4 January 2021

It’s useful when looking forward to first look backward: hindsight has a wonderful way of providing context for future-gazing activity. And when looking back over the past year, one insight could understandably be that attempting to predict the future is a futile activity! Few would have predicted the enormous impact the COVID-19 pandemic would have across the world throughout 2020. Within a short space of time, our way of life, working practices and business operations were upended. In dealing with the impact on our own business and workforce – with employee health and safety at the forefront – we also saw new use cases emerge for our technology and solutions, in addition to new ways of working, that will continue into 2021 and beyond. Technological advancement continues, however, and as we have seen in recent years, rather than heralding the emergence of completely new technologies, the trends we see for 2021 are shaped by how and why technologies are used, and the associated implications. Trust remains at the top of the agenda We’ve mentioned trust in previous trend posts, and it’s become even more critical. There are many factors which contribute to maintaining trust, and the technology sector is under more scrutiny now than ever before. Customers and end users are demanding transparency around how tech is used and how data is managed, especially with increased surveillance. This, together with the need to maintain privacy, will be a key challenge. Renewed discussions around trust will directly impact how organizations in all sectors actively demonstrate why they are trustworthy. Due to its nature, the security sector will be under even more pressure to double down on its efforts in this area. The world goes horizontal Recent years have seen applications and services largely designed for specific environments, whether server-based, in the cloud or at the edge. Driven by a desire to achieve optimal performance, scalability, and flexibility, along with the benefits of accessing and using data at any time and from anywhere, the next year will see momentum towards horizontal integration between environments. Increasingly intelligent applications and services will be deployed across all three instances – server, cloud and edge – employing the best capabilities of each, improving solution performance and efficiency. For example, edge analytics in a surveillance camera will potentially message an operator with an alert, the operator then accessing the live video feed through a cloud-based application to verify and respond. This shift to a ‘horizontal’ approach will increase the speed and accuracy of security and surveillance – moving from reactive to proactive, manual to automated – while also reducing bandwidth, energy and cost. Cybersecurity: the continual trend Such horizontal integration will only increase the focus on robust cybersecurity – a chain, after all, is only as strong as its weakest link – and the constant evolution of the threat landscape cements its relevance year after year. Due to the potential for high financial returns and disruption of critical infrastructure, new capabilities, tactics and threats will continue to emerge and require constant vigilance. AI will be employed by cybercriminals as much as in any sector, strengthening their ability to find and exploit vulnerabilities. Deep fakes will become even more sophisticated and realistic, potentially calling into doubt video surveillance evidence. As a result further developments in methods to verify content, devices and applications in order to maintain trust in their authenticity will be required. Advancements in cybercrime will also extend to tried-and-true methods such as phishing lures which will become more difficult to spot. As a result, employees will be even more susceptible to these types of attacks and constant education and reminders of best practice in cybersecurity will, as ever, be needed. Traditionally, cybersecurity has been based on a ‘perimeter’ model, where the network is protected by a single, hopefully impenetrable wall made up of firewalls, VPNs/VLANs, air-gaps, software-defined networks and other technologies. But this model is challenged, and a single breach can result in the entire network being compromised. The move to zero trust networks will therefore accelerate, where the security profile for each device and application is independently evaluated. Trust will be delivered through device-to-device and/or application-to-application communication through signed firmware, software updates, secure boot, encrypted data/video, and secure identity. It may seem like an indictment of the age we live in, but the only way to trust the security of anything is to trust nothing! The reality of AI: developing the good, addressing the bad and anticipating the ugly We’ve been talking about AI for so long that some might question its validity as a trend. But with Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) now broadly available in surveillance technology, the implications of its use will be a factor in 2021. We now have concrete examples of various use cases for AI in surveillance, but as we have seen in other sectors (e.g. autonomous vehicle crashes) the positive impact of AI can be outweighed by the attention given to specific failures. Narratives tend to focus on the errors of automation, and this will no doubt also be the case in the surveillance sector. However, this shouldn’t act as a deterrent and we must not lose sight on the positive potential use cases of Machine Learning and Deep Learning in surveillance. For example, using these capabilities in edge devices can assist in identifying objects and reducing false positives. As a result, security experts can move to a proactive, event-based way of working, rather than continuous manual monitoring. Low- and no-contact technologies come to the fore Regulations, rules and consumer habits established during this year will become common-place in 2021. Technology will support in how these are monitored and enforced, driven by hygiene concerns and social distancing. As a result, the implementation of low- or no-contact technologies, especially in areas such as access control, will increase. In addition, surveillance solutions with people-counting capabilities will become the norm, to ensure adherence to social distancing regulations. Sustainability reimagined One concern during the pandemic has been that the

International risk management and assistance expert, Healix International, has identified six key areas of risk – besides the continued impact of COVID-19 – for global organisations in its 2021 Risk Oracle report. Natural Disasters – The increasing frequency of extreme weather events with natural disasters becoming more pronounced both in terms of frequency and severity. Building resilience to natural disasters is a significant exercise. Faceless Threats – In a context of increased isolationism, and more time spent online, individuals will become increasingly disconnected from normative community activity with a comparative increase in crime and incidents of violence perpetrated by ‘faceless’ lone actors. Supply Chain Disruption – The highly complex logistical webs that make up the global economy have predominantly been designed with cost and efficiency in mind. Unless resilience starts to be factored into these considerations, disruption to supply chains will remain a significant operational risk factor. Cyber Attacks – No longer just an inconvenience, they are potentially calamitous. More worrisome, attacks targeting government infrastructure are on the rise, and any cyber breaches in this space could have unprecedented implications. Decay of the ‘social contract’ – Mounting frustrations over inequality, cynicism of perceived corrupt political elites, and distrust of wider civil society including the media and big business amid the pandemic of ‘Fake News’ are likely to lead to increased public agitation and worsening levels of political cohesion. Erosion of domestic political cohesion fuelled by social media – Complex political issues find themselves being misrepresented in the form of a ‘post’, ‘share’, or ‘tweet’. This dynamic will become more prevalent in 2021 and result in even more social and political divisiveness, with rising levels of political risk in locations where the ‘culture war’ is most pronounced. As Chris Job MBE, Director, Risk Management Services, Healix International explains, it is vital for organisations with an international footprint to ensure that the myriad of risks beyond the coronavirus remain a focus. “2021 is likely to be as busy a year for challenging global events, some predictable and some unprecedented. Overlay this expectation with a new and as yet undefined normal and a global drive for economic growth, the need for robust organisational resilience plans is clear. The key now is to ensure consistent and reliable monitoring is combined with access to the most appropriate resources to ensure employee wellbeing remains the priority. “With our deep-rooted, in-house medical and security expertise underpinned by modern technology, Healix offers a single-source comprehensive, compelling and powerful risk solution for 2021 and beyond.” The 2021 Healix International Risk Oracle Report, along with a global Security Risk Map, can be downloaded from https://info.healix.com/download-risk-forecasts-2021   To stay up to date on the latest, trends, innovations, people news and company updates within the global security market please register to receive our newsletter here. Media contact Rebecca Morpeth Spayne, Editor, Security Portfolio Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922 Email: editor@securitybuyer.com

With businesses closing around the world to protect citizens in a lockdown during the Coronavirus pandemic, companies must also protect their commercial buildings and sites As we enter into the latter half of 2020, the Coronavirus pandemic continues to plague the world, and further lockdown measures are sure to come into effect with infection and death rates on the rise.  Aside from the necessary contingencies that companies are having to take financially to recover from lockdown, another threat has become more prevalent. Commercial burglaries have become wrought with employees and companies transitioning to a remote working structure. Similarly, in other industries such as construction, sites have had to close down and could potentially face this again. So, how can businesses protect their sites when workforces are lessened. Perimeter protection and CCTV surveillance, have become even more popular solutions.  With only companies in industries deemed “essential” by the Government being allowed to continue as normal, other environments have had to abide by certain measures to remain open. If we enter into another lockdown, all unessentials businesses will be forced to shut again. However, for the property sector, advice has been less clear.  In the UK, while the construction industry didn’t experience an enforced shut down, owing to the essential role of many projects, housebuilders were left in a quandary where their developments were definitely non-essential, but they were still permitted to operate as usual according to Government guidance. This has resulted in some firms choosing to undertake a voluntary shut down to protect workers. Statistics have seen a rise in commercial break-ins and theft, as opportunistic thieves have taken advantage of the situation. Due to this rise in burglaries, companies of offices, construction sites, entertainment buildings, as well as other commercial industries, must re-evaluate their perimeter protection if choosing to leave buildings and sites vacant. Protecting site perimeter Shutting down your business will place more emphasis than ever before on the quality of your perimeter protection measures, and particularly the fencing, barriers and access control solutions you have installed. Not only should your boundary be tough enough to be a major obstacle to trespassers, but it also needs to be intimidating in order to act as a deterrent for any opportunistic thieves. Any fencing you have in place should be at least 2.4 metres tall to have any security value (RISC Authority), as this will ensure it provides a visual barrier as well as being imposing to climb. You can also consider adding anti-climb enhancements, such as barbed wire, to increase the height to a recommended 2.9 metres. Consider installing palisade or welded mesh fencing, both of which are more effective at keeping intruders out than basic chain-link fencing. Additional measures you can take to secure your site’s perimeter include adding barriers around high risk areas within the site, which will act as extra obstacles for trespassers, and placing kerbs and bollards at points where there might be unauthorised vehicular access.  Concrete barrier blocks are a cost-effective and robust physical barrier protecting your building, site or development plot by limiting unauthorised people or vehicle access and stopping the theft of goods and vandalism. Concrete barriers provide the best possible physical protection for vulnerable perimeters and entrances. Typically, you will encounter four different types of concrete barrier blocks which can be installed relatively quickly. These include: Temporary vertical concrete barriers which are versatile physical barriers used to secure wide entrances from unwanted entry. Precast concrete barriers — These barriers can range in size from 1.5m to 3m giving security to large vacant construction sites. Jersey barriers provide an end-to-end interlocking system of varying lengths to protect your site from high impact damage, giving your site a strong and secure perimeter. Interlocking blocks that can be stacked vertically/horizontally to create a retaining wall made up of any size. These blocks are quick and easy to install and have fire and water resilience, making it a robust barrier. Concrete barrier blocks give you peace of mind that no unauthorised person or vehicle can gain access to your vacant site helping to prevent theft or vandalism of your site, plant machinery or property. Deterrents Alongside an imposing perimeter, you should make use of deterrents to put off any opportunistic intruders. Highly visible CCTV and alarm systems are some of the most effective measures you can take. They will also aid you in any response to a break in, whether that is alerting you as soon as possible, with smart technology, or providing evidence for prosecution. You can enhance the visibility of these measures by placing warning signage around your perimeter. CCTV towers operate using independent solar panels and batteries, or a mains power supply, requiring little maintenance once installed. This means the CCTV tower can be left for long periods of time without maintenance making them an ideal surveillance piece for a vacant construction site. One CCTV tower can provide large site coverage by connecting to multiple remote wireless sensors. Once an activity is detected on-site this will trigger the near-360 degree camera view with pan, tilt, zoom, focus and live recording in real-time together with images and footage of the activity. Infrared and night illumination can be used to monitor activity in low lighting. Various features can then be triggered such as voice challenge, light activation and response team deployment. These features are all controlled through a mobile network and can be customised on the go. An Alarm Response Monitoring Station can also be utilised to provide additional security measures and action decisions, meaning you can ensure your site is safe even when you are not there. Security lighting can also play a major role in putting off criminals. Simply put, if your site is well lit at night, a trespasser will likely feel more at risk of being spotted than if they can operate in darkness. Be sure to install sufficient coverage around any access points and take care that any lights are not easily accessible, so they can’t be disabled. Alarm

Per Björkdahl, Chairman, ONVIF Steering Committee provides the industry with his insight into how COVID-19 has impacted the industry and what further developments we can expect Security Buyer Features Editor, Rebecca Spayne, catches up with Per Björkdahl, Chairman, ONVIF Steering Committee, virtually to discuss the industry impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the future of technological trends through artificial intelligence, IoT and interoperability. How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the physical security industry, as it relates to ONVIF? Like many organisations across many industries, ONVIF has shifted the way it conducts business and how we collaborate and innovate as a standards organisation. In a global industry with geographically dispersed partners, many of us relied heavily on in-person interactions and face-to-face meetings at large events. However, the security industry has had to pivot to the virtual space. Whilst ONVIF was already familiar with frequent online meetings and interactions that filled in the gaps, like many we are missing the nuances that come from in-person meetings. Going beyond in-person meetings and the shift to virtual events, the security industry is seeing a renewed focus on technologies used to mitigate risks associated with COVID-19. Such technologies, such as occupancy management, automated visitor management and touchless access control applications are increasing in demand, which in turn is increasing the demand for interoperability as organisations seek to deploy best of breed solutions. Will 2021 see any further developments in the fields of cloud, Artificial Intelligence and IoT? As of right now, the security industry is leaning heavily towards customised applications dealing specifically with pandemic related solutions – many of which fall within Artificial Intelligence and IoT. The rise in connected devices and demand for integration of smart applications is accelerating at the same time when the technologies are becoming increasingly more mainstream. The increased focus is leading to more investment in analytics, as people search for solutions to help them adapt to the new normal, reopen economies and reboot infrastructure. Though cloud is by no means a novel technology to the security industry, video storage in the cloud will continue to see growth in non-security markets. All this is driven mainly by growing possibilities in the IoT space. By offering cost-effective solutions and increased flexibility, cloud offers a variety of opportunities for small and mid-sized businesses, as well as enterprise organisations. It should be said that these benefits are only heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic, as many organisations are reevaluating traditional usage of their existing technologies, whilst also seeking other methods to assist with day-to-day operations. These capabilities can assist businesses in remote monitoring of their vacant spaces or providing additional coverage where less staff onsite is required.  How is ONVIF working to further interoperability in the smart applications sectors? The draft profile, or Release Candidate for Profile M, which we announced in September 2020, will prove to be a crucial component for organisations seeking best of breed solutions for their smart applications. Profile M paves the way for increased interoperability of IP cameras or analytics applications with video management systems, allowing users to mix and match analytics and camera hardware and software from different providers. By standardising the communication of metadata amongst these devices and clients – whether an on-premise system or in the cloud – Profile M provides an easy integration path into IoT systems, with a way to link devices such as IP cameras into building management or other business intelligence platforms. The rise in the number of smart applications for security, business intelligence and IoT devices is driving interoperability demands. To meet those demands, devices and clients conformant with Profile M will encourage further growth in the number and types of applications – resulting in even greater choice for end users ONVIF has made some major advancements in 2020, with some new draft profiles as well as changing the way you develop specifications using open source. What can we expect in 2021? In spite of the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, we were successful in our plans to release draft profiles, Profile D for access control peripherals as well as Profile M. Additionally, we adopted open source development via the GitHub platform to streamline the specification development processes of ONVIF and make it easier for the industry at large to contribute to our core specification work. For 2021, we are excited about the possibilities that Profile M will bring in terms of market potential for smaller, innovative companies in the analytics space and for end-user freedom of choice. Similarly, Profile D will expand the opportunities for adoption of ONVIF interfaces in the physical access control as it allows for the addition of myriad of access control peripherals – licence plate recognition cameras, entry systems, and different types of card readers and sensors – into an ONVIF conformant access control system, regardless of the device or client manufacturer. In the historically proprietary access control realm, this opens up great possibilities for end users in terms of being able to select the most appropriate technology for their application. Also in 2021, we are highlighting some interesting features of the ONVIF specifications that are not part of our specific Profile concept. For example, our Export File Format enables law enforcement to more efficiently conduct forensic investigations using video surveillance from multiple sources – private or public – regardless of what recording system originally captured the video. This is valuable in the case of activities that are being examined in multiple countries or even in multiple jurisdictions within the same state. This feature works by standardising on a common format in which the recorded video files are exported and providing a video player with which the video clip can be replayed. Also important to this process is that the standardised format will also provide useful exported metadata information – for example, the recording equipment used, export file creation time, the name of export operator and a standardised timestamp – as well as allow the video file to be digitally signed to ensure the