Day: August 1, 2018

Fortinet, the leading global player in broad, integrated and automated cybersecurity solutions, has recently cautioned parents to supervise children’s online activities and educate them on safe surfing. The Internet provides unprecedented opportunities for children to communicate, learn and develop new skills. However, parents need to be aware that predators lurk online and could potentially expose children to inappropriate content, criminal behavior and falsehoods. According to a UNESCO global survey on cyber-bullying covering over 7,600 children and youth (aged 8-17 years old) in 25 countries, the highest rate of cyber-bullying is in Asia – China (70%), Singapore (58%), and India (53%). China and Singapore were also the only countries to report a higher rate of online bullying than face-to-face bullying. Other Asian countries that reported lower levels of cyber-bullying include Malaysia (33%), Pakistan (26%) and Japan (17%). “As the Internet, particularly mobile broadband, becomes more accessible and affordable, more children are going online for longer periods. Parents need to be more aware of the dangers lurking on the Internet,” said Rajesh Maurya, Regional Vice President, India & SAARC, Fortinet, “While the Internet offers educational material, fun games and ways to connect with friends, it can also be a virtual playground for cyber bullying, malicious content, and for criminals or predators to prey on kids and their families, leading to things such as identity theft, crime and much worse.” To help ensure kids stay safe online, Fortinet’s cybersecurity experts advised parents to: 1.Talk to children about your expectations for them online: Try setting boundaries that may include rules about how long they are allowed to be on the computer, what sites they are allowed to visit, what software programs can be used, and what tasks or activities they are allowed to do based on age suitability, knowledge and maturity. 2.Teach the importance of keeping information private: Personal information and photos posted on the Internet can be dangerous as they can be used against families by those who meant harm. Once uploaded on the public domain, it can be difficult to remove them and can have haunting effects later if misused. Check the kid’s privacy settings on social media sites to prevent strangers from accessing personal information. Make sure your children understand: Never to give their name, phone number, email address, password, address, school name, or picture without your permission. Do not respond to malicious or hurtful posts. Do not open e-mails or attachments from people they don’t know. Do not get together with anyone they ‘meet’ online. Let them know that if they see something, say something: Children should be warned about the dangers of the Internet so that they recognize suspicious behaviour or activity. Allow children to come to the parents with questions or concerns if they happen to see something on a website, in an email or in a chat room that does not seem right or makes them uncomfortable. Be aware of their computer activities: Monitor your children’s activities online including which websites they are visiting. Ensure you have a sense of who they are communicating with and that your children actually know the people they are talking to if they are using email, instant messaging or chat rooms. Keep computers in a common area: It will be much easier to monitor computer activity if you keep your computer in a common area. This prevents kids from doing things they shouldn’t do, and you can also intervene should you notice a behavour that could have negative consequences. Consider implementing parental controls: Certain web browsers enable you to restrict or allow only certain websites to be viewed on computer, which is known as ‘whitelisting,’ and these settings can be protected by a password. Although no technology is fool-proof, there are available commercial software applications that can be installed to monitor, filter and restrict access to dangerous content online. Parents can also check with their Internet service providers and mobile carriers if they provide restriction services as optional addons. Fortinet secures large enterprises, service providers, and government organizations around the world, and empowers its customers with intelligent, seamless protection across the expanding attack surface and the power to take on ever-increasing performance requirements of the borderless network – today and into the future. The Fortinet Security Fabric architecture can deliver security features without compromise to address the most critical security challenges, whether in networked, application, cloud or mobile environments. Fortinet ranks #1 in the most security appliances shipped worldwide and more than 350,000 customers trust Fortinet to protect their businesses. As every family situation is different, you need to decide what is best for your family. Parents need to help their kids become more cyber-savvy and at the same time, put effective protection methods in place to keep them safe online. – Rajesh Maurya Regional Vice President, India & SAARC, Fortinet  

It wasn’t so long ago that deploying a CCTV system involved a number of cameras, a roll of coax and a digital video recorder (DVR). If an access control system was required, that made a standalone system that used twisted pair for the card reader and door strike, and the integration between the two systems was extremely limited. Today’s security systems have dramatically evolved and offer far greater functionality. They are truly integrated, and the integration lies not only between the different elements of the security system but extends to other systems as well; for instance, an access control system is integrated with the payroll and human resources systems for time and attendance information. The drivers for this integration or convergence are two-fold – first being the advances in technology that have enabled these systems to move from standalone to fully integrated ones, especially the standardization in the digitization, encapsulation and transmission of information. The second driver is the rising demand from customers for platforms that deliver greater functionality or improved efficiency, or both. As information from access control, CCTV, building management systems (BMS) and other associated platforms has evolved from analog to digital; they can easily be transported over modern communication systems. These communication systems include local networks where Category 5, 6 or 7 unshielded twisted pair (UTP) is commonly used, or where distance is the limiting factor, fibre may be used. Wireless technology is also becoming increasingly popular for temporary installations, or where deployment of copper or fibre infrastructure is either impractical or cost prohibitive. All of these physical mediums have one thing in common that they are used to deliver connectivity between devices or components of an integrated security system. These devices can include cameras, encoders, card readers, access control panels, servers, storage and workstations, to name a few. The protocol or standard that enables them to communicate with each other, regardless of vendor or physical media, is the Internet Protocol or IP. IP, often referred to as TCP/ IP, is a suite of different protocols that are used to interconnect devices within a network. While IP may be seen by many as a black art exclusively for techno-geeks, due to the convergence that is occurring in many areas such as voice communications and physical security, it has become necessary for PBX technicians and security installers to have a greater understanding of how today’s IT networks work. This is not just limited to IP but also to the underlying physical media as the application for different media in an IP network may be quite different to that of an analog installation. The good news is that while there are plenty of individuals and organizations that profit from making networking out to be a black-art that is complex and difficult, the reality is that with the basic understanding of how networks work, it’s not as difficult. There are two primary protocols that are used within the IP protocol suite – Transmission Control Protocol or TCP and User Datagram Protocol or UDP. TCP can be seen as similar to a voice conversation on a telephone where a call is established, and information is transmitted and acknowledged until there is no further information to be transmitted, or where the call is torn down. If the information is lost, an acknowledgment is not received and the information is resent. UDP is more akin to a letter that is sent by post where the information is encapsulated and sent across the network, and if all goes well, the information will arrive at its intended destination, but there are no guarantees. TCP is ideal for the transmission of lots of information where the accuracy of the information is important. Examples of applications that use TCP include Web traffic (using the HTTP protocol) and email (using the SMTP protocol). UDP is ideal for the transmission of real-time information such as voice (using the SIP protocol) and video (using protocols like RTP). The primary reason for using UDP over TCP for realtime transmission is that if information is lost, there is little point in asking for it to be retransmitted as it is no longer relevant; and with a well-designed network using equipment from a reputable networking vendor, the probability of errors is extremely low. In order to design an IP network for a security system or solution, there are many points/ questions that need to be asked/ addressed: Which application or applications (i.e., CCTV, access control, IP intercom, BMS, VoIP) will operate across the network? Do the applications use unicast or multicast system for the transmission of information? If CCTV is in use – how many cameras, which frame rate, and what resolution of the cameras will be used? Do the end-points require POE (802.3af) or POE+ (802.3at) or even POE++ (802.3bt), and if so, what POE class do the devices belong to? What speed does each of the endpoints connect at? Is the given installation new or an upgrade, or extension of an existing system, and what physical media exists or has been proposed? What level of redundancy (interface, link, power, device, site) is required from the network? While this list may sound extensive, there is a reason for asking each question and the answer will better enable the network to be dimensioned. When designing a network, it is beneficial to create a virtual LAN (VLAN) for each different application in use on the network. This separation reduces the number of devices in any given VLAN which reduces the amount of broadcast traffic and improves performance and also ensures that if one application is misconfigured or misbehaves, it is less likely to affect other applications using the network. Unicast traffic is similar to a voice conversation between two people where information is sent from one to another. This is the kind of traffic that is used between a workstation and the server when retrieving a file. Multicast traffic is similar to a magazine subscription where specific information is sent to specific recipients…

Ashish P Dhakan, India’s renowned security technology leader and the MD & CEO of Prama Hikvision has been named as IFSEC Global Influencer 2018 in the Security Tech Leaders category. He was the only Indian entry among the top ten security technology leaders list. The IFSEC Global influencer recognition is an honour that reaffirms the faith in our vision, and inspires us to develop more India specific products and solutions. We remain committed to bring in our globally acclaimed technology like deep learning, AI, AI Cloud, big data and IoT to ensure that our country and fellow countrymen remain safe. – Ashish P Dhakan MD & CEO, Prama Hikvision Mr. Dhakan has been working relentlessly to raise the bar of the security industry in India through innovation, technology, training, awareness and advocacy. He has been instrumental in the success of Prama Hikvision – the first joint venture company formed by Hikvision beyond China – through a pan-India network of dealers, distributors and system integrators. His ability to elevate the industry globally gave him this recognition. According to the IFSEC Global nomination, “His involvement with the relevant bodies in our industry, complemented by his blogs and contributions to industry media channels, has helped shape the shift from traditional people-based deployment to technology-led solution deployment. He has set up an exclusive forum for current and potential clients to debate and discuss the future of the security industry, challenging the norm and constantly assessing emerging technologies.” IFSEC Global defines an influencer as someone who plays a key role in driving technological innovations, has been a driving force in changing regulation and standards, an opinion leader, a turnaround business leader, and someone who has been an influential voice in the national media for the overall security and surveillance industry. Mr. Dhakan has played a key role in setting up a state-of-the-art training centre in India to train system integrators, partners and end-users. He is also a driving force behind Hikvision’s ‘Make-in–India’ plan supporting the government’s ambitious ‘Makein-India’ programme. With this initiative Hikvision will be setting up a world-class manufacturing plant to cater to India and the overseas market.

FICCI has recently organised a conference on ‘Make in India for UAS’ at Federation House, New Delhi, in association with Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India. Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog, Government of India said in his keynote address that integrating UAVs in civilian space is a challenging job, and therefore, requires an appropriate regulatory framework, however, Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) has the potential to transform many sectors and modernize India rapidly. India must aspire to become a global manufacturing hub of Unmanned Aircraft System.   – Amitabh Kant CEO, NITI Aayog, Govt. of India   “It is important for India to facilitate and promote the development of UAS industry, strive towards global leadership, and also aspire to become a global manufacturing hub in times to come. Widespread adoption of UAS through a facilitative framework would be a transformation step in ease of doing business,” Mr. Kant said. He reiterated that drones are going to replace 80% of the operations presently carried out by the manned aircrafts. Indian market for UAS will be US $50 billion over the next 15 years. India must realize the full potential of this technology and leverage it as a powerful tool not only for the security and safety, good governance, increased productivity, but also to encourage consumer in commercial applications to develop a sophisticated UAS industry sector and make a new India by 2022.” He also recommended that: The sector must aggregate the demand and push for make in India, India should aspire to be a global hub for design, development and manufacture for all types of UAS, and The regulatory framework for opening up UAS operations for civil and commercial services be promulgated early in line with the global best practices. Anil Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, DIPP, Govt. of India said that the Civil Aviation Ministry is likely to begin the registration process of drones soon, “We need regulations for usage of drones in terms of altitude, endurance and categorization. UAS industry is at the cusp now. As per the estimates, by 2023, UAS industry has US$1 billion opportunity in India.” He added that the policy is going to be comprehensive, and we must have the capabilities of designing and manufacturing in India so that the IP stays with us. Rahul Chaudhary, Chair, FICCI Homeland Security Committee and Former CEO, Tata Power SED said that if the regulations are right, UAS industry can be a growth driver for the Indian economy in times to come. He added that the Indian UAV market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 18%. Vaibhav Gupta, Member, FICCI Homeland Security Committee and Director, MKU Pvt. Ltd. said that better policy framework will ensure safety and also an online portal for application and approval would make the process efficient and transparent thereby generating more interest and encouraging more usage. Rammohan Thygarajan, Partner, Advisory Services – Digital, EY, in his theme address said that there is a need to leverage synergies between UAS and emerging technologies to draw insights across industries. India should create an environment for various players in this ecosystem of companies and start-ups to collaborate and create value for each other.

Axis Communications have appointed Sujith Sebastian as the Business Development Manager, India & SAARC to strengthen its market outreach in retail and hospitality. Based out of Bangalore, Sujith will be reporting to Sudhindra Holla, Sales Director, who is responsible for developing the retail and hospitality portfolio, a key focus for Axis this year. The newly created role reflects a strategic decision by the company to tap the prolific Indian retail and hospitality industry across the country. It will provide a direction to the sales team and gives an opportunity to increase visibility among end users, and overall profitability in network cameras and video analytics portfolio. Since there is an increased need for an intelligent technology solution in retail space, the focus is on video analytics, foot traffic counting, demographic mapping and queue monitoring solutions. At Axis, we have always attempted to provide value and the best in class support to our partners and to better understand end users in order to provide the right solutions to retailers and hoteliers. – Sudhindra Holla Sales Director, Axis Communications, India & SAARC Announcing the appointment, Sudhindra Holla, Sales Director – India and SAARC said, “We are delighted to welcome Sujith, an extremely experienced hospitality professional to the team. With his strong track record, I am confident that he will be able to develop and grow the team and strengthen these verticals.” Retail and hospitality are the two of the most dynamic sectors. I am excited to embark on the journey with Axis, the most innovative pioneers of end to end solutions. I look forward to supporting the partners, growing our customer base and looking to make the most of this high-end quality to drive business growth. – Sujith Sebastian Business Development Manager – India and SAARC Prior to joining Axis, Sujith was working with the Royal Caribbean Cruises in US with a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from Symbiosis Institute, Pune. His background in the hospitality industry, having worked with the Taj Group and Godrej’s Nature’s Basket, has made him gain valuable insights into the sector and drive growth in revenues.