January, 2023 - securitylinkindia

International

Genetec Releases 2022 State of Physical Security Report

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJanuary 18, 2023November 14, 202404 mins

Genetec Inc., a leading technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence solutions, recently shared the results of its 2022 State Physical Security report. Based on insights from over 3,700 physical security leaders worldwide (including end users and systems integrators/ installers/ providers), the report looks at the security strategies organizations are putting in place to effectively navigate the realities of a changing landscape. The future of security is hybrid 54% of end-user respondents indicated that their organization’s target vision for security deployment is a blend of on-premises and cloud-based solutions. A hybrid approach enables organizations to optimize their existing on-premises investments while leveraging cloud options to save cost, increase security and efficiency, and enable remote access to systems and sensors. Cybersecurity concerns are rising The convergence of information technology (IT) and security is inspiring new approaches to implementing and managing a strong cybersecurity strategy. 64% of IT respondents and 54% of security respondents indicated that cybersecurity tools are a top focus this year. Use of physical security for business operations The survey showed that almost two-thirds (63%) of all respondents and 7 in every 10 organizations with over 10,000 employees described physical security and related data as ‘mission-critical.’ Over the last few years, physical security has become a strategic asset to cope with a variety of challenges that go beyond just mitigating risk and is now playing a much more significant role in organizations’ digital transformation. Physical security gets unified Most respondents (64%) reported that they run both video surveillance and access control in their physical security deployments. Of those, 77% indicated that their organization had implemented either integration between video surveillance and access control systems from different vendors, or a unified video surveillance and access control solution from one manufacturer. “Every organization wants to get their hands on the latest technology. However, faced with budget constraints, talent shortages, and ever-changing priorities, security leaders are required to do more with less,” said Pervez Siddiqui, Vice-President of Offerings and Transformation at Genetec, “A unified security platform gives organizations a path to modernize their aging systems while leveraging their existing infrastructure. And they can do this without expensive and complex custom development.” Survey methodology Genetec Inc. surveyed physical security professionals from August 25 to September 21, 2022. Following a review of submissions, 3,711 respondents were included in the sample for analysis. Survey samples were run across all regions including North America, Central America, Caribbean, South America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, East Asia, Southern Asia, South-Eastern Asia, Central Asia, Western Asia, and Australia-New Zealand.

International

Gallagher Named Security Software Manufacturer of the Year at the 2022 Security & Fire Excellence Awards

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJanuary 18, 2023November 14, 202403 mins

Global security manufacturer, Gallagher has been awarded the Security Software Manufacturer of the Year accolade at the 2022 Security & Fire Excellence Awards. The Security Software Manufacturer award category was created to celebrate the efforts of a security software vendor who has gone above and beyond in the areas of innovation; marketing; commitment to high physical, integration and cybersecurity standards; being a great employer, and building products that meet or exceed the latest environmental and energy usage standards. On winning the award, Gallagher’s Regional General Manager for the UK and Europe, Richard Huison said, “We’re absolutely delighted to be named ‘Security Software Manufacturer’ of the year and to be recognised for the all-round excellence of our Gallagher Security Command Centre software. “Our customers are at the forefront of what inspires our innovation and I believe that our ability to consistently deliver such a high standard of product and service is a direct reflection of the outstanding levels of knowledge and skill held by our employees. “This culture of innovation and excellence ensures that Gallagher remains a market leader and creates the enduring and successful partnerships we experience with our customers.” Command Centre is the powerful software at the heart of Gallagher’s integrated security solutions, a centralised platform that gives unparalleled control of every aspect of a site. Fully scalable and supported by continuous investment in research and development, Command Centre supports future growth and changing security requirements. Providing perimeter solutions, intelligent access control and building management, for critical sites with some of today’s highest security requirements, Command Centre is designed with people, site, business and building management in mind. Now in their twenty-third year, the Security & Fire Excellence Awards highlights the very best people, projects and processes that the security and fire sectors have to offer.

National

Evolutionary eDVR Series with eSSD Technology

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJanuary 18, 2023November 14, 202406 mins

Hikvision recently added the eDVR Series into its expanding portfolio of security solutions for SMBs. Powered by embedded solid state drive (eSSD) technology, Hikvision’s eDVRs are compact, durable, easy-to-use, and energy-efficient. All this means they are ideal for small-to-medium-sized businesses and residential applications. “The eDVR Series is smarter, faster, more durable and more energy efficient than anything that’s gone before, not only helping to minimize negative environmental impacts, but also delivering major energy and cost savings for our customers,” said Wenson Zhou, Product Director at Hikvision. New possibilities for efficiency and sustainability Eco-friendliness and 45% energy saving The ultra-low power consumption of chip-level eSSDs makes Hikvision eDVRs more sustainable. Since these devices don’t have spindle motor engines built in, their energy consumption is 45% lower than that of the conventional DVRs, not only helping users to make long-term savings on their electricity bills, but also enabling them to reduce carbon emissions. In addition, the use of eSSDs makes the products more durable than conventional DVRs that use HDD drives. This is because there are fewer moving parts, such as actuator arms. With longer product life cycles, the eDVR Series contributes to eco-efficiency and sustainability. Endurable storage with a 25% improvement in efficiency Being powered by ‘eSSD’ technology, with solid-state storage components down to chip level, the Hikvision eDVRs have exceptional storage efficiency and system stability. The storage efficiency of eDVR Series is further enhanced by ‘scene adaptive bitrate control technology,’ which automatically optimizes encoding for video footage, and improves the coding efficiency by 25%. Specifically, complex scenes with human or vehicle movements are allocated higher bitrates to ensure great video quality. At the same time, low-complexity scenes with little or no movement are assigned a lower bitrate to optimize storage efficiency. Compact design for ease of use and simplicity of installation As the eDVRs are embedded with SSDs and have a ‘screwless’ design, tool-free installation is made possible. Besides, without the traditional horizontal mounting requirements of conventional HDDs, the devices are also easier to assemble and set up. Thanks to this ease and flexibility of installation, both end-customers and installers can save time and reduce their maintenance and operating costs. Compared to conventional SSD DVRs, Hikvision’s eDVRs are highly compact, helping to save on space. They can fit anywhere – be it behind a monitor, under a table, on a bookshelf, or hidden inside a custom stand. Smart motion detection Embedded with Motion Detection 2.0 technology, the eDVR Series can distinguish human beings and vehicles from other objects in any given environment, enabling property owners to respond much more quickly and effectively to potential security breaches. The technology also enable property owners to search video footage based on the appearances of people or vehicles during a specific period of time, saving time and reducing their workloads and costs. Effective for residential and SMB applications The innovative features of the Hikvision eDVR Series make these solutions equally effective for residential, SMB, and commercial applications. In all cases, end-customers benefit from an easy and flexible installation process, low energy consumption, minimal maintenance requirements, and high performance video capture, storage, and processing. The compact format of Hikvision eDVRs also increases the solution’s versatility. For example, eDVRs can easily fit into residential homes. The devices’ storage drives also operate with virtually no noise or vibrations, and generate very little heat, which makes them ideal for residential applications. These advantages, along with the eDVRs’ affordability, functionality, and sustainability, also make the product range an ideal choice for SMBs such as convenience stores, grocery shops, restaurants, workshops, bars, and more.

National

Matrix Presented its Enterprise Grade Solutions Covering Security and Telecom at Matrix Partner Connect, Lucknow

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJanuary 18, 2023November 14, 202407 mins

With its establishment three decades ago, Matrix has been a growing name across Telecom and Security domains internationally. Matrix covers the entire security and communication needs of organizations ranging in all sizes with its extensive solution range in the domain of Video Surveillance, Access Control, Time-Attendance, and Telecom. Matrix focuses on providing customer-centered technology-driven solutions by providing world-class products indigenously researched, designed, and developed in India. With research and development consisting of 40% of its human resources, Matrix has a wide range of 60+ technologically advanced products spread across its 4 domains. With a worldwide network of 2500+ Partners serving over 1 million users globally, Matrix solely focuses on sales through its channel partners. With intensive research at the forefront, Matrix builds innovative enterprise-grade solutions on a national and international scale. To highlight these latest innovations in the security and telecom domain, Matrix presented its ideation event – MATRIX PARTNER CONNECT 2022. To bridge the gap surrounding the pandemic, through this event, Matrix converged with partners and system integrators for furthering business possibilities. Working hand in hand with its channel partner – MIRACLE AUTOMATION, Matrix rolled out its next episode of MATRIX PARTNER CONNECT in the city of Lucknow. With its status as a defense corridor, fastest-growing infra, and largest spiritual circuitry, Lucknow has become a city with a growing industrial presence. Especially with full-fledged connectivity to various nearby industrial hubs, Lucknow – this ‘heart-of-the-nation’ location is a spot with extensive potential for growing Matrix Business and its SI network. The event was held at the Centrum, Lucknow. In this edition of Partner Connect, Matrix put out its entire IP Video Surveillance solutions that consist of server-based enterprise-grade NVRs, UL-listed Cameras, Matrix VMS, and more. Focusing on customer challenges such as bandwidth utilization, storage cost, managing multi-site offices, and reactive security, Matrix supplements all organizational needs. On-display Cameras included the Matrix range of Turret, Dome, Bullet, and PTZ Cameras. Ranging from 2MP to 8MP, Matrix Cameras are stamped with UL Certification, a global standard for safety, and NEMA Certification for protection against environmental hazards, providing high-clarity images for better scenario detailing. Alongside this, Matrix put forth its Server-based Enterprise grade NVRs on display. With Pre-installed Video Management Software supporting redundancies and hot-swappable hard disks – HDD/ SSD capable of up to 144TB storage capacity, this tech marvel suffices all organizational security concerns. When it comes to Access Control and Time-Attendance, Matrix is the only OEM that manufactures all the elements ranging from panels, door controllers, and readers to software in-house. Within the segment of Time-Attendance, Matrix presented its Aadhaar Enabled Biometric Attendance Device (AEBAS) designed explicitly for government organizations – COSEC VEGA FAXQ. Using Aadhaar information from the UIDAI server securely, this device helps the government accurately mark the attendance of their employees. Besides this, Matrix displayed its best-in-class facial recognition-based door controller boasting high accuracy, an identification speed of less than 0.5 sec, and a massive user capacity of 50K – COSEC ARGO FACE. Incorporating multiple connectivity options such as Wi-Fi, PoE, and Ethernet, these devices provide the best for modern organizations. In Access Control Domain, Matrix showcased its Multifaceted Site Controller controlling up to 255 COSEC door controllers and 25,000 Users – COSEC PANEL200P. Also, Matrix brought its pure access door controller with multiple benefits over the conventional access control terminal – COSEC ARC DC200P. Its PoE abilities and multiple mounting options make it easy to install even in constrained spaces with minimalistic wiring. This event showcased the entire Matrix access control product range. In the domain of Telecommunications, Matrix is the sole OEM that puts forward all the business communication products and solutions. Under the umbrella of Telecom solutions, Matrix presented its product and solutions consisting of PBXs, IP-PBXs, Server-based PBXs, Media Gateways, Communication endpoints, and softphones. Anil Mehra, Senior VP-Sales and Marketing stated, “With its exclusive event – Matrix Partner Connect 2022, Matrix wishes to bring all System Integrators and Business prospects on the same platform. Through this event, one of our major aims is to connect with organizations through system integrators, present our successful case studies internationally, and demonstrate how Matrix caters to various verticals through our enterprise-grade solutions.”

National

Synology Records 100% Growth in India YoY since 2019

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJanuary 18, 2023November 14, 2024013 mins

Synology, a pioneer and one of the world leaders in data storage and management, recently unveiled its game plan for achieving 300% growth in 2023, riding on its track record of 100% growth YoY in India since 2019 and the strength of its new range of data storage and backup, file collaboration, video surveillance, and network infrastructure solutions. Synology has been growing exponentially YoY in revenue, units shipped, installed base, customers, and active partner accounts since 2019. Synology server deployments in India have doubled YoY, especially among Small and Midsize Businesses (SMBs), emerging as key growth drivers for the company. The manufacturing sector, seeking multi-site solutions to share and sync mission-critical data, accounts for more than 30% of Synology revenues in India. Professional services (ex. hospitals) seeking on-demand data protection, security and backup solutions, and the entertainment industry seeking PETA volume data storage and high I/O data management solutions follow with a 15% share each. Events since 2019 have changed the way businesses and their employees manage and share data, testing organization-wide IT resilience. During the pandemic, Synology NAS used for file collaboration and remote access fulfilled a critical need for SMBs and enterprises to have an integrated infrastructure providing networking, collaboration, security, and file storage solutions, to minimize IT efforts and enable them to focus on running their business in a challenging environment. Designed to simplify and empower users, regardless of skill level, to tackle common IT issues, Synology NAS servers enhanced the business resilience of SMBs. “The Indian economy is poised for exponential growth in 2023 and beyond. Our new line of data management solutions enables us to address unmet market demands and drive digital transformation for customers in India,” said Michael Chang, Regional Sales Head, Asia Pacific, Synology. Staying at the forefront of data management, Synology is bringing new possibilities to the table, including solutions for data storage and backup, file collaboration, video surveillance, and network infrastructure – all designed with one goal in mind – presenting a centralized platform to simplify IT administration while driving digital transformation for enterprises, SMBs and SOHO users in India. Encompassing all products and spanning data management, data protection, and IT infrastructure security, the newly launched Synology solutions will transform the way data is stored and managed setting the bar even higher for reliability, security, and scalability. Data Management Solutions Protect Data Against Ransomware and Cyberthreats With DSM 7.2 Expected in early 2023, DSM 7.2 will introduce full-volume encryption, offering greater peace of mind while boosting storage performance by 48% over shared folder-based encryption. DSM 7.2 will also introduce ‘write once, read many’ (WORM) folders. These tamper-proof folders prevent modification or deletion of data during a set period of time. And just like new immutable backups in Hyper Backup, which bar any changes after creation, it helps protect data against ransomware and cyberthreats. Share and Collaborate with Ease Using Synology Drive Updates to Synology’s private cloud solution, Synology Drive, help keep files safe during sharing between teams with watermarks and download policies. Remote wipe capabilities help minimize security risks by removing synced folders from stolen Windows and macOS clients. Automatic login with AD credentials following mass deployment, as well as the provisioning of backup and syncing tasks, make mass deployment simpler. Sharing data over SMB will be safer and more efficient in SMB multichannel transfer support makes use of all network connections available between servers and clients to greatly boost SMB file transfer performance. Scale Out NAS – Next-Gen Storage ServersDSM 7.2. Cross-protocol file locking between SMB file shares and Synology Drive ensures that in-use files are not edited or overwritten. And SMB multichannel transfer support makes use of all network connections available between servers and clients to greatly boost SMB file transfer performance. Scale Out NAS – Next-Gen Storage Servers Also launching in 2023 are new scale-out systems designed for file and object storage. Scale-out clusters will be considerably faster than Synology’s current largest solutions, with near linear scaling of performance and capabilities as more units are added. The first generation of scale-out systems will support clusters of up to 60 servers for more than 12PB of effective storage, over 60GB/s sequential write performance, and more than 80,000 concurrent connections. The clusters will offer upwards of 99.99% availability and support Synology’s Hyper Backup and Active Backup data protection suites. Data Protection Solutions Worldwide Backup Management Platform A new management platform for Active Backup and C2 Backup aims to enable seamless management, deployment, and monitoring of backup tasks across an organization’s IT infrastructure, regardless of location or scale. The new platform brings together Synology on-premises and cloudbased solutions, providing IT admins and MSPs with the most efficient tools to protect and ensure timely recovery of any device or service. Video Surveillance Synology 500 Series AI-Powered Cameras Launching in early 2023, Synology 500 Series IP cameras will offer superior performance, security, and integration, with all camera settings managed directly from Surveillance Station. Edge AI capabilities, such as guarding intrusion detection zones, free up recording server resources to allow larger AI-powered deployments, while dedicated processing speeds up people and vehicle searches anywhere in the video frame. Coming in two form factors, Synology 500 Series cameras feature 5MP sensors for wide-angle 16:9, 3K (2880×1620) recording at 30fps. The cameras support PoE and are weatherproof (IP67), enabling flexible placement indoors or outdoors. Synology 500-series cameras are US NDAA/ TAA compliant and are designed for security, introducing similar security innovations and hardening methods found on Synology enterprise products. Networking Solutions WRX560 Wi-Fi 6 Router with Advanced Networking Features Building on the SRM 1.3 platform, the new WRX560 brings the same high-end network management features from the RT6600ax into a more affordable price point. With powerful internal dual-band radios and a 2.5GbE LAN/ WAN port, WRX560 can easily be added as a mesh node to any RT6600ax router or utilized as a standalone solution for homes and offices. Hybrid-Cloud Services Active Insight – Automated Breach and Misuse Detection Active Insight is evolving to automatically prevent user…

National

Industry will have to Create a Sustainable Approach to Drone Manufacturing in India

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJanuary 17, 2023November 14, 202407 mins

The PHDCCI Defence & HLS Committee recently organized the Industry Interactive Conference ‘Roadmap for Indigenisation of UAVs at PHD House, New Delhi. The key objective of this Conference was to discuss on the achievable roadmap for indigenising the manufacturing of UAVs and counter UAVs as they are needed in multi sectors and India has to develop its indigenous capability for its growing future needs. Air Vice Marshal Rajiva Ranjan, VM, Assistant Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (ACIDS) (PP & FS), Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS), Ministry of Defence was the Chief Guest for the Conference. AVM Ranjan gave his forthright views on India’s drone market, the armed forces perspective and pointers for the industry and spoke of global trends and how the character of war has changed in the recent past and so has the technology with the 4th industrial revolution. He also highlighted that the weakness in the entire value chain was in the ideation phase and subsequently in the inability to convert that into a product. Industries must be involved during the Preliminary Design Review and Concept Design Review phases to be able to create a product roadmap and execute it right first time. He also put forth that industry consider the Essential Parameters B of any RFP to the benefit of the Armed Force. AVM Ranjan also suggested that while the opportunities exist the industry must come forward and register their company and products with the concerned agencies like IDS, DGQA and DDP. Dr. (Smt.) Ranjana Nallamalli, Scientist ‘G’, Director, Directorate of Systems and Technology Analysis (DSTA) Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said that many subsystems of UAVs are still procured from abroad – Carbon fibre, core aerodynamics, camera. She also highlighted that 40% of TDF funding can be used to engage academia. Arjun Kumar, DRDS Additional Director & Scientist Directorate Technology Development Fund (TDF) Defence Research & Development Organisation Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India gave a detailed presentation on their sanctioned projects and the underlying opportunities to MSMEs & Start-Ups through funding support and assistance in product development. Col. Manik Anand, Planning Officer (Aerospace) Department of Defence Production Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India highlighted the various initiatives taken by the DDP to promote the MSMEs & Start-Ups in the Defence & aerospace sector. Col. Sanjeev Nair (Retd.), Program Director, DIO-iDEX Department of Defence Production Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India encouraged the industry to apply for projects even with proof of concept, not limit to sanctioned/ uploaded projects. Rudra Shriram, Chair, Defence & HLS Committee, PHDCCI & Joint President, DCM Shriram Ltd explained how Drone technology and startups are helping solve several real-world problems like high utility bills and poor security by bringing innovative solutions using drones. Mridul Babbar, Director & Co-Founder, Sagar Defence Engineering highlighted the various opportunities particularly in the Drone Industry. Smit Shah, President, Drone Federation of India (DFI) explained how Drone Federation of India is working towards operationalizing procedures and processes for the drone industry. Prof. Sudipto Mukherjee, Ford Chair Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Delhi, shared the various initiatives and support that they are giving to the Startups and MSMEs in the defence and aerospace sector. R. K. Narang, Director – Strategic Initiatives, Drone Federation of India (DFI) talked about how Indigenisation is bridging gaps, reducing vulnerabilities, increasing design, manufacturing and exports and also highlighted the real challenges on the subject. Col. Ramit Arora, Senior Vice President, NewSpace Research & Technologies gave insight that 17 to 18 cases of autonomous flying drones being progressed by the Indian Army and NSRT produces 100% indigenous products. Abhinav Varrey, Head of Sales & Communication, JOHNNETTE Technologies Pvt. Ltd explained how JOHNNETTE is working closely with IA for a project for the last 1-1.5 years. Rimanshu Pandey, Co-Founder and CTO, TSAW Drones shared his thoughts on civil space and explained about their organisation projects. The session was moderated by Col. K V Kuber, Indian Army Veteran, Director – Aerospace & Defence, Ernst and Young. It was attended by more than 150 industry delegates especially from the Start-Ups & the MSMES.

International

LenelS2 Expands Artificial Intelligence Portfolio with Hakimo Reseller Agreement

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJanuary 8, 2023November 14, 202404 mins

LenelS2, the global company in advanced security systems and services, recently announced a global reseller agreement with Hakimo, a technology company dedicated to modernizing physical security through its artificial intelligence (AI) software. The agreement allows LenelS2 to offer the Hakimo solution, which integrates with LenelS2’s market-leading OnGuard® and NetBox™ access control systems, to its value-added reseller community. LenelS2 is a part of Carrier Global Corporation, the leading global provider of healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent building and cold chain solutions. Hakimo AI software automatically prioritizes alarms based on security risk, allowing security teams to quickly respond to actual incidents and dramatically reduce door-forced-open and door-held-open nuisance alarms. The Hakimo solution also assesses access control events to uncover tailgating violations, or unauthorized access by people and vehicles, that might otherwise go undetected. Digital records of all events support personnel responding to incidents as well as compliance efforts in highly regulated sectors such as energy, critical infrastructure and aviation. Insights produced by the Hakimo solution can guide security system maintenance and help inform security programs and planning. “We are excited to announce our deepened relationship with Hakimo, which aligns with our AI product strategy and roadmap,” said Jeff Stanek, President, LenelS2, “Hakimo’s award-winning solution addresses two of the top challenges that enterprise security teams face – false alarms and tailgating.” “Hakimo’s AI solution is revolutionizing enterprise physical security monitoring,” said Samuel Joseph, Co-Founder and CEO, Hakimo, “We look forward to bringing the technology to many more security operations teams through our collaboration with LenelS2, the leading access control provider.” The bi-directional, integrated solution available through this agreement allows Hakimo AI data and alarms to display within the LenelS2 OnGuard and NetBox dashboards, enabling customers with the ability to enjoy single-source access control alarm management. Enterprise security end users can activate this immersive solution through their LenelS2 value-added resellers. Earlier this year, the Hakimo solution won the Security Industry Association (SIA) New Products and Solutions Judges’ Choice award at ISC West. LenelS2 is the global company in advanced physical security solutions, including access control, video surveillance and mobile credentialing. Our technology includes web-based and mobile applications enhanced by cloud-based services. Incorporating open architecture, LenelS2 provides scalable, unified security management solutions to customers ranging from global enterprises to small- and mid-size organizations. Easy to install and use, LenelS2 products are supported by an experienced, responsive team dedicated to providing exceptional service. LenelS2 serves segments worldwide including corporate, education, healthcare and government. LenelS2 is a part of Carrier Global Corporation, the leading global provider of healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent building and cold chain solutions.

International

STMicroelectronics achieves EMVCo certification for biometric-payment platform, cutting time-to-market for card issuers

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJanuary 8, 2023November 14, 202403 mins

STMicroelectronics, a global semiconductor company serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, has announced it has completed EMVCo1 certification for its STPay-Topaz-Bio biometric payment card platform. Certification confirms the security of the platform and its interoperability with payment systems. Mastercard and Visa payment schemes certifications are expected by early 2023. The achievement makes STPay-Topaz-Bio and the underlying secure hardware the first one-stop-shop EMVCo-certified platform to comprise a biometric secure element and secure operating system (OS). The market for biometric payment cards is forecasted to grow at over 200% CAGR through 2026. “Card issuers everywhere can now take advantage of our certified STPay platform to deliver new products to market quickly, protected by biometric authentication that is extremely robust as well as easy to use,” said Laurent Degauque, Marketing Director, Secure Microcontroller Division, STMicroelectronics, “The secure element IC that anchors this solution leverages our expertise in hardware security for computing and Internet-of-Things (IoT) applications and is built for contact and contactless transactions.” ST’s ST31N600 secure element IC provides state-of-the-art defenses for card-payment applications and sensitive processes. These include the biometric template matching for cardholder authentication, which uses software libraries developed with Fingerprint Cards AB (Fingerprints™). The ST31N600 runs a secure OS and the latest Arm® SecurCore® architecture for secure microcontrollers. In addition, designers can introduce value-added card features by securely connecting various types of peripherals. Co-packaged with ST’s STM32L443 ultra-low-power general-purpose microcontroller in a module compliant with EMV® specifications, STPay-Topaz-Bio delivers a cost-effective Biometric System-on-Card (BSoC) solution. The STM32L443 handles non-sensitive aspects including managing the card’s fingerprint sensor module and ensures seamless experiences for users. Also featuring energy harvesting for batteryless operation, STPay-Topaz-Bio meets EMV ISO 7816, ISO 14443, standards for contact and contactless cards.

International

Cyber-Enabled Financial Crime: USD130 Million Intercepted in Global INTERPOL Police Operation

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJanuary 8, 2023November 14, 202406 mins

An INTERPOL police operation to tackle online fraud has seen almost 1000 suspects arrested and the seizure of USD129,975,440 worth of virtual assets. Fraud investigators around the world worked together over five months (28 June – 23 November) to intercept money and virtual assets linked to a wide range of cyber-enabled financial crimes and money laundering, assisting countries to recover and return illicitly obtained funds to victims. Specifically targeting voice phishing, romance scams, sextortion, investment fraud and money laundering associated with illegal online gambling, Operation HAECHI III was coordinated by INTERPOL’s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre (IFCACC) which supported 30 countries via their respective INTERPOL National Central Bureaus (NCBs). In total, the operation resulted in the arrest of 975 individuals and allowed investigators to resolve more than 1,600 cases. In addition almost 2,800 bank and virtual-asset accounts linked to the illicit proceeds of online financial crime were blocked. Operation HAECHI III investigations generated the publication of 95 INTERPOL Notices and diffusions, and the detection of 16 new crime trends. Taking the profit out of financial crime Operation HAECHI III brought together law enforcement agencies, Financial Intelligence Units, asset recovery offices, prosecutors and private sector financial experts to identify illicit funds and money mules, detect money laundering activities and deactivate associated bank accounts. “The success of this operation is based on two key elements for law enforcement, follow the money and cooperation via INTERPOL. We have highlighted the need for greater efforts to deprive criminals of their illegal gains and this operation has seen member countries doing just that,” INTERPOL Secretary General, Jürgen Stock. International police cooperation during Operation HAECHI III unveiled several emerging online financial crime trends, particularly variations on impersonation scams, romance frauds, sextortion and investment frauds. Investigators also reported a surge in fraudulent investment schemes committed through the use of instant messaging apps where encrypted information is exchanged promoting the use of cryptocurrency wallets for payment. In one investigation, two Red Notice fugitives wanted by Korea for suspected involvement in a global Ponzi scheme were arrested in Greece and Italy after embezzling EUR28 million from 2,000 Korean victims. In another case, the Austrian and Indian NCBs identified a group of online criminals who had been impersonating INTERPOL officers, persuading victims to transfer some USD159,000 through financial institutions, cryptocurrency exchanges and online gift cards. Indian authorities raided the call centre, seizing four cryptocurrency wallets and other crucial crime evidence. “As we look to the future, we recognize the importance for decisive and concerted law enforcement action across borders. This year’s leg of Operation HAECHI III speaks volumes of IFCACC’s dedicated coordination and the strong commitment of participating countries, all of which foretell of new law enforcement victories ahead,” said Hyung Se Lee, Head of NCB Seoul. From test pilot to live policing tool: ARRP After several months of pilot testing, Operation HAECHI III saw investigators launch INTERPOL’s new global stop-payment mechanism, known as the Anti-Money Laundering Rapid Response Protocol (ARRP), which enables countries to work together to submit and handle requests to restrain criminal proceeds. Among many ARRP successes during the operation, NCBs Manchester and Dublin worked together to trace and seize some EUR1.2 million lost to business email scams perpetrated in Ireland. The funds were returned in full to the victim’s Irish bank account, and investigations continue. Since January 2022, in total the ARRP has helped member countries recover more than USD120 million in criminal proceeds from cyber-enabled fraud. HAECHI III participating countries: Australia, Austria, Brunei, Cambodia, Cote d’Ivoire, France, Ghana, Hong-Kong (China), India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Nigeria, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States. The HAECHI III Operation is global in scope, conducted under the aegis of a three-year project to tackle cyberenabled financial crime supported by the Republic of Korea, with the participation of INTERPOL member countries on every continent.

Feature

What does Responsible use of AI in Businesses Mean Today?

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJanuary 8, 2023November 14, 202408 mins

Artificial Intelligence is no longer just a cliched topic in the entertainment world. AI today has developed into a ‘must-have’ for every vertical from the government to basic applications on our gadgets. The use and dependency of AI especially in businesses have increased multifold, be it for understanding the customers or developing new products to suit the needs of the users. While the use of AI is opening up never-seen-before opportunities and possibilities for organizations across verticals, it also brings in incredible responsibility to safeguard the data and ensure transparency. Ethics seem to play a bigger part in ensuring that organizations take up a responsible path in using AI for their businesses. Data breaches, irresponsible use of the data collected and its processing using AI, and irresponsible use of AI to an extent of violating ethics have become the main concern for the people, government and businesses. A brand’s image is now connected to how responsibly they use AI which is at its disposal without breaching the trust of its customers. In February 2021, NITI Aayog released an approach document on ‘Principles for Responsible AI’ under the hashtag #AIFORALL. The document spoke about ethics, legal, social and technology, surrounding AI. While the Indian government is slowly approaching the subject, keeping in mind the need for AI and its impact on business, society and legal standpoint, the US and EU nations too have started working now on how to bring the responsible use of AI as part of the governance. Until there is an actual policy, which can be brought in regarding the responsible use of AI, the onus is on industry leaders and their organizations to ensure the safe and responsible use of AI in their businesses. So, what is responsible AI in businesses mean? F rench writer Voltaire said – with great power comes great responsibility, and AI is a power which many believe is only in its 1st leg of being discovered. The understand ing of what can be achieved by delving deeper into AI is only something that is being understood now. The veterans of the AI industry believe that ‘responsible’ means ethical and democratized use of AI – a tool, which is now available to any person, who has access to the technology. To elaborate, it is the practice of designing, developing and deploying AI with the intention to empower employees and businesses. Responsible AI’s target is to deliver trust, transparency and an unbiased approach to customers or users in the work environment. Organizations deploying AI should follow important practices and the right AI techniques that are compliant with new and pending guidelines and regulations of AI governance. This will help to deliver a trustworthy and transparent deployment. One might ask, why is AI needed for businesses when the risks and ethical dilemmas outweigh the uses as of today? The answer is simple – with AI, businesses have an edge in developing more robust and user-friendly products that help them stay a step ahead of their competition. The data collected helps businesses understand what exactly their customers are looking for and how they can deliver it. Today’s customer service is heavily dependent on AI and good customer service is what makes a brand successful. These are just a few instances of how AI can help businesses stay ahead during times when technology is the knight in shining armour. This is why one needs to understand the principles of Responsible AI that revolve around minimizing unintended bias, ensuring AI transparency, protecting data privacy and security, and benefiting clients and markets. Organizations deploying AI systems should keep these in mind and put them into practice to attain the desired deployment which is more ethical in compliance with Responsible AI. An eye on the following key facts for reaping the benefits of Responsible AI Data security has been and should be the top priority, so organizations deploying AI should use top-of-the-line data encryption practices. Use approved techniques such as customer lockboxes and data masking to protect the data from unauthorized access by other software. The AI-based products should have a human-centric design and once it is developed and deployed, they should go through regular operational routines for maintaining the whole idea of it being designed to be human-centric. The AI system should be developed to anonymize sensitive data of clientele and automatically delete the data after the purpose is fulfilled. Restricted data transfers between different stakeholders It is very important to put in place an explicit approval system for data access during service operations. A good amount of incident management training and Strict data usage policies can help in times of crises. Keep a check on risks and threats by performing regular audits and vulnerability assessments. Considering the above factors during AI system deployment will not only help in addressing the principles of Responsible AI but also help businesses develop ethically bound AI applications for their work operations.