Category: National

Matrix exhibited latest telecom and security solutions at its maiden event Matrix Impact held in Kolkata at the Hotel Radisson. The event was conducted in association with their regional partner Chalissery. Matrix presented its latest PBX, PRASAR UCS – pure IP solution for modern enterprises that supports up to 2,100 IP users from a single box at the event. The product finds its applications in hospitality, multi-location, retail, healthcare and other industry verticals where mobility is the key for productivity. The SIMADO range of GSM Gateways was the limelight for apparent benefits of wireless connectivity and pocket friendly telephony costs. Matrix displayed its hospitality PBX that supports calling activities in hotels from 40 to 3,000 rooms. The PBX offers integration with well-known property management software (PMS) without any middle ware, helping hotelier manage routine operations and create enhanced guest experience. They also exhibited their scalable Gateways which can be deployed in standalone mode and offer easy switch between PRI, GSM, IP and Analog networks from a single chassis. Matrix SPARSH VP710 – Smart Video IP Phone also remained in the spotlight at the event. They further displayed new Extreme series of network video recorder (NVRX) at the event. These high storage NVRs are equipped with 4K decoding capacity and H.265 compression, along with characteristics like cascading (up to 20 NVRs), camera-wise recording retention and database level integration. It also has plenty of other distinct features like high resolution recording, playback, and simultaneous local and remote monitoring along with storage retention for higher number of days. Moreover, these latest NVRs are also backed with intelligent video analytics that helps detect threats and send instant notifications for real-time security. All in all, they provide a proficient, persistent and preventive security solution, suitable for enterprises and multilocation offices. Additionally, they also exhibited their wide range of IP cameras and video management software – SATATYA SAMAS. At the event, Matrix also unfolded its latest range of biometric timeattendance and access control solution. Mobile being the next generation technology in terms of security, Matrix displayed its ‘Your Mobile is Your Identity’ solution. In mobile based access control, user either scans the QR code through his/ her mobile or just twists the mobile to get access using Bluetooth. Using mobile application, a user can mark attendance automatically using GPS or Wi-Fi. To cut down the server cost, Matrix presented its standalone access control solution where one can connect with 255 devices and 25,000 users. Additionally, to enhance the security, Matrix biometric solutions can be integrated with any video surveillance solution. It captures real-time images when any pre-defined event occurs. Furthermore, Matrix showcased access control for data centers – a centralized biometric authentication to datacenters and data racks. “The event was successful to meet its objective. The engagement of system integrators in different applications was highly appreciated. We look forward to have mutual growth while working with these system integrators,” said Ruchir Talati, National Sales Manager, Matrix.

Hikvision, the world’s leading supplier of innovative video surveillance products and solutions, has won the NCN Award at recently held 11th NCN Innovation Award Night at The Hotel Suryaa, New Delhi. Hikvision was voted for the Most Innovative Products of the Year 2017 in the Best Video Surveillance Camera category. The NCN Awards felicitated the achievers for the year 2017 for their outstanding performance. These awards are presented to recognize the vendors, solution provider and partners for their relentless and sincere efforts towards the growth of the Indian IT industry. “We feel honored to win the Best Surveillance Camera Award at NCN awards. This recognition comes at a time when Hikvision is introducing AI enabled advanced cameras along with Turbo HD 5.0 series cameras in the market. We will continue our onward march with innovative product offerings in the video surveillance and security categories. Hikvision will continue to offer innovative AI based applications and IoT solutions in the Indian market,” remarked Ashish P. Dhakan, MD & CEO, Prama Hikvision India Pvt. Ltd. The NCN Innovation Awards, the only of their kind at the national level, aim at recognizing ‘Excellence’ on the basis of quantitative as well as qualitative criteria which shall set a benchmark in the industry. This unique initiative is intended to acknowledge achievements of the different players in the IT industry. National Computrade News (NCN) is a leading IT news magazine and one of the most trusted sources for the critical information needs of the IT channel which includes front retailers to large vendors. For this category, the best product in each category is selected on the basis of online voting. The award ceremony has attracted a congregation of more than three hundred guests cutting across verticals of the IT industry including vendor, corporate and channel partners across the nation to celebrate the occasion.

Axis Communications has introduced the AXIS Extended Warranty programme, a service offering for its line of network video products. This warranty covers an additional two years to the initial warranty of three years. It includes all repair, maintenance and replacement of products including cameras, video encoders, video decoders and physical access control products. Integrators and end users will now be able to avail a prolonged warranty to a maximum of five years. “We wanted to ensure that our customers benefit from increased level of support and service after they have purchased Axis products. The Axis Extended Warranty programme gives them additional cover with better choices especially for those with larger installations,” said Sudhindra Holla, Sales Director – India and SAARC at Axis Communications, “Furthermore, this programme reiterates our commitment to quality and our customer first approach.   AXIS’ Extended Warranty opens up new possibilities for system integrators in offering warranty service agreements to end users. The AXIS Extended Warranty is available via all Axis’ distribution channels, and the product must be registered within 6 months of the product being purchased.

Videonetics has recently been honoured with the prestigious India Emerging Twenty (IE20) 2018 Award by the Mayor of London. Created by London & Partners and launched by the Mayor of London, the IE 20 Programme aims to discover 20 of India’s most innovative and highgrowth companies to help them grow to London. The award was adjudged using a robust rating scale by an esteemed panel of business leaders, venture capitalists and entrepreneurs. By flawlessly surpassing rigorous three-phase evaluations, Videonetics emerged as India’s top 20 emerging enterprises with global aspirations. The 20 winners were chosen from over 300 applications from some of India’s leading business hubs such as Mumbai, Bengaluru and New Delhi. London & Partners has a proven track record of working with over 2,000 international businesses and helping them with their global expansion plans. “ It is indeed an honor to receive ‘India Emerging Twenty 2018 Award’ from the Mayor of London and we all are set to lay the foundation for our success in the UK market. This recognition validates our drive for high performance, innovation, differentiation and global scalability “ – Dr. Tinku Acharya,  Fellow IEEE, MD & Founder, Videonetics  

“ It is far better to face bullets than to be killed at home by a bomb,” read out a World War I poster on display at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. The poster gives its visitors a glimpse of how security, from outside and from within, had been an urgent need then, and how little things have changed as more of the same is required even today, albeit in a different form. But as we near the centennial celebrations of the iconic war, VIVOTEK has ensured that at least the glorious remnants of the era are safe and secured in the museum as they once made their homeland. In a bid to enhance its security, the heritage museum has deployed VIVOTEK’s sophisticated surveillance systems to effectively counter the modern-day challenges, securing the memorabilia from acts of theft, vandalism and pilferage. The deployment has been done through VIVOTEK’s Hamilton (Ontario) channel partner and regional leader in surveillance and security systems, A. S. Security & Surveillance, Inc. Securing a space, however, is not an easy task, particularly if it is of such a massive size as the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. The spectacular museum, for instance, is home to about 50 aircrafts, an extensive aviation gallery, and an exhibit gallery, besides a 400-vehicle parking lot, constantly moving crowd, and specific regions with contrasting lights and blind spots which could emerge as a soft target for the masked mob that has been lately defacing properties in Hamilton. VIVOTEK has tackled the dynamic challenges presented by the museum by tightening the security framework with sixteen network cameras. This includes the deployment of IB836B-HT bullet cameras having 2 megapixel full HD sensor (with 30 meter ranged built-in IR illuminators) that leverage WDR and SNV technologies for high contrast and low light environments. These devices, being rated with IP66 and IK10 standards, can also withstand rough weather and direct impact on them. Its ND9541 network video recorder, on the other hand, is a H.265 (high-efficiency video coding) recorder that comes equipped for up to 32-channel network and 4 hard disk drives for efficient and adequate storage. The updated surveillance system at the museum also includes VivoCam Layer 2+ managed PoE switch (AW-GEV-264-370) to provide uninterrupted power backup for all cameras. The building structure also required range extension through PoE extender AP-FXC-0210 for two cameras located indoor using the daisy-chain installation. Commenting on the surveillance blueprint Anthony Stayrer, the Director of A.S. Security & Surveillance said, “In our almost a decade-long reselling experience and being voted the #1 security company in Hamilton, we have never experienced the superlative quality and functionality of the equipment deployed and the level of sophistication extended by VIVOTEK in terms of service delivery. What serves as an icing on the cake is being able to complete the entire surveillance enabling operations within the tight 48-hour constraint that we had to adhere. Our collaboration with VIVOTEK has, in its truest essence, established a new benchmark in establishment security and we look forward to more such collaborations in the future.” VIVOTEK Canada tech support and representative, Oliver David stated, “We are delighted that our business associate and the end-customer are both deeply contented with our surveillance offerings. Our tie-up with A. S. Security & Surveillance has been effectual in delivering the desired result and we are glad to have the brand on-board as our gold partner.” “Establishing surveillance and security framework at Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum is an embodiment of the expertise that VIVOTEK holds in such deployments. Today, much like Canada, India also faces a unique challenge. Multiple statues are being vandalized throughout the country. We believe that preserving our legacy is an integral factor in building the nation and India needs it more right now than it has ever before. As various countries are preserving their national heritage using advanced surveillance systems, such systems can also help our center and state governments in ensuring better security and surveillance in public spaces “ – Sanjeev Gulati Country Manager – India & SAARC, VIVOTEK  

Vijay Goel, the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Statistics & Programme Implementation has recently presented FICCI Smart Policing Awards for 2018 in 18 categories to the representatives of the state police forces and central armed police forces. FICCI Smart Policing Awards were instituted in 2016 to recognise and propagate best practices in policing in India. The awards showcase initiatives taken by the police across the country for the safety and security of citizens. The objective is to change the public perception and build a positive and progressive image of the police forces. The awards were given in the categories of Anti-insurgency, Border management, Child safety, Community policing, Crime investigation & prosecution, Cybercrime, Disaster management, Elderly safety, Emergency response, Human trafficking control, Intelligence collection, Maritime security, Road safety & traffic management, Smart police station, Surveillance & monitoring, Training & capacity building, Women’s safety, and other policing initiatives. The jury comprised G. K. Pillai, former Union Home Secretary, Government of India; Ms. Manjari Jaruhar, former Special DG, CISF, Government of India; Jayanto N. Choudhury, former DG, National Security Guard; Alok Bansal, Director, India Foundation; and Dr. Sushma Yadav, Professor of Public Policy & Governance, Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA). Mr. Goel, in his opening address said that the awards should inspire the police personnel in the country to emulate the best policing practices exemplified by the awardees and earn the respect of the public. Mr. Goel also released the FICCI Compendium on Best Practices in SMART Policing 2018. The Home Secretary, Rajiv Gauba, called for proper and regular risk assessment of cyber-attacks and underlined the need for preparedness to stay ahead and foil the attempts of the cyber criminals. The readiness to face the growing challenges posed by cyber attackers required sound legal arrangements and state-of-the-art technological capacity which, in turn, needed investment and expertise. He sought cooperation and collaboration of the government, law enforcement agencies, and the private sector in enhancing the capability to stand up to the threats posed by criminals in the cyber space. G.K. Pillai, Advisor, FICCI Committee on Homeland Security said that awards bode well for the morale of the police forces at the grassroot level. “It was important not to be just smart, but also to focus on training and skills development, monitoring of crime and adherence to protocols at every level,” he said. He recognised that a major problem was the criminal justice system that gave rise to delays in trials and conviction, and hoped that the government would pay greater attention to address the issue. Immediate Past President, FICCI Ladies Organisation and Joint Vice-Chairperson, Shri Ram School, Ms. Vasvi Bharat Ram; and Co-Chair of FICCI Homeland Security Committee & Chairman’s Office, Head Special Projects, Reliance Industries Ltd. Rajan Luthra, also shared their perspectives on the subject. “It is critical to recognize police personnel and inspire public confidence in the police forces who act as guardians of the society. Awards should be instituted on ‘public confidence’ so that people look up to the police personnel with respect and help them perform their duties more effectively” – Vijay Goel Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Statistics & Programme Implementation    

Zicom is one of the pioneers of the concept of SaaS and introduced a new business model called Zicom SaaS by leveraging the IoT space. Zicom Security-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution provides comprehensive security services on a monthly subscription basis without any ‘capital investment and management’ for the customers using the power of cloud. Historically banks spend an average of INR 30,000 to 40,000 per month on their ATM security towards ‘manpower security expenses,’ plus the CCTV equipment installed in the ATM which record the crime but never prevent it. India Infoline Ltd. (IIFL), a conglomerate of financial services company that offers loans against gold ornaments, relied on standalone closed-circuit TVs (CCTVs) and security guards to protect their branches. Many ATMs of Federal Bank Ltd. did not have even security guards.   Solution offered Zicom offered banks their SaaS to customize the e-surveillance system and use IOT to have twoway conversations – from one central hub to any ATM across the country. For the first time ever, CCTV cameras pro-actively prevented a crime instead of only recording. The Zicom ATM surveillance system uses internet to connect sensors installed at ATMs by which they are able to track each ATM, and connect it to the national command centre to monitor every activity taking place in real time, 24 hours and 365 days of the year. Unlike any other, Zicom command centre works towards preventing crime and getting into the rescue operation when required with features such as two-way communication at an ATM, panic button to raise an alarm, and quick response service (QRS) mechanism to inform the police about a crime taking place. Impact This strong fullproof mechanism for the e-surveillance system has made the entire security process simpler, and as a result banks can completely rely on it. SaaS helped re duce man power as well. Earlier banks were spending Rs. 40,000 monthly on security, ATM Surveillance under IoT by Zicom brought the cost down to Rs. 4000 a month which is 90% reduction at each ATM. Zicom has now created a security model for the bank that also helps in conserving energy with the help of remote monitoring. It has helped Federal Bank save about Rs. 7,000-8,000 per month on each ATM. Venu, Chief Administrative Officer of IIFL says that since Zicom partnered with IIFL the company is able to monitor any branch across the conglomerate’s large network from their office in Mumbai. He further adds that this has improved the productivity and efficiency of his auditors and vigilance team. Zicom Electronic Security Systems today covers over 5500 ATMs, and various banks across country such as ICICI, Indian Bank, Ratnakar Bank, HSBC, Punjab National Bank, Vijaya Bank, State Bank etc.

Army Welfare Housing Organization (AWHO) embarked on a historic journey to construct houses for serving/ retired army personnel and their widows in selected stations throughout the country. Today, AWHO’s presence is visible across the length and breadth of India. During the last 38 years, the organization has constructed approx. 29,000 dwelling units in 93 projects at various stations and is in the process of constructing more than 6,000 dwelling units at 14 stations, while 6,076 dwelling units are under planning at eight stations. Challenges One of the AWHO townships located at Indore faced difficulties in monitoring visitors and keeping watch over the movement of maids and drivers in their multistoried building. Protection of the residents and their valuables from intruders was one of the concerns for them. AWHO also wanted a combined solution of elevator based access control to restrict user/ floor wise access in the buildings. Solution In order to overcome the challenges, Matrix offered its elevator based access control solution which allows access and entry in the elevator using biometric or RFID card credential, only to authorized residents. As soon as user shows his/ her enrolled credentials to the reader installed inside the elevator, floor buttons which are accessible will be enabled. Thus, monitoring and controlling user access was made easy with Matrix solution. Results Easy living with fully automated elevator based access control solution. Controlled and monitored access of users for enhanced security of residents.

The RBI has recently issued a notification regarding cash-in-transit companies involved in replenishment services of ATMs, cash pickups and drops. As per the notification, only those companies are recognized for these services which have a minimum net worth of INR 100 crore and a fleet of 300 vehicles, among other requirements. The cash logistics private security agencies at large don’t go well with the notification and voice their concerns. As Central Association of Private Security Industry (CAPSI) claims, the RBI decision has shaken more than 65 medium and small companies that are involved in cash logistics, and which do not fall under the criteria, and therefore they would render jobless and have to shut their companies. In this connection, CAPSI has approached Competition Commission of India (CCI) and petitioned to D K Sikri, Chairperson, CCI to take immediate action to stop the directive of RBI which is against the spirit of fair competition and jeopardize the interests of a large section of the industry. CAPSI has also approached MSME as the RBI circular grossly violates the spirit of the MSME act; the decision will result in closing of more than 65 companies. As CAPSI suggests, high ranking officials of MSME assured support to the cause. A delegation of CAPSI comprising Kunwar Vikram Singh, Anil Puri, Pawan Alhuwalia, Mahesh Sharma and Sanjeev Paul met Shiv Pratap Shukla, Minister of State, Ministry of Finance and discussed the RBI notification towards CIT business. The Minister informed that he will bring this serious issue to the notice of PMO so that appropriate action can be taken soonest. They also discussed the negative impact of GST on the entire PSI business which the Minister said that the matter is already under consideration of the Ministry. The grouping of private security agencies has also written a letter to the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi for his intervention. In the letter Kunwar Vikram Singh, Chairman, CAPSI alleged that the RBI decision would facilitate only two or three foreign-based companies and would create monopoly of foreign firms in the business. CAPSI also filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court challenging the RBI notification. A separate petition was filed by Premier Shield Pvt. Ltd. which was heard on 30 May 2018.The judge clubbed their petition with that of CAPSI, and that will be heard on 17 August 2018. Considering that only partial redressal has been granted, the association has decided to file an appeal to a Division Bench, which is likely to come up for hearing in July when the court reopens. Kunwar Vikram Singh, said that the RBI decision is a serious security threat to the economic state of nation and the nation at large. Under the notification only a few big companies mainly foreign ones will be eligible to undertake this critical national assignment. This will render more than 65 companies out of business and cause them huge financial losses. Majority of Indian companies are being run by ex servicemen. “The government intelligence organizations must carry out a risk analysis on handing over the entire cash management to foreign based companies, and imagine a scenario when they stop cash delivery to banks and ATMs under instructions from their masters who may conspire with our enemies and create huge upheaval in the country. It can prove fatal for a country like India,” said the Chairman, “Moreover, should these companies crash due to some international financial crisis and terminate their operations in India, what will be the fate of our banking sector and public enterprises. RBI must have considered these serious security threats before taking such decision.” CAPSI represents more than 2,000 entities that provide private security services.

Hikvision has recently introduced the Hikvision Certified Security Associates (HCSA) Program in India. The first batch of three-day HCSA training program was conducted from 26 to 28 April 2018 in Mumbai which got overwhelming response from the young security professional community. The participants at the Program received certificates along with the enriching technology and product training experience. The HCSA training program will be conducted regularly in the coming months. The comprehensive HCSA Program included training sessions on optics basics, Turbo HD analog solution, PTZ configuration, network basics, IP camera, NVR, fish eye camera, iVMS 4200, and smart functions and applications. The aim and intention of the Program were to give hands-on training and demonstrations, and thereafter a dedicated online examination was conducted to felicitate the successful participants with HCSA certificates. “Hikvision has set an industry standard by offering professional video surveillance certification to validate video expertise under Hikvision Certified Security Associate (HCSA) program in India. Hikvision certification program is upcoming and open to Indian customers and partners. Besides, Hikvision provides meaningful endorsement to those who pass and become Hikvision Certified Professionals,” said Ashish P. Dhakan, MD & CEO, Prama Hikvision India Pvt. Ltd. The Hikvision Certified Security Associate (HCSA) level certification focuses on training participants in essential configurations, operations and maintenance of Hikvision video surveillance products and its features. It is designed for technical engineers who have worked in the security industry for several years and have already gained some security basics. The certification program is open to anyone looking to gain expertise in video surveillance and total security solution. The trainee should have at least one-year of work experience in the security industry and be familiar with security basics.