24 November 2021 - Security Buyer Magazine

To go IP or not go IP, is no longer the question

Simon Shawley, Business Development Manager at Smart R Distribution, explains how recent advances in video recording technology means that installers can help end-user clients to extend the life of their existing analogue CCTV systems, whilst enabling them to migrate to a full IP network based video surveillance system at their own pace. IP network-based video surveillance solutions offer users significant advantages over traditional analogue CCTV systems. These include the ability to benefit from the latest generation of multi-megapixel and ultra-high definition cameras, as well as the opportunity to monitor and manage the system from anywhere on the network. For mission critical applications, IP network-based video surveillance provides a high level of resilience, as the captured images can be recorded and stored at any location on the network and retrieved via a PC or smart device. However, despite these benefits, it was not that long ago that security managers agonised over whether they should attempt to persuade their financial masters and IT colleagues to agree to the replacement of an existing analogue CCTV system, to an IP network based video surveillance solution. The choice was either/or and although there was an understandable inclination to want to deploy cameras and recorders which capitalise on the very latest technology, there was inevitably budgetary restrictions and ‘don’t even think about it’ resistance from technical colleagues who were concerned about the impact on the company’s network infrastructure. In 2021, the question is no longer whether or not there is a justifiable need to immediately migrate to Video over IP. Users can now choose from a range of fully functional hybrid solutions which enable them to extend the life and cost-effectively enhance the performance of their existing analogue CCTV systems. This is because hybrid solutions allow users to benefit from the superb quality high definition images captured by IP cameras, without having to move to a complete IP network solution. Hybrid video surveillance For users who want to immediately benefit from being able to capture and record high definition images but are not yet ready or able to install an IP based system, HD analogue cameras, which are able to capture and transmit images and audio without any latency at distances up to 500m using standard coax, provide a cost-effective way to upgrade and extend the life of their existing analogue CCTV systems. Users can then migrate to an IP network based video surveillance solution at some point in the future and at their own pace. XVR recorders Hybrid XVR recording devices, which are also known as Pentabrid video recorders, have been available for some time. They facilitate the recording of images captured by a mix of analogue and IP cameras and this means that an existing analogue CCTV system can be significantly upgraded, with users able to benefit from the recording of images which have a resolution of up to 4K. Until recently, the number of channels which could be allocated to IP cameras on a 16 channel machine, was typically limited to just two. The latest generation of hybrid XVRS, however, now offer a far greater level of flexibility. With the use of a relatively low cost switch, the available number of channels on these NVRs can be configured to meet the users’ immediate needs, e.g. four channels allocated to IP cameras and the remainder for analogue cameras, but with the option to change the mix as and when requirements change. Transmission and power Traditionally, analogue cameras and recorders were installed with a coax cable between them for the purposes of transmitting video data and they required the provision of a local power supply in order to operate. When IP network based cameras were first introduced, they worked in the same way, but a subsequent significant technological advance saw the development and introduction of Power over Ethernet (PoE). This allowed electrical power to be supplied via a network switch or a PoE enabled network video recorder (NVR), and the power could be provided over the same cable carrying the video data. Further advances in technology then saw the development of Power over Coax (POC), which offered the benefits of PoE but over coax cabling to HD analogue cameras. It therefore became possible to power the cameras directly from an XVR recorder and most impressively, over distances of typically up to 500 metres, with at least one camera/recorder manufacturer able to achieve this over 800 metres. Now, with the latest generation of transmission products available, hybrid solutions are available where PoE can be provided over coax to IP cameras and so whatever type of cabling is in place, you can benefit from this hybrid joint power and transmission option. System expansion POC Ethernet Extender devices are readily available from distributors such as Smart R, which provide the flexibility to upgrade and/or expand an existing analogue based CCTV system over existing coax, e.g. by adding multiple new IP cameras to take advantage of Deep Learning AI or intelligent video analytics, as well as the cameras’ ability to capture high definition images. They can also be used to provide a data only connection for a myriad of other network devices. It is worth noting that a 4-channel POC Ethernet Extender can enable the transmission of video and power to 4 cameras over a single cable, which makes it highly cost-effective to expand and upgrade a system without having to install new network cabling. Summary Whilst the majority of new surveillance systems installed in the future are likely to be based on IP network technology, HD analogue cameras combined with XVRs, provide a significant opportunity to upgrade and extend the life of the countless number of existing analogue CCTV systems. However, they also provide a platform to add new IP cameras and other devices as well. The good news is that hybrid video surveillance solutions are very easy to implement, with the added bonus that there is no need to incur the cost and time of installing encoders or converters. Media contact Rebecca Morpeth Spayne, Editor,

To go IP or not go IP, is no longer the question Read More »

Dahua smart traffic management solution

Middle East News Desk / Editor

Traffic congestion and road accidents are the toughest challenges faced by traffic management agencies across the world. With rapid global urbanisation, the growing amount and type of vehicles has led to more road-related issues every year. According to a MarketsandMarkets report, the global number of cars and commercial vehicles on the road will nearly double by 2040, putting tremendous pressure on the existing urban infrastructure. Various countries have formulated different traffic management development strategies across the globe, such as Saudi Arabia’s 2030 vision, Singapore’s “45-minute City” by 2040, Ukraine’s 2030 strategic. Nevertheless, reducing traffic congestions by optimising existing road capacities comes with hefty costs, not mentioning the huge amount of time it requires to collect evidence to enforce traffic violations. In addition, collecting massive amount of data to predict and regulate traffic is also not easy to accomplish, especially with traditional traffic systems. Thanks to the emergence of AI, IoT and sensor technologies, there have been ITS solutions that deliver new vitality in traffic enforcement and solve problems that affect traffic safety and efficiency. Dahua Technology, for instance, has developed a comprehensive Smart Traffic Management Solution that combines video surveillance with AI, ANPR, image fusion, AR and other cutting-edge technologies to meet the numerous requirements of present-day traffic enforcement and significantly optimise their operation and management. This solution integrates traffic enforcement system, smart signal control system, traffic information release system, traffic flow collection and prediction system, as well as traffic management command and dispatch centre. It assists traffic management agencies in improving road safety, reducing congestions, responding to emergencies more effectively, and making predictions on future traffic situations based on real-time data. Efficient traffic enforcement enabled by smart video technologies Traffic violations like overspeeding, distracted driving, red light violation, unfastened seatbelt, pedestrian crossing, illegal lane changing, etc. are often the major causes of road incidents and injuries. Deploying traffic cameras with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) (e.g. ITC952-AU3F-LZF1640 model) on accident-prone areas like intersections, crossroads, highways, flyovers and ramps enables operators to detect violations and verify incidents based on real-time monitoring. Dahua’s license plate recognition algorithm supports number plate detection of of more than 100 countries and allows algorithm integration with multiple countries. It can detect both domestic and overseas vehicles from multiple countries and regularly updates based on customers’ number plate upgrading. In 2015, Dahua successfully deployed violation detection systems to capture red light violations and overspeeding in Serbia’s 5 important cities. This project also involves developing a license plate recognition algorithm for Serbia and the European Union. Since the completion of the whole system, both the traffic violation rate and the accident rate in the monitored areas have been significantly reduced. In addition, powered by AR technology and GIS integration, this Dahua solution also offers an AR Panoramic Platform that is connected to all frontend devices, and presents new labeling display system. By utilising this high-point monitoring system, traffic enforcement units can efficiently respond to traffic alerts and situations in time. Intelligent signal control and traffic flow data collection Managing the increasing number of vehicles and traffic in the city has become more challenging than ever. Nevertheless, by utilising a smart Signal Control system, road traffic situations can be accurately monitored and enhanced. Dahua’s intelligent Traffic Signal Control Solution is based on the lane-level traffic flow detection system. It can cover large scenes to detect multiple parameters such as lane flow, occupancy rate, queue length, traffic density, etc. With real-time data captured and analysed, the traffic lights will automatically change based on the time of the day and actual road traffic conditions, which can help ease urban traffic congestions. Also, these collected traffic data can help city operators in optimising road network planning. Moreover, equipped with high-sensitivity sensors and high-performance AI processors, the latest Dahua AI traffic camera utilises deep learning algorithms to capture vehicle metadata and traffic flow in real time. The ITC431-RW1F-L model, for example, uses advanced image fusion technology to display high-quality full-color images at night without the use of supplementary light, significantly reducing light pollution and providing a safer driving environment. Global projects The Dahua Smart Traffic Management Solution has been successfully implemented in more than 30 countries and regions around the world. In 2019, Dahua developed a traffic management solution tailored for Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia with a population of over 8 million people. It involves front-end data collection and back-end big data application, achieving real-time and accurate signal release plan. Since its implementation, the overall traffic efficiency on monitored intersections in Riyadh has been increased by 12%, and around 1,000 traffic violations are being captured on daily basis. And just last year, Dahua has built an integrated smart traffic management system for a country in Central Asia. This project involves violation detection system, traffic flow collection system, illegal parking detection system, intelligent video analysis system, speed measurement system, cloud storage and cloud computing system, covering 7 states, 17 cities, and nearly 300 intersections in the entire country. Media contact Rebecca Morpeth Spayne, Editor, Security Portfolio Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920 Email: editor@securitymiddleeast.com

Dahua smart traffic management solution Read More »

Gallagher secures double Gold ‘ASTORS’ award

UK News Desk / Rebecca Morpeth-Spayne

Gallagher announced they are the proud recipient of two Gold American Security Today 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards. Gallagher Command Centre Mobile was awarded in the Best Access Control and Authentication System category, and their Monitored Pulse Fence System in the Best Perimeter Protection System category. Combining Gallagher’s Command Centre site management platform with the flexibility of mobile technology, the Command Centre Mobile solution provides customers using government-issued credentials, such as military bases, with the ability to monitor and manage their security from any location for greater control and productivity. “We are thrilled to receive this award for our Command Centre Mobile solution,” said Ashley Meston, Director of Federal Programs for Gallagher. “Federal Government agencies are increasingly focused on protecting their sites in a secure and innovative way, and they are turning to technology like our Command Centre Mobile solution to help them accomplish this.” Gallagher’s Monitored Pulse Fence System, which won Gold in the Best Perimeter Protection System category, consists of energised and high tensile wires that can be constructed inside a new or existing perimeter fence and triggers instant alerts if unauthorised entry or exit is detected. Product Manager for Perimeter at Gallagher, Dave Solly, said, “The Monitored Pulse Fence System truly reflects our dedication to creating innovative solutions that address the challenges faced by our customers. “To help sites operating in harsh environments, we introduced the Adaptive Thresholds feature which allows the Monitored Pulse Fence System to adapt dynamically to environmental changes, which cause fluctuations in voltage on the fence line. For the customer, this eliminates false alarms and reduces the costs associated with unnecessary callouts, or worse yet, alarms being ignored due to false alarm fatigue.” As recognised industry experts in energised fencing technology, Gallagher is an invited member of the International Electrotechnical Committee (IEC) who are responsible for maintaining overarching safety standards. Gallagher’s monitored pulse fencing meets stringent safety criteria and are designed to offer effective deterrence in the safest possible way. The ASTORS Homeland Security Awards program recognises the most cutting-edge and forward thinking security solutions on the market and honors distinguished security solutions that deliver enhanced value and benefits to end-users in a variety of federal government, homeland security, and public safety markets. 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

Gallagher secures double Gold ‘ASTORS’ award Read More »

Netwrix releases new version of StealthAUDIT

UK News Desk / Rebecca Morpeth-Spayne

Netwrix announced the release of StealthAUDIT 11.5. The new release provides expanded data discovery and permissions reporting capabilities for cloud databases and extends data governance for Microsoft 365. With this latest StealthAUDIT release, organisations can: Protect sensitive data stored in the cloud. Companies will know exactly what is stored in their Azure, Amazon AWS Redshift, Aurora and RDS databases; who has access to critical content; and what activity is going on around that data Spot and remediate risks to sensitive data in OneDrive and Teams. Organisations can now identify sensitive data, know whether it’s overexposed, and spot worrisome activity related to it, such as external user access or external file sharing Minimise their attack surface area in SharePoint and reduce their data footprint. StealthAUDIT makes it easy for data owners to decide whether sensitive content should be kept or removed, and to establish important security workflows without affecting organisational productivity or user access to resources Automate security tasks to save valuable time. Out-of-the-box remediation actions can remove directly-assigned permissions, label SharePoint sites based on the types of sensitive data they contain, and more Take control over more cloud data storages. Easy-to-use, lightweight connectors empower organisations to know exactly where sensitive data is located across their Salesforce libraries and notes, personal and shared Google Drives, Box, Azure Files, and Azure Blobs “The Netwrix Cloud Security Report highlighted business’ concerns about data security in the cloud,” said Steve Dickson, CEO of Netwrix. “By the end of 2020, the stress was so high that 62% of organisations were planning to remove sensitive data from the cloud or had already done so to improve their data security. The new version of StealthAUDIT helps organisations reduce that stress so that they may take full advantage of the cloud — securely.” 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

Netwrix releases new version of StealthAUDIT Read More »

Orange Cyberdefense comments on Vestas cyber attack

News Desk / Ghyslaine Cordrey

The wind turbine manufacturer Vestas has been hit by a cyber attack that impacted its internal IT systems and compromised data. Dominic Trott, UK Product Manager, at Orange Cyberdefense focuses on this incident and comments on how businesses within the CNI industry can protect themselves from cyber-attacks. “The news that Vestas, a Danish wind turbine manufacturer, has been hit by a cyber-attack that forced some of its IT systems offline and compromised data is a stark reminder of the need to protect critical national infrastructure (CNI). As we move away from fossil fuels and increase our reliance on renewable energy, the sector will become much more of a target for cybercriminals looking to cause disruption or achieve financial gains. Therefore, the industry needs to become more robust, not just in order to sustain increased demand and meet renewable targets, but to ensure its vital operations are never taken offline. “To achieve this, while plenty of sophisticated solutions are available, organisations are advised to begin with the security fundamentals. First of all, it is crucial that employees are aware of the threat that they face and the importance of adopting good security hygiene behaviour. Simple measures, such as avoiding opening attachments or clicking on links unless they are from a legitimate source, can go a long way to reducing the risk of potential breaches. “Secondly, organisations must be sure to prioritise patch management amongst their systems, updating and ridding key systems of any potentially catastrophic vulnerabilities can prevent many breaches before they can even occur. “Finally, it is critical to adopt a ‘defence in depth’ strategy that ensures a consistent approach to security across all control points. For example, the ability to combine endpoint protection – where modern detection-centric techniques can identify unusual and unwanted behaviour and quarantine the associated assets – with network security – that prevents malicious traffic from proliferating ‘east/west’ across the organisation – can help to contain a security breach. “It is still unclear how Vestas’ systems were compromised, but when tried and trusted security best practices are supplemented with investment into the most up-to-date security tools and processes, organisations responsible for CNI can reduce the risk of a damaging breach that could have national consequences.” 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

Orange Cyberdefense comments on Vestas cyber attack Read More »

Matrix parking management solution

Industry Sectors, News Desk, Technology / Ghyslaine Cordrey

The economy is on the rise which is giving birth to new enterprises and with rapid globalisation, there is a scarcity of parking premises that creates the need for parking management. However, managing parking premises does not end with a smooth inflow and outflow of the vehicles. It also should be able to minimise the elapsed time for the service that the customer desires to avail of at parking premises. Matrix Parking Management Solution has been designed to streamline the parking for modern organisations and to eliminate the parking woes. Furthermore, this solution can be integrated with Matrix Access Control Solution to monitor the movement of the vehicle, right from the entry of the vehicle to its exit from the premises. As a result, situations like haphazard parking, parking in restricted areas, parking in other’s slots, vehicles moving in the wrong direction are prevented, and giving the real-time status of vacant parking spaces helps people in dissolving the chaos. Key features: · Prevent entry of unauthorised vehicles · Vehicle counting · Prevent parking in no parking zone · Prevent unauthorised parking · Prevent haphazard parking · Real-time data on premise availability · Prevent vehicles from moving in the wrong direction 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

Matrix parking management solution Read More »