Arecont Vision recently announced a new line of lower-cost H.264 compact megapixel cameras

Arecont Vision http://www.arecontvision.com recently announced a new line of lower-cost H.264 compact megapixel cameras that are half the size and a third of the weight of previous models.

Above is an interview of Michael Hodor, vice president of sales-North America for Arecont Vision on megapixel surveillance cameras by Steve Titch of Security Squared. Also, in a recent interview Dr. Michael Kaplinsky, CEO of Arecont Vision said “Our new compact H.264 megapixel cameras set a new bar for performance and price in the market giving yet another compelling reason to ‘Go Megapixel’ in any surveillance application,”. “The attractive price points of these new cameras reflect a 20 to 25 percent price decrease compared to previous models making them even more cost competitive against standard definition IP and analog cameras. And, the user gets the full benefit of much greater image resolution and functionality in a smaller camera.”

The new models are:  The model AV1315 1.3 megapixel camera and the model AV2815, 1080p HD camera are easy to install and can now fit into smaller housings and domes.   Unveiled at ASIS, model AV1315 provides 1280x1024-pixel (1.3 megapixel) images at 32 frames per second, and model AV 2815 provides 1920x1080-pixel (2.07 megapixel) images at 24 frames per second.

Both camera models use H.264 compression to minimize bandwidth and storage requirements. The cameras are also fully compatible with the PSIA industry standard and have passed PSIA conformance tests. Each is also available in a Day/Night version (Model AV1315DN or Model AV2815DN). The units are powered via PoE eliminating the need for auxiliary power.

The new Arecont Vision compact camera models also provide added functionality. The privacy mask enables video to be blocked in multiple regions in any arbitrary shape. Extended motion detection provides a higher-granularity grid of 1,024 distinct motion detection zones (compared to 64 zones supported earlier). These features are controlled via both HTTP and TFTP commands and by the on-camera web interface.  Check these cameras out today!

SALTO Scalable Access Control System One Card One technology Unlimited possibilities

If you are looking for protection from uncontrolled access, SALTO can deliver the perfect solution, tailored to your exact requirements to provide you with all the security, convenience and control you need.

Their state-of-the-art electronic locking systems offers flexible and functional access control with a wide choice of software options. Their access control systems are designed to work in a wire free environment so there is no need to hard wire the building, allowing you to keep your original doors and locks in place. This makes installation fast, self contained and straightforward. An access control system that uses distributed intelligence in both the lock and the key to communicate wirelessly with PC based SALTO programming software that makes lock re-programming or re-keying a thing of the past.

Both key cards and locks can be programmed to allow or restrict access to different parts of the building. And the information stored in the key card can be transferred to a computer to provide precise audit trail information about where and when each lock has been used including the date, time and whether access was allowed or denied.

And when combined with the additional functionality provided by the SALTO Virtual Network (SVN), users can achieve 90% of the benefits of a fully on-line system for the cost of a stand alone system.

ASIS 2010 is in full swing in Dallas

The security industries biggest show for security professionals is in full swing in Dallas this week.  The exposition floor opens Tomorrow and runs thru Thursday from 9:00am to 4:30pm at the Dallas Convention Center.  Hosted by ASIS International, the largest organization in the world for security management professionals, ASIS 2010 is the one destination for those seeking security solutions.

The exhibition floor will cover more than 240,000 net square feet. Some 700 exhibiting companies will showcase the most innovative technologies, products, and services on the market today. More than 20,000 security, business and government professionals from more than 90 countries are expected to attend. Click here for registration information.

“For security practitioners from around the world, the ASIS Seminar and Exhibits is the single most important event each year,” says ASIS President Joseph R. (“Bob”) Granger, CPP. “Over the course of three days, attendees will be face-to-face with some of the foremost authorities in their profession, see hands-on demonstrations of the most advanced security product and service solutions available, and have the opportunity to establish and strengthen their professional network.”

Product and service categories include access control, alarms, biometrics, chemical trace detection, disaster recovery and crisis management, executive and VIP protection, guard services, information technology, hazardous material threats, perimeter protection, robots, surveillance, threat assessments, video surveillance, and weapons/bomb detection.

Keynote speakers include Past-President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan, Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger, III is the heroic pilot who masterfully landed US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River and saved the lives of 155 people and Dave Barry is a humor columnist and best-selling author.

ASIS International is the preeminent organization for security professionals. Founded in 1955, ASIS is dedicated to increasing the effectiveness and productivity of security professionals by developing educational programs and materials that address broad security interests, such as the ASIS Annual Seminar and Exhibits, as well as specific security topics. 

Physical Security Technology, Loss Prevention, Asset Prevention and Fraud Prevention Professional Guest Bloggers Wanted!

I have recently been doing a bit cleaning and upgrading in my own "blogosphere", and came up with an idea to invite my readers, who wish to be great guest bloggers on my new blog page www.SecurityTalkingPoints.com.  I would enjoy having you, or someone from your marketing department, share information about your physical security technology solutions and services and especially case studies of the applications.  

Guest blogging has become very popular in the blogosphere as most bloggers write a guest post to gain exposure, more readers and free traffic.   You can link back to your own blog and website, which should give you some more exposure, more readers and free traffic to your website as well as mine.  If interested just drop me a note to James.McDonald@PST-mail.com to discuss the details.

Justifying Physical Security Technologies

It’s natural to expect that rising unemployment and other economic realities would increase the number of security events that organizations face, and this assumption has held true during the current crisis. Because of the economic downturn, statistics reveal that companies are suffering more burglaries, shoplifting, robberies, workplace violence, and insider theft. Like all aspects of business, small business and corporate security are under the thumb of the sagging economy.  Risk and vulnerability assessments still inform many security executives about the amount of security spending that is necessary, but the actual resources at the disposal of the security department depend on harsh economic realities.  In a recent trip to the NRF Loss Prevention Conference, if I heard it once, I heard it one thousand times, “We must do more with less,”   and I know the retail sector is not the only one’s facing this issue. 

The resources a security department receives may or may not conform to what security assessments say is called for, some of you may not even have an assessment, yet to know your vulnerabilities. Security executives and business owners are surely not alone in facing this challenge.  All department leaders are being asked to scrutinize their spending, identify waste, and find solutions that deliver cost savings to the company. But when it comes to security, the challenge and the stakes are higher than in other functional areas.

This presentation discusses how to better justify the Physical Security Technology budget and ways to measure your Return-on-Investment (ROI) of your solution.  We will review vulnerabilities and how countermeasures from companies such as Stanley CSS can help.  And, at the same time, we may be able to help some of those other department managers do their jobs better with less.” 

Even for intact security departments, security executives now face a uniquely challenging situation. While all department leaders are being told to do more with less, security executives must do so while also contending with the risks that a collapsing economy intensify.  Mired in the worst recession most security directors have ever witnessed, the pressure is clearly on. Security purchases that promise a return on investment must deliver as expected.  


I look forward to further discussion, I know many of you have added between 2% -30% to your company’s bottom line with the proper use of today’s technologies, please feel free to comment, I look forward to your perspective.

September is National Preparedness Month 2010

WebSite 

What Is National Preparedness Month (NPM)?

September is National Preparedness Month! This awareness month is sponsored by the Ready Campaign in partnership with Citizen Corps and the Ad Council. NPM is designed to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, and communities.

How Do I Register My Organization?

You can register to become a NPM Coalition Member by visitinghttp://ready.adcouncil.org.

In the past we have had as many as 3,200 NPM Coalition Members who worked to create a culture of preparedness in the United States. We hope your organization will join us in spreading this emergency preparedness message in 2010!

What Does It Mean To Be A NPM Coalition Member?

By joining the Coalition, your organization would agree to promote emergency preparedness in any way that it can during September.

Who Can Sign Up To Be An NPM Coalition Member?

NPM Coalition membership is open to all public and private sector organizations at no cost.

What Do I Get For Being A Coalition Member?

Once you register you will receive access to the NPM Website where you can find a toolkit that includes templates, resources, and tips to assist you with promoting emergency preparedness. You will also find an NPM calendar where you can post your events and see what other organizations are doing in your community. In addition, you can share your success stories and read about the successes of others.

Your organization will also be listed on our Web site!

Stanley Convergent Security Systems (CSS), Installer of the Year...

…or will they be the company of the year? I remember going to this great booth at ASIS, or was it ISC West a few years ago?   I’m not sure, but it was for HSM Electronic Protection now known as Stanley Convergent Security Systems (CSS).  In less than three years Stanley CSS has nearly doubled its customer base to 300,000+ and its annual revenue to around $500,000,000. They won “The Installer of the Year” award from SSI and won the Sammy award for best sales brochure.

Now with 75 Branch locations and 4 UL and FM approved Central Stations, the company can design, install, monitor with audio verification courtesy of the Sonitrol acquisition, (false positives are such a big issue) and service security systems everyone. It seems that the goal at Stanley Convergent Security Systems is to form a true partnership with the customer based on trust, performance and 100% satisfaction.  Stanley CSS calls it their five customer touch points:

• Account Management
• Service
• Monitoring
• Installation, and
• Billing.

They use a Facility Summary Report (FSR), this allows all leaders to see performance in real time and adjust accordingly.  What more can the customer want?  Will Stanley CSS be the company to beat on every deal in the future, or are they already there?  

Their focus is clear:

• Commercial
• Residential
• National Accounts
• Government

Their website says it all "You've come to the right place if you're looking for security without compromise."  More to follow…..in the mean time check out http://www.stanleycss.com/index.html for additional information. I especially liked their literature page at http://www.stanleycss.com/literature.html