Day: August 21, 2020

The majority of security systems has been stand-alone – which means they were built to work in an independent and self-contained way. This allowed them to perform specific functions, like recording CCTV footage, or securing a perimeter with intrusion alarms etc. Complex system integrations have been the only way to bring these disparate solutions together to increase security as a whole. The answer to this challenge is technological ‘convergence,’ which essentially refers to the deliberate combination of several disparate or complementary technologies into a single product or solution. For example, convergence allows previously siloed functions such as intercom and video surveillance systems, to create a unified view of an intrusion or other security breach. The result is a solution that improves situational awareness and, therefore, the safety of organizations and their people and assets. In this short blog, we overview 5 key ways that converged security can benefit one’s business and customers: Enhance customers’ user experiences   The first major benefit of convergence is an improved end-user experience, especially in terms of managing all the elements of the security solution more easily and efficiently. In this context, convergence works by providing a single platform and interface for managing disparate security infrastructure and devices, including video cameras, access control systems, intercom, and alarm systems. In this way, one can eliminate the need for the customers to access and manage multiple devices using different logins or apps, saving them time, reducing complexity, and reducing risks associated with managing and using multiple passwords. Increase the installation efficiency for major cost savings With security systems that incorporate different systems and platforms, installation complexity is often dramatically increased, with multiple protocols to manage and even different cabling systems for different devices. Convergence helps hugely by providing a single platform and unified interface, allowing one to add devices quickly and easily in batches, and quickly configure device parameters. All of this means that one can reduce the time and effort associated with project management and installation, and deliver even better customer experiences. One can also save on technician’s hourly rates and installer rates, and he can also reduce the cost of deploying, maintaining, and rebuilding disparate systems for customers. Finally, he can reduce software licensing costs, helping them increase their margins and deliver the best value for customers. Boost customers’ security capabilities With security solutions made up of diverse devices and platforms, it can be more difficult to achieve an instant view of a security breach and to respond quickly enough. An example would be an alarm sounding, but with no way to understand where the breach is taking place, and which camera it is being captured on. This challenge is addressed with converged systems, which can automatically link alerts and alarms to the output of a particular camera that is capturing the security breach. With converged systems, access control can be activated to close specified doors, and video clips streamed to customers via an integrated mobile app. In this way, a converged solution delivers greater performance and value for customers than traditional systems made up of disparate elements. As an additional benefit, integration of devices allows each customer to set parameters for alarms such as the types of events that trigger them. Scale easily to meet customers’ growing needs With converged security solutions, all security devices – from cameras to intercom – run on a single underlying infrastructure and software stack. With this common infrastructure in place, the customers can expand the system with new devices quickly and easily, with no need for additional hardware or software anywhere in the environment, and no need to re-invent the underlying infrastructure. Generate new upsell revenues for the business Many small and medium businesses would benefit hugely by adding more sophisticated security capabilities – such as access control – to their existing intrusion alarm and video solutions. However, many are deterred by the perceived complexity and cost of rolling out and integrating new types of security devices into their environments. Convergence helps overcome this demand. One can not only help his customers innovate to improve overall security and management efficiency, this is also an excellent opportunity for him to upsell new security solutions such as access control, intercoms, and smart doorbells to the customers. Find out more With convergent systems currently focusing on bringing different security capabilities together, integrating with Internet-of-Things (IoT) solutions is the next step. This will support alarms and alerts for all kinds of incidents, from intrusions and fire risks, right down to a light bulb or HVAC system failure. Prama Hikvision is pioneering this vision for converged security with our forthcoming convergent security service solution. This brings together disparate security devices on the same, common, cost-effective, easy-to-manage platform and infrastructure.  

Making a security system smarter is much easier than one can imagine. By focusing on a few key elements, it becomes straightforward and worthwhile in the long run – it makes operations more streamlined and efficient, it aggregates all you need in the palm of your hand, and it generates powerful security insights. Think about proactive security A traditional video security system works by passive monitoring, which means it is referred to after incidents happen. Why? Usually there is limited or no intelligence to detect a true intrusion event, and so too many alerts are triggered compounding the genuine and insignificant events together. This is a reality that makes it tough for security personnel to focus and act. A smarter security system that precisely identifies trespassing events and deters the intruders at the very beginning, can transform passive monitoring to proactive security. One example is the Hikvision AcuSense technology. What does smart look like? Facilities are equipped with cameras featuring AcuSense technology, so they are enabled to detect human/ vehicle intrusions day and night. If an intruder enters an area of attention, an alarm will be triggered, and simultaneously the onsite camera produces a flashing light and an auditory warning – which can be pre-recorded – with the aim of deterring the intruder. At the same time, security personnel is notified on the monitor with a video clip displaying what is happening. Accordingly, actions can be taken straight away. In this way, facilities can protect their assets with more confidence. When it comes to forensic search Now that the system enables immediate response, attention can be paid to using it for forensic search. Most of the video recorded on an NVR or DVR is rarely viewed. But, when the time comes that a short piece of video is needed, operators are faced with thousands of hours of recorded video. A smart search of video archives can greatly simplify the task and help an investigator quickly find evidence of an event. The solutions can be found in intelligent video analytics, for example human and vehicle detection, license plate recognition and other powerful features. One of Prama Hikvision’s offerings is the DeepinMind NVR. This can effectively identify people separately from other objects such as animals or leaves captured by security cameras. So, as soon as there’s a line-crossing detection by a person, the NVR recognizes it and starts to record, further categorizing that video clip with a label for convenient search. In this way, investigators looking for evidence of an intruder’s trespass, can simply specify the line-crossing search criteria, and choose the category labelled human events. The system will quickly show all the relevant videos. Smarter with convergence The majority of security systems used to be stand-alone – in other words, they were built to work in an independent and self-contained way. But users needed to access and manage each system with respective platforms and logins. If you take the next step to get a converged system, the unified solution can bring security to a whole new level. A smarter, unified security solution allows users to access all the security devices in one platform, covering video cameras, access control, intercom, alarm equipment and more. As a bonus, since these systems are converged, users can set rules for event types, time schedules and triggered actions, such as link alerts to the output of a particular camera that is capturing the security breach.   System convergence allows flexible linkage across various devices, giving the user choice to customize to their needs in different scenarios. With Prama Hikvision’s latest offering – Hik-ProConnect, it can easily boost your security with more convenience.   Powerful insights beyond security When the security operation is successfully streamlined, business operation insights can come next. Examples could be people counting, queue detection, and heat mapping technologies. Today’s dual-lens smart people counting cameras can accurately track customer flow and numbers, helping retailers adjust staffing level in different times; while heat mapping cameras help understand the hot spots throughout the shop floor and optimize layout. Furthermore, queue detection cameras can be placed to monitor queues in real-time, helping retailers manage their checkout lines. All of these methods work to increase operational efficiency and enhance in-store shopping experience. The solution can be achieved using intelligent video cameras like Prama Hikvision DeepinView series, at the same time, a well-performed VMS like Prama Hikvision’s HikCentral manages all of the information sent by cameras and generates reports for retailers to see and react. The HikCentral employs various business intelligence (BI) modules to suit a variety of applications such as facial recognition and people counting analysis. It integrates with most other Prama Hikvision products, including IP cameras, and can also integrate with third-party systems and cameras.