Category: National

Boost for Pvt defence sector, employment The main objective of this initiative is to make the northeast a hub of the private security industry  CAPSI to setup 8 ‘Centres of excellence’ for security training in each state capital of the North East states Development and progress of NE region is top priority of Narendra Modi Govt: Union Minister G Kishan Reddy The Central Association of Private Security Industry (CAPSI), the apex body of private security agencies in India, will set up eight ‘Centres of Excellence’ for training in private security in the capitals of each state of the NE region which will galvanise the private security industry by creating jobs, said CAPSI Chairman Kunwar Vikram Singh . He was addressing the North East Security Education and Global Employability Conclave here recently. “We have signed MoUs with reputed international security education organisations like the International Federation of Protection officers (IFPO), the Association of Investigation & Security Agencies Regulators (USA), and the Security Institute of UK for placement of trained youth of NE in foreign countries. The Bureau of India Standards (BIS) has already constituted a panel of security experts to draft international standards so that trained and certified Indian youth can be employed in foreign countries,” the chairman added. They also plan to start three drone pilot training academies in the NE region. Our Aviation Division will set up a flying club to impart training for commercial pilots, cabin crews and aircraft maintenance support staff. The Centre of Excellence will impart training in aviation security as per global standards. The conclave was also addressed by G Kishan Reddy, Union Minister Culture, Tourism and Development of North East Region (DoNER); Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma, Union Minister of State, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise; Dr. R K Ranjan Singh, Union Minister of State, Ministry of External Affairs & Education; Mrs Pratima Bhoumik, Union Minister of State, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment; and Manik Saha, Tripura Chief Minister. G Kishan Reddy said that the development and progress of the North Eastern states is among the top proprieties of the Narendra Modi government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi believes that the nation’s development is not possible till we ensure the development of the North East region, and that is why he has put special emphasis on the development of the North Eastern states. Addressing the Governing Council Meeting of the Central Association of Private Security Industry (CAPSI), Mr Reddy indicated that the Narendra Modi government is expanding railway network in the entire North Eastern region, and by 2024 all the state capitals of the region will be connected by rail network. Earlier only Assam was connected by railway network but now a majority of the areas of the NE states are being connected by railway network. There has been a major expansion of railway network in Tripura also. “The Narendra Modi government is investing heavily on the development of infrastructure in the North Eastern region. An allocation of Rs 21,000 crore has been done. New medical colleges are being opened in the region while IIT has also started. The North Eastern region hold strategic importance for the nation since it borders China and Myanmar,” he added. Lauding the efforts of CAPSI, Mr Reddy said CAPSI is starting major initiatives in the North Eastern states which will create major employment opportunities for the youth and also speed up growth and development of the region. He asked CAPSI to strengthen private security industry in the North East and the government was ready to help and support the private security industry which today employs over 1 crore private security personnel and professionals. Dr. R K Ranjan Singh, Union Minister of State, Ministry of External Affairs & Education said on the occasion, “It is a great initiative by CAPSI. Not only conclaves like this will shed light to the audience regarding development in the industry, but also in its own way highlight opportunities in the sector to the local youth. In this regard, holding this conclave in Tripura is opportune and timely.” He furthered, “It is very encouraging that CAPSI, an umbrella body, represents over ten million private security professionals, and work for their welfare and standards of industry. For Indian private security industry, it is needless to highlight the importance of high standards and certification to remain competitive. Let me take this opportunity to thank the over 10 million private security personnel extending security services to their client –often in challenging situations. Basic security is a very important aspect in everyone’s life, it is crucial to attaining full productivity –both at social and individual levels.” Kunwar Vikram Singh said CAPSI was committed to support Narendra Modi government’s efforts towards growth and development of the region. CAPSI held the ‘North East Security Education and Global Employability Conclave’  here where all the CAPSI members have pledged to expand their businesses in the North East. “The North East Conclave brings together security organizations and professionals at one common platform. The conclave focuses on key topics such as establishing state-of-art training institutes, promoting security courses of international standards, generating employment and women empowerment, contributing to growth and prosperity of the entire North East region,” said Mr Singh. “The conclave’s agenda  – ‘Securing People’ – was also launched there which includes key areas like improving public safety, emergency response, judicial reforms, providing basic needs like shelter, food, education, and healthcare. It also extends to ensuring the security of vital infrastructure, transportation systems, and critical assets. A G20 Presidium of Heads of Private Security Associations of member nations is being constituted to have consultations for the implementation of bio security & cyber security threats as its first project. By prioritizing the safety and well-being of individuals, the agenda can enhance economic growth and societal development since it creates a conductive environment that attracts investment and supports social inclusivity. Therefore, Securing People as an agenda should receive significant attention from governments at all levels, policymakers, and relevant stakeholders to foster sustainable growth and…

In a survey of workers in India, nearly all respondents (95%) agree that the quality of the air they breathe has a direct impact on health and well-being, according to a report released recently by Honeywell. Honeywell’s third annual Healthy Buildings Survey recently queried 2,500 office workers in buildings with 500-plus workers in Germany, India, the Middle East, the United Kingdom and the United States. The survey sheds light on the impact of buildings on both occupant well-being and the environment. The data found that office workers in India place high importance on indoor air quality (IAQ). In fact, respondents in India led the other regions surveyed with 64% saying they are extremely or very worried about their office building’s IAQ, a 9% increase (55%) from Honeywell’s 2022 Healthy Buildings Survey. Respondents in India place heightened importance on the actions of their employers and office building managers compared to other regions surveyed. More than eight in 10 (81%) respondents believe it is extremely or very important that employers or building managers keep workers informed of the office building’s IAQ. Additionally, for the second consecutive year, India the other regions with more than half (56%) of respondents saying employers or office building managers should monitor building IAQ continuously or often. Troublingly, 17% of respondents suspect monitoring happens rarely or never. More than six in 10 (64%) workers in India are extremely or very worried about office building indoor air quality, the most among regions surveyed. More than one quarter (27%) of respondents would look for another job if their employer doesn’t maintain a healthy indoor environment, leading other regions. India was mostly aligned with the other regions surveyed when respondents were asked what job perk or benefit, they would be willing to give up if it meant re-investing that expense into reducing the environmental impact. A majority of respondents (93%) believe that limiting investment of IAQ technology shows a low commitment to employee safety and well-being. Office workers in India are action-oriented about advocating for their own health and lead the other regions surveyed with 67% saying they would take direct steps to improve air quality on their own if their employer did not put measures in place to maintain a healthy indoor environment, compared to 50% globally. Further, 27% of respondents would look for another job if their employer didn’t put measures in place to maintain a healthy indoor environment (compared to 21% globally). India was mostly aligned with the other regions surveyed when respondents were asked what job perk or benefit, they would be willing to give up if it meant re-investing that expense into reducing the environmental impact of their building. Nearly all respondents in India were willing to give up at least one job perk or benefit for reinvestment (98%), with the most notable items being: Food perks, like coffee, tea or snacks (49%). State-of-the-art technology for their day-to-day work (47%). Free parking or public transit subsidy (42%). Part of my salary or bonus (38%). Of the five regions, surveyed workers in India are the most concerned that employers or office building managers actively take steps to reduce a building’s carbon emissions, with 85% of respondents noting importance. When asked to compare preferences for employer prioritization of better IAQ or reducing a building’s carbon footprint, nearly half (45%) of respondents prioritized IAQ compared to less than a quarter (21%) who prioritized reducing the carbon footprint. “IAQ has long been a priority for workers in India. These findings show that this concern isn’t waning and that workers expect employers and building managers to offer continuous information on building health and to take constant action,” said Ashish Modi, President, Honeywell Building Technologies, Asia, “Many building owners struggle to find a balance between IAQ and energy efficiency, but ready now solutions exist that can help achieve both of these goals.” Honeywell’s ready now Healthy Buildings solutions can help improve occupant well-being, meet energy efficiency goals and, importantly, change the way occupants experience a building. Surveyed workers’ concerns about the environmental impact of their workplace may be buoyed by the emphasis organizations are placing on sustainability as detailed in the 1Q 2023 Honeywell Environmental Sustainability Index, a quarterly survey of business leaders directly involved in their organization’s environmental sustainability initiatives measuring key trends pertaining to global efforts in climate change mitigation and other sustainability initiatives. Seventy-one percent of organizations surveyed in the second release of Honeywell Environmental Sustainability Index ranked sustainability as one of their top five priorities (highest percentage) and 63% of surveyed organizations said energy evolution and efficiency are a top priority. The Index shows organizations are increasingly taking a balanced approach to environmental solutions, embracing more technological solutions alongside process changes. Methodology The Honeywell Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research ( w w w. wa k e f i e l d r e s e a r c h . c o m ) among 2,500 workers in buildings of 500-plus workers across five markets – Germany, India, the Middle East, the United Kingdom and the United States – between January 12 and January 22, 2023, using an email invitation and an online form. The data has been weighted. Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. For the interviews conducted in this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 4.4 percentage points from the result that would be obtained in each market if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample. Honeywell Building Technologies (HBT) is transforming the way every building operates to help improve the quality of life. We are a leading building controls company with operations in more than 75 countries supported by a global channel partner network. Commercial building owners and operators use our hardware, software and…

Company has also provided its products in various other metro projects like Nagpur, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and Lucknow DIGISOL Systems Ltd., a leading provider of Made In India IT Networking products and solutions is proud to announce that they have contributed to one of a milestone development by supplying the DIGISOL multi mode unitube armoured cable and DIGISOL solid cable, Cat6 UTP, 4 Pair for the networking requirement of Mumbai Metro. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) launched two new Mumbai Metro lines, Line 2A (Dahisar to Andheri West D.N. Nagar) and Line 7 (Dahisar East to Andheri East) to benefit Mumbaikars as they are expected to reduce traffic on Link Road and Western Express Highway. Hon’ble Prime Minister along with Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated Mumbai Metro Rail lines 2A and 7 built at a cost of around `12,600 crores. These lines comprise a 35km long elevated corridor stretching from Andheri to Dahisar in suburban Mumbai. As these Metro trains are aligned with the government’s vision of vocal for local, MMRDA decided to go with products/ brands that not only provide high-quality products but are also Made in India. Digisol has also provided its products in various other metro projects like Nagpur, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and Lucknow. DIGISOL Multi Mode, Unitube Armoured Cable: DIGISOL Multi Mode Unitube Armoured Cable is a direct burial cable with Thixotropic jelly in a central loose tube to prevent water ingress and armour with high-quality electro chromium corrugated steel tape. Embedded Strength members by using 2 steel wires provide better tensile strength and anti-buckling properties. Available in UV HDPE Sheath and LSZH Sheath. DIGISOL Solid Cable, Cat6 UTP, 4 Pair, 23AWG, Grey, 305m: DIGISOL Cat6 4 Pair UTP Cable has been designed for horizontal cabling networks for the transmission of high-speed data, digital and analog, voice and video signals over LANs. Supports gigabit ethernet (1000 Base-T) standard suitable for noisy environments, high EMI interference surroundings and complies to the requirement of ANSI/ TIA-568-C.2 and ISO/ IEC 11801. Performance verified upto 250MHz. Digisol believes in constant innovation and has continued to strengthen its foothold in the IT networking industry by introducing a new range of IT networking products. The company has previously introduced many Made in India products under the Structured Cabling product category and has recently launched Made in India FTTH range of products. Digisol is committed to the government’s vision for Vocal for Local and its parent company Smartlink Holdings has always encouraged local manufacturing in the Indian IT Sector for the past 3 decades to create an IT manufacturing ecosystem for Aatmanirbhar Bharat. DIGISOL’s range of products includes FTTH Solutions (Fiber to the Home), Wireless (Wi-Fi) Solutions, Switching Solutions, and SCS in Copper & Fiber. Digisol Systems Ltd. is a leading Trusted Made in India IT networking brand and its parent company Smartlink Holdings hold 3 decades of expertise in the IT Manufacturing industry and offers a wide range of IT networking solutions. Digisol has set a new benchmark by offering a wide range of products across the IT networking spectrum that includes FTTH Solutions (Fiber To The Home), Wireless (Wi-Fi) Solutions, Switching Solutions and Structured Cabling systems (in Copper & Fiber), The company’s expertise in design, development, sales, marketing and service support (Digicare) makes Digisol a leading brand in the IT networking Industry.  

Demonstrates its premium line of Pro AV switches with seamless integration in high-density environments NETGEAR, a company in Pro AV solutions organized a grand event for the AV community in Mumbai to discuss the growth of AV over IP solutions and its adoption and acceptance by customers. The brand understands the importance of key affiliations and associations that make the Pro AV industry work. From integration partners around the world, to AV companies helping to create new ways of working in a Pro AV environment, NETGEAR maintains relationships with a number of organizations. The event was a huge success, witnessed by more than 100 attendees, including System Integrators, Partners, AV Professionals and Consultants. During the event NETGEAR presented a live Product demo and discussed how its Pro AV line of products not only solves complex configuration issues with plug n play AV switches but also provides Professional Services from network design to installation assistance to the customers, System Integrator partners as well as AV OEMs. NETGEAR also assured to provide necessary assistance to the customers in all aspects may it be in terms of network design, presales, post-sales or training. Marthesh Nagendra, Country Manager – India, ME & SAARC, NETGEAR said, “We are delighted to host such events to tap into the vast potential present in the AV market by showcasing Pro AV product lines. Our business in India is purely driven by the channel partners and therefore it is critical that we educate our partners about our offerings. We are committed to the consistent delivery of best-in-class connected network solutions for the professional AV market. From our industry-leading product suite and unmatched service and support, the NETGEAR promise is to meet and exceed our commercial partners’ requirements at any stage of their growth journey.” The AV over IP is a fast-growing market and for good reasons: high quality, low latency video and audio distribution with increased scalability has far more room for innovation. The company has more than 200 switching products in the portfolio that can be leveraged to power cameras and other security and surveillance products. With such a large portfolio customers are able to customize and order exactly the combination of their needs with room to expand for the future. These switches also provide businesses the ability to connect any type of AV over IP device, which offers flexible speed options from 1 Gigabit up to 100 Gigabit per port. NETGEAR’s AV-focused division has been recently launched to concentrate on the needs of both the commercial and residential custom integration AV markets. This includes products that are only available in the AV distribution channel, design teams for Pro AV and Pro Wi-Fi installations, and software to help configure and manage wired and wireless networks. NETGEAR is a global networking company that delivers innovative products to consumers, businesses and service providers. The Company’s products are built on a variety of proven technologies such as wireless (Wi-Fi and LTE), Ethernet and powerline, with a focus on reliability and ease-of-use. The product line consists of wired and wireless devices that enable networking, broadband access and network connectivity. These products are available in multiple configurations to address the needs of the end-users in each geographic region in which the Company’s products are sold. NETGEAR products are sold in approximately 30,000 retail locations around the globe, and through approximately 25,000 value-added resellers, as well as multiple major cable, mobile and wireline service providers around the world.  

Hikvision India has Introduced Eco IP Video Door Phone (VDP) DS KIS302 P Series to meet the evolving security and communications needs in the market. VDP products address a crucial part of the security, communications and convenience needs in both residential and business sectors. They have evolved over time alongside the rapid development in technologies created for better and safer living environments. The Eco IP VDP Kit with 1 IP indoor station and 1 four-wire HD door station. It has a User-friendly control with a convenient touch screen. It offers convenient management via the Hik-Connect mobile client. It has more cost-effective. Easy installation as the doorbell requires no exclusive power supply. The transition from analog to IP technologies The VDP market is witnessing a significant transition from analog to IP. Traditional analog systems feature relatively poor audio and image quality and limited functionality. For example, they cannot be accessed using a mobile app or networked management systems. Although analog systems are often a more economical option, more manufacturers and installers have recommended their customers shift to IP-based VDPs for their wider range of capabilities – including higher image resolution, mobile control, remote operation, and a series of smart functions. IP VDPs bring a new level of convenience Mobile control: IP VDPs let owners receive calls, play video, and open locks from anywhere through just a simple touch. For example, people often receive calls on their mobile devices for package deliveries or other services when they’re not at home. IP VDPs, however, allow users to give temporary access remotely to those who need it, just using a simple mobile application. This is more convenient and much safer than manually giving out passwords or key cards. User-friendly interfaces: IP VDPs commonly provide a user-friendly screen with a clearly visible interface, simple touch interaction, intuitive operation, and multi-functional information display (e.g., weather, news, announcements etc.). These easy-to-use features help get modern consumers accustomed to using IP VDPs since they operate very similarly to mobile phones. High image quality: Compared to purely analog solutions, IP VDPs provide excellent imaging with higher resolutions and wider field of view. Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) and night vision are also supported to help users see clearly despite challenging light conditions, such as direct sunlight or high contrast environments during the day and darkness in the evening and night time. IP VDPs provide excellent imaging with higher resolutions and wider field of view. All-in-one management: IP VDPs also offer opportunities for integration with other security systems such as video and alarms. A unified control center ensures all-in-one linkage among various devices and systems and facilitates convenient device operation and management, improving security for businesses and home owners. Enter Hikvision Hikvision’s IP VDPs serve a wide range of scenarios including apartment buildings, single-family homes, and SMB offices. In residential applications, these advanced VDPs combine a better user experience with elegant design to suit any decor, as well as a touch-friendly screen for easy operation. Users can remotely open doors and talk to visitors by simply tapping the Hik-Connect mobile app on their smartphone or tablet. For Business applications, Hikvision’s IP VDPs enhance safety levels and management efficiency with strong integration capabilities. Hikvision’s All-in-One Indoor Station Series controls and manages all Hikvision access control, video security, and alarm devices through the built-in Hik-Connect app. The product series can also be converged with third-party applications to satisfy customized or personalized needs.  

Sustainability, Mobile IDs and a Changing Workforce Continue to be Among Top Concerns HID, a worldwide company in trusted identity and physical security solutions, recenlty announced its inaugural State of the Security Industry Report, which gathered responses from 2,700 partners, end users, and security and IT personnel across a range of titles and organization sizes representing over 11 industries. By looking at what’s driving the next innovations and the technology that supports them, the security industry is empowered to create more value for its organizations and its people. Conducted in quarter 4 of 2022, the survey reveals five common threads, as follows: Prabhuraj Patil Commercial Director, Physical Access Control Solutions, South Asia, HID “We are grateful for the opportunity to share insights with the security community as part of this year’s State of Security Industry Report. Mapping our industry’s dynamic trends helps provide a deeper understanding of customer needs and challenges. We are confident that our report will help security teams adapt faster and better capitalize on innovative solutions” 1. Nearly 90% of respondents acknowledge sustainability as an important issue: End users are increasingly demanding that suppliers provide footprint transparency in terms of their operations, product sourcing and research and development practices, with 87% of respondents stating that sustainability ranks as ‘important to extremely important.’ Mirroring this trend, 76% said they have seen the importance of sustainability increasing for their customers. To support this growing demand, security teams are leveraging the cloud To support this growing demand, security teams are leveraging the cloud and the Internet of Things, even more, to optimize processes and reduce resources. Additionally, new products and solutions are being strategically developed to address sensible energy usage, waste reduction and resource optimization. 2. Most organizations still need to fully embrace identity ‘as-a-service’ (IDaaS) to support hybrid work: The majority of survey respondents – 81% of them – stated they are offering a hybrid work model. As an example, 67% of respondents state that multifactor authentication and passwordless authentication are most important to adapting to hybrid and remote work, while 48% point to the importance of mobile and digital IDs. Interestingly, the survey also reveals almost half of the organizations aren’t quite ready to implement a comprehensive IDaas strategy. 3. Digital IDs and mobile authentication to propel many more mobile access deployments: Identification and authentication are more commonly completed via mobile devices, including smartphones and wearables. The growing popularity of digital wallets from major players such as Google, Apple and Amazon is a key driver of this trend. And expanded capabilities allow smartphone users, for example, to add keys, IDs and digital documents directly in the wallet app. These include, but are not limited to, drivers’ licenses in eight states, verifiable COVID-19 vaccination information, employee badges, student IDs and hotel room keys. Commercial real estate companies (40%) are outpacing other verticals as large commercial real estate firms are leveraging mobile access as part of their larger tenant experience apps, according to the HID survey. 4. Nearly 60% of respondents see the benefit of contactless biometrics: Biometric technologies represent a major break from more conventional means of access control. Using biometrics as an additional authenticating factor (e.g., biometric scans to verify an individual’s physical identity) can help organizations eliminate unauthorized access and fraud. The importance of this trend is exemplified in the survey data, which shows that 59% of respondents are currently using, planning to implement, or at least testing biometric technologies in the near future. 5. Supply chain issues continue to be a concerning factor, but optimism begin to emerge: According to the survey, 74% of respondents say they were impacted by supply chain issues in 2022, although 50% are optimistic that conditions will improve in 2023. Most affected are commercial real estate companies, with 78% citing supply chain problems as their main concern. More than two-thirds of organizations with fewer than 1,000 employees indicate that they were highly impacted by supply chain issues in 2022, but they are also the most optimistic that these issues will resolve in 2023. By better understanding the aforementioned topics, security professionals will be better prepared to adapt faster, deliver exceptional digital plus physical experiences, and capitalize on breakthrough innovations in solutions and services. Read the survey in its entirety here. HID powers the trusted identities of the world’s people, places and things. We make it possible for people to transact safely, work productively and travel freely. Our trusted identity solutions give people convenient access to physical and digital places and connect things that can be identified, verified and tracked digitally. Millions of people around the world use HID products and services to navigate their everyday lives, and billions of things are connected through HID technology. We work with governments, educational institutions, hospitals, financial institutions, industrial businesses and some of the most innovative companies on the planet.  

Fifth-generation security processing unit (FortiSP5) delivers unparalleled levels of power-efficient performance to open new frontiers for securing the branch, campus, 5G, edge compute, operational technologies, and more Fortinet®, the global cybersecurity company driving the convergence of networking and security, recently announced FortiSP5, the latest breakthrough in ASIC technology from Fortinet, propelling major leaps forward in securing distributed network edges. Building on over 20 years of ASIC investment and innovation from Fortinet, FortiSP5 delivers significant secure computing power advantages over traditional CPU and network ASICs, lower cost and power consumption, and the ability to enable new secure infrastructure across branch, campus, 5G, edge compute, operational technologies, and more. Unparalleled innovation in custom chip performance With an application-specific design and embedded multi-core processors to accelerate the convergence of networking and security functions, FortiSP5 delivers: 17x faster firewall performance compared to leading standard CPUs. 5x faster next-generation firewall (NGFW) performance compared to leading standard CPUs to handle higher levels of traffic inspection to detect and block threats. 32x faster encryption to protect sensitive data and secure virtual private networks. 5 Gbps of SSL deep inspection to deliver the processing power needed to inspect encrypted traffic for malware without performance issues. Secure boot to allow only approved operating system software to boot up, protecting critical infrastructure against malicious tampering. Volumetric DDoS protection to thwart distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. VXLAN/ GRE hardware-accelerated encapsulation to enable secure interconnectivity for distributed networks. Hardware-accelerated Quality of Service (QoS) to enhance user experience with dedicated QoS for sensitive applications such as video conferencing. Significant cost and energy savings As a fifth-generation 7-nanometer chip, FortiSP5 packs more capabilities in a smaller form factor to deliver: 88% less power consumption compared to the leading industry-standard CPU. Industry-leading performance per watt. Industry-leading price-performance. Supporting more applications to enable important customer use cases With the ability to accelerate and concurrently run 2x more applications – for example, NGFW, zero-trust network access (ZTNA), SD-WAN, and SSL inspection – compared to the previous generation, FortiSP5 will support use cases such as: Branch/ Campus: FortiSP5 ensures the transition to SD-Branch is efficient and cost-effective in a small form factor, enabling IT staff to simplify management and reduce OpEx while increasing network uptime. Additionally, as more organizations embrace the cloud and hybrid work model, FortiSP5 will continue to be a driver for Secure SD-WAN to empower customers to securely and seamlessly access applications any where while delivering consistent user experience with an optimized platform. Edge Compute: As edge computing improves efficiency and cost control through processing close to the edge, FortiSP5 supports high-speed networks and security threat protection for both commercial and operational technology (OT) environments, minimizing bottlenecks for traffic movement. Operational Technology: The convergence of IT and OT has opened the infrastructure to increased security risks that can disrupt operations. FortiSP5 enables scalable convergence, securing both OT and IT infrastructures with a single, high-performance platform. 5G: 5G adoption is on the rise in enterprise networks, fueling innovation at the edge as it provides higher bandwidth and lower latency. FortiSP5 enables a seamless transition to support 5G with an optimized and sustainable platform. Proven system on a chip technology FortiSP5 will power the next generation of entry and mid-range FortiGate firewalls being released later this year. Now on its fifth generation, we believe Fortinet’s proprietary system on a chip technology has a proven track record of powering the industry’s top-performing products and solutions. A few examples include: Fortinet has been named a Leader in the 2022 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Network Firewalls,¹ marking the thirteenth time Fortinet has been recognized in this Magic Quadrant. A recent Forrester study2 highlighted that customers deploying Fortinet’s Secure SD-WAN solution, which is backed by FortiGate and SOC technology, achieved a 300% return on investment over 3 years with a payback period of only 8 months. Fortinet supports sustainability goals The energy efficiency and performance per watt of FortiSP5 and the products that leverage the chip will help organizations reduce their power and space requirements. Fortinet remains committed to sustainable product innovation to ensure each generation of its products consumes less energy and is built sustainably. Today, Fortinet’s Sunnyvale headquarters is a net-zero emissions facility and plans for global operations to be completely carbon neutral by 2030. Fortinet was recently named to the 2022 Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America Indices as one of the top sustainable companies in the world, highlighting Fortinet’s commitment to achieving a sustainable society Vishak Raman, Vice President of Sales, India, SAARC and Southeast Asia at Fortinet said, “With the introduction of FortiSP5, Fortinet once again sets new industry records for performance, cost, and energy efficiency. As the only cybersecurity vendor leveraging purpose-built ASICs, an over 20- year investment in innovation, Fortinet delivers the secure computing power that will support the next generation of secure infrastructure.” “Enterprise applications and the users and devices that access them are more distributed than ever, which is causing organizations to rethink their edge network and security architectures. A key to enabling enterprise edge networking is having strong security without compromising on network performance and user experience. Fortinet has a 20-year history in ASIC technology that helps achieve these goals, and the company’s newest FortiSP5 continues that legacy. Fortinet’s portfolio of converged network and security solutions with custom chips helps enterprises accelerate their edge network and security transformation,” said Brandon Butler, Research Manager, Enterprise Networks at IDC.  

Honeywell received the ‘SEAL Sustainable Innovation Award 2022’ for its Solstice® portfolio of ultra-low global warming potential (GWP) products. Honeywell’s Solstice® portfolio has been contributing significantly to sustainability across industries. The SEAL Sustainable Innovation Award recognizes innovations that represent game-changing ideas that bring us to a more sustainable future. The applicants were judged on the innovation’s advantages over alternatives, sustainability benefits, disruption, and impact metrics, amongst other criteria. The other winners in this category included Microsoft, SoCal Gas and Sesame Solar. Hitesh Mehta, General Manager, Advanced Materials, Honeywell India said, “Honeywell’s Solstice® ready now technology helps customers lower their carbon footprint and improve energy efficiency without sacrificing end-product performance. It supports their sustainability goals with innovative, ready-now products that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save energy, measure and reduce carbon impact and support the adoption of renewable energy sources. SEAL Sustainable Innovation Award is a testament to the primacy we place in providing sustainable solutions to help companies meet sustainability and environmental goals.” Honeywell has invested a billion dollars in research, development, and new capacity for Solstice® technology, having anticipated the need for lower-global warming potential (GWP) solutions to combat climate change more than a decade ago. The Solstice® portfolio of products benefits society through superior energy efficiency performance in cooling and insulating applications. Using Honeywell Solstice technology has helped avoid the potential release of the equivalent of more than 295 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere so far, equal to the carbon emissions from nearly 688 million barrels of oil. By the end of 2022, Solstice R-1234yf, a low global warming potential refrigerant used in automobile air conditioning systems, will be used in almost 185 million vehicles globally. For its contribution to helping companies meet sustainability and environmental goals, Honeywell’s Solstice® portfolio has been named Top Project of the Year in the 2022 Energy + Environment Leader Awards and was highly commended as part of the World Sustainability Awards 2022 in the Sustainable Technology Award category. The SEAL (Sustainability, Environmental Achievement, and Leadership) Awards honor the organizations and leaders dedicated to making real progress on the most pressing issue of our time. Each year, the SEAL Awards recognize the 50 Most Sustainable Companies in the World and the most impactful and innovative Environmental Initiatives. SEAL Award winners are determined by a holistic methodology that measures applicants against established benchmark metrics that demonstrate true impact and progress towards a healthy planet and a sustainable future.  

Videonetics has announced the appointment of Ashish Goyal as Director of Software Engineering and Development. Ashish will play an essential role as a member of the leadership team and will be based in Bengaluru. He will oversee planning, development, designing and testing of Videonetics products in the marketplace while building and leading company’s engineering and product development team. Dr. Tinku Acharya Fellow IEEE, Founder & MD of Videonetics “Ashish is a great addition to our leadership team. His strategic leadership, tech acumen and wealth of hardware and software expertise will be key to expanding our product roadmap while retaining our leadership position as #1 VMS Provider in India and top five VMS providers in Asia” He brings onboard 18 years of leadership experience in diverse sectors including products & services organization and in building enterprise-grade, near real-time, globally distributed large-scale systems serving millions of transactions and processing big data. Before joining Videonetics, Ashish held various senior leadership positions in multi-national companies such as SanDisk, Microsoft Corporation and Cognizant. Ashish Goyal Director of Software Engineering and Development of Videonetics “Videonetics has been at the forefront of innovation, leadership, and excellence with incredible potential to disrupt the industry. And I am honored to be part of the company and look forward to defining product strategy, addressing problems of our partners and customers, penetrate new territories with our AI powered Unified Video Computing Platform” A seasoned tech industry veteran, Ashish has a credible track record blended with expertise in technologies like Open-Source System, Cloud Computing, Web & Desktop Development, Distributed Systems and many more. At Videonetics, he will drive product design, development & delivery, largely focussed towards providing market-ready solutions across geographies. He will be an integral part to consolidation and expansion of Videonetics’ engineering, product, and design teams.  

Research shows that congestion charging can reduce traffic volumes in cities by as much as 30%. But perceived unfairness in how charges are applied can make these kinds of schemes very unpopular, especially at first. There’s good news, though smart video solutions can support far more equitable congestion charging approaches, leading to faster acceptance, and improved traffic management outcomes Congestion charging can be a powerful tool in the fight against traffic congestion and resulting vehicle emissions. So much so, in fact, that empirical data from London, Singapore and Stockholm show congestion reductions of between 13% and 30%. But while congestion schemes and tolling can help in the fight against excessive traffic on city and highways networks, they can also be very unpopular with local people when they are first deployed. To increase acceptance for congestion charging, authorities need to effectively communicate the overall benefits to road users, especially in terms of shorter journey times and improved air quality. Additionally, convenient, fair, and flexible payment systems are needed to ensure that schemes are accepted by road users quickly and comprehensively. Supporting fair, effective congestion charging with smart video A wide range of technologies are needed to support congestion charging, from AI-powered smart cameras to radio frequency identification tags (RFID), GPS and wireless communications networks. However, smart video is critical for ensuring that congestion charging schemes are as effective and equitable as possible based on a number of key capabilities. Recognize vehicle type and emissions band The latest AI-powered smart video solutions can differentiate between different types of vehicles and apply congestion charges based on their emissions rating. This can often be achieved with algorithms that recognize vehicle size, shape, and model, allowing charges to be applied accordingly. Where this feature is not available, the vehicle type and emissions band can be determined using ANPR (license-plate recognition) technology, which allows vehicle registration details to be cross-referenced by local authorities and their databases. In either of these cases, drivers are charged according to the type and emissions rating of their vehicle, a more equitable approach that is generally better accepted by road users. Support fairer, distance-based congestion charging Congestion charging is often seen as unfair when a single charge is levied for any vehicle entering the zone. This means that the cost is the same, whether a vehicle crosses the controlled area just once, or circulates for the entire day. To address this, some authorities are experimenting with innovative schemes such as distance-based congestion charging. By recognizing vehicles, and their license plates, smart video can support this kind of model, which has the potential to increase acceptance of congestion charging schemes in the future. Enable dynamic charging depending on real-time traffic conditions With traditional schemes, drivers often pay full price to enter congestion charging zones even when traffic is light. With the ability to provide real-time traffic ‘awareness,’ smart video can support other models where drivers pay more during peak hours, or when congestion is heavier. This ensures that drivers pay less when roads are clear, giving them better value and a better overall travel experience. Detect exceptions and allow them free access to controlled areas In fair congestion charging schemes, certain vehicles and drivers should be able to enter and leave controlled zones without charges being levied. This applies, for example, to drivers who live in congestion-charging zones, and to some commercial vehicles, including taxis or other ground-transport or delivery vehicles. With smart video, these ‘exceptions’ can be recognized and permitted to enter and leave controlled areas without being charged. Hikvision ITS solutions When it comes to creating and deploying more effective, more equitable congestion-charging schemes, Hikvision ITS solutions can help. Specifically, we our solutions can be used by authorities to provide the real-time traffic awareness they need to support dynamic pricing and other innovative congestion-charging models. What’s more, our AI-powered cameras can help identify vehicles, their emissions ratings, and their eligibility to pay charges, in real time to support fairer schemes and accelerate acceptance.