We live in a hyper-competitive business world. And no business is more competitive these days than physical security and data communications, especially in a post-COVID environment with pent-up demand. You know that pre-project planning decisions can have significant economic impacts and you want to be sure those impacts are on the positive side of the ledger. Some of those planning decisions can include sourcing your solutions from the right manufacturers, hiring the best integrators and contractors, and determining the most impactful distribution partners from which your solutions will come.
Read MoreWhen the United States government released $190 billion in CARES Act and American Rescue Plan funding for the education sector, it paved the way for school districts across the country to take necessary steps to cover expenditures incurred during the recent pandemic.
Read MoreUnderstanding the importance of utility grade infrastructure for commercial buildings The Transformation of Commercial Buildings Commercial buildings are on the front lines of rapid technology evolution. The imminent arrival of 5G and the estimated 30 billion connected devices that the Internet of Things (IoT) will enable in the next few years, as well as the presently unknown innovations and inventions that will place additional demands on bandwidth, are all driving transformation in buildings and businesses.
Read MoreImagine if your customers could know what’s coming next. If they could respond before potential challenges and have the ability to foresee new business opportunities. That's where a new paradigm emerges: the artificial intelligence of things (AIoT).
Read MoreProfessional audio video and its role within information communications and technology (ICT) is the bridge that connects the virtual and onsite worlds for businesses, schools and communities. It’s easy to imagine the added difficulties we could have experienced over the last year if not for AV.
Read MoreIt’s been said that, in times of crises, only the strong survive. They survive through a combination of increased flexibility, adaptability and accelerated innovation. As we all know, the world doesn’t stop when crises hit. If anything, it speeds up to address the new reality, and that’s exactly what happened when the COVID-19 pandemic hit—businesses were forced to adapt.
Read MoreWith the number of COVID-19 cases on the rise, health agencies have strengthened their messaging around the importance of wearing a mask, but the number of available face-covering options can be daunting.
Read MoreConnecting the first security camera to a network was a major innovation that changed the way the security industry operates. Surveillance systems integrating with speakers, door stations, and software have led to additional opportunities for creating proactive security solutions – a revolutionary idea as opposed to the more traditional reactive security approaches.
Read MoreKeeping children safe in schools is top of mind in today’s world, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reports from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) show 81 percent of schools use surveillance cameras for safety and security reasons, understandably so.
Read MoreFifth-generation (5G) wireless networks are here… sort of. Major carriers have begun deploying 5G infrastructure that will ultimately bring incredible enhancements to the download and upload speeds we all now enjoy on remote devices, laptops, cell phones, or tablets. While these enhancements won’t happen overnight, the network deployment process is happening now.
Read MoreYear over year, school planning strategies emphasize safety and security. The primary goal when planning for a school district is to provide students and teachers with the ability to learn and share in a safe and secure environment.
Read MoreAs we enter a new decade, facial recognition is a hot topic. Media outlets frequently report on the technology as a crime-solving potential or a privacy concern. While both claims are valid, the real story is harder to uncover.
Read MoreYour security strategy can have many moving parts. For critical infrastructure sites (i.e., power plants – nuclear, gas, electrical or solar, petroleum refineries, data centers, etc.), it’s important to know what’s happening inside and outside.
Read MoreWireless has played an important role in connecting video security cameras since almost the days the first cameras were developed – from there, they grew up together.
Read MoreThe Threat Within While stories about tech-savvy hackers and foreign state-sponsored web attacks make the biggest headlines – networks are most vulnerable to data breaches from less publicized culprits: internal users.
Read MoreWhen it comes to video surveillance, nothing is worse than having an incident, thinking you have it on camera via your network video recorder (NVR), and then finding out you had an NVR failure during that time… and you capture nothing!
Read MoreThe “Internet of Things” has evolved from buzzword status to mainstream reality, but not without its challenges.
Read MoreFor school-aged children, a classroom rich in digital experiences is a must to ensure that today’s students are ready for tomorrow’s high-tech world. According to a 2017 report from EducationSuperHighway, 88 percent of classrooms had Wi-Fi access, up from just 25 percent in 2013.
Read MoreThere’s nothing more important than saving lives and improving people’s health. That’s why healthcare facilities require the most advanced connectivity solutions available.
Read MoreIn today’s retail climate, hardly a day goes by without news of another legacy-brand retailer announcing store closings or financial restructuring. In fact, nearly 7,000 store closing announcements occurred in 2017, setting a new record. With the public’s embrace of online shopping, this trend will likely continue and perhaps accelerate.
Read MoreIf you’ve ever been to a large sporting event, convention or rally, you know all too well how slow the Wi-Fi signal can be when many in the crowd attempt to tweet or upload to Instagram at the same time.
Read MoreBeyond traditional security and surveillance applications, video cameras in manufacturing and assembly environments are tools used to improve personnel management, maintain safety, reduce liability and optimize efficiency. Production and operations managers looking to reduce costs or tighten timelines can deploy cameras in their factory or plant.
Read MoreSecurity team professionals are all too familiar with the task of keeping up with developing technology and improved solutions for campus protection. Frequent, rapid changes make it critical for security management not only to stay abreast of these new technologies, but understand the difference between passing trends and multi-layered security solutions that add value and strengthen a Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Plan (RVAP).
Read MoreIn October 2016, the Department of Defense (DoD) issued the DFARS 252.204-7012 Safeguarding Covered Defense Information and Cyber Incident Reporting clause. These regulations required prime contractors and their suppliers to provide adequate security on all covered contractor information systems.
Read MoreWhat defines infrastructure as being “critical”? Technically, these are systems and assets, either physical or virtual, which are so vital that their incapacity or destruction would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic stability, public health and safety or any combination of those matters.
Read MoreThe marketplace for physical security solutions is hyper-competitive and isn’t going to change anytime soon. Security Integrators charged with finding products like cameras, video management software, NVRs, cabling, racks and cabinets, etc. are under great pressure to boost profits for every job. If you are like most integrators sources for your security product supply chain range from distributors to manufacturers, online and in some cases even big-box retailers.
Read MorePhysical security concerns are an integral issue for healthcare facilities. These vital organizations are open to the public and serve vulnerable populations. A physical or cybersecurity attack could be devastating to the facility, its personnel, patients and the community. Conducting a risk assessment can significantly mitigate the vulnerabilities of a healthcare facility to ensure a safe environment for everyone.
Read MoreIndustrial controls systems are facing an enemy that’s only becoming more hazardous – cyberattacks. Last year, one report found that 34 percent of industrial control systems around the globe were breached more than twice in one year. To better protect and secure federal agencies’ networks, new federal guidelines were published that standardize government cybersecurity efforts. The Unified Facility Criteria UFC 4-010-06, released by the Department of Defense (DoD) in September 2016, lists requirements for incorporating cybersecurity into control system design. It is the first complete list of standards and processes for cybersecurity design guidance specifically written for all DoD control systems.
Read MoreWith retail theft on the rise, many retailers install Internet protocol (IP) cameras for security purposes. But the benefits of video surveillance can go far beyond reducing shoplifting. Many retailers don’t realize that IP-based video is data that can be gathered, stored and analyzed just like any other electronic information.
Read MoreWhen a surveillance camera is installed, you want to know that the images it captures will be crisp, clear and useful. To get the most from video surveillance, it’s important to understand the basic factors that contribute to good image usability. Learn how light affects exposure settings and contributes to image quality to guarantee that your images always look sharp, never fuzzy.
Read MoreAs medical technology moves toward increasing connectivity, the door has opened to security breaches. Since 2005, over 880 million records have been stolen due to data breaches. With today’s advances in technology, patients and physicians have better access to lifesaving medicine and procedures. But keeping patients and their data safe from cyber criminals is a growing concern.
Read MoreSecurity professionals know that there is an almost endless supply of market-available access control solutions. The ensuing headaches that come from selecting the wrong system can be avoided by doing a little homework and asking the right questions. Having all the facts guarantees that you’ll choose a solution ideally suited to your customers' needs.
Read MoreFor years, high-definition (HD) security cameras were considered the gold standard. Cutting-edge technology is changing that. New 4K surveillance camera technology offers major benefits and opportunities to the video security industry. With the biggest advantage of higher resolution, 4K technology is changing the industry. The 4K standard of camera technology has already shown great promise in the broadcast, digital cinema and consumer businesses.
Read MoreVideo surveillance has come a long way from the days when analog CCTV cameras dominated the market. Significant technological advances, such as delivering HD-quality video or higher, improve overall surveillance capabilities and provide other value-added benefits.
Read MoreCompanies rely on different types of surveillance cameras for various reasons, such as reading a license plate or recognizing a face. Megapixel cameras have become a reliable option for businesses that need quality, high-resolution images to help protect their employees and assets. But high resolution isn’t their only attractive feature. Megapixel cameras also offer a greater return on investment (ROI) than other types of cameras.
Read MoreHave you ever seen multiple security cameras grouped in one spot in a stadium or parking garage? More than one camera may be required to provide full coverage of large areas. But a “camera tree” that mounts a camera off of each branch, or one massive enclosure that houses four full-size brick cameras, is awkward — and ugly.
Read MoreUniversities and colleges face many possible risks. While it may be impossible to plan for every crisis situation, you can put processes in place to be prepared. Creating a robust emergency plan is the first step to ensuring a safe place for students, faculty, and the general public. But once your plan is in place, how do you know if it is actively protecting your campus?
Read MoreIf you’ve stayed at a hotel recently, you likely weren’t given a traditional room key. This is because there is a growing shift toward digital locks, including among commercial businesses. More companies are seeing huge value in converting to electronic door access through standalone, all-encompassing networked, or hybrid systems.
Read MoreThere is much to consider when helping customers design a complete video surveillance system. Getting started will involve selecting the right materials, understanding the installation process, and knowing how to prepare for future growth and change.
Read MoreIn the event of a critical situation, campuses could save lives with the help of a strong emergency plan. To get there, they must think beyond traditional security methods. Those approaches are a solid start, but they might not be enough. Now campuses must evaluate all potential security scenarios to ensure the safety of students and staff.
Read MoreLocking our doors is one of the first and most effective forms of security, including in the workplace. To protect their employees and assets, companies can choose from either mechanical (keyed) locks or electronic systems. But does one provide better security over the other?
Read MoreWireless controls, cloud-based systems, and smaller, more powerful surveillance cameras will be among the technologies on display at the annual ISC West security conference in Las Vegas April 6-8.
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