Panduit Wins 2010 Security Innovation Award for Unified Operations Center in New World Headquarters Building

Panduit Corp., a global leader in Unified Physical Infrastructure SM (UPI) based solutions, was awarded Security Technology Executive’s 2010 Security Innovation award for the deployment of its Unified Operations Center in its new World Headquarters building. The awards honor the most innovative technologies, design strategies, and facility applications in the security industry, as selected by the media outlet and a panel of industry experts. The silver medalist award was presented to Panduit during the 2010 ASIS Conference in Dallas, TX.

“Panduit is realizing this vision of increased building system integration and automation in its Unified Operations Center (UOC), a single location in the new World Headquarters building which combines SOC and NOC functions, enabling Panduit to manage the security of its global facilities from a central location”

Panduit was recognized for demonstrating the power of integrated, IP-based physical security solutions in their Unified Operations Center (UOC) to accelerate event detection and response, enable collaboration between safety agencies, and increase operational efficiency. Based on its UPI-based Connected Building Solution, Panduit’s unique UOC colocates the safety, security, network, and communications operations in a central location. By leveraging an optimized physical infrastructure as the foundation to enable convergence across the enterprise, Panduit solutions help businesses improve reliability, reduce costs, heighten agility and support sustainability initiatives.

“Panduit is realizing this vision of increased building system integration and automation in its Unified Operations Center (UOC), a single location in the new World Headquarters building which combines SOC and NOC functions, enabling Panduit to manage the security of its global facilities from a central location,” said Vineeth Ram, Panduit VP of Strategic Marketing. “By integrating management of the network and physical security systems over a UPI-based physical infrastructure, Panduit’s UOC allows data to be shared across a full spectrum of network, building system, and security applications for improved operational awareness and response.”

Panduit collaborated with Cisco, N2N Secure, and IPVision on the connected building design to integrate state-of-the-art security systems, incorporating video surveillance, physical access controls, analytics software, and interoperable communications. “By centralizing security operations from the Unified Operations Center, we should achieve an annual estimated savings of $653,000 and a 1.5-year payback period while enabling our security personnel to monitor and control video surveillance cameras and building access controls for all global offices over a WAN,” said Jeff Woodward, Senior Manager, Panduit Global Environmental Health and Safety.  For more information on Panduit’s Connected Building Solutions, visit www.panduit.com/CBS.

About Panduit:

Panduit is a world-class developer and provider of leading-edge solutions that help customers optimize the physical infrastructure through simplification, agility and operational efficiency. Panduit’s Unified Physical Infrastructure SM (UPI) based solutions give enterprises the capabilities to connect, manage and automate communications, computing, power, control and security systems for a smarter, unified business foundation. Strong relationships with technology leaders complemented with its global staff and unmatched service and support, make Panduit a valuable and trusted partner. http://www.panduit.com

NATIONAL SURVEY REVEALS MAJORITY OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS ARE FOCUSED ON A RISK MANAGEMENT APPROACH TO INTEGRATED PHYSICAL SECURITY

The survey of senior-level IT and physical security professionals from both public and private organizations reveals that a majority of organizations have complex safety and security environments, manage them through multiple, distributed locations, and have a need to coordinate responses with other agencies or organizations.  With 60 percent of respondents stating that their organizations individually manage multiple technologies today, the survey also found that many plan to migrate towards a more unified approach in the next 12 – 18 months, including a single command and control view of events and a centralized view of situations.

When it comes to managing their organization’s security systems, 74 percent of respondents revealed that having a proactive risk-focused approach that ensures greater overall safety and security with a holistic view of the organization is important or extremely important while 71 percent said it’s important to leverage both physical and IT security together to manage and resolve security situations.

Highlights from the Research

Organizations Have Complex Safety and Security Environments:

• 91 percent of organizations are using security systems and devices from two or more different manufacturers, with 46 percent of those using solutions from at least six different manufacturers.
• The majority of respondents said that they manage security through multiple, distributed locations as well as coordinate security responses with other agencies.

Integrated Risk Management Strategies are Gaining Traction:

• A proactive risk-focused approach to organizational safety and security is important according to 74 percent of respondents. 
• 60 percent stated that the integration of data from traditional physical security devices and systems, including access control, video, RFID and GPS, in to one common operating picture is important or extremely important.
• 38 percent responded that they plan to invest in risk management technology that helps assess, prioritize and manage their risks and needs in the next 12 – 18 months.

“The survey revealed the interest from both public and private organizations to integrate all of their physical security systems and devices to obtain a common operating picture, which ultimately leads to a strategic risk-driven approach to managing safety and security,” said David Fowler, senior vice president, marketing and product development, at VidSys.  “By comparing where organizations are today with where they plan to be 12 - 18 months from now, the research confirms that organizations are moving toward a more holistic and collaborative approach to securing assets and information to not only minimize risk but also reduce operational costs.”

About the 2010 Safety and Security Survey

The 2010 Safety and Security Survey is a national survey designed to provide insight into the security concerns and buying patterns of private and public agencies.  Sponsored by Vienna, VA-based VidSys, the survey was conducted from late August through late September via Zoomerang, an online survey services provider.  A Research Brief providing detailed information on the findings will be available in November 2010.

Note: VidSys will discuss the full findings in a Webinar taking place on Tuesday, November 2 at noon ET.  To register, please go to: http://vidsys.com/resources/2010-safety-and-security-survey-results.  To sign up to receive the full copy of 2010 Safety and Security Survey results when it becomes available, please contact Kelly Fiedler at kfiedler@vidsys.com.

NICE’s New Open and Standards-Compliant Situation Management Solution

NICE Situator’s application of PSIA specifications demonstrates how broad interoperability with multiple third party security systems enables flexible, seamless and cost efficient situation management.   NICE Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: NICE), the worldwide leader of intent-based solutions that extract insight to impact business performance, reduce financial risk and ensure safety and security, recently announced that the Physical Security Interoperability Alliance (PSIA), a global consortium of physical security providers focused on promoting the interoperability of IP-enabled devices.  NICE Situator will be highlighted for its broad interoperability in a demonstration that will include integration with HikVision’s CCTV cameras and recording systems. Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Ltd. is a leading supplier of digital video surveillance products with headquarters in China.

The implementation of PSIA specifications in NICE Situator enables third party IP video surveillance products such as NVRs, DVRs and cameras to be automatically recognized as PSIA-enabled cameras and stream video according to the open standard specification. The openness and standards compliance of NICE Situator enables security personnel to choose the best and most relevant components to address their needs in a flexible and cost efficient manner.  David Bunzel, Executive Director PSIA, commented, “PSIA’s objective to develop standards relevant to networked physical security technology is being fully supported by NICE’s extensive commitment to IP system interoperability.

NICE Situator is a situation management software platform that addresses the security operations needs of transportation systems – airports, seaports and mass transit, critical infrastructure, utilities, enterprise campuses and city centers. It enables automatic situation planning, response and analysis in real time, as well as thorough post-incident reviews and investigations. NICE Situator already has over 150 gateways to different security and safety systems, including video surveillance, communication devices, access control, intrusion sensors, fire and safety, geo-location, building management, web feeds, and data bases.

 “NICE is committed to supporting PSIA's objective of achieving industry-wide interoperability standards,” said Israel Livnat, President, NICE Security Group. “NICE is proud to showcase an open, standards-based system, and our intention is to continue to lead the interoperability trend within the physical security eco-system. It is NICE’s policy to continue actively pursuing industry standardization, and continue providing the market with open solutions that allow for flexibility and freedom of choice in the meantime.”

 The NICE Security Offering addresses the needs of governments and enterprises with intent-based solutions for fighting crime and terror, by anticipating, managing and mitigating safety, security and operational risks. The offering enables capturing, analysis and correlation of data from multiple sensors and systems, including audio, video, radio, geo-location and web, providing a framework for fusing data silos into a single, holistic operational view.  NICE Security solutions empower organizations to act effectively in real time to prevent, manage and investigate incidents, ensuring fast resolution and debriefing, and continuous security improvements. NICE Security solutions are deployed worldwide in transportation systems, critical infrastructures, city centers and enterprise campuses.

The Physical Security Interoperability Alliance is a global consortium of more than 75 physical security manufacturers and systems integrators focused on promoting interoperability of IP-enabled security devices across all segments of the security industry. Participating companies include Arecont Vision, ASSA ABLOY, Cisco Systems, GE Security, Genetec, Hikvision, Honeywell, IBM, IQinVision, Kastle Systems, March Networks, Milestone Systems, NICE Systems, ObjectVideo, OnSSI, Pelco, Stanley Security, Texas Instruments, Tyco International, Verint and Vidsys.

PSIA’s objective is to develop standards relevant to networked physical security technology. Under the direction of its Board of Directors, PSIA promotes and develops open standards relevant to networked physical security technology across all segments including video surveillance, access control, video analytics, storage and recording devices, and software.

PSIA supports license-free standards and specifications, which are vetted in an open and collaborative manner to the industry as a whole. There are currently five active working groups: IP Video, Video Analytics, Recording and Content Management, Area Control and Systems. The organization reviewed and ratified its IP Media Device specification in March 2008 and since then, more than 1,700 companies have registered for the specification.

About NICE Systems

NICE Systems (NASDAQ: NICE), is the worldwide leader of intent-based solutions that capture and analyze interactions and transactions, realize intent, and extract and leverage insights to deliver impact in real time. Driven by cross-channel and multi-sensor analytics, NICE solutions enable organizations to improve business performance, increase operational efficiency, prevent financial crime, ensure compliance, and enhance safety and security. NICE serves over 25,000 organizations in the enterprise and security sectors, representing a variety of sizes and industries in more than 150 countries, and including over 80 of the Fortune 100 companies. www.nice.com.

March Networks Introduces Break-Through Capabilities with Seven New IP Video Products

March Networks® (TSX: MN), a global provider of intelligent IP video solutions, recently announced an innovative March Networks Command solution and six new high-performance products.  The new products deliver the enterprise-class management and video protection for which March Networks solutions are recognized industry-wide, and demonstrate the company’s commitment to open standards.

Command is a comprehensive, end-to-end video surveillance solution that enables organizations to manage their entire surveillance infrastructure using a single web-based interface. With Command, customers can install, deploy and manage their video assets from any location easily and efficiently. The powerful solution delivers mass configuration and management capabilities that lower installation and maintenance costs significantly. It also incorporates remote video gateway technology to reduce video streaming over a corporate WAN, a key advantage for large organizations with multiple remote locations.

Designed to meet industry and Information Technology (IT) standards, Command supports ONVIF™ (Open Network Video Interface Forum) compliant video surveillance devices for seamless third-party integration, and open SQL database standards. It enables users to access video from a variety of operating systems, including Windows® XP, Windows 7 and MAC OSX, via the browser.

“We are excited to introduce our new Command solution, which is the result of extensive research and development efforts,” said Net Payne, Chief Marketing Officer, responsible for March Networks’ product management and marketing functions. “With Command, customers benefit from exceptional scalability, flexibility and operational efficiency. Ultimately, it provides the centralized management and integrated access to information that organizations need to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment.”

March Networks’ newest recording system and edge devices are fully compatible with Command. Each comes with an internal SD memory card and – when deployed as part of the end-to-end solution – leverages the company’s unique Shadow Archiving™ technology to ensure seamless access to redundant video, as well as intelligent video synchronization following a network failure or server outage.

The March Networks 7532 Hybrid Networked Video Recorder (NVR) is an embedded Windows® OS recording system ideal for larger enterprise and commercial industrial installations. The 7532 complements March Networks’ industry-leading 4000 C Series hybrid NVRs and comes with the same exclusive docking-station architecture for rapid installation and maintenance. It supports a total of 32 high-definition (HD) IP and analog cameras (up to 16 analog), best-in-class compression and up to 8 TB of internal storage, as well as external storage options.

Four new VideoSphere® IP cameras introduce additional capabilities to March Networks’ extensive camera portfolio. They are compatible with all March Networks hybrid recorders and incorporate shared features such as LDAP password configuration and ONVIF compliance.

The new cameras include:

• A compact CamPX MicroDome, the industry’s first Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) camera able to capture accurate color in near-dark conditions;
• A MDome HD PTZ, which combines HD video resolution with the power of a PTZ solution in an indoor/outdoor environmental housing built to withstand extreme temperatures;
• A MegaPX WDR MiniDome, which delivers HD 1080p video resolution and WDR; and
• A MegaPX NanoDome, a low-profile HD camera with flexible video streaming and a sleek, unobtrusive housing ideal for inconspicuous surveillance applications.

Rounding out its new product offerings is the recently announced March Networks Searchlight Skimming Detection (SD), a powerful data analytic that enhances the company’s comprehensive Financial Solutions. Searchlight SD monitors surveillance video and ATM transaction data simultaneously and alerts investigators daily to suspicious and potentially fraudulent activity at ATMs via a web-based dashboard.

To see and learn more, visit the company online at www.marchnetworks.com.

Avigilon Expands Avigilon Control Center to Enterprise Class, Introduces Standard Edition

Avigilon Control Center 4.6 Enterprise Edition offers advanced features and open integration for the most demanding, security-centric deployments while Avigilon Control Center 4.6 Standard Edition meets vital and focused surveillance needs.   Avigilon, the performance and value leader in high definition (HD) and megapixel video surveillance systems, recently announced the introduction of Avigilon Control Center 4.6 Network Video Management Software (NVMS), the company’s latest version of its award-winning HD surveillance software with High Definition Stream ManagementTM (HDSM.) The Avigilon Control Center 4.6 update delivers new features to improve the performance, extensibility, and manageability of HD surveillance systems as well as open systems integration, and is available in two editions— Avigilon Control Center Enterprise Edition and Avigilon Control Center Standard Edition.

Avigilon Control Center 4.6 Enterprise Edition

Avigilon Control Center 4.6 Enterprise Edition includes advanced features to make it the most powerful, open HD surveillance platform on the market, able to seamlessly integrate with other security systems and handle transmission, recording, and storage of HD video gathered by hundreds of cameras across multiple sites.

Avigilon Control Center 4.6 Standard Edition

Avigilon Control Center 4.6 Standard Edition delivers the same powerful HD surveillance engine with HDSM. Designed as a cost-effective solution to meet vital and focused security needs, Avigilon Control Center 4.6 Standard Edition combines high quality image detail with ease of use and expandability at an associated value point. Features of the new Avigilon Control Center 4.6 Standard Edition include: support for ONVIF, 3rd party IP cameras, and Avigilon HD, HD H.264, HD Panoramic cameras, and analog encoders as well as robust searching, exporting, and playback controls.

“By offering two editions of the award-winning Avigilon Control Center software, we can address the demanding needs of enterprise-level HD surveillance with a sophisticated solution and also meet the more focused surveillance needs of relatively concentrated facilities looking to launch or transition to an HD surveillance solution in the most cost-effective way possible,” said Dave Tynan, vice president of global sales and marketing at Avigilon. “Designed from the ground                up to intelligently manage HD video, Avigilon Control Center 4.6 software delivers a powerful and intuitive interface that now addresses a broader demand from customers to efficiently evaluate and respond to events quickly and easily for greater investigative success.”

New Features in Avigilon Control Center 4.6

A feature-rich offering that is positioned for the most security-centric applications, Avigilon Control Center 4.6 offers the following new features and benefits:

• Expanded Third Party IP Camera Support - Avigilon Control Center 4.6 Enterprise and Standard Editions are ONVIF compliant NVMS platforms that deliver expanded support for a wide range of third party IP cameras and analog encoders from vendors such as ACTi Corp., Sanyo Electric Co., Mobotix, Pelco, and VideoIQ for the purpose of building hybrid systems and preserving existing assets. Management of surveillance video from third party cameras and analog encoders is in the camera’s native compression format including H.264, MPEG4, or MJPEG.
• Expanded Analytics Support - In addition to its current integration with SightLogix outdoor video analytics cameras, Avigilon Control Center 4.6 Enterprise and Standard Editions now support video analytics solutions from other vendors including VideoIQ, creating an integrated situational awareness platform for real- time incident management and response.
• Expanded Integration with Access Control and Intercom Systems (ACC Enterprise) - Avigilon Control Center 4.6 Enterprise Edition integrates seamlessly with third party VoIP or standalone digital intelligent intercom systems such as the Stentofon intercom system, Jacques intercom system, and DDS Amadeus 5 online access control and alarm monitoring software to provide a fully integrated communications system for greater overall security.

About Avigilon

Avigilon designs, manufactures, and markets award-winning HD surveillance systems. The performance and value leader, Avigilon’s solutions protect and monitor thousands of customer sites in more than 60 countries around the world. Avigilon Control Center, the world’s first open HD Network Video Management Software platform, and megapixel cameras deliver full situational awareness and actionable image detail. Campuses, transportation systems, healthcare providers, public venues, infrastructure, and manufacturing sites with security, safety validation, and compliance requirements all benefit from reduced investigation time and more successful investigations by immediately producing indisputable video evidence. Avigilon earned Frost & Sullivan’s HD Surveillance Company of the Year award in 2009 and the Frost & Sullivan Award for New Product Innovation in 2010. For further information, please visit www.avigilon.com.

VideoIQ iCVR-HD High-Definition Cameras Now Available

Revolutionary Camera Delivers Full 1080/30 fps Resolution, Zero Bandwidth in-camera NVR and Full Megapixel Analytics  by VideoIQ, the leader in video surveillance innovation, recently announced the immediate availability of the iCVR-HD cameras, the revolutionary security devices that deliver full 1080p resolution and frame rate, zero bandwidth recording, full megapixel analytics and support for IQTrack™ - automatic digital PTZ zoom and track. Unveiled in March, the iCVR-HD is the latest addition to VideoIQ’s line of intelligent video surveillance systems, including the iCVR dome cameras, iCVR encoders, iCST line of streaming cameras and encodersand VIEW™ - an advanced video management system from VideoIQ.

"Architectural choices have always involved cost and performance trade-offs between image resolution, network bandwidth, and storage requirements," said Derek E. Brink, vice president and research fellow for IT Security, Aberdeen Group. "VideoIQ's approach with the iCVR-HD – full 1080p high-resolution, combined with on-camera storage and analytics -- is designed to meet the market's demands to extract more accurate and more effective information from video surveillance, and to do so in a simple and cost effective way."

VideoIQ’s patented adaptive video analytic technology is the only one capable of processing full megapixel streams on-camera – producing the highest accuracy and greatest range. As a result, iCVR-HD analytics deliver over two times the range of D1 analytics.  Additionally, with a wider field of view and higher resolution than standard resolution cameras, VideoIQ’s iCVR-HD cameras allow operators to capture greater detail and track objects for longer periods of time, delivering better context and perspective on suspicious behavior.  Finally, the camera’s real-time threat detection relies on VideoIQ’s award winning adaptive analytics, which self calibrate in minutes, maintain calibration over time, and are capable of uniquely distinguishing people, vehicles and boats from other objects, animals and scene movement.

Unlike conventional megapixel cameras, VideoIQ iCVR-HD cameras store full 1080p video in up to half a terabyte of onboard NVR storage for months worth of recording, eliminating the need to stream high-resolution images across a network to a central NVR – reducing network traffic and bandwidth consumption by more than 90 percent. As a result, iCVR-HD cameras simplify infrastructure dramatically, allowing customers to deploy high definition video surveillance in environments that are impractical for conventional megapixel cameras, including mixed IT networks, wireless networks, and WAN deployments.

“VideoIQ is on the cutting edge of surveillance innovation, setting the pace for the security industry and providing the highest level of protection in areas where it was previously thought impossible,” said Scott Schnell, president and CEO of VideoIQ. “With the shipment of the iCVR-HD, we have raised the bar for real-time threat detection and high definition forensic evidence without expensive storage and bandwidth constraints.”  See http://www.videoiq.com/index.php for more information.

INOVONICS INTRODUCES RADIUS, SECURITY INDUSTRY’S FIRST WIRELESS SITUATIONAL AWARENESS SYSTEM WITH LOCATION

Mobile duress system combines latest mass notification capabilities with advanced positioning technology to pinpoint alarm devices.  Inovonics (http://www.inovonics.com), the industry leader in high-performance wireless sensor networks for commercial and life safety applications, today announced Radius™,  the security industry’s first situational awareness system utilizing Inovonics’ wireless positioning technology. Radius combines the latest mass notification capabilities with advanced positioning technology to pinpoint mobile duress alarm devices for use in multiple industries, including manufacturing/industrial plants, retail, education, government, and the financial sector.

Radius monitors any Inovonics’ security, and sensor, end devices and interfaces to fire, access control and environment systems, providing instant notification to mass communication alert devices.  For example, when a potential life-threatening event occurs, it is automatically transmitted to Radius. The system then processes and locates the position where the event is taking place and alerts the appropriate authorities immediately so they can get help and move affected people to a safe, secure location.

“Radius fills a critical need in today’s security marketplace,” said Jeff Kessler, managing director of Imperial Capital (http://www.imperialcapital.com/), a leading security market research and advisory firm. “Most systems only can notify when a duress alarm has been activated, but, with Inovonics’ wireless Radius system, users can now tell exactly where the [mobile] alarm is coming from. No other system in the security marketplace can do that today.”

Unlike traditional hard-wired control panel systems that have been used to detect safety issues and report alarms, Radius provides a complete end-to-end, IP-enabled wireless solution for the security market. Radius can work alone or be integrated with other safety and security systems. Key features and benefits of Radius include:

• Location: Radius allows for mobile duress applications by accurately determining where an alarm is coming from within a building or campus setting. It allows users to locate employees, faculty or students immediately when they signal for help.

Monitoring: Radius works with the complete line of Inovonics end devices, including pendant transmitters, universal transmitters and motion detectors. It also supports integration with Inovonics’ extensive list of system partners who provide fire extinguisher monitoring, wireless perimeter beams, fence tilt sensors, man hole cover monitoring, water sensors and a host of many other types of solutions. Radius also can alert users even when people are not present, such as after-hours.  The sooner users are notified of an issue, the faster they can take action.

Notification: Radius coordinates event monitoring and mass notification. It communicates information from in-building systems and routes them to alert devices, such as pagers, emails and mobile phones using text messaging or voice mail. Radius also packages multiple in-building systems into a single notification solution allowing for more efficient and quicker responses.

“Inovonics is committed to providing the most advanced technology on the market today for ensuring the safety and security of organizations’ most important assets – their people, buildings and housed resources,” explained Mark Jarman, president of Inovonics. “Radius exemplifies this commitment and provides the highest degree of trust, reliability and proven accuracy available in the market today regardless of structural, physical or geographic challenges.”

Configurations, Availability and Pricing:

Radius can be used within single buildings or scale to large multi-building campuses spread over hundreds of acres. It can be easily integrated with other fire and safety and security systems and be customized based on customer preference. It is available now and is priced based on customer configuration. For more information and to view the intro video, visit the Radius product page at www.inovonics.com/radius.aspx.