Category: Case Study

For Campus Environments Extreme combines existing and acquired technologies to simplify and secure IoT deployments. IT managers are in need of an easier and faster way to manage the 8.4 billion connected devices expected to overload networks with data this year, according to Gartner. To address the time constraints and resources spent on managing complex networks, Extreme Networks, Inc. has recently launched Extreme Automated Campus™, a cost-effective alternative to outdated traditional networking solutions that delivers plug-and-play simplicity and true business agility. The solution comes within just two months of Extreme closing on its acquisition of Avaya’s networking business, and combines Avaya’s field-proven Fabric Connect infrastructure, Extreme’s industry-leading Extreme Management Center™ and Extreme’s top-ranked support services to eliminate networking complexity, increase security and deliver increased visibility into the network. Now with over 1,500 unique deployments, spanning every industry, Fabric Connect has been proven to deliver 11x faster time to service, 7x faster mean time to repair and provide a 100% reduction in outages as a result of human error, according to Fabric Connect Customer Experience Research Report. With this announcement, Extreme wired and wireless edge products have been integrated into the Fabric Connect architecture, giving customers greater choice on how they evolve their network edge. Additionally, Avaya’s networking portfolio has been integrated into Extreme Management Center, bringing a unique 360-degree view of the network, users, devices and applications for actionable business insights. Also available are two new fabric enabled hardware platforms for high performance 10/ 40/ 100 Gigabits per second aggregation and core networking. The first is the VSP 8600, an innovative small 7RU form factor core chassis with over 21 Tbps of switching capacity. The other is the VSP 8404C, a 2RU modular core form factor with four pluggable slots providing for highly flexible deployment options. Finally, to increase customer satisfaction and loyalty, the end-to-end solution is supported by Extreme’s top-ranked services and support organization. Key facts The enterprise market’s only fully-automated end-to-end campus solution: Extreme is introducing a consistent policy-based, fabric-enabled architecture extending from core to wired/ wireless edge – enabling true dynamic services through a suite of zero-touch policy and networking features. Enhanced security through frictionless hyper-segments: Extreme’s Automated Campus leverages hyper-segments – which contain breaches, and isolate and protect critical applications, information or users – for heightened security. These hyper-segments can be implemented with greater ease and far greater scale than traditional networking technologies. Centralized, intuitive, role-based policies control user and device access to hyper-segments. 360-degree visibility: Extreme’s Automated Campus solution is unique in its ability to provide a true 360-degree view of the network (wired and wireless), users, devices and applications – with context and scale – through integrated management, analytics and policy. IT managers can create centralized policies for as many as 200,000 users and devices, and gain actionable insights with customizable signature sets for more than 7,000 applications. Additionally, through open APIs, Extreme Management Center integrates with third party solution providers so that customers can orchestrate workflows based on third party alerts, providing a holistic and programmable solution. First-person resolution: Underlying the end-to-end solution is Extreme’s top-ranked 100% in-sourced support and services, according to Gartner’s Peer Insights, with a first-person resolution rate of over 90 percent.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) awarded Elbit Systems of America, LLC, a contract to provide an in-fill radar system and tower. The amount of the award is not material to Elbit Systems Ltd, the parent company of Elbit Systems of America. The work is being performed in Texas. “U.S. Customs and Border Protection will soon have another important capability helping secure our southwest border,” said Raanan Horowitz, CEO and President, Elbit Systems of America, “This contract allows us to directly support CBP Air and Marine Operations and extend our border security solutions into the air domain.” Elbit Systems of America, LLC, has partnered with C Speed, LLC to incorporate its LightWave Radar technology used for detecting small and low-flying airborne threats in a high clutter environment. C Speed’s LightWave radar has also been deployed worldwide to mitigate the effects of wind turbine clutter in similar environments. “C Speed continually incorporates its state-of-the-art technology into its ground-based radar systems and subsystems,” explained David Lysack, President and Chief Executive Officer of C Speed, “This opportunity allows us to provide new capabilities and enhanced performance for our customers while leveraging our field proven architecture and 25 years of operational experience.” This program is another example of Elbit Systems of America delivering solutions supporting CBP’s mission to protect U.S. borders. Separately, the company is the prime contractor and system integrator for the Integrated Fixed Tower (IFT) system, currently deployed along the Arizona border. Elbit Systems of America furnishes the sensor towers with radar, day/ night cameras, and command & control software that correlates sensor information to provide a single operating picture. Information from the towers is networked into Border Patrol Station Command and Control Centers. This system increases situational awareness for Border Patrol Agents. The IFT’s high reliability and proven contractor logistics support provides CBP with 24/7 surveillance coverage.

For the Finnish Tax Administration, the very nature of its operations makes information security a critical issue. Because the Tax Administration’s services are increasingly digital, it requires highly-secured, 24/7 security solutions, latest technology and the expertise of top cybersecurity professionals. The Tax Administration and Nixu have launched a partnership to bring the Tax Administration the Nixu Cyber Defense Center (CDC), a package of services for the monitoring, detection, addressing, investigation and prevention of security incidents as well as services for the investigation, management and aftercare of cyber crime. The cyber defense center service delivered by Nixu provides 24/7 monitoring of security incidents in the Tax Administration’s IT environment. If the CDC detects an actual or a likely security incident, it launches investigation and prevention measures designed in cooperation with the Tax Administration and its other service providers. “We wanted to partner with Nixu, because their extensive cybersecurity expertise and 24/7 monitoring service meet the Tax Administration’s requirements,” summarizes Samuli Bergström, Chief Security Officer at the Finnish Tax Administration. “Defending oneself from sophisticated malware and targeted attacks is becoming more and more challenging for organizations. Cyberthreats are changing and evolving rapidly, and we need to monitor the environment constantly, keep an eye on threatening situations, and with the help of trained and experienced cybersecurity professionals, detect and prevent such threats. We are happy to support the Tax Administration in this critical task, and we are looking forward to our co-operation,” says Pietari Sarjakivi, Director of Managed Security Services at Nixu.

Avigilon Corporation has been selected to enhance security at TTI, a new 800,000 square foot facility in Fort Worth, Texas, United States. TTI, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is the world’s leading authorized distributor of interconnect, passive and electromechanical (IP&E) components. To enhance security at its new state-of-the-art facility, TTI, in partnership with national security provider Protection 1 ADT, has installed a complete Avigilon surveillance solution, including Avigilon HD multisensor cameras and Avigilon H4 Fisheye cameras, as well as Avigilon cameras with self-learning video analytics. These cameras run on Avigilon network video recorders and Avigilon Control Center (ACC) video management software. TTI is also deploying the Avigilon Access Control Manager system to secure physical access points. Avigilon HD multisensor cameras and Avigilon H4 Fisheye cameras were selected for their flexible design, which can capture multiple angles up to 360 degrees throughout TTI’s facility, enabling maximum scene coverage while minimizing blind spots. TTI also chose Avigilon cameras with self-learning video analytics for their accurate detection of people and vehicles in critical areas. Combined with ACC’s advanced search functions, the system’s exceptional image detail and zooming capabilities allow TTI’s security operators to quickly identify and respond to security events while realizing significant operational efficiencies. “We worked with Protection 1 ADT to design a system that was easy to use and complied with federal Foreign-Trade Zone security regulations,” said Ray Knight, TTI Senior Facilities Manager, “With Avigilon’s intuitive ACC interface and advanced video analytics, we can be notified when people and vehicles are in restricted areas, quickly verify and respond to those critical events in real time. This saves us valuable time and effort and allows our team to focus on what matters most.”

The BC Express Mart, near Macon, Georgia, has deployed a 3xLOGIC video surveillance system to stay one step ahead of crime, and to improve store operations. “The system was purchased about three years ago and was installed when this location was constructed,” said Calloway, the owner of the Store, “We’ve had experience with three other video systems, and we’re most pleased with 3xLOGIC – the ease of accessing and managing the system and the clarity of the images, we’ll never go with another camera system.” Currently, the Calloways have 22 3xLOGIC cameras covering all cash registers, the drive-through, various coolers, pump stations, areas within the restaurant and kitchen, and a 360-degree camera installed in the middle of the store watches out for shoplifters. 3xLOGIC video surveillance systems are popular with single store owners like the Calloways, as well as all the way up to mega-convenience store operations with thousands of locations. One major advantage with 3xLOGIC is the ability to scale from a handful of cameras to tens of thousands of cameras, all managed from a single, easy-to-use platform and GUI. Calloway is planning to add at least six more cameras to cover remaining blind spots and to gain license plate visibility at the fuel pumps. Cameras are recorded to a 3xLOGIC NVR and managed with VIGIL Client software. Calloway and his wife also view camera feeds remotely on their smart phones, using 3xLOGIC’s ViewLite II, an Android app. Cash register cameras are integrated with the store’s POS system to enable close investigation of any questionable transactions. Calloway also takes advantage of the 3xLOGIC Cloud application to store and retrieve video footage without using server capacity.

CAL FIRE calls on world’s largest aerial firefighting tanker to combat fire near Lake Oroville in Northern California; its first deployment in U.S. The Global SuperTanker has been activated to fight quickly spreading fire in Northern California. The world’s newest and largest aerial firefighting tanker recently went into action after the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) exercised its call with the SuperTanker to fight the Ponderosa Fire, 10 miles east of Lake Oroville. The SuperTanker was at McClellan Air Base in Sacramento after recently completing ‘carding’ by CAL FIRE. It received federal firefighting certification last month. This is the plane’s first deployment in the United States. “It’s an honor to work on behalf of the people and state of California as they face yet another potentially devastating wildfire,” said Jim Wheeler, President and CEO of Global SuperTanker Services, LLC, “We are confident the unsurpassed firefighting ability of the Global SuperTanker will be a tremendous asset for CAL FIRE and its team on the ground as they suppress the Ponderosa Fire. CAL FIRE has long believed in and supported the SuperTanker; we will work tirelessly with them to get the job done in Ponderosa or wherever fire threatens our fellow citizens.” “We take our responsibility to assess this new tool during the interim approval process very seriously,” said Chief Dave Teter, CAL FIRE’s Deputy Director of Fire Protection, “Our incident commanders will continue to look for opportunities to evaluate the 747 in real world, battlefield conditions as part of this process just as we did with the DC-10 when this type of Very Large Airtanker technology was first introduced.” While this is the first time the Global SuperTanker has been deployed in the U.S., it was previously called upon to combat fires in Israel over Thanksgiving of 2016, and was in Chile for three weeks in January and February of 2017. While in Chile, the SuperTanker set a world record for liquid dropped by a land-based very large aerial tanker in a single day at 134,400 gallons. The plane was credited with saving people and homes, and the crew received awards and recognition from the Chilean Red Cross for their work in Chile.

The maintenance division of this blue-chip customer supports over 6.5k sites across the U.K. This division employs circa 1400 engineers and frontline management staff. In November 2016 Reliance was awarded a contract to deliver a personal safety solution to protect staff. All staff are provided with a Personal Safety Device (PSD) which they wear as part of their compulsory PPE whilst at work. This device enables the user to raise various safety alerts and alarms 24/7 to specialist operators at the Reliance High Tech monitoring centre. The bespoke solution addresses important customer needs including the enhancement of the Reliance Protect Monitor proactive services to provide additional safety for staff, including when they out of mobile phone coverage. The solution utilises the Reliance Protect customer portal which incorporates online smart-forms and a unique e-Learning platform to assist device users and facilitate quicker deployment. Additional benefits include ‘super user’ training for managers, bespoke guidance booklets, attendance to Health and Safety events and bespoke usage reports for managers.