Cloudview appoints George Georghiou in marketing manager role

Cloud-based video surveillance company Cloudview has appointed George Georghiou as marketing manager. Georghiou comes with a breadth and depth of experience in the video surveillance and electronic security industries, having served most recently as global marketing manager for Corsight AI, the specialist in advanced facial recognition software.

Previously, Georghiou was EMEA marketing manager at Tyco/Johnson Controls, where he worked across the video surveillance, access control and intrusion brands. Georghiou also ran the promotion of the company’s corporate sponsorship of the British Superbikes team Tyco BMW.

Commenting on his appointment, Georghiou stated: “I’m delighted to join Cloudview at what is a time of significant growth and innovation within the business. The future is extremely bright and I’m looking forward to adding my experience to the wealth of talent already within the company.”

George Georghiou

Keith Cornell, CEO of Cloudview, added: “George brings additional depth and industry experience to our highly capable branding, digital marketing and events team. This marketing force causes Cloudview to ‘punch above its weight’ in the market and assists our sales team in bringing customers towards our Video Surveillance-as-a-Service cloud CCTV security offering.”

Founded in 2012, Cloudview is “the world’s first corporate-grade, secure, cloud-based video surveillance system” which enables the capture, storage and management of visual data using the cloud. It securely consolidates visual data from any number of CCTV systems into a unified and encrypted account held on secure cloud servers, with that data immediately accessible from anywhere via a web browser.

Cloudview’s next generation technology is easy to deploy, configure and control. It unifies, manages and securely consolidates smart triggered events from IP CCTV cameras in any location. Data is always stored safely.

*Further information concerning Cloudview’s solutions is accessible online at www.cloudview.co.uk

Genetec introduces Security Center v5.10 unified security platform

Genetec – the technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations and business intelligence solutions – has recently unveiled version 5.10 of its flagship unified security platform designated Security Center.

Among many new enhancements, this major release allows more system components to run in the cloud, thereby reducing the gap between cloud and on-premises security systems. It also makes it easier to connect external systems and tap external data for use in dashboards, maps and investigations without relying on complex and specialist integrations.

The new version of Security Center brings enterprise video surveillance customers new options to facilitate their migration to the cloud as well as support flexible hybrid cloud architectures. Taking a step further towards unified, enterprise Video Surveillance-as-a-Service, the new version of Security Center Omnicast – the video management system of Security Center – enables the seamless use of tiered cloud and on-premises storage to manage short- and long-term video archives according to customer needs.

In addition, it gives configuration flexibility and reporting capability and supports various scenarios for real-time or on-demand access to video footage stored in the cloud. Depending on its recency and criticality, video can either be stored in high performance storage for fast access or long-term storage to support flexible cost options as well as data compliance. To ensure maximum security, ingested video blocks are encrypted on-premises and then moved to the cloud using encrypted communications channels.

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“Last year accelerated the digital transformation of organisations big and small, inside and outside of the security industry,” explained Francis Lachance, director of the video and appliances product group at Genetec. “Omnicast Cloud Storage is not just terabytes in the cloud. It’s a complete collection of media services that deliver the flexibility and sophistication enterprise customers need to successfully move to a hybrid cloud video surveillance architecture.”

Sipelia Communications Management, the module of Security Center that enables SIP-based communications between operators and intercom devices, has also been enhanced to offer support for cloud-based deployment.

Record Fusion Service

Security Center 5.10 introduces a new no-code solution to connect external data sources to enhance an operator’s situational awareness. The new Record Fusion Service feature offers a simple and fast path to integrate third party data streams from private or partner record publishers. Users can define tailored record types and consume data from a variety of sources including KML, JSON and CSV documents, or otherwise set up a REST application listening point to which these external services can push records.

The Genetec Record Fusion Service can be used across the entire unified platform to enhance awareness and response, provide contextual information on dynamic maps, be visualised in operational dashboards, in investigative reports or in the unified monitoring interface.

The service supports a broad range of applications, from displaying user-defined and filtered information on a map with custom graphical elements through to combining various records from a wide variety of sources to create custom aggregate records that are useful to specific operators or roles.

The Record Fusion Service increases agility, enables highly specific and relevant data to be quickly and easily added to the platform and makes security operators more efficient in accessing timely contextual information.

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Mobility features

Security Center 5.10 further taps mobile devices to reinvent the way organisations accomplish routine tasks on-the-go. Genetec Mobile, a unified app that enables users to access cameras, doors and ANPR units from their smart phones, now supports Genetec Mission Control incidents as well as standard operating procedures. This allows end users to trigger or view active incidents on maps or in list format and record incidents in the field to notify colleagues in the Security Operations Centre.

A new specialised portal is also available to help customers manage mustering during evacuations. The Evacuation Assistant app connects to Security Center Synergis (the access control system in Security Center) such that, when an evacuation is triggered, the system automatically starts to monitor the safety status of all personnel and visitors. When people arrive at the safety area or muster point, they can badge their credential at a fixed or mobile reader, notify the ‘muster captain’ that they’re safe or inform them that someone might be at risk. If someone is shown not to have been evacuated, the system will then trigger a response so that security personnel can take immediate action.

*For more information about Security Center 5.10 visit: https://resources.genetec.com/blog/security-center-5-10-is-here

Security industry specialists to demonstrate expertise at Axis Communications’ Partner Showcase event in London

Axis Communications’ upcoming Partner Showcase biennial will welcome delegates from across the security industry and highlight the very latest advances in physical security technology. The event is to be held on Wednesday 16 October at White Hart Lane, the home of Tottenham Hotspur FC.

Axis Communications will host 27 partners who’ll be providing product demonstrations, engage in seminars and offer Q&A sessions on key topics ranging from cyber security, Artificial Intelligence (AI)/machine learning, behavioural analytics and detection right through to cloud/hosted services such as Video Surveillance-as-a-Service (VSaaS) and Access Control-as-a-Service (ACaaS).

The much-anticipated Axis Communications Partner Showcase represents an informal opportunity for system integrators, security installers, distributors, security consultants and end users to learn more about the future trends that are shaping the industry. Joining the Axis Communications team of experts will be subject matter specialists from every field across many industries who will explain the technology and, as valued Axis partners, deliver integrated solutions that address the key security challenges of today.

Content highlights to be delivered on the day will include:

*Future technology trends and their impact on video surveillance and access control

*How Internet of Things technologies are integrating in the cloud and the benefits they offer

*How ‘as-a-Service’ solutions (eg VSaaS and ACaaS) are changing the way in which end users buy security

*The importance of leveraging partnerships to address industry-wide challenges

*How innovation in network video is helping to drive business performance

*Analytics: AI, machine learning, deep learning and their impact on today’s industry

Delegates will benefit from an invaluable experience to learn more about the physical security landscape, while also networking with security industry peers. The Axis Communications Partner Showcase event provides an opportunity to engage in discussions around the hot topics with learnings that can be taken away and implemented to improve efficiencies delivered through greater business intelligence.

Registered exhibitors include 2N, Briefcam, Camstreamer, Citilog, Dedrone GmbH, Facit Data Systems, Genetec,  Milestone Systems, Morphean, Observit, Quanika, Secure Logiq, Siemon, Siklu Communication, SimonsVoss, Sound Intelligence, Synectics, Total Security Stockholm AB, Vaxtor Recognition Technologies and Veracity UK.

*To register for the event visit the website

Genetec announces support of Bosch, MOBOTIX and EUKLIS cameras for Stratocast cloud-based VMS

Genetec (the technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations and business intelligence solutions) has announced that Stratocast, its cloud-based Video Surveillance-as-a-Service (VSaaS) offer powered by the Microsoft Azure cloud computing platform, now supports new camera models from Bosch, MOBOTIX and EUKLIS.

Stratocast is designed to meet the needs of organisations requiring a reliable and cost-effective video surveillance solution without the expense and complexities typically associated with installing and managing on-premises surveillance systems. It offers a true cloud solution for enterprise customers that want to easily deploy video surveillance in smaller footprint and remote locations.

Stratocast also supports hybrid cloud deployments for those end users wishing to keep certain on-premise storage and infrastructure hardware while gradually transitioning everything to the cloud.

Thanks to Stratocast’s open architecture, the portfolio of supported devices is also continually expanding and, as stated, will now support cameras from Bosch, MOBOTIX and EUKLIS in addition to existing support for hundreds of models from Axis Communications and Vivotek.   

“A driving force behind Stratocast is to deliver a cloud-based video management system based on an open architecture with no need for a local bridge or recorders,” said Oktay Yildiz, product line manager for Stratocast at Genetec. “At Genetec, we want to offer users a non-proprietary solution in the cloud such that they have the flexibility to integrate a variety of cameras to address their specific needs.”

Yildiz added: “With Stratocast, end users can transition to a cloud-based infrastructure while potentially leveraging their existing investment in camera hardware or choosing to install new cameras from a variety of supported brands.”

Georges Tannous, director of global alliances at Genetec, commented: “The growing interest for video surveillance in the cloud is a key driver in partner integration to the Stratocast platform. We’re excited about partner participation and these new integrations by Bosch, MOBOTIX and EUKLIS. We’re looking forward to adding more brands and models as they become available.”

*For a Stratocast trial visit: https://www.genetec.com/solutions/all-products/stratocast/overview#LookingForMoreInformationOrALiveDemo?

**For a full list of Stratocast-supported devices access: https://www.genetec.com/solutions/all-products/stratocast/supported-devices

***Stratocast provides the same SLA as all other Genetec cloud services, which is a credit-backed uptime guarantee of 99.9%

Ocucon scoops six Fraud Awards nominations

Ocucon, the world’s first Video Surveillance-as-a-Service (VSaaS) system, has been shortlisted across a range of categories for this year’s prestigious Fraud Awards, the leading accolade for those in the UK’s retail risk and loss prevention sector.

Organised by loss prevention conference Retail Risk, the Fraud Awards celebrate the very best individual and team performances, innovative new products and winning strategies within the retail and loss prevention sector over the last year.

Judged by a panel of internationally-renowned loss prevention professionals, the winners and runners-up will be announced on 4 October at the Fraud Awards Gala Dinner, to be held at Leicester City Football Club.

Breaking new ground in surveillance technology, the Newcastle-based Ocucon has been shortlisted a total of six times across five categories for its unlimited cloud-based storage platform, Ocucon, as well as its intelligent video redaction service Ocucon Pixelate.

The Ocucon team (from left to right): Simon Gardner, Maral O’Brien, Stuart Ferguson, Gary Trotter and Stephen Purvis

Categories include:

• Best Newcomer – recognising the most exciting new solution or company to enter the retail risk and loss prevention arena – Ocucon
• Best Newcomer – Ocucon Pixelate
• Most Innovative In-Store Solution – celebrating innovative approaches to an existing, tried and tested solution or genre – Ocucon
• Best Collaborative Solution – recognising products, solutions or services resulting from genuine collaboration that deliver a clear Return on Investment – Ocucon
• Most Innovative In-Store Surveillance Solution – celebrating innovative new uses of camera or surveillance technology benefiting the wider business – Ocucon
• Most Innovative Cross-Functional Solution – recognising innovative products, solutions or services that have a risk or loss prevention benefit, but sit outside of the Profit Protection Department – Ocucon Pixelate

Ocucon’s co-founder Gary Trotter commented: “To be shortlisted in this year’s Fraud Awards and across so many categories is testament to the great team we have based here in Newcastle, as well as our innovative and collaborative approach. Since our launch in October, we’ve worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Dell and Google, to deliver the first-of-its-kind cloud-based storage service for CCTV and surveillance technology and launch our new intelligent video redaction service Ocucon Pixelate. As a result, we’ve seen significant interest in Ocucon both from large UK corporations and retailers, but also major retailers in North America. Our story is just one example of how tech start-ups can thrive here in the North East to compete on both the UK and the global stage.”

Launched in October last year, Ocucon is set to revolutionise the ability of businesses to defend against fraudulent cases of slips, trips and falls – currently estimated to cost the UK’s economy alone more than £800 million each year – by removing physical limitations on the amount of surveillance footage an organisation can save.

Ocucon delivers a powerful, cloud-based storage and retrieval platform combining intelligent data analytics with the facility to store, analyse and retrieve unlimited amounts of HD video surveillance footage from within the Ocucon portal.

Ocucon is expected to be of interest to any organisation capturing significant amounts of CCTV data. Since its launch, Ocucon has seen significant interest from both UK and US supermarkets and retail chains.

IHS Research Note: ‘Security system integration market worth an estimated $59.5 billion in 2013’

According to a new report from IHS, the world market for security system integration was valued at $59.5 billion in 2013, an increase of almost $5 billion from 2012. Paul Bremner (Senior Analyst for Video Surveillance – Security Services at IHS) outlines the detail.

The security system integration market consists of design, consultancy, installation, service and maintenance as well as the sales of video surveillance, physical access control and intruder alarm equipment. Revenue is expected to continue growing in excess of 9% through to 2018.

The market is characterised by a handful of large international players, numerous regional rivals and many local competitors. Such a competitive landscape means fierce competition abounds and that both integrators and installers must remain at the forefront of technology trends to be able to continue serving Best in Class integration packages to their customers.

One trend that integrators have been eyeing closely of late is Security as a Service (SaaS), whether it be Video Surveillance as a Service (VSaaS) or Access Control as a Service (ACaaS). Both offer promising opportunities for integrators to expand their recurring monthly revenue while simultaneously becoming closer to the end customer. This model also allows integrators to increase the value they bring to the table, and also lets them be seen as working together with their customers as partners.

As equipment margins continue to edge lower for integrators, driven by price declines in the equipment itself, it is the services that integrators can offer – as well as the added value they’re perceived to bring to the customer – that will ultimately prove to be the separator between the winners and losers in this market.

IHS Research Note: $120 billion physical security industry continues to grow

In the latest Research Note from IHS, David Green (senior analyst for video surveillance and security services) provides a detailed and timely appraisal of the overall physical security equipment and services market.

The IHS report entitled ‘Physical Security Equipment and Services: 2014’ combines annual product revenues for the following equipment types: video surveillance, access control, intruder alarms, perimeter security, entrance control (pedestrian and vehicle), consumer video surveillance, thermal cameras and wireless infrastructure as well as service revenues assigned to Video Surveillance as a Service (VSaaS), Access Control as a Service (ACaaS), remote monitoring services and security systems integration.

According to IHS, strong market demand in an increasingly competitive physical security equipment and services industry is still driving overall revenue growth in all global regions.

Key findings of the latest IHS report are as follows:
• The market reached $120 billion in revenue during 2013, representing a 10.8% increase in market size compared to 2012
• The USA remains the largest country for spend with over $6.5 billion allocated solely on equipment, although China is edging closer to the Number One ranking each year
• One in every $5 spent on physical security equipment in Asia is for a Government building, not including other state-led facilities and installations such as airports or infrastructure
• On a global basis, no single company holds a market share greater than 5% for the physical security equipment and services sector

As global economic conditions continue to improve and budgets slowly increase, the physical security industry continues to perform strongly across the world. Growth in the number of projects employing different types of physical security equipment as a single solution is also increasing, often managed through the same platform.

Strong market demand in an increasingly competitive physical security equipment and services industry is still driving overall revenue growth in all global regions

Regional variations to be observed

Service-based offerings are proving popular in the American market as manufacturers and service providers look to bridge the gap between consumer-style business models and professional standard services.

Markets such as VSaaS or ACaaS only account for a small proportion of total revenues right now, but are expected to see some of the highest growth rates over the next five years.

IHS already sees this convergence in the supply market as well, with telecommunications companies now taking a greater interest in the security sector.

The EMEA market is much more evenly spread across all equipment and service types although it shares more similarities with the American market than with Asia. Equipment spending is particularly spread across different technology types. For example, entrance control accounts for almost 25% of all physical security equipment revenue which is higher than for any other region.

Asia remains the fastest-growing market in the world and has very different end user patterns and requirements. The equipment market in particular exhibits a strong focus on video surveillance, wherein 17% of all revenue spent on physical security equipment and services in China during 2013 was on just that (and often originating through larger Government-funded schemes or projects).

Recognising a competitive environment

While global revenues for physical security equipment and services continue to increase, any expectations that the security industry supply market would start to consolidate appear premature.

The Top 15 manufacturers and service providers accounted for only 22% of the global market in 2013 (a decrease of 3% on just 12 months earlier). Furthermore, no single company can boast a market share above 5%, in turn proving the fragmented nature of this growing industry and the high levels of competition.

One developing trend in this competitive environment is the rise of Asian-based manufacturers gaining market share outside of their domestic markets. In 2013, four of the Top 10 equipment manufacturers globally were based in Asia.

Companies that have performed strongly in their domestic market and have improved product quality are now starting to expand into new markets. This is a trend that IHS expects to continue and one which will drive increased price pressure in the American and EMEA markets over the next few years.

However, any price pressures are not currently strong enough to outweigh the increases in general market demand. This means that the overall market for physical security equipment and services is expected to continue with strong growth for the foreseeable future.

Panasonic acquires cloud-based video surveillance company Cameramanager.com

The online surveillance provider Cameramanager.com will enhance Panasonic’s security solutions business, the acquisition having been announced at a European Press Conference on Friday 12 July.

Amsterdam-based Cameramanager.com, a leading provider of Video Surveillance-as-a-Service (VSaaS) solutions across Europe, was founded back in 2007 by Tijmen Vos and Rishi Lodhia, and has customers in the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Brazil, Latvia, Russia and Turkey.

Cameramanager: PC and Mac application recording

The acquisition of the cloud-based video solutions company – which was announced during a special European Press Conference at The Rembrandt Tower in Amsterdam on Friday 12 July – absolutely reinforces Panasonic’s existing security portfolio as it looks to extend its cloud-based solutions to the business and consumer markets.

As part of the acquisition, the Cameramanager.com team will now join Panasonic Europe.

“This acquisition is an important strategic step towards enhancing our smart and connected services offering in the European and CIS market,” explained Laurent Abadie, chairman and CEO of Panasonic Europe.

“With Cameramanager.com’s bespoke software and cloud-based solutions complementing our existing security business, we will be able to significantly enhance our presence in this space by bringing together technical know-how and software skills that equip us with the necessary assets to be able to respond to future demands in cloud services.”

Laurent Abadie: chairman and CEO, Panasonic Europe

In the opening speech of the day at The Rembrandt Tower’s Boardroom Centre, Abadie mentioned Panasonic’s deliberate move towards total solutions (a fire alarms-based offering was unveiled at IFSEC International 2013 to sit alongside the company’s existing surveillance hardware products) and the fact that the company will “never lose sight of the importance of innovation”.

Abadie went on to state that Cameramanager.com is “the perfect partner” for Panasonic, allowing the company to create a whole new business platform. “This is all about cloud services for the B2B and B2C marketplaces,” he stressed, “and innovative, wholly connected solutions.”

Cameramanager: iPhone and Android Live

Joining Abadie at the Press Conference were Masaki Arizono – managing director of Panasonic System Communications Company Europe – as well as Jose Riolobos (European head of professional camera solutions in Europe) and Jeroen Cleijne, Panasonic’s security product marketing manager for Europe.

Masaki Arizono: md at Panasonic System Communications Company Europe

The view from Cameramanager.com

“Since its inception in 2007, Cameramanager.com has gone from strength to strength, and we’re now ready to take the next step in the company’s development by joining forces with Panasonic to bring end-to-end, cloud-based surveillance to a wider market,” said Rishi Lodhia, CEO at Cameramanager.com.

“We’re delighted to join a company that will continue to support the innovative culture that is the foundation of our business. Our values are so closely aligned to those of Panasonic. Together, we remain committed to delivering excellence in online security. As well as providing great solutions for the end customer we also want to realise new business for security installers and integrators.”

Rishi Lodhia of Cameramanager.com

Lodhia first met his colleague Tijmen Vos when they were both 12 years old, and started the company from a student dorm in much the same vein as Mark Zuckerberg, the creator of Facebook.

Cameramanager.com presently manages over 40,000 camera connections on a global basis. The company offers cloud-based camera surveillance connections to PCs, Macs, smartphones and tablets.

“Our corporate culture at Cameramanager.com is all about CATCH,” said Lodhia. “We’re Creative and entreprenuerial, Ambitious, Team players, Customer-driven and both honest and humble. We genuinely believe we can be the leading cloud management company in the world.”

Cameramanager on iPad and tablet

For his part, Tijmen Vos talked of the three pillars of Cameramanager.com. “We are 100% about the cloud,” he urged. “We have never had software installed on the customer side. Also, we’re all about an open API. Last but not least, it’s about ‘Smart’. In other words, smart messaging.”

Cameramanager’s co-founder Tijmen Vos

The company’s offer is based on a tiered subscription programme, with those subscriptions costing between three and 20 Euros per month. Check out the Cameramanager website for further details.