Honeywell and SureView unite

SureView and Honeywell unite.

Honeywell are actively encouraging collaboration within the security industry as part of its drive to promote the Honeywell open technology alliance. The latest company to come on board is SureView the company behind Immix the central station management software.

The alliance suits both parties and the integration between Immix and WIN-PAK CS 4.1 means integrated access control now has an added level of security and allows other manufacturers equipment to be displayed to the operator through a single graphical interface. This means a response and full management of a an access control system is handled in just one location thus eliminating the need for an on-site guard with all the saving that this can bring.

The whole concept gives companies like SureView the opportunity  to offer their customers more choice when designing there security systems and to ensure integration between different products is made simple. In essence the software captures alerts and alarms from the on-site access control and seamlessly matches this to CCTV images from the cameras on site.

Any integration between access control and CCTV is welcomed and is certainly the way forward for the industry.

Access Control. Is it just an expensive waste of time?

I recently carried out a security risk assessment on a very large site in Yorkshire. The primary purpose was to satisfy the customers need to know why his access control was so unreliable and why there were people on site that clearly had not fobbed through their designated access points, more importantly why was he suffering internal losses?.

Administered from head office.

The access control software is administered off site at their head office. The building in question is big place, the size of 3 football pitches with many entry points. At first it all went well, getting through the main gate was difficult. The guard wanted to know who I was what I was doing there etc. It was from there though that things started to unravel. The first door I tried opened without a problem. The reader indicated that it should be locked. I checked out the door furniture and found that the maglock was “missing”….not good! I carried on through two more unprotected doors and up to the main warehouse entry door. Not once was I challenged. I pushed open the door again this should have been locked, but the door itself was warped and would not close even if it was forced…another fail.

At the heart of the operation.

At this point I found myself in amongst goods of quite some value with not one sole seeming to care as I passed through the goods in area. At any point I could have picked up valuable items and carried them back out the way I came in. I continued on around the site and found that this trend of open doors and broken locks continued. It seemed wherever the staff did not have access they simply removed (by force) the maglock and there seemed no management structure in place to pick this up. Of course the locks and doors should have been monitored but apparently although this was originally designed into the system it was too annoying for the administrator who had other work to do as well so the alarms had been disabled. I was fairly shocked that a company willing to pay many thousands of pounds for a sophisticated access control system with top end software that could really do just about anything they needed,  just had no idea how to use it! Having completed my site visit I returned to my car and headed out of the site. I was stopped by the barrier from leaving, at last some kind of security? No…The guard seeing my car simply opened the gate without even raising his head and waved me through. Surely he would at least search my car?

Conclusion.

So in conclusion. My findings are winging their way to the company M.D as we speak. I am waiting to hear what the repercussions will be. Access control is a brilliant solution when used properly and a proactive security measure but I have seen exactly this scenario many times before. It seems to me that there are many factors that need to be addressed by end users who buy expensive access control packages consisting of biometric fingerprint readers, and very expensive software. Of all these factors it seems that the training and on going risk assessments carried out by their access control installers is poor to non existent. This article should serve to remind all access control users that a system is only as good as the people who look after it!

CCTV news, Global MSC encourage End user involvement

We talked sometime back about the need for Installers and End Users to involve Manufacturers in the supply/decision chain.

Recently, a great one day seminar pretty much did that…………… organised by Global MSC, a security consultancy from Bristol, put together  a one day event in Newcastle that was attended by all kinds of key decision makers from Councils, Local Authorities, Education, Medical and Police organisations………….a series of keynote speeches on current, relevant topics within our industry, were accompanied by refreshment breaks and a superb lunch!

At the same time, a rather well packed conference room was brimming with new Technology from all sorts of Security Manufacturers – CCTV, Intruder, Access Control etc…………and these seemed to focus on Megapixel and HD technology

Talking to the Manufacturers, they commented on the value of being close to the right people, with a captive audience to demonstrate their Products and Services…………….End Users appreciated the focused approach to keeping it local, personalised, the right size and the right layout – unlike IFSEC !

Installers were able to exhibit with their partner Manufacturers safe in the knowledge that everyone knew everyone in the chain!

We believe this should be repeated more often throughout the UK (Global MSC have already announced another Seminar for March 2011 in Bristol) – it may not replace IFSEC, but it just might allow the triangle partnerships a chance to flourish!

End User, Installer and Security Manufacturers

The real cost of CCTV security Systems

Over the last few years during the good times, many companies especially in the UK have used surplus funds to beef up their security systems. As a result they have seen losses reduced and enjoy the benefits of cameras and access control for management tools. Things though have changed over the last couple of years and especially after the events over last weekend when the bomb was discovered on the freight airliner . Cut backs have meant that new spending on security has reduced or stopped and ongoing maintenance has been neglected. It is only now that some are beginning to regret this lack of investment and are starting to realize the true value of having security in the first place. Global forwarding springs to mind!
The trouble is that with CCTV and access control systems we have no way of actually measuring their effectiveness, it is only when they are removed or left to go into decline that the real cost effectiveness is suddenly obvious. Imagine the disruption to a business if a break in does occur worse still a plane is bought down over the skies of the UK . It is not just the damage that is obvious i.e. the smashed up doors or the stolen lorry, the total disruption to air travel!!! but when your business is totally bought to a halt or a vital piece of kit goes missing for your most important customer then the embarrassment of telling them your security system did not work becomes apparent. To lose an important client because they have had to go elsewhere creates far more problems and costs more than if the security system had been maintained and upgraded in the first place. So next time you think about cutting back on security think about the cost savings that CCTV and access control really bring to your business. Dont they say spend a little now and you will save a lot later?

Integrated Security SSPI

Complete system solutions for access control and CCTV More customers than ever around the world rely on Integrated Security systems to handle the full spectrum of today’s access control and CCTV needs. Customers know that their systems need to be more secure, convenient and dependable. That’s why they have turned to SSPI (security systems partially integrated) also fully integrated security and advanced system solutions to meet their access management and video surveillance needs for today and the future. There is a hands-free revolution going on and the access control and CCTV industry has changed dramatically recently. Proximity technology allows authorized personnel to gain access to secure areas by simply presenting a card close to reader. No physical contact is necessary; the card can remain in a user’s purse, pocket, wallet or briefcase. The hands-free access control revolution is here to stay.This may of course be complimented by ievo biometric technology soon, the next generation of door entry solutions. Integrated Security is a very powerful solution and is able to link together everything from a simple security system to highly customized, large systems with hundreds of CCTV cameras and sophisticated alarm monitoring devices. From powerful host software to advanced controllers, readers and cards, all essential elements are monitored using one sql software package. So who will benefit? Well any company with multiple sites is obvious but as we have mentioned even smaller systems can be integrated for greater convenience. We see that as IP video surveillance becomes more and more widespread the various security disciplines will naturally become entwined  meaning greater flexibility for end users long term. If you think you can benefit from an integrated security system contact us and we tell you what your best solution would be and who can install it for you.