August, 2021 - securitylinkindia

IPSA Announces the Appointment of an Alliance Ambassador for India

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaAugust 25, 2021November 14, 202408 mins

The International Professional Security Association (IPSA) is determined to support and be available for all the front-line members. With the launch of its new app and the free membership offer, IPSA is now taking a huge step towards expanding its membership in India. IPSA has announced the appointment of Jitendra Shukla CCSMS, CCPS AA. IPSA as the IPSA Alliance Ambassador for India. Along with a post-nominal, the role fetches many responsibilities and important undertakings which are in sync with IPSA’s core missions and values. The IPSA AA will be expected to raise the importance and criticality of the front-line teams with the clients, end users and wider industry. One of the goals to be achieved by the role would be to encourage the ongoing professionalism of the sector in India through the membership of a professional body like IPSA and training enhancements. Apart from working closely with the IPSA Chair and CE, the AA will also provide feedback on local market trends or regional specifics that need to be captured within the IPSA organization. They will monitor international situations related to the AA region and IPSA. Jitendra Shukla IPSA Alliance Ambassador for India “I am extremely honoured by the role bestowed on me by IPSA and I would like to thank the Chair and CE for that. As India AA IPSA I will strive to get us the due recognition as a professional body for the security industry. IPSA should be a common platform or a single voice for improving the service standards and infrastructure required for us to deliver world class services and at the same time enhance the lifestyle of the security practitioners. IPSA will be able to deliver this by imparting world class training and certification. I am counting on my colleagues who are the leaders in the security industry to help IPSA achieve the goals” With the introduction of an AA, IPSA’s vision is to represent all front-line personnel and companies, and promote diversity, inclusion, training, mentoring and career development. By providing representation and working closely with the sety companies to raise the standards and encourage professionalism, IPSA aims to give ‘One Voice’ to the private security industry. Simon Pears, Chairman of IPSA said, “IPSA continues to gather strength and represent our frontline membership. India is part of this growth and continues on the journey to raise the professionalism of the sector. Jitendra Shukla has a wealth of industry experience and understands the market and growth opportunities and I am proud that he has agreed to be the IPSA Ambassador for India and be part of the exciting journey ahead.” Jitendra’s experience and passion for the industry makes him the perfect candidate for the role. He specializes in corporate security management which entails staffing and training, business analytics, operations, vendor management, emergency protocols and disaster management. Prior to working within the private security sector Jitendra was a member of the Indian Air Force and is a trained commando. He has extensive knowledge of security regulations and is instrumental in ensuring the alignment of security solutions with the local regulations. He has built a network of key contacts within security and other industries. With his connections and expertise, Jitendra will be playing a pivotal role in empowering the front-line security teams of India. “I am extremely honoured by the role bestowed on me by IPSA and I would like to thank the Chair and CE for that. As India AA IPSA I will strive to get us the due recognition as a professional body for the security industry. IPSA should be a common platform or a single voice for improving the service standards and infrastructure required for us to deliver world class services and at the same time enhance the lifestyle of the security practitioners. IPSA will be able to deliver this by imparting world class training and certification. I am counting on my colleagues who are the leaders in the security industry to help IPSA achieve the goals,” said Jitendra. Simon Pears Chairman of IPSA “IPSA continues to gather strength and represent our front-line membership. India is part of this growth and continues on the journey to raise the professionalism of the sector. Jitendra Shukla has a wealth of industry experience and understands the market and growth opportunities and I am proud that he has agreed to be the IPSA Ambassador for India and be part of the exciting journey ahead” The International Professional Security Association (IPSA) is a membership body for individuals and companies working in security and associated roles. The Association was formed more than 60 years ago to ensure professionalism in the management of security operations. IPSA is an established and recognised worldwide professional organization and provides, in accordance with growing demand, a specialised unrivalled service to industry/ commerce. There are no geographical boundaries in operation and the highest technical standards are stringently applied in all our dealings. The Association operates within the framework of fourteen regions which includes many overseas countries.

9 Core Elements that Ensure Businesses Have the Best System for their Needs

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaAugust 25, 2021November 14, 2024045 mins

By Rishi Lodhia Managing Director for EMEA and India, Eagle Eye Networks Today’s video management system (VMS) is not your simple solution of the past. Gone are the days when the VMS was used solely for surveillance and security. A modern cloud-based system goes far beyond that, providing analytics and business intelligence to make your organization smarter and more efficient, and your business a safer place. Whether you’re trying to create a more customer-centric restaurant, efficient retail operation, safe gym environment, or healthy campus, a true cloud VMS can be paramount to your success. Who will benefit from this guide? Eagle Eye Networks experts speak every day with people seeking to better understand cloud video surveillance, but many don’t know where to begin. These individuals are often owners or operators of multisite commercial businesses who are responsible for: Managing 10 to 50 sites such as retail shops, gymnasiums, and quick serve restaurants. Operating 10 to 35 video surveillance cameras per site. Selecting a new video surveillance system with a budget over $75,000, or upgrading an existing system with a budget over $25,000. Continually finding ways to make their business more efficient, effective, and secure. If any or all of these points resonate with you, this guide to cloud video management system (VMS) key elements will serve you well. That said, everyone from small business owners to enterprise customers can glean takeaways from these pages. At a high level, this guide explains the top nine key features of a cloud video surveillance system. Cloud for video surveillance What exactly is ‘cloud computing’ and how do businesses like yours use it for physical security and video surveillance? Cloud computing simply means storing and accessing data on the internet versus storing and accessing data on a computer that’s ‘on-premise’ (installed in your business). While the term ‘cloud’ is often used loosely, with a true cloud video solution, the video is processed and managed in the cloud. The true cloud system may have an onsite appliance, but that appliance is simply a communication conduit that conveys information from security cameras to the cloud. The move to cloud-based systems of all kinds, not just video surveillance, was well under way by the beginning of 2020. It’s not always obvious, but cloud systems are mainstream in most circles – for example, if you have systems that manage payroll, customer relationships, or workflows, they’re likely in the cloud. But the onslaught of COVID-19 greatly accelerated the adoption of cloud systems. In fact, research indicates the percentage of companies that have more than one critical business application in the cloud jumped from 60 percent pre-pandemic to 90 percent today. The top reason given is data access from anywhere, any time. The global pandemic brought with it quarantines, remote work, and new ways of communicating with colleagues and customers. These changes have helped illuminate and amplify the benefits of cloud for video surveillance. Let’s take a look at how multisite commercial businesses benefit from cloud technology for video surveillance: Cost and maintenance Cloud offers a much lower total cost of ownership (TCO), with substantial economies of scale. A cloud system should offer a subscription-based model, so you only pay for what you actually need and use. You can also save money by choosing a VMS partner that doesn’t lock you into purchasing its cameras. Instead, choose a VMS partner that lets you use the cameras you’ve already installed, select your preferred cameras, or use those of the cloud vendor. With cloud, the cost of maintenance is also significantly reduced. That’s because you don’t need to worry about updating your system. New features and security enhancements happen automatically. Cloud systems continuously deliver updates over-the-air. “The onslaught of COVID-19 greatly accelerated the adoption of cloud systems. The percentage of companies that have more than one critical business application in the cloud jumped from 60 to 90%“ Cybersecurity With your video surveillance system connected to the internet, cybersecurity should be fully addressed by the cloud vendor, and it should provide the end user features for secure sign-in, user permissions, and audit trails if needed. System cybersecurity should include: Secure encryption to buffered and locally-recorded video. Constant monitoring against threats. No open ports or onsite firewalls. No onsite software to patch (updates are automatic). Triple redundant storage for events. Two-factor authentication. Scalability Adding locations and cameras, increasing the number of users, adjusting camera resolution, and extending video retention periods are just some of the reasons that multisite commercial customers and others demand a scalable solution. Traditional premise-based VMS systems make it difficult to do this and lack the infrastructure and flexibility to meet these needs. Conversely, cloud-based solutions are designed to run on a scalable set of computing and network resources. With a true cloud system, it’s easy to centralize your video surveillance across multiple locations, add and delete users, and adjust retention and resolution in real time. PRO TIP Look for a cloud that’s purpose built for video There are public clouds, some of the most well known being Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure, that companies pay to store and manage their data. These public clouds cater to large numbers of users who pay as needed, but are subject to the policies and security measures implemented by the cloud provider. Then, there are private (often called hosted) clouds, such as the Eagle Eye Cloud, which is purpose-built to store and manage video. Anywhere access A well-engineered cloud VMS will include a modern mobile app so users can conveniently access video and manage features anywhere in the world with internet collectivity from their computers or mobile devices. Cloud VMS subscribers can activate features, such as video analytics, with the click of a button, without needing to install any additional software. Camera flexibility Cameras are to your VMS as tyres are to your car. Because just as a car relies on its tyres to run, a VMS relies on cameras to be its source of data … to drive security…

Feature

Ransomware Ravaging the World

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaAugust 23, 2021November 14, 2024030 mins

Iqbal Singh Technology Expert & Senior Corporate Executive in a European MNC Imagine you booting your laptop in the morning to start your workday and you have the below message staring at you from your laptop screen. This is an example of a screen-locking ransomware that holds your computer hostage by blocking your access to the operating system and there is almost nothing you can do to access your files and data on your laptop. Now imagine the victim of ransomware instead of being a single user in an organization, maybe an oil pipeline company with a pipeline network of nearly 9000kms or a meat company with plants across the globe or a 800 store retail company. Yes, all of these are real examples of organizations who have been recent high profile victims of ransomware. Ransomware is ravaging the world | Andrey Popov / Getty Images WannaCry ransomware note. Image: Cisco Talos On 07 May 2021 an employee of Colonial Pipeline – the company with the largest pipeline in the USA found a ransom note from hackers on a control-room computer. This provoked a shutdown of their operations for five days, which resulted in a temporary fuel shortage along the East Coast, leading to spike in gas prices and huge queues of consumers at gas stations. The CEO of the company confirmed that they paid a ransom of $4.4 million. 30 May 2021 JBS, the largest beef supplier in the world, suffered a cyberattack, disabling its beef and pork slaughterhouses. The attack impacted facilities in the United States, Canada, and Australia. The company paid a ransom of $11m to the hackers. The Swedish Coop grocery store chain closed all its 800 stores on 03 Jul 2021 after a ransomware attack on American IT provider Kaseya left it unable to operate its cash registers. Hundreds of American businesses were also hit by an unusually sophisticated attack that hijacked the widely used Kaseya software. What is Ransomware? Ransomware is a form of malicious software – malware – that encrypts files and documents on anything from a single PC all the way up to an entire network, including servers. The attacker then demands a ransom from the victim to restore access to the data upon payment. Victims can often be left with limited choices; they can either regain access to their encrypted network by paying a ransom to the criminals behind the ransomware or restore from backups or hope that there is a decryption key freely available. Or start again from scratch. Hackers have been mostly unforgiving and ruthless in choosing their ransomware targets. They have not spared even health-care providers, municipalities and schools, big commercial organizations, of course, are expected tempting targets. The Washington Post found that ransomware attacks in the United States more than doubled from 2019 to 2020. One of the unfortunate success stories of the coronavirus times has been ransomware. Studies consistently show that the scale and cost of ransomware continues to grow. Methods of Infection Understanding how ransomware infects and spreads is the key to avoiding falling victim to an attack. Post-infection, ransomware can spread to other machines or encrypt network filers in the organization’s network. In some cases, it can spread across organizational boundaries to infect supply chains, customers and other organizations. All of the following can be vectors of infection for ransomware attacks: Phishing. Compromised websites. Malvertising. Exploit kits. Downloads. Messaging applications. Brute force via RDP (remote desk protocol) History of Ransomware Even though ransomware is making headlines in recent years the scheme is not new. The idea of taking user files or computers hostage by encrypting files, hindering system access or other methods and then demanding a ransom to return them is a few decades old. In the late 1980s, criminals were already holding encrypted files hostage in exchange for cash sent via the postal service. One of the first ransomware attacks ever documented was the AIDS trojan (PC Cyborg Virus) that was released via floppy disk in 1989. Victims needed to send $189 to a P.O. box in Panama to restore access to their systems, even though it was a simple virus. The AIDS demand for payment – by post. Image: Sophos Ransomware attacks were still not that common well into the 2000s – probably due to difficulties with payment collection. It was the emergence of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin in 2010, that completely altered the landscape. It provided an easy and untraceable method for receiving payment from victims, virtual currencies created the opportunity for ransomware to become a lucrative business. Cyber criminals were quick to latch on to the monetization opportunity that Bitcoin created. This resulted in a substantial proliferation of ransomware beginning in 2012. Intro of CryptoLockers Ransomware was now moving from a petty crime into the realm of financial windfalls. Accordingly, the cyber criminals’ degree of technical sophistication also increased. The levels of encryption started improving from a 56 bit to 660-bit RSA public key encryption to 2048-bits RSA encryption keys by 2014. One significant development was the emergence of cryptolocking ransomware in 2013. CryptoLocker is a strain of ransomware so potent and dangerous that it took a dedicated global government task force to bring it down — but not before the cybercriminals behind it raked in millions of dollars from their hapless victims. It encrypts files on Windows computers, then demands a ransom payment in exchange for the decryption key. It first emerged in September 2013 in a sustained attack that lasted until May of the following year. CryptoLocker fooled targets into downloading malicious attachments sent via emails. Once opened, these Trojan horse attachments would execute the malware hidden in[1]side. Just to give you an idea of the impact CryptoLocker raked in a revenue of $30m within the first 100 days of its appearance. Earlier the encryptions used symmetric keys (same key to crypt as well as decrypt), however, CryptoLocker uses an asymmetric encryption method that makes it difficult to crack. This two-key system uses one public key for…

Feature

Resilient Approach has Helped Us Win Over the Odds

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaAugust 20, 2021November 14, 2024014 mins

Ashish P. Dhakan MD & CEO Prama Hikvision India Pvt. Ltd. SecurityLinkIndia (SLI): Nearly 18 months of pandemic disruption so far and the third wave is largely anticipated – it has not yet been ruled out – what are the impacts on your business, and the security industry at large? It was a great learning experience as it had taught us to be alert, resilient and compliant in the face of adversity. The pandemic disruptions were so sudden and unprecedented that it impacted everybody in some or other way. The security Industry was adversely impacted due to supply chain disruptions and various challenges during this period. We too faced multiple challenges of disruptions, but resilience helped us to overcome the odds. When the entire world and humanity is fighting a crusade against the pandemic and trying to overcome the devastating impact of the second wave, we are setting up a new agenda for the future and acting up on it for the growth of the security industry with a profound human approach. It was a great learning experience for all of us to go through the various phases of pandemic challenges and recovery. We have the resilience and innovative marketing strategies on our side to communicate and engage the target audience in a simple and effective manner. SLI: What are the CSR initiatives you have taken during the pandemic situation? While continuing with our fight against the pandemic, Hikvision India has organised a vaccination drive for its employees, workers and their family members. The vaccination drive was conducted on 20 and 26 June 2021. Through this vaccination drive approximately all employees got covered. The vaccination drive for employees and their family members was organised by Hikvision India as a part of employee welfare initiative to support them in providing protection from the pandemic. The vaccination drive covered the vast pool of employees, which include not only our employees, workers and their families, but also those in the extended ecosystem. Hikvision India had helped the ecosystem partners in the pandemic by providing oxygen concentrators. It has delivered a substantial number of oxygen concentrators to the applicants across India as a part of its CSR Initiative to support its employees, partners, end-users and extended security professional community. The company has launched this CSR Initiative on 27 May 2021 to provide timely support to security business community, system integrators, distributors, vendors and employees and their family members. Under this CSR initiative, oxygen concentrators were successfully delivered free of cost to the verified applicants across India. SLI: How do you foresee the future of security industry amid third wave, and beyond? The medical expert and government bodies had predicted that third wave of the pandemic will have a less severe impact due to vaccination and enhanced awareness. Security Industry ecosystem should continue to be alert, resilient and compliant to the pandemic guidelines and protocols. One thing is clear at no point, we can afford to be complacent about the risks of the third wave and other threats related to pandemic. The security industry has to move forward with planning their future beyond the spectrum of pandemic. They need to identify the emerging opportunities and trends. Hikvision India has lived up to the challenge of the pandemic situation by doing extensive research and development to offer pandemic safety solutions (temperature screening, face mask wearing alerts, social distancing and flow control solutions). We were one of the first movers in the industry to offer temperature screening solutions. We are grateful to our partners and end-users for their consistent support and unshakable trust. We are hopeful that security market will get back to its peak performance level. Though the pandemic situation had created a major challenge for the security industry, but a resilient approach has helped us to win over the odds. SLI: Which new initiatives Hikvision India is taking especially for Indian market? We had the resilience and innovative marketing strategies on our side to communicate and engage the target audience in a simple and effective manner. There are no easy solutions, but the resilience and compliance of the pandemic protocols are the best solutions in these times. We are following stratagem from the market’s own alchemist to ensure a perfect roadmap to recovery. The key priority for us at Hikvision India is to keep on innovating and evolving as an organization while navigating through these challenging times. We have set the strategic priorities of our marketing initiatives to tackle constraints on capacity, capital and capability. It also involves strategic decision making and prioritizing budget for key initiatives and media engagements. Our focused initiatives are based on the evolving market trends, technology advantages, customer and employee demand for societal impact. We have a dedicated special R&D center in India to do the research and development on India specific products and solutions to provide the security solutions as per the requirements. Here some of our innovations go beyond the customization needs of the end-users and create a unique solution as per changing needs. SLI: Which are the significant milestones achieved by Hikvision India? Hikvision India is the leading video security solution provider in the security market. There are three most significant milestones Hikvision India has achieved in the recent times, one is the undisputed market leadership position, the second is ‘Make-in-India’ 2.0 manufacturing plant and the third is going digital across the channels. These three initiatives were rolled out with foresight and missionary zeal. The company has the leading position in the Indian security market and management has shown incredible skills in handling supply chain disruptions and resolving core issues faced by the partner community. We are implementing a series of digital transformation initiatives to keep customers engaged and satisfied undisputed market leadership position, the second is ‘Make-in-India’ 2.0 manufacturing plant and the third is going digital across the channels. These three initiatives were rolled out with foresight and missionary zeal. The company has the leading position in the Indian security market and management has shown…

Future of Loss Prevention-II

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaAugust 20, 2021November 14, 2024024 mins

Anil Puri CMD, APS group A thought leader and an action catalyzer rolled into one – Anil Puri is a rare combination of a visionary, and one who has mastered the art of strategic and tactical thinking to the core. He has been using this combination to seed new ideas and to lead them to their implementation on-ground. This has been a consistent feature of his career. He has rich experience of approximately 35 years in corporate in diverse domains & from functional managerial level to the apex as chairman of a corporate group. To him, The loss prevention (LP) has always occupied central place when planning the security protocols for the shopping malls, warehouses, large shopping complexes, standalone retail stores and manufacturing plants. He has been keenly watching the developments in the loss prevention techniques emerging in this domain. Old adage loss prevention techniques have stood the test of times but have been breached, losses inflicted and profitability hit. However, emerging innovative technologies have revolutionized the entire perspective of loss prevention. He contributes extensively in framework of security protocols of loss prevention with his ops team before deployment of security personnel at high end shopping malls. Here he shares his thoughts on new landscape which has gradually been shaping in favor of the retailers. Let us see what future holds for loss prevention. Here he propagates the enhanced usage of AI in loss prevention. Introduction Retail shrinkage is a multi-billion-dollar, multi-layered monster that affects organizations throughout the retail industry. The problem spans beyond the physical store and has roots throughout the entire supply chain. Government-imposed public health protocols, social restrictions and lockdowns that have arisen because of the COVID-19 global pandemic have changed the way people do things the world over. The impacts on the retail sector have been significant, translating it into levels of adversity unlike anything business has ever before faced. For retail loss prevention teams charged with ensuring the safety and security of the business’ employees, customers and product, the shifts and accelerations in consumer behavior mean that they have to rethink & revisit their strategies. They have had to leverage their creativity and innovation in order to pivot and respond to a whole new set of challenges. Globally many retail loss prevention forums have organized events to help address the evolving concerns of today’s loss prevention professionals and discuss the ways by which leaders within the industry are proactively producing effective solutions to protect their businesses. This has provided virtual attendees with thought leadership, critical insights into best practices with respect to day-to-day retail operations and an incredible opportunity to network with industry colleagues concerning the most pressing issues their industry is facing today. How to disrupt the organized crime? The scourge of organized retail crime (ORC) continues to cast a pall over retail operations, with the number of incidents escalating since the start of the pandemic. Given the increasingly sophisticated means by which these groups, who often travel from region to region, are striking neighborhoods and cities indiscriminately, the role of loss prevention teams in curbing this very serious threat is critical. It is time to unpack this complicated issue for retailers and discuss some of the ways in which loss prevention teams can enhance the protection of their organizations. As impacts of the pandemic continue to influence the way today’s consumer shops and accelerates online activity, retailers are faced with more adversity than ever before in providing a safe, secure and seamless environment in which to serve their customers. To better understand how these changes in consumer behavior are impacting retailers’ efforts to ensure a best-in-class experience during these difficult times, and to share insights concerning some of the incredible pivots being made by loss prevention teams in order to support their organization’s operations and service. Potential Ramifications The sessions organized by loss prevention forums focused on the potential ramifications of ORC to retail operations, the trends that are related to the activities of these crime groups, as well as some of the proactive steps that can be taken by loss prevention teams in order to deal with the risk like: (a) Retailers should join any network that is available to them. (b) If there aren’t any, they should create one for themselves (c) Be proactive in hosting opportunities to get together with law enforcement partners, fellow loss prevention officers, community associations, city politicians and crown attorneys to hold ongoing dialogue. Creating these communities makes it easier for everyone impacted by these crimes to identify associated trends and more difficult for ORC groups to operate as efficiently as they’d like to. Developing a Threat Awareness Another threat wreaking havoc on retail operations is found within the digital world. Though perpetrated by living, breathing human beings, the veiled activities of cybercriminals allow them to conduct their misdeeds behind a screen and provide them both with relative anonymity and the digital tools they need to undo a business. It is important to understand the ways in which a cyber threat and incident can occur as well as the potential ramifications to the retail bottom line and the steps that are required of organizations to properly deal with the issue. What is needed is – Developing the threat awareness, understanding of relevant prevention information and adhering to best digital practices will be key. Too often, the cyber-attacks go unreported. As a result, the attackers are emboldened knowing that law enforcement is unaware of the scope of the problem and that the incidents likely won’t be investigated. It’s imperative that any and all cyber attacks be reported to the police. In tandem with the incident reporting to law enforcement, retailers must follow the procedures that have been outlined within their company’s cyber incident response plan. If a plan has not been developed, then it should become a quick priority. That’s where retailers and law enforcement will be able to make a difference, making it harder for cybercriminals to operate, thereby reducing the level of victimization….

Case Study

Namchi, the ‘Sky-High City’ becomes ‘Smart City’ with Videonetics AI Powered Unified Solution

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaAugust 11, 2021November 14, 202409 mins

Situated at an altitude of 5500 feet above sea level, Namchi (means sky high) is one of the famous and biggest tourist destinations in Sikkim, a state of northeast India. Surrounded with spectacular view of the mountains, emerald and green forest, Namchi is well-known for its old monasteries, sacred temples, and annual festivals such as Namchi Mahotsav. Namchi was selected to be part of the Smart Cities Mission, an ambitious programme of Govt. of India. Under this programme, the city aspires to be a ‘world-class’ tourist destination and simultaneously maintain ecological balance with a vibrant community, offering an enriched quality of life supported by a robust local economy. In recent years, the city infrastructure has also shown rapid growth and welcoming thousands of tourists each year. Hence, making the city vulnerable to threats driven by overcrowding, chaotic traffic, haphazard parking in addition to other law & order issues. In the first phase of the project, the Namchi Smart City Limited wanted to cover its citizens as well as tourists with Namchi, the ‘Sky-High City’ becomes ‘Smart City’ with Videonetics AI Powered Unified Solution a robust surveillance system with proper traffic management without disrupting the normal day to day activities. The solution After thorough assessment of the requirements and consequent discussions with the officials of Namchi Smart City Limited, Videonetics designed modular and scalable unified solution, based on its Intelligent VMS and AI & DL powered video analytics, aimed to ensure continuous monitoring, efficient traffic monitoring, quicker response times and faster access to evidence in case of investigations and law & order management. Eyeing on every corner of the city A group of over 120 IP cameras have been installed at the important locations to monitor the entry and exit points connecting to the city, public ways, transport hubs, tourist attractions, markets, streets, traffic junctions to name a few. Now, security operators can easily view and manage citywide deployed IP cameras with intuitive interface of Videonetics Intelligent VMS, having complete situation[1]al awareness and can respond smartly to critical situations. Moreover, the smart navigation feature of Intelligent VMS allows simultaneously viewing of the live and the recorded videos in the same interface, which helps in prompt investigation of past activities without taking their eye off from the current incidents. Parking and directional analytics Namchi being a hilly terrain, has narrow roads with limited scope of turning it into broader ones, the authorities used to manage the traffic by declaring some of the roads as one-way carriage. Frequently, the city faced chaotic traffic congestion and accidents, due to unauthorized parking and wrong-way driving. To address such concerns, Videonetics artificial intelligence powered video analytics including no parking detection and wrong-way movement detection, were deployed to detect such situations. Operators are notified as soon as any vehicle is parked in a restricted zone and if any vehicle moves in the wrong direction. The Videonetics unified solution empowers command control operators to receive real-time insights from the city and upon recognition or prediction of unusual behaviour, they receive an immediate alert and notify the authorities. Centralized view of the city Videonetics Intelligent VMS and video analytics application are seamlessly integrated with Namchi Operations Center (NOC), an Integrated Command Control Center (ICCC), to simplify the response coordination between stakeholders and speeding up incident resolution. Working in conjunction with city administration, control room operators can switch from camera to camera using dynamic maps, empowers them to obtain critical event information as well as manage emergency situations by alerting respective stakeholders for quick action. And when necessary, Videonetics unified solution makes it possible to share forensic videos across departments, facilitating more collaborative and successful response efforts. Namchi adapting to ‘New Normal’ with COVID-19 War Room As the coronavirus pandemic evolves with different waves, Namchi smart city officials decided to transform ICCC to COVID-19 War Room by seamlessly integrating with Crisis Control Response and Mitigation System (C2RMS), an operational intelligence platform from Astrikos Consulting and Videonetics unified solution. By having this powerful and distinctive integrated solution, operators monitor violation of COVID-19 guidelines such as social distancing, crowd formation, people gathered without masks, predicting gathering and so on from the command control center and provide actionable alerts to authority or on-ground officials, for effective enforcement and decision making. In parallel, C2RMS proactively monitors and assess the spread, deeply conducts preparedness assessment, and delivers real-time insights on capacity management of hospitals such as status of hospital beds, oxygen, PPE Kits etc, to the authorities. The result The sagacious collaboration between Videonetics, Astrikos Consulting and Namchi Smart City Ltd, has become an exemplary model for other cities. Videonetics unified solution has exceeded city administration’s expectations in terms of its intuitive functionalities, identifying suspicious activities and ensuring smooth traffic movements. And the solution’s open architecture allows the seamless addition of more cameras and integration with other security systems as the city continues to grow and identify more needs. It signifies future development potential with maximum impact on people. Furthermore, the integrated solution has been extremely helpful for the city authority in aggregating and visualizing the video data collected over time, to deliver critical statistical information such as directional traffic data, traffic flow insights, hotspots of public gathering etc. Eventually, increasing the situational awareness, standardizing response protocol and implementing SoPs at city level and enhancing collaboration across various departments/ bodies emphasizing ‘the citizens come first’ mindset of Namchi city. Thanks to the integrated and unified solution that not only supported Namchi to achieve but also exceed its security goals.

Case Study

K-12 Schools Increasingly Adopt Everbridge’s School Safety Software to Protect Students, Staff, and Faculty in Crisis Situations

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaAugust 11, 2021November 14, 202409 mins

Everbridge, Inc., the leading global player in critical event management (CEM), recently announced that three California county school districts became the latest to select the company’s industry-leading K-12 School Safety software solution to address crisis situations affecting schools and districts. Everbridge’s School Safety platform provides public safety-grade applications to accelerate response times and coordinate efforts to address crises affecting K-12 districts. The platform enables school administrators to orchestrate a collaborative approach for incidents including campus violence such as active shooters and bomb threats, as well as lockdowns and medical emergencies. The Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, among other K-12 districts across California, recently selected Everbridge to help protect their students, faculty, and staff during such emergencies. “Everbridge has provided a simple solution to school safety and their team has stood side by side with all of our Fresno County educators in an effort to solidify emergency partnerships,” said Dr. Hank Gutierrez, Deputy Superintendent, Educational Services, Office of Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Fresno County, California Office of Education among latest K-12 schools across 17 U.S. states and four countries to select Everbridge school safety platform to accelerate response times and coordinate emergency management efforts on K-12 campuses. Everbridge serves as approved partner for Alyssa’s Law mandate passed in Florida and New Jersey calling for silent panic alarms linked to law enforcement and first responder services. According to the FBI, 69% of active shooter incidents conclude in under five minutes, which does not leave time for uncertainty or indecisiveness. The Everbridge School Safety software provides a comprehensive solution to address critical events in seconds by engaging appropriate personnel on campus and at the district level, and first responders in an immediate and coordinated way. “A healthy learning environment will remain impossible without a sense of safety and well-being in the halls and on campus,” said Tracy Reinhold, Everbridge Chief Security Officer and former head of the FBI’s Intelligence Division, “As schools navigate threats both old and new, they need smart, reliable technology that can connect with first responders and on-site staff to ensure an immediate response to any emergency – from medical incidents to crisis situations. The faster we can make people aware that they need to take action, the better the outcome will be.” Everbridge’s School Safety functionality supports K-12 schools/ districts across 17 U.S. states and four countries, quickly orchestrating everything from: Equipping law enforcement with valuable insight of the situation. K-12 Schools Increasingly Adopt Everbridge’s School Safety Software to Protect Students, Staff, and Faculty in Crisis Situations Fresno County, California Office of Education among latest K-12 schools across 17 U.S. states and four countries to select Everbridge school safety platform to accelerate response times and coordinate emergency management efforts on K-12 campuses. Everbridge serves as approved partner for Alyssa’s Law mandate passed in Florida and New Jersey calling for silent panic alarms linked to law enforcement and first responder services. Automating school lockdown procedures via a panic button. Providing schools with the most technology and device integrations in the industry, including integrations with building access controls, shooter detection systems, and more. Engaging school and district leadership with one-touch conference calling. Helping to avert issues of violence or bullying on campus by empowering students, teachers, and staff to speak up through the anonymous tipping app. Safety Status check-in via two-way communication. Analyzing data after the incident for improvement planning. The Florida Department of Education recently chose Everbridge as an approved partner for the state’s Alyssa’s Law mandate. Beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, Florida public and charter schools will be required to demonstrate compliance with Alyssa’s Law, named after one of the students killed in the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman LightEdge Standardizes on Invixium Biometrics for Elegant, Touchless Access Control High-security data center standardizes on invixium biometrics for modern touchless access control Data centers require unique security solutions to ensure that their customers’ most critical assets are protected from theft. LightEdge, a premier provider of cloud and colocation services in the Midwestern United States, sought a biometric solution that matched the company’s high-level goals of security and futuristic design. Beginning in 2018, LightEdge sought to standardize on biometrics for a unique security application for both employ Douglas High School in 2018. The new legislation calls for silent panic alarms linked to law enforcement and first responder services. Already passed into law in New Jersey and now Florida, Alyssa’s Law is quickly gaining traction around the U.S. The legislation requires the Department of Education to set up a model panic alert system that can be used by public and charter schools in Florida’s K-12 districts. The alarm will be used to ensure school officials can contact nearby law enforcement quickly in the event of an emergency. Many colleges and universities also leverage Everbridge for their critical communications, contact tracing support and return-to-campus initiatives, including the University of Denver, UCLA, Harvard University, California Institute of Technology, University of Maryland College Park, University of Oregon, University of Texas at Austin, Michigan State University, and Washington State University. Internationally, notable schools that deploy Everbridge solutions include Nord University in Norway, Technical University of Denmark, Imperial College London, and the American University of Paris.

Case Study

LightEdge Standardizes on Invixium Biometrics for Elegant, Touchless Access Control

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaAugust 11, 2021November 14, 202405 mins

Data centers require unique security solutions to ensure that their customers’ most critical assets are protected from theft. LightEdge, a premier provider of cloud and colocation services in the Midwestern United States, sought a biometric solution that matched the company’s high-level goals of security and futuristic design. Beginning in 2018, LightEdge sought to standardize on biometrics for a unique security application for both employees and visitors. Prior to modernizing their access control, LightEdge was using a hand geometry-based system to activate visitor cards as part of their check-in process and to secure critical areas with mantraps. Across LightEdge’s seven locations in the Midwestern United States, the security system would have to provide access control for hundreds of people including data center employees, tenants and visitors at each location. Further, LightEdge has experience with RS2’s access control software and the HID SEOS cards used at card reader doors, so their new biometric solution would need to be compatible with existing solutions. Standardizing on futuristic biometric access control locks down unique security workflow LightEdge selected the Invixium IXM TITAN because it is a high security biometric solution that blends airtight access control with sophisticated design thanks to its multi-biometric capabilities and elegant construction with an all-aluminum body and a 5.0” LCD screen to display authentication instructions. The installed system is integrated with AccessIt! by RS2 Technologies and has replaced hand geometry and card readers at two of LightEdge’s seven locations so far. After two years of continued use, LightEdge is pleased that this system offers the high security and fitting design promised, in addition to the partnership and expertise offered by both RS2 and Invixium. LightEdge’s benefits of migrating to access control with IXM TITAN include: Future-focused security: Biometrics offer the highest level of security possible, and touchless face recognition like that offered by IXM TITAN project an outward appearance of future-focus and sophistication. Seamless transition: Integration with RS2’s access control software ensures a smooth transition from LightEdge’s previous biometric solution to Invixium’s solution, so employees and visitors can enjoy a seamless experience. Sophisticated design: The overall design of IXM TITAN, featuring an aluminum body and large IPS LCD screen, evokes an image of design-consciousness and elegance for users. Standardized support: Standardizing on Invixium and RS2 allows the centralized LightEdge IT and security teams to better support each data center. “Uncompromising security is integral to Invixium’s DNA,” said Shiraz Kapadia, CEO & President at Invixium, “We understand that Data Centers like LightEdge need high-security solutions to assure their clients that their information and assets are protected from theft. IXM TITAN continues to deliver that and more with our signature security expertise and exquisite design that perfectly meet the demands of our most future-focused customers.” “LightEdge requires uncompromising security. Biometrics help us ensure the high level of accuracy we demand from our access control system. Our direct relationship with Invixium provides us with tailored support from a company that’s large enough to support our needs, but also intimate enough to be very personal. Standardizing on RS2 and Invixium helps us ensure that our system upholds our values of high security, modernness and futuristic design,” said John Martin, Director of Data Center Operations at LightEdge Solutions.

Case Study

Narita International Airport Selects Smiths Detection’s Automatic Tray Disinfection Technology for Safer Travel

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaAugust 11, 2021November 14, 202404 mins

Narita International Airport is Japan’s busiest airport and the first to acquire the Airport Health Accreditation (AHA) implemented by Airports Council International (ACI). Smiths Detection will assist Narita Airport to install 62 units of Ultraviolet (UV) light tray disinfection equipment in its latest effort to enable safer travel. The UV disinfection equipment will be integrated with 62 advanced security checkpoints across the three terminals by March 2022. “To best prepare for the resumption of international air travel, we are taking various measures to stay ahead of the curve and safeguard passenger health. This includes installing automatic UV light disinfection kits to disinfect security trays. The kit is proven to eliminate up to 99.9% of bacteria and viruses including coronaviruses, protecting passengers and staff from tactile transmission of contagious diseases.” said Susumu Kitabayashi, AVSEC Senior Manager, Narita International Airport, “As we look to secure our terminals and provide travellers a peace of mind, we are working with Smiths Detection who has provided reliable and experienced onsite support to meet the industry’s highest standard.” Additionally, Narita Airport has made investments in fully integrated checkpoint and hold baggage solutions to help ease traffic, reduce passenger wait time, cut down on touch points, and streamline security processes. These include: HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX, a computed tomography (CT) X-ray scanner producing high-resolution volumetric 3D images for quicker baggage assessment and low false-alarm rates. It allows electronics and liquids to remain in bags, speeding up passenger screening and reducing touchpoints. Evo, an automated smart lane that helps keep trays and passengers moving eliminating bottlenecks and streamlining the screening process. The body scanner eqo, a body scanner which automatically detects contraband of any concealed material and reduces the need for physical pat-downs. Checkpoint.Evoplus, a remote screening and operations management platform for faster decision making. HI-SCAN 6040-2is, an advanced dual-view X-ray system for cabin baggage, shortening inspection time. CTX 9800 DSi, a CT-based explosives detection system (EDS) for screening of checked baggage which provides high-levels of detection and low false-alarm rates. “We are delighted to be working with Narita Airport to take its security commitment to greater heights,” said Aurelien Guilbert, Managing Director, North Asia, Smiths Detection, “Narita Airport has been a forerunner in introducing technologies in its operations and security processes, and we are confident that with the latest installations, passengers travelling through Narita Airport will feel safe and assured in this uncertain time.”

Case Study

Tunnel Vision: Cubic and Transport for London Choose Ruggedised Predator PTZ Cameras for Traffic Safety Monitoring at Limehouse Link Tunnel

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaAugust 11, 2021November 14, 2024012 mins

When Cubic Transportation Systems and Transport for London identified that the Limehouse Link Tunnel in London’s East End would benefit from an upgraded traffic safety monitoring system, they opted for the advantages offered by Predator Ultra HD cameras from 360 Vision Technology. Let’s face it: traffic tunnels are cool. Perhaps it’s their artificially lit, subterranean nature, coupled with the unspoken thrill of passing smoothly, at high speed, through an entirely manmade structure. Maybe it’s their place in Hollywood’s celluloid iconography, light tracing the contours of our protagonist’s face as they race toward, or away from, one crisis or another. Maybe it’s the way tunnels are the embodiment of human ingenuity made solid, engineering as pure solution: let’s get from A to B as efficiently as possible, and if that means going under or through whatever gets in our way, well, that’s what we’re going to do. Whatever it is, tunnels are irrefutably cool, and the Limehouse Link Tunnel is one of London’s coolest. Opened for use in 1993, it stretches for a little over a mile under London’s East End. Travelling along the A1203 from the Highway to Canary Wharf, it takes vehicles under the Limehouse Basin, Limekiln Dock and Dundee Wharf, then curves north-east under Westferry Road to emerge near the West India Quay DLR station. It’s apt that the entrances and exits to the tunnel are known as ‘portals’ – the Limehouse Link Tunnel transforms commuters into virtual time travellers, entering from the historic, fabled streets of the East End and emerging, blinking, into the hyper-modern glass and steel-emblazoned environs of the reclaimed Canary Wharf. Those portals are adorned with distinctive artworks, glimpsed by the passengers in the thousands of vehicles which traverse the length of the tunnel in both directions every day – on the western end is Zadok Ben-David’s circle of silhouettes, ‘Restless Dream,’ while the eastern portal features an untitled abstract by Nigel Hall. Underground safety For a massively busy tunnel like the Limehouse Link, safety is paramount. Speed limits are set at 30mph, and Transport for London traffic management teams constantly monitor the live video feeds from cameras sited strategically along its course to ensure traffic flows smoothly and any incidents can be acted upon swiftly and safely. The camera system in the Limehouse Link Tunnel is maintained by Cubic Transportation Systems. Award-winning Cubic has worked with TfL for many years, helping to deliver the famed Oyster payment system and continually working to reinvent the way integrated technology is used in managing traffic and public transport across London. Recently, it was decided that the existing cameras in the Limehouse Link Tunnel were in need of an upgrade. Cubic Senior Field Services Manager Neil Ashford explained. “The older cameras that were being used in the tunnel had become obsolete,” he said, “This was due to camera part obsolescence fault levels increasing, and critical areas of tunnel coverage becoming more challenging to maintain with adequate CCTV coverage. Roadside cameras need to be tough and reliable, so we needed a ruggedised model that could withstand the rigours of constant use in that environment.” Cubic had used Predator Ultra HD cameras from UK manufacturer 360Vision Technology on an earlier tunnel project, and this experience convinced Neil Ashford, and Cubic, that they’d be up to the task. The Predator PTZ camera range is a high performance, fully featured range of ruggedised pan-tilt zoom cameras, designed and manufactured in the UK. The distinctive Predator range comes with multiple protocols as standard, allowing quick and simple integration with DVRs, matrices, and IP VMS systems. The Predator Ultra cameras provide HD images, 30x optical zoom, and extremely low light operation. Technically adept One challenge the Limehouse Link Tunnel upgrade project faced was transmission – how best to ensure the 1080p HD images captured by the cameras could be sent to the TfL control centres. Thankfully, in addition to its direct IP connection options, the Predator cameras feature a 12-pin connection in the base of each unit, allowing the new replacement cameras to be connected directly to the existing cable infrastructure of the old camera system. This feature alone saved significant time and installation costs. “Being able to install the new Predator cameras without making any changes to the local camera infrastructure was a great advantage in reducing installation time and cost of the project,” Neil Ashford said, “Another of the key factors in choosing to use the Predators was the relationship we have with the manufacturer. They are the true expert on the camera, and working directly with them can help us to quickly and efficiently solve any issues that might arise. “Being UK-based is part of it, but the crucial thing is access to knowledgeable staff. I have a highly technical team of engineers, and thankfully 360Vision have highly technical staff who listen to and address any problems that we find with a camera. It’s a very good working relationship. In fact, I would go as far as to say that they are the best supplier I have ever worked with. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them on future projects.” Proactive monitoring A total of 56 Predator Ultra 30:1 HD cameras are now in active use in the Limehouse Link Tunnel. The cameras are monitored at a variety of locations including the primary Transport for London Network Management Control Centre (NMCC). The complex 24-hour NMCC operation integrates previously separate control departments into one central hub, providing a more efficient and linked-up approach to roads management. It’s part of the ‘Vision Zero’ approach to traffic and transport strategy, with a long-term aim of eliminating all deaths and serious injuries from London’s streets. Operators look out not just for active incidents such as accidents and collisions, but for anything that has the potential to cause one, including loose manhole covers or potholes. When one of these situations is spotted, the Predator camera is zoomed in to confirm its cause and help to diagnose a swift solution, which could include closing…