with research centres in many locations, and our researchers speak different languages,” said Ryan Reed, head of IT, JSR Corporation. “We want to be able to use generative AI to quickly discover if work done at one location might apply to other projects. Cohesity Gaia allows us to query our rich store of research data and quickly find relevant work. It will also allow our researchers to use their native language to query the system. This could prove incredibly valuable in accelerating the rate of our research and discovery.” Multicloud data management At the core of Cohesity AI technologies is Cohesity Turing, a patent-pending collection of AI capabilities  At the core of Cohesity AI technologies is Cohesity Turing, a patent-pending collection of AI capabilities and technologies integrated into Cohesity’s multicloud data management and security platform, providing operational and data insights.  The foundation of these AI innovations is the concept of ‘responsible AI,’ with capabilities and frameworks that enable customers to introduce AI to backup data securely and safely at scale. Role-based access controls All Cohesity Turing solutions adhere to these responsible AI principles: Transparency: Protect access to the data with role-based access controls. Promote transparency and accountability around access and policies. Governance: Ensure the security and privacy of data used by AI models and the workforce—so the right data is exposed only to the right people (and models) with the right privileges. Access: Integrate indexed and searchable data securely and easily while ensuring data is immutable and resilient. Searchable data securely “It is important to understand that Cohesity Gaia does not retrieve data like a search engine; it answers questions,” said Greg Statton, office of the CTO – Data & AI, Cohesity. “For example, if you notice a rise in costs in a region, typically, you would search for dozens of invoices, review and compare them, and see if you can discover the reason for the cost increases. It could take hours, days, or weeks to resolve. With Cohesity Gaia, you simply ask, ‘Why have costs increased in the region?’, and Cohesity Gaia will pull the relevant data from your stored data, analyse it, and return an answer to your question. It’s that simple.” Secondary protected data "Cohesity is the first data security and management vendor to bring the power of AI search to enterprises with the Cohesity Gaia AI search assistant. Gaia leverages generative AI with the latest RAG enhancements to enable conversational search across secondary protected data," said Russ Fellows, vice president, The Futurum Group Labs. “Gaia enables companies to quickly leverage their existing stored data with the power of generative AI, while preserving data security and compliance. With Cohesity Gaia, customers can quickly turn data into insights, without the complexity of creating an AI application themself, or worrying about their data privacy and security." Conversational search assistant Cohesity Gaia Virtual Event at 10 AM, PT, February 28th. Please attend this virtual event to learn more about Cohesity Gaia, the industry’s first generative AI-powered conversational search assistant. Also participating will be: Major AI product advancements from Greg Statton, Office of the CTO, Cohesity. Insights from Ryan Reed, head of IT, JSR Corporation, about the AI functionality he’s most excited about. An executive conversation with Manuvir Das, VP, Enterprise Computing at NVIDIA; Marco Casalaina, VP of Products, Azure AI at Microsoft; and Sanjay Poonen, CEO and President at Cohesity about their vision for generative AI and the pivotal role of an enterprise AI platform. A live demo showing AI's value to the data and analysis.

Hikvision, a world-pioneering manufacturer and supplier of security products and solutions that deliver the ideal combination of high performance and extreme value, expands its camera lineup with the addition of new Stealth Edition Cameras featuring black housings. The new cameras combine high aesthetics with an assortment of innovative features like 24/7 full colour with ColorVu and AI human and vehicle detection with AcuSense. Author's quote "Hikvision is pleased to unveil new Stealth Edition Cameras to celebrate the New Year. These cameras feature sleek black finishes that pair aesthetics with innovation, such as groundbreaking AI video technology,” said John Xiao, Hikvision Vice President of Marketing. Highly anticipated additions to the Stealth Models include the 8 MP Panoramic ColorVu Bullet “Highly anticipated additions to the Stealth Models include the 8 MP Panoramic ColorVu Bullet and the 8 MP ColorVu Strobe Light and Audible Warning Turret, bringing panoramic views and real-time alerts paired with our ColorVu technology, all in sleek black finishes.” New Stealth Edition Cameras What's striking about these cameras isn't just their sleek new black finishes but the seamless integration they offer for diverse applications and environments, like commercial buildings, residences, or other applications. With the introduction of several new Stealth Edition Cameras in Q1 of 2024, Hikvision leads the industry with a total of 22 camera SKUs featuring stealth finishes, pairing aesthetics with high-performance technologies like panoramic views, AcuSense, and ColorVu. Advanced streaming technology Human and vehicle target classification with AcuSense deep learning heightens accuracy Stealth Edition 4 MP AcuSense Dome and 8 MP Cameras deliver high-quality resolution, guaranteeing crystal-clear and detailed visuals. Powered by DarkFighter technology, their exceptional low-light performance ensures top-quality footage, even in challenging lighting conditions. Human and vehicle target classification with AcuSense deep learning heightens accuracy and minimises false alarms.  The advanced streaming technology ensures smooth live views, even in poor network conditions. Resilient against water, dust and vandalism, these models are well-suited for various environments, making them an ideal choice for robust and reliable video security. ColorVu technology Stealth Edition 4 MP ColorVu Fixed Dome Network Cameras deliver vibrant and colourful imaging, ensuring every detail is captured precisely, even at night. ColorVu technology ensures 24/7 colourful imaging capabilities with 24/7 clarity, making them an invaluable asset for continuous monitoring of key details like vehicle colour and suspect clothing colour. The built-in microphone allows for real-time audio security, and with audio and alarm interface availability, users can customise their setup according to specific application needs.

Telaeris, Inc., a major provider of handheld solutions for Physical Access Control Systems (PACS), announces its new XPressEntry Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) Emergency Evacuation Mustering with HID’s Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Beacons and Gateways. XPressEntry RTLS Emergency Mustering adds an automatic method to quickly account for workers and visitors in an emergency evacuation at designated assembly areas/muster points and helps provide first responders with a precise, last known location of any missing persons. Evacuation mustering solution “HID’s RTLS technology continuously tracks the precise location of badged employees and visitors throughout the workplace facility. Combined with XPressEntry, this innovative and comprehensive emergency evacuation mustering solution streamlines and accelerates emergency evacuations by OSHA and regulatory guidelines,” said Dr. David Carta, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Telaeris.  He adds, “As a longstanding technology partner with HID, we are excited to further deepen our collaboration with their team.” Employee protection solution A swift response is crucial in emergencies, and the real-time location awareness provided by HID’s RTLS portfolio" “Our location services provide an efficient way to safeguard an organisation's most important asset, its employees. A swift response is crucial in emergencies, and the real-time location awareness provided by HID’s RTLS portfolio enables immediate action, ensuring prompt and effective staff protection," said Mark Robinton, Vice President of IoT Services at HID. He adds, "The collaboration with Telaeris offers a great opportunity to broaden the adoption of this valuable employee protection solution, thereby fortifying onsite safety measures for a diverse range of organisations.” BLE Gateways HID’s BLE Gateways are strategically placed throughout workspaces and programmed to provide triangulated occupancy tracking. BLE Gateways constantly listen for BLE Badges in range, linking the occupancy zone to the current location of the badge. With BLE Gateways installed at designated emergency assembly areas/muster points, employees and visitors in possession of their badges will be automatically accounted as safely evacuated within range of the assembly area gateway. The solution concurrently provides the precise location of any missing persons on site including names and ID photos, visible from XPressEntry-enabled readers, to enhance life-saving efforts. Benefits of integration XPressEntry enhances HID’s Bluetooth Low Energy Beacons and Gateways in emergency evacuation mustering scenarios in the following ways: XPressEntry proudly heads the industry with more than 30 access control system integrations and maintains the latest access control system information including cardholders, new and deleted badges, pictures, permissions, activities, and much more. If badges are lost or forgotten, XPressEntry can still account for employees and visitors as safely evacuated at designated assembly areas/muster points by scanning (1) facial recognition or (2) through manual lookup from the live roster list. If emergency assembly areas/muster points become unsafe and need to be moved to another location because of smoke, fire, toxic fumes, etc. XPressEntry can still account for employees and visitors from anywhere, even miles away. XPressEntry handheld badge and biometric readers uniquely continue to record activities offline when cellular or WiFi connectivity is lost, and all stored activities are synced as soon as the connection is re-established. XPressEntry handheld badge and biometric readers or XPressEntry iOS and Android apps provide safety professionals real-time visibility at assembly areas/muster points of the latest roster lists of missing and safely evacuated individuals. Sold in more than 40 countries around the world, XPressEntry handheld readers proudly head the industry with the most access control integrations and head the industry with the broadest support for badge technologies plus biometrics.

It’s no secret that the data security sector is constantly changing. It has an annual CGR of about 12.3%. Future trends in data security Much of this has to do with the rise of cybercrime in recent years, with reports showing that cyberattacks happen as often as every 39 seconds. To combat the growing rate of cybercrime, data security has been on the rise. As we journey further into this era, it becomes evident that a spectrum of significant trends is molding the future of data security. This exploration delves into a selection of these trends, unraveling their importance and the potential implications they carry  1. AI security tools will increase  Artificial Intelligence is also being used in the development of smart attacks and malware The introduction of Artificial Intelligence in the data security industry brought significant changes, especially in cybersecurity. AI has been the golden standard for face detection, natural language processing, automated threat detection, and automated security systems. Additionally, Artificial Intelligence is also being used in the development of smart attacks and malware, bypassing even the latest security protocols in data control. And as time progresses, AI security tools will flourish and dominate the scene. Let’s take a more in-depth look at three of the top AI security tools. Targeted attack analysis tool  Manufacturers utilise targeted attack analysis tools to uncover targeted and stealthy attacks. Artificial Intelligence can be applied to the program’s capabilities, processes, and knowledge. For instance, Symantec launched this tool to combat the Dragon 2.0 attack in 2022. The phishing attack reprimanded multiple energy companies while trying to gain access to their operational networks. Targeted Attack Analysis Tools can analyse incidents and look for similarities from previous situations. They also help detect suspicious activities and collect all the necessary data to determine whether a specific action is malicious. Intercept X tool  Results from the Intercept X Tool feature high accuracy and a low false positive rate Sophos, a British security hardware and software company, launched the Intercept X Tool. It engages a neural network that records and analyses data like a human brain. Sophos’ Intercept X Tool can extract features from a single file and perform a deep analysis. It detects malicious activities within 20 milliseconds. Plus, it’s also trained to work on bi-directional sharing and real-world feedback of threat intelligence. Results from the Intercept X Tool feature high accuracy and a low false positive rate.  IBM Watson Technology  IBM’s QRadar Advisor uses IBM Watson Technology, a unique AI tool for fighting cyber attacks. Artificial Intelligence can auto-investigate activities and indicators for potential exploitation or compromise. With cognitive reasoning, IBM Watson Technology can present critical insights to accelerate the response cycle. Security analysts can utilise this technology to search for threat incidents, reducing the risk of letting them fly under the radar. 2. Blockchain as a security solution  It guarantees no points of failure or hackable entrances that can expose datasets inside the system Blockchain is a type of distributed ledger technology (DLT) that aims to establish trust within an untrusting ecosystem. Today it’s one of the most robust cybersecurity technologies in the industry. Blockchain utilises a decentralised ledger system, but your team members can still gain access to transparent information in the cloud. Members can also record, pass along, and view necessary transactional data in the blockchain. The entire blockchain process maintains data integrity within the system while establishing trust among team members. It guarantees no points of failure or hackable entrances that can expose datasets inside the system. Cybersecurity, biometrics Cybersecurity primarily benefits from these features because blockchain can create a secure and robust wall between data and hackers. On top of that, blockchain ledgers can include biometrics like fingerprints and retina scans. These prevent hackers from accessing any private data. Because blockchain is decentralised, it also limits hackable data. Together with the technology’s record-keeping system, each node is provided insight into data manipulation exposing real-time cybercrime attempts.  3. Increased and widened access control  Without access control, expect your company to be open to security issues, including theft, data loss, and breach of data Access control is critical in data security. More than a valuable security tool, business leaders can use access control to regulate people accessing any given resource. A company with an IT security setting can control who has the liberty to edit certain files. One of the primary goals of access control is to minimise threats or attacks to organisations and businesses to keep people and data secure. Without access control, expect your company to be open to security issues, including theft, data loss, and breach of data protection laws. Benefits The benefits of increased and widened access control include: Identifying who can access and control your data at specific time intervals. Protecting data from overwriting, accidental deletion, and malicious intent. User permissions that can be readily changed. Compliance and regulation with data privacy laws. Central management of access to data through a reporting portal or a dashboard.  Multi-factor authentication Access control comes in various types and systems, so it’s critical to know the features of what you’re looking for. The most common type is multi-factor authentication or MFA. It involves multiple steps before logging in, requiring the user to enter other relevant information besides the password. Some other examples of information include biometrics, answering a security question, or entering a code sent to the user’s email address. Two-factor authentication, role-based access control Two-factor authentication further prevents unauthorised entries that can result in unnecessary data possession Two-factor authentication further prevents unauthorised entries that can result in unnecessary data possession.  Another type of access control is role-based access control. In this setup, only one individual can set up access guidelines and grant permissions to specific team members within an organisation. 4. Greater use of the zero-trust security model  The zero-trust security model is a framework that requires every user within and outside the organisation to undergo authentication, authorisation, and validation. These are all essential to ensure proper security configuration before access is granted to the company’s applications and data. A zero-trust model assumes that anyone can cause data breaches and that a traditional network edge is not taken into effect. Moreover, it addresses the following modern-day challenges: Hybrid cloud environments. Security of remote workers. Ransomware threats.  This framework utilises the combination of multiple advanced technologies, including:  A risk-based multi-factor authentication. Endpoint security.  Identity protection.  Cloud workload technology.  The zero-trust model uses all these innovative tools for system identification, user verification, access consideration, and system security maintenance. Constant validation and monitoring Enforcing strict policies and compliance with data privacy laws are also essential Additionally, it also considers data encryption, email security, and asset verification before establishing connections with applications. The architecture of a zero-trust framework requires constant validation and monitoring of the users and the devices they are using. Enforcing strict policies and compliance with data privacy laws are also essential. More importantly, the zero trust architecture requires all organisations to be aware of all their available services and accounts to gain complete control of data handling and manipulation. 5. Increased privacy regulations  Privacy regulations and policies guide organisations in proper data control, handling, and security. These policies guide organisations in proper data control, handling, and security. As a responsible business owner, you must comply with these regulations to avoid legal issues. With cybersecurity attacks becoming common, expect increased and stricter privacy regulations to be released in the next few years. While current policies are still taken into effect, various modifications and adjustments will occur to compete with the rising numbers of data breaches, thefts, data loss, and more.  California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) Currently, the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) is the most comprehensive legislation on state data privacy. It only started to take effect on January 1, 2023. The CPRA introduces the following principles: Broad individual consumer rights. Significant duties of people who need to collect sensitive and personal information. Additional definitions of data privacy and security. An individual’s duties include releasing information about data collection to concerned data subjects and proper access, correction, and deletion of information. Final thoughts  2023 is a big year for data security. Trends such as increased adoption of zero-trust policies, a greater reliance on AI security tools, and the implementation of blockchain as a security solution are all things we expect to see shortly.  Staying up-to-date with these trends is important for keeping your business current and ensuring that you’re adhering to new and changing regulations. Doing so can give you an edge over the competition and keep you out of legal hot water.

Global transportation networks are becoming increasingly interconnected, with digital systems playing a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of ports and supply chains. However, this reliance on technology can also create vulnerabilities, as demonstrated by the recent ransomware attack on Nagoya Port. As Japan's busiest shipping hub, the port's operations were brought to a standstill for two days, highlighting the potential for significant disruption to national economies and supply chains.  Transportation sector  The attack began with the port's legacy computer system, which handles shipping containers, being knocked offline. This forced the port to halt the handling of shipping containers that arrived at the terminal, effectively disrupting the flow of goods. The incident was a stark reminder of the risks associated with the convergence of information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) in ports and other critical infrastructures.  This is not an isolated incident, but part of a broader trend of escalating cyber threats targeting critical infrastructure. The transportation sector must respond by bolstering its defences, enhancing its cyber resilience, and proactively countering these threats. The safety and efficiency of our transportation infrastructure, and by extension our global economy, depend on it.  Rising threat to port security and supply chains  XIoT, from sensors on shipping containers to automatic cranes, are vital to trendy port functions OT, once isolated from networked systems, is now increasingly interconnected. This integration has expanded the attack surface for threat actors. A single breach in a port's OT systems can cause significant disruption, halting the movement of containers and impacting the flow of goods. This is not a hypothetical scenario, but a reality that has been demonstrated in recent cyberattacks on major ports.  Adding another layer of complexity is the extended Internet of Things (XIoT), an umbrella term for all cyber-physical systems. XIoT devices, from sensors on shipping containers to automated cranes, are now integral to modern port operations. These devices are delivering safer, more efficient automated vehicles, facilitating geo-fencing for improved logistics, and providing vehicle health data for predictive maintenance. XIoT ecosystem  However, the XIoT ecosystem also presents new cybersecurity risks. Each connected device is a potential entry point for cybercriminals, and the interconnected nature of these devices means that an attack on one, which can move laterally and can have a ripple effect throughout the system.  The threat landscape is evolving, with cybercriminals becoming more sophisticated and their attacks more damaging with a business continuity focus. The growing interconnectivity between OT and XIoT in port operations and supply chains is also presenting these threat actors with a greater attack surface. Many older OT systems were never designed to be connected in this way and are unlikely to be equipped to deal with modern cyber threats. Furthermore, the increasing digitisation of ports and supply chains has led to a surge in the volume of data being generated and processed. This data, if not properly secured, can be a goldmine for cybercriminals. The potential for data breaches adds another dimension to the cybersecurity challenges facing the transportation sector.  Role of cyber resilience in protecting service availability  Cyber resilience refers to organisation's ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from threats As the threats to port security and supply chains become increasingly complex, the concept of cyber resilience takes on a new level of importance. Cyber resilience refers to an organisation's ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from cyber threats. It goes beyond traditional cybersecurity measures, focusing not just on preventing attacks, but also on minimising the impact of attacks that do occur and ensuring a quick recovery.  In the context of port operations and supply chains, cyber resilience is crucial. The interconnected nature of these systems means that a cyberattack can have far-reaching effects, disrupting operations not just at the targeted port, but also at other ports and throughout the supply chain. A resilient system is one that can withstand such an attack and quickly restore normal operations. Port operations and supply chains The growing reliance on OT and the XIoT in port operations and supply chains presents unique challenges for cyber resilience. OT systems control physical processes and are often critical to safety and service availability. A breach in an OT system can have immediate and potentially catastrophic physical consequences. Similarly, XIoT devices are often embedded in critical infrastructure and can be difficult to patch or update, making them vulnerable to attacks.  Building cyber resilience in these systems requires a multi-faceted approach. It involves implementing robust security measures, such as strong access controls and network segmentation, to prevent attacks. It also involves continuous monitoring and detection to identify and respond to threats as they occur. But perhaps most importantly, it involves planning and preparation for the inevitable breaches that will occur, ensuring that when they do, the impact is minimised, and normal operations can be quickly restored.  Building resilience across port security and supply chains   In the face of cyber threats, the transport sector must adopt a complete method of cybersecurity In the face of escalating cyber threats, the transportation sector must adopt a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity. This involves not just implementing robust security measures, but also fostering a culture of cybersecurity awareness and compliance throughout the organisation.  A key component of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy is strong access controls. This involves ensuring that only authorised individuals have access to sensitive data and systems. It also involves implementing multi-factor authentication and regularly reviewing and updating access permissions. Strong access controls can prevent unauthorised access to systems and data, reducing the risk of both internal and external threats. Network segmentation Network segmentation is another crucial measure. By dividing a network into separate segments, organisations can limit the spread of a cyberattack within their network. This can prevent an attack on one part of the network from affecting the entire system. Network segmentation also makes it easier to monitor and control the flow of data within the network, further enhancing security.  Regular vulnerability assessments and patch management are also essential. Vulnerability assessments involve identifying and evaluating potential security weaknesses in the system, while patch management involves regularly updating and patching software to fix these vulnerabilities. These measures can help organisations stay ahead of cybercriminals and reduce the risk of exploitation.  EU’s NIS2 Directive EU’s NIS2 Directive came into effect, and member states have until October 2024 to put it into law The transportation sector must also be prepared for greater legislative responsibility in the near future. The EU’s NIS2 Directive recently came into effect, and member states have until October 2024 to put it into law. The Directive aims to increase the overall level of cyber preparedness by mandating capabilities such as Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs). Transport is among the sectors labelled as essential by the bill, meaning it will face a high level of scrutiny. Getting to grips with the complexities of XIoT and OT integration will be essential for organisations to achieve compliance and avoid fines. Global transportation infrastructure Finally, organisations must prepare for the inevitable breaches that will occur. This involves developing an incident response plan that outlines the steps to be taken in the event of a breach. It also involves regularly testing and updating this plan to ensure its effectiveness. A well-prepared organisation can respond quickly and effectively to a breach, minimising its impact and ensuring a quick recovery.  In conclusion, mastering transportation cybersecurity requires a comprehensive, proactive approach. It involves implementing robust technical measures, fostering a culture of cybersecurity awareness, and preparing for the inevitable breaches that will occur. By taking these steps, organisations can enhance their cyber resilience, protect their critical operations, and ensure the security of our global transportation infrastructure.

Physical security is essential for a modern production facility, users don’t want just anyone entering the building or accessing secure areas. But what about production machinery? Machine authentication is often a missing link in the security plan for manufacturers. Why machine authentication?  Most manufacturers have made significant investments in physical access control (PAC) for production facilities. Few shops currently hand out physical keys to employees or leave the building unlocked during production hours. For all but the smallest shops, front-door access typically involves individual radio-frequency identification (RFID) badges that enable tracking of who is coming and going and at what times. Use of physical keys, password login It is simply assumed that anyone who has access to the factory floor has the knowledge, authority, and training But when it comes to production machinery, many manufacturers still rely on physical keys, password login on the human-machine interface (HMI), or a shared PIN to unlock machine access. In some shops, machines may not be secured at all, it is simply assumed that anyone who has access to the factory floor has the knowledge, authority, and training to use the machines responsibly. However, this is not necessarily a good assumption, especially in a larger manufacturing plant where many people can access the production floor.  Valuable and sensitive equipment CNC machines, robotic welders, process equipment, and other production machinery can cost anywhere from $5,000 to half a million or more, depending on their size and function. They also have significant safety risks for untrained users and may hold valuable and sensitive IP (such as customer design specs or batch recipes). User authentication Authenticating users at the machine level closes an important security loophole and makes plants safer and more productive. Machine authentication prevents untrained or unauthorised users from accessing production machinery. The right authentication system also allows access levels to be tailored for different users based on training credentials, job roles, or even projects.  Machine authentication benefits A strong machine authentication solution provides several benefits for manufacturers: Minimises unplanned downtime and expensive damage to machines caused by untrained operators. Enables tracking of production outcomes by machine operator for better quality control and troubleshooting. Protects company and client IP held on the machine by preventing unauthorised access to machine controls and memory. Enhances plant safety and compliance by limiting machine access to operators with the appropriate credentials. Reduces the risk of deliberate sabotage by unauthorised operators, including damage to machines and production facilities and data theft or corruption.  Mark Merino, the Director of the Digital Factory Group for Polaris Automation, explains, “Machine authentication allows us to identify which people are logged into different pieces of equipment and make sure they are trained appropriately for the machine and have the right clearances for the data they are trying to access.” Choosing the right machine authentication solution  Access control for production machinery can be accomplished by various means, including password and PIN systems, physical keys or fobs, RFID badges, or smartphone-based mobile credentialing systems. The best machine authentication system will: Be highly reliable and secure to protect the machine from unauthorised access. Enable identification of individual operators and tracking of who has used the machines, at what times, and for what projects. Allow access levels to be differentiated by the user. Be easy to implement and administer. Discourage sharing or cloning of credentials. RFID readers An RFID reader can be easily connected to or integrated with the HMI for the machine In most manufacturing environments, the simplest solution for machine authentication is the RFID badge employees already carry for building entry. An RFID reader can be easily connected to or integrated with the HMI for the machine. All users must do to authenticate themselves is swipe their badge over the reader to unlock machine controls. RFID benefits RFID provides multiple benefits for end users, IT, and managers: It leverages technology already widely used, so users do not have to carry a separate key or fob to access machine controls. It is more secure and easier to manage than a password system, as passwords are frequently forgotten, shared, or hacked. Unlike shared PINs, physical keys, or fobs, user authentication via an ID badge enables accurate identification of who is logging into the machine. Users are much less likely to share their picture ID badge (which is often also linked to HR functions such as time and attendance) than a machine password, PIN, or key. If an ID badge is lost or stolen, or an employee leaves the company, IT can easily disable access to the card. RFID credentials are very difficult to hack or clone. Transmission between the reader and card can be encrypted for added security. Unlike biometric options, RFID is highly reliable even in hot, dirty, or humid environments and does not require workers to remove gloves, safety goggles, or masks. Getting started with machine authentication  Machine authentication starts with selecting the right RFID reader. A universal RFID reader supports easy implementation, integration with other building systems, and scaling. A universal reader also provides flexibility for the future in case companies want to change transponder technologies or allow for user authentication using mobile credentials on a smartphone. IIoT model User authentication must be designed within the context of the wider security ecosystem of the plant To ensure the security of production machinery, user authentication must be designed within the context of the wider security ecosystem of the plant. Modern production machines are increasingly networked and connected in an “Industrial Internet of Things” (IIoT) model. That means machines are not only vulnerable themselves but are also endpoints in the broader IT landscape of the plant. Machine authentication systems must incorporate best practices for endpoint security, such as those outlined by ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation), NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology), and other industry organisations.  Best practices: The reader installation should be tamper-proofed to prevent physical disruption of the authentication system. Use an encryption standard suitable for the security level of the application. Encryption prevents data interception or card cloning. If higher security is desired, RFID can be implemented as part of a multi-factor authentication system along with biometrics and/or a password or PIN. The authentication system should support different access levels for different users or classes of users. A role-based permission system allows for different levels of access for line operators, supervisors, IT, and maintenance, for example. For maximum safety and security, individual users should only have the minimum access required to do their jobs. With secure machine authentication, manufacturers can protect people, production equipment, and IP, while enabling smooth operations. It all starts with an authentication system that supports reliable and secure operator identification at the machine level. 

Large-scale events, including both corporate and sporting events, are coming back strongly in the aftermath of the pandemic. With the increase in activity comes more demand for oversized credentials preferred by many event planners and end users. Pent-up demand due to the pandemic has caused a tremendous uptick in the entire ID card industry in 2022. The return of large-scale events and in-person trade shows will extend the higher demand for cards well into 2023 and beyond, says Andrew Schonzeit, President of Idesco, a provider of ID card solutions. Supply chain concerns Supply chain concerns will continue as companies seek to upgrade and purchase new ID printers and badges An impact of the pandemic was a shortage of supplies related to the ID card industry, says Schonzeit. Like other industries, several leading ID card and printer manufacturers had supply chain issues, and some deliveries were delayed at times for more than six months. Supply chain concerns will continue into 2023 as more companies return to the workplace and others seek to upgrade their current systems and purchase new ID printers and badges.  Persistent price increase concerns “The shortage created hardships for end users and often resulted in them purchasing any solution that was readily available even if it was not the preferred one,” says Schonzeit. Another issue during the pandemic was persistent price increases, due both to inflationary pressures and a shortage of products. The industry was used to stable prices with infrequent increases, but the pandemic changed this quickly. Some companies also decided to upgrade their entire system as employees returning to the office increased demand.  Oversized credentials advantages Among the advantages of oversized credentials is the ability to print more information on the card, says Schonzeit. For example, a larger credential allows event organisers to preprint the corporate agenda on the back of the card to increase efficiency. In addition, companies can enhance their brand presence by distributing a nice thick plastic badge to attendees. Two categories  Standard credit card size These are generally CR100 size, which is around 40% larger than the standard credit card Oversized badges fall into two main categories. One category is for cards that are larger than the standard credit card size (CR80), but smaller than event badges. These are generally CR100 size, which is around 40% larger than the standard credit card. They are generally used by law enforcement or healthcare institutions. It is easier to see an oversized badge more clearly from a distance than a regular-sized badge. Oversized ID badges The other category of oversized ID badges is used for events, these badges are typically 3.5” by 5.5” and are usually worn around the neck. These events include categories such as sporting events, corporate events, music festivals, and trade shows. The badges are generally used only for the duration of the event and are often kept as souvenirs. Anticipating the needs  “My advice for event planners is to manage your expectations about badges as it is very hard to order extra badges at the last minute,” says Schonzeit. “It is important to plan well in advance and anticipate your needs upfront to help avoid a shortage.” Idesco often gets requests from customers to include some type of technology on the credentials. The most common technologies are proximity cards, NFC, and/or UHF. “It is a much ‘cleaner’ and safer solution if the chip can be embedded within the credential as opposed to putting a sticker on the outside of the credential,” says Schonzeit. Additional technologies in credentials  Customers wanting technology in their credentials should allow additional lead time Generally, these additional technologies are used for gaining entry to a location (access control), or they can be used for gathering valuable information regarding an event, including attendance at seminars, crowd flow, vending, and food services information, among others. Supply chain issues have led to less availability of many of the most common chips, which can impact delivery times. Customers wanting technology in their credentials should allow additional lead time, says Schonzeit. Applications  In addition to corporate events, sporting events, and trade shows, other markets can also benefit from oversized ID badges. Industries include healthcare, government, and law enforcement. Oversized badges are becoming more popular in hospitals, for example, where color coding can make it easy to identify doctors, nurses, and hospital personnel from a distance, even in congested hospital spaces. ID card necessity  Could there be a negative impact on the ID card industry if more companies allow employees to work from home? It’s always a possibility, says Schonzeit. “However, with many hybrid options out there, most employees are required to come to the office either one or two days a week,” he says. “Employees will still need a way to access their workplace for meetings, conferences, etc., and will require an ID card to do so.”   Mobile vs. physical credentials The growing popularity of mobile credentials has created some concerns in the ID card marketplace The growing popularity of mobile credentials has created some concerns in the ID card marketplace about the continuing need for a physical credential. So far it has not been an issue. “[Mobile credentials] have not had any type of meaningful effect on the physical ID card market,” says Schonzeit. Relying on smartphones  “Sometimes these disruptive technologies can linger in the background for some time and then suddenly have a massive effect on the market. This is something to be concerned about, but I don’t think there is an imminent threat.” A big issue with using only mobile credentials is the need for a backup plan rather than relying only on a smartphone to enter a facility. Also, for mobile credentials to work, specialised readers are required, which requires a large investment. “In my opinion, ID badges are here to stay for the long haul,” says Schonzeit.

Mergers and acquisitions are among the most disruptive forces in the security marketplace. However, they are also both a reality and a growing trend. Whenever there is value to be leveraged, companies tend to enter into business transactions to maximise that value. For the security industry, the result is a continually shifting collection of manufacturer companies seeking new ways to provide value to customers. M&A activity continued unabated in 2021, despite residual industry challenges such as dysfunctional supply chains and lingering consequences of a global pandemic. Here are some of the larger and/or most impactful M&A transactions of 2021. Stanley Black & Decker sells to Securitas Stanley Black & Decker announces an agreement to sell most of its Security assets to Securitas AB for $3.2 billion in cash. The transaction includes Stanley Black & Decker's Commercial Electronic and Healthcare Security business lines.  The businesses carry 2021 forecasted revenues of approximately $1.7 billion. “The business is well-positioned for ongoing growth within Securitas, a global pioneer in the security industry,” says James M. Loree, Stanley Black & Decker's CEO. Openpath’s solution makes businesses more secure with multi-factor authentication Motorola acquires Openpath and Envysion Motorola Solutions adds to its security industry portfolio with the acquisition of Openpath Security Inc., a cloud-based mobile access control provider. Openpath’s solution makes businesses more secure with multi-factor authentication, enables a contactless entry experience, and can be easily scaled and managed due to its cloud-based architecture. Motorola also announces the acquisition of Envysion, a provider of video security and business analytics solutions for quick-service restaurant and retail industries. Delta Electronics buys March Networks Delta Group, a provider of power and thermal management solutions, , purchased 100% of the shares in Infinova (Canada) Ltd., owner of Canadian-based video surveillance and business intelligence company March Networks, from Infinova International Ltd. through its subsidiary Delta International Holding Limited B.V. Following the close of the transaction, it was expected that March Networks will continue to operate from its Canadian headquarters, and the March Networks executive management team will continue to lead the organization. Delta Electronics is also the parent company of VIVOTEK. APi Group acquires Chubb Fire and Security Business APi Group Corp. agreed to acquire the Chubb Fire & Security Business from Carrier Global Corporation for an enterprise value of US$ 3.1 billion. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, Chubb has approximately 13,000 employees globally and a sales and service network that spans 17 countries, serving more than 1.5 million customer sites in Europe, Asia Pacific, and Canada. APi Group is a business services provider of safety, specialty, and industrial services in more than 200 locations worldwide. Teledyne Technologies Inc. will acquire FLIR in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $8.0 billion Teledyne acquires FLIR Teledyne Technologies Inc. and FLIR Systems, Inc. jointly announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Teledyne will acquire FLIR in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $8.0 billion. Jim Cannon, President and Chief Executive Officer of FLIR, said, “We could not be more excited to join forces with Teledyne through this value-creating transaction.” Resideo adds Norfolk Wire and Electronics Resideo Technologies, Inc. acquired privately held Norfolk Wire & Electronics, based in Richmond, Virginia. Norfolk was founded in 1985 and is a regional distributor of security, telecom, network, and audio-video (AV) related products, supplies, and tools. With 11 full-service retail locations and a 43,000 sq. ft. distribution centre, Norfolk serves customers across the mid-Atlantic region and will be part of Resideo's ADI Global Distribution business, a wholesale distributor of security, AV, and low-voltage products. Triton acquires ACRE, which acquires Feenics and Matrix Triton Partners acquired ACRE, an end-to-end security solutions provider based in Dallas/USA and Dublin/Ireland. Triton is investing alongside the current management team of ACRE. Weeks later, ACRE acquired cloud-based workplace solutions company Time Data Security (TDS). Later in the year, ACRE announced acquisition of Feenics and Matrix Systems. Feenics brings cloud-based access control solutions brings cloud-based access control solutions to ACRE’s rapidly growing network of global customers while also expanding its portfolio to support the growing demand for cloud-based security solutions. Matrix enables ACRE to expand the addressable market for the company’s technology portfolio. Brivo, Inc. and Crown PropTech Acquisitions have entered into an agreement making Brivo a publicly listed company Brivo becomes publicly traded through the merger Brivo, Inc., a cloud-based access control and smart building technologies company, and Crown PropTech Acquisitions, a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), have entered into a definitive merger agreement that will result in Brivo becoming a publicly listed company. The transaction values the company at a pro forma enterprise value of $808 million. Upon closing, the combined company will operate as Brivo, and its Class A common stock is expected to be listed under the ticker symbol “BRVS.” Nice buys Nortek Security Nice, a global manufacturer of smart home, security, home, and building automation solutions, , acquired Nortek Security & Control from Melrose Industries. Nortek Security & Control is a developer of technology for security, home automation, control, power, AV and entertainment, access control, health, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems, for residential and commercial markets. Eagle Eye acquires Uncanny Vision Eagle Eye Networks, a cloud video surveillance solutions company, has acquired Uncanny Vision Solutions, an artificial intelligence (AI) analytics and Solutions Company. The acquisition accelerates the company’s leadership in providing AI and analytics, to make customers’ businesses more efficient and the world a safer place. The acquisition also includes research and development (R&D) capabilities and a new regional office located in Bangalore, India.

Thermal cameras can be used for rapid and safe initial temperature screening of staff, visitors and customers. Used the right way, the cameras can help prevent unnecessary spread of viruses like the novel coronavirus. During the global pandemic, use of thermal cameras has increased, but they have not always been used correctly, and therefore, not effectively. Hikvision’s temperature screening thermal products are currently assisting users in initial temperature screening across the global market. During 2020, demand increased in most markets, and the company highly recommends that Hikvision’s thermographic cameras be used in accordance with local laws and regulations. Limitations of the technology include throughput and the impact of ambient conditions. Detect viruses and fever Hikvision releases a video that illustrates how skin temperature measurements are normalised within minutes Thermal cameras cannot detect viruses and fever and should only be used as a first line of screening before using secondary measures to confirm, says Stefan Li, Thermal Product Director at Hikvision. “We also believe it is important for businesses and authorities to use [thermal cameras] alongside a full programme of additional health and safety procedures, which includes handwashing, regular disinfection of surfaces, wearing protective clothing such as masks, and social distancing.” Hikvision has released a video that illustrates how skin temperature measurements are normalised within minutes after someone emerges from the cold. Mr. Li says the video demonstrates the accuracy of forehead measurement under difficult circumstances when people come inside from a cold outdoor environment. Temperature screening facilities “There have been some claims that measuring the forehead temperature is not as accurate as measuring the inner canthus, and we believe this video demonstrates the accuracy of forehead measurement very well,” he says. “We also illustrate how the skin temperature will experience a process of recovery (warming up), no matter if it is measured by a thermal camera or a thermometer.” Mr. Li adds that people should wait five minutes in such circumstances before starting a temperature measurement. “We hope that stakeholders who are involved in the design of temperature screening facilities and associated health and safety procedures will recognise how important it is to consider the skin temperature recovery time, and that forehead measurement can provide accurate test results,” says Mr. Li. Thermal imaging manufacturers The algorithm is based on a large number of test results to obtain a value that tends to be dynamically balanced The temperature measurement principle of thermal imaging is to detect the heat radiation emitted by the human body. The detected heat value often does not reflect the true internal body temperature of an individual. Furthermore, the temperature varies among different parts of the human, such as the forehead, ears, underarms, etc. A temperature compensation algorithm can be used to adjust the measured skin temperature to align with the internal body temperature. The algorithm is based on a large number of test results to obtain a value that tends to be dynamically balanced. At present, thermal imaging manufacturers in the market, and even forehead thermometer manufacturers, have developed their own algorithms to map the skin temperature measured by the camera to the internal body temperature, so as to compensate the skin temperature to the internal body temperature. Thermal cameras This is also why Hikvision recommends that the "actual body temperature" should be checked with a secondary device for confirmation. The calibration work for a thermal camera is completed in the production process at the factory, including calibration of reference values and detection point and so on. At the same time, the equipment parameters should be adjusted before on-site use to ensure accurate temperature reads. Hikvision does not deny the accuracy of temperature measurement at the inner canthus but prefers forehead temperature measurement and algorithms based on actual use scenarios, says Mr. Li. A large amount of test data and practical results indicates that the forehead is a correct and easy-to-use temperature measurement area, says the company. There are advantages and disadvantages of choosing different facial areas for temperature measurement. Default compensation temperature Two main approaches direct the measurement area and how compensation algorithms are applied: Forehead area + default forehead compensation algorithm value Upper half face (forehead + canthus) + default inner canthus compensation algorithm value. Both methods deploy compensation algorithms, but the default compensation temperature of the inner canthus will be less than the default compensation temperature of the forehead, generally speaking. The reason is that the temperature of the inner canthus of most people is higher than their forehead, so the temperature compensation is relatively low (i.e., closer to the actual temperature inside the body.) Upper face area Hikvision found that selecting the upper face area plus the default compensation value for the inner canthus resulted in situations when the calculated temperature is lower than the actual temperature. For the Hikvision solution, the forehead is a relatively obvious and easy-to-capture area on an entire face Mr. Li explains: “The reason is that when the camera cannot capture the position of the inner canthus (for example, when a person is walking, or the face is not facing the camera), the camera will automatically capture the temperature of the forehead. Then the result that appears is the sum of the forehead temperature plus the default compensation temperature of the inner canthus, which is lower than the actual temperature of the person being measured. Therefore, errors are prone to occur.” Thermal imaging products But for the Hikvision solution, the forehead is a relatively obvious and easy-to-capture area on an entire face. Also, the default forehead compensation temperature is based on rigorous testing and can also correctly mimic the actual temperature of the person being measured, says Mr. Li. After many test comparisons, considering that the results of forehead temperature measurement are relatively more stable, and in order to avoid the false results from inner canthus temperature measurement, Hikvision chose the forehead temperature measurement approach. “We look forward to bringing thermal imaging products from a niche market where there is a relatively high-end industry application to a mass market and serving more users,” says Mr. Li. Facial recognition terminals Additional application parameters can maximise effectiveness of thermal cameras for measuring body temperature: Positioning and height - All cameras must be mounted appropriately to avoid loss of accuracy and performance. The installation height of each camera must be adjusted according to camera resolution and focal length, and stable installation is needed to avoid errors caused by shaking. Ensuring a ‘one-direction path’ - The detection area must ensure that cameras capture the full faces of all those passing by or stopping, and obstacles should be avoided in the field of view, such as glass doors that block the camera. Adequate start-up and usage - A waiting time of more than 90 minutes is required for preheating, after the initial start-up. Before conducting a thermal scan, people should be given three to five minutes to allow their body temperature to stabilise. When Hikvision MinMoe facial recognition terminals are used, people must stand at a fixed distance, pass one by one, make a short stop, and face the camera directly. Hikvision cameras support efficient group screening, but one-by-one screening is suggested for more accurate results, says Mr. Li. Unstable environmental condition An unstable environmental condition may affect the accuracy of thermal camera systems Environmental factors can impact the accuracy of thermal cameras, and the idea of using a black body is to provide the camera with a reference point that has a stable temperature. The black body is heated to a specific temperature and helps the thermal camera to know how much error is caused by environmental factors in the room, and how the camera should calibrate itself in real time to improve its accuracy. A black body can help increase the temperature measurement accuracy, and the most common improvement is from ±0.5 degrees to ±0.3 degrees. However, it also increases the cost of the installation. In some markets, customers may require black bodies in order to comply with regulatory accuracy requirements. An unstable environmental condition may affect the accuracy of thermal camera systems for measuring temperature. Medical temperature measurement Therefore, Hikvision suggests that the ambient conditions should be met for installation and use. First of all, users should avoid installing devices in hot or changeable environments. All cameras require indoor environments with calm air, consistent temperature and no direct sunlight. Installation should also be avoided in semi-open locations that may be prone to changes in ambient conditions, such as doorways, and there should be enough stable, visible light. All devices should be installed to avoid backlighting, high temperature targets, and reflections in the field of view as far as possible. “We often see the misconception that thermal cameras can replace medical temperature measurement equipment, which is not the case,” says Mr. Li. Rapid preliminary screening “Temperature screening thermographic cameras are designed for the detection of skin-surface temperatures, and the measurement should be conducted to achieve rapid preliminary screening in public areas. It is really important that actual core body temperatures are measured subsequently with clinical measurement devices.”

In a groundbreaking initiative to bolster security measures, Indian Railways has successfully implemented Herta's state-of-the-art facial recognition solutions across its extensive network of train stations in the Eastern region. This transformative project marks a significant step towards ensuring the safety and well-being of passengers and staff throughout the railway system. The project becomes the largest one in the world in the transport sector. Herta has also been awarded two more regions that will be implemented after the Eastern one. Facial recognition technology The deployment of Herta's cutting-edge facial recognition technology is part of IndianRailways' commitment to embracing advanced solutions for enhancing security. By leveraging Herta's expertise, the railway network aims to create a safer environment for passengers, mitigate potential security threats, and streamline operational efficiency. Key features Key features of Herta's facial recognition solutions implemented at 230 train stations using thousands of video surveillance cameras include: Real-time Identification: Herta's technology provides real-time facial identification capabilities, allowing for swift and accurate recognition of individuals within the train station premises. Enhanced Security: The implementation of facial recognition enhances security by automatically identifying and alerting authorities about the presence of individuals with potential security concerns, contributing to the overall safety of passengers and staff. Efficient Monitoring: Herta's system enables efficient monitoring of the train stations, offering a proactive approach to security management. The technology assists in the quick response to incidents and ensures a rapid resolution of security issues. User-Friendly Interface: The intuitive user interface of Herta's solutions facilitates easy integration with existing security systems, providing a seamless experience for railway personnel responsible for monitoring and managing security. Stringent security requirements Mr. Rahat Jain, IDIS INDIA - MD, expressed his enthusiasm about the successful implementation, stating, "We are delighted to announce the successful integration of Herta's facial recognition solutions at Indian Railways." Startologic, the official partner overseeing the deployment of Herta's facial recognition solutions at Indian Railways, is proud to be part of this transformative project. The successful implementation showcases the capability of Herta's technology to meet the stringent security requirements of one of the world's largest railway networks.

The Winston-Salem Police Department (WSPD), internationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), is dedicated to proactive, data-driven approaches to law enforcement. Through initiatives like "Smart Policing," a collaboration with the local community and Winston-Salem State University, the department aims for systemic change in crime reduction and community safety. Real-time intelligence Lieutenant Ben Jones oversees the Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) housed in the Criminal Intelligence Bureau, a crucial nerve in the department’s operations. Under his stewardship, the team assists officers in protecting over 253,020 people across 133.7 square miles. “A more informed officer makes better decisions. We provide as much real-time intelligence as possible to detect, deter, and solve crime.” The challenge Get Connected Winston-Salem campaign integrates community-owned cameras into the police's video security Facing violent crime and an annual increase in homicides, the WSPD emphasises rapid responses underpinned by precise and accurate data. A particularly innovative step is the "Get Connected Winston-Salem" campaign, which integrates community-owned cameras into the police's video security system through Fūsus. This not only broadens the scope of crime monitoring but also exemplifies the department's commitment to collaborative crime-fighting. However, finding suspects’ vehicles was a logistical nightmare and still relied heavily on witness accounts. “We began looking at LPR solutions to assist in shootings, homicides, and cases involving vehicles.” Intelligence gathering with LPR and Multisensor To elevate its crime-solving capability, the city has strategically placed Verkada License Plate Recognition (LPR) and Multisensor cameras at traffic light intersections. “Our goal is to improve the solvability and speed of investigations by being able to identify suspects' vehicles across different intersections. We tie LPR with the Multisensor, which gives a four-way view across the intersection. No other solutions we evaluated offer this capability.” The nature of the incident When an incident is reported, the initial call is directed to the Patrol Divisions, and first responders are dispatched accordingly In partnership with the Winston-Salem Department of Technology (DoT), Jones plugs Multisensor cameras directly into the city system where there's Fiber and power. When an incident is reported, the initial call is directed to the Patrol Divisions, and first responders are dispatched accordingly. The nature of the incident determines its next course: for instance, serious shooting incidents are relayed to the Violent Firearms Investigative Team, while homicides are dealt with by the Criminal Investigation Division. Real-time Verkada Analytics “Before, we relied on witness information. Now, with Verkada and Fūsus, finding what we need can take just minutes instead of days.” The Verkada software, in conjunction with Fūsus, enhances the accuracy and speed of investigations, particularly in locating vehicles associated with a crime and finding missing people. People and Vehicle Analytics allow for the swift identification of both suspects and missing people throughout the city. Finding missing people - Detailing a success story, Lt. Jones recounts, “We found a missing person on a Verkada camera, and used People Analytics to find her at different times. We were able to confirm that she was alive at particular times, which gave investigators a starting point.” Coupled with ShotSpotter, a gunfire detection system, the team swiftly locates suspects using real-time analytics Finding suspects by vehicle - Coupled with ShotSpotter, a gunfire detection system, the team swiftly locates suspects using real-time analytics. “As soon as there is a shooting, the team uses Verkada to quickly locate suspects’ vehicles based on their description and colour." "A high percentage of violent crimes involve suspects who arrive, leave, or commit the crime from a vehicle. Verkada helps us identify where they’ve been, where they are, and where they’re headed.” Alerting with video context - Verkada goes a step beyond the image of a vehicle tag, providing a video of the car, its tag, and other vital details. “In the past, we might’ve stopped every red car. With Verkada, we have higher accuracy and less chance of mistaken identity." "I've been in the LPR market for a while and found that most solutions only give you a picture of the tag and vehicle. Verkada associates a video with each tag, so we have additional context easily available for intelligence gathering.” What's next Entering phase two, the goal is to place Multisensors closer together and increase the Verkada security These use cases with Verkada are just the beginning. Lt. Jones envisions a future where the department can seamlessly locate vehicles from one intersection to another, making suspect identification efficient and precise. Entering phase two, the goal is to place Multisensors closer together and increase the Verkada security coverage across the city. Real-time problem solving "The LPRs and Multisensor fit into our overlapping technology strategy, and we plan to increase the density of our deployment. If we’re pursuing an active shooter for example, having the cameras near our shotspotter areas allows us to use both technologies in conjunction with one another to locate the shooter.” Furthermore, by showcasing the efficacy of Verkada to other police departments, Winston-Salem aims to set a benchmark in crime-solving on the East Coast. Lt. Jones adds, “My goal is real-time problem solving; witnessing events as they unfold, not after. With Verkada, we’re turning that goal into reality.”

Ipsotek, an Eviden Business at Atos Group, has announced that it was appointed to provide its AI video analytics technology at the soon-to-be-opened new Midfield Terminal Building at Abu Dhabi International Airport, in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Delivered in partnership with Atlas Security, deployment of Ipsotek’s AI video analytics solutions is anticipated to improve operations, security, and safety across various areas of the Midfield Terminal Building, which is renowned for its iconic architecture and recently gained international attention as a filming location for Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One. Advanced surveillance capabilities Ipsotek's AI video analytics technology is well-equipped to address these circumstances Safety and security are clearly paramount in any airport environment, and Ipsotek's AI video analytics technology is well-equipped to address these concerns. The advanced surveillance capabilities of the solution enable operators to detect and identify potential threats across various zones of the airport.  By leveraging intelligent algorithms and machine learning, the system can recognise suspicious behaviours, unauthorised access attempts, or other pre-defined security risks in real time, allowing for swift response and mitigation. Ipsotek's AI video analytics By leveraging Ipsotek's cutting-edge video analytics solutions, the airport aims to enhance its security measures by effectively detecting abandoned baggage scenarios. Security teams at the airport will be able to quickly identify and respond to any unattended baggage, reducing potential security risks and ensuring a safe environment for passengers and staff. "The deployment of Ipsotek's AI video analytics solutions at the Midfield Terminal Building signifies a significant leap forward for the aviation industry," said Sophiene Marzouk, Ipsotek’s UAE Country Manager. Sophiene Marzouk adds, "We are proud to collaborate with Atlas Security to deliver state-of-the-art technology that enhances operations, security, and safety in one of the world's most iconic airport buildings." Ipsotek's solutions Ipsotek's solutions also play a crucial role in optimising queue management and crowd control “Atlas Security aspires to implement the best technology for security systems in airports and we therefore look to partner with companies bringing innovation in security applications with Artificial Analytics. One company that brings this cutting-edge technology is Ipsotek and Atlas Security is proud to work in the Midfield Terminal Building with Ipsotek,” said Khizer Rehman, Project and Technical Manager at Atlas Security. Ipsotek's solutions will also play a crucial role in optimising queue management and crowd control throughout the airport. By analysing video feeds, the software can determine queue lengths and alert airport staff to potential bottlenecks. New standards for excellence The intelligent system will empower operators to proactively manage queues, allocate resources effectively, and ensure a smooth flow of passengers. As travellers eagerly anticipate the unveiling of the Midfield Terminal Building, the deployment of Ipsotek's AI video analytics solutions is set to improve the airport experience, from safety to security and operations setting new standards for excellence in the aviation industry and turning an impossible mission into a successful deployment.

The Rewley Road Swing Bridge, an integral part of Oxford's industrial history, underwent a remarkable transformation in 2023 from rusting to restoration. Through a collaborative effort between the Oxford Preservation Trust, the Railway Heritage Trust, Historic England, and input on security solutions from Jacksons Fencing, this iconic landmark was meticulously restored and safeguarded for the enjoyment of present and future generations. A journey through time Dating back to 1851, the Rewley Road Swing Bridge played a pivotal role in the movement of goods and people during the 19th century in Oxford. However, changing times lead to its disuse and subsequent state of disrepair. By the 1980s, the bridge stood permanently fixed in an open position. Recognising the historical and cultural significance of the bridge, the Oxford Preservation Trust embarked on a restoration journey to bring this historical treasure back to life. Jacksons Fencing was specified by the Railway Heritage Trust and Historic England to provide demarcation fencing around the landmark, playing a vital role in ensuring the successful establishment of the bridge as a visitor attraction. Modern security meets historical elegance Fencing's unique vertical bar design not only exudes visual grace but also helps as a robust barrier To ensure the safety of visitors and protect the bridge from potential vandalism, Jacksons Fencing provided a thoughtful protection plan that seamlessly integrated modern security features with the bridge’s historical aesthetic. In the pursuit of safeguarding the Rewley Road Swing Bridge, Jacksons Fencing introduced a total of 57 metres of 1.25 m high Barbican Imperial® fencing which seamlessly harmonised security with the bridge's historical charm. The fencing's unique vertical bar design not only exudes visual elegance but also serves as a robust barrier against unauthorised access. This fence choice is ideal for a heritage project as it offers the look of traditional metal railings but with a modern, stronger, and more sustainable tubular design. Barbican Imperial fencing Concealed connectors and the absence of visible bolts or fixings further amplify the fencing's security prowess while maintaining a clean and uncluttered appearance. As an integral part of the protection strategy, a 3.6 m wide double leaf gate was integrated, complete with a pad-lockable slide latch. This innovative latch ensures controlled access, reinforcing security without compromising convenience. The specification of high-quality materials was paramount for this project. The selected Barbican Imperial fencing was meticulously crafted from high-quality hot dip galvanised steel, equipping it with exceptional strength and resistance against the corrosive forces of time. To ensure the bridge's appearance would not wither, a black polyester powder coating was applied. This not only adds a touch of timeless sophistication but also guarantees durability and a long-lasting finish. By embracing modern techniques, the bridge's protective features are seamlessly integrated into its historic context, allowing it to confidently stand the test of time. A safe haven for local wildlife Gaps between the pales of the fencing facilitate the free movement of animals through the site Jacksons Fencing's commitment extended beyond human safety to encompass the thriving local ecosystem. With a profound understanding of the importance of coexistence with nature, the new security solution was intentionally designed to accommodate the movement of local wildlife. Gaps between the pales of the fencing facilitate the free movement of animals through the site ensuring that while security remains uncompromised, the natural ecosystem can flourish undisturbed. Now fully restored, a new life has been breathed into the Rewley Road Swing Bridge. Beyond its full restoration, the bridge now symbolises a link between the past and the future. Author's quote Peter Jackson, Managing Director, Jacksons Fencing, comments: "We're thrilled to have been part of restoring the Rewley Road Swing Bridge's historic charm while infusing modern security. Our commitment to eco-conscious solutions mirrors the Oxford Preservation Trust's vision for a biodiverse landscape. He adds, "By strategically integrating wildlife-friendly features, we've created a haven for both heritage and nature. The bridge's removal from the Heritage at Risk Register and its recognition with the Railway Heritage Trust Conservation Award in 2022 spotlight our collective dedication to preserving history while embracing security and sustainability."

Located in Kerala, India, the Somatheeram Ayurveda Hospital with a Resort Ambiance is the best place for not only visual rejuvenation but also physical and mental rejuvenation. Through Ayurveda, Somatheeram provides a means to shed all worries, anxieties, and illnesses.  With the objective of combining Ayurveda and Tourism, the Somatheeram Research Institute & Ayurveda Hospital was founded in the year 1985, thus making it the world’s first-ever Ayurvedic Hospital in a Resort Ambiance. The Somatheeram Group of Companies came into being with the efforts of the Founder Managing Director, and Architect Mr. Baby Mathew. Challenges Multi-location transmission proves to be an expensive affair if devices are not chosen wisely Somatheeram has multiple resorts, located at different locations. Multi-location communication can prove to be an expensive affair if communication devices are not chosen wisely. Their dependence on public service providers for communication added to their woes of communication between their resorts. To elaborate: Feasibility of existing telephony: Existing telephony became impracticable considering the frequent communication between multi-located properties. Managing different protocols: Interface with different telecom networks requires managing different protocols, which can be cumbersome, time, and energy-consuming. Absence of modern phone features: The lack of advanced features like abbreviated dialing, call pick up, and internal call restriction, prevented them from becoming efficient in day-to-day operations. Transition to modern communication with existing infrastructure: Their investment in existing infrastructure needed protection while also a provision had to be made to modernise the communication using existing infrastructure. Solution The solution offered was based on the fundamentals of multi-location communication solutions Matrix analysed the challenges of communications for Somatheeram, and crafted a solution that was the best fit. The solution offered was based on the fundamentals of multi-location communication solutions. This included the Matrix range of IP-PBX (ETERNITY GENX12S) and GSM Gateway (SIMADO GFX11 and SIMADO GFX11 4G) that optimised the feasibility of communication and helped the firm become more efficient. Solution includes: The Hybrid IP-PBX included ETERNITY GENX12SAC, which enabled them up to 240 Analogue users with 64 CO Ports.  Another Hybrid IP-PBX included ETERNITY PENX, which allowed them access to 100 IP Users, onboard IP User Support, LDAP Client support, support of 4G VoLTE ports, COSEC Door Integration, and much more. The GSM gateway included SIMADO GFX11 and SIMADO GFX11 4G which enabled them to make and receive calls from analogue extensions. The capability to integrate with almost all industry-pioneering PBXs enabled them a smooth transition to modern communication while maintaining existing infrastructure. Results The solution so implemented enabled all properties to work as a single communication platform and proved to be beneficial for Somatheeram and its properties in more than one way.  The Hybrid IP-PBX enabled them, unified communication facilities like Email to SMS, audio/video calling, unified messaging facilities, and multi-location collaboration features like UC client integration, one-number reach, etc.  The Hybrid IP-PBX also enabled, investment optimisation through universal network connectivity, easy and centralised phonebook management through LDAP client support, mobility convenience through 4G VoLTE support, and much more. The GSM/4G gateway enabled them, GSM/4G connectivity to existing infrastructure, hotline extension dialing, emergency number dialing even in the absence of a sim card, etc. through secure network bridging.

The Public Security Department is the law enforcement agency responsible for maintaining public safety, preventing crime, and upholding the law in the region. Established in 1873, the force has been instrumental in maintaining peace and stability in the area, particularly in counter-insurgency operations.  In addition to its core operations, the department conducts community service activities to bridge the gap between the department and the public. The force works closely with other law enforcement agencies to ensure effective coordination and cooperation. Dedicated to upholding the rule of law and protecting the rights of every citizen, it is committed to building a safe and secure environment in the region. Business scenario The lack of centralised monitoring capabilities at the head of the department's office The department is divided into multiple zones, ranges, and districts, with each district housing several branch offices. However, monitoring these dispersed stations posed a challenge. The lack of centralised monitoring capabilities at the head of the department's office and inadequate infrastructure at the department branches could have helped with real-time updates and efficient communication.  To address this, the department aimed to enhance surveillance infrastructure, enable streaming access to all stations, and establish a centralised monitoring system. These efforts would improve coordination, data management, and security services for the people of the state. Challenges Monitoring challenge: The stations are dispersed across multiple locations Lack of centralised monitoring capabilities at the head of department’s office Inadequate infrastructure at the stations for local data recording Hindered real-time updates and efficient communication across the network Solution A total of 70 cameras were installed with varying focal lengths and capabilities to cover 20 branches in the jurisdiction. Based on their requirement the experts suggested high-resolution 5MP bullet cameras with audio support to capture clearer images and for playback and investigation. The motorised varifocal lens and PTZ cameras can be manoeuvered remotely for better control over the cameras. Motorised varifocal lens and PTZ cameras can be handled remotely for better control To enable the streaming and recording of footage for a longer duration, eight-channel network video recorders (NVRs) with 1 SATA port (each SATA port supports 10TB storage support) were installed across 20 locations. These NVRs were connected to television screens using HDMI cables, enabling the streaming of live footage at local offices. Matrix SATATYA SAMAS For centralised surveillance, all NVRs related to Matrix SATATYA SAMAS use static public IP. The video management system was connected to the desktop for monitoring purposes and provided Matrix SATATYA VISION 24×7 surveillance on the go.  The Matrix team also provided training to the officials on how to use the video surveillance infrastructure effectively. They were taught to leverage the system's full potential, including best practices for monitoring, managing, and analysing data captured by the system. Products offered SATATYA CIBR50FL40CWP: 15 Nos. 5 MP Project Series IR Bullet Camera with 4 mm Fixed Lens and Audio Support SATATYACIBR50MVL12CWP: 40 Nos. 5 MP Project Series IR Bullet Camera with Motorised Varifocal Lens and Audio Support SATATYA PZCR20ML25CWP: 10 Nos. 2 MP Pan-Tilt-Zoom Camera with 25× Optical Zoom and Audio Support Matrix SATATYA NVR0801X: 20 Nos. Eight-channel NVR with 1SATA Port Support Matrix SATATYA SAMAS Video Management System with 70IP Camera Licences and three Concurrent User Licences Benefits Matrix's video surveillance solution has empowered the department with real-time updates. The robust infrastructure enables centralised monitoring, enhancing public safety and quick response to incidents. Matrix's expertise and technical capabilities have significantly contributed to maintaining law and order in the region.

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

The role of the integrator/installer in the physical security marketplace is shifting as technologies evolve and applications expand. Integrators are being faced with a need to augment their expertise both in a wider range of systems and deeper into the specifics of each increasingly complex technology. At the end of the day, it falls to the integrator/installer to ensure a system performs as promised, however much a consultant or even a manufacturer might be involved in the process. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How is the role of the security installer/integrator changing?

The upcoming ISC West trade show in Las Vegas will offer innumerable networking and learning opportunities for attendees. Manufacturers will take the opportunity to promote their businesses and showcase products and services to a targeted audience. Best of all, the event will be "in person," an advantage we should never again take for granted. We asked this week's Expert Panel Roundtable: What big announcements do you expect at ISC West 2023?