Year: 2020

Every day, the 13 hagebaumarkt stores serve thousands of customers and process tens of thousands of products. The Schneider Group, based in Grabenstätt/ Erlstätt, has the mammoth task of providing security for its customers and employees, as well as monitoring and protecting its DIY stores against theft on a daily basis. It was therefore a top priority that the Group update its security and surveillance system as part of its digitalization strategy. “Introducing digital solutions into our locations is one of our biggest challenges,” explained Martin Wohlmayer, Head of IT and Organization at Jos. Schneider GmbH, “We’re well on our way to bringing our retail and wholesale stores into a digitalized future, focusing exclusively on reliable, future-proof solutions that are cyber-safe and 100% GDPR-compliant.” This was the starting point going into initial consultations with IT service provider CN H&D GmbH, in which they discussed a new security and monitoring system for hagebaumarkt stores. It quickly became clear that the existing system would need to be replaced with a solution that included MOBOTIX cameras. “We were completely won over by the ‘Made in Germany’ MOBOTIX cameras and solutions. This was thanks to their decentralized solution, the outstanding quality of both the hardware and software, the flexibility of the system, their compliance with the GDPR and the high level of cybersecurity,” said Wohlmayer. “Our forward-looking approach involves checking all our current investments to see whether the new systems are flexible, open, expandable and secure with regard to future challenges. It quickly became clear that a MOBOTIX system would be the best way to meet our requirements,” explained Matthias Ziegleder, Managing Director of CN H&D GmbH. The focus of the ongoing project in Traunstein is on installing MOBOTIX systems in the ninth hagebaumarkt store in the Schneider Group. There are currently 134 MOBOTIX cameras already in use, all of which are integrated into the MxManagementCenter. Extensive MOBOTIX product portfolio for outdoor & indoor A total of 19 MOBOTIX cameras have been installed in Traunstein, as well as the MxThinClient for communicating with customers. This system has been connected to the central MxManagementCenter. Nine cameras have been installed to monitor and secure outdoor facilities, including parking lots. These specialized outdoor cameras provide crystal-clear images day or night throughout the year, meaning that any incidents in the hagebaumarkt parking lots can easily be traced. Inside the store, ten MOBOTIX cameras monitor the sales floor. This helps determine the cause of any discrepancies in stock levels, which are usually due to theft. The MxManagementCenter (MxMC) is MOBOTIX’s powerful, intuitive video management system for Windows and MacOS and is installed on a total of five computers in the store with different user profiles and access rights. The system is fully GDPR compliant, with each user only having access to the video footage assigned to their profile. The data is remotely secured on the MOBOTIX cameras, providing highly effective protection against even the most complex and sophisticated cyber attacks. The MxThinClient completes the solution in the Schneider Group’s hagebaumarkt stores. The PoE-powered network device is the intelligent, easy-to-use MOBOTIX solution for viewing the live feed from the cameras on a monitor or TV equipped with an HDMI port. This makes it possible to display content such as welcome messages, inform customers that surveillance equipment is being used in the store and show them the current products on offer in store. “We plan to equip the remaining four hagebaumarkt stores with the MOBOTIX solution and are working to develop and implement a mobile solution for targeted surveillance in known ‘theft hotspots.’ These cameras will be connected to their own company-wide MOBOTIX Wi-Fi network and can be moved at any time to monitor specific hotspots in the store,” said Ziegleder, explaining the plans for the project. Conclusion: Future-proof complete system for maximum customer satisfaction “ The support provided by CN H&D GmbH throughout the whole design and installation process, including follow-up support and training, has been excellent. The MOBOTIX system ensures security for us and our customers, and we’ll gradually be starting to implement the other capabilities offered by the system. “We’ve already set up the interface to the PoS system,” said Matthias Ziegleder. This means that any PoS discrepancies can be prevented or immediately resolved in the hagebaumarkt store. A customer count and footfall analysis will also be integrated to further optimize customer service and customer satisfaction – not least through coordinated staff scheduling. Christian Heller, Sales Director of MOBOTIX DACH, explained, “Our solutions are used in many industries, and retail is an important market for us. Together with our technology partners, we have developed bespoke and intelligent solutions specifically for the retail and wholesale sector that make work easier and more secure. We’re pleased that the Schneider Group is using our solutions in all 13 of its hagebaumarkt stores in Germany and Austria to improve the security of its stores and to benefit its customers and employees.”

The Monterey Bay Aquarium has a rich history of innovation. Since its founding in 1984, the facility has become one of the world’s leading public aquariums and ocean conservation organizations. Monterey Bay Aquarium has produced significant insights into the life history of sharks, sea otters, and bluefin tuna. The aquarium also was the first to exhibit a living kelp forest, and in 2004 it was the first to successfully exhibit and return to the wild a young great white shark. It is therefore no surprise that the Monterey Bay Aquarium desired the most innovative and state-of-the-art cameras as a key component for its security system, and Arecont Vision® was able to deliver what they required. The challenge The aquarium has a huge campus, with multiple separate properties and an average annual visitation of two million people. Until recently, the Monterey Bay Aquarium relied upon up to 60 analog cameras for its video security needs. With such a large area to cover and with so many people to monitor, this type of system proved increasingly unreliable and insufficient to its growing security needs. The aquarium’s securitystaff also found it a major inconvenience that accessories and other parts for the system were exclusive to the original provider, limiting the security team’s options both technically and financially. The footage from the analog cameras was monitored on monochrome screens and useful viewing of surveillance video was quite difficult at times. The quality of the images was low, and the inflexible nature of the cameras resulted in a number of blind spots throughout the aquarium’s large campus. The aquarium also has some very challenging lighting situations, requiring more specialized, versatile cameras in order to properly capture images. “We have some very difficult light levels here. The reflections of the water tanks can make certain areas lighter on camera than they are in person, or vice-versa,” stated Thomas Uretsky, Director of Security and Emergency Management for the facility. The security team reached the point where they knew they needed to upgrade. “The system needed more flexibility, multiple views on one camera, the works,” Uretsky said, “Blind spots needed to be eliminated, and we wanted as close to a 360-degree view as possible.” After thorough research, San Jose, California-based security integrator NSI Systems recommended Arecont Vision for the camera solution. The solution Mr. Uretsky and the team at Monterey Bay Aquarium collaborated with Arecont Vision regarding what they were looking for, where coverage was needed, and how to best fit in into their budget. Monterey Bay Aquarium chose ExacqVision as their video management system, another solid partner to help upgrade their prior surveillance system. Monterey Bay Aquarium, open sea tank coverage A range of different Arecont Vision cameras were ultimately deployed to serve the aquarium’s varying needs. Arecont Vision MicroDome® cameras were ideal for the ticketing area and customer lines. The series includes wide dynamic range (WDR) models, which can achieve clear images across extreme lighting conditions such as those found in some of the indoor spaces at the aquarium. MicroDome cameras have an extremely low profile and only a 4” diameter, making them ideal for discreet security surveillance. When asked for his thoughts about the MicroDome camera, Uretsky responded, “They are small and nearly invisible to anyone who doesn’t know what they’re looking for. The fact that they have such a small footprint makes them ideal for us in the ticketing and front entrance areas.” Another favorite at Monterey Bay Aquarium were Arecont Vision SurroundVideo® Omni G1 and G2 adjustable view cameras. The SurroundVideo Omni series utilizes a patented 360° track where each of its four megapixel sensors can be moved to cover virtually any angle. Remote motorized focus simplified installation with the Omni G2. Combined with the ability to interchange lenses, the Monterey Bay Aquarium now has the unique and flexible camera solution it required. The customizable features of the camera also simplify future changes that may occur at the aquarium, saving time and money if construction or remodelling were to occur. “The SurroundVideo Omni cameras are some of our favorites because we are getting four cameras in one. They have the most flexibility,” said Kevin Wright, Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Security Manager, “Our blind spots are much more limited, and we don’t need to use nearly as many cameras as we previously had in those areas.” Although each camera offers four separate views, only a single PoE (Power-over-Ethernet) cable and a single software license is required for integration with the Exacq software, further reducing costs. The result The system has performed incredibly well to date. Not only was it installed on time, but it was completed within budget. The Monterey Bay Aquarium monitors the system locally, 24-hours per day. The images are viewed on a dynamic video wall in the new security operations center. While most footage is viewed on-site, some cameras have been enabled with the Exacq software for remote monitoring at satellite offices. For example, holding areas for rescued sea otters can be viewed remotely by a research team. Arecont Vision cameras have helped the aquarium’s security department in a variety of ways, one of which is increasingly common – addressing bicycle theft. Individuals will sometimes access a public recreational trail that runs along the aquarium’s main campus to steal unattended bikes parked by visitors or staff. Unlike the previous analog surveillance system, Arecont Vision’s megapixel cameras are able to provide the security department with good views and high-resolution images when reporting such incidents to the police department. The project at Monterey Bay Aquarium fulfilled a vast array of surveillance requirements – indoor and outdoor scenes, large and small spaces, low- to high-lighting conditions – and Arecont Vision cameras addressed each of the challenges. The deployment of the new cameras made an impression on Uretsky and his team. One installation inspired ideas for another, and Arecont Vision helped make these potential security solutions a reality as well. The continual partnership between the aquarium, the system integrator, and Arecont Vision has resulted in…

Security has long been a top priority in the aeronautical industry, and air traffic management (ATM), which refers to the entirety of systems and actions required to manage the movement of aircraft both on the ground and in the air, plays a major role in maintaining secure aeronautical transportation. In different phases of operations, a wide range of diverse facilities and devices need to communicate with each other. An important aspect of ATM is that it must be able to operate in all kinds of conditions, including outdoors, in harsh weather and at remote sites, and all relevant data needs to be collected and monitored correctly and securely to maintain safe and stable operations. Based on this brief introduction, it is concluded that the devices and components comprising an ATM system must satisfy the following requirements: An industrial-grade rugged design suitable for harsh environments including outdoors, at remote sites, and over long distances to ensure that ATM operation is both reliable and stable. Top-notch network security to protect data from hackers. Since OT protocols such as Modbus are generally not designed with transmission security in mind, some governments require high-profile areas such as airports to use IT protocols for Internet-facing data transmissions. The most popular IT protocols in use today emphasize a highly secure design. Essential aspects of such protocols include data encryption, which presents a solid first line of defense against eavesdropping and hacking. SNMP, for example, is widely used in the IT field. Combined with SNMP Trap and Inform, SNMP can be used with both polling-based and alarm-based communication, making it one of the most popular protocols for airport monitoring. System requirements The ability to collect and monitor data from many different airport facilities, including runway lights, tower lights and navigation aids, as well as the ability to actively send data to the ATM server to minimize the response time for critical conditions. Devices must be able to operate reliably in both extremely harsh hot and cold environments so that the devices can be deployed in airports around the world. SNMPv3 and SNMPv3 Trap are required for authentication and active alarms, and data encryption is needed to prevent sensitive information from being stolen during transmission. Moxa solution A remote I/O system deployed at an airport can be used to acquire serial, digital and analog data from runway lights, tower lights and navigation aids, and then transmitted in real time to the control center. In addition, products that feature advanced remote I/O features and wide temperature operation are rugged enough to work 24/7 in all kinds of weather and harsh conditions to provide the non-stop operation demanded by airport operation codes. SNMPv3 and SNMPv3 Trap are required.  Since SNMP is a polling-based protocol, the control center can poll remote I/O status periodically via SNMP to make sure that all monitoring data is up-to-date. In addition, SNMP Trap can update data from remote sites to the control center actively. The user can set the threshold for the monitoring data and receive alarms immediately when preconfigured conditions are met. SNMP and SNMP Trap help ensure that status reports from airport facilities is always up-to-date and all emergencies can be handled promptly and properly. With respect to security, SNMPv3 and SNMPv3 Trap support authentication and data encryption, making version 3 the most secure of all SNMP versions. The most popular encryption algorithm used by SNMP is MD5. However, since MD5’s security weaknesses can be exploited by hackers, cybersecurity experts suggest using a more secure algorithm, like SHA2, to protect sensitive information. Moxa’s modular remote I/O products support the SHA224 and SHA256 encryption algorithms, both of which belong to the SHA2 family.