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AVIGILON Blue Cloud Service Platform

Avigilon Blue is a powerful cloud service platform for security and surveillance that is purpose-built for Avigilon partners and their customers (subscribers). It offers a new recurring monthly revenue model based on site subscriptions. Avigilon Blue enables subscribers to add new services as the platform expands, bringing additional value to their business. It also allows partners to remotely support and service sites with fewer resources, enabling them to scale their business faster while providing even greater value to their customers. For subscribers, Avigilon Blue provides advanced cloud technology for easy and secure system access, smart notifications, system upgrades, and new services pushed directly from the cloud. “We are introducing Avigilon Blue, our subscription-based cloud service platform for security and surveillance, to help revolutionize our industry and create a new recurring revenue business model for Avigilon and our partners,” said James Henderson, Avigilon’s Chief Operating Officer, “Collaborating with Microsoft allows us to use their trusted Microsoft Azure cloud platform to build a cutting-edge solution that provides inherent value to our customers.”  A new level of managed services With Avigilon Blue, partners will be able to deliver a new level of managed services with a platform that is straightforward and intuitive, whether they are an IT novice or an expert. It will provide site analytics and automatic system health notifications, and enable remote monitoring as well as identification of system performance trends. Partners will be able to adjust camera settings and perform system upgrades from the cloud without having to deploy a technician. Users will be automatically notified of the latest updates, ensuring systems remain secure and current. Advanced video analytics-based notifications Harnessing patented Avigilon self-learning video analytics, Avigilon Blue utilizes real-time alarm notifications to bring attention to the events that matter most. The system integrates an on-premise Avigilon Blue Connect device that supports local storage as well as Avigilon and ONVIF compliant cameras, and sends critical events to the cloud for users to view and verify from their web-connected device. Trusted and secure cloud technology Powered by Azure, Avigilon Blue will leverage cloud services that are built, deployed, and managed through a global network of trusted datacenters, providing customers with enterprise-grade security and global scale. Rapid innovation deployed through the cloud The launch of the Avigilon Blue platform will be a foundational step that will enable partners and their subscribers to take advantage of Avigilon’s rapid innovation through an expanding selection of subscription service offerings, starting with video surveillance and advanced video analytics.

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BRICS Summit Delegates Visits Hikvision Head Office

The Hikvision head office at Hangzhou, China has recently received the delegates from the BRICS Communications Ministers Conference. Cynthia Ho, VP, Hikvision and Keen Yao, VP at Hikvision International Business Centre, jointly hosted the reception and welcomed them. They also introduced the delegates to Hikvision’s latest technology innovations. The company’s advances and products made by using AI, Internet of Things technology, big data, and cloud technologies were highly acclaimed by the delegates. They were also impressed by Hikvision’s expanded overseas business development including its global business network establishment, the implementation of its localization strategy, and the value continually being added to its worldwide customers. The delegates observed a collection of intelligent functions driven by AI technology including facial recognition, human body feature detection and multiple target tracking, in their smart security experience centre, and witnessed how improvements in data-driven algorithm performance have accelerated video intelligence in various ‘Smart’ applications – Smart cities, buildings, transportation, manufacturing, and logistics, to name a few. They expressed interest in strengthening mutual communication and collaboration, and in enabling more technological innovations to serve the BRICS countries – the economically defined group that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Hikvision has opened local branch offices in each of these countries, each with 80-90% local employees. Expansive localisation provides customers instant support and high-quality service. South Africa, as an example, incorporates a service network with offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and the country of Nigeria, covering marketing and technical support services for 45 countries in Africa.

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FICO TONBELLER Anti-Financial Crime Solutions

FICO TONBELLER® Siron® suite of anti-money laundering (AML) and know your customer (KYC) solutions have achieved Amazon Web Services (AWS) Financial Services Competency status. This designation recognizes FICO for delivering robust solutions on AWS to help organizations manage critical issues pertaining to the industry such as risk management, data management, navigating compliance requirements and establishing governance models. Achieving the AWS Financial Services Competency differentiates FICO as an AWS partner network (APN) member that has demonstrated relevant technical proficiency and proven customer success delivering secure solutions seamlessly on AWS globally. To earn the designation, APN partners must demonstrate significant industry expertise, have readily implemented solutions that align with AWS best practices with customers in production, and have staff with AWS certifications. “We operate in 17 countries that have different regulations, so we needed a flexible compliance platform,” said SandaLaicêna, Head of Group Legal at European consumer online lender 4Finance Group, “We also need a cloud-based approach that integrates with our systems, many of which we built ourselves. After an exhaustive review of the compliance solutions market, we found that FICO could meet all our needs for flexibility, reliability and performance. The FICO solution will safeguard 4Finance Group while ensuring we can provide the best customer service.” “FICO has aggressively moved its solutions to the cloud, and we are now proud to build on our APN Partners Status for Financial Services with the FICO® TONBELLER® Siron® Anti-Financial Crime Solutions,” said Stuart Wells, Chief Technology Officer at FICO, “The TONBELLER solutions form a vital part of our fraud and financial crime portfolio, helping financial services institutions worldwide adopt an advanced risk-based approach to stopping money laundering and the crimes it funds, including terrorism.” AWS is enabling scalable, flexible, and cost-effective solutions for banking and payments, capital markets, and insurance organizations of all sizes, from startups to global enterprises. To support a seamless deployment of these solutions, AWS established the Financial Services Partner Competency Program to help customers identify consulting and technology APN partners in the APN with deep industry experience, domain expertise and proven ability to deploy solutions reliable on the cloud.

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March Integrated Video and Covert Weapon Detection Solution

March Networks®, a global provider of intelligent IP video solutions, and Patriot One Technologies Inc., developer of a revolutionary weapons detection system, have announced an integration that offers video-enabled covert weapon detection notifications to aid visual verification of potential threats and reconstruct incidents by providing clear video and data evidence to support investigations. By combining real-time covert weapon detection alerts with high-definition (HD) video, the integrated March Networks and Patriot One solution allows security professionals in corporate buildings, schools, airports, stadiums, transit hubs and other commercial and government facilities to respond more knowledgably, and quickly, to potential threats. It also enables security organizations to cost-effectively track how often concealed weapons are present in the facilities they oversee, so they can determine whether further security measures are required. Using unique cognitive microwave radar technology embedded in a wall or stand-alone unit at a controlled access point, Patriot One’s PATSCAN™ CMR weapon detection radar and software system detects concealed handguns, and other types of weapons, and sends real-time alerts to an organization or its security partner. The system is ‘trained’ to the location during installation and continues to learn after full deployment, getting better and smarter at detecting hidden weapons with each screening. With the integrated solution, organizations can receive the alerts via the PATSCAN CMR Software as a Service (SaaS) user interface along with clear video images captured by a March Networks video recording solution, so they can immediately see who the suspect is and where they are located. Security staff can then access real-time video from multiple surveillance cameras simultaneously using the March Networks system to track a suspect’s movements through a building or space, as required. In addition, the integrated solution also captures all the PATSCAN CMR alerts and associated video in powerful March Networks Searchlight™ software, allowing organizations to conduct searches post-event and gather critical video and data evidence for further review or to share with law enforcement. March Networks Searchlight is a business intelligence software application that integrates HD video with transaction, radio frequency identification (RFID), analytics and other system data to deliver valuable operational insights and awareness to customers. It is currently used by leading organizations to proactively identify theft and fraud, improve customer service, optimize workforce management, audit operations and track inventory more effectively.

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Extreme Integrated Camera Access Point Solution

70 Percent of global education customers see value in deploying video cameras in the classroom. As the Internet of Things continues to influence the creation of new technology advancements in the classroom, it’s essential that students and faculty have a solution that enables a safe and connected learning environment. A survey released by Extreme Networks, Inc. found that 70 percent of educators and IT managers believe video cameras should be in the classroom to create secure and productive learning spaces. Since its debut in October 2016 as the industry’s first Wave 2 integrated camera access point (AP), Extreme’s Camera AP 3916i solution has helped a growing number of education customers, including Aldine Independent School District, Smackover-Norphlet School District, and Catawba College improve visibility into classroom activity while enhancing overall connectivity. By consolidating two hardware units into one, schools and universities are able to deploy and manage more educational technology at an affordable cost with Extreme’s Camera AP. The AP allows customers to enhance connectivity and network bandwidth, while its high-definition surveillance camera provides a more secure environment for the entire campus. The Camera AP also improves classroom productivity for activities like lecture capture to help teachers improve their pedagogy, and virtual attendance for students unable to attend class in person. Customer highlights Aldine Independent School District: The Camera AP has allowed the district to provide reliable connectivity and added safety measures for a variety of scenarios across 95 of its buildings, setting the foundation for the rest of the schools in the district. Additionally, as a Texas school district, Aldine must comply with the new SB 507 law, by installing cameras in special education classrooms upon the request of parents or faculty. Smackover-Norphlet School District: By deploying Camera APs in every classroom within four of the district’s schools, Smackover-Norphlet is able to deter thieves from stealing Chromebooks and other assets, which had previously plagued the district. In addition to security, Smackover-Norphlet has futureproofed its network to support its 1,300+ students’ dependency on wireless connectivity in the classroom for years to come. Catawba College: With 34 Camera APs being configured in central locations, Catawba will be able to monitor the entrances and exits of its buildings and computer labs. From an IT perspective, the staff will reduce the number of ports and cabling, which improves overall maintenance costs.

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Geutebrück Integrated Video Content Analysis

Geutebrück is expanding its portfolio with camera-based video content analysis (VCA). VCA reliably detects people, cars, trucks, animals, colors or behavior patterns in moving images – by day or night. Items such as containers, pallets or packages can be accurately identified. The video motion detection in the camera is activated by the customer. The main features are abandoned object (loitering items), removed object (missing items), counting (item counting), intrusion detection (perimeter security) and a dwell filter (loitering/ evaluation of dwell time). further filters are the speed filter (velocity), enter & exit filter (intrusion and leaving), stopping filter (immobility for too long) and tailgating filter (distance detection). Many of the filters can be logically sequenced together. Tamper detection (detection of tampering) and shake cancellation (image stabilizer) are also included. With item counting, the VCA camera automatically identifies in a direction-dependent way how many people, vehicles or objects cross over a counting line, which can be positioned anywhere in the image. To safeguard fenced outside areas, the intrusion detection detects any attempts to get through the barriers by means of determined perimeters and provides secure protection for goods which are stored outside and parked vehicles. The dwell filter identifies when people remain for an unusually long time in a defined area, for example outside a factory entrance/ exit or a financial institution.  

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Reliable Video Solutions

Camera robustness, hemispheric technology and decentralized image and event management make MOBOTIX the logical choice for mobile security Challenge Robust and reliable in every vehicle at any speed Operators of public and private transportation or of commercial cargo fleets are required to be more alert than ever against vandalism, theft and violence in order to stay competitive and attractive for passengers in the future. A key contribution is the decentralized, high-resolution video security technology from MOBOTIX; because perpetrators can be identified much faster with highly detailed and gapless recordings compared to conventional video systems. ‘Video Secured by MOBOTIX’ is confirmed to be a strong deterrence of potential offenders and will help to increase safety and security of passengers and drivers. In addition, vehicles have to be used most effectively and need to be localized at any time. Security installers worldwide are excited about the effectiveness and outstanding image quality of MOBOTIX systems. Intelligent IP video solutions S15 FlexMount system is ideal for use in vehicles In order to ensure absolute reliability in mobile applications, even under extreme environmental conditions, S15 models of MOBOTIX have successfully passed the toughest certification tests. Simple installation, low space requirements and the absence of expensive, fragile recording devices result in a cost-effective security solution for any type of vehicle. The S15 model of MOBOTIX, providing a protected mountable camera housing with integrated flash memory, is resistant against shock, vibration and temperature variations. The ability to exchange the sensor module has proven to be cost-effective and practical, without having to dismantle the whole camera during transportation, all recordings are maintained. Smart and functional accessories enable the discrete operation to ensure passenger safety and protection against vandalism and damage in transport vehicles. The behaviour of passengers and drivers can be documented at any time. It is important to know the status of the bus or truck; whether it is within the predefined operational area or does an incident require the support of the nearest police station. Based on the transmission of the latest video and GPS data, emergency personnel can be directed quickly to the required location. Discrete and efficient with hemispheric The use of hemispheric technology in S15 or Q25 provides effective coverage of the complete vehicle interior with just one single camera. Installed with the surround mount in the middle of the bus, the entire passenger compartment is secured without any blind spot. An S15 or Q25 covers the complete area of the driver including entrance and outside. In addition an external camera at the rear or front increases the safety in and around the school bus. The consequent absence of moving parts and thus the guarantee of robustness, results in video solutions including recordings which are known as nearly maintenance free. Instead of traditional hard drives, which are considered problematic and expensive in automotive environments, industry-standard SD-cards are integrated directly in the camera to provide reliable storage.

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Credit Union Takes the Long View

Vancouver Island financial Institution Secures Branches with March Networks Advanced IP Video When the largest credit union based on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands off the coast of British Columbia decided to deploy a March Networks enterprise-wide video surveillance system in 2013, the opportunity to take advantage of advanced functionality was top of mind. The credit union, which operates 23 branches, 16 insurance offices, four regional business centres and one centralized contact centre, was using a system that was ‘old and slow,’ but a sole March Networks system installed at one of its locations in 2011 by security systems integrator Chubb Edwards was noticeably superior, said the credit union’s facilities management specialist. “We were really happy with the March Networks system, so when the time came to upgrade our video surveillance system, we didn’t need to spend a lot of time looking at other options,” he recalled. Having used both systems, he found the March Networks video surveillance system to be more intuitive and user-friendly. Equally important, it offered the potential to benefit from advanced functionality like video analytics and integration with its access control system. The rollout of March Networks 8000 series Hybrid NVRs and video management software to all of the credit union’s premises, including its administration and head office buildings in Nanaimo, was completed in 2015. The hybrid capability of the 8000 Series recorders was ideal because it allowed them to continue leveraging their investment in third-party analog cameras while slowly beginning the conversion to March Networks IP cameras for new locations and branch renovations. In addition to supporting the gradual transition to higher resolution IP cameras, the 8000 series NVRs provide enhanced image quality from the credit union’s analog cameras. Most of the NVRs are 8516 models, but the ability to scale up or down to 8508s and 8532s depending on the size of the location was important to the customer. Feature-rich recorders The 8000 Series Hybrid NVRs feature an embedded Linux operating system for improved reliability, an internal battery backup capability for a systematic shutdown in the event of an unexpected power interruption, and hard drive mirroring for data redundancy. Using 8 TB hard drives in all four slots, the recorders offer a maximum storage capacity of 32 TB – more than sufficient for an all-IP camera deployment that is the credit union’s near-term goal. The March Networks IP cameras provide much higher resolution video, and are better able to compensate for direct sunlight in the field of view, ensuring quality images regardless of lighting conditions in ATM vestibules. The credit union’s facilities management specialist and fraud investigators have access to the video through a Chubb Edwards dedicated network. The fraud investigators use the system primarily to capture evidence of ATM and debit card fraud, while the premises department uses it for transaction verification and to review evidence of slip and falls. “Video evidence is very helpful when it comes to resolving customer disputes because you can actually see what transpired,” said the credit union’s facilities management specialist, “If a customer doesn’t recall conducting a transaction, for example, we’re happy to pull up video and show it to them. Once they see themselves along with the date and time of the transaction, any concerns about the security of their account are alleviated.” Finding video is ‘quick and easy’ Finding video evidence with the March Networks system is a breeze. “It’s very quick and easy,” he said, “We simply select the branch, the camera, and the date and approximate time of the incident. The March Networks motion histogram speeds us to parts of the timeline that exhibit more activity in the field of view and thumbnails above the timeline allow us to quickly zero in on the video clip we’re looking for.” In cases of ATM and debit card fraud, investigators are able to copy relevant video clips quickly and easily for law enforcement. Branch managers also have access to the system, but only for live viewing. The credit union began using its own internal network for video surveillance, but decided to switch to a Chubb Edwards dedicated network to avoid traffic congestion and interference with its business systems. A dedicated video surveillance network also allows Chubb Edwards technicians in Victoria to take advantage of the March Networks software’s management features to remotely administer the system, change passwords and access real-time warnings of camera disconnection, disk failure, high processor or fan temperatures, and other potential problems. Upgrading to Command Enterprise and Searchlight Next steps for the credit union include upgrading to March Networks Command Enterprise video management software and continuing the transition to IP video. The decision to upgrade its video surveillance system was predicated on being able to acquire the banking-specific business intelligence functionality offered by March Networks Searchlight for Banking software. “I saw a demonstration of Searchlight for Banking at the ISC West show a few years ago and realized it would be a huge benefit for our fraud investigators,” said the credit union’s facilities management specialist. Searchlight for Banking integrates surveillance video with ATM/ teller transaction data and optional business analytics, enabling financial institutions to reduce losses from theft and fraud more effectively, and gather valuable information on customer service, marketing efforts and operational performance. The powerful software provides fraud investigators with automated reports that highlight suspect transactions – which could be instances of ATM skimming or cash harvesting – based on the financial institution’s key performance metrics, and include convenient links to the recorded video for further review. With Searchlight for Banking, investigators don’t have to first find the transaction in one system and the video evidence in another, allowing them to resolve more cases faster and reduce fraud. In addition, data from video analytics including people counting, queue length and dwell time monitoring can provide financial institutions with valuable insights on how their branches are performing and help identify opportunities for improvement. For example, the software can help identify times of the day when customers are waiting longer in line…

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Physical Safety Impacting Millennials

New survey data from ADT shows 76% of Millennials have avoided a specific activity due to safety concerns; 90% depend on technology to feel safe when alone A recent survey commissioned by ADT LLC provides a fresh perspective on how Millennials view personal protection. A generation known for their fearlessness, confidence and optimism often think about safety precautions, with many choosing to opt out of activities due to the lack of personal security. According to the survey: Millennials love to use their devices to stay connected to friends, but they also see them as essential to their personal protection. 90% say technology like smartphones and smartwatches provide peace of mind when they are alone. Millennials know their smartphones are not enough to protect them under certain circumstances, with 75% interested in purchasing a personal security device. While Millennials crave experiences, balancing a sense of adventure with safety can be an ongoing challenge. 74% of Millennials have been worried about their physical safety at some point in the past 12 months. “Knowing Millennials often live an active, on-the-go lifestyle, ADT understands the importance of extending our capabilities and services beyond the walls of the traditional home or business,” said Jay Darfler, Senior Vice President, Emerging Markets, ADT, “Samsung serves as a great partner to address the needs of this audience who often find themselves thinking about personal protection. Consumers who own Samsung Gear S2 and Gear S3 smartwatches may now access ADT professional monitoring on-the-go with the ADT Panic Response available in the Samsung Gear Manager app. There is no shift in routine, just an added layer of protection because everyone deserves the right to feel safe.” The ADT Panic Response app, available on the Samsung GALAXY App store for less than $10 a month, allows consumers to quickly signal help by using the ADT panic feature directly from the Samsung Gear S2 or Gear S3 smartwatch, or the dedicated service feature, which provides key location information to ADT and emergency responders. Whether at home or on-the-go, Millennials can have peace of mind knowing they are protected with access to ADT’s monitoring center both inside or outside the home. Originally announced at CES 2017, the partnership between ADT and Samsung was the catalyst for current and future IoT security offerings. Backed by ADT professional monitoring both in and out of the home, Samsung’s smart devices serve as the conduit for delivering new leading edge solutions to the marketplace. Within the survey, additional key trends were identified relating to the needs Millennials have when thinking about personal security. Missing out on life experiences 76% of Millennial men and women have avoided specific experiences due to concerns pertaining to their physical safety. In fact, within the past 12 months, 34% have avoided crowded spaces like sporting events or malls, 30% avoided public transportation, 26% opted out of solo travel, and 25% have not exercised alone; all due to personal security concerns. 90% are going as far as taking a different route home, switching up the time and place of their exercise, and carrying pepper spray. Relying on mobile devices Significantly more Millennial women (94%) than men (85%) depend on their devices for safety. However, it seems Millennials know their smartphones are not enough to protect them under certain circumstances with 75% interested in purchasing a personal security device. While men (74%) and women (76%) are equally interested in purchasing a personal security device, significantly more Millennials who’ve worried about physical safety in the past 12 months (83%) are interested than those who haven’t worried (54%). Geography plays a role The data revealed more urban (79%) than rural Millennials (68%) have avoided activities because they were concerned about safety. Considerably more Millennials who live in the West (30%) than in the Northeast (20%) have avoided exercising alone because they were concerned they might feel unsafe. Additionally, 91% of millennials living in urban areas (versus 82% of rural dwellers) think of their technology as a safety net.

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Operator Control Challenges and Solutions

Control rooms are very hectic places. Maintaining a bird’s eye view of what is going on at all times is critical. Paradoxically, technology is both part of the problem and the solution. Guarding over public safety, security and other important things, operators need to have any situation under control at all times. Visual integration is the key because it greatly impacts the human-machine interface, which, in turn, enhances the operator’s situational awareness. In reality, however, the control room workspace is often part of the problem, lacking in efficiency, structure and ergonomics. Therefore, optimizing the working conditions is one of the first things that need to be addressed. Problem 1 : Applications on stand-alone systems Information input is the key for operators. There are lots of hardware in control room. For security reasons, sources cannot be mixed. In other words, every source needs a separate computer, meaning operators need to physically switch between workstations in order to do their job. Research indicates that more than 40% of the operators use more than 4 screens on the job. While this is definitely an effective way to stay in shape, it is not the way forward. The amount of screens should be defined by ergonomics and workflow, not by the amount of computers and systems to manage. Having to switch between desks not only impacts response times but it also means operators need to manually write down or remember data to combine it with other systems. However, this results in an increased risk of human error and is therefore not advisable. Problem 2 : Several mouse/ keyboard/ audio sets Tied to the ‘1 source, 1 computer, 1 screen’ issue, operators are often working with several mouse/ keyboard/ audio configurations. Organizing these according to the operator’s personal preferences can take up quite some time making it all the more difficult for co-workers to share their workstations. KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) switches can reduce the number of keyboard and mouse sets but they require the operator to manually select which system the KVM is connected to. Again, this leaves room for human error. Problem 3 : Keeping operator control costs down There is technology, on the one hand, and then there is budget, on the other. Ideally, every control room runs on its own fully integrated system, allowing information from different sources to be made available to other support applications so that video and data can easily be shared. In such an environment, reports can be generated and distributed automatically, leaving no room for error. However, building a fully integrated system requires a lot of resources and time. Most of the time neither of the two is available. Additionally, where legacy equipment and systems are involved, a fully integrated solution appears to be problematic. But, there is an alternative: Regaining control of the control room OpSpace delivers all the benefits of HMI integration but avoids the costs. Thanks to visual integration, the right information is presented to the operators when and where they need it. Gone are the days of multiple mouse and keyboard sets. Instead, one set can be used to control every screen and application. Operators can organize the workspace according to their personal preferences and then simply save their settings. Furthermore, visual integration avoids security compliance issues and vendor dependencies. The benefits of OpSpace One space OpSpace keeps one at the center of the information all the time. The software integrates information from disparate sources and networks only at the presentation layer while guaranteeing the security of the applications across security domains. Once the application is selected the system automatically copies the data into the work area in front of the operator. One keyboard and mouse One keyboard, mouse and audio set provide seamless control across all sources. This is especially handy during crisis situations. Share the workspace The ‘Follow me’ function makes it easier than ever before to share your workstation with co-workers. All this makes a cleaner, better organized and more efficient workspace. One views, monitors and interacts with multiple clients that reside on multiple networks with different security clearances or liability concerns. All relevant information can be consulted and manipulated within a single pixel space.

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