North American Logistics Specialist Selects Next Level for Strategic Security Upgrade

Editor / Provider: Next Level Security Systems | Updated: 9/22/2011 | Article type: Commercial Markets

Next Level Security Systems, a developer of a new breed of unified, networked security solutions, announces Navarre has deployed the NLSS Gateway as part of a strategic initiative to increase security in select distribution facilities in North America.

Navarre Distribution Services and Navarre Logistical Services, subsidiaries of Navarre, provide North American retailers and their suppliers with agile distribution and returns management, third-party logistics (3PL), online fulfillment and custom marketing programs, powered by a best-in-class systems infrastructure and collaborative support teams. To best service its customers and further secure its infrastructure, Navarre looked to transition from an analog system to an IP-based security solution that could enable the security team to capture higher-quality video, take advantage of its robust IT infrastructure, enable multiple users to access the system from remote locations, and incorporate intelligent search functions and video analytics to speed up forensic tasks.

“Security is a priority for Navarre and we required a networked-based solution that would enable us to easily manage various security systems through one interface, while providing the option of integrating with other network devices,” said Sam Hildebrandt, Director of Operations, Navarre “The NLSS Gateway provides us with the opportunity to realize real-world efficiencies within our security department, and provide an immediate return-on-investment.”

The NLSS Gateway integrates networked video management, IP access control, video analytics and intrusion from the point of manufacture, limiting the need for complex and costly custom integration. The combination of video management, IP access control and analytics provides an enhanced view of security operations as data from these systems are correlated and presented in a unified manner. Users can tap into the inherent benefits of video analytics and clearly defined event management procedures to make quicker, more informed decisions. The system also offers Next Level Remote Management Services (Next Level RMS), which draws on improvements in cloud-computing technology to offer more than other hosted service models currently used in the security market.

“The integrated appliance approach provided by the NLSS Gateway enables the Navarre security team to rapidly pinpoint relevant video and see how it aligns with other systems to make intelligent, informed decisions,” said Peter Jankowski, Chairman and CEO, Next Level Security Systems. “It is our goal to provide technologies that enable users the freedom and flexibility needed to quickly diagnosis situations in any given moment.”

Johnson Controls to Provide Security Solutions for 12 Stadiums in Brazil

Editor / Provider: Johnson Controls | Updated: 9/22/2011 | Article type: Commercial Markets

The Brazilian Ministry of Sports announced that Johnson Controls, the global leader in delivering solutions that increase energy efficiency in buildings, has been chosen to design and install advanced, integrated security systems for 12 major soccer stadiums throughout the country.

The $29 million project will include the design, supply and implementation of mass access control designed to quickly pass large numbers of people, video surveillance, ticket systems and a communications network at stadiums used by Brazilian A and B Championship Leagues. Some of the sites, which seat from 20,000 up to 60,000 fans, will also host competition in the 2013 Soccer Confederation Cup. Two of the stadiums will be venues for main matches at the 2014 FIFA Soccer World Cup, also being held in Brazil.

Alcino Reis Rocha, national secretary of Soccer and Defense of the Fans Rights for Brazil's Ministry of Sports, said Johnson Controls was selected in a competitive bid process during which the company showed a superior understanding of the technology required to complete the complex project.

“Johnson Controls scored the highest of all competitors in the systems technology category during the bidding process, provided a competitive price and could point to experience in helping secure major arenas, airports and other mission critical facilities throughout Latin America and around the world,” said Mario Filho, Brazil systems business, Building Efficiency, Johnson Controls.

Filho also said that the long-term strategic relationships Johnson Controls developed with vendors, agencies and organizations in Brazil and throughout the region were key to presenting a strong team solution and securing the contract.

The innovative access control system, designed with South African partner DEX Security Solutions, will link the web portal where soccer fans purchase tickets and register to attend games with local law enforcement databases. The names of purchasers will be checked against those of known troublemakers and registered criminals who may be denied entry. Each stadium will have entry turnstiles and readers (barcode, proximity and biometric) to confirm the identities of those seeking access.

Johnson Controls also will oversee the installation of nearly 1,700 surveillance cameras, video servers for recording and video analytics to help spot potential problems inside and outside the stadiums. Officials at each stadium will monitor the video from separate security stations designed and built by Johnson Controls.

“This is another example of Johnson Control using its proven technology experience to provide our customer with an innovative solution designed to meet specific needs.” said Kevin Melton, VP, systems Latin America, Building Efficiency, Johnson Controls. “This project will help us and the Ministry of Sports to enhance the experience of Brazilian soccer fans attending games in these 12 stadiums.”

The stadium security plans and concepts meet the FIFA requirements for security at the 2014 World Cup.

Completion of the design and installation process is expected to take about a year.

In addition to the company's expertise in building technology, security solutions, building integration, energy efficiency and sustainability, Johnson Controls has been recognized for its commitment to ethics and integrity by being listed in the Brazilian government's Pro-Ethics Company Registration. This listing recognizes companies for having developed concrete actions to promote ethics, integrity and prevent corruption. Johnson Controls is one of only four companies to be named to the inaugural list.

Downtown Houston Deploys Firetide Mesh for Increased Public Safety

Editor / Provider: Firetide | Updated: 9/22/2011 | Article type: Residential & Consumer

The city of Houston has deployed Firetide's high-performance wireless mesh network as part of a Homeland Security-funded initiative to improve public safety in the downtown area. The network is a communications foundation that connects IP video cameras, located at 134 traffic intersections, allowing first responders in Houston to centrally monitor activity in the downtown area from a command center 24 x 7. With the ability to view live video feeds, it provides more virtual eyes on the streets and enables faster dispatch of officers where and when they are needed. Video feeds are also stored and can be used as effective evidence in court, reducing time and expense for prosecuting cases, saving taxpayer dollars.

The Firetide network is comprised of over 200 high-performance Firetide HotPort nodes, with just four gateways that attach to the City's fiber network, connecting 300 Axis Communications high-definition IP cameras. Each camera needs 2-3Mbps bandwidth therefore requiring the wireless network to maintain performance at close to 1Gbps.

The City of Houston Mayor's Office of Public Safety and homeland Security oversees the development of Houston's system, including the Firetide mesh project. The Public Safety Video Initiative is led by Project Manager, Julie Stroup. Her team is comprised of vendor specialists in the areas of network architecture and engineering (NWN Corporation), video system subject matter expertise and integration (Vidsys), component configuration and installation (Pfeiffer and Son), and the Houston Police Department video system manager. This multi-disciplinary team, working closely with Firetide's engineering staff, was a critical factor in the successful implementation of Houston's system. The City developed a network infrastructure that was completely independent of the existing City voice and data networks to best protect the integrity of all networks.

The team carefully evaluated communications network alternatives before selecting Firetide. Fiber was not an option as it was not already available in the area and would be too costly to install. Multiple point-to-point and mesh technology vendors were considered and evaluated; “only Firetide met the functional requirements -- performance, reliability, and scalability, for this project,” stated Stroup. “In addition, they were the only vendor that could provide customer references of other similar successful installations.”

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security funding covered the costs for the project – deployment, installation, providing long term benefits for the citizens of Houston and without impact to City budgets. “The City of Houston's public safety project highlights the need for cities across the nation to embrace and harness technology as a way to cost effectively improve community safety,” said Bo Larsson, CEO of Firetide. “We're proud to have been selected as the building block for the City's communications network and look forward to supporting them as they expand its use.”

The Firetide network in Houston is operated and maintained by the city of Houston's Police Department Technical Services Department. Teksys, market leaders in system integration services and wireless network systems, lead the design and installation of the Firetide wireless mesh network for the city.

US Port Authority Centralizes Control With CNL Management Software

Editor / Provider: CNL Software | Updated: 9/22/2011 | Article type: Infrastructure

The project consists of multiple ports in the region where container growth and capacity are expected to nearly double from a current 3.5 million containers to 6.5 million containers by 2018.

Heightened security has generated increased investment at numerous critical infrastructure sites across the country. Protecting the port from theft, activism, terrorism and all other forms of crime requires high levels of security. Over the years the port has deployed a wide range of physical security systems to address these security challenges. This latest enhancement will see all of these systems working together through the IPSecurityCenter integration and management platform, aggregating intelligence from these to increase situational awareness.

The solution will allow centralized command and control capability for all of the sites from one location. It consists of various security systems and services, including integrated and comprehensive video surveillance, wireless communications, radar, TWIC compliant access control, and a Command & Control solution for the port.

Matt Kushner, President CNL says, “We are pleased that IPSecurityCenter was selected for this critical Homeland Defense initiative. As one of the largest ports in the US and a huge contributor to the US economy, it is essential that security is World-Class. The selection of IPSecurityCenter will ensure they have consistently high levels of emergency preparedness at all times across all sites.”

Rest Assured Security and Management Practices at Hotels

Editor / Provider: a&s International | Updated: 9/22/2011 | Article type: Commercial Markets

Recent events and terrorist attacks are a solemn reminder to hoteliers and business owners alike of why they should reevaluate and reinforce their security considerations and installations.

According to Tophotelprojects.com, roughly US$200 billion have been invested in new first-class and luxury hotels globally since March 2010. Hotels are now constructed with building automation and energy-saving technologies, and around 10 percent of total construction cost is earmarked for security. The assimilation of security into total building management suggests that operations are now more complex than ever, yet require instantaneous responses.

While ensuring guests on vacation or business trips a safe and pleasant stay is one of the top priorities of hotels around the world, a number of technical and nontechnical issues need to be addressed and balanced. In this feature, a&s explores solution requirements for access control and video surveillance, hotel management mentality and concerns across the world, and how security contributes to energy-saving and cost reduction efforts in total hotel and building management.

Security needs of hotels have always been a sensitive topic that operators hesitate to talk about for obvious reasons. However, solution providers and integrators need to find out what hotel managers/operators are really looking for in procurement by understanding and offering what is technologically available based on limited budget and what more can be offered with optimized ROI.

The world hospitality security market has experienced an overall growth following the increasing demand from tourism and business travels, said Rune Venas, VP of Global Business Development, VingCard Elsafe (an Assa Abloy company). Market size continues to increase exponentially as hotels are quickly becoming easy targets for terrorist attacks and petty crimes, due to their “open policy.” Access control, on average, accounts for about 5 percent of total construction cost, with video surveillance following at 4 percent and intrusion detection at 1 percent, according to a 2010-2013 forecast by the British Building Services Research and Information Association.

Take the U.K. The market is quite mature, said Pete Stanton, Product Marketing Manager of ADT Fire & Security. “It means there are legacy systems in place already. However, there is increasing demand for an integrated approach, to bring new technologies into existing systems to address security concerns in hotels.”

In emerging markets like Asia, potential is even greater. “There are at least 70 to 80 new hotel projects we know of that are taking place in Asia,” said Patrick Lim, Director of Sales and Marketing, Ademco Far East. “Additionally, existing and older hotels are also looking to revamp themselves.”

Mark Fancourt, former VP of IT for the Pan Pacific Hotels Group, agreed. “Asia is a growth region for hospitality, with significant investment going into the hospitality space. Regional and international brands are intent on growth — more so than anywhere else in the world.”

Solution Requirements
When weighing technology investment, decisions are usually made with four factors inmind — guest comfort, safety and security, energy efficiency and cost management, said Michael Hartmann, Head of Market Development Board of Siemens One Hospitality, Siemens Building Technologies. “All are critical factors for the success of any hotel today. When hotels look at the technologies available to address one of these megatrends, implications for the other three are also part of the equation.”

The source of capital in hotel builds is often not clearly understood from the vendor's perspective. “For a hotel, more often than not, the owner is not the manager,” Fancourt explained. “Working with owners to secure investment into building these systems is challenging when considering the multiple areas where funding is required. The approach to convergence and IP-based technology is an additional challenge as the benefits are not well understood. It is not unusual to find many new buildings still being constructed using legacy coaxialbased technology, which limits the flexibility, capability and manageability of surveillance solutions.”

Fortunately, more hotels are adopting a holistic view nowadays, thinking in terms of total room automation and building solutions to better address these four key concerns through IP-based systems, Hartmann said. “In this context, a common backbone, which is increasingly IP-based, enables a true system interaction and dialog.”

Access control and video surveillance are two primary systems that hotels rely on for security management. Integration of more disparate systems can be better achieved than before, Stanton said. “The integration of hotel room locks to back-office access control and video surveillance systems is becoming a trend,” Lim added. “Traditionally, video surveillance, backroom card access and guest room systems were all separate. This created some management issues, and staff might have to carry several cards. Integration is now also extended to IP-based public-address and intercom systems, which will broadcast audio announcements and display digital messages on LEDs during an emergency such as fire or during events and promotions. Security communication systems can now be used for other aspects of business operations in addition to security.”

Other solution requirements include megapixel cameras, video analytics, encrypted off-line locks and electronic pad locks. “There is obvious growth in usage of IP-based products, including HD technology,” Stanton said. [NextPage]

Access Control
Tracking the whereabouts of guests, staff, visitors and vendors is made more accurate and secure with advanced technologies like RFID. “Hotels have shifted toward RFID-based, contactless card technology from the traditional magnetic-stripe electronic locks, because it offers additional security layers and anti-cloning technology for both guest and staff cards,” Venas said. “RFID allows hotels to track their employees and improve management and efficiency. With RFID, hotels now have a platform to mount multiple applications onto the same card, creating better valueadded services for their guests within a more secured environment.”

Wireless technology is also employed in hotels to connect all electronic locks to the central server, providing ease of holistic management, Venas added. “Room doors, corridors, conference rooms, parking lots, back alleys and office doors can all be wirelessly connected to the central server; therefore, canceling master cards, changing access parameters on the go for guests and staff, and complete remote reporting of status of electronic locks become available to management on one platform.”

Recent strides have also been made in near-field communication (NFC), such that NFC-enabled smartphones can be used as room cards to improve check-in efficiency and minimize the headaches of misplaced room cards. Industry experts believe that this development is still in its infancy, and its popularity will largely depend on how widespread smartphones are. “Smartphones already have security features like screen locks, which requires the owner's password in order to unlock,” said Steven Owen, VP of Sales Identification at NXP Semiconductors. “With a standard room card, which has no added security feature , any one could present the card to the right door and gain access . Wi th smartphones, there is at least one more level of security.”

Using personal mobile devices as room cards can bring value adds to the hotel, in both cost reduction and guest experience terms, Hartmann said. “A typical 200-room hotel can go through as many as 12,000 plastic room cards per year. With mobile devices, the risk of forgetting room cards is reduced, and guests can check in and out without going to the front desk or being charged extra if cards are lost.” This type of access does require smartphones as well as reading devices to be NFC-enabled; initial investment is, thus, an important factor to consider for hotel operators.

VingCard predicted NFC-enabled smartphones will play an increasingly important role in the second decade of this century. The first project to use this type of access control in a hotel setting actually started at the end of 2010, Venas said. “The technology has been developed with the highest security layers in terms of mobility applications, from the registration and sign-in process to secured transactions, credentials, encryption of data and transmission, and removal of encrypted room cards, as well as the operability from a user stand point.”

One drawback is risk management from an IT perspective. “Not only could guests' mobile devices easily introduce a virus onto a hotel's network, but what about the implications if this virus affects all other guests connected to the network? Who bears the liability?” Hartmann cautioned. “Similarly, while hotels can decide what content is provided through their own multimedia channels, they lose that autonomous control as soon as guests go online using their own devices. The ownership of content is moving away from the operators.”

Video Surveillance
Along the line of liability, surveillance cameras and systems are critical as they provide evidence should incidents occur. Standard video surveillance setup concentrates on strategic “choke points,” such as the lobby, corridors and elevators. Efforts are also made to maintain proper monitoring of other public areas such as conference rooms, gyms and parking lots. “Video surveillance in corridors and public areas, coupled with appropriate access control, helps deter unwanted individuals and incidents,” Stanton said.

PTZ cameras are especially in demand, as their flexibility allows hotels to put in fewer cameras when monitoring an area, making guests feel more comfortable and not under constant watch. In many cases, you want to monitor an area that is more vertical than horizontal in shape, said Nafis Jasmani, Regional Manager for ASEAN, Axis Communications . “They could be staircases or hallways. In these situations, the traditional landscape format is not the optimal solution, since it creates video streams where a large part of the field of view — specifically the sides of the image — becomes redundant. Resolution, bandwidth and storage could be wasted.”

For dark or open areas like parking lots and side corridors, low-light and multimegapixel cameras are becoming standard in hotel projects, said William Ku, Director of Brand Business, Vivotek. “ALPR is one technology recently picked up by the hotel vertical to further enhance vehicle tracking and perimeter monitoring,” Stanton added. “ALPR could be used for VIP services, and physically challenged customers can preregister their license plates for additional assistance during their stay.” Live monitoring with ALPR can be put in place to ensure that guests enter and exit vehicles safely, and for vehicle tracking later on should they leave personal belongings behind in taxis or pickup cars. VCA features such as facial recognition are currently unnecessary in most cases. [NextPage]

Management Mentality
Hotel management is largely bound by group strategies , budgetary constraints and local regulations. “The hotel market is very global in nature and driven by big multinationals and their demand,” Venas observed. “Therefore, there are no significant differences across regions, but rather across international hotel chains and small independent hotels as well as their star ratings, regardless of their location.”

Local regulations often clearly outline how much or little video coverage hotels should have. “In regions such as the Gulf, regulations make it compulsory to have extensive surveillance coverage,” said Francois Carle, VP of Hotel Solutions, Schneider Electric. “In other countries like Italy, the protection of personal privacy limits the use of cameras in public spaces.” Due to knowledge gaps i n technology availability and value propositions, many perceive security equipment, especially network video, to be more of a cost factor rather than a long-term ROI, Jasmani said. “Our focus is on facilitating the understanding and acceptance of different technologies.”

“In the hospitality industry, the building owner is very often not the operator. As such, interests vary significantly in terms of what security systems should be implemented,” Hartmann said. “Hotel operators' primary concern is protecting the hotel brand and reputation, as well as limiting potential risks or damage to the building in order to maintain business continuity. The building owner will focus on making sure the building meets local standards and building regulations, but not more. As a result, the biggest difference will arise not from variations in mentality or requirements (codes and standards), but rather through who owns the hotel building — the hotel operator or a third party.”

Thanks to volatile political situations, emerging markets tend to emphasize more on security requirements, Hartmann said. “However, there is also rising security awareness in more established markets, in part due to new global security threats, but also due to the type of travelers. For instance, women now account for up to 50 percent of business travelers in certain regions.”

Privacy Versus Safety
Striking aperfect balance between privacy and safety is an ongoing challenge for hoteliers — too many security gadgets might make guests feel conscious about their every move, while too little security coverage opens up security loopholes and do not offer guests peace of mind.

The issue is twofold, Hartmann explained. “First, it is about the transparency of guest identity, behavior, location and such that modern systems provide. Addressing this concern depends on the perception of what constitutes data necessity for the purposes of security, and this, in turn, depends on where you are in the world.” For instance, such concerns are greater in Europe than in certain emerging markets where people are more risk-aware. There is also a generation aspect to consider. “Younger guests more accustomed to engaging in social media are likely to have lower privacy expectations, and, therefore, be more open to what could be deemed by others as intrusive.”

Second, hotels need to protect the increasing amount of data they now hold on their guests, Hartmann said. “Most global hotel chains tend to have privacy policies that provide some degree of protection, but the hospitality industry still has some way to go to reach data protection levels considered acceptable in many other spheres of business activity.”

With video surveillance, the majority of guests understand and appreciate the security measures and enhancement needed at hotels, Lim said. “As long as the cameras are placed appropriately in elevators, lobbies and corridors, guests tend to want to feel safer and not less safe.”

“I can't recall a time when guests complained about heavy surveillance,” Fancourt added. “Guests understand this is for their best interest. When an incident occurs in a hotel that concerns our guests, the more information that can be used to investigate, the better — it is for the aftermath. With newer technology available, a swifter process to collect forensic evidence is now common.”

Many mid- to high-end hotels place great emphasis on interior design, and so camera exterior design becomes a deciding factor in the procurement process. “Especially in places like Europe, hotel customers favor aesthetic camera designs that fit into the elegant surroundings and offer unobtrusive yet reliable surveillance,” Ku added.

For access control of guest rooms, most hotels are moving away from simple card systems, such as magnetic or low-encryption cards, Lim said. “The more reputable hotels have concerns about the confidence level guests would have if their room cards are easily duplicable by staff or visitors.” To address such concerns, contactless cards and up-to-date RFID technologies are increasingly used for added access security and privacy. Restricted room access is beneficial in maintaining both guest privacy/security and hotel property.

Restricting and/or managing staff access to guest rooms and different areas is becoming a focal point as well. “Some access cards can be master cards, which the hotel has no audit trail over,” Lim said. However, more hotels are targeting this possible security and privacy breach. “Some hotels insist on having individually encrypted cards for their staff, so an audit trail of the time and date a housekeeping attendant entered a particular guest room can be made available.” A clear record allows hotel management to monitor and proceed with daily operations without intruding on guest privacy and provides timely response should an incident or discrepancy occur.

The second part of this feature explores the increasingly popular management shift to operating a hotel based on building automation and energy-saving principles. Security implementations that complement these requirements can help save money and boost brand/corporate responsibility image.

Access at German Pharmaceutical Wholesaler Controlled by Assa Abloy

Editor / Provider: Assa Abloy | Updated: 9/19/2011 | Article type: Commercial Markets

ILAPO, a niche pharmaceutical wholesaler, chose access control with ASSA ABLOY's EdgePlus Solo. Securing the entrance area to its facilities and complying with the security guidelines required for pharmaceutical companies in Germany.

ILAPO's customers are well-known German and international pharmaceutical research companies as well as suppliers of generic drugs and contract manufacturers. According the guidelines of the German Medicines Law, ILAPO imports international drugs not available in Germany from more than 30 countries.

ILAPO has to comply with certain guidelines for pharmaceutical companies and needed to regulate access control to its entrance area in an easy way. ASSA ABLOY Sicherheitsteknik presented the solution EdgePlus Solo – a single door access control solution that unites configuration, activation and has a user interface in a single unit. The access control solution was chosen by ILAPO due to its easy-to-use functionality and integration capabilities.

“Handling and programming are very easy and convinced us immediately,” says Sabine Fuchsberger-Paukert, General Manager of ILAPO. “The system could also be integrated into our existing alarm system and other security equipment.” The controller is installed on the inside of the entrance area, and the iClass reader is usable on the inside as well as on the outside of the building.

“The solution saves a lot of time for me personally. In the past, I permitted access for employees via the doorbell and video. Now, every one of the 35 employees has its own card and can enter the company – the alarm system is deactivated in the morning by the cleaning lady. If a card is lost, I just erase it in the system.”

England Secondary School Protected by Genetec Platform

Editor / Provider: Genetec | Updated: 9/14/2011 | Article type: Education

Genetec, a pioneer in the physical security industry and a leading provider of world-class unified IP security solutions, is proud to announce that Accrington Academy, located in Lancashire, England, has installed Genetec's state-of-the-art Omnicast video surveillance system to protect its students and staff.

Accrington Academy, a secondary school providing education for 1150 students between the ages of 11 and 18, was recently granted sponsorship from the United Learning Trust. The school's facilities were upgraded and expanded, and GRANTfen Fire & Security, a Genetec Certified Integrator located in Leyland, Lancashire, was hired to design and install a video surveillance system, providing exceptional value relative to investment. Stephen Harrison, IT and Project Manager of GRANTfen, selected Genetec's Omnicast video surveillance system to provide the Academy with the required cost-benefit ratio, as well as flexibility, open-architecture hardware freedom and scablability.

Legislation requires that Accrington Academy have knowledge of every student's whereabouts at all times, as well as the ability to ensure that all who come onto school property are intended to have access. This requires a system with no blind spots, providing visual coverage for every corner of the school. To fulfill this need, the Academy's Omnicast system incorporates 151 cameras connected to two Dell archivers. In addition to mainting safety for students, Omnicast protects valuable technical equipment used for courses in ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) against theft or vandalism.

"We recognize that student safety is of the utmost importance when trying to foster academic excellence,” says Cavan Kendall, UK National Sales Manager at Genetec. “So we have taken great care to ensure our IP security solutions help teachers, principals and school boards accomplish their safety and security objectives. Accrington Academy has taken exemplary initiative to make sure their students and staff feel safe at all times and we are happy to have been able to help.”

The Academy has enabled Web client monitoring for their system, which allows teachers and administrators on campus to easily monitor or review footage at any time from their desk, aiding in resolution of disputes and parent inquiries about incidents. Additionally, administrators have found the Mapping feature, providing instantaneous visual understanding of a camera's location, to be particularly useful in aiding a swift response to any potential event.

Accrington Academy was also able to integrate Omnicast with their intrusion detection system. When the school is closed, a web of infrared sensors monitor the entire perimeter of the building. When any of the sensors are disrupted, an alert including data on location of the breach is sent to Omnicast, which alerts an offsite monitoring company. The offsite responders can view video footage and use campus speakers to address intruders. This integration has helped the Academy to develop a complete solution, incorporating all surveillance initiatives within one platform.

The Academy's Omnicast installation has been able to provide confidence that students and facilities are secure at all times, while still promising smooth adaptation as the school's needs evolve. “One of the major advantages of selecting Omnicast is the flexibility it has provided. With this system, we use the cameras we can afford now, and can always upgrade in the future when additional funds become available. It's been a really good system for us,” said Will Ames, Director of Business and Operations at Accrington Academy.

For more information, visit genetec.com.

Alarm Monitoring Improves Awareness Through More Services

Editor / Provider: a&s International | Updated: 9/15/2011 | Article type: Tech Corner

Alarm monitoring is one of the oldest security businesses. When away from one's home or business, alarm monitoring offers the reassurance of knowing someone is vigilantly standing by. Should the worst happen — fire, broken window or intrusion — professionals will have taken the appropriate response. The right authorities will be notified by alarm monitoring operators, providing peace of mind.

Global security monitoring revenues totaled about US$40 billion, according to First Research in a July report. This encompasses residential and commercial alarm monitoring. Europe and the U.S. are the largest security system markets, dominated by ADT Security Services, Securitas and G4S.

Effective alarm monitoring requires a stable infrastructure, robust enough to not miss a single signal. However, wired or wireless transmission media provide unique benefits and drawbacks. Redundancy depends on multiple technologies. Signal priority makes sense of which alarms are most important. The majority of alarms are false, wasting the time and resources of law enforcement and other first responders. Newer systems have the infrastructure to support audio or video monitoring as secondary verification. However, these systems require more bandwidth or a complete system overhaul, as more customers rely on mobile devices.

Our coverage explores alarm monitoring for commercial and residential applications. We explore the market potential for each, along with key technology developments, usage issues and challenges. While there is no single solution, a successful one combines people, processes and technology to solve problems quickly.

For business owners, alarm monitoring offers unbeatable value for securing assets. a&s examines the market conditions for commercial monitoring, as well as technology trends and usage issues.

The commercial market dominates the alarm monitoring landscape . “Growth rates are highest for commercial applications where there are more significant cost savings to be made by outsourcing monitoring services or replacing or augmenting guard services with monitoring,” said Ewan Lamont , Market Analyst at IMS Research. “Overall market growth, for residential and commercial services combined, is forecast to be approximately 4.2 percent CAGR.”

Alarm monitoring is largely concentrated in the U.S. and Europe. The security systems services industry in the U.S. includes about 5,000 companies with combined annual revenues of US$15 billion, according to First Research. However, the 50 largest companies generate 60 percent of the US industry's revenue. China issued alarm-monitoring regulations in 2010, but monitoring centers are largely operated by the police, except for private centers run by Secom in Beijing and ADT in Shanghai.

Growth in the commercial sector is driven by new office construction, which has slowed due to economic conditions. “On the commercial side of things, new businesses are opening at a slower pace, which hurts that market,” said Gary Perlin, Director of CCTV Products, Tri-Ed/ Northern Video Distribution.

“There is still a healthy market for retrofitting existing systems with new technology like IP-based systems.”

Commercial accounts had less attrition compared to residential ones, said Morgan Hertel, VP and GM for Mace Central Station. Its business is split 65:35 between commercial and residential alarm monitoring.

Demand remains strong for alarm monitoring, as customers look for higher levels of performance, convenience and simplification of technologies. “This industry has been on a very consistent growth path for around 20 years, even performing well in difficult economic times,” said Rich Hewitt, Director of Commercial Sales for Protection One. Commercial monitoring offers more options beyond fire and security alarms. Some businesses monitor crucial equipment, such as freezer temperatures or power supply to industrial air pumps for fish farms or aquariums, said Tye-San Yap, GM of Certis Cisco Security, a Singaporean security service provider. If alarms are triggered for equipment, operators will notify the customer, saving on downtime.

Remote Video Monitoring
As monitoring stations improve their infrastructure, video is becoming more accessible. This helps for secondary verification of alarm signals, reducing the number of false alarms. Video monitoring is one of the fastest growing services in remote monitoring, worth nearly $250 million in the Americas and EMEA in 2009. “Everybody is a winner with remote video monitoring services,” Lamont said. “Alarm dealers can make bigger margins on remote video services compared to alarm monitoring, as well as generating revenue from increased equipment sales, installation and maintenance.”

Xtralis recently acquired German HeiTel Digital Video for its remote video monitoring, demonstrating its potential. Xtralis' annual growth in the video monitoring market is expected to exceed 10 to 15 percent in the years to come, said Kim Loy, Deputy GM of Global Security, Xtralis. [NextPage]

Government Monitoring
City surveillance projects are a perfect fit for alarm and video monitoring, with a team on standby to respond in time. The London Borough of Bexley selected Siemens Building Technologies to run its town center monitoring center. Siemens performed all video surveillance services and took over the operating center in April 2010. The Borough of Bexley became London's safest borough this February, up from fifth place. Video monitoring is more efficient and has increased the amount of evidence provided to the police by 17 percent, according to Siemens Building Technologies in a prepared statement. Camera downtime has also been reduced, with asset ability running at 99.8 percent.

Public space surveillance operators must be licensed by the UK government through the Security Industry Authority. This ensures operators are competent to undertake their role and includes criminal record checks. “Considering town center schemes , a key trend is the rollout of virtual matrix solutions,” said Tony Allen, Chairman of the Security Equipment Manufacturers Section, British Security Industry Association. “The advantage here is that these are able to seamlessly bring together geographically dispersed digital and analog equipment, from multiple locations, allowing control room operators using a map-based graphical user interface to point and click on a specific areas so incidents can be tracked and dealt with in a timely manner.”

Registering Alarms
An alarm center is all about getting the signals. Most signaling communication is usually by public switched telephone networks (PSTN), as it is the cheapest option, said Brian Kelly, MD of Bold Communications, a provider of alarm-monitoring software. “However IP/GPRS is becoming more popular, as it is more secure and can save money.”

Commercial sites can opt for either phone lines or IP, but insurance requirements typically mandate higher-grade connections — at least Grade 3 or 4 — with dual paths, Kelly said.

Lamont added both IP and cellular communications are relatively well-established transmission methods, but one is yet to rise above the other for alarm monitoring. .

Redundancy can be done in a number of ways, to make sure alarms are not missed. ADT operates two alarm-receiving centers in Manchester that are each large enough to house all staffers, should something happen to either building. “Each has two telephone providers into the building,” said Dominic White, Head of the UK Customer Service Centre, ADT Security Services, which covers the U.K. and Ireland. “If British Telecom goes down, a signal could go in on another provider.” .

Both sites have diesel generators connected to uninterruptible power supplies, along with servers duplicated across sites, to keep downtime to a minimum. “If you take an alarm signal from your home, that alarm presents to both alarm-receiving centers, then the system decides which center takes the alarm,” White said. “So we have no single point of failure to the customer.” .

Redundancy also featured into Mace's central station, which receives signals from three different telecom providers, as well as copper and fiber signals on a gigabit network. “We invested heavily on a platform to take all the things that might come in,” Hertel said. The platform supports alarm monitoring, along with medical monitoring and geolocation devices from vehicles. .

Once the alarm reaches the monitoring center, operators must decide how to respond. Signals from sites will be verified and filtered before reporting them to police, Yap said. The majority of signals sent from a monitored site are not true alarms, but usually warnings about low battery, AC failure or sensor trouble. [NextPage]

Answering Alarms
A primary alarm-monitoring duty is notifying the authorities. However, the last thing first responders want is to pull up, only to find an alarm was tripped by the wind. Alarm-monitoring operators review alarms to eliminate false ones, before passing that information on to the police. “In the U.K., it's two strikes and you're out,” White said. “If the police are called more than twice, then the police will withdraw services from that site. For every false alarm, there will be an action. We may contact the customer for additional training or additional delays. We might change where the alarms or sensors are to better suit them.”

The majority of agencies do not require any other verification from the alarm; they just go to the event. “That being said, a number of agencies are working toward requiring video verification,” Hertel said. “Certain fines are starting to get levied.”

Most information sent from the central station to the authorities, such as 911 centers in the U.S., rely on phone calls. “This in itself is a time-consuming event, prone to human error,” said Joe Sanchez, Senior VP of Customer Operations for Protection One. “Additionally, protocol and standardization vary from agency to agency. Central stations traditionally attempt to standardize; however, their overall success rate is dependent on the responding agency.”

Much of the industry is several years behind the latest technology. “A number of agencies have considered and implemented electronic relay, which is still in the testing phase with select monitoring centers,” said Craig Pyle, Product Development Manager, Vivint.

Some cities are adopting standards of communication between alarm-monitoring centers and emergency operators. Houston was the first city to adopt the Automated Secure Alarm Protocol, which is estimated to save $1 million to $2 million annually by successfully transferring data and reducing the number of traditional phone dispatches. “Based on the electronic solution, the standardization in process and data verification required to transmit emergency information is done expeditiously and virtually error-free,” Sanchez said.

Secondary verification reduces false alarms significantly. “In U.K., every customer who wants a police response must register with the police agency to provide their information to the police,” Kelly said. “If there is video surveillance associated with the alarm, the details, including the video alarm clip, can be sent to the police. If it was a lone-worker alarm triggered, the audio data would be forwarded to the police.”

Alarm Priority
In general, fire and panic signals are given priority over standard burglary and trouble signals. “Programming the alarm and the panel, combined with the technology at the central station, is the key in defining alarm signal transmissions,” Sanchez said. “Manufacturers and industry standards, based on the type of installation being monitored, dictate the response time.”

ADT's alarm-receiving centers prioritize alarms by type. “We deal with 95 percent of fire alarms in 30 seconds,” White said. “For intruder alarms, 95 percent are handled within 60 seconds and personal attack is broadly similar. They're standards we adhere to in the U.K.”

Software Developments
Monitoring center software has to handle a wide range of signals, be scalable and display alarm data in a comprehensible format to operators. As operators interact with software and hardware on a daily basis, a good solution needs to be flexible and account for human usage.

Mace's central station manages alarms for 500 dealers, who service 75,000 subscribers. It customizes the work flow up-front, so operators who respond to emergency call will answer in the dealer's name. “We're more customized than anything else,” Hertel said. “A lot of things the dealer decides up front, then he can change them online through the Web portal. He can update the work flow or change something on an account.”

A system health check can ensure products are up and running, such as IP line monitoring, Loy said. This can cover fire and gas detection, access control, intrusion, and video analytics for commercial users.

The wakefulness of the operators can be programmed into the software with randomized prompts. “If someone is at the third shift at 3 a.m., they have 30 seconds to respond on the keyboard to know if they're there,” said Christopher Brackett, GM of AlarmSoft. “If the operator fails to check in, the system sends an email or text to the central station manager. If a fire alarm comes in and the operator's asleep with no response for 90 seconds, the software will take over.” [NextPage]

Real-Life Usage
Alarm monitoring is expressly designed for worst-case scenarios. Business owners understand that their premises are secured by a remote team, even when no one is in the office.

Large alarm centers are best equipped to deal with emergencies, with greater consolidation of smaller dealers or control rooms. When ADT bought Broadview in 2010, it estimated it would take 18 months for integration, including upgrading the central station software platform. “In the case of alarm central stations, the software has been uniquely written to meet specific needs,” Perlin said. “Even two stations operating on the same platform will have enough unique code written into their software to make integration a challenge.”

While it is possible to support legacy systems, they are more difficult to service. “As a system ages, the ability to run remote diagnostics and dial into a panel to fix it is limited,” White said. “We have to dispatch engineers more frequently. It's harder to pull reports, but we still do it.”

On-Site Reporting
Some large commercial users, such as chain stores, may have their own security control room. Alarm monitoring can still play a role in alerting on-site personnel about a situation. “On-site control rooms are unique to specific applications,” Sanchez said. “Even in these scenarios remote central stations can act as a ‘hot' backup. If you are using a remote control room, tasks such as responding to an event with an on-site guard are easily assigned and managed within the central station software. Additionally, any routine or nonroutine follow-up can be accomplished from the remote location as the on-site control room is handling the event.”

Duress alarms can be received off-site, then verified by on-site operators, Yap said.

A retailer with multiple stores may use off-site alarm monitoring to alert security personnel, rather than the shop owner. “If an alarm goes off at night, we will call their security desk,” White said. “They will invoke their own security procedures.”

Building Good Solutions
Selecting hardware and software for alarm stations means the solutions have to run reliably around the clock. “Monitoring stations must use the highest-grade equipment due to the 24/7 nature of their operations,” Perlin said. Consumer-grade TV sets will not be able to deal with heat and power surges that will occur during continuous operation. Professional displays should be bright, have sufficient resolution and accept multiple inputs.

Systems should be modular for smoother integration, rather than one-time customizations that are expensive. “The key thing is people should use industry-standard equipment,” Kelly said. “Most products are not built with the interface because manufacturers want their own advantages and don't think about integration until it's an issue.”

Alarm-monitoring software needs to be configurable and scalable. The software cannot present complexity to the operator. “You have to support product that might be very old,” Kelly said. “It might be used for 20 years — we still have twisted-pair technology we support. But to the operator, it has to be seamless.” [NextPage]

Training
As commercial alarm monitoring does more, it increases the learning curve for operators. Large customers with a national presence are moving toward IP, which provides more information. “They can more specifically tie down when an alarm was activated, which tends to be much more descriptive,” White said. “They use it for more than security.”

“With the offering of the ‘added services,' dealers are talking about having problems with training their staff,” Lamont said. “The majority of the problem reportedly is more in terms of retraining the sales staff to better understand a company's new offering, allowing the sales teams to present the services to a customer in an effective manner.”

Continuous learning is required to keep up with new technology. “Operators have to be trained on how to use a new operating system; engineers have to learn how to integrate different hardware platforms and tech support people have to learn a new way of thinking about problems in the field,” Perlin said. “Even the installers might sometimes have to learn an entire new set of hardware to do a simple service call.”

Different management levels will require different amounts of training. “Operator training is not a big deal; the more challenging area is administrator training,” Kelly said. “It's like having a business management system like SAP — you go through a process of the software vendor asking what you want to do.”

Generating Profit
Cutting down on false alarms is a big cost saver for managing infrastructure costs. “Some customers are quite high-risk, such as travel agents or betting offices, where they hold cash,” Kelly said. “They get attacked on a daily basis and need to make sure the system works.”

Another way to recoup investments is through environmental monitoring to save energy on lighting and HVAC. “If a building has no people in it, there is legislation written to reduce lighting and heat,” Kelly said. “Switching those devices off could be a cost saver.”

The right mix of people, processes and technology makes the difference between a good and great alarm-monitoring solution. At the top of the list is connectivity, with redundancy built-in, to make sure no alarm is unanswered. A robust platform prioritizes the most urgent alarms, allowing operators to understand what is happening. Finally, dispatching the right people to respond means a clear process is needed.

In the next article, we explore the residential alarm-monitoring market and its migration toward home automation.

New York New WTC Transportation Hub to be Protected by Verint IP Video

Editor / Provider: Verint Systems | Updated: 9/13/2011 | Article type: Infrastructure

Verint Systems announced that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) awarded Verint Video Intelligence Solutions with a security contract in July 2011 for which it will supply IP video solutions to the World Trade Center (WTC) Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) Transportation Hub. Slated to open in 2014, the WTC Transportation Hub will make Lower Manhattan the third-largest transportation center in New York and will re-establish the transportation facilities and infrastructure that existed at the WTC complex prior to September 11, 2001. The Port Authority will implement the Verint Nextiva security solution across such critical areas as entrances, exits, platforms, and electrical and telecommunications rooms to increase situational awareness, improve preparedness, and enhance passenger safety and the security of facilities.

Over the past several years, PANYNJ has deployed Verint video solutions at key facilities, including the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels, the George Washington Bridge, the New Jersey PATH system, and AirTrain JFK. In cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Federal Transit Administration, PANYNJ is building a new WTC 800,000-square-foot transportation hub. The facility is designed to accommodate 250,000 pedestrians per day and will feature underground pedestrian connections to locations on and around the WTC site, Hudson River ferry terminals, the World Financial Center, PATH trains, 13 subway lines, and the proposed JFK rail link.

Verint, together with its integration partner Diebold, Incorporated, will deliver the robust security system to help deter crime and enhance the safety of this state-of-the-art facility.

Once implemented, the Verint Nextiva IP video portfolio will enable PANYNJ to capture high-quality video images, optimize bandwidth and storage utilization, leverage flexible video search capabilities, and benefit from programmable video retention and storage. As a result, the organization is expected to achieve a more complete and accurate view of activity and operations.

"We are delighted to have been awarded this contract with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey," says Elan Moriah, President, Verint Video Intelligence Solutions and Verint Witness Actionable Solutions. "We believe that the Port Authority's decision to further extend its Nextiva deployment at the new World Trade Center transportation hub is indicative of both the strength of our solutions and Verint's ongoing commitment to help secure our nation's critical infrastructure."

Russian Market Booms With Oil Prices

Editor / Provider: The Editorial Team | Updated: 9/13/2011 | Article type: Hot Topics

The Russian market remains subject to fluctuating oil prices, a harsh reality in a global economy. While the economic recession made its mark, Russia is seeing renewed market activity in the public and private sectors, attracting players from all over the world.

Russia is the largest country in the world, covering more than an eighth of Earth's inhabited land mass. The vast nation attracts global players with its strong growth opportunities, natural resources and untapped potential. Russia enjoyed nine straight years of growth, from 2000 to 2008, as part of the BRIC bloc with Brazil, India and China.

The economic crisis dealt a crippling blow to growth. “Revenue dropped in 2009 for the whole market,” said Maria Satunovskaya, Head of CCTV Department for Vidau Systems, a distributor for EverFocus Electronics. “People think the Russian market did not drop much officially, but we are sure the Russian market lost around 30 percent.”

Others reported even steeper drops of 50 percent in 2009, said Kubysheva Ekaterina, Business Development Director of Grandprix, a distributor. However, growth went up in 2010 and should continue into 2011.

Many projects were delayed in 2009, but were back online in 2010. “We have business we didn't get in 2009 because many government projects were frozen for the financial situation,” said Stanislav Guchia, General Director of Axis Communications. “This year, we had a terror attack at the airport, which was terrible. Many different organizations decided to improve security.” Demand continues for security solutions, albeit more affordable ones. “The Russian market now is about the same size as before the recession, or about equal to 2008 levels,” said Andrei Subbotin, Deputy Director of Sales and Marketing for Skyros, a VMS provider. “Demand is increasing not only for cheaper products but for middle- and high-priced products as well.”

However, returning to prerecession sales may be a long way off for the whole Russian economy. “With the general tendency for market recovery, it will be two or four years before the market completely recovers,” Satunovskaya said.

MARKET DRIVEN BY OIL
Oil prices remain a key benchmark of growth for Russia, which translates into an optimistic economic outlook. “The Russian economic situation directly reflects the oil price,” said Hiroaki Yamauchi, Chief Representative of CBC. “The oil price is going up to more than US$100 a barrel.” Threats also drive security uptake. “People invest in security because the crime rate is getting higher,” said Alexey Uretskiy, Commercial Director of Akvilona, a distributor for Samyung and Nuvico.

GROWTH VERTICALS
Moscow is undeniably Russia's locus of power. “Nearly 90 percent of the money is concentrated in Moscow's central government or corporate offices,” said Vadim Makarov, CCTV Products Supervisor, B&I Department for CJSC Sony Electronic. “Even if the project is in Siberia, the money goes to Moscow.”

Even Russia's second-largest city, St. Petersburg, is dwarfed in comparison. “The St. Petersburg market is about 40 to 50 percent the size of Moscow's,” Subbotin said. “Moscow has 10 million people, while St. Petersburg has 4.5 million people. Moscow is the capital and the economic center.”

However, the capital's strategic location makes it vulnerable to threats. January's suicide bombing at the Moscow airport left 35 dead and 100 wounded. In response to the attack, more government spending has been allocated for public transportation. “An urgent matter in Russia is to provide safety and security on public transport after the terrorist acts,” Satunovskaya said. This includes mobile DVRs onboard buses and police vehicles.

Transportation is Russia's top market,according to Guchia. Along with public transportation such as railways, airports are also deploying more video surveillance.

CITY SURVEILLANCE
Public monitoring is increasing as part of the response to terrorism. Bloomberg reported a possible Moscow surveillance project, covering 95 percent of apartment buildings and 75 percent of infrastructure by 2016. The project would be worth $11.7 billion, including online services for residents. While the project has yet to be finalized, it represents a significant boost for video surveillance spending. Along with Moscow, neighboring Ukraine is also implementing city surveillance, Guchia said. ITV, best known for its AxxonSoft VMS, has established a firm presence in Russian city surveillance. “Our biggest project to date is 175,000 cameras in one system with 10,000 servers,” said Evgenia Ostrovskaya, Global Business Development Director of ITV. The project started in 2003, growing from 5,000 cameras to many times that amount. As more projects are slated, public monitoring represents a booming market segment for Russian security.  [NextPage]

PETROCHEMICAL FACILITIES
Oil is a lucrative business, requiring effective security to guard precious resources. “Oil-related projects in Siberia grew,” said Yoichiro Akahane, Manager of the Project Department for Panasonic Russia. “We delivered a huge shipment for cameras for oil factories.”

Fire solutions are essential for oil and gas projects, which are deployed by Gazprom, said Natalia Novikova, Marketing and PR Manager for ADT Security Solutions. Remote monitoring is also required for pipelines, Ostrovskaya said.

COMMERCIAL
Retail is deploying more security solutions, such as EAS. Retail represents about 80 to 85 percent of ADT Security Solutions' Russian sales, said Alexey Novikov, Sales Manager.

Russian consumers are making retail a top market, filling malls and outlets. “There are more than 15 big shopping centers in Moscow,” Makarov said.

Financial institutions are deploying video surveillance for bank branches and ATMs, although there are no specific mandates governing the amount or type of equipment. One bank is deploying ITV solutions at more than 2,000 ATMs for remote monitoring, Ostrovskaya said.

Retail and private systems are expected to deploy more cameras and alarm systems, said Lev Kabanov, Project Manager for LUIS+Center Security Systems. “People, rather than the government, have more money to spend on security.”

SPORTING EVENTS
Russia will host a number of global athletic events in the next 10 years, requiring a significant security presence at multiple venues. The 2013 World University Games will take place in Kazan, while the 2014 Winter Olympic Games will be in Sochi. Russia will also kick off the 2018 World Cup at several strategic cities.

Each event yields strong potential for security providers. A total of 13 stadiums will deploy Bosch solutions for the World Cup, said Christoph Hampe, Country Director for Bosch Security Systems. Cameras are already being installed at the Winter Olympic venues, said Yamauchi of CBC.

MARKET TRENDS
Russia has a large existing base of analog installations, making IP inroads tough. While network video vendors have certainly tried to change market perceptions, government mandates for real-time images have spurred uptake. “In this time, network cameras became more popular,” Ekaterina said.

IP market growth estimates range from 10 to 40 percent. Axis Communications is No. 1 for network camera market share in Russia, representing a whopping 50 percent of cameras based on local analysis, Guchia said. “Now the IP penetration is 15 percent. Growth in IP is much higher in Russia than in Europe.”

Russian demand is growing for both IP and analog solutions, but IP is growing more rapidly. “The market in Russia is growing, despite some difficulties due to the economy,” Makarov said. “I think IP growth is about 25 to 30 percent, while analog is 15 to 20 percent.”

Local manufacturers are gearing up for IP demand. “We will have our own network camera this summer with video analysis,” said Evgenij Eroshin, Marketing Director of Byterg CCTV Systems.

IP uptake is poised to grow, with the tipping point expected to be reached in five years. “But today for our customers, analog is more popular,” Novikova said. “Cost is the main factor.”

Network infrastructure is also limited outside of Tier One cities such as Moscow. Internet access is limited in remote areas in the north, Ekaterina said. [NextPage]

RUGGED CAMERAS
Climate conditions in Russia are not always kind to security equipment. Outdoor cameras are required to operate in subzero temperatures, requiring tough cameras. The heaters that keep the cameras from freezing usually make cameras a drain on power.

Local vendors have designed low-power outdoor cameras expressly for the Russian climate. “It operates in temperatures as low as -50 degrees Celsius,” Eroshin said. Vandal-proof models are also in demand, using polycarbonate housings to withstand tough knocks.

INTEGRATION
High-level integration remains rare in Russia, for instances of deeply integrating multiple systems such as video surveillance, access control, intrusion and fire safety. While large multinationals may have complex integration, most local companies keep security systems separated in their respective niches, Guchia said.

This was particularly glaring during the investigation of the January Moscow attack. When the authorities tried to reconstruct the events, they found three agencies were responsible for airport security. “They were absolutely independent and had no connection,” Guchia said.

Open platforms are being developed to break down barriers to communication. ITV tries to integrate as many manufacturers as it can, including video surveillance, access control and fire, so operators can choose equipment that best suit their needs, Ostrovskaya said.

HD-SDI
Russia's large analog base makes HD-SDI or HDcctv solutions a good fit. While the technology is currently too expensive, it holds potential. “I think HD will be a good competitor to IP,” said Vladimir Osipov, VP of Satro-Paladin Security Systems. “But I don't see high demand in Russia.”

Some limitations remain, such as CMOS low-light imaging issues. “If the technology produces something that gives us high-resolution video for low-lux situations, that will be good for Russia,” Ekaterina said. Other issues include limited storage options and transmission constraints for HD-SDI.

SI AND VMS PLAYERS ENTER DISTRIBUTION
Channels in Russian security are still developing. While IP and software distribution is still in its infancy, some system integrators and VMS providers have stepped into this niche. One VMS provider has a distribution arm which sells hardware to its system integrators, who perform the installation. This distribution branch offers computers and cameras along with VMS , making it a one-stop shop. It does not conflict with major distributors, as they have existing relationships with system integrators, while its installers work in a different niche.

LOCAL PRODUCTION
More local production is done in Russia. Brands such as Byterg became No. 1 for camera market share in 2010. Other manufacturers include control panel and building automation manufacturer Bolid, as well as software providers EVS and ITV.

Byterg makes 40 different models of cameras, along with distributing Samsung and CNB products, Eroshin said. However, its own-brand products make up most of its sales.

Bolid started out with fire and intrusion alarms 20 years ago, then progressed to access control and video surveillance. “Our position is that everything should work together,” said Igor Babanov, CEO of NVP Bolid. “Fire alarms should work with access control to open doors. We began integrating video surveillance in 2005 when we migrated toward software.” [NextPage]

BUYING BEHAVIOR
The recession made buyers more careful about their purchases. In the past, government projects almost always used top brands. After the economic crisis, more of that investment is shifting toward the mid- to low-end. “For government projects, their priority is cost,” said Yamauchi of CBC. “If the project has enough budget, they are concerned about quality and functions.”

While buyers are more cautious, they are still concerned about quality. Branded products are preferred over unknown or Chinese products. “They buy brand names like Bosch or made-in-Japan ones,” Yamauchi said.

Even though branded product sales are picking up, there remains demand for good price performance. In light of this emphasis, top brands are rushing to produce midrange products that hit the price sweet spot. “We introduced this year our new portfolio for the midpriced range,” Hampe said. This includes cameras that start from 120 euros. “Bosch is competitive on midpriced products. It's recreated from high-end solutions.”

Panasonic has also launched a midend line for IP and analog solutions, along with modules and components for local manufacturers. “After the crisis, the government hesitated to spend so much,” Akahane said. “The majority of the market changed to the midend products. Most of our customers were government users, and now their budgets have shrunk. This is true even for private customers, such as banks.”

While brands dominated in the beginning, a growing demand for value leaves room for Korean players priced in the midrange. “People are considering value much more thoroughly,” said Christophe Guillot, EMEA Marcom Manager, Honeywell Security. “They want to get more value for the same money in the past. We have three-in-one or four-in-one solutions as more economic options.”

LOCALIZATION
Success in Russia means mastering the Russian language. Breaking into the market means translating all materials into the Cyrillic alphabet. Sales and support staff must be local, with different regions requiring multiple branches nationwide.

ITV expanded to 10 offices throughout Russia last year. “Every strategy in each office is different,” Ostrovskaya said. “We from headquarters support them but we don't dictate how they do things. “We support, watch and help them for localization and features,” Ostrovskaya said. “Some features are popular in one country but not another. We need industry people who can understand the needs of the customer.”

Bosch provides a Russian 24-hour hotline for technical support. “It doesn't matter if you call from Vladivostok at 8 or from Moscow at 10,” Hampe said. Grandprix's distribution network extends throughout Russia, requiring Web media such as webinars and teleconferencing to span vast distances. “The Internet is necessary for many companies because this country is very big and people need to understand our products,” Ekaterina said.

However, being local is not enough to succeed. Distributors or manufacturers must spend time with clients to build trust and develop a good reputation, Kabanov said.

While low prices are attractive, cultivating customer relationships requires continued support and mutual trust. “If any company tries to steal from another company, it will be known very soon,” Osipov said. “The security market in Russia is stable because we trust each other.”

Local Russian distributors maintain close relationships regardless of their business dealings. “For me, a competitor is a good friend,” Osipov said. “We are very friendly and ready to hear from each other if we have any business problems.”

Since some distributors carry the same brands, business is bound to overlap. However, Russian distributors do not aim to drive their competitors out of business. “It's not fierce competition as it is with Korean brands, who hate each other, like Samsung and LG,” Osipov said. “Russians are different. They are not involved in these products and don't get angry with each other.”

The Russian market is not for fly-by-night companies out to make a quick buck. It requires hands-on communication with partners and customers. Fair and honest dealings will reward providers who are committed to stay for the long term.