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Feature

Beyond Security: Access Control for Multi-Tenant Sites

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJune 15, 2020November 14, 202409 mins

Access control systems are, of course, synonymous with security. Keeping people safe and places secure is their primary role. When these places are multi-tenant sites – with multiple subgroups of users with their own group and unique permissions – the access and security challenges are more complex. But even these can be well managed with intelligent integrated access control systems. Integrating CCTV, running sophisticated ‘cause and effect’ protocols, having a robust intruder detection system and strong cyber security measures are all essential components. But as an access control manufacturer, we carefully design our products to provide benefits beyond security too, making life easier and more pleasant for tenants and users, as well as security managers and site owners. Read on for our top nine ‘beyond security’ benefits that Inner Range intelligent access control systems can offer multi-tenant sites. 1. Partitioned systems Ok, this first one is a cheat because it is about security. But it’s highly useful for multi-tenant sites and not many access control systems offer this feature. Our enterprise level access control system, Integriti, offers ‘partitioned sites.’ This allows security managers to create users and other global entities that only exist within the partition they were created in. The partitions are completely isolated and invisible to users in other partitions, greatly reducing the chances of cyber criminals or rogue users accessing protected areas and information. 2. Smartphone access As we streamline our wallets and move increasingly to digital platforms, tenants and users can be set up to use their smartphones to open doors and other smart devices. This usually requires them to download a secure mobile app and then our Integriti system can read and check security credentials from users’ mobile phones to determine whether they are allowed access. 3. Managing visitors Applications to manage visitors ensure a secure, reliable and trusted method of managing visitors and stop receptionists getting bogged down creating credentials when visitors arrive. These systems can allow business tenants to issue temporary passes for their own visitors without needing to pass every request through a central security team. The passes can usually be issued on paper or in advance via email. They can also be issued as Apple Wallet or Google Pass credentials. These appear on the visitor’s smartphone with a QR code without the visitor having to search their phone for them. Location and time-based information included in the pass ensure it appears when and where it is needed. The passes can be read by our Integriti system at door entry readers, entrance turnstiles and lifts to ensure visitors only access areas agreed by the ‘host’ offering an efficient and hassle-free experience for everyone. 4. Parking made easy All our systems offer automatic number count that triggers to show whether car parks are full or still have space available when someone is approaching the entrance. Our Enterprise product, Integriti, can integrate with ANPR providers that read vehicle number plates and allow access for those with correct permissions including disabled users and/ or VIPs. 5. Cashless vending All user profiles can be loaded with credits for users to purchase drinks, food and other items on site. This saves time for users who don’t have to wait in long queues at lunch time and is easier for canteen workers who don’t have to deal with cash. 6. Heating and lighting efficiencies Everyone is concerened with their carbon footprint these days and our access control systems can be used to track when and where people are on site, meaning organisations can update heating and lighting timers to reflect what users really need. Access control systems can also be used to create automated heating or lighting actions in reaction to specific alerts such as lights coming on when a particular door is opened or when a certain number of people have entered a building or room. These measures make life more comfortable for users while also saving money and improving the environmental credentials of the site owners. 7. Automatic renewal reminders Our access control systems can be used to manage a range of permits and licences. For example, some clients offer parking permits that need to be paid for. Our access control systems will send automatic notifications when a permit or licence is about to expire, reminding them to top up or renew, and avoids frustration at the car park barrier if a permit has expired. 8. Health and safety certificates The reminder service mentioned above also applies to a host of health and safety licences and certificates. It’s imperative for companies to keep first aiders and machine operators up to date with training and mandatory refreshers. Our Integriti access control system will send automatic notifications when certificates are nearing expiration so individuals and companies have time to train or refresh skills as required. This takes pressure off health and safety managers who don’t have to record and remember all this information themselves and reduces the risk of an accident and/ or liability. 9. Automatic muster reports All our products, including our entry-level access control system Inception, offer automatic muster reports. These show who is where on site and can be scheduled to run in the event of a fire alarm to help with health and safety procedures. The alternative is a manual register of users in the event of an emergency, which is much more time-consuming. The fact our muster reports show the last known location of users means that if someone is missing, site managers or emergency crews will have a much better idea as to where to start searching.

National

Mistral Announces new AI-enabled Thermal Screening Systemfor Body Temperature Detection

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJune 15, 2020November 14, 202404 mins

Mistral Solutions, a leading technology design and system engineering company, announces the introduction of an ‘automated thermal screening system,’ a body temperature detection and alert system for large establishments and public places to be placed at the entry and exit points The COVID-19 pandemic has brought in unprecedented situations and is expected to make a long-term impact across the globe. As governments mandate screening of people at the entry and exit of establishments to track the body temperature, enforcement agencies are confronted with this massive challenge. Moreover, the traditional methods of screening are mostly man-managed, resulting in delays, congestion, and have their own limitations such as close contact with people, high risk of transmitting infection, high cost, low efficiency, etc. Mistral’s automated thermal screening (ATS) system is an artificial intelligence enabled mass people screening solution for establishments where a high footfall is expected, viz., malls, railway stations, bus stations, airports, public/ private organisations, factories etc. Mistral’s ATS system offers various benefits over traditional thermal traditional systems. The automated system effectively reduces manpower requirement and close contact between people. The ATS system offers faster people detection and temperature measurement and generates real-time, accurate data for active monitoring and quick decision making. Automated thermal screening system can perform simultaneous temperature screening of multiple people with an accuracy of ±0.5°C. The system consists of thermographic cameras, multi-channel NVR, PoE switch and an optional black body calibrator for higher accuracy. “Mistral has always been a trustworthy partner offering cutting-edge solutions for government, defence and homeland security applications for the past 22 years. The ATS solution from Mistral is aimed at providing organizations an affordable solution to fight the extraordinary situation created by the Covid-19 pandemic. We believe that the ATS system will aid large establishments and government bodies in controlling the spread of Covid-19 by effectively monitoring people entering their premises,” said Anees Ahmed, President, Mistral Solutions Pvt. Ltd. Features of ATS system Automated temperature screening with an accuracy of ±0.5°C. Continuous monitoring with very low error status. Detection of up to 30 people at a time. Temperature measurement range of 86-113°F. AI-enabled mass detection. Detection and screening from 0.8 to 9 meters. Real-time alarms. Lower manpower usage. Generates real-time data and analytics. Centralised data management. Optional black body calibrator for higher accuracy.

Latest

CXO Research: Legacy Technology & Lack of Skills Hindering Digital Transformation and IT Modernization

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJune 15, 2020November 14, 2024013 mins

Digital transformation is redefining the competitive business environment at an unprecedented rate. Anchored on key technologies like cloud, virtualization and modern storage systems, modernization of IT is critical to deliver business continuity for rising customer expectations and de-risking business from evolving cyberattacks plus compliance measures. Our Veeam 2020 Data Protection Trends Report puts the spotlight on the importance of data management and protection across hybrid cloud environment. As the demands of a modern enterprise gets complex, it’s not enough for data to be backed up; data must in fact move to the higher state of intelligence and automatically anticipate demand, securely across physical, virtual and cloud environments. A simple, flexible and reliable Cloud Data Management solution is critical to build a robust foundation for today’s digital business As organizations look to transform their business operations and revolutionize customer service, digital transformation (DX) is at the top of most CXOs’ agendas; in fact, DX spending is expected to approach $7.4 trillion between 2020 and 2023, with a CAGR of 17.5%. However, according to the latest industry data recently released from Veeam® Software, the leading player in backup solutions that deliver Cloud Data Management™, almost half of global organizations are being hindered in their DX journeys due to unreliable, legacy technologies, with 44% citing lack of IT skills or expertise as another barrier to success. Moreover, almost every company admitted to experiencing downtime, with 1 out of every 10 servers having unexpected outages each year – problems that last for hours and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars – and this points to an urgent need to modernize data protection and focus on business continuity to enable DX. The Veeam 2020 Data Protection Trends Report surveyed more than 1,500 global enterprises to understand their approach toward data protection and management today, and how they expect to be prepared for the IT challenges they face, including reacting to demand changes and interruptions in service, as well as more aspirational goals of IT modernization and DX. “Technology is constantly moving forward, continually changing, and transforming how we do business – especially in these current times as we’re all working in new ways. Due to DX, it’s important to always look at the ever-changing IT landscape to see where businesses stand on their solutions, challenges and goals,” said Danny Allan, CTO and SVP of Product Strategy at Veeam, “It’s great to see the global drive to embrace technology to deliver a richer user experience, however the Achilles Heel still seems to be how to protect and manage data across the hybrid cloud. Data protection must move beyond outdated legacy solutions to a higher state of intelligence and be able to anticipate needs and meet evolving demands. Based on our data, unless business leaders recognize that – and act on it – real transformation just won’t happen.” The criticality of data protection & availability Respondents stated that data delivered through IT has become the heart and soul of most organizations, so it should not be a surprise how important ‘data protection’ has become within IT teams, including not just backing up and restoring data, but also extending business capabilities. However, many organizations (40%) still rely on legacy systems to protect their data without fully appreciating the negative impact this can have on their business. The vast majority (95%) of organizations suffer unexpected outages, and on average an outage lasts 117 minutes (almost two hours). Putting this into context, organizations consider 51% of their data as ‘high priority’ versus ‘normal.’ An hour of downtime from a high priority application is estimated to cost $67,651, while this number is $61,642 for a normal application. With such a balance between high priority and normal in percentages and impact costs, it’s clear that ‘all data matters’ and that downtime is intolerable anywhere within today’s environments. “Data protection is more important than ever now to help organizations continue to meet their operational IT demands while also aspiring towards DX and IT modernization. Data is now spread across data centers and clouds through file shares, shared storage, and even SaaS-based platforms. Legacy tools designed to back up on-premises file shares and applications cannot succeed in the hybrid/ multi-cloud world and are costing companies time and resources while also putting their data at risk,” added Allan. DX and the Cloud Enterprises know they must continue to make progress with their IT modernization and DX initiatives in order to meet new industry challenges, and according to this report’s feedback, the most defining aspects of a modern data protection strategy all hinge upon utilization of various cloud-based capabilities – organizations’ ability to do disaster recovery (DR) via a cloud service (54%), the ability to move workloads from on-premises to cloud follows (50%), and the ability to move workloads from one cloud to another (48%). Half of businesses recognize that cloud has a pivotal part to play in today’s data protection strategy; and it will most likely become even more important in the future. For a truly modernized data protection plan, a company needs a comprehensive solution that supports cloud, virtual and physical data management for any application and any data across any cloud. Allan concluded, “By already starting to modernize their infrastructures in 2020, organizations expect to continue their DX journey and increase their cloud use. Legacy solutions were intended to protect data in physical datacenters in the past, but they’re so outdated and complex that they cost more money, time, resources and trouble than realized. Modern protection such as Veeam’s Cloud Data Management solutions, go far beyond backup. Cloud Data Management provides a simple, flexible and reliable solution that saves costs and resources so they can be repurposed for future development. Data protection can no longer be tied to on-premises, physically-dedicated environments and companies must have flexible licensing options to easily move to a hybrid/ multi cloud environment.” Other highlights of the Veeam 2020 Data Protection Trends Report include: The no. 1 challenge that will impact organizations within next 12 months is cyber…

Latest

COVID-19 Accentuates the need for Data Security and Cyber Security Protocols: Sun Life ASCI

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJune 15, 2020November 14, 202405 mins

Sun Life ASCI is committed to the fundamental principles of information security – confidentiality, integrity and availability. With work-from-home becoming the new normal, there is a greater need for organizations to maintain a robust and reliable security framework. It is equally critical to keep employees informed about best practices, elevate their awareness and maintain stringent compliance. We strongly feel that enterprises with secure technology and communication platforms would always fare better in times of crisis and ensure business continuity with minimal risk exposure The COVID-19 pandemic has presented an unprecedented global crisis impacting everybody’s professional and personal lives. Organizations have been coerced to adopt work from home (WFH) to enable business continuity, which is turning out to be the ‘New Normal’ now. As a global financial organization, it became imperative for Sun Life Asia Service Centre India (ASCI), (the Global in-house Center of Sun Life Financial), to ensure that its operations, network and critical infrastructure are highly secure and stable. Sun Life ASCI has deployed robust and advanced cyber security solutions to ensure a stable and secure network for its employees to support business operations securely while working from remote locations. All the assets are regularly scanned and patched to ensure there are no vulnerable attack vectors available for the attackers. The organisation has a centralized global SOC (Security Operations Centre) which continuously monitors remote access logs and alerts for anomalies. The internal access policies and firewalls are constantly reviewed and updated and all access to the employees are provisioned based on ‘Least Privilege’ and ‘Need to know’ principle. Employees have been advised to use the secure connection to Sun Life network by ensuring VPN only usage on company-owned hardware with up-to-date security features, to prevent any infected data/ malware into the company’s network. During a long remote access session, employees are required to re-authenticate themselves. Endpoint devices are one of the most critical type of equipment when employees work from home. They are also an easy target for cyber-attacks while the world grapples with the pandemic making it even more important to secure endpoint devices. At Sun Life ASCI, IT team has updated its endpoint device policy framework to block installation of unauthorized utilities/ applications. Full disk encryption has been enabled on employees’ laptops. All employee’s handheld devices are completely protected by MDM (Mobile device management). Antivirus and anti-malware solutions are deployed on the end user devices. The organisation has deployed a phishing defense solution to minimize attacks and continuously educates employees on different phishing scenarios. Constant communications with employees on best security practices; sharing of data security videos and circulation of critical updates relating to the operating system and other applications educate them about the same. Email security policies are reviewed to make them more stringent and filter out malicious emails. ASCI also has a 24×7 IT and security support desk to manage any incidents and queries. Data security as a topic is also discussed in virtual townhalls and leadership messaging.

White Paper

Radar Technology in Surveillance

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJune 15, 2020November 14, 2024019 mins

This white paper discusses radar technology in security applications, and compares it with other available technologies. It also provides specific information about AXIS D2050-VE Network Radar Detector, its usage and its possibilities What is radar? Radar is a well-established technology for detecting objects. It was developed for military use in the 1940s, but is now widely used in civilian applications, for instance weather forecasts, road traffic monitoring, and collision prevention in aviation and shipping. Using radar technology for detection can reduce the number of false alarms and increase detection efficiency in conditions with poor visibility. AXIS D2050-VE Network Radar Detector is Axis’ first available radar-based motion detector. Owing to its advanced tracking algorithm, it is not only an affordable complement to security cameras, but it can also add valuable features to a surveillance system. A radar device transmits signals consisting of radio waves, or electromagnetic waves in the radio frequency spectrum. When a radar signal hits an object, the signal is reflected or scattered in many directions. A small portion of the signal may be reflected back to the radar device, where it will be detected by a receiver. The detected signal provides information that can be used to determine the location, size and velocity of the object that was hit. Why use radar in surveillance? Due to its superior detection abilities in darkness or fog, a motion detector based on radar can be a cost-efficient complement to other types of surveillance. Reliable in challenging conditions By nature, radar surveillance is not dependent on visibility. Darkness, fog, or even moderate rainfall does not impair the detection abilities. There are other surveillance technologies that may also work in such conditions, for example thermal cameras equipped with video analytics, or PIRbased (passive infrared) motion detectors. However, surveillance based on radar can be a cost-efficient alternative to both solutions. Radar is easier to use, and more affordable than a thermal camera. Radar can also provide more information, at a longer range, than a PIR motion detector. Decreased false alarms Reducing the number of false alarms, while maintaining the detection efficiency of real incidents, is essential in surveillance. For example, alarms are often used to trigger a video recording. In case a forensic search would be needed in alarm-triggered recordings, it could be very time consuming to go through the recorded material if there were many false alarms. Motion detection systems often use video analytics applications that are triggered by a certain amount of pixel changes in the surveillance scene. Unnecessary or ‘false,’ alarms can typically be caused by effects such as moving shadows or light beams, small animals in the scene, rain drops or insects on the camera lens, movements caused by the wind, or bad weather. A detection system based on radar will only detect physical movement in a scene, ignoring purely visual effects such as shadows or light beams. Radar signals should also be generally less affected by rain or snow. In both radar detection and video analytics, it is possible to design the system so that small or swaying objects can be filtered out, as well as certain zones of irrelevant movements caused by, for example, wind in a tree. Complement to cameras A motion detector based on radar, exclusively, will not provide any visual confirmation. To efficiently identify the cause of an alarm, or to enable identification of individuals, the scene should also be monitored by a video camera. To add further value, rules could be established that state that only when both the video camera and the radar detector detect motion in an area will a motion detection alarm be transmitted to the operator or central monitoring station, along with detailed information about the object in motion. Such a collaborative validation can reduce false alarms even further. Axis network radar detector AXIS D2050-VE network radar detector is Axis’ first available radar-based motion detector. It can serve as an affordable complement to security cameras in medium-risk installations, improving detection in challenging conditions and minimizing false alarms. Owing to its advanced tracking algorithm and the positioning information it provides, the detector can also add new features and value to a surveillance system. Detection range and installation One radar detector unit provides accurate detection within a range up to 50m (164ft), within an angle of approximately 120 degrees. For coverage of a larger area, it is possible to use multiple detectors. Typical mounting height should be 3-4m (9-13ft). AXIS D2050-VE can be used as a stand-alone product, but may serve its purpose best as a complement to a camera that also provides a visual view of the scene. In order to facilitate a visual interpretation of the scene, the radar image as it is seen in the user interface can be easily integrated and calibrated with an uploaded reference map. The detector can be treated like a camera in the security system. It is compatible with major video management systems (VMS) and common video hosting systems. The detector comes with Axis open VAPIX interface enabling integration on different platforms. Typical installation scenes include fenced-off areas such as industrial properties or roofs, or parking lots where no activity is expected after hours. However, the detector’s advanced filtering and tracking function makes it valuable in most environments. Figure 2 shows a parking lot as monitored by the network radar detector and shown in the user interface. The radar image has been combined with a reference map of the scene. Include/ exclude zones The network radar detector comes with an intuitive user interface where the user should draw one or more ‘include zones,’ and possibly ‘exclude zones,’ within the detection range. Detection and tracking of objects takes place continuously within the whole detection range. However, owing to its filtering functionality, the detector will trigger actions only on objects detected within an include zone. The filter can also be set to ignore certain object types, and only trigger on, for example, large objects, only vehicles, or objects that have been tracked for a…

International

Dahua AI Technology Ranked #1 In The Onera Satellite Change Detection (OSCD) Evaluation

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJune 15, 2020November 14, 202405 mins

Recently, Dahua Technology’s AI-based Remote Sensing Image Analysis Technology has obtained first place in the comprehensive precision ranking of the Onera Satellite Change Detection (OSCD) Evaluation released by Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society (GRSS). This achievement fully demonstrates Dahua Technology’s continuous development and innovation capabilities in the field of remote sensing image change detection. OSCD (Onera Satellite Change Detection) is jointly issued and maintained by the International Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers (IEEE), and the Image Analysis and Data Fusion Technical Committee (IADF TC). It is an international authoritative evaluation platform for remote sensing image change detection algorithm. This evaluation involves complex and variable global surface coverage data, which is extremely challenging and attracts scholars and well-known academic institutions across the globe to participate. In view of the large size of remote sensing images and the imbalance in the types of changing areas, Dahua Technology has proposed a method of image stretching and normalization preprocessing based on multi-channel fusion in data processing, which significantly solves issues including obvious surface differences. In terms of model structure, the innovative use of the Tversky loss function optimizes the problem of category imbalance. At the same time, Dahua Technology innovatively builds multi-modality and greatly improves the precision and recall of its algorithm. The Dahua Remote Sensing Image Analysis Technology has set another evaluation record in the remote sensing image change detection data set, achieving first place in the overall ranking. Remote sensing image change detection Based on the change detection algorithm of remote sensing images, the Remote Sensing Image Change Detection Technology uses remote sensing images of different phases to obtain the dynamic change information of the land cover type in the specified area, and assigns semantic category labels to image pixels that change with time, which is widely used in ecological resources monitoring, urban construction management and other fields. In the field of ecological resources monitoring, the remote sensing image change detection algorithm can eliminate interference factors such as season and weather by comparing the remote sensing images of the same area before and after (two time phases) to obtain the spatio-temporal changes in the ecological geology of a wide area. It can be applied to acquire coverage information including periodic monitoring of water bodies, vegetation, minerals etc., providing a scientific basis for scenarios such as resource development, environmental pollution, and natural disaster assessment. In the field of urban construction management, the Remote Sensing Image Semantic Segmentation Technology can be used to automatically obtain the location, range, type and other information of the area where the nature of the land changes, achieving a city-level intelligent inspection of illegal buildings. At the same time, the Remote Sensing Image Object Detection Technology can be used to effectively extract distribution information of urban infrastructures such as sports venues, dynamically monitor the construction process of infrastructure facilities within the city, and provide effective data support for urban infrastructure auditing. In addition, the combination of high-altitude and ground monitoring data can achieve the integration of ground, air and sky monitoring coverage without dead angle, providing a comprehensive and high-precision spatial visualization for urban construction management.

Case Study

Duratex Deploys Dahua Video Monitoring Solution to Detect Fires at Early Stage

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJune 15, 2020November 14, 202408 mins

Contrary to a widely shared popular belief, forest fires are not always caused by criminal actions. Depending on the location, fires may arise from natural causes such as frequency of lightning during a storm, or even due to lack of knowledge of local farmers in carrying out routine activities like clearing pasture areas that involves fire. These combustion related activities require thorough planning and correct timing. In line with this, Working On Fire (WOF) has extensive expertise in integrated fire management that combines prevention, readiness, response and recovery in possible environmental fires. It is responsible for the worldwide presence of Firehawk, a pioneer in the development of solutions to detect forest fires through cameras. It boasts 26 years of operation and 223 video surveillance cameras spread throughout South Africa, Brazil, Chile, Ghana and Malawi. For four years, Firehawk has been cooperating with Dahua Technology Brazil, a branch of world-leading video-centric smart IoT solution and service provider. Few years ago, Firehawk installed DH-PTZ19245U-IRB-N (-B) model after series of tests. It provides excellent performance, offers useful web API documentation, and can withstand severe local weather conditions. For this reason, Firehawk has named Dahua Technology Brazil as its main partner for forest fire detection. Challenges Massive wildfires like the recent cases in Australia have increased throughout the years, especially in countries such as USA, Portugal and Russia. According to a study by UN in cooperation with other major environmental agencies worldwide, governments should invest approximately 80% of their resources in the prevention of such disasters, and only 20% in the actual firefighting. In order to monitor and provide warning of possible occurrence of such event, WOF was contracted by Duratex, the largest producer of manufactured wood panels and sanitary wares and metals in the southern hemisphere, to deploy the Dahua video monitoring solution in its Minas Gerais forest areas. It covers about 75 thousand hectares between the municipalities of Uberlândia and Uberaba. This mining region has several preservation areas and is recognized for its sugar cane, eucalyptus and coffee plantations. An effective fire monitoring solution that can cover such a vast area would be very challenging to deploy. Thus, expertise of WOF and Firehawk are very valuable to ensure excellent performance and satisfying results throughout the project. Solution At Duratex, a camera was installed in each of the five stationary 75-meter tall towers, which was carried out by WOF in just 20 days. This solution covers 60 thousand hectares of forest, monitoring the region and providing alerts for possible occurrence of fire. The company’s successful experience in working with Eldorado Celulose S/A was essential in minimizing the challenges of installing and applying this particular technological solution. “We have highly qualified partners for the execution of the project, which greatly simplifies its performance. The experience of working with the Dahua solution – applied by Firehawk worldwide – is very positive,” said Daniel Santos, General Director of WOF in Brazil. “The Dahua video monitoring solution implemented at Duratex offers the reach of 60 thousand hectares of forest for monitoring the region and alerting to possible occurrences, carried out in an assertive and agile manner. Our company’s main mission is to promote the safety of our customers in their businesses and core activities through a wide portfolio of solutions such as thermal, biometric, embedded software etc.,” explained Fábio Lopes, Channel Director of Dahua Technology Brazil. In order to minimize the connectivity issue that is common in remote regions, WOF installed directional radio links to enable the adoption of this technology. In some towers, they also installed electric power generating units with photovoltaic solar panels. Moreover, the five cameras capture and send images to the monitoring center, utilizing AI to verify the lowest sending traffic. “The addition of this system substantially improved the speed of detection of fires and the management of firefighting resources,” said Daniela Rezende, Protection Specialist of Duratex. The technology embedded in the solution promotes a rapid evaluation of the images, with a 360-degree perimeter coverage, and algorithm for searching smoke signals. It operates both day and night, and in situations of imminent risk, it triggers a visual and audible alarm. In favorable weather conditions, it can also cover a distance that exceeds 20km. Results The Dahua solution greatly helped reduce fire cases in the Minas Gerais forest areas. Faced with good results, the company plans to set up a dozen new cameras by the end of 2020 in the forest units of Duratex and its affiliates. “Duratex is very satisfied with this solution, so much that in 2020 we are already working on expanding its coverage area in Minas Gerais. We also have plans to start a project in our São Paulo unit,” said Rezende.

Feature

Addictive Technology Solutions Enhances the Drive-through Experience with Milestone Systems

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJune 15, 2020November 14, 2024011 mins

Robert Marsden, Managing Director of Addictive Technology said, “While we have a lot of experience in making and providing for better drive through experiences, there is always room to innovate and grow. We looked at the technologies now available and came up with a system that provides a faster, more frictionless ordering system, based on the latest licence plate recognition (LPR) technology.” Customers expect a fast, seamless drive-through experience, and are often under time pressure, especially if they are ordering food and coffee on their morning commute. Long queues and wait time can detract from the drive-through experience, and have a significant effect on customer satisfaction and loyalty. The success of the drive-through café or restaurant itself depends on getting as many customers serviced as possible in any given hour, especially at peak times. The fast food and beverage market is very competitive during commute times, and an efficient drive through service can be the difference between success or failure. Solution White Label Software built an in-house software solution that sits between a restaurant or cafe’s PoS system and networked video cameras, based on Milestone Systems’ open XProtect video management software (VMS) platform. The software uses LPR technology to identify regular customers as they drive up to place their order, accesses the restaurant’s database of VIP customers in real time to see if they have a favourite coffee or snack, and sends a message to the kitchen to start preparing those items before the customer has arrived at the sales window. The customer’s coffee will be ready before they arrive at the order point, and the system will also allow cross-checking to ensure that the predicted order matches the customer’s actual order. “Our PoS system has an API, and that application sits in the middle of Milestone and our PoS system. A Windows application reads the licence plates then talks to the PoS system. It is an SQL based system with a database stored in the cloud on Amazon Web servers, so it does all this in a few seconds,” said Marsden. The solution is also flexible. Outlets can decide whether they want customers to register in advance and confirm what they want ahead of time, so that the same order is placed every time or they have the option of using the predictive analysis built into White Label’s proprietary PoS software. This analysis proves accurate for 90 percent of orders,with just 10 percent of customers deciding they want something different on a specific day. The PoS software will analyse the customer’s last ten or more orders and pick the one that comes up the most. The cost of any wastage using this system is considerably less than the cost of a slower drive-through experience. The innovation stems from Addictive Technology’s extensive experience working with Drive Thru food outlets. When provisioning a drive-through space, the SI deploys all technologies themselves from PoS through to networking and wireless, LPR software and all associated integrations. Addictive’s Milestone Systems LPR solution provides a minimum of four or five seconds head-start for each predicted order, and as much as two minutes head-start for high volume outlets during busy times. This head-start can be critical to avoiding congestion at busy times, and make the difference between an efficient and streamlined ordering process, and one which backs up and causes customers to be delayed. The solution means that when cars are queued at the order point, the outlet can already be making coffee for the car behind it. In the quick service restaurant industry, outlets survive or perish based on their customer satisfaction, and the number of cars that are able to physically pass through their drive-through on an hourly basis. The Milestone solution Milestone Systems is an open platform, meaning that developers are able – and openly encouraged – to build upon the code. This has enabled Addictive Technology to adapt the existing LPR software to their own needs, and integrate it with their proprietary PoS software solution. Software is seldom used in a stand-alone capacity these days, so the power of an open platform means that integrators such as Addictive Technology are able to harness the power of a major platform, and combine with several other solutions to provide customers with a fully integrated system that fits their specific needs. “The power of an open platform such as Milestone allows us to tailor solutions directly to our customers’ requirements, and then extend our ongoing services to those customers after the build. Everybody wins – customers get the system that works best for their financial outlay; as a systems integrator we get to provide the sort of solutions and services that we want, rather than being forced to follow someone else’s guidelines, and we get to administer that solution after it is deployed in order to maintain satisfied customers,” explained Marsden. Due to the flexibility of Milestone Systems’ platform, Addictive Technology is also able to keep customer costs down. Rather than rely on specific cameras with extended functionality for LPR use, the solution is able to use relatively cost-effective cameras, so long as the resolution is of high enough quality. Further to this, Addictive Technology is able to deploy the Milestone LPR software on a physical CCTV server along with cameras and storage, rather than provision a dedicated server, which further reduces costs or run it on dedicated Milestone hardware. In other instances the SI has built a virtualised LPR server based on a VMware running Windows 10, in order to re-use existing hardware. “This again demonstrates the flexibility and power of the software-driven solution,” explained Marsden. The bespoke PoS and LPR solutions designed and implemented by Addictive Technology are also made available to other companies wishing to licence them, which opens up another window of opportunity for Addictive Technology. Marsden explained that on the next version of the software, currently being built by White Label, orders will be sent straight to the kitchen video system as well as different locations throughout the…

White Paper

Security in the Cloud: How Stratocast Keeps Your Video Safe

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJune 15, 2020November 14, 2024017 mins

Genetec Stratocast™ is a cloud-based video monitoring system that makes the adoption of network video security solutions easy and allows you to connect to your business wherever you go. Using the Microsoft Windows Azure cloud-computing platform, Stratocast eliminates the need for on-site servers. As a result, installation time is reduced and you can begin monitoring your premises quickly. Using video surveillance equipment such as IP (Internet Protocol) cameras or analog cameras, you can record video on your edge recording video unit or in the Stratocast cloud. If recording on your video unit, the video is recorded continuously, whereas if recording in the Stratocast cloud, you can choose to record either continuously or only when motion is detected. From your laptop, tablet, or smartphone, you can then watch live and recorded video that is safely stored in the cloud. In addition, through Genetec Federation™, Security Center users can view and control all Stratocast cameras from their local installation of security desk. The starting diagram illustrates how Stratocast works to keep you connected to your business, wherever you go. Security is crucial for us at every level of development and operations. Based on industry best practices, our engineers embed security standards into the development lifecycle and operations. This white paper focuses on the cloud architecture and the operational security of the platform as well as the security capabilities of the customer portal. The video and camera security of Stratocast are also discussed. Cloud architecture Stratocast is deployed on the Microsoft Azure cloud platform. This platform, with its industry-recognized security, securely stores data that our customers entrust us with. Microsoft Azure has been audited against SOC 1, SOC 2, and SOC 3 standards. Audits are conducted in accordance with SSAE 16 and ISAE 3402 standards. Certifications are regularly updated and can be provided. Stratocast and Azure are also compliant with ISO 27001:2013. The service architecture is built for high availability and scalability, allowing customers to enroll and record as many cameras as needed without impacting the service. There are no constraints limiting the maximum amount of data that can be stored in Azure, as data centers are provisioned with enough capacity to ensure that they meet growing demand. This architecture, coupled with the robustness of the underlying Microsoft Azure Cloud, allows Genetec to provide a 99.5% SLA. Security controls Stratocast and Azure adhere to a rigorous set of security controls that govern operations and support. Genetec and Microsoft deploy a combination of preventive, defensive, and reactive controls including the following mechanisms to help protect against an unauthorized developer and/or administrative activity: Tight access controls, including a mandatory two-factor authentication. Combinations of controls that enhance independent detection of malicious activity. Multiple levels of monitoring, logging, and reporting. Security reports are used to monitor access patterns and to proactively identify and mitigate potential threats. Microsoft administrative operations, including system access, are logged to provide an audit trail if unauthorized or accidental changes are made. Automatic patching of the operating systems and applications running in the cloud. Additionally, the Genetec and Microsoft teams conduct background verification checks of certain operations personnel and limit access to applications, systems, and network infrastructure based on the level of background verification. High availability Azure facilities are designed to run 24x7x365 and employ various measures to help protect operations from power failure, physical intrusion, and network outages. These datacenters comply with industry standards for physical security and availability. They are managed, monitored, and administered by Microsoft operations personnel. Redundancy Stratocast video is stored in triplicate, within the same datacenter, ensuring the redundancy of critical data and mitigating the impact of hardware failure. Control of data location Knowing and controlling the location of an organization’s data can be an important element of data privacy, compliance and governance. Customers can specify the geographic area where their recordings are stored. Through this approach, recordings are replicated within a defined region for redundancy but are not transmitted outside the customer’s desired geographic boundaries. Operational security As a trusted provider of security solutions for a considerable number of government agencies and high-profile public and private organizations worldwide, we take compliance with local regulations very seriously. This, of course, includes the laws pertaining to data security and protection of privacy in the regions where we sell our products and services. Additionally, to ensure that all customer data is stored and used in an appropriate and secure manner, Stratocast is certified with the ISO 27001:2013 information security standard. The ISO 27001 standard is a framework of policies and procedures including legal, physical, and technical controls that address cyber security risks. These policies and procedures are part of the Information Security Management System (ISMS) at Genetec, that has been audited and certified by the ISO organization. Below is an excerpt of some of the relevant portions of it. Secure development policy Genetec is conscious that security is something that has to be embedded in the development practices and not something that can be added after the fact. Consequently, the Stratocast software development lifecycle (SDL) includes specific activities, pertaining to cyber security, that have to be completed in order to release each new version of Stratocast. These activities are defined in the secure development policy and include – secure design review performed on a periodic basis, manual or automated security testing, and penetration testing performed by a 3rd party auditor. Incident management & disaster recovery I t can be challenging to react appropriately to a cyber security incident when it happens, if nothing has been prepared for it beforehand. To avoid this, we have instilled a well-established incident management plan describing appropriate responses. This includes among others – the criteria defining the severity of an incident, the roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder involved in the management of that incident, the incident lifecycle, and the service level objectives. In a similar fashion, it’s best practice to establish a disaster recovery plan in the event of external service outages. Stratocast has a well thought out plan that reduces any negative…

Fortinet Advises Cyber Distancing and Network Isolation to Protect Organizations from Cyberattacks

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaJune 14, 2020November 14, 2024011 mins

Over the past several weeks, FortiGuard Labs has been monitoring a significant spike in COVID-19 related threats. Cybercriminals are unleashing a surprisingly high volume of new threats in this short period of time to take advantage of inadvertent security gaps as organizations are in a rush to ensure business continuity. Cybercriminals are exploiting the rapid change to our digital world An unprecedented number of unprotected users and devices are now online with one or two people in every home connecting remotely to work through the internet. Simultaneously there are children at home engaged in remote learning and the entire family is engaged in multi-player games, chatting with friends as well as streaming music and video. FortiGuard Labs is observing this perfect storm of opportunity being exploited by cybercriminals as the Threat Report on the Pandemic highlights: A surge in phishing attacks: FortiGuard Labs research shows an average of about 600 new phishing campaigns every day. The content is designed to either prey on the fears and concerns of individuals or pretend to provide essential information on the current pandemic. The phishing attacks range from scams related to helping individuals deposit their stimulus for Covid-19 tests, to providing access to Chloroquine and other medicines or medical device, to providing helpdesk support for new teleworkers. In addition to scams targeting adults, some phishing attacks target children with offers of online games and free movies, or even access to credit cards to buy online games or shop online. Phishing scams are just the start: While the attacks start with a phishing attack, their end goal is to steal personal information or even target businesses through teleworkers. Majority of the phishing attacks contain malicious payloads – including ransomware, viruses, remote access trojans (RATs) designed to provide criminals with remote access to endpoint systems, and even RDP (remote desktop protocol) exploits. A Sudden spike in viruses: The first quarter of 2020 has documented a 17% increase in viruses for January, a 52% increase for February, and an alarming 131% increase for March compared to the same period in 2019. The significant rise in viruses is mainly attributed to malicious phishing attachments. Multiple sites that are illegally streaming movies that were still in theatres secretly infect malware to anyone who logs on. Free game, free movie, and the attacker is on your network. Risks for IoT devices magnify: As users are all connected to the home network, attackers have multiple avenues of attack that can be exploited targeting devices including computers, tablets, gaming and entertainment systems, and even online IoT devices such as digital cameras, smart appliances – with the ultimate goal of finding a way back into a corporate network and its valuable digital resources. Ransomware like attack to disrupt business: If the device of a remote worker can be compromised, it can become a conduit back into the organization’s core network, enabling the spread of malware to other remote workers. The resulting business disruption can be just as effective as ransomware targeting internal network systems for taking a business offline. Since helpdesks are now remote, devices infected with ransomware or a virus can incapacitate workers for days while devices are mailed in for reimaging. Solutions and countermeasures Organizations should take measures to protect their remote workers and help them secure their devices and home networks. Cyber social distancing is all about recognizing risks and keeping distance. Isolation is all about segmenting networks and quarantining the malware from spreading across the network. Here are a few critical steps to consider: Endpoint security: Endpoint security provides a VPN client to ensure that remote traffic remains secure. For organizations looking for an even more robust endpoint security solution a EDR solution provides advanced, real-time threat protection for endpoints both pre and post-infection, in addition to robust antivirus technologies installed at the kernel to detect and prevent malware infection, it can also respond to device breaches in real-time by detecting and defusing potential threats before they have the chance to compromise the system. Connectivity: VPN connections can be run and managed independently, organizations with large numbers of remote workers may need the addition of an enterprise management server solution. An EMS solution can securely and automatically share information between endpoint and the network, push out software updates, and assign security profiles to endpoints. Access to cloud applications: Driving all traffic through a VPN tunnel can actually have a doubling impact on network traffic. In addition to all of the remote workers connecting into the network, the network will also need to manage all of the outbound connections to cloud services. However, since this traffic will not be run through the organization’s edge security solutions, these direct connections will require a cloud-based security solution. Cloud access security broker (CASB) will provide visibility, compliance, data security, and threat protection for access to SaaS and other cloud-based services being used by an organization. Network access control: Cybercriminals intend to exploit this rapid transition to a teleworker strategy by hoping to get overlooked by masquerading as a legitimate corporate end-user or IoT device, or by hijacking a legitimate device. Network access control tools can see and identify everything connected to the network, as well as control those devices and users including dynamic automated responses. Network access control enables IT teams to see every device and user as they join the network, combined with the ability to limit devices access in the network, and automatically react to devices that fall out of policy within seconds. Network segmentation: Network segmentation ensures that devices, users, workflows, and applications can be isolated to prevent unauthorized access and data loss, as well as to limit exposure if there is a breach at the network perimeter. Next generation Firewall enables segmentation at the network perimeter further this can be enhanced using an internal segmentation Firewall. Zero-trust network access: The best security posture during this period is to consider that every user and device has already been compromised. Combining all of the solutions outlined above organizations can ensure…