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The challenges of today’s businesses are immense. As organizations are going online and operations are automated, there is a substantial increase in the number of endpoints across the world. Every digitally enabled device that now ranges from lighting and home décor to wearables and toys are all endpoints. The operations, associated applications, and the majority of work and leisure are data-driven. Changes post-2020 led to many organizations part from their in-house storage to the cloud. But in the digital age with cloud and data-driven business plans the focus moves towards securing it all. But how to fight against threats while navigating the complexities of multiple aspects? What about the costs involved in dealing with these challenges? SaaS-based solution for endpoint and workload is the answer “ Trend Micro has a powerful Saas-based solution called Cloud One under which Endpoint Security and Workload Security are available. A single solution doesn’t necessarily mean singular capability and this helps get the best of both worlds. This solution conducts 2.5 trillion events processed per day across the network, emails and files. To stop malware, ransomware and vulnerabilities faster, Cloud’s complex public, private and hybrid systems, in-house storage, and diversified endpoints lead to complexities. Siloed, disconnected solutions mean blind spots, alert overload, operational complexity, and security gaps. But these services however can be procured through a single, lightweight agent that protects the servers, cloud workloads and applications. It is for this very reason that Gartner, IDC and MITRE have recommended and ranked #1 respectively in the global market,” said Suchit Karnik, COO at RAH Infotech. So how is in-depth work done and benefits are provided by these solutions? Cloud One Endpoint Security and Workload Security provide: Optimized service options. Broadest security capabilities. Value-adding integrations. Seamless security. Stopping attacks without disruption. Frees up resources. Flexible pricing. The solution enables layered protection and detection capabilities, like antimalware, ransomware protection, hostbased intrusion prevention, device and application control, and more. It provides the most ideal functionality by detecting and blocking threats with a minimal performance impact. This helps achieve role-based access controls and maintain regulatory and compliance requirements. It aids with the integration of full-featured XDR and attack surface risk management. Turn-key integrations are available that connect with other protection products, threat intel, SIEMs, orchestration solutions and more. The solution provides value addition with automated security deployment, policy management, health checks and compliance reporting. With this SaaS-based cloud solution Trend Micro provides a nonstop monitoring of 45+ billion URLs, emails and files. The company has the support of over 15 global research centres and 450 internal researchers, delivering 24/7/365 threat prevention for the cloud. The impact study by Forrester and the recognitions by Gartner, IDC and MITRE showcase how economically disruptive security threats and complexities are. So, Trend Micro Cloud One has proved to be an ideal solution to counter any existing and new challenges an organization meets during its journey. RAH Infotech is India’s leading value-added technology distributor and solutions provider. Headquartered in New Delhi, RAH Infotech has been providing world-class IT solutions since the year 2005 to a large number of channel partners and enterprises in the India & SAARC regions. The rich portfolio includes a wide range of best-of-breed solutions to address requirements across Security, Data, Network, Application, Storage, and beyond. As a top-tier technology enabler, we manage the entire value chain of data management requirements of enterprises and protect their digital assets. We partner with the finest global technology firms to develop customized IT solutions in the area of cybersecurity, networking, cloud computing, data management and application management for various industry verticals.  

Global security manufacturer, Gallagher has been awarded Product of the Year – Access Control System for their Command Centre v8.80 product at the Finest India Skills & Talent (FIST) Awards, held on Friday the 3rd of February 2023. The latest award-winning version of Gallagher’s worldclass security site management software, Command Centre v8.80, empowers organisations to make security easier, faster, and more efficient. On winning the award, Gallagher’s Head of Sales & Marketing for India, Gautham NV said, “We are honoured to have been named ‘Product of the Year – Access Control System’ and to be recognised for our dedication to continued innovation of our access security products. “We pride ourselves in being a customer-centric company and this accolade is a testament to our efforts in providing our customers with the best possible security solutions.” Gallagher Command Centre is the central site management platform for the Gallagher security system. Utilising a client-server architecture, the software provides a powerful and versatile feature set, enabling system operators to easily configure, monitor and control the security system. The release of Command Centre v8.80 offers features and enhancements that allow greater flexibility and efficiencies, including the much-anticipated web-based security management system – Command Centre Web, site plan enhancements, SIP integration, and a new bulk configuration tool. The introduction of Command Centre Web via the Command Centre v8.80 software upgrade, provides cloud-based flexibility to customers, allowing them to perform cardholder management tasks from any internet-connected device, without the need to use or maintain a full Command Centre workstation. The Fire & Security Association of India (FSAI) hosts the FIST Awards each year to recognise extraordinary contributions by organisations and individuals in the field of security, safety, firefighting, and emergency response. The awards event was held at Taj Santacruz in Mumbai.  

Fight threats with the combined power of Managed SOC by Eventus and XDR by Trend Micro The cyber threat landscape has been expanding, unchecked and at an unfathomable rate. The threat surface has become thinner with the fusion of the digital and real world. The vulnerability of every sector has increased multi-fold. Countering these threats from internal and external sources has become daunting. In 2022 there has been a huge difference between the number of attacks that occurred in Q2 and Q3. This difference is bigger when comparing the 2021 and 2022 attack numbers. Statics show in Q3 2022, the number of cyberattacks increased by 1/3rd compared to Q3 2021, and by 10% compared to Q2 2022. More than numbers, the sophistication level of the threats is a cause for worry. The ransomware attack against AIIMS Delhi showed how threat actors are stronger with much more advanced tools at their disposal. A recent study says that having a Security Operations Center (SOC) improves an organization’s ability to contain any threats by 43%. By a general definition – ‘SOC is a centralized function within an organization. It employs people, processes, and technology to continuously monitor and improve an organization’s security posture. All this while preventing, detecting, analyzing and responding to cybersecurity incidents.’ A traditional SOC however was good when threats were traditional and not rampant. Today, especially for businesses, using a traditional SOC will only pose challenges: Manish Chasta Co-founder & CTO at Eventus TechSol “Generally using an XDR-powered SOC means that it augments the traditional SOC. So by using this tool an organization sees improvement in vulnerability assessments. A proactive strategy is taken up prioritizing the risks that are countered by analyzing the threat patterns and meeting the expectations of cyber insurance providers. Naturally, the XDR portfolio powered by Trend Micro provided by Eventus is highly modernized. It aids the SOC in streamlining the threats and ensuring that the SOC team focuses on the most pertinent threats. Our MXDR can even recognize IoT devices or unmanaged endpoints such as BYOD devices that may have been compromised, making use of advanced AI to analyze and prioritize threat data. This is evidenced by our CERT-In Empanelment, a testament to the quality of our security solutions” #Challenge 1: Missing critical alerts due to overloading A mid-size organization faces threats on an everyday basis. Data suggests that for a workplace of 1,000 employees, almost 2 million events are generated daily. An overload of alerts overwhelms security teams and critical events are missed. #Challenge 2: Gaps in visibility with security solutions By using multiple security applications, specific alerts are targeted one-on-one and the issue is resolved. When this happens analysts miss the whole picture and have visibility in silos. The value is often limited by the type and depth of the data collected and the level of correlated analysis possible. The lack of integrations is a supreme challenge in traditional SOC. #Challenge 3: Conducting a difficult and time-consuming investigation An overwhelming number of alerts are generated in a day which leads to missing critical alerts. But once the alerts are neutralized security teams always try and investigate the alerts. This may not always be possible due to a lack of in-depth knowledge and resources, especially since it would be done manually. #Challenge 4: Increase in risks due to slow response and detection Combing through millions of alerts unable to find which are critical leads to higher risks for organizations. When there is a delay in detection, the response to mitigate the alerts is also slow affecting the operations of any organization negatively. This stage is achieved when other challenges are snowballed and thrown at the security teams. This is the biggest challenge faced when using a traditional SOC. Eventus TechSol has understood this and designed Managed SOC platform which is also known as SOC-as-a-Service. This platform gives complete visibility across multiple security layers processing millions of events. It has enriched threat intelligence driving faster threat detection and automated response combined with expert threat analysis. While Managed SOC provides the best results in mitigating threats, a sophisticated level of security is achieved by combining XDR and Managed SOC. The XDR Powered SOC collects and automatically correlates data across multiple security layers and allows faster detection of threats, improved investigation and response time. It provides full visibility of the kill chain of an attacker. “Eventus has decades of understanding of the cyber threat landscape and the evolving technology. This is why we have designed our Managed SOC close to the needs of organizations. We take pride in stating that our SOC platform is the ‘Next Gen Way.’ Its strength is the presence of Extended Detection and Response (XDR). The XDR-powered SOC platform is ideal for keeping endpoints, networks, cloud and servers secure. Our specialized threat detection and hunting platform, combined with the deep knowledge of security experts, delivers faster responses with a higher degree of confidence 24x7x365,” said Manish Chasta, Co-founder & CTO at Eventus TechSol. A traditional SOC works in silos, hence giving rise to the need of using an XDR-powered SOC in modern times. A combination of XDR and SOC will automate the entire SOC-as-a-Service offering. This is a modernization of the solution while negating the challenges faced by traditional SOC. The XDR-powered SOC is ‘context-driven’ which provides the entire visibility of the kill chain of an attacker. Our AI-supported XDR is powered by Trend Micro. It extends continuous threat detection and monitoring, and automated response beyond endpoints. It ingests threat intelligence streams to allow organizations to defend against known attacks. This allows security analysts to address actual threats faster. Eventus here has an upper hand, where they also provide MXDR i.e., Managed XDR portfolio as part of the Managed SOC solution. Eventus’ Managed Services monitor the MXDR deployment 24×7 and remotely investigate all critical security events. Real-time events from endpoints and networks will be continuously sent to the SOC via event logs and alerts. If a critical event is detected and validated, it…

Hikvision India Partners with PACC 2023 to Showcase Innovative Security Solutions Hikvision India, an IoT solution provider with video as its core competency, has partnered with the 9th edition of Project Heads, Architects and Consultants Conclave (PACC2023) in Kochi. The company showcased its latest innovative security technologies and solutions during the event. It has recently participated as a presenting partner for the Fire and Security Association of India’s Project heads, Architects & Consultants Conclave (PACC) event. At the event AX PRO Series Wireless Intrusion Alarm System was launched with big fanfare in the presence of security industry leaders and dignitaries. The newly launched AX PRO Series Wireless Intrusion Alarm System enables more reliable intrusion detection with home automation features. While launching the latest product AX PRO Series Wireless Intrusion Alarm, Ashish P. Dhakan, MD & CEO, Prama Hikvision India said, “We are happy to launch AX PRO, an intelligent alarm system with convergent solutions. This intrusion system helps to detect security breaches instantly and reliably. It also minimizes false positives. This product can help companies, homeowners, retail store owners, and key institutes to enable highly reliable video verification solutions, secure wireless transmission, and a wide range of state-of-the-art alarm detectors.” Commenting on the success of the PACC event, Ashish P. Dhakan said, “Hikvision has partnered with FSAI’s PACC Conclave to evangelize the latest innovative security technologies among the professional community and end-users.   We are here to share Hikvision’s next generation technology solutions and latest innovative products with the industry leaders and technology experts. We are striving to evangelize the adaptation of latest security technologies and solutions based on AI, Deep Learning Big Data and Robotics. Let’s join hands to make ‘Surakshit Bharat’ by providing the bestin-class security solutions.” Hikvision booth at FSAI’s PACC event showcased the latest offering AX PRO series wireless intrusion alarm system. It also displayed walls showcasing the command control centre, real estate solutions, specialized products, time lapse solution and packet tracking solution. After the lamp lighting and inaugural session the keynote speech was delivered by Mr. Dhakan on the theme ‘Make in India 2.0 and an Indigenous Manufacturing roadmap for Atmanirbhar Bharat.’ During the keynote speech he elaborated, “We are committed to the ‘Make-in-India’ 2.0 vision with a long term plan. Our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility is the largest security product manufacturing facilities across the country. We are doubling the manufacturing capabilities of our manufacturing facility due to the growing demand in the market. We are empowering to the local youth by providing training and employment.” After the debate session Hikvision AX PRO series product was unveiled in the presence of dignitaries. The BIG7 Debate on ‘SURAKSHIT BHARAT (Dream V/s. Reality)’ was moderated by Pankaj Dharkar, MEP & Green Building Consultant, PD Associates and FSAI Presidential Member. In TECHVARTA (BREAKOUT SESSION) at the PACC event on the 2nd day of ‘Emerging and Future Fire & Security Threats (Identification Management) in Hotels,’ Gagan Lamba, Vice President, Enterprise Business, Prama Hikvision India gave an impactful perspective on the latest security trends in the hospitality security. The Hikvision presentations at the PACC event were well received. The engaging panel discussions, presentations and interactive sessions with the participants provided valuable insights. The FSAI’s PACC event was aimed at bringing the Project Heads, Architects, Consultants, System Integrators, OEMs, and End-users onto a common platform. The focus of PACC was to provide the platform for presentations and deliberations on TECHVARTA, technology evolutions, best practices, implementation, standards & codes, market challenges and growth in the industry. The three-day event had empowering presentations (from expert professionals as well as event partners) and insightful panel discussions under the TECHVARTA segment. This event witnessed a participation of 750 delegates. The PACC 2023 concluded on a high note as the event has got an overwhelming response from the delegates.  

Consistent Infosystems, a leading provider of IT hardware, security and surveillance, print consumables, and electronics and home entertainment products in India, has launched its highly versatile Wireless Dual Band 4G Router that works on local Ethernet-based WAN as well as a GSM network. To have a redundant internet connection at home or office, a person needs a GSM-based wireless router that can keep him connected to the grid always. Beneficial for those who live or work in remote areas where local internet is limited, or for those who require remote connectivity or surveillance without an available local ISP. The Consistent Wireless Router is a simple, yet highly versatile dual-band wireless GSM router that works with all GSM mobile network providers. It features 2.4GHz + 5GHz dual-band modes and sports triple 5dB antennas for extensive long-range operation with beam forming. The router can also be configured as an access point to extend physical LAN into a wireless network, or as a range-extender to boost the existing wireless router’s range. The Consistent Dual-Band 4G/ LTE GSM Wireless Router Wireless Router works with high-speed data networking to support IPTV and 4K streaming with great ease. This GSM wireless router is a musthave peripheral for those seeking remote surveillance for areas such as farms, fields, warehouses, garages, terraces, barren properties, and other such areas where local ISPs do not have feasibility options. Consistent Infosystems Private Limited is a leading provider of IT hardware products, security & surveillance products, print consumables products, and electronics & home entertainment products in India. It started its glorious journey back in 2011 from the Capital city of India, New Delhi. Since the venture started Consistent Infosystems Private Limited has become one of the fastest-growing Indian IT organizations in the era of technology and has already put its remarkable footprints in the Information Technology, Electronics & Home Entertainment industries. With its world-class technical support and servicing along with multiple service centers across the country the organization has ensured complete customer satisfaction. Quality and Service are the only modus operandi for Consistent Infosystems Private Limited and with these parameters in sync, the brand has defined the working ethics of the organization nationally as well as on a global level.  

India’s networking market which comprises Ethernet Switches, Routers, and WLAN segments has witnessed unprecedented growth with regard to vendor revenue during the third quarter of FY22 according to a special report published by IDC (International Data Corporation). NETGEAR, a global networking company providing hardware for consumers, businesses, and service providers is now amongst the top 5 companies in India in the switching and WLAN segment by IDC. As the world continues to adopt technologies such as audio, video and control over Ethernet as their delivery method of choice, NETGEAR is working to pave the way for new and improved experiences across developing industries through its products. Over the years, NETGEAR Business has led the way by successfully enabling more than 50 million businesses worldwide. These products combine years of networking from leading experts with unmatched ease of use, reliability, and cost savings that benefit all networked AV solutions. NETGEAR is looking at increased performance in operations due to rising demand for premium Wi-Fi mesh systems and 5G mobile hotspots in retail and service channels. Since there has been an unprecedented rise in robust networking solutions, the brand being a primary player is pushing its attention to Internet-connected lifestyle devices including laptops, smartphones, IoT devices, speakers and Television for Smart Homes. Marthesh Nagendra Country Manager – India, ME & SAARC, NETGEAR “We are delighted to be among India’s top 5 Switching & WLAN brands. We are grateful to our partners and customers for making it possible. Our business offerings are equipped with better hardware, advanced features, easy to setup, comes at a right price and longest warranty which makes us one of the best brands in the industry” The Worldwide design & development of NETGEAR’s access points is done at its Research Center, Bangalore. The company has a large office space of around 75,000 Sqft in Bangalore where they have engineers working on software for consumer products, Insight cloud management and hotspots. The brand engages more than 500+ Engineers direct and indirect, work for the design and development of NETGEAR products in India. NETGEAR is set to gain more momentum in terms of sales and scalability in the coming years. It is pushing its energy to take on the market in a big way and imprint more of the Indian networking market. The company is set to build on more innovations this year to drive more conscious and widespread growth in the networking market. NETGEAR is also in the process of signing LoI (Letter of Intent) for setting up the largest manufacturing unit in Chennai which will be the 1st ‘Make in India’ for the world.  

Anil Puri CMD, APS group A first generation serial entrepreneur, thought leader and an action catalyzer rolled into one – Anil Puri is a rare combination of a visionary, an innovator and a strategic thinker. He has used this combination to innovate and implement on-ground many new business ideas. His rich experience in various businesses has enabled him to nurture & mentor innovative ideas and scale them up. Introduction In its quest for digitalization, India has become an easy target for cyberattacks due to poor cybersecurity. The frequency and targets of cyberattacks on India are becoming increasingly alarming. The high-profile ransomware attack on Delhi’s All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on 23 Nov 2022 exposed gaping holes in the country’s cybersecurity infrastructure causing disruption of online services that lasted over two weeks thus bringing to fore the critical infrastructure vulnerability. India’s nodal cybersecurity agency Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) found in its investigation that five AIIMS’ servers were compromised during the cyberattack and nearly 1.3 terabytes of data were encrypted by hackers.  But it was hardly an isolated incident. Industry data shows that 2022 has been the worst year so far for India when it comes to cyberattacks – a problem that has only grown with increasing digitalization. Ransomware attacks in India have increased significantly and in an unprecedented numbers. One of the most distinguishing aspects in 2022 was the involvement of state actors. India saw the highest number of cyberattacks on government agencies in 2022. Experts believe that state-sponsored hackers will go after cloud services in 2023 due to growing digital transformation as companies migrate more of their attack surface to these cloud managed services. articles like these, get access to Mint Premium at 25% discount India’s Cyber Vulnerabilities In 2019, CERT-In handled close to 3,94,499 incidents in total, in which it suggested remedial measures for organizations and shared notes on cyber threats and vulnerabilities. In the same year, CERT-In issued 204 security alerts and 38 advisories. The number of incidents handled by CERT-In surged in 2020 to 11,58,208, a near-tripling over the previous year. This surge continued in 2021, which saw 14,02,809 incidents, a 21 per cent increase. The matters CERT-In looks into include website intrusion and malware propagation, malicious code, phishing, distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, website defacements, unauthorized network scanning or probing activities, ransomware attacks, data breaches and vulnerable services. In this backdrop, what will the government and companies do differently in the coming year? As the government readied its legislation on cybersecurity, numerous industry-wide surveys and sector experts say that 2023 will see companies spending significant amounts to secure their digital systems from attacks. CERT-In has also laid out a standard operating procedure for data breaches wherein companies and other organizations are supposed to inform the government of any breach within six hours, although this move has received a mixed reaction since compliance may be challenging. Chronological history of Cyber Attacks on India in last three years. In another report, CloudSEK also reported an uptick in the number of cyberattacks on banking and financial sector. The report, however, identified different patterns when compared between 2021 and 2022. The attacks in 2021 were on a global scale with an equal focus on North America whereas the events in 2022 saw a shift towards Asia. Within Asia, India stood pretty high, with the report characterizing India as ‘the new found hotbed for cyberattacks in Asia.’ The Banking Finance Services and Insurances (BFSI) has been identified as the most targeted sector in the FY 2021-2022. A comparison of the number of cyber events in 2021 and 2022 reveal that the US, India, and Brazil continue to be among the most targeted states. Response of the Nodal Agencies According to government data, in 2019, total number of cyber security incidents tracked by Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) was 3,94,499. The number spiked to 11,58,208 in the year 2020 and further increased to 14,02,809 in 2021. This year, as many as 6,74,021 cyber security incidents were reported till June. Cyber Attack which has put All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi’s servers out of order on November 23 is yet to be resolved completely. Multiple agencies have been looking into the Cyber Attack at the crucial installation of the country. While a case has been registered, the CERT-IN, Delhi Police and other investigating agencies are probing the incident. On December 1. 2022, cyber attackers briefly hacked the Ministry of Jal Shakti’s Twitter handle, the second major Cyber Attack on a government site. A Parliamentary Standing Committee in its report this year observed that there is a significant surge in cyber incidents and cyber security breaches and it is imperative that capabilities and resilience of the country to deal with imminent dangers on cyber space are enhanced proportionately. Cyber Security has to remain at the forefront of agenda/ priority items for the Ministry and no fund crunch should come in the way of ensuring a safe ecosystem as far as the Cyber world is concerned. In fact the Committee feels that the Ministry must dovetail their efforts to achieve a more secured cyber world especially in the wake of renewed challenges in this domain. The Committee, therefore, recommends that funds for cyber security may be increased on a year on basis to forestall any failures in this domain for sheer lack of funds. The report also cited lower fund utili zation with respect to CERT-in, National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC) and data governance. “So far as the underutilization of funds under the head is concerned, an amount of Rs. 216 crore had been allocated in BE (Budget Estimate) stage during 2021-22, which was reduced to Rs. 213 crore at RE (Revised Estimate) stage and actual utilization till January, 2022 has been 98.31 crore only,” said the report. As per Information Technology Ministry, the government is operating an automated cyber threat exchange platform for proactively collecting, analyzing and sharing tailored alerts with organizations across sectors for proactive threat mitigation actions by them. The Government has issued…

Former Secretary (Security), Cabinet Secretariat, & Spl. Secy., Internal Security, MHA ASSOCHAM Conducted a National Conference on Homeland Security Finding comprehensive solutions along with the private sector for homeland security, that also serves as a force multiplier, is a crucial concept for Aatmanirbhar and Surakshit Bharat,” stated VSK Kaumudi, IPS (Retd.), Former Secretary (Security), Cab. Sectt., & Spl. Secy., Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, at the national conference on ‘Homeland Security: Public-Private Partnership for Managing New Age Challenges.’ The conference was organized by the apex industry body, Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM). In order to protect against criminal activities, terrorism, and other threats to the country, Mr. Kaumudi underlined the significance of advanced security systems. He spoke about the nexus between inimical elements abroad and local terrorists and criminal gangs that affects the well-being of Indian citizens along the borders as well as in the heartland. The Indian government has been encouraging startups and private parties for developing sophisticated technology for weapons and security equipment, skill development of security personnel, and in cyber security through private-public partnership. According to Mr. Kaumudi, India needs private-public partnership to foster the development of start-ups and to adopt the best available technology for robust security architecture. Sanjay Agrawal, Dy Director General (Disaster Management) at the Ministry of Communications of the Government of India, highlighted the importance of establishing a public-private partnership model to enlist industrial partners for commercial use of the network while taking into account geographical areas and designing communication models for nationwide homeland security. He further emphasized the need to utilize modern technologies in tandem with an integrated communication system in order to enhance safety measures. Additionally, he proposed that a well-devised communication strategy is essential in worst-case scenarios. He stressed that a combination of modern technologies and an integrated communication system will bolster safety, and a well-prepared communication strategy is essential in the event of a crisis. Kunwar Vikram Singh, Chairman of the Central Association of Private Security Industry (CAPSI), underscored the responsibility of the government to protect its citizens with the collaboration of all stakeholders. He also highlighted that due to socio-economic conflicts, it is essential to come up with a plan of action to address them. According to him, private security is a major component of the sector and India has the largest security workforce of around 1 crore personnel who safeguard the nation. Jasbir Singh Solanki, CEO of Mahindra Defence System Limited’s Homeland & Cyber Security division, highlighted cyber security as the biggest challenge given the prevalence of cybercrime around the globe. He urged a shift from a trader mentality to a builder mindset and advocated for the allocation of funds towards security protection technology. Alpesh Kankariya, Partner (Homeland Security and Surveillance) at PricewaterhouseCoopers Private Limited (PwC), emphasized the fundamentals of homeland security, which encompasses counter-terrorism initiatives, security from natural disasters and public health hazards, as well as national security from external adversaries. In his closing remarks, Anil Dhawan, Co-Chairman of ASSOCHAM’s National Council on Homeland Security & Disaster Management and MD of DB Secure Solutions Pvt Ltd., offered an insight into home-grown security solutions through the Public-Private Partnership model, as well as increased investment in research and development to meet specific security needs. Among eminent dignitaries, a joint knowledge report titled ‘Cognitive Command and Control Centres-Redefining homeland security with emerging technology’ was released by ASSOCHAM-PwC.  

In residential communities, commercial centers, and even industrial parks, ensuring effective site accessibility and security can be a challenge, as people come and go, alone or in crowds. Hikvision India provides a portfolio of solutions to help customers maintain efficient and secure accessibility on site Residents, employees, customers, deliverymen, maintenance personnel, and others create the familiar hustle and bustle at large buildings and facilities. In places like these where people come and go continuously, site operators must become experts in a variety of access control and security systems and products to know which functions are included and which are not. Their choices must ensure that authorized people – like employees, suppliers, visitors, and contractors – can all access sites and facilities quickly and easily. At the same time, on-site personnel must protect the sites and populations by identifying unauthorized people and then denying them access, which is essential in minimizing security events, vandalism, and other security risks. Organizations also risk investing further in access and security functions they already have, or, in other cases, finding gaps that are difficult to fill in a cost-effective way. For these scenarios, Hikvision has created a range of solutions to simplify site accessibility and security management and to give customers clearer access to the specific functions they need. It offers a roadmap to help customers accurately choose and deploy the functions they need to keep everyone safe while also guiding everyone to the right place at the right time at their sites. In this portfolio, key functional solutions can be mixed-andmatched to meet specific needs for all kinds of sites such as residential communities, shopping malls, office towers, airports, industrial parks, and much more. Here are a few of the essentials that Hikvision’s solutions include. Access Control Administrators commonly encounter the challenging task of granting authorized people access to necessary areas. Access control solutions have come a long way from keys, pin codes, and physical cards, but as technology advances, better solutions get introduced regularly. Hikvision Access Control solutions use multiple biometric authentication methods, including face and fingerprint recognition, to ensure that only authorized people enter buildings or sites. These solutions use deep learning algorithms to automate recognition of authorized people and to grant or deny access to sites or restricted areas. ‘Rapid passage solutions’ can be deployed at entrances and exits where many people need to pass in a short timeframe, and ‘extra-high security solutions’ employ multi-factor authentication and other technologies for restricted areas. Vehicle Entrance and Exit Vehicles regularly enter and exit from parking lots at all kinds of locations. Effectively and precisely identifying these vehicles, allowing registered vehicles in and out, and charging parking fees, challenges managers daily. Hikvision’s solutions for Vehicle Entrance and Exit Control help customers ensure that only authorized vehicles enter a site, while also improving on-site navigation and parking. These solutions recognize vehicle license plates (using ANPR cameras) and cross-reference this information with access ‘rules’ at the back end. Multiple parameters Vehicle Entrance and Exit Vehicles regularly enter and exit from parking lots at all kinds of locations. Effectively and precisely identifying these vehicles, allowing registered vehicles in and out, and charging parking fees, challenges managers daily. Hikvision’s solutions for Vehicle Entrance and Exit Control help customers ensure that only authorized vehicles enter a site, while also improving on-site navigation and parking. These solutions recognize vehicle license plates (using ANPR cameras) and cross-reference this information with access ‘rules’ at the back end. Multiple parameters At the enterprise level, finding an easy and efficient way to manage employee attendance is important for management. Using biometric authentication solutions such as face and fingerprint recognition, Hikvision’s solutions help organizations create an accurate, auditable record of employee time and attendance. A wide range of scheduling and attendance reports comes included with each solution as needed, with simple deployment in the cloud. Site managers can set up and deploy Hikvision time and attendance solutions quickly and easily on a single site, or at multiple sites. Visitor Management Visitor management is another headache for accessibility concerns, as both convenience and safety must be considered. Hikvision’s Visitor Management solutions maximize site security while also providing a much faster and better experience for visitors. Visitors can register and make an appointment via a mobile app or online, allowing site staff to grant them quick access to their authorized areas when they arrive. There are options for a receptionist to receive visitors in person as well as for visitors to check in and enter buildings using a self-service terminal. Perimeter Protection Perimeter protection has traditionally been a core component for site security. Here, Hikvision provides highly reliable Perimeter solutions for all kinds of scenarios, whether ‘short’, ‘medium,’ or ‘long.’ Key features of these solutions include real-time alerts and auditory and visual warnings to deter trespassers before they enter buildings or step foot on sites. With AI features to distinguish people and vehicles from other moving objects such as animals or falling leaves, the security team can focus their efforts on real security threats and respond to incidents much faster. Flow Control The ability to accurately count numbers of visitors and customers can be a major advantage for commercial organizations, improving service, safety, and even sales. Using dual-lens cameras with 3D binocular stereo vision and deep learning algorithms, Hikvision provides intuitive notifications and timely alarms when the number of people in a specified area reaches the preset threshold. With the ability to count people in queues and crowds, Hikvision’s Flow Control solutions enable users to respond with, for example, increased staffing at peak times or other actions that improve efficiency and service quality. Users also get a clear view of how many people enter and leave a site for improved security and safety.  

Prakash Prabhu – Chief Business Officer & Co-Founder, VisionBot In this feature, we will together discover the basic concept of Augmented Computer Vision, it’s use in the real world to automation of tasks, turn images and video in to strategic information, and build exception based alert reporting. We will also consider industry use cases and what we should consider when implementing AI/ ML driven visual content monitoring applications in any organization. Augmented Computer Vision To augment means to improve, enhance something and get more specific and detailed information. The goal is to use artificial intelligence and machine learning to derive enriched cognitive information from computer vision video data also known as cognitive augmentation or Augmented Computer Vision. Purpose Augmented Computer Vision focuses on using artificial intelligence (AI/ ML) tools in an assistive role to enhance the partnership between human and artificial intelligence to enhance cognitive performance for better visual content monitoring and inspection application. Technology System delivering augmentation use artificial intelligence technologies to complement human output. Augmented AI uses technologies such as: Machine learning: Systems learn from data to identify patterns and create a feedback loop to learn and improve. Logical reasoning: This uses logical techniques to rationalize and assist in conclusions and deductions based on available data to solve problems and make predictions. Spatial navigation: They are designed to work with temporal and spatial information. Machine vision: This enables a computer to see for automatic analysis and inspection. Pattern recognition: This is automated recognition of patterns within data by spotting regularities or irregularities. Functions Augmented Computer Vision employs five main functions: Detect: Video data is fed to the system; detection & classification is then derived from. Identify: As new data is input, the old data is analysed, and new data sets are identified. Classify: The new data set then defines results. Assess: Humans then provide feedback on the results or output, and the system is adjusted. Respond: Defined processes are used to ensure compliance and security for risk management. Augmented Computer Vision can Enhance operational decision-making. Save time by sorting through high volumes of Video data. Drive profits and reduce risks by successfully predicting patterns. Remove human error and bias in data interpretation. Allow operators to make more accurate data-driven decisions in real time. Augmented Computer Vision is meant to in crease the intelligence of both, the computer and the human user. When used properly in tandem, man and machine can be smarter together. AI and augmented data from Visual Content Monitoring can open the door for more creativity and new innovations by assisting and enhancing human capabilities. Application of Augmented Computer Vision The spectacular development of Deep Learning approaches, has revolutionized video analysis and its applications. Computer Vision techniques have moved from classic use cases (e.g., Triggering an alert if the camera image gets too dark or changes drastically) and has since moved to systems capable of identifying specific objects in an image and tracking their path. Augmented Computer vision is proving to be a game-changer, with a plethora of applications in Visual Content Monitoring and Visual Inspection Monitoring applications in virtually every industry, allowing it to leverage the power of deep learning and, as a result, provide faster, cheaper, and superior automation. Primary use case would be for Automated Visual Inspection (AVI). Areas of Requirement It is that is required in both continuous and discrete operational scenarios. In non-production contexts, a visual inspection can be used to evaluate whether the traits indicative of an ‘object or behaviour’ are present and prevent possible negative consequences, similar to how it is used in manufacturing for quality or defect evaluation. There are numerous other industries where visual inspection is used and till now is done manually as it was considered a high-risk area. How Automated Visual Inspection using Augmented Computer Vision is better than Manual Inspection Automatic image correction. Higher processing speed. Remote operations. Wider spectrum coverage. Higher accuracy. Zero fatigue. Scalable. Self-learning ability. Use past data for automated learning. Accurate model predictions. Real World Industry Applications Construction Manufacturing Warehousing & logistics. Warehousing & logistics. Healthcare Retail Food & hospitality. Smart & safe cities. Sports analysis. We will endeavour to cover each Industry application use case in details in subsequent features. Today we will focus on how VisionBot™ driven automated reporting and exceptional alerting helps construction companies become more safe, efficient and profitable. Ai Driven Automated Visual Inspection Monitoring for Construction Industry VisionBot™ is a platform that leverages the scalability and availability of cloud services to offer its Augmented Computer Vision based solutions. VisionBot™ helps businesses get the most out of their visual content, thereby deriving powerful insights and driving decision making. Designed as a cloud based Software-as-Service (SaaS) model, it lets any customer start using the system with minimal investment. VisionBot™ is offered as an on-premise service in Hybrid/ Private Cloud/ Data Centre for enterprise requirements. It is an adaptive platform and learns on its own, to deliver required outcomes depending on enterprise use cases. There are several use cases of Visual Monitoring for the Construction sector. With its wide stretch of land and real estate variety of vehicles and equipment and large number of workers and supervisors, visual monitoring of assets and human resources helps address both occupational safety and operational efficiency. Therefore construction sector has several use cases where Automated Visual Monitoring is a compelling need. Visionbot™ helps automating several functions in construction that are tedious/ dangerous for humans or erroneous under human monitoring. We use advanced AI and machine learning tools to train an algorithm to distinguish different things in an image and automatically report on anomalies. Turn images into information to provide real-time detection of events, things of importance and anomalies on the site. This information can be used to better assess productivity, security, risks and hazards. It is also a cost-efficient option where there is a need for large manpower: Workplace safety and compliance. Inventory management. Routine and special inspections. Attendance and access control. Theft protection & vandalism. EHS & EPC safety monitoring….