Comelit takes on The Italian Jog in aid of NHS Heroes

Looking to make a difference for our NHS Heroes is Comelit, with various members of the company committed to run, walk and cycle the equivalent miles from its UK offices in Luton to its Italian headquarters in Lorenzo di Rovetta, Italy. 

Comelit’s challenge, aptly named The Italian Jog, will see members of the security and fire specialist’s team hoping to raise £1,000 for NHS Charities, which is dedicated to supporting NHS staff and volunteers caring for COVID-19 patients.

Francesca Boeris, managing director at Comelit UK, told Security Matters: “When one of the team said in our briefings: “Hang on a minute, I have a great idea” I was instantly ready to support the challenge, and even more so because it’s for our NHS Heroes. This is a big pledge, but one to which we have committed so as to ensure we can make a difference to the critical work being done to protect lives at this uncertain time.”

Comelit is now looking to support workplaces scheduled to return to work, introducing touch screen access control devices with integrated IR scanners for temperature checks as well as thermal camera technology designed to help ensure the safety of returning workers and customers alike.

Boeris added: “In the words of our CEO Edoardo Barzasi, we are taking the necessary measures and offering the right resources to overcome the situation. This is not only in terms of product offerings, but also service requirements. As an industry, we are undoubtedly in this together and will continue to be so. Understanding the new normal and what is being asked of all of us to protect our workers and customers is vital.”

Comelit will be posting regularly on social media platforms with updates on the team’s progress as it travels through virtual destinations and reaches its target.

*To support The Italian Jog visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-italian-jog

 

360 Vision Technology realises “unrivalled” low power capability on new generation of rugged PTZ cameras

360 Vision Technology has announced the launch of a new generation of its Predator and Invictus PTZ cameras with some exciting features, including a significant reduction in power requirements.

Attributed to an increase in demand for remote and ‘off-grid’ site surveillance both here in the UK and overseas, 360 Vision Technology has released a new ‘low power mode’ feature which reduces camera power draw to 12 W when idle and a maximum of 50 W at full load (Invictus range), with simultaneous PTZ control and Infrared lighting. 

Sara Fisher, business development director at 360 Vision Technology, explained to Security Matters: “In recent times, the demand for remote site surveillance has been on the increase, particularly so in those locations where there is no localised power available and renewable or alternative energy sources are the only option. Obviously, in these scenarios keeping power requirements of the camera to a minimum is a crucial factor in being able to maintain system operation. Our development team has really stepped up to the challenge and the result is that we now have the most energy efficient ruggedised PTZ cameras on the market.”

Other new features available include the ‘attack detect with base scan’. On taking an impact from a vehicle or perpetrator, this allows the camera to gain a 360-degree view of the base of the pole before reconfiguring automatically to the home position, thereby allowing the potential identification of the ‘attacker’.

360 Vision Technology’s expansive client base, which includes local authorities, Critical National Infrastructure sites and numerous other public sector agencies, will be able to benefit significantly from these developments on new installations.

Fisher added: “By far the most significant spin-off benefit to the increased power efficiency is a substantial reduction in lifetime running costs.  On a 100-camera system, our clients could save as much as £18,700 in energy costs and, in turn, reduce their carbon footprint by 37 tonnes over a five-year period when compared to the closest equivalent camera models on the market. That’s a compelling return on investment.”

TALL Security Print reaches significant milestone in African operations

TALL Security Print, itself part of the TALL Group of Companies, has passed a significant milestone in its extensive operations in Africa. The company has now produced more than two million personalised certificates for the Kenyan Examination Board (KNEC). As a specialist in secure print solutions for over 20 years, TALL Security Print’s work across the African continent is gaining global recognition throughout the industry.
 
The news comes after the recent confirmation of substantial contracts to print graduation certificates for 15 prestigious Nigerian educational institutions.

The two millionth print for KNEC was reached just two years after TALL was accorded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade, largely based on its work in developing trade with Africa which TALL Group views as a key market for its products.

 
Martin Ruda, managing director of the TALL Group, said: “We take pride in our work across Africa and it’s a great achievement for us as a company to have printed over two million secure examination certificates for the Kenyan Examination Board. We’ve really established ourselves in the market as providers of trusted educational print services for African institutions. Students and education providers have faith in our products and know that they can use our secure solutions with confidence. With our efforts being recognised on an international scale, we celebrate being able to offer unrivalled print services in Kenya and, indeed, throughout the Commonwealth community.”
 
TALL Security Print is a founding member of the Cheshire Commonwealth Association that promotes trading links with Commonwealth countries. The success in Kenya is being seen as a positive Case Study for businesses looking to trade within the African Commonwealth community.

The secure system offered by TALL Security Print produces documentation at its UK premises for overseas education providers and examination boards looking to order directly with the fraud prevention specialist.

Security & Safety Things “sparks new era” in video surveillance with commercial availability of supported cameras

Security & Safety Things is “set to reshape innovation in video analytics and computer vision” with the commercial availability of a number of new IP security cameras from a variety of vendors that leverage the Security & Safety Things open and secure Internet of Things platform. This new generation of security cameras will employ the free Security & Safety Things camera operating system, which enables the cameras to run multiple Artificial Intelligence-enabled applications in parallel.

The apps automate the analysis of video data to produce valuable operational intelligence for business optimisation as well as provide easy-to-deploy tools that can aid in re-opening measures from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Organisations of all sizes around the world need flexible and easy-to-deploy solutions that enable compliance with constantly changing pandemic-centric Health and Safety mandates and provide future value to ramp up and optimise their ongoing business operations,” stated Hartmut Schaper, CEO of Security & Safety Things.

He continued: “Companies can now deploy cameras running the Security & Safety Things operating system and use a selection of apps from our Application Store to detect the absence of facial coverings in a retail environment. The next day, that same camera can help the same retailer optimise merchandise placement based on store footfall, in one store or throughout the enterprise, along with further optimisations.”

First camera manufacturer

This month, Qisda/Topview will be the first camera manufacturer to launch a camera running the Security & Safety Things operating system, followed in quick succession by AndroVideo, who will also start shipping its own Security & Safety Things-enabled cameras in Q2.

Bosch is making its INTEOX camera line available as of July followed by Vivotek and BSTsecurity, who plan to ship a bit later in Q3. The first devices from Hanwha Techwin that run the Security & Safety Things operating system are expected to be commercially available in Q4. Security & Safety Things, Hanwha Techwin, Vivotek, Bosch, Qisda/Topview and AndroVideo are all members of the Open Security and Safety Alliance.

The free Security & Safety Things operating system is built on the Android Open Source Project. It leverages the expanding processing and analytic power of modern IP cameras to exponentially increase the amount of operational intelligence that can be mined from traditional IP-based surveillance footage.

The applications that can be installed on these cameras, both in an on-premise as well as a remote setting, are created by highly specialised third party developers and available through the platform’s open Application Store. This already features more than 50 applications from more than 35 developer partners, with more than 30 additional apps expected to be available the store very soon.

Typical use cases

In addition to pandemic applications, use cases include the detection of weapons, behavioural analysis, payment systems for garages, drone threat detection and even identifying objects presented for purchase in a cash register transaction for cashier-free retail environments.

Together with some of its camera and system integration partners, Security & Safety Things is already running projects in a live setting. These projects use, for example, heat mapping and queue analysis in retail stores and automated payment processing and license plate recognition for barrier-free traffic.

These types of applications are running in pilots with the parking management solutions provider Peter Park as well as with the leading mobility provider SIXT.

*More information about the Security & Safety Things platform and how businesses can benefit from the platform can be found at www.securityandsafetythings.com

**For an overview of the Artificial Intelligence video apps currently available for the Security & Safety Things-supported cameras, the Application Store may be viewed at https://store.securityandsafetythings.com

 

2020 edition of Security Essen cancelled by Messe Essen due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic

The 2020 edition of popular international trade fair Security Essen, which was scheduled to run from 22-25 September, has been cancelled due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. According to Messe Essen, customer expectations and the performance promise of the exhibition cannot be fulfilled under the present circumstances. The decision to cancel was taken by Messe Essen in the wake of close consultations with partner associations. The next Security Essen will now run at Messe Essen from 20-23 September 2022.

As a respected international platform for the security industry, Security Essen is always a showcase highlighting the latest innovations. Numerous market leaders in the security industry had already confirmed their participation for this year.

Security Essen covers everything from cyber security through to innovations in building security and new solutions for the protection of valuables. Every other year, circa 1,000 exhibitors from upwards of 40 countries show their innovations to no less than 36,000 trade visitors from 125 different nations.

“Anticipation around the 2020 edition and the new concept we had put in place for Security Essen was so high among all those involved,” explained Oliver Kuhrt, managing director of Messe Essen, “which made the decision to cancel all the more difficult. The fact is that the current situation, as well as the continuing global travel restrictions, will not allow adequate preparation for the trade fair.”

Careful evaluation

Norbert Schaaf, chairman of the Management Board of the Federal Association of Safety Engineering and chairman of the Security Essen Advisory Board, observed: “The cancellation of Security Essen 2020 is the result of a careful evaluation of the current situation which we have undertaken together. Since the majority of our participants come to Essen from abroad, we had to act with prudence. Due to the unclear worldwide development of the Coronavirus pandemic and the associated uncertain travel planning we were left with no alternative.” 

Dr Christian Endreß, managing director of the Federal Association for Security in Industry and Commerce and a member of the Security Essen Advisory Board, added: “Security Essen as an important international event in the security industry’s calendar and a particular highlight for the Federal Association. The cancellation is hitting the industry and the security associations pretty hard. We regret the decision, but we also fully understand it and look forward to 2022 with confidence.”

Dr Harald Olschok, general manager of the Federal Association of the Security Industry and also a member of the Security Essen Advisory Board, concluded: “From the perspective of our member companies, the decision to cancel Security Essen is fully understandable. Personally, I regret this very much, because it would have been my fifteenth and last Security Essen as CEO of the BDSW and the BDGW. The Coronavirus crisis represents an enormous economic challenge for security solutions providers. I’m sure that the management and the entire team of the BDSW and the BDGW with their affiliated member companies are looking forward to Security Essen 2022 when, hopefully, there will be better economic conditions for all.”

New Security Industry Authority licence-linked qualifications postponed to April 2021

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has decided to postpone the introduction of new licence-linked qualifications until April 2021.

The SIA has spoken to industry, awarding organisations and training providers who have outlined the difficulties they face during the current pandemic.

In view of these challenges, the September 2020 launch date for the new qualifications is deemed to be unachievable.

The SIA has therefore set a revised target date of April 2021 for the introduction of the new licence-linked qualifications.

The SIA is the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry in the UK, reporting to the Home Secretary under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. The SIA’s main duties are the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities and managing the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme.

*For further information about the SIA or to sign up for e-mail updates visit: www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk. The SIA is also on Facebook (Security Industry Authority), LinkedIn and Twitter (@SIAuk)

Call for Entries launched by Global MSC Security for prestigious 2020 Gordon McLanaghan Award

Entries are now being accepted for the seventh annual Gordon McLanaghan Award, which recognises an individual, project team or organisation that has gone above and beyond the Call of Duty to achieve an innovative technical security solution.

The free-to-enter award is managed by Global MSC Security and judged by an independent panel of respected UK security practitioners. The panel look for compelling evidence of innovation and the impact that a technical security solution has had in solving a specific issue.

This prestigious award is presented in memory of Gordon McLanaghan, an innovator within the Bristol City Council CCTV and Emergency Control Centre, who sadly passed away back in 2014.

Previous winners of the Gordon McLanaghan Award are Dyfed Powys Police (2019), Cornwall Fire and Rescue (2018), the Cumbria Constabulary (2017), Gloucester City Council (2016), Jim Guiton of Dacorum Borough Council (2015) and Safer Communities Glasgow, who won the inaugural trophy back in 2014.

Derek Maltby, managing director of Global MSC Security, stated: “The Gordon McLanaghan Award is open to any organisation in the UK that has implemented a truly innovative technical security solution in the past 12 months. Since we launched the award in 2014, it has been dominated by some truly inspiring and successful projects undertaken in the UK public sector.”

Maltby went on to comment: “The Gordon McLanaghan Award is truly agnostic, so if you have a solution that has set a benchmark, or has been delivered in a new and creative way in the private or public sector arena, we would encourage you to enter this year.”

Derek Maltby

This year’s winners will be presented with a piece of Bristol Blue glassware as well as a cheque for £1,000 at a gala charity dinner hosted on the evening of Monday 9 November at The Bristol Hotel in central Bristol during the 2020 edition of the Global MSC Security Conference and Exhibition.

*Details on how to submit entries can be found here. The deadline for entries is Wednesday 30 September

AMG Systems issues cost-effective range of AMG210M mini SFP media converters

As part of a planned development drive to expand its range of dedicated Ethernet transmission solutions, AMG Systems (the developer of commercial Ethernet transmission solutions for the security and critical infrastructure markets) has just released the AMG210M Series of ultra-mini SFP media converters.

Designed for commercial applications (0°C-50°C), the new range of media converters includes options for 100 Mb, Gigabit and 10 Gigabit Ethernet transmission, all of which incorporate intelligent configuration features at a very competitive price point.

Built into an ultra-compact (90x60x20mm) housing, AMG210M Series units are available in four variants including a 100 Mb media converter, a multi-rate converter (100/1000 Mb), a dual port multi-rate converter (100/1000 Mb) and a 10 GB SFP+ converter.

Easy and quick to install, each mini media converter features user-selectable DIP switches to allow the configuration of intelligent features such as Link Fault Pass-Through, where the loss of either the RJ45 or SFP will cause the corresponding port to link down, enabling a fault to be detected by other connected devices.

Other configurable features include port isolation, jumbo frames, automatic laser shutdown and SFP speed selection.

Supporting network continuity

Supporting network continuity, the mini media converters’ automatic re-set function detects if a fibre connection is lost and automatically performs a power cycle to try and re-establish the link, thereby reducing system downtime and engineering call-outs.

For ease of installation, all of the AMG210M Series media converters are supplied with an in-line, wall-mountable power supply and can be deployed standalone or wall-mounted using the mounting kit that’s included. To fit the vast scope of applications, multi-mode or single-mode SFPs can either be included in the wide choice of units or ordered separately from AMG’s extensive range of SFP modules.

For additional installation flexibility, the optional AMG210C high-density chassis with dual redundant PSUs allows up to 12 AMG210M Series media converters to be rack-mounted into 1U of space making it ideal for applications where rack density is a key requirement for the end user.

“We’ve designed the new media converters to support the transmission of video and data systems in commercial environments, such as airport terminals, university campuses, large retail premises, Shopping Centres and distribution warehouses,” said Tom Exley, technical director at AMG Systems. “A cost-effective and compact commercial grade product, the new mini media converters offer installers a true fit-and-forget, maintenance-free solution.”

Webeye security specialist’s daughter runs 140 miles in aid of NHS Heroes

Maddie Wall, the daughter of security cloud monitoring specialist Webeye’s global sales director Mark Wall, has committed to running five miles every day for 28 days in aid of NHS Charities Together.

At just 13 years old, Maddie began her challenge on 19 April with the intention of raising £500 for the NHS official charity organisation. By the halfway point, Maddie had smashed her target, raising an impressive £2,725.

A keen fundraiser, Maddie recently completed the ‘Brave the Shave’ challenge, duly raising £1,200 for Macmillan Cancer Support. She’s a keen cyclist, but until now has never attempted to run more than a circuit of the local park.

Mark and Maddie Wall

Proud dad Mark is actively supporting Maddie. He told Security Matters: “Maddie took this challenge upon herself and, before we knew it, had set up a GoFundMe page and was ready for her first run. She’s fully committed and we are really proud of how much she has already raised in support of our incredible NHS staff, enabling them to do so much more to protect lives at this uncertain time.”

NHS Charities Together is a membership organisation representing, supporting and championing the work of the NHS’ official charities. It’s currently focusing on supporting NHS Staff and volunteers caring for COVID-19 patients, raising over £80,000,000 to date.

*To support Maddie’s charity-focused challenge, please visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/to-help-the-heroes-of-2020?

WatchGuard and Deutsche Telekom partner to deliver enterprise-grade security solution for SMBs

Watchguard Technologies, the specialist in network security and intelligence, secure Wi-Fi and multi-factor authentication, has launched Business Network Protect Complete, an enterprise-grade security solution for SMBs built in partnership with Deutsche Telekom.

With fast Internet from Deutsche Telekom and security services delivered by WatchGuard, this all-in-one offering is designed to simplify the delivery of critical security for organisations lacking the resources to defend against cyber attacks on their own. The Business Network Protect Complete solution combines a DSL modem and Wi-Fi router with enterprise-level security protections, all within WatchGuard’s own Firebox T35-DW solution.

“There are significant differences between a modern firewall appliance and a commercially available router with NAT functionality. Individual mission-critical network areas such as production systems, management servers, VoIP components and printers must be deliberately divided, individually secured, and automatically monitored,” said Michael Haas, area sales director, Central Europe at WatchGuard. “This can only be done via firewalls such as Business Network Protect Complete with our Firebox T35-DW table-top appliance. The solution’s easy-to-implement segmentation makes it simple to identify potential weak points, initiate countermeasures and prevent attacks from spreading freely across networks.”

BNP Complete offers leading security services such as APT Blocker, Gateway Anti-Virus, Spam Prevention, URL Filtering, Application Control, Intrusion Prevention, SSL Inspection and more. In addition, this all-in-one security solution automatically transmits and processes data from more than 180 Deutsche Telekom honeypot sensors that power its security speedometer to recognise and block malicious IPs.

Gate to digitisation

“With the new offering, we’re able to address the needs of SMBs, including tax consultants, law firms, management consultants, insurance agents and larger medical practices, as well as customers in retail and logistics and other markets,” explained Christian Cronjäger, security product and portfolio manager at Deutsche Telekom. “The gate to digitisation with a fast Internet connection is not only wide open, but the WatchGuard firewall and its numerous security controls serve as a moat to protect sensitive data.”

This solution is suitable for all connections up to 200 Mbps max, while anything up to 20 employees can be covered. The basic protection license includes all hardware components, the EWS from Deutsche Telekom and the ‘Help Desk Service Plus’ managed security services package, which offers guaranteed interference suppression in 24 hours.

The all-in-one protection license also includes the APT Blocker module for protection against highly complex and largely unknown threats. This can be augmented with additional security services depending on customer requirements.

Since 24-7 operation is guaranteed via managed services, customers benefit from secure and reliable connections without having to invest the time and resources into overseeing security themselves. Additionally, Business Network Protect Complete eliminates high up-front costs by offering clients simplified and convenient monthly billing.