Facit Data Systems launches new website to showcase video analytics portfolio

Since its inauguration five years ago, Facit Data Systems has grown to become one of the market’s foremost providers of video analytics and compliance software. Now, the company has launched an all-new website designed to showcase its solutions for end users.

A host of operators are maximising organisations’ CCTV investments by generating business intelligence to improve sales, staffing efficiency, customer experience, safety and compliance.

Facit Data Systems’ People Counter, Queue Manager and Heat Map solutions operate cost-effectively over installed CCTV cameras and are system agnostic. Identity Cloak auto redaction software launched in 2018 to help Facit Data Systems’ customers comply with strict General Data Protection Regulation guidelines for video data.

The new Facit Data Systems website reflects the business’ work with the UK’s largest brands in retail, banking, healthcare and public space, as well as its partnerships with some of the world’s most trusted specialists.

*Visit the new Facit Data Systems website

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TDSi appoints new channel partner manager for Northern England and Scotland

Integrated security solutions manufacturer TDSi welcomes Gwen Curran to the business as its new channel partner manager (North). Curran’s role is a pivotal one in TDSi’s ongoing relationship with its channel partners in Northern England and Scotland.

John Davies, managing director of TDSi, commented: “Channel partners are a lifeblood for TDSi and we have a close working relationship with them as we build our business together. We’re very pleased to welcome Gwen to this highly important role. She will be a key contact for our channel partners across the North.”

Reflecting upon her new position, Curran commented: “My new role means I will be working closely with leading channel partners in the North to grow awareness of our full access control offer supported by the wider TDSi integrated security portfolio. I’ll be here to support our installation partners with all of their TDSi needs, but equally to support their business with end users and grow joint revenue overall.”

Gwen Curran: joining the team at TDSi

Curran’s career in the security industry started in 2004 when she joined Norbain, working as an internal account manager with the distributor for over a decade. Across those ten years, Curran worked with leading manufacturers on a range of security systems and products including CCTV, IP solutions, access control, gate automation and intruder alarm systems.

In 2013, Curran joined the Risco Group before taking on her new role at TDSi. 

Continued Curran: “Access control is an element of the security industry that’s growing at a rapid pace and, as part of the TDSi team, I aim to be an integral part of this vibrant sector. As a leading British security solutions manufacturer, TDSi’s systems are at the heart of many exciting projects, which often include close integration with many other leading brands and manufacturers.”

Curran concluded: “I’m looking forward to working alongside our channel partners and to being a key part of TDSi’s rich ongoing history and helping to grow the business.”

ONVIF hosts 20th Developers’ Plugfest in Tokyo

ONVIF, the global standardisation initiative for IP-based physical security products, recently hosted its 20th Developers’ Plugfest in Tokyo. It’s a milestone that, the organisation believes, firmly emphasises the continued growth and demand for interoperable solutions.

Developers and engineers from 22 ONVIF member companies gathered at the three-day event to test their implementations of ONVIF Profiles with other ONVIF Profile-conformant products. Developers can test their products independently for Profile conformance, as well as test for interoperability between their devices and those developed by other manufacturers.

With 47 members testing their implementations of the six ONVIF Profiles, attendees logged nearly 250 hours of testing. In addition to Profile interoperability tests, all ONVIF clients had the opportunity to test using the ONVIF Device/Client Test Tool. From there, attendees were able to discuss with Test Tool developers any issues that arose during conformance testing.

“The continued level of engagement from our member companies at what’s now our 20th Developers’ Plugfest showcases the importance of interoperability to the industry at large,” said Per Björkdahl, chair of the ONVIF Steering Committee. “As new Profiles are developed to meet ever-changing market needs, it’s more important than ever for companies to collaborate and exchange ideas to create the best new conformant technologies possible.”

ONVIF Developers’ Plugfests are held twice each year around the world to enable the global ONVIF membership to gather for testing of their implementations. The next Developers’ Plugfest is scheduled to be held this coming November in Rome.

Per Björkdahl: chair of the ONVIF Steering Committee

Founded in 2008, ONVIF is an industry forum driving interoperability for IP-based physical security products. The organisation has a global member base of established camera, video management system and access control companies and more than 13,000 Profile-conformant products.

ONVIF offers Profile S for basic streaming video, Profile G for edge storage and retrieval, Profile C for door control and event management, Profile Q for quick installation, Profile A for access control configuration and Profile T for advanced video streaming.

ONVIF continues to work with its members to expand the number of IP interoperability solutions ONVIF-conformant products can provide.

*Further information about ONVIF-conformant products, including member companies and their conformant models, is available on the ONVIF website at www.onvif.org

Metro Security wins Queen’s Award for Enterprise in recognition of M.A.R.S

Metro Security has won a 2019 Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the Innovation category for the development of M.A.R.S (Metro Analytic Retail Solution), an integration software that brings retailers’ risk data into one location at the click of a mouse.

Managing director Trevor Wallace, who attended a reception at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday 11 June, enthused: “This award is a real honour for Metro Security. We’re a company that has been able to build a strong reputation off the back of British-designed software and hardware development.”

The M.A.R.S solution, which integrates retailers’ existing technology – including Electronic Point of Sale and CCTV data – to deliver transparency of information in order to detect theft and fraud, came to the attention of the Queen’s Award adjudicators after a number of High Street and petrol forecourt retailers reported transformative loss reduction results following its deployment.

Trevor Wallace (left) and son Darren at Buckingham Palace

The technology allows businesses to remotely access and deep dive into data with the support of CCTV evidence to build criminal cases for the police to prosecute, which also assists in reducing police investigation time.

Wallace, who established the Romford-based business back in 1978, continued: “Our technology is a collaborative effort with our customers. They tell us what management information they want and how they want it packaged. We then work with them, and their other partners, to deliver it. We see ourselves as a kind of Q character from the James Bond franchise. We quietly work in the background to enable technologies to work together to catch the bad guys. We’re not quite on Her Majesty’s Secret Service, but this Royal recognition is a major boon for the business and an acknowledgement of the hard work and long hours put in by the team. This prestigious accolade is a true recognition of their enterprise.”

The Deputy Lord Lieutenant will be visiting the business in Ashton Road to bestow the Queen’s Award for Enterprise certificate and crystal award.

360 Vision Technology supports Help for Heroes charity with £6,000 donation

In a move made out of the desire to make a real difference to the lives of military personnel who have sustained injuries and illness attributed to their service in the British Armed Forces, UK CCTV solutions developer 360 Vision Technology has recently donated £6,000 to the Help for Heroes charity.

The manufacturer of a range of ruggedised PTZ surveillance cameras, 360 Vision Technology handed over an initial cheque to Help for Heroes’ area fundraising manager for the North West, Trevor Fudger, at the company’s Cheshire-based manufacturing facility and headquarters.

Commenting on the donation, Adrian Kirk (strategic account director at 360 Vision Technology) said: “When we launched the Invictus Ultra Low Light HD PTZ camera, the company decided to make a contribution to the charity based on camera sales to help support military service people, who in turn, over the years have been major users ofour video surveillance products. Handing over the first cheque was a tremendously proud moment for us all at 360 Vision Technology, and the proudest moment of my career.”

Kirk added: “Some of our staff have family members currently in service, while our chairman’s father flew Spitfires in World War II, so it felt like a natural fit for us to support serving personnel, veterans and their family members. We’re hoping that other UK businesses will help the charity, too, as it really does make a major difference to people’s lives.”

Since Help for Heroes was founded in 2007, it has supported over 21,000 individuals. This support is enabled in a variety of ways, from welfare advice and psychological support through to new career and fellowship opportunities (for both the wounded and their loved ones) and courses and activities designed to benefit physical and mental well-being. Much of this support is available at the Charity’s four Recovery Centres.

Trevor Fudger commented:  “When signing up to the Armed Forces, individuals make a promise to protect our country. In return, Help for Heroes makes a commitment to support the wounded and their families whenever they need us. To enable us to do that, we need the help of the public and of organisations like 360 Vision Technology, whom we cannot thank enough for their generous donation.”

360 Vision Technology will continue its support for Help for Heroes with another donation based on Invictus camera product sales earmarked for this summer.

*For further information on making donations to Help for Heroes visit: https://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/give-support/

NSI supports World Accreditation Day 2019

The National Security Inspectorate (NSI) offered its full support to World Accreditation Day 2019 (#WAD2019). A global initiative celebrating accreditation, the event (which took place on Sunday 9 June) focused on accredited bodies like the NSI adding value in supply chains. 

From a security and fire safety sector perspective, installers and service providers of security and fire safety systems and security guarding solution are a vital ‘link in the chain’ with their expertise at the point of delivery, keeping people safe, ensuring security solutions harness suitable technology and that they’re fit for purpose.

Whether it be in the design, installation and commissioning of intruder alarms, access control systems, fire detection or suppression systems and CCTV or the monitoring of myriad guarding services, Best Practice in service provision by NSI-approved companies ensures that quality solutions are delivered to customers.

World Accreditation Day marked the work underway to launch ‘IAF CertSearch’, a website designed to provide buyers with the ability to verify management systems certificates such as ISO 9001 (itself a key component of NSI’s Gold approvals). This facility will help to distinguish certificates issued by accredited conformity assessment bodies (CABs), such as the NSI, from certificates issued by non-accredited CABs and to check the authenticity of a certificate.

Richard Jenkins, CEO at the NSI, commented: “World Accreditation Day plays an important role in promoting the value of accreditation and accredited conformity assessment. As an accredited certification body, the NSI conforms to ISO 17021-1 and ISO 17065 in the delivery of Certificates of Approval to over 1,800 approved companies operating in the UK and Eire. The worldwide system of accreditation spans economies accounting for 96% of global GDP*. The NSI is proud to play its small part in this ecosystem underpinning Best Practice, competency and consistent quality within our sector, as recognised by, among others, the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the Security Industry Authority, the Surveillance Camera Commissioner, BAFE and industry and insurer stakeholders.”

Richard Jenkins

NSI Gold Approval combines Quality Management Systems approval ISO 9001 with specific product standards pertinent to services provided, in addition to NSI Quality Schedules and approval criteria specifically designed for the security and fire systems and guarding services sectors. The NSI adopts a ‘treat recommendations as mandatory’ stance with regard to all standards and Codes of Practice, affording buyers confidence that NSI-approved companies adhere to the latest Best Practice at all times.

For full details of the range of NSI approvals to international and British Standards and industry Codes of Practice visit www.nsi.org.uk

*Source: World Economic Forum

Arc Monitoring appoints Jo Hastings in marketing executive’s role

Arc Monitoring, the NSI Gold-approved CCTV monitoring and Alarm Receiving Centre, has appointed Jo Hastings as the company’s new marketing executive.

Hastings brings five years’ worth of B2B marketing and design experience to Arc Monitoring, which was formed back in 1999. Having graduated with a BA Honours degree in Media Production at Plymouth Marjon, Hastings most recently worked at publishing company Reach plc.

Wayne Dietrich welcomes Jo Hastings to Arc Monitoring

Through time, Hastings has developed a variety of marketing skills and has particular strengths in advertising, design and social media. How, Hastings will be focusing on creating Arc Monitoring’s marketing strategy in line with the business’ strategic goals.

Commenting on her new role, Hastings informed Risk Xtra: “I’m really looking forward to working with such an innovative company and having a whole new industry to learn about. It’s an exciting time in my career to be taking on new challenges and working with the team at Arc Monitoring.”

Wayne Dietrich, business development manager at Arc Monitoring, added: “We’re really excited to welcome Jo to Arc Monitoring in this newly created role and look forward to her experience contributing to growing our customer base of professional installers across the UK. The position further compliments our ongoing investment in people and infrastructure to cement our position as the independent remote monitoring expert.”