A dashboard is the interface where users access security information and manage incidents. At ISC West, several companies showcased unified control and monitoring platforms, which have gained popularity among those looking to manage all of a building’s security from a single interface.
A dashboard is the interface where users access security information and manage incidents. At ISC West, several companies showcased unified control and monitoring platforms, which have gained popularity among those looking to manage all of a building’s security from a single interface.
Large enterprises have to deal with
massive sensor systems that pull together data from different types of technologies, such as cameras, doors, temperature sensors, street lights and traffic systems.
“What we find as our customers grow, and what they are finding, is that actually making sense of all those sensors is almost impossible, because you can’t actually effectively take action when you have so much data always coming toward you,” said Andrew Elvish, Vice President of Marketing at
Genetec. “Dealing with sensors at scale” was therefore needed, he said.
At ISC West, Genetec unveiled its Security Center dashboard, which unifies the presentation of video surveillance, access control, and
license plate recognition (LPR) data for enterprise clients.
The dashboard processes all the data and then generates information that is useful. Companies can also customize Security Center’s user interface so that “it speaks to the needs of their business,” Elvish said.
Visualizing the information on a dashboard is also important. “You can actually see bar graphs which surface data a lot more quickly,” Elvish pointed out. This type of display is much more useful than a set of numbers or incidents.
A dashboard may also allow users to assess the level of system resilience against cyberthreats. Security Center, for example, tracks each system’s compliance with security guidelines, firmware availability and updates, password strength and other aspects of cybersecurity. A security score is then produced.
The score on the dashboard is constantly reviewed and fluctuates based on the system’s changing level of security resilience. Areas for security improvement will also be shown. “This will enable users to get a better understanding of the cybersecurity risks they face and enable them to take the necessary steps to harden their system,” Genetec said.
Easy-to-use interface
Many firms have placed an emphasis on providing easy-to-use interfaces. Video management solution provider
Arteco showcased its new OMNIA user interface designed for Windows. Accessible via desktop or tablet, the map on the screen will show the location of an event, such as fires or movement. Users are then able to manage incidents on the map. It also it gives security operators immediate access to events like someone walking into a house.
Similar to Genetec, Arteco said it aims to provide “fast and simplified access to information.” Graphic acceleration and multimonitor displays allow operators to manage views from high-resolution cameras and minimize video monitoring complexity, Arteco said.
Like Genetec’s dashboard, Arteco’s OMNIA provides system health monitoring in addition to real-time push notifications when incidents are detected.
Integration has also been a trend. Vincenzo Colaprice, Marketing Manager of Arteco, said the OMNIA user interface can be used together with all types of cameras, including those from big names like Bosch and Axis Communications, and all sorts of third party devices. "Different systems are connected in just one user interface to offer a made-to-measure experience of control and security,” he said.