Mumbai Business Campus Chooses Nedap Security Management

Editor / Provider: Nedap | Updated: 11/18/2010 | Article type: Commercial Markets

Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), a large fast moving consumer goods company in India, has chosen Nedap's security management system AEOS to secure its new corporate office in Mumbai. It specializes in everyday needs for nutrition, hygiene, and personal care.

The Indian subsidiary of Unilever recently moved its corporate office within the city of Mumbai to a new ultramodern campus, which is spread over 12.5 acres of land and will house more than 1,600 employees. The campus offers various facilities to employees including convenience stores, a library, a food court, an occupational health centre, a gym and a day care center. The idea behind the move was to integrate various business processes under “One HUL Campus” and to concentrate the divisions of the organization in one place.

Considering that a state-of-the-art campus needs a state-of-the-art security solution, HUL decided to choose Nedap AEOS as the company's security management system. To make sure that the company's intelligence is well protected, approximately 120 doors are secured with AEOS, whereas the gates that give access to the campus are equipped with Nedap long range vehicle identification readers. Furthermore, AEOS visitor management has been implemented including the preregistration of visitors by HUL employees. The AEOS system was implemented by Nedap's business partner Siemens Building Technologies in Mumbai.

Nancy Wanders, Business Development Manager Asia/Pacific at Nedap, said, “This project perfectly shows the extensive possibilities of the AEOS system. Thanks to its open architecture, the functionality of AEOS is freely configurable, creating a very flexible system that can be easily adjusted to changing security needs.

Indian Consumer Goods Company Purchases Nedap Security Management System

Editor / Provider: Nedap N.V. | Updated: 11/18/2010 | Article type: Commercial Markets

Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), the largest fast-moving consumer goods company in India, has chosen Nedap's security management system to secure its new corporate office in Mumbai.

The Indian subsidiary of Unilever moved its corporate office within the city of Mumbai to a new ultramodern campus, which is spread more than 12.5 acres of land and will house more than 1600 employees. The campus offers various facilities to employees including convenience stores, a library, a food court, an occupational health centre, a gym and a day-care center. The idea behind the move was to integrate various business processes under ‘One HUL Campus' and to concentrate the divisions of the organization in one place.

Considering that a campus needs a solution, HUL decided to choose Nedap management system. To make sure that the company's intelligence is well protected, approximately 120 doors are secured with the system, whereas the gates that give access to the campus are equipped with Nedap long-range vehicle identification readers. Furthermore, its visitor management has been implemented including the preregistration of visitors by HUL employees. The system was implemented by Nedap's business partner Siemens Building Technologies in Mumbai.

Higher Deployment of Emerging Technology

Editor / Provider: By a&s International | Updated: 11/18/2010 | Article type: Infrastructure

Greenfield projects bring billions of investment dollars into a country. As more high-speed rail projects are being built from square one, there is a movement toward deploying emerging security technologies.

Without contstraints to existing networks or equipment, high-speed rail (HSR) projects are perfect breeding grounds for imagination and innovation, especially in infrastructure planning. “With HSR, planning is like a piece of blank paper where you can design and plan with an attitude,” said Chris Lawrence, Head of Security Advisory Services for TPS Consult. “With regular rail, it is more constrained as it can be very costly to re-engineer or upgrade the existing infrastructure. Thus, it is more difficult to be innovative.”

China's HSR networks are classic greenfield projects where advanced technologies are being deployed. Take the Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Rail. The communications department oversees more than 10 subsystems, including cabling, data transmission, dispatch, emergency response and video surveillance. The video surveillance system has adopted state-ofthe- art video-coding techniques and video analytics to fulfill multiple purposes, such as low-bandwidth, HD image capture and automated alarms. “In places like China where many of the HSR lines are being built from scratch, there is a higher implementation of new, advanced technologies,” said Edward Tella, Solutions Leader for Safety, Security and Surveillance, Travel and Transportation, IBM.

Factors that are taken into account comprise the latest technologies available on the market and the perception of what technologies will be available in the near future, said Mark Marriage, founder and CTO for COE (a Digital Barriers company). “In the video surveillance sector, Ethernet transmission, megapixel cameras and video analytics are certainly of greater consideration for the specification of greenfield HSR projects.”

Other prevalent applications include informed use of HD systems and video analytics on automated event management and alerts through VMS or PSIM platforms, said Brian Karas, Director of Field Engineering for VideoIQ.

In critical-infrastructure projects like HSR, comprehensive video surveillance and analytic solutions are important in order to be competitive, Tella said. “These technologies, along with others, arm operators with the capabilities to act fast, connect systems and implement more operational facilities.”

Benefits
One of the biggest benefits is the elimination of future upgrade difficulties. “Greenfield projects are always easier to secure than retrofit or upgrade projects, primarily because we can design and plan for the future,” said Philip Lomax, Associate VP of Security, Kroll. “New technologies will only be considered if they are proven technologies. If technologies are in any way controversial, they would not be installed for fears of wasted resources and litigation concerns.” The issue of cost is also a key concern for some. “Technologies such as megapixel cameras are becoming standard usage, but remain too expensive for many users,” Lomax said.

The latest, easily adaptable technologies are usually specified for greenfield projects, particularly with systems with rapid improvements such as video analytics and biometrics. “New projects constantly require integration, interfacing and customization of third-party systems, regardless of any existing system,” said Dr. Bernard Lottmann, Sales Manager at Building Technologies Division, Siemens.

Interoperability
With more and more cross-border, multinational projects on the rise, interoperability with other train stations, systems and operators takes on a significant yet challenging role. “Interoperability can be difficult because everyone — from train operators to people working the network infrastructure – has their own system. Some are mutually exclusive and cannot talk to one another,” Lawrence said. “There's a rebuilding in one of the London terminals where a state-of-the-art security system was put in. Now, at least police, train and network operators are talking to one another, and are fully aware of the systems that have been put in. The right, relevant people, for example, can take specific video feeds and examine them.”

Lomax agreed. “Interoperability between operators is never really considered. The reason is that individual operators have responsibilities for their own risk and budget. Having said that, we do feel that there needs to be more discussions on interoperability. In standard systems like stand-alone screening solutions and video surveillance, there are rarely any problems. Problems are more likely to arise with systems which require system protocols, such as access control and intrusion detection.”

Approach
Security approach should be considered on several different levels. “Interoperability is only achieved with political commitment,” Lottmann said. “Integrated security solutions at a site may overlap several sectors such as security and public utilities. The quantity of data — and free access to it at different locations — determines the degree of centralized command and control.”

Deploying proven technologies is a safer bet. “Interoperability is being accomplished with commercial off-the-shelf hardware and open protocols,” said Richard Lack, Director of Sales and Marketing, Application Solutions (ASL Safety and Security). “Systems might have a maintenance shelf life of 15 to20 years, so systems which are vendorand protocol-independent are very much in favor in all countries.”

Standards are emerging in the security industry and will enable interoperability across systems and borders, Tella said. “Much of this is being driven by regulations, and timelines for implementation are set by governmental agencies such as the Federal Railroad Administration in the U.S. and the European Rail Traffic Management System on the other side of the Atlantic.”

Whether it is building from scratch or extending from existing infrastructure, the global market for HSR networks is set for strong growth. By the same token, larger deployments of emerging technologies will be evident and will provide rail operators with faster access to live and recorded video from multiple locations across stations or onboard. They also create interoperability among different departments and better address issues such as reliability, flexibility, operational benefits and, ultimately, safety and security.

Ensuring Seamless Integration for High-Speed Rail

Editor / Provider: By a&s International | Updated: 11/18/2010 | Article type: Infrastructure

Much activity is centered on properly integrating various systems in the infrastructure environment of high-speed rail. As security technologies face rapid development, integration challenges must be surmounted.

The most difficult challenge in most projects lies in the integration of systems. “Often, the end user will want to integrate security, fire, elevators, building management and so on,” said Philip Lomax, Associate VP of Security, Kroll. Problems usually arise when some systems are less robust in terms of network protection and access processes. As a result, the integrity of security systems is compromised.

Aside from integration, the common goals of safety and security remain the same, whether it is traditional passenger rail or high-speed rail (HSR), said Edward Tella, Solutions Leader for Safety, Security and Surveillance, Travel and Transportation, IBM.

In-station versus Onboard
While advanced solutions provide operators with more accurate visual coverage and operational efficiency with less impact on human resources, different technical challenges exist when it comes to in-station versus onboard solutions, Tella said. “Onboard systems are generally easier to deal with as they are dedicated security solutions and do not integrate with anything else,” Lomax said.

In the security world, environmental, spatial and human factors are not deemed uncontrollable but, rather, calculated risks, Lomax added. “All problems could be resolved with unlimited resources. However, this is never going to be the case, so we mititgate based on what is available and give the highest priority to the risks that have the greatest downstream impact."

Upgrading or retrofitting new equipment at railway stations or onboard trains demands imagination and spatial awareness in order to find the optimum balance, said Dr. Bernard Lottmann, Sales Manager at Building Technologies Division, Siemens.

Some situations call for the collaboration between architects and integrators. For example, stations that are considered historic monuments call for awareness and familiarity with the environment and technology in order to install front-end devices with adequate illumination without causing damage.

Resistance is circumvented once operators and users realize an improvement in their daily operations, Lottmann said. “In order to do the job efficiently, operators must naturally be familiarized with all the requirements of the new security system.”

Building Scalability
Security operators often want to increase the quantity of front-end equipment, so the solution must be scalable and modular, Lottmann said. “The degree of integration or sophistication of management software should not be an issue for operators, but administrators should be able to add more cameras and/or change the site map relatively easily.”

Furthermore, scalability is needed to deal with increasing volume of information and advancement of technology, in order to continue producing alerts in real time and perform advanced analytics on recorded data for other applications, Tella said. “We take into account operators' needs for growth, through additional cameras or sensors, while retaining their investment in existing infrastructure.”

While incorporating scalability for surveillance systems is considered an easier process, that of management systems is not. These systems operate on a software level, with different manufacturers using different proprietary protocols, Lomax said. “However, this can be solved with plug-and-play technology which enables users to add devices easily without major interface issues.”

Tailored Solutions
There are no specific security solutions targeted at HSR. The alternative is to use what is available on the market, said Chris Lawrence, Head of Security Advisory Services for TPS Consult. In terms of video surveillance, technologies that are valuable to HSR applications are used universally across other business, commercial and transportation applications, added Brian Karas, Director of Field Engineering for VideoIQ.

On the other hand, projects are still dealt with on a case-by-case basis, with solutions catered to particular environments. “When dealing with major networks and the requirements of the operators therein, there is no solution which is continually applicable,” said Mark Marriage, founder and CTO for COE (a Digital Barriers company).

“ Certaine quipment and networking structures would be applicable to multiple projects,“ Marriage continued. “However, the network requirements of the users and a variety of other factors would heavily influence the project design process, and these necessitate each system's design be considered on an individual basis.”

Addressing Issues
Issues such as long distance, wide area, constant movement and near-24/7 operation must be addressed in order to ensure smooth integration. “Integrating redundancy into the various aspects of system design ensures the systems, which are in constant or near constant use, do not suffer from downtime as a result of individual or multiple devices' failure,” said Marriage. As the rail industry requires video surveillance equipment to be of a higher environmental rating, there are a number of transportation-specific standards that apply, Marriage said. For example, the new Euro Norm specifications, which include rigorous environmental ratings, further ensure that rail products are manufactured and specified to a high quality. “HSR security requires a more frequent maintenance schedule to ensure equipment functions as effectively as possible.”

Outdoors
In harsh, outdoor environments with challenging climatic conditions, the trend is toward event-driven control rooms using sensor fusion and video/audio analytics, said Richard Lack, Director of Sales and Marketing, Application Solutions (ASL Safety and Security). “There is plenty of evidence suggesting video analytics do operate well in certain outdoor environments when conrrectly specified and configured.”

High-Speed Movement on Rail Security

Editor / Provider: By a&s International | Updated: 11/17/2010 | Article type: Infrastructure

In a time when climate-changing pollution and falling oil production are major issues of concern, high-speed rail (HSR) has emerged as an alternative mode of economical long-distance travel and a booster to economic development.

Europe and Japan pioneered the HSR movement in the early 1900s, but the real breakthrough is coming from China these days. Already home to more HSR lines — 6,920 kilometers of tracks with trains running at speeds up to 400 kilometers per hour — than any other country in the world, China has plans to double its HSR network by 2012, with investments worth more than US$120 billion. This ambitious venture has created a huge ripple effect.

Encouraged by a recent visit to China, South Africa's Minister of Transport Sibusiso Ndebele is advocating for the construction of a multibillion-Rand HSR link between Durban and Johannesburg. The U.S., after generations of investing in highways and air transit, is also turning a corner. In September, the US Congress added an additional $2.3 billion to the original stimulus bill of $8 billion among 31 states to begin developing America's first nationwide high-speed intercity passenger rail service.

Amtrak recently released its next-generation HSR plan, investing in more than $117 billion to reduce travel times in the northeast, with trains operating up to 350 kilometers per hour on a new two-track corridor. Upon its completion in 2040, HSR ridership will likely approach 18 million passengers per year, with room to accommodate up to 80 million annually as demand increases. Over a 25-year construction period, the project will create more than 40,000 full-time jobs annually to build new tracks, tunnels, bridges, stations and other infrastructure. More than 120,000 permanent jobs along the corridor and in rail operations are predicted by 2040. In addition to significant travel time savings between major cities, tremendous mobility improvements would come with environmental, energy and congestion mitigation benefits.

As HSR revolutionizes the way people travel, safety and security needs for solutions to address new challenges while maintaining convenience and accessibility are at an all-time high.

Long waiting lines and shoes-off security routine is a classic scenario in most international airports. Perhaps this explains why more people are opting for the tracks rather than the skies in recent years. While 100-percent passenger screening is unrealistic for rail, keeping it to an absolute minimum is unacceptable as confined environments, 24/7 accessibility and large concentrations of people make rail infrastructure an easy but high-value target of potential carnage.

In the initial stages of any rail security project, what constitutes as security differs among operators and is thus budgeted in multiple ways. “Security could comprise technical solutions, security manpower, platform turnstiles, crisis planning and emergency response measures,” said Philip Lomax, Associate VP of Security for Kroll, a risk-consulting firm.

The budget allocated for rail security depends on threat and risk assessments, national policy, standards and the complexity of the network. For most cases, only a few percent is earmarked, said Mark Hayman, Resilience Security and Risk Associate for East Asia, Arup. “Security budget for either regular rail (RR) or HSR is often negligible, representing only a small percentage of the electrical and mechanical part and even the overall budget,” added Dr. Bernard Lottmann, Sales Manager at Building Technologies Division, Siemens.

There is minimal difference between the security approaches for RR and HSR, as the main advantage of rail travel is easy accessibility. Stringent security measures would be impractical due to dense passenger flow and the need for trains to run on a schedule. However, some HSR networks have separate access points to platforms and could therefore be controlled more easily, Lottmann said. “As HSR passengers are generally traveling longer distances, they tend to carry more luggage, something that has to be monitored. Passengers and their luggage are checked by scanning/ screening devices before boarding, and access to the trains is controlled via barriers.”

Threat levels and investment drivers are inherently linked to each other and differ for RR and HSR. “RR threats are much lower and not really a driver for investment,” said Chris Lawrence, Head of Security Advisory Services, TPS Consult. “For example, RR addresses people crime such as vandalism and graffiti.”

Several factors influence investment — how the network is designated, screening of people and bags, and competition with other modes of long-distance travel such as airplanes. “If the network is designated as critical infrastructure, hardening of stations or control facilities is necessary,” Hayman said. “Furthermore, in order to ‘win the battle,' HSR must maintain the differentiators such as comfort and accessibility. Security investment may be part of the means to ensure this.”

System Design
Initial system planning and design for rail projects are specified with technologies appropriate to their high availability and safety-critical environment. “Unlike RR projects, HSR usually forms part of the national infrastructure. As such, it is subject to more detailed scrutiny regarding factors such as EMC, mean time between failures (MTBF), regulatory approval and thru-life support costs,” said Richard Lack, Director of Sales and Marketing, Application Solutions (ASL Safety and Security). While international security design standards are nonexistent, there are “industry best practices” that stem from previous experiences. “There are measures which are always considered,” Lomax said. “The s e inc lude monitoring of access points, vertical transportation, platforms and in some areas within the train carriages themselves.”

Geographical Differences
Threat and risk assessment aids in the design of a solution appropriate to certain geographical requirements. “The solution could be cognizant of other regional or global benchmarks or standards but would be tailored to fit the local area,” Hayman said. “Both RR and HSR may cover major geographical areas, but, arguably, the effects of certain risks on HSR may be more dramatic than on RR. This may make HSR a more attractive target and justify a higher security standard. If cross-border issues are involved, this also raises the profile. On the other hand, a domestic RR service, especially a crowded commuter type, offers the easiest target for certain extreme events.”

Distance Covered
Due to the difference in distance covered by RR and HSR, security aspects can vary greatly in size and scope. “Security aspects for RR are generally under the control of officers located at a single control center and commonly integrated into communication or building management systems,” Lottmann said. “For HSR, smaller systems include surveillance, access control and perimeter security components covering a local area and controlled by a station manager. Larger, more complex solutions might constitute a countrywide, multiagency system.”

The differences in distances affect the number of stakeholders. “An HSR project may have multiple stakeholders with varying local and national security considerations,” Lack said. Thus, harmonization and concept-matching of security systems are important, as is the collaboration of different security operators and companies involved, Lottmann added.

Additional Measures
Business travelers view HSR as an alternative to air travel. “In many terminals, HSR and RR passengers occupy the same general areas; so, much of the security infrastructure design overlaps,” said Brian Karas, Director of Field Engineering for VideoIQ.

While that may be the case, extra security measures are usually undertaken at the station, including passport control areas and other restricted zones. “The presence of security equipment is often intensified by the requirement for access and throughput control between areas,” said Mark Marriage, founder and CTO for COE (a Digital Barriers company). “Integration of alarms and notifications from complementary systems into the video management system is an additional area where the requirement may be greater for HSR networks against RR networks.”

Video analytics is also fast becoming one of the most demanded technologies. “Analytics provide the technology to transform the role of safety and security workforce from monitors to responders,” said Edward Tella, Solutions Leader for Safety, Security and Surveillance, Travel and Transportation, IBM.

However, limitations such as bandwidth and real - time transmission disable continuous surveillance of the entire journey, Lottmann said. “The most widely used method of transferring and analyzing onboard video data now is to retract images from a removable hard disk.”

Specification/ Evaluation Process
Aside from reliability and performance, risk analysis is imperative for evaluating security systems, especially when transportation has become a more common target for attacks. “Security concepts and levels are now derived from the individual analysis of each installation, and experience gained from previous situations drives performance criteria,” Lottmann said. Specifications are usually drawn out from national requirements or go through an industry practice. “In Europe, there are various standards that equipment must meet; whatever is specified goes down in criteria,” Lawrence said.

Operational Requirements
All systems should be designed to fulfill specific operational requirements, which are driven by strategy. “Their purposes and how they are related/interfaced to other elements of the solution must be clearly stated,” Hayman said. “There should be a balance among operational security (such as procedures, guards, and command and control), electronic security (such as surveillance, access control and intrusion detection) and physical security (such as fences, barriers, architecture and crime prevention through environmental design).” For increased efficiency, there is a need for data recovery capabilities as well, Lottmann added.

Deciding Factor
In light of the tough economic climate, cost concerns are always an issue. However, performance and necessity should not be overlooked. “Price is not always the deciding factor in the specification of security systems for rail networks,” Lottmann said. “The perceived need for security arrangements varies widely, according to different mindsets and cultures. This fact naturally affects purchasing decisions and specifications of high-end solutions.”

Searching For the Right Solution

Editor / Provider: a&s International | Updated: 11/9/2010 | Article type: Tech Corner

Finding the perfect solution for a project entails careful planning and understanding client requirements. Points such as the correct management software and choosing between analog and IP devices should be taken into careful consideration.

Many challenges need to be taken into consideration when installing a secure, integrated access system. “One must decide the level of integration to provide, such as basic or full integration,” said Philip Verner, Sales and Marketing Manager for CEM Systems (a Tyco International company). “Basic integration simply allows for a one-way interface of third-party alarms or events into the security system, whereas a full or deep integration enables the monitoring and control of a subsystem both ways at the same time.”

To begin, it is important to evaluate the different parts of a building “It is important when choosing a system, that security levels and mechanisms are considered,” said Alistair Enser, MD of Security Products for the U.K., Siemens Building Technologies. “The fundamentals of designing and installing an access control system are finding out the objectives and rationale for the system, additional fringe benefits by integrating with other systems and how to minimize the impact of the system on the daily working life so that the objectives can be achieved without it having a detrimental impact on the business.”

Management Software Software always depends on customer requirements. “If the customer only requires standard and straightforward management software, which has many limitations and no room for customizations, then the free software provided by the manufacturer can be used,” said Vincentius Liong, a veteran security system consultant. “This free software generally does not include any technical support or allow for specific requirements, which are strongly needed in such integrated building systems. This is why, most of the time, it is best to purchase a management software license, even though it could cost from several hundreds up to several thousands of dollars.”

However, management software provided by manufacturers can also be advantageous. “Management software that comes with the hardware is preferred for continuity and subsequent maintenance,” said Daniel Ong, VP of Certis Technology International, Certis CISCO Security. “Since the software and hardware come from the same manufacturer, one can expect future new releases of the software with better and improved functionality.”

Analog versus IP
The integration of an analog system and an IP system is done with several limitations. “It will generally run on two different sets of management software in the background and the challenge is figuring out how to integrate and export one database to the other on the software level,” Liong said. “Having the same database format would make this much easier — there have been new developments addressing these integration problems, from standardizing the database in one format, to having an open standard using one of the standard protocols, such as Modbus, BACnet, LonWorks or OPCUA.”

Interoperability
Interoperability and scalability should be the main consideration when implementing a system of value. “A common mistake is that many people will fit a system based on their requirements for today, particularly if driven by a competitive bid process,” Verner said. “Installers and integrators may err on the side of putting in the most cost-effective solution to meet the minimum requirements of the system today, which may not be the best solution for the customer in the long term if they wish to extend their building wings or link to other buildings and/ or technologies at a later stage. Also, while system capacity is not an issue with most systems, expanding the software at a later date to enable more features is not always easy, although having a system that can seamlessly expand over time and provide fully integrated solutions, with third-party systems such as video and intrusion, is vital.”

Standards will definitely have a positive impact on the dynamics of security systems in the long run, said Johan Lembre, CEO of Pacom Systems. “The obvious outcome will be greater price competition on the hardware components, but standardization will also create common APIs that enable different subsystems to talk to one another, including access control systems. The latter is a huge advantage for larger clients with many sites, possibly even spread over many geographical territories; standards enable them to centrally manage access rights and administer the system in a simpler manner, without the need for specialist knowledge and training on multiple platforms.”

Not all clients will see the advantages of a system that is possibly a little expensive initially, but is more cost-effective long term. “A prospective client generally focuses on what they know. A lot of our time is spent on educating clients to enable them to start considering new and exciting possibilities,” said David Rees, Regional Manager for APAC, Salto Systems.

Security Concerns
There are data-cloning devices currently available on the market for the theft of information from both cards and access devices. “These devices can be wirelessly handheld or physically inserted into the access control device itself, and are capable of copying most RFID cards on the market,” Verner said. “To prevent information from being compromised, it is recommended to use smart cards with industry-approved authentication and encryption, and to use readers capable of two- or threefactor authentication such as card, pin and/or biometrics. There are also RFID safe pouches available to protect cards, and video integration can be used to assist with visual verification and tracking.”

Reader-to-door-controller signals can be copied by recording or “sniffing” the pulses between the reader and the controller. The recorded pulses are then played back to fool the system into thinking an authorized card was present. The Wiegand protocol, which is an industry standard, is most easily intercepted, copied and replayed to gain access. “To avoid risks, it is best to use integrated readers with a combined reader or read head and keypad units to discourage communication between the reader and door controller,” Verner said. “As a minimum, specify RS485 communication and avoid Wiegand communication. Tamper detection features can also be fitted onto an access control solution.”

If not integrated and applied properly, lost cards can cause a big breach in security, especially when powerful applications are run on the same card and backup mechanisms are not in place. “The individual applications and the management processes around the cards must be designed for such cases. In some instances, this may require the user to alert security managers of the loss so they can notify the system,” said Urs Lampe, VP of Product Marketing and New Business, Legic Identsystems. “As an added security measure and common good practice, applications classified on a higher security level typically use multiple authentication factors, such as a specific PIN code that matches the card, to prevent unintended use of a card and applications.”

Today and Beyond
Remote, managed services or cloud technologies are fast becoming more than a hype. “This is a market space that is still relatively undeveloped but holds big potential. For most customers, physical security is not a part of their core business, and as a consequence, investments and technology decisions become difficult,” Lembre said. “System integrators that can offer electronic security as a service will help their customers overcome this challenge. These services may include remotely managing access control systems, video verification of alarms and extensive feedback, which enable their clients to operate more efficiently. The service provider will also be able to maintain the system centrally, leading to a drastically reduced number of site visits which can lower operating costs for all involved.”

Customers would also like to be informed at all times of any security breach. “A common feature now is the ability to support notifications with a customizable format to suit the chosen delivery method of either e-mail or SMS, with applicable images attached,” Ong said. “This alleviates some of the hassles for users as there is no requirement to attach USB devices to the command center's server, which is often prohibited by IT or MIS departments.” Users may customize filters to only receive the necessary notifications and be made aware of any irregularities anywhere, anytime.

Every client and project differs in their needs and concerns. A perfect system can be reached by tailoring solutions to customer budgets and requirements.

Teaching An Old Card To Play New Tricks

Editor / Provider: a&s International | Updated: 11/8/2010 | Article type: Tech Corner

In any installation, access control is the most basic form of keeping unwanted risks at bay. Aside from simply securing the premises, it also provides many applications that are valuable to operations and business efficiency. However, making sound integration and upgrade decisions are not easy tasks.

The global access control market has been estimated by some at a value of just under US$2 billion. Globally, the market was definitely affected by the financial crisis, with an estimated decline of about 20 to 30 percent on a global basis, said Johan Lembre, CEO of Pacom Systems. “Upgrades and improvements were simply placed on hold for around 18 months due to the general reluctance to do any kind of investment that was not absolutely business-critical.”

According to market research, the EMEA and Asian markets for physical access control in 2010 are reportedly estimated to be more than $600 million each, said Philip Verner, Sales and Marketing Manager for CEM Systems (a Tyco International company).

The economic downturn may have not affected projects being completed now, but it will affect projects set to be completed in 2011 because the budgeting and planning were done during a time when money was tight, said Han-Kwang Chu, MD for Taiwan, Secom.

However, access control might have fared better than other areas. “Although there are fewer new systems being installed — due to the decline in new builds — people are hanging onto their technology for longer, thus creating a growth market in some of the lower-end of the service business through people expanding and updating their existing systems,” said Alistair Enser, MD of Security Products for the U.K., Siemens Building Technologies.

The reason for the minimal decline of the market compared to other sectors, such as CCTV, is due to businesses understanding how access control systems help contribute toward other daily operations, such as attendance, central printing, building energy reduction and cashless vending. “This is an important point when referring back to the economy as this encourages other stakeholders within a business to become involved when upgrading an access control system,” Enser said. “The implication is that, in certain instances, the budget for access control is split among different departments and not just the security or IT department. If the capital risk is shared to increase the usefulness of the system, then the need for an access control system is validated and it could become self-funding.”

Piecing Together the Puzzle
Although integration into, or adding onto, an existing system may save cabling costs, access control integrators face many challenges when integrating new technologies into older buildings. “In general, it's more convenient to perform a new installation and integration at a new site or building,” said Vincentius Liong, a veteran security system consultant. “Most existing old buildings do not separate the cabling trays and shafts for power and data. In a new building, there is a clear separation of cabling trays and shafts between high-tension power cabling and data cabling for data, video and voice.”

This prevents problems with radio frequency interference and/or electromagnetic interference, Liong continued. “Most new buildings have also considered aesthetics and have already taken into consideration how to run video, data and voice cable in accordance with building installation standards.”

Upgrading an old building depends largely upon legacy systems. “Some older systems have a limitation in flexibility and scalability, such as a maximum 30-door system. If the customer wishes to expand beyond this threshold, they would need to replace the existing system.” Liong said. Some customers, who wish to keep their old, proprietary system for reasons such as not wishing to replace the access cards of thousands of employees, would upgrade the old system from the door controllers up to the management software, while keeping the card readers and access cards unchanged. “However, upgrading from a proprietary system from 20 years ago is difficult since most old systems are usually not expandable and only offer a one-card format — the 26-bit Wiegand. Most new systems offer a different card format, such as the 26-bit and 36-bit Wiegand, or an even better format that can be programmed by the desired management software.”

Sometimes, legacy systems require replacement due to the disintegrated quality of the wires. “If the wires are too old, it's best to remove and replace the whole system since old wires can degrade the transmission quality. If this cannot be done, they are left alone and new wires are placed in, regardless,” Chu said.

Simply put, a new system installation would allow for better interoperability and scalability based on specific customer requirements and budgets. Older buildings and systems usually have less or poorer interoperability and scalability to meet the challenging and varying needs of customers, Liong said.

To Go Wired or Wireless? The industry has taken a large turn toward IP, leading many to consider the pros and cons of both wired and wireless systems. “With a large number of access control devices sitting on the Ethernet, cabling has become less of an issue. Aesthetics and third-party integration is more of a consideration, particularly in new buildings, where performance and sympathetic design will always be required as much as possible,” Enser said.

A wireless system offers a significant cost reduction against the fully wired system. “Wireless doors are only 50 percent of the cost of a wired door,” said David Rees, Regional Manager for APAC, Salto Systems. “The speed of data transmission from a stand-alone reader is still fast though, taking only 150 milliseconds to update information on the card at each access point.”

Faster frequencies help accelerate data transmission on wireless networks. “When deploying an RFID access control solution operating at 125 kilohertz, one must expect transaction speeds to be slower than in a system operating at 13.56 megahertz,” said Jari Valtonen, CEO of Idesco. “Faster transactions become essential when deploying more robust encryption schemes or when interrogating multipurpose smart cards,”

IT and security have become mutually defining factors as new requirements appear to be evolving IP's role in access control devices, Valtonen said. “Regardless of how a site chooses to implement a network for supporting security, IT will clearly play an increasingly critical role in future access control site design.”

Wireless access control will need time to mature since it still grapples with stability issues. “Wireless communication can be interfered by very high radio frequency,” said David Chen, Product Manager, Falco-Ecom. “This is not to say that cabled systems do not have any interference problems, but the chances are higher in wireless devices. If the wireless connection fails, then the entire system fails.”

Most buildings are steel-framed, making them not ideal for wireless transmission. “Electromagnetic interference from nearby devices and eddy waves from metal surfaces often compromise the read accuracy of RFID devices. To address this problem, shields and installation plates are developed to accompany readers and companies should make customers aware of this issue,” Valtonen said.

To avoid wirelessly transmitting data over long distances, some systems rely on the data being transferred from one reader to the next using card technology. “These systems have their benefits, but they do rely on a flow of traffic around the building in order to transmit the information around the readers, so it is very possible for someone to be deleted from the system for a considerable time before the reader is updated with the new database information,” Enser said.

Therefore, the wireless infrastructure running these critical functions must be thoughtfully planned and executed, and if done correctly, wireless transmission is not inferior to its wired counterpart. “It depends on the application — wired systems are generally more secure and robust than wireless but there is an opportunity cost,” Enser said. It would take some time for people to accept wireless systems in access controllers as many are still generating money from laying cables, Chen said. “Another disadvantage of wireless is its inability to integrate with video. Hardwiring has proven to be the best option for video integration with access controllers due to its stability and reliability.”

Also, most customers still prefer reliable, hardwired access control rather than wireless access control in their buildings, Liong said.

Aside from the considerations above, the current trend has also moved onto PoE devices. “The biggest advantage offered by PoE infrastructure is the ability to offer system-wide power backup,” Chen said. “Employing an emergency generator or a UPS will ensure that the access control system continues to be fully functional during a power outage.”

However, data security should always be the main concern, and this needs to be emphasized when using PoE or wireless infrastructure. “Systems that have controllers at the edge and use PoE/wireless transmission are typically less secure as they open up many more possibilities for an attacker to get into the system,” said Daniel Ong, VP of Certis Technology International, Certis CISCO Security. “Systems that use proprietary protocols for communication to edge devices are more shielded once the main controllers are installed in a secure location.”

Transmission plays a large part in selecting and implementing the most suitable system for a project. Other integration concerns include deciding between analog and IP, and choosing the correct management software.

Smarter Response to Threats

Editor / Provider: a&s International | Updated: 10/13/2010 | Article type: Tech Corner

What makes a physical security information management platform good or bad? Reliability and cost-effectiveness are key issues, as well as an intuitive user interface suited for different operators.

Physical security information management (PSIM) expressly exists for situational awareness. A good platform has the potential to prevent situations from getting worse. In the event of a fire or other life-threatening scenarios, an integrated response may save countless lives.

However, a PSIM solution with a complicated user interface can create problems for operators to navigate and respond quickly, said Alf Chang, Senior Consultant for A&S magazines.

Good PSIM should unite systems into a holistic platform. “PSIM needs to have the ability to seamlessly fetch all data and then translate that in a single, analytical presentation and archival form,” said Bhaskar Ganguly, Global Marketing Director for Critical Infrastructure Protection, Automation and Control Solutions, Honeywell International.

PSIM systems must account for human psychology, especially in crises. “During an incident, it's imperative that the operators get all of the information they need in a way that is easily understood, without being overwhelmed with noncritical data,” Ganguly said.

Any platform for convergence should be simple to operate. “A system that requires less interaction with the operator is normally the best solution,” said Ken Pereira, CEO of OneBerry Technologies. “Automation is the main ingredient that makes or breaks a solid PSIM solution.”

Ease of use is achieved through intuitive features and extensive automated processes. “Workflows f o r ope r a t o r s on one GUI are essential, combined with the flexibility of portable communication integration,” said Stephen Moody, Security Development Manager, ViS Security Solutions. “This allows for incident control and the efficient deployment of operatives on the ground.”

A good solution should meet user needs and apply the most simple and efficient architecture, said Daniel Kok, Business Development Manager for ADC Technologies International. Conversely, a bad solution would include too many components from multiple vendors, which system integrators have no control over.

System Stability
A good PSIM platform should keep running, even if one of its subsystems goes down. “There have been a number of instances when a certain module or component did not meet the requirements of the project during actual usage,” Pereira said. “And when this particular module failed, the whole system was affected. It is advised that clients should go with a complete system that has been extensively tested. The key to a reliable system is decentralization.”

A modular approach can prevent installations from coming to a grinding halt, such as offline operation of building and security systems at certain times, Chang said.

Good networking practices can keep systems from crashing. “While system availability can never be 100-percent guaranteed, the risk of failure can be significantly reduced by incorporating standard IT redundancy and failover architectures,” said Brandon Arcement, Manager of Global Security Technology, Building Efficiency, Johnson Controls.

Along with network redundancy, users can use secondary verification techniques. “For example, an alarm can be validated through secondary sensing like video or access details,” Ganguly said. “In cases when a particular subsystem fails, there is always another sensing point available to the user.”

Customized Solutions
PSIM offers powerful functions, which are not required by every user. Providers need to design customizable but flexible solutions that are tailored to users or applications. A network infrastructure capable of supporting communications across a wide range of verticals would be optimum, said John Moss, CEO of S2 Security.

Computer Network Limited (CNL) uses template modules for specific vertical markets, enabling flexibility and reduced cost. “The advantage of this is the end user only pays for what they want,” said Matthew Kushner, President of the Americas for CNL. “If they need additional functionality in the future, they just need to add modules.”

Modules or business logic templates save administrators time. “These templates repurpose common actions and responses, and are also fully customizable,” said Larry Lien, VP of Product Management, Proximex. “Administrators and integrators can reuse these standard templates or create their own as necessary.”

As there are currently no PSIM standards, some providers make connectors for specific interfaces so systems can communicate. “As we build these connectors, they become part of a library of capability that is part of the commercial-off-the-shelf products,” said Bob Scott, Executive Director of Security Solutions Strategy for Intergraph.

Customers often bring their experience with hardware-based systems, which are notorious for underachieving. “With theses of tware-based systems , we encourage people not to overspecify the system since this can result in unnecessary costs,” said Kevin Daly, CEO of Maxxess Systems. “Once they understand how the system works, they can change it with little or no penalty. With software, you're better off undershooting requirements, getting used to the system and then getting additional functionality.”

Site-specific solutions are best addressed with flexible programming options, said Anand Mecheri, CMO of Siemens Building Technologies. “A rule engine is essential, to avoid proprietary customizations that become very hard to support over the life cycle of the solution.”

A set of rules and workflows can be programmed for one customer and sold to another user with similar needs. However, the client can claim exclusive rights to the solution, said Holger Maier, Product Manager for Building Integration System, Bosch Security Systems.

Multiple Stakeholders
PSIM platforms will be used by administrators and guards, who have unique needs. Authorization levels will also differ for sites with several stakeholders, such as airports with customs officials and law enforcement.

One system may be deployed, but use different GUIs. “You have to enable many protocol transfers in the system,” Chang said.

Administration and access rights are normally based on a hierarchical system, depending on the user's job function and needs, Ganguly said. A good system allows management

to assign authorization to individual users . “The system must be dynamic to the extent of being able to customize access rights for each operator, specifying what can be viewed and controlled, depending on the level of security privileges,” Pereira said. “This feature will allow management to determine the scope of responsibility and monitor the performance of each operator.”

Between Old and New
As PSIM must suit each project's needs, it requires careful planning and implementation. Most PSIM deployments are at new sites, as it is easier to put PSIM into a new site with nothing there, compared to a building with legacy systems. “If the owner wanted to substitute the original system with our system, this is in general more time-consuming,” Maier said.

Newer sites can select best-ofbreed products, making PSIM easier to integrate, Moss said. However, the cost of switching out subsystems may be prohibitive. The existing cable infrastructure, such as analog video lines, can limit upgrades as well.

Greenfield projects can include security in the planning phase. “All aspects concerning data management and integration among different devices must be discussed in detail to ensure that the security requirements are met,” Pereira said. “Locations of the different security devices like cameras and access controls must be part of the structural and electrical plans of new buildings.”

However, increasingly older buildings go through refurbishment for integration, Kok said. Arcement agreed, saying, “In fact, PSIM is often most valuable in facilities and organizations where an owner wants to leverage existing investment in disparate building and security technologies while still enhancing security operations through system integration.”

Regardless of whether the project is old or new, users will deal with stand-alone systems. “In today's world, it's all about sharing better information among systems and providing security operators and related stakeholders with an improved means of collaboration,” Lien said. “PSIM solutions bridge the gap between different technologies, improve processes, enhance security and save costs.”

Price Considerations The powerful performance of PSIM requires an initial investment, on top of existing equipment and subsystems. Most providers sell in modular packages, depending on the number of systems, features and licenses. Maintenance is usually charged separately.

Bosch sells by license, with several options. “The more doors, detectors, cardholders and cameras, the more the end customer pays,” Maier said. “With additional or customized features, you pay an additional price for it. And for the years after the warranty period, customized service maintenance agreements and service level agreements can be purchased to keep the system up and running for years.”

Pricing factors involved include systems, devices and how many manufacturers there are to support. Some installations could have three different ACS vendors, requiring additional integration. “This is largely dependent on the type of customer, as PSIM deployments vary a great deal, so different pricing structures are in place to suit different verticals,” Kushner said.

Going with one PSIM vendor can be cost-effective. “Normally, if the system requires more components to be integrated and the purchase is made under one contract, the cost savings may range from 10 to 30 percent, depending on the size of the project,” Pereira said.

Recurring support needs to be budgeted for. “We do have software support, with access to the help desk, updates and training, at an annual fee of 10 to 15 percent of software cost,” Daly said.

Intergraph combines licenses, maintenance and training in its pricing. “Our software is sold via a perpetual license fee — one time charge for licensed software, which is typically server-side and client-side software modules — with annual maintenance along with implementation services to configure, integrate, train and commission the system,” Scott said.

Users can decide what payment plans fit their needs. “Life cycle cost is always an important consideration when evaluating the purchase of a technology,” Arcement said. “As such, it's important that end users communicate which payment schemes and licensing structures work best for their organizations during the design process.”

Training Operators
PSIM is not plug-and-play and requires training to become familiar with its features. Training for operators can take two days up to two weeks, depending on the platform's complexity.

The system's complexity depends on the site's scale. “To get operators familiarized with the operational aspect of the entire system would depend on an individual's approach,” Kok said. “On the whole, we believe it will offer significant operational cost savings to the organization.”

While PSIM offers increased functionality, it should be straightforward to operate. “The interface and workflow of the platform should provide an intuitive user experience when designed and commissioned properly,” Arcement said. “It helps to have operators who are comfortable with a mouse and keyboard, but they certainly don't have to be programmers to be effective in the control room.”

Evaluation Criteria
PSIM providers usually look for experienced partners and integrators that are familiar with both electronic security and networking. “It is key to have long-term, stable partners when it comes to deployment of high-level, integrated solutions such as PSIM,” Mecheri said.

CNL's criteria include how long the company has been in business, average deal size and how many employees have relevant certifications, such as Microsoft and Cisco, Kushner said.

Maxxess offers training to partners but does not request third-party certifications from them. However, it can be helpful in some situations. “Networking issues are very significant, both in how they affect the performance of our system and how it integrates with other systems,” Daly said.

The integrator should also have a close relationship with the owner and understand the organization's business operations and security processes, Arcement said.

Along with networking skills, installers or integrators should have experience with the connected subsystems. “Many years ago, it was getting wires in a wall, then getting wires to the controller and some keystrokes. Today, this is the easiest part,” Maier said. “The challenging part is to design the optimal system and subsequently to program the functionality according to the customer's organization and requirements.”

System integrators should also evaluate PSIM providers. Irish integrator ViS Security Solutions partnered with Proximex after analyzing its system architecture, flexibility, cost and unique approach. “Proximex has taken significant steps in the U.K. and European region, which provides commitment and quality reassurance,” Moody said.

“We have also found the Proximex team to be proactive and contribute significantly to client requirements and system designs.”

Legacy Challenges
PSIM is undergoing growing pains, ranging from bringing systems together, keeping data manageable and planning for tomorrow. These challenges require time and effort.

Hybrid systems are a hallmark of PSIM for sites with existing equipment. “In an upgrade project, challenges tend to focus around the compatibility of integrating new technology with legacy systems,” Ganguly said.

Older systems can be thorny. “An end user asked CNL to integrate a system which does not have open SDKs or APIs. The manufacturer had developed its product in complete isolation of IT standards, to the point of anti-Microsoft,” Kushner said. “We managed to work around it, but it's the lack of standards that is the biggest challenge we are dealing with.”

A dearth of standards means interoperability is still a long way off.

“The challenges relate to evolving standards, evolving concepts of operations that support the use of integrated technology like PSIM, and the fact this is still an early market, so we are dealing with innovators and early adopters,” Scott said.

Human Touch
A PSIM platform may have countless slick functions, but still must be accessible to humans. Having the highest specifications will do no good if the interface is too overwhelming for practical use. “The challenge for Bosch is to bring a solution that connects to any subsystem and that can be customized to any user's needs, but can still be handled by our certified VARs and integrators,” Maier said.

As projects get bigger, the scope of PSIM becomes more complex. “The big challenge going forward is efficient use of people,” Daly said. “Organizations now are more distributed. It's not just one building or campus, but 40 to 50 sites being centrally managed, often with at least some information sent back to a central point. What you do locally and centrally can be a critical design consideration for these systems.”

It is important for machines to do what they do best — crunch data from multiple sources — while human operators decide on the most appropriate response. This frees up operators from tedious tasks and helps them work smarter.

Future-Proofing
Growth can be difficult to plan for in large projects. “A technical challenge facing PSIM vendors is enterprise scalability,” Kushner said. “Some systems have been designed without enterprise-level scalability in mind, and trying to add this capability is proving very difficult for some companies in the marketplace.”

The future is murky at best, throwing off the best-laid plans. “In a greenfield system, the challenge is to accurately predict and define customer requirements at an earlier stage,” Ganguly said.

A more abstract problem is proving futuristic PSIM systems are real solutions already in use. “Unfortunately, integration is something which has been put in front of end users many times before, and their expectations have been high, only to find very limited integrations,” Kushner said. “Thankfully, PSIM is changing this, and more end users understand that they can build systems that give them exactly what they want.”

Regardless of how the future pans out, integration will be the wave of the future. PSIM harnesses existing technology and networking capabilities, enabling better use of data in a timely fashion. With increased automation of tasks, security operators can see more and respond faster to threats.

Community Safety Redefined

Editor / Provider: Submitted by Siemens Building Technologies | Updated: 7/26/2010 | Article type: Hot Topics

Community safety has always been a priority for the London Borough of Bexley. It is now the first local authority in the U.K. to adopt a new, outsourced model that will help further reduce crime and secure the safety of people and properties within the borough.

The security solutions team at Siemens was chosen to design, build, staff, manage and operate a comprehensive outsourced video surveillance service for the London Borough of Bexley for the next 10 years. This new model has been put in place to reduce the long-term costs of security across the borough while guaranteeing improved performance and support.

The Siemens partnership offers the council fixed operation cost, simpler budgeting and savings in procurement costs, as well as investment in new technology to improve efficiency.

The community safety center was built not only to monitor the council's existing surveillance cameras, but also to enable Siemens to monitor additional systems across Bexley. In line with “Total Place” thinking, the community safety center even offers services outside the borough.

Siemens will take responsibility for attracting and integrating third parties who want to link to the council's facility. These include local shopping centers, business parks, retail estates, commercial organizations, concierge services and housing estates. Some of the income generated will help offset the overall service costs.

The new facility enables operators to monitor suspicious behavior, identify incidents and coordinate appropriate responses from the police, fire and ambulance services. It will also protect the public as they work, socialize and travel while respecting privacy through the use of “privacy zone” software.

Working in partnership with local businesses, the staff have radio links with local shops and public houses to further monitor criminal activity and the public in general. “This pioneering move that the borough has made in outsourcing its surveillance services brings many benefits for our residents and the council,” said Teresa O'Neill, Leader of the London Borough of Bexley. “The safety of our community remains a high priority, and we wanted to both enhance and modernize our existing service while lowering our long-term costs.

“Working with a partner from the private sector has enabled us to achieve our objectives of providing sustainable community safety and may well prove to be a model that others take advantage of,”O'Neill said. “We chose Siemens following a rigorous selection process as it is a high-technology company, has a wealth of experience of working for local authorities, and its skills and expertise can only benefit the borough.”

“Our decision to outsource the service was driven by the need to upgrade our existing systems and ensure a higher level of service to our residents for years to come,” said Katie Perrior, Cabinet Member for Community Affairs. “We have put in place a means of achieving three key objectives for the borough. First, we have reduced risk to the council by having Siemens manage high-technology services; second, we have simplified our purchasing process; and last, we have identified our costs for the next 10 years.”

Siemens will provide 24/7, year-round monitoring of Bexley's extensive network of cameras, as well as maintaining and repairing the existing camera network. “We have been operating in urban surveillance since 1991, and we are delighted to be able to offer Bexley a service that will match its short- and long-term objectives for the community,” said Dave Pickles, MD of Security Solutions at Siemens.

“Our priority is to build solutions around the needs of our customers, not only in terms of technology but also in line with their budgets and organizational goals,” Pickles continued. “We have developed a managed service for Bexley that we believe will enable the borough to keep pace with technological advances over the coming years.”

Siemens will also be bringing in additional income by promoting this innovative facility to the wider community. “We applaud the London Borough of Bexley for adopting this new approach, and we will now be working with everyone in close partnership to deliver their goals of reducing costs, enhancing community safety and improving efficiency,” Pickles said.

Real-Life Measures Protect Against Hardware Failure

Editor / Provider: a&s International | Updated: 6/15/2010 | Article type: Tech Corner

When it comes to storing large data files at high speeds 24 hours a day, storage systems must be protected from errors that can affect recorded images.


Extended storage devices are complicated, with different media and protocols. "Not all external storage devices are fully compatible with all DVRs and NVRs, despite nominally using standard network protocols," said Piotr Dolecki, Product Manager of Security Products, Siemens Building Technologies.


The solution is to test all proposed systems before using them. "There are lists of 'supported devices' available through DVR and NVR manufacturers," Dolecki said. "However, given that NAS and SAN devices are standard IT products with typically short life spans, new products supersede old products quickly, and the list of supported devices needs to be properly maintained."


Another problem is the speed of throughput for NAS and SAN devices. "This is particularly important in real-time recording applications and when using megapixel or HD cameras, which generate significantly more video data than classical resolution cameras," Dolecki said.


Video data is also constantly being written into extended storage devices. "The hardest problems to address, with respect to video surveillance storage, lie in the continuous nature of the recording and the sheer volume of data produced," said Clifford Cox, Product Manager of Digital Video Systems, UTC Fire & Security. "Video systems transmit large volumes of data continuously. Tuning storage systems for surveillance workloads is therefore very different from tuning them for data processing."


Another pain point is the network infrastructure connecting the NVR or DVR to the extended storage system. "Issues like available bandwidth and quality-of-service need to be addressed to ensure reliable data throughput," Dolecki said.


Education is key to setting up optimal storage systems. "Many of the problems associated with providing extended storage systems in video surveillance applications stem from certain assumptions, or lack of technical knowledge of the solutions available and the underlying benefits of each solution," Howie said. "The only real way of tackling this issue is through education of system integrators and end users on the capabilities of various forms of extended storage options."


System integrators must have thorough knowledge of installing storage systems. "The more proprietary the system, the more dedicated skills and training will be required. NAS and SAN systems based on iSCSI and Ethernet will be much easier to deploy and maintain," said Lee Caswell, founder and CMO of Pivot3. "Also, scale-out systems that allow adding capacity and performance to an installed system without interrupting video capture and retrieval will minimize configuration time and upgrade upheaval."


The project's density affects the extended storage system. "The level of complexity relates to the size of the system to be deployed and the requirements of the customer's environment," said Jeff Whitney, VP of Marketing, Intransa.


Some installations use the same network for both security and business, which carries risks. "The physical security system, especially video, can have an appreciable negative impact on the performance of the network and storage infrastructure," Cox said. "These is sues must be mode led and accounted for in the design phase of the project. Nightly backup windows and scheduled outages may not be acceptable in a physical security environment, where 24-hour operation is assumed."


Adequate planning is required by experienced system integrators to ensure the proper storage of video. Many problems may occur beyond simple hardware failure, and it can place at risk the data that is being stored. "Two of the most prominent issues that need to be addressed is stable recording and dropped frames," said Jack Yang, Senior Manager, Product Planning and Marketing, Promise Technology. When recording is unstable, it can leave gaps in the recording, which may become a big problem if the few seconds that are missed is critical to the overall clip.


Frame dropping is also a common occurrence, where random frames are not written onto the hard drive after digitalizing the information. Errors may also occur during the overwriting of data, since data is both being deleted and written at the same time. To combat these issues, an optimized firmware is used to stabilize the device and to protect against hardware failure.


Bad Sectors
A bad sector is a section of a disk that is damaged and cannot record data. Similar to a scratch on a CD, it causes the data in that one section to become irretrievable, even if the overall hard drive is unaffected. When using redundant array of independent disks (RAID), the recorded data is distributed to many different hard drives, so it does not pose too big an issue, especially since the parity can help rebuild lost data.


But if the bad sector occurs at the header of the data file, the whole file will become corrupt and unreadable. The lost file can only be regenerated if RAID 6 is in use. In the case of mirroring, the bad sector is copied onto the spare, which causes all subsequent copies to be faulty. "Predictive data migration (PDM) is used before bad sectors become a big threat to the file, but not all bad sectors are caught. Sometimes, they are not found until the disks are individually read for data retrieval," Yang said.


A RAID 5 device would only allow one bad sector, whereas a RAID 6 device would allow two bad sectors for each data file, since it has two parity disks. This is sometimes considered an over precaution, since the chances of finding two bad sectors is minimal.


Predictive Data Migration
PDM is a firmware feature that monitors the health of a hard drive. As soon as it senses a problem, it begins to clone all the data on the faulty hard drive onto another, healthy hard drive. "This happens before a RAID device goes into degrade mode, which means that the RAID condition is still normal, but not optimal," Yang said.


It takes on average five hours to clone a 1-terabyte hard drive and it does not affect the performance of the overall RAID device. If, however, another hard drive fails during the time it takes to rebuild the original disk, the whole RAID device could go into critical mode or crash, depending on the RAID level, and data could be lost.


Not all RAID devices support PDM and additional protective firmware, which is why it is important to pay special attention when selecting an extended storage system.


Future
The current storage technologies used for surveillance are similar to the storage technologies used for IT. As developments are made in the IT sector, the storage infrastructure for surveillance will improve. For example, attention has shifted from NAS devices to SAN devices. "A year ago, NAS devices were extremely popular," said Bob Mesnik, President of Kintronics. "These days, computers are getting bigger with RAID incorporated right into them."


Different compression rates increase bandwidth and capacity requirements. This affects which interface is best suited for a project. "At the moment, storage is mixed and there are many hybrid devices. This is because there are too many different environments, causing it to be chaotic right now," Yang said. "But in general, we still see 50 percent of the market using DAS systems because they still rely on analog cameras and DVRs, and 50 percent using SANs due to the IP uptake."


One problem is the amount of space available on a hard drive. "We are seeing a continuous increase in available storage size and a corresponding decrease in cost per gigabyte. Manufacturers are working to improve the reliability of their drives while increasing the reading and writing speeds, and decreasing the power consumption," Dolecki said. "The biggest weakness of conventional hard drive technology is the resistance to mechanical shock, which is critical in mobile surveillance applications."


Solid state storage provides a solution. "Solid state storage is starting to reach sufficient technological maturity for it to become a viable alternative to magnetic hard drives in the foreseeable future," Dolecki said. "However, hard drives are still more favorable at the moment due to their low cost advantage over solid state storage."


There will also be an increase in IP SAN systems. "IP SANs may represent the best balance of performance and cost when networked storage is considered for physical security, especially where surveillance recording is concerned," Cox said.


However, there are still limitations to IP NAS/SANs. "The transmission of IP video over any form of network is limited by the available bandwidth," Howie said.


The boom in megapixel and HD cameras affect the need for better extended storage systems. Storage devices will become cheaper and more advanced, as this industry realizes the need for technology to store large video files.